Winter Sniper 03 Assaulting the Commissar, page 21
part #3 of Winter Sniper Series
“How far do you want me to go?” Baako asked.
“I don’t want you to stop until you find another good place to set up a nest, so go as far as you need to.” Hale replied, then quickly added, “Don’t start moving until I get into position.”
Hale set his Mosin-Nagant on the ground beside him and then slowly sat up. Clenching his teeth he inched his eyes above the edge of the ditch and looked northward. Not seeing anything, he picked his rifle up and used the edge of the ditch to rest the barrel of the weapon upon as he peered northward hoping to catch sight of the enemy sniper.
“Move out.” Hale ordered.
Baako began to noisily move westward, using the ditch for cover. He was careful to keep his body below the top edge of the natural gully to deny the enemy a shot. As the sounds of his movement slowly faded away, Hale continued to keep watch for the enemy.
After many nerve wracking minutes of nothing, he threw a glance in Baako’s direction as the sound of his movement disappeared. The glance nearly cost Hale his life, as a bullet slammed into the ground just inches to the left of Hale’s head. This caused him to look frantically for a target as he mentally counted off to four, the amount of time needed to work the bolt on a Mosin-Nagant, and take aim.
When his count reached four, he ducked down into the ditch. This bastard is good. Hopefully Baako found a good spot. He thought, as he gave up on his position and began following the ditch to the west. Like Baako before him, Hale took extra care to not present any part of his body as a target above the protective cover provided by the ditch. Unlike Baako he took great care to remain as silent as possible, so the Soviet sniper would hear that he was on the move, Hopefully the swine waits so long for me to make my next move that he freezes to death.
After an hour of painfully moving southward in a stooped posture using the ditch for cover, Hale came upon Baako. Abruptly, the ditch faded away into a flat patch of land. Approximately one hundred meters from the edge of the ditch, a natural contour of the land formed an east-west running ridgeline.
As Hale emerged from the ditch, he looked around. Spotting Baako’s tracks, he began to follow them with his eyes until they came to rest on the small ridgeline just ahead. Hale peered at the top. After several moments his eyes were able to see the slightly darker white of Baako’s hood as the man kept his weapon trained on the ditch.
Hale glanced quickly back to reassure himself that the Soviet sniper wasn’t about to put a bullet in his back. Satisfied, he quickly made his way across the clearing and then up the side of the ridgeline. As he climbed the slight incline, he struggled to move through the heavy snow that sat upon it. The combination of his injury, blood loss, lack of sleep, and the weight of all the gear he bore, was nearly too much for the injured Fin to overcome.
As Hale reached the top, he collapsed to his knees in exhaustion. This decision saved his life as a bullet zipped through the air he had just occupied a moment before his collapse. Baako, who had been keeping an eye out for movement to the north, thought he saw movement and fired.
As the two enemies exchanged fire, Hale, reacting quickly, despite his fatigue, threw himself to the ground and rolled down the incline. He looked up at Baako as his subordinate worked the bolt on his rifle to chamber another round, “Did you get him?”
“I’m not sure.” Baako replied.
“But you had a target?” Hale asked.
“I thought I had seen something.” Baako replied. The tone of his voice betrayed the growing anxiety he felt.
“What do you mean you thought? Didn’t Sergeant Kivi teach you to only shoot when you know?” Hale growled in frustration.
“Yes, but.” Baako’s voice trailed off.
“But what?” Hale demanded.
“I was scared.” Baako admitted.
Trying to ease his frustration, Hale took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He watched the giant steam cloud this created slowly dissipate right above him. His anger now under control, Hale crawled up to where Baako lay on the ground and looked into his subordinate’s eyes as he placed his right hand on the Finnish Private’s shoulders, “It’s normal to be scared, but you can’t let those feelings get in the way of making smart decisions, especially as a sniper. You do not know how many chances you are going to get to slay an enemy so you must make the most of each opportunity.”
“I’m sorry, sir.” Baako said as tears began to well up in his eyes.
