"Olshaker, Mark - Unnatural Causes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Olshaker Mark)

How could he move him with that gaping leg wound? Again, only one
possibility. Thorpe opened the small first-aid kit on his canvas belt
pouch and took out two sixteen-milligram morphine Syrettes-all he had.
He knelt down and tore away the shredded tiger-stripe camouflage cloth
from the area around McNeely's thigh. He unscrewed the needle cover of
the first Syrette and pushed in the wire stylet to break the seal. Then
he jabbed the Syrette into the leg and slowly squeezed the tube until
all the liquid was gone. He did the same with the second Syrette.
McNeely uttered a low moan.

jarring him as little as possible, Thorpe unhooked his web belt. He
looped it around McNeely's upper leg, pulled tight, and waited an
instant. It wasn't enough. The blood was still gushing.

Now there was no choice. "Forgive me, jerry," he whispered.

He extracted his survival knife from its leather sheath. He stripped
away the remaining fabric of the pant leg and aligned the blade
perpendicular to the thigh, right above the wound. Then he pressed down
with all his weight, forcing the knife through the leg. McNeely opened
his mouth wide in agony but passed out before making a sound. Quickly
then Thorpe pulled the belt tourniquet as tight as he could. As
gingerly as possible he dressed the stump in gauze, then wiped the knife
off and replaced it in its sheath.

He was ready to move out when he heard the rustling. He crouched down,
listening intently. After a few seconds he saw him-a single Charley
scout off in the dense bushes. In a moment the scout would find him and
McNeely. He couldn't outrun the guy under these conditions. He would
have to take him out.

SEAL training emphasizes precision and surprise. Thorpe would need
both. He left the unconscious McNeely lying on the ground as bait and
positioned himself behind the nearest tree.

He withdrew a length of concertina wire from his utility pouch, uncoiled
it, and formed it into a loop. Then he tossed a stone near McNeely's
head to draw the Charley's attention. When the scout came sniffing up,
Thorpe saw a smile of delighted surprise cross his face. He knelt down
over the body. Instantly Thorpe sprang the entire distance from the
tree. In the same motion he threw the wire garrote over the scout's
head and pulled the wire tight. The body slumped silently to the
ground.

Thorpe quickly evaluated McNeely. Confident that the bleeding had now
stopped, he checked his compass, then hoisted McNeely up on his back and
waded through the swampy forest in the direction of the landing zone.

With his eye continually on the lurking dangers of the tree line, he
slogged through the soft muck of the tidal ponds and the shallow water