Cady just sighed and grabbed them both by their suits, the casualty by the front and the other guy, who Cady recognized as the detail head, by the back, then darted to the wall and tossed them both over. The detail head, a supercilious and scrawny French asshole who’d been a particular pain in the ass, actually spent some time in midair. There was a nasty crack when he hit the ground.

“Medic!” Cady bellowed, heading down-range to third’s position. “And bring a splint!”

Captain Gries saw First Sergeant Cady toss two guys over the wall on the left-hand side of the road and nodded.

“Top’s up to form,” he murmured, as the massive NCO continued his sprint towards the rear of the column.

“Sir, we’re taking a lot of fire here,” Specialist Reynolds said nervously. “Maybe we should unass?”

“Negative,” Gries replied, glancing over his shoulder. He could see the point of third platoon, which had been almost entirely outside the ambush, heading around the side of the building. And the fire from the ambushers had already started to slack off. They were either running or being effectively suppressed by the counterfire from the infantry company. “We’ll be clear soon.”

He paused as the first sergeant switched from the left side of the street to the right, actually running into the ambush fire, and cracked open his door.

“How’s it going, Top?” Shane yelled as the NCO, who was carrying about seventy pounds in armor, weapons, water and ammo, thundered past like an Olympic sprinter.

“Cool as shit, sir!” First Sergeant Cady yelled back, his face splitting in a grin of white teeth that were startling against his skin. “I think I broke Dr. Caseaux’s arm!”