Mitla Pass - Leon Uris [190]
“How long have we got?”
“The way I figure it, if our two northern columns haven’t reached the Canal by tomorrow night and if we haven’t captured Sharm al-Sheikh by the fourth, we’re fucked.”
“Why don’t I take our combat team and head south now?” Ben Asher asked. “You can start with the rest of the brigade tomorrow morning and we can leapfrog down to Sharm.”
“With France and England out of it, the Egyptians may get bold and release their reserves. I don’t want to get pinned down here at the Pass.”
Ben Asher nodded that he understood. The two were in accord for the first time. “What do you want me to do, Zech?”
“Capture Mitla Pass.”
“We’re going to get our asses fried.”
“So, well get our asses fried. Dayan did the same kind of thing during the War of Independence. He broke orders so he could take Lydda. We still have the basic rule of war: that the commander in the field can make the ultimate decision. You being in agreement is all the support I need.”
“Let’s talk about this plan,” the major said. “I don’t like taking our armor, men, and vehicles right through the middle of the wadi bed. The Egyptians will be entrenched over the top of us, shooting down.”
“There is no easy way. We have no room for tactical finesse. As soon as we encounter fire, disperse for the best cover and keep the Egyptians pinned down. That will give the Recon unit the opportunity to climb the cliffs near the Egyptian positions and get above them at the Heitan Defile. It’s going to be a dirty day, Major, a very dirty day.”
Captain Kofsky entered. “The troops are formed, Zech,” he said.
“I’ll give them a little pep talk,” Colonel Z. said.
THE TAUNTING MYSTERY of Mitla Pass was about to be answered. That silent conglomerate of massed pale red rock loomed large as the Lions moved forward into its ominous but alluring jaws.
As they entered the wadi bed and the Pass itself, Gideon and Shlomo lifted a fifty-caliber air-cooled machine gun onto a stationary pole attached to the command truck. The gun was set down on its swivel, and Gideon whistled lightly through his teeth as he swung it around in an arc to set up his field of fire. In a moment they were inside, beneath hundreds of feet of sheer cliffs filled with fissures and caves. Where was the enemy? They could be there, there, there, or there. Anywhere? Holy shit. A platoon of Marines could hold this pass forever.
Scared, Gideon whistled “Just Before the Battle, Mother” beneath his breath. It was like the landing at Tarawa ... jumping out into chest-high water with the Japs pouring fire at them.
Gideon signaled to Shlomo to feed a belt of ammunition to him. He cracked the bolt twice as Shlomo tidied it to feed it in straight, so it wouldn’t jam. They were ready.
“Forward to Ben Asher, do you read me?”
“Ben Asher to Forward, loud and clear.”
“Forward to Ben Asher, no sight of enemy.”
“Ben Asher to Forward, how far in are you?”
“Forward to Ben Asher, one mile.”
“Ben Asher to Forward, slow your movement. Look for cover if you are attacked. Ben Asher to all units, look around you for cover.”
The tanks crunched the rock, and the heavy trucks tossed their human cargo around, as the mass of rock in the wadi bed grew larger from slides. Up and down the canyon walls a discordant cantata of half-track engines roaring and barfing exhaust.
“Forward to Ben Asher, Heitan Defile dead ahead.”
“Ben Asher to Recon, hide your vehicles and commence climbing out of enemy sight. Work your way over the top of Defile.”
“Recon to Ben Asher, order received.”
“Ben Asher to Recon, can you estimate length of time needed to scale Defile?”
“Recon to Ben Asher, rough estimate, three or four hours.”
“Shit,” Ben Asher mumbled. “Okay, we’d better prepare for a messy day. Ben Asher to all units. Start seeking cover immediately outside of wadi bed. Dig in, cover Recon unit. Hit anything that moves. Keep enemy pinned.”
The instant the Recon unit began their climb, a smoke shell from the caves in the Defile arched out and down to the wadi