He moved fast down the corridor.On the right was a treatment room with cupboards.The water still lay on the ground, but the cupboards were closed and a stretcher board was blocking the way.
Perfect.He passed the stretcher to Mila.“Can you carry this?”
“Yeah.”She took it and tucked it under her arm like a surfboard.
Quickly he opened a cupboard and grinned.Bandages, all still in plastic packaging.He radioed camp.“Medical centre survived mostly intact.Be back soon.”
“Copy.”
He gathered what Axle needed, shoving it into his pack.“Let’s go.”
Mila turned to follow him from the room and the stretcher knocked against the bench, brushing items to the floor in a crash.
“Sorry,” Mila whispered.
Dobby winced and held up a hand for her to stay still, waiting for the telltale sounds of someone coming.
He counted it out, mindful of the time they had before the next wave.Just as he was about to move forward he heard the pitter-patter of small feet.It took him only a second to place it.
Dog.
He pressed Mila back, putting her behind the door and placing a finger against her lips so she knew to stay silent.
She nodded, and he raised his rifle, waiting.
Voices called from outside.
Mila shifted closer, her breasts pressing into his side as she murmured, “They’re calling for the dog.”
For a second he was distracted by her closeness before his training kicked in.Agus’s men didn’t know where the dog was.That was a good start.
The dog crept into the treatment room, body low and tense.Would it remember the jerky he’d given it earlier?
Mila squatted, but he couldn’t focus on what she was doing.If the dog attacked, he’d have to kill it, which would bring the other men into the medical centre.
Something splatted right in front of the dog.It jerked back and then sniffed at it.
A fish.
Mila had thrown it a fish.
Smart thinking.
The dog wagged its tail cautiously and picked it up.
Another yell, closer this time and the dog’s ears pricked.It gave them another glance and then trotted out of the room with its prize.
Dobby exhaled, but still he waited as the voice yelled something else, followed by a thwack and a high-pitched yelp.
It was a weak man who hit an animal.He shifted, bringing Mila closer to his side, needing to know exactly where she was.They weren’t out of danger yet.
Another yell and Mila gasped, and then her terrified whimper struck a chord deep inside him.
“What is it?”he demanded, his voice low.
“The next wave is coming.They’re clearing out.”
Shit.He squeezed her hand.“Let’s get out of here.”