Hale squeezed Baako’s shoulder reassuringly, “It’s a mistake we all make in the beginning, you have nothing to be sorry about. In fact, be thankful that you are still alive to make the mistake. Makani and Vadik weren’t as lucky as you.”
“What do we do now, Sergeant?” Baako asked.
“We wait. The bastard knows where we are now, but we have good cover here. You keep an eye on the east, and I’ll keep an eye on the west. With luck, he’ll attempt to flank us, and we can put an end to him. I imagine it will take an hour or two before he decides that we have continued on before moving.
The two men waited in silence as the minutes slowly ticked by. As the first hour came and went uneventfully, it began to snow. Between the blood loss and his exhaustion, Hale struggled to stay awake as he peered westward through the falling snowflakes. Losing the battle against his fatigue, he closed his eyes.
Hale awoke with a start. How long had I been asleep? He wondered.
Whispering, he asked, “Baako are you there?”
“Yes.” Hale’s subordinate whispered back.
“Have you seen or heard anything?” Hale asked.
“Only the snowflakes as they hit the ground, how about you?” Baako said.
“Nothing on this end.” Hale said, too embarrassed to admit that he had fallen asleep.
“Do you think he’s still waiting?” Baako wondered.
“I don’t know.” Hale replied.
“How are you feeling? Are you strong enough to move?” Baako asked.
“I think so.” Hale replied.
“What’s the plan?” Baako inquired.
Hale looked around. The freshly fallen snow covered the land giving it a picturesque wintery forest look. “Let’s hold tight here, it will be dark in a few hours. If he hasn’t shown himself by then, we can use the cover of darkness to break contact and return to the camp.”
The two men watched and waited for the Soviet to make the next move. With about an hour to go before sunset, a single shot from a Mosin-Nagant pierced the sounds of the forest from the south. Simultaneously, Baako cried out in pain, as a bullet slammed into his right side.
Hale, not knowing precisely where the shooter was, lurched to his feet and stumbled over the top of the ridge line as he fled northward. The sound of a second shot pierced the frigid air. As Hale tumbled down the north side of the ridge, the sound of a bullet buzzed by overhead, He was trying to hit me.
Coming to rest at the bottom of the ridge, Hale called out, “Baako, are you still alive?”
Baako replied with a barely audible whisper, “Barely. Hale, I’m so cold.”
“Hang on, I’ll try and get this bastard once and for all.” Hale replied.
He started crawling toward the east. His injured shoulder protested ferociously causing his vision to swim, and his thoughts to fill with nothing, save fatigue and pain. Fighting through his body’s protests, Hale continued to crawl another ten meters eastward. Satisfied he was far enough away from the point where he tumbled down the small hill, he began crawling towards the top of the ridge.
Reaching the top, he drew his pukko blade, and held his hat up over the top of the ridge where it would be visible from the other side. Nothing happened, He doesn’t see me.
Hale then crawled the last foot to the top of the ridge and peered over. The sharp crack of a rifle shot filled his ear as a bullet slammed into the snow just a few inches from his face, causing a plume of snow to shoot up into the air. Hale immediately jerked back below the horizon of the hill and safety.
“Did he get you?” Baako asked.
“No, he missed.” Hale replied.
“Can you do something quickly? I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open, and I’m so cold.” Baako replied in a faint voice.
“Let me try shifting position again.” Hale glanced to his left and saw an evergreen tree, sitting right on the summit of the small hill about ten meters to the east. Maybe if I use a tree for cover, he won’t see me get into position.”
“Just please hurry. I’m bleeding a lot and my side has gone numb.” Baako replied, in a raspy weakening voice.
“I’ll do my best Baako, just hang on.”
Hale allowed his body to roll to the bottom of the hill, and then using it as cover, he quickly covered the ten meters in a stooped posture to his chosen spot to ascend. He got back down on his chest and slithered up the side of the hill, until he reached the concealment of the fir tree. This time, he didn’t test to see if he had been spotted by crawling directly under the tree.
Once he was in position, he shifted the branches so he could see outward, and then took aim with his rifle at the location he suspected the enemy sniper to be. Nothing further happened as the light of the day began to fade. As the sun set and the dying light of twilight gave way to the darkness, a shot rang out.
