The Rat Patrol 2: Desert Danger Read Online Free PDF

in the back of our halftrack and toss them where they'll do the most good when we make the run for it."
    "Right-o," Moffitt said, chuckling. Then he gripped Hitch's arm and said quietly, "Down there, at the wall." Soldiers were spewing from the opening, separating and streaming along the wall to either side behind the last vehicles, going toward the rows of tents. The four guards who had been patrolling the armor now had lined up together to block off the corridor.
    "Come along," Moffitt said quickly. "We can at least get into the vehicles."
    He ran in a shambling crouch down the dark alleyway with Hitch loping behind him. Halfway to the wall, still cloaked by the blackness of the night, he dodged between two armored cars and, followed closely by Hitch, climbed over the side and dropped into the back of a halftrack. He slid down the metal wall and Hitch sat on the steel floor beside him.
    "It's going to be more than just my aching back by morning," Hitch said ruefully.
    "Easy now," Moffitt cautioned abruptly, stiffening and listening to the night. Despite the grumbling jumble of voices from the tents, he thought he had heard a distant whisper of slipping sands. Placing both hands on the steel bulwark of the halftrack, he vaulted over the side and cupped his ear a few inches from the ground. He distinctly heard the trickling sound that warns the desert-wise of someone's wary approach from far-off. He stood and whispered to Hitch, "Du kanst mir."
    "Maybe," Hitch replied under his breath, "If I knew what you were saying."
    Moffitt chuckled silently and asked, "Do you have your nylon noose?"
    "Natch," Hitch said as if the question were unnecessary. "What are you going to do?"
    "Intercept the enemy and entice him back here where we can deal with him," Moffitt said quietly. "Stand by for action."
    "You mean we're going to play rough again?" Hitch whispered.
    "It does look that way," Moffitt said and sighed.
    He edged along the cold armor of the halftrack to the corridor. Although Moffitt still was wrapped in the obscuring night, he could see the outline of a figure in a peaked cap striding toward him through a twilight zone. Shrinking within his robe, he slunk forward toward the Jerry.
    "Wo gehtz?" the German officer called sharply and his hand slapped to his holster and jerked out a Luger.
    Bobbing his head and clasping his hands before him, Moffitt took a few faltering steps toward the officer.
    "Mass'-el-Kheir, enfendi," he said in a plaintive voice. "Izayak?"
    Clearly not understanding the simple greeting in Arabic, the officer reached out a hard hand, seized Moffitt's robe in a bunch at his chest, shook him violently and threw him backwards. Moffitt crashed into the side of an armored car and staggered a few steps forward.
    "Was gehtz bei ihnen?" the officer demanded harshly and jammed the pistol into Moffitt's ribs.
    Moffitt giggled nervously and nodded his head apologetically. In halting German, he said, "Ich hab' eine fraulein." He described two generous arcs with his hands, took one step away and beckoned, repeating, "Eine fraulein."
    "Sie sprechen?" The German was amazed and lowered his pistol for a moment. Then he grasped Moffitt's shoulder roughly, spun him around and rammed the pistol in his kidney. "Wir wollen sehen aus," he growled and prodded Moffitt on.
    Moffitt stumbled down the line past two vehicles and turned into the narrow space between the second and third. The officer threw the crook of his arm around Moffitt's throat and ground the pistol deeper into his back. Locked together, they edged ahead in the black, soundless, motionless pocket. Moffitt tensed, ready to break the hammer-lock the moment Hitch struck.
    "Lailtak ayeeda atainaik behair," he muttered, hoping Hitch could locate them by the sound of his voice.
    The German's arm tightened like a vise. Moffitt gasped and choked, scarcely able to breathe.
    With a suddenness that surprised even Moffitt who was expecting it, Hitch lashed at the German with his