English
Quicklyhedrewhisknifefromhispocket,openeditonthebreastworkoftheparapet,andrippedopenthesleeve.Therewasasmallholewherethebullethadentered.Ontheothersidetherewasnohole.Thebullethadlodgedinthebone.Itmusthavefracturedit.Hebentthearmbelowthewound.thearmbentbackeasily.Hegroundhisteethtoovercomethepain.
Thentakingouthisfielddressing,herippedopenthepacketwithhisknife.Hebroketheneckoftheiodinebottleandletthebitterfluiddripintothewound.Aparoxysmofpainsweptthroughhim.Heplacedthecottonwaddingoverthewoundandwrappedthedressingoverit.Hetiedtheendswithhisteeth.
Thenhelaystillagainsttheparapet,and,closinghiseyes,hemadeaneffortofwilltoovercomethepain.
Inthestreetbeneathallwasstill.Thearmoredcarhadretiredspeedilyoverthebridge,withthemachinegunner'sheadhanginglifelessovertheturret.Thewoman'scorpselaystillinthegutter.
Thesniperlaystillforalongtimenursinghiswoundedarmandplanningescape.Morningmustnotfindhimwoundedontheroof.Theenemyontheoppositeroofcoverdhisescape.Hemustkillthatenemyandhecouldnotusehisrifle.Hehadonlyarevolvertodoit.Thenhethoughtofaplan.
Takingoffhiscap,heplaceditoverthemuzzleofhisrifle.Thenhepushedtherifleslowlyupwardovertheparapet,untilthecapwasvisiblefromtheoppositesideofthestreet.Almostimmediatelytherewasareport,andabulletpiercedthecenterofthecap.Thesniperslantedtherifleforward.Thecapclippeddownintothestreet.Thencatchingtherifleinthemiddle,thesniperdroppedhislefthandovertheroofandletithang,lifelessly.Afterafewmomentshelettherifledroptothestreet.Thenhesanktotheroof,dragginghishandwithhim.
Crawlingquicklytohisfeet,hepeeredupatthecorneroftheroof.Hisrusehadsucceeded.Theothersniper,seeingthecapandriflefall,thoughtthathehadkilledhisman.Hewasnowstandingbeforearowofchimneypots,lookingacross,withhisheadclearlysilhouettedagainstthewesternsky.
TheRepublicansnipersmiledandliftedhisrevolverabovetheedgeoftheparapet.Thedistancewasaboutfiftyyards--ahardshotinthedimlight,andhisrightarmwaspaininghimlikeathousanddevils.Hetookasteadyaim.Hishandtrembledwitheagerness.Pressinghislipstogether,hetookadeepbreaththroughhisnostrilsandfired.Hewasalmostdeafenedwiththereportandhisarmshookwiththerecoil.
Thenwhenthesmokecleared,hepeeredacrossandutteredacryofjoy.Hisenemyhadbeenhit.Hewasreelingovertheparapetinhisdeathagony.Hestruggledtokeephisfeet,buthewasslowlyfallingforwardasifinadream.Theriflefellfromhisgrasp,hittheparapet,fellover,boundedoffthepoleofabarber'sshopbeneathandthenclatteredonthepavement.
Thenthedyingmanontheroofcrumpledupandfellforward.Thebodyturnedoverandoverinspaceandhitthegroundwithadullthud.Thenitlaystill.
Thesniperlookedathisenemyfallingandheshuddered.Thelustofbattlediedinhim.Hebecamebittenbyremorse.Thesweatstoodoutinbeadsonhisforehead.Weakenedbyhiswoundandthelongsummerdayoffastingandwatchingontheroof,herevoltedfromthesightoftheshatteredmassofhisdeadenemy.Histeethchattered,hebegantogibbertohimself,cursingthewar,cursinghimself,cursingeverybody.
Helookedatthesmokingrevolverinhishand,andwithanoathhehurledittotheroofathisfeet.Therevolverwentoffwithaconcussionandthebulletwhizzedpastthesniper'shead.Hewasfrightenedbacktohissensesbytheshock.Hisnervessteadied.Thecloudoffearscatteredfromhismindandhelaughed.
Takingthewhiskeyflaskfromhispocket,heemptieditadrought.Hefeltrecklessundertheinfluenceofthespirit.Hedecidedtoleavetheroofnowandlookforhiscompanycommander,toreport.Everywherearoundwasquiet.Therewasnotmuchdangeringoingthroughthestreets.Hepickeduphisrevolverandputitinhispocket.Thenhecrawleddownthroughtheskylighttothehouseunderneath.
Whenthesniperreachedthelanewayonthestreetlevel,hefeltasuddencuriosityastotheidentityoftheenemysniperwhomhehadkilled.Hedecidedthathewasagoodshot,whoeverhewas.Hewondereddidheknowhim.Perhapshehadbeeninhisowncompanybeforethesplitinthearmy.Hedecidedtoriskgoingovertohavealookathim.HepeeredaroundthecornerintoO'ConnellStreet.Intheupperpartofthestreettherewasheavyfiring,butaroundhereallwasquiet.
Thesniperdartedacrossthestreet.Amachineguntoreupthegroundaroundhimwithahailofbullets,butheescaped.Hethrewhimselffacedownwardbesidethecorpse.Themachinegunstopped.
Thenthesniperturnedoverthedeadbodyandlookedintohisbrother'sface.
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