Baako cried out in agony as he was hit for the second time. This time, Hale saw a muzzle flash and took a shot at the enemy. Seeing Hale’s muzzle flash out of the corner of his eye, Kuzenetsov shifted his rifle aim slightly and fired in Hale’s direction. Not knowing precisely where the Fin was, he missed.
Hale fired again at the muzzle flash. Once more the enemy sniper did not cry out in pain, Did I miss again? Does this bastard have nine lives?
“Baako, are you still with me?” Hale called out. His inquiry was met with silence.
I’ve lost all of them! I am not fit to command. Hale’s thoughts were filled with self-flagellation over the loss of his men. The thoughts caused his heartbeat to race, which in turn caused his injured shoulder to throb. The pain was almost unbearable, and Hale struggled for several moments to stay conscious.
Hale took several deep breaths and let them out slowly. This slowed the beat of his heart, which caused the throbbing pain to diminish to a more bearable level. With the light now fully gone, he decided to head east behind the ridgeline in an attempt to misdirect the enemy sniper and break contact. Rest in peace Baako, I’m sorry I can’t give you a proper burial.
Hale began his journey by shambling in the stooped posture for about two hundred meters before he stopped, lowered himself to the ground, and then ascended the ridgeline. Once he reached the top, he waited and listened for several minutes to confirm the enemy was not nearby. In the pitch black of the moonless night, Hale wasn’t worried about being spotted, but given the enemy sniper’s uncanny ability to keep track of him, he wasn’t taking any chances.
Hale waited for half an hour before he was satisfied, he was alone. As the temperature plunged, Hale began to shiver, I can’t risk laying on the ground any longer. My body is close to surrendering to hypothermia, so I’d better get moving to warm up.
Hale came to his feet and began slowly walking southwestward towards the camp. For the first hour, he would stop every few minutes and listen to confirm he wasn’t being followed.
Kuznetsov smiled as he squatted and plucked a bit of red snow from the ground. As he examined it, to confirm his suspicions he thought, This fool has no idea I’m following him. Hopefully he’ll lead me to their camp before he bleeds out from the gunshot wound I gave him.
Kuznetsov followed about two hundred meters behind Hale. This distance was too far back for visual contact, but in his exhausted state, Hale did not have the energy to cover his tracks. This continued for several hours until Kuznetsov saw a faint glow on the horizon, That has to be the camp.
The crafty Soviet sniper halted about half a kilometer from the center of the Finnish camp. This kept him well outside the perimeter of guards that was likely set to keep an eye on the approaches to the camp. The Commissar will be pleased.
Chapter 16
Just after midnight, Near The Finnish Camp, Five Kilometers North of the Soviet Border, Karelia Isthmus, Finland,
December 22nd, 1939
Hale stumbled through the vast Karelian forest. His mind was clouded by fatigue, numbness from the oppressive cold, and pain from his injury. His vision filled with shadowy circles that danced and spun, backlit by the flickering of campfires just ahead, “Sergeant Karhonen is that you?” Private Jaco asked.
Upon hearing the voice, Hale mumbled something incoherent and collapsed to his knees. Jaco ran to Hale, and said, “Are you all right sir?”
Hale looked up at Jaco as if to speak, before falling forward onto the snow and passing out. Jaco, noticing the blood stain on Hale’s white coat, yelled, “Medic!”
Jaco’s cry woke the camp and sent the other men on guard running towards the sound of his voice. The first to arrive, Nummi took one look at Hale, and dashed off toward the camp yelling, “Medic!”
Within minutes, blinking sleep away, Koskinen arrived on the scene with his bag. He knelt down beside Hale, and hissed at the blood stain on his shoulder, turning to Jaco he asked, “It’s too dark out here to get a good look at the wound, plus if we disrobe him at this temperature he’s likely to become hypothermic in minutes. Can you help me get him to Pekka’s tent?”
Jaco nodded in reply, and the two men worked together to lift Hale. Jaco picked him up by the legs, and Koskinen lifted him by his armpits. Koskinen tried to be mindful of the wound as they carried Hale towards the tent, but he woke up with a cry of pain. Disoriented and feeling strange hands on his body, Hale immediately started to struggle.
