Civilian Slaughter by James Rouch Page B

walked over to him.
    “There is a little matter to be settled, Major.” While most of the girls were in jeans and sloppy jumpers, or voluminous track suits, Lilly was in a tailored jumpsuit. And instead of the sneakers sported by the others, she wore short high heeled boots.
    From a pocket Revell took the cloth wrapped packet whose contents they had jointly gone through the previous evening. As he handed it over he placed on top the thick wad of notes that made up the agreed price.
    Ignoring the stack of a paper, Lilly uncovered the small parcel's contents. She prodded through the assorted gem-set items of jewellery. “No offence, Major, but I learned long ago that in business one can never be too careful.”
    “None taken. It's all there.” Despite his reassurance he noticed that she continued her inventory until satisfied.
    “Good, I do not have to ask if your men had a good night.” She smiled as she surveyed the bleary eyed and haggard soldiers now finally drawn up in two ragged ranks.
    For the first time Revell noticed wrinkles at the corners of her eyes that skilfully applied make-up couldn't quite conceal. They did nothing to detract from her looks. Blue-green eyes, perfect teeth and skilfully cut and tinted hair made her outstandingly beautiful.
    “At this rate you'll be able to retire soon.”
    Cramming the payment into a slim white leather purse, she shook her blond hair. “Another five years perhaps. Much of this goes to the girls. I have to pay well or I lose them to the competition, but this is our last time on the road. Tomorrow we move into a proper establishment. It is in Hanover, the City Hotel on Limburgstrasse, do you know it?”
    “No, but if it's in the centre you'll be closed down within a week.” “I do not think so, Hanover is now virtually an open city. Some of the suburbs have changed hands so many times the children understand Russian as well as they do German.”
    “Is the overcrowding as bad as ever?” Revell could remember the families of refugees camped in the streets, choking the city centre.
    “Worse than it has ever been, but where there are people there is always money, or its equivalent.”
    Revell watched her go back to her transport, the tight fit of her outfit across her bottom revealing that she wore no underwear. As soon as she was aboard the ex- Russian vehicles pulled out, wallowing across the heavily rutted grass.
    A strongly built girl waved vigorously from an open roof hatch. Her heavy breasts swung unrestrained inside her tracksuit top.
    It was Dooley, Revell noticed, who sheepishly made an answering gesture. He stopped abruptly when he saw he was drawing attention to himself.
    “I hope those Russians are a docile bunch.” Hyde had been scrutinizing the company. “The state they're in, they'd have problems controlling a church choir.”
    “They should be, if they're allowing them out of the cages.” Try as he might though, Revell couldn't entirely convince himself of that. He kept recalling the colonel's description of the improvised construction battalion.
    Garrett leaned out from the rear radio compartment of the Hummer, nearly strangling himself on the headset cord. “They're almost here, Major.”
    “They'd have been here by now,” Hyde glowered at the PFC. “That's if you'd read the bloody map correctly and passed on the right grid reference when they got lost.”
    “I wonder what sort of escort they have.” Having finally persuaded his Dutch pioneer platoon to form ranks, Vokes had deserted them so as not to be upset by their constantly changing places to discuss with friends; the events of the night.
    “We'll know in a few minutes. Probably got some staff officer from Division tagging along, to make sure we don't goof off. That's why I've had the men turn out, for the sake of appearances.” Revell cast a pained look over his command. “Not so sure it's a good idea any more though. Sergeant Hyde!”
    “Sir.” ; “Do something with them, will