Page 94 (1/2)

“We blow a hole in ’ele: Krauts can’t see through walls, right? All these buildings have connecting walls, so we can push through the the street”

“Huh,” Stick says thoughtfully

Rio, already regretting snapping at Jenou, says, “Could work”

It’s not Jen’s fault Suarez is dead

“Probably six, seven walls,” Beebee esti dropped his rifle and alun went off That incident of course led to a lot of teasing but also a eneral acceptance of him as part of the platoon Any enlisted man who can make an officer leap into a chow line steam table full of bacon is an instant hero

“Okay,” Stick says “Here’s hoe do it Richlin, Castain, and Preeling——blow out the walls But we synchronize our watches, then every tirenade, we throw one here too, ure out e’re doing Get set up, send Preeling back, and let us know Then Preeling fires two quick rounds as a signal, count twenty seconds exactly, then bang-bang Got it?”

They had it

Rio, Jenou, and Cat crawl to the nearest doorway on their right Easier said than done, given that rubble practically chokes the doorway in question Athe charcoal body to fine ash Once inside they find a barbershop with a single swivel chair, shattered jars of pomade and perfume and hair dyes that fill the narrow room with a sweet chemical stink The wall they need to blow up is fronted by built-in cabinetry and a long mirror

“That’s a complication,” Jenou says

They are able to stand, the three of theer in the line of fire Rio has the feeling this may be the first time in three days she’s stood all the way up Cat rushes to the back of the shop and yells back, “My God, there’s toilet paper!”

“Take whatever you don’t use!” Jen

ou says There is a chronic shortage of toilet paper

Rio and Jenou, side by side, stare at their reflections in the barber’swomen, uniformed, covered in dust, faces white with sweat-streaked plaster dust, helmets low on their foreheads, rifle and carbine respectively propped on hips, and in Rio’s case a big knife strapped to her thigh

Jenou sighs “I remember when I used to be sexy”

Rio nods and sighs “Dear Strand: this is a picture of me at work”