Chapter 210:Crossing.
The heavy transport truck finally climbed out of the rushing water, its massive tires found dry ground with a loud crunch, sending sheets of muddy water cascading from the undercarriage.
The driver leaned out of his window and raised a clenched fist.
"I’m across!"
A wave of relieved laughter spread through both sides of the river. The first crossing had succeeded.
Captain Harry immediately grabbed his radio.
"Good. Stay where you are and provide covering fire from the opposite bank."
"Understood."
The transport truck turned slightly, giving the mounted machine gun atop its cabin a clear view of the bridge. Two contractors climbed onto the roof, rifles already aimed toward the water.
The next vehicle rolled forward, it was a smaller armored pickup carrying four contractors. Unlike the transport truck, it weighed considerably less.
The moment its front wheels entered the flooded bridge, the current shoved violently against its side. The pickup drifted several inches before the driver corrected.
"Steady..." Silver muttered.
The engine growled as the driver maintained a constant speed. Halfway across, a shadow darted beneath the muddy water.
"There!" One of the snipers shouted.
Bang!
A high-caliber round struck the river and the muddy water exploded upward. For a split second, a massive crocodilian surfaced, its armored head burst above the water, jaws opened wide enough to engulf the pickup’s front wheel.
Boom!
Another sniper fired, the bullet striking one of its eyes. The beast twisted violently before sinking beneath the surface.
The pickup never stopped moving. Several tense seconds later, it climbed onto the opposite bank.
"Second vehicle clear!"
Captain Harry nodded.
"Next!"
One after another, the convoy began crossing. Each vehicle entered only after the previous one had almost reached the opposite side.
The process was painfully slow but it prevented congestion if something went wrong.
Silver watched carefully.
Every driver followed the exact same path. The bridge itself remained invisible beneath the muddy water, only the tops of the guardrails marked its location. Even then, the rails disappeared beneath the strongest waves.
Ravenna folded her arms.
"I don’t like this."
Silver smiled faintly.
"I don’t think anyone does."
Three more vehicles crossed successfully. Each time, the crocodilian beasts attempted an ambush, the marksmen stationed on both riverbanks forced them back before they could reach the bridge.
The beasts weren’t weak, they were simply patient searching for a mistake, then... The sixth vehicle entered.
Unlike the others, it was towing a cargo trailer loaded with supplies. The added weight slowed it considerably.
Silver immediately frowned.
"Too slow."
Captain Harry noticed the same thing.
"More throttle!"
The driver accelerated, the engine roaring. Water surged around the wheels.
The trailer swayed violently behind the truck, then, the river erupted. Three crocodilian beasts burst from beneath the bridge almost simultaneously.
Their timing was perfect.
One slammed into the trailer from the left, another struck the front bumper and the third clamped its jaws around the rear axle.
The truck lurched violently, its front wheels briefly leaving the bridge. The entire vehicle began sliding sideways.
"Fire!"
Gunshots thundered from both riverbanks, bullets hammering the crocodilians. Several struck their thick scales and ricocheted harmlessly away while others found softer flesh around the eyes and mouths.
The first beast released the trailer but the second remained attached, its enormous jaws crushed metal like paper. The driver fought desperately to straighten the truck.
Silver’s eyes narrowed.
"...They’re stronger in the water."
Ravenna nodded.
"They’re using the current."
The truck drifted another meter, its left wheels nearly slipping beyond the edge of the submerged bridge. Several contractors on the opposite bank unleashed elemental attacks.
Ice Spears pierced the water, wind Blades carved deep trenches across the river’s surface and fireballs exploded against armored backs, forcing the crocodilians to retreat.
Finally, the truck regained traction, its engine screaming.
Slowly but painfully, it climbed toward the far bank. Cheers erupted from the convoy. The driver climbed halfway out of his window and laughed loudly.
"I thought I was dead!"
One of the contractors across the river answered.
"You almost were!"
Even Captain Harry allowed himself a brief smile.
"Keep moving! We’re only halfway finished!"
The crossing resumed.
Silver glanced toward the river again, the crocodilians had disappeared.
"They’re getting smarter," Ravenna quietly observed.
Silver nodded.
"They know shooting at them from shore is dangerous, so they’re changing tactics."
She looked at him.
"You think they’ll attack underwater?"
"I would."
Almost as he finished speaking, a loud splash echoed downstream. Another crocodilian surfaced, then another; instead of attacking, they swam parallel to the bridge, keeping pace with the convoy.
Captain Harry immediately noticed.
"Snipers! Track those two!"
The marksmen adjusted their rifles, but firing became difficult. The beasts exposed only their eyes above the muddy current.
Silver watched silently.
The crocodilians weren’t trying to attack, not yet, they were waiting for the right opportunity.
Several more vehicles crossed safely, soon, only seven remained on Silver’s side of the river; his own included.
Captain Harry approached.
"You two."
Silver looked up.
"You’re next after the fuel truck."
Silver nodded calmly.
"Understood."
Ravenna quietly climbed back into the passenger seat. She placed her sniper rifle across her lap before fastening her seatbelt.
Silver restarted the engine, the familiar rumble settling his nerves. He checked everything one final time and adjusted the mirror.
The fuel truck ahead slowly entered the flooded bridge, as water surged around its wheels. The current pushed relentlessly against its side.
The truck leaned, then corrected, continuing forward. Halfway across, a crocodilian exploded upward beneath the trailer, its jaws slamming shut around one tire. The entire truck shook violently.
Before the beast could pull...
Boom!
Ravenna fired.
The sniper round crossed the river in an instant. The crocodilian’s jaw exploded apart, its body disappearing beneath the muddy current. Several contractors looked back in surprise.
Captain Harry smiled.
"Good shot."
Ravenna simply chambered another round. The fuel truck reached the opposite side safely.
Captain Harry turned toward Silver.
"You’re up."
Silver took a slow breath.
"...Let’s do this."
He eased the vehicle forward. The front tires touched the submerged bridge. Immediately, muddy water surged around both sides of the car.
The current struck like a living thing; powerful and relentless. Silver tightened both hands around the steering wheel.
Their vehicle continued creeping deeper into Hell’s River.