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“We’re going to scout down that alley to our right,” Rio says

“Won’t that just be fun,” Jack mutters under his breath

They set off at a crawl until they are out of the direct line of fire, and then it’s the familiar stooped run, take cover, stooped run, take cover, till they are ithin the alley The alley is so narrow Rio can touch both walls without stretching At least here they are safe for a arette

“Give arette from Tilo She draws the smoke in She doesn’t smoke, not really, she tells herself, just the occasional puff But she no longer chokes and coughs from the smoke She started up after the mission to rescue Strand, and while she does not carry her own pack of s of a puff here, a coarette there

They creep down the alley, which opens onto a narrow street This street seeed—it’s still possible to see patches of cobblestone not covered by rubble But they proceed cautiously since they cannot see beyond a curve ahead But then they happen on an extraordinary sight, a surreal sight: there are dozens of big, white and tan loaves of Italian bread, and ments of bread outside a burned-out bakery It’s like a snowstorm of bread crumbs A solitary crow has found this bounty and casts a jaundiced eye at the advancing GIs, following it up with a harsh warning croak

“Someone blew up the bakery,” Tilo says “If we find a cheese shop and a wine store, we’re set for the duration” He stuffs a fat, crusty loaf in his shirt The heel sticks up under his chin

The alleyway being only moderately filled with rubble, they a

dvance, Rio hugging the left side, Jack and Tilo on the right They measure each step, one foot in front of the other, heel to toe, heel to toe, rifles at waist height, training side to side, eyes scanning ahead, up, right, left

“I’ll be damned,” Tilo says “There’s my bottle”

Rio hears him

Rio says nothing She is focused on a sound from ahead, maybe a rat, maybe a civilian, maybe

Suarez grabs the bottle, which is sitting quite undisturbed on a dusty table outside what must be a bar

Bang!

To ears accusto frounfire, it sounds slight Slight but terribly close and intimate

Rio slaainst the wall and yells, “Stafford, Suarez, down!”