-11-

Three Minutes of Silence

"Nora!"

Kay jumped into the crater and next to Nora. The newbie assistant driver lay on her back, soaked with mud. The pattering rain drops slowly cleared mud off of her face.

"Kay?" Nora strained.

"Yes! Yes, it's me!" Kay said, her voice many octaves higher than normal. "Oh, my god!"

Nora's left arm was reduced to a mangled stump where her elbow used to be.

"Lucky me," Nora weakly smiled. "I help. Take the rifle strap and tighten it on my left arm. Quickly."

Kay unhooked the sling from the front mount of the Type 89. She attempted to unhook the sling from the stock mount, but could not find a way to do it quickly. Kay took the entire rifle and began wrapping it around Nora's left arm. Kay saw Nora's green eyes shine in the dim fire light. Nora bit into the jacket sleeve of her right arm and nodded.

Kay pulled on the strap with all her might, tightening it around Nora's arm. Nora's screams were muffled, and she writhed with what strength she had. Kay tightened the knot around the arm.

Nora lay, shivering.

Kay climbed out of the crater, and grabbed Nora by her jacket. Kay leaned back. Kay groaned as she hauled Nora out of the crater and onto level ground. She slid her arms beneath Nora and stood up. Nora let out a squeak of pain. The eight-pound rifle swung from its stock sling mount, and dragged her left arm across her torso.

Kay set Nora back onto the ground, but kept the assistant driver propped up. She grabbed the rifle and laid it on Nora's chest. Nora held onto the rifle with a white-knuckled grip.

Kay got back up and walked towards the burning house. She gave all possible obstructions – craters, dropped weapons, bodies, and scattered chunks of meat – wide berths as she could not look directly at her feet. Kay laid Nora next to the still burning Locust and what was left of the front porch steps of the house. Kay cradled Nora's head in her lap, then Kay took off her jacket to cover them both from the downpour.

"Kay," Nora said softly. "Can you reload the rifle, please? I have an extra mag in my jacket pocket."

"Uhm, sure." Kay grabbed the rifle and the spare magazine.

Nora opened her eyes, and saw confusion in Kay's one open eye.

"There's a button on the right side," Nora instructed. "Push it in and take the mag out."

Kay flipped the mud-covered rifle over and pushed the button. The magazine ejected slightly, and Kay had to pull it out. She inserted the fresh magazine in, pushing until there was a gritty click.

"On the left there is a switch. Push it down."

Kay pulled down on the switch. There was the sound of wet, coarse sandpaper as the bolt sluggishly moved forward.

Nora frowned. "Pull the handle on the side and let it go."

Kay pulled the bolt back, ejecting a live round, and let it go. The bolt didn't slam home, but it was apparently good enough for Nora. Kay moved Nora's right hand to the pistol grip of the rifle. Nora naturally closed her fingers around the grip, and rested her index finger on the trigger guard.

"How do you know so much about this stuff?" Kay asked.

"I was in the airsoft club." Nora weakly smiled. "It was disbanded when Audrey graduated. It was fun. Sometimes we'd take things seriously, but most of the time we fooled around with fun game modes." She gave a soft chuckle. "Other girls run around with their AEGs, their Hi-Capas, and their Glocks, and there I was with a Tokyo Marui M66 revolver. Also, a TM Type 89 GBBR."

"Sounds like you had fun," Kay said, unaware of the meanings of any of the details Nora rattled off. "Why not take over as club president?"

"I don't think I can run a club. I needed one more year of extracurricular, so that's why I joined Tankery. It seemed like the most fun."

"When we get back to school, and you get out of the hospital," Kay said, swallowing a growing lump in her throat. "I'll help you get that club started again."

Nora just gave another weak smile. A tear formed at the corner of her eye and fell, mixing with dirt and rain drops as it slowly traveled down her temple.

"You don't need to do that," Nora whispered. "I had fun with you and Tankery."

Kay's tears started flowing.

"I had fun. And don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."

"No, no, don't say that!" Kay shouted through her tears. "You will get out of this!"

A trail of familiar headlights caught Kay's attention. One Tiger 1 and three Panthers were speeding down the hill towards the crossroads.

Kay lay her jacket in the mud and gently lowered Nora's head onto it. The Saunders captain grabbed two pieces of splintered wood, and shoved them into the house fire.

"Come on, come on!"

The soaked pieces of wood smoldered, but didn't catch a spark. Kay grabbed an already burning piece of wood and ran towards the road, waving it.

"Hey!"

She continued to wave it until the lights of the Tiger 1 turned towards her. She ran back towards Nora, still holding the torch up. Kay dropped the torch to pick up Nora. Nora made small noises of discomfort as she was moved into the princess carry position in Kay's arms. The lights of the Tiger were already upon them when Kay turned around.

"Maho!" Kay cried.

There was a second of silence.

"Kiyo! Aki!" Maho addressed her loader and gunner, respectively. "Help me get her in the tank! Geshiko, bring gauze and get up here!"

Kiyo and Aki helped Maho and Kay lower Nora into the Tiger's loader seat. Geshiko quickly arrived and jumped into the turret.

"Kiyo, Aki, jump on a tank!" Maho ordered. "Everyone, head back. Hyou, me, Sangou and Geshiko, in that order!"

Hyou's Panther left. The Tiger jolted into motion, and Kay was almost thrown to its engine deck. The Sangou's and Geshiko's Panthers followed suite, illuminating the Tankery captains on the back of the Tiger.

Maho looked at Kay.

The Saunders captain was exhausted. She was covered in mud. Her jacket was missing. Her wet hair stuck to her skin, and her dark blue T-shirt, soaked black, clung to her frame.

Any sign of the Kay that smacked Erika with a shovel was gone.

"You…you wanted to talk?" Maho asked.