I fell to the ground behind him and grabbed the revolver that I had kicked a little earlier. I turned it towards the angry figure and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened - it was jammed.
The burly German stopped about three steps away from me and I moved closer to the body of the fallen German, who was still convulsing. He raised the submachine gun to his shoulder and aimed at me deliberately with slow movements. I saw his right eye half-closing as the other focused through the scope. The barrel steadied.
I was frozen. I couldn't move. Then, a flash and it was all over...
I saw his shoulder tremble as he pulled the trigger and a red splatter stained his forehead.
Sergeant Ray Thompson looked at me intently from the edge of the cliff, his rifle still smoking.
"Close call, sir," he said with a smile, as he climbed up to retrieve the bag he had thrown up first. "If you don't mind - forgive me - I don't think you should rush too much, sir!".
"Believe me, Sergeant," I said in the most normal voice I could, "you don't have to tell me... From now on, I'll be giving orders from behind!"