“Peace Hale, you are among friends.” Koskinen said with a voice full of reassurance.
It took Hale several seconds to recognize the Medic’s voice in the darkness, “Koskinen?”
“Yes.”
Koskinen felt Hale’s body relax and the pair resumed their trek towards Pekka’s tent. Upon arrival, they immediately carried Hale into the tent without asking for permission to enter. With the exception of a faint orange light emerging from the edges of the wood burning stove’s door, the tent was dark.
“Who's there?” Pekka asked.
“Koskinen, sir. With Hale and Jaco.”
“Hale!” Pekka exclaimed.
“He’s been shot. I need light so I can look at his wound.”
A moment later the sound of a match being struck could be heard and a faint light appeared, revealing Pekka’s face. Pekka took the lit match and used it to light the lantern that hung from the top of the tent over his cot. Once the lantern was lit, the interior of the tent was revealed to the three visitors.
Pekka pointed at an empty cot, with a blood stain on it, “That’s Hale’s cot, you can set him down there.”
“Can you get us some more light, sir?” Koskinen asked.
“Yes, there are several more lanterns I can light.” Pekka replied.
Koskinen turned to Hale and said, “I need to get your clothes off so I can see your wound. It will likely hurt.”
Hale chortled, “How much more could it hur-”
His statement ended abruptly as he cried out in pain. Koskinen finished removing Hale’s coat, and then one by one, with much grimacing and twisting of facial features, he managed to get all of Hale’s sweaters and shirts off.
While Koskinen had been working on removing Hale’s clothing, Pekka had been busy lighting the other lanterns. The flames within hissed and occasionally sputtered as they cast soft light. Three of the devices now hung over Hale’s cot from the tent’s framing overhead. Koskinen kneeled down and reached into his back. Pulling out a bottle of vodka, he turned to Jaco and asked, “I’m going to need some water to wash the wound. I can’t see anything with all this blood.”
“I’ll bring the pot that we keep over the fire to melt snow.” Jaco replied as he left the tent.
Koskinen opened the vodka and poured some on his fingers, he then took a swig from the bottle and poured some of it over the wound. Hale sat bolt upright and screamed in pain as the fiery liquid burned within his wound. His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he glared at Koskinen and said, “You could have warned me you know.”
Koskinen pulled a small piece of wood out of his pack and said, “I need to figure out if the bullet is still in there. Here, bite down on this.”
Hale pursed his lips as he looked coldly at the medic while simultaneously, he reached out for the bottle of vodka with his good arm and snatched it out of Koskinen’s hands, “Hey! Don’t drink all of that, we need some of it to use as a disinfectant.”
“There’s sulfa packets in the first aid kit located in the footlocker.” Hale said, irritated that he wouldn't be allowed to drink more of the vodka before he gave the bottle back to Koskinen.
Koskinen’s eyes widened, “There’s sulfa here? We ran out of that in the first week of the war.”
Hale nodded as the medic placed the piece of wood just in front of Hale’s lips, who obligingly opened his mouth and bit down on the wood with his teeth. The earthy taste of the smooth wood contrasted sharply with the fiery flavor of the vodka still burning its way through his mouth and down his throat.
Koskinen took another sip from the bottle, before handing it over to Pekka who loomed over the two men trying to watch, “Hold this sir, I will need it when I am finished examining the wound.”
Jaco returned with a large black iron pot that he held by the bail using a rag to prevent his hands from burning. He set it down on the ground next to Koskinen and said, “Here you are.”
“Thanks.” Koskinen said as he pulled a sponge out of his pack and dipped it in the warm water.
The medic then squeezed the sponge over Hale’s wound. The water hitting his injury felt like liquid fire was being spread using a sharp knife. Hale’s cries of pain were muffled by the small piece of wood he was biting down on. Koskinen repeated this process several times, until most of the blood concealing the wound had been washed away.
“It looks like the bullet is still in his shoulder.” Koskinen said in a wobbly voice.
