This is the usual disclaimer: I have no ownership in Garrison's Gorillas and derive no monetary gain from the story you are about to read. I do derive a fair amount of fun writing these things though and hope you enjoy them. dale
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Believe
He jerked his thumb toward the corner of the tent. "That the guy?"
"Yes, sir, that's him."
"How long's he been here Sergeant?"
"Oh, 'bout an hour."
"He get anything to eat?"
"Nope. Just been settin' there like that, the whole time."
"OK, I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, Lieutenant."
He stood inside the opening to the mess tent and watched the younger man for a moment. Well, he thought he was younger, it was hard to tell, the shape the guy was in. He was dressed in the remnants of a German officers uniform, torn and dirty from the trip over the mountains, and an old sweater someone had scrounged for him was thrown around his shoulders. Dirt was ground into the skin of his face and hands and he hadn't shaved in three days, witness to the last time his group had found a safe resting place. His eyes were red rimmed and his shoulders sagged with weariness. He was staring off into the far corner of the tent, not moving, not even blinking it seemed. The GI recognized the look, and could related to it. The guy was too worried to sleep, and too tired to figure out what had gone wrong.
He walked over to the table that held the chow, but after a moment, moved past and headed for the coffee. This young man probably wouldn't eat, or sleep, even though he looked like he desperately needed it. He walked across to where the other man was sitting, shoved a stool away from the table with his booted foot and sat down, placing a mug of hot, strong, black coffee in front of him. "How long you been over here, Lieutenant?"
His question caused the other man to start, and he blinked and shook his head slightly, looking around, trying to remember where he was, before he gazed at the officer that sat across the table. "I quess that depends on what day this is."
He nodded his understanding and smiled, "It's Tuesday."
Garrison had to think for a minute to figure it out. "Six days then."
"When was the last time you got any sleep?"
Resting his head in his hand Garrison had to think about that too. How long had it been? "I don't know. Saturday, maybe."
"I think you better try and get some shut eye now, don't you?"
Picking up the coffee he took a long, satisfying swallow and as he lowered the mug he looked into a face that mirrored his own exhaustion and smiled. "No. They'll be moving us out in a couple of hours and I've got a report to deliver. It can wait 'til I get them all back to England."
"Once a week's good enough for you too, huh?"
Craig had the mug up to his lips again and almost spilled the coffee as he laughed quietly, "Yeah!"
The older man considered him for a moment as he drank his coffee. He sat the mug down in front of him and rested his arms on the table. "Wanna to talk about it?"
At first Garrison closed his eyes and shook his head, but then he leaned back against the post that held their corner of the tent up and looked in the older mans eyes. "Yeah. I think I would."
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The storm had forced them off course and as the pilot tried to bring them onto the proper heading to get them to the drop zone they'd blundered into an uncharted fortified area and set off the defenses. The 88's homed in on them with deadly accuracy, and the plane had taken several hits before the pilot managed to bank and get them headed out of range, but the damage was too great and he shouted for them to bail out. The first two men jumped clear but as the others prepared to go the ship dropped sharply and rolled to the right, throwing them back away from the door. The pilot struggled to level out so they could get away but the controls were stiff and slow to respond. He couldn't stop the nose from coming around, they were slowly spiraling, back into the guns.
"Lieutenant you better get the hell outta here! I'm not going to keep this bird in the air much longer."
"Goniff! Chief! Bail out, don't open the chutes until you've got a long fifteen count. That'll take you down away from the plane. Then watch for it when the you open up, it may come around on you. Now take off!"
"What about you?" Chief looked at him in alarm.
"I'll be right behind you." Slapping the young man on the shoulder he gave him a shove towards the open door.
He watched them free fall, counting, praying they wouldn't panic and open the parachutes too soon. Their training and their trust in him held and he watched as the two canopies blossomed in the evening sky. Turning back he shouted towards the cabin "Captain! You going to be alright?"
"If you get the hell off my airplane I will be!" The man looked back over his shoulder, "Go Garrison I'll be able to land her in one of the fields down there. I'll be OK"
He held the pilots gaze, knowing that this man would probably spend the rest of the war in a prison camp, "Good luck!" he called as another explosion rocked the plane. He rolled out the door, diving away from the crippled aircraft. After his own slow count he spread out and caught the wind with his body, slowing his descent. He scanned the sky beneath him and spotted the other two men. He pulled his hands back in close to his body and let himself free fall, closing the distance between them. Watching the ground come up he pulled the cord at last and reached to the lines as soon as the chute deployed.
He saw his first man land and roll far below him and then turned his eyes back and watched the planes progress back into range of the guns. Spotlights were on now, sweeping the sky, searching for it. The planes descent was too steep, and the number two engine was on fire, but the pilot was doing his best to hold steady on a course away from them. As soon as the light fixed on the aircraft he fired his flares, drawing all attention onto the crippled plane. Garrison watched as it skimmed the tree tops and then lost sight of it as it dropped down the far side of the hill.
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It'd taken nearly thirty minutes to hook up on the ground. He'd found Chief almost immediately, but they'd had to search for Goniff finally locating him, sitting stunned, about half way down a slope that led to the river, holding the side of his head with a bloody hand.
"Goniff!" Chief pulled the little mans hand down and turned his face to see the damage. There was a deep cut along the hairline extending down over the right brow and his eyes held a rather vacant look. "Can you hear me, man?" Blood streamed down his face and soaked into the collar of the jacket he wore, and though he turned and stared at Chief he didn't answer.
"Somebody had to see us bail out." Reaching to Goniff's belt Garrison pulled the mans small first aid kit open. He tossed the sulfa packet to Chief and then folded a dressing over the wound after it had been powdered. Chief quickly wrapped the dressing down and tied it in place. "We've got to get out of this area." Standing he reached back and hauled Goniff to his feet, "Help me get him down to the river."
They supported the little pick pocket between them, half carrying him towards the water.
"Which way?" Chief asked, looking around them.
"Up stream." he swung is hand up, pointing back towards the mountains. "That'll take us back up where Actor and Casino are."
"You sure they'll be there"
"I'm not sure of anything."
They struggled along the bank of the river. Scrambling over rocks and splashing in and out of the icy water along the banks, avoiding the trail where tracks might betray them. They moved as quickly as they could up stream, back into the mountains. He kept them going as fast as he dared. When Goniffs strength failed him he pulled him over his shoulder and kept moving forward. "Chief, check up ahead. See if the way is clear."
It was almost two hours before he finally let them stop. The weather had turned foul. Thunder and lightening crashed around them and the river boiled with flood waters racing down from the higher elevations. Moving away from the raging waters, climbing up the bank into the trees they found a dense stand of evergreens and collapsed beneath them. Hidden by the heavy branches, protected from the wind and the worst of the rain and hail, they leaned together, shivering with cold and gasping for breath.
"Goniff! Goniff, you OK?"
"Bloody hell! Keep your voice down, can't ya'. I think my flippin' head's gonna split open." The cat burglar reached his hands up to either side of his aching head, wincing as he pressed down on the bloody bandage.
The other two exchanged relieved smiles over his head. Those were the first coherent words they'd had out of him since they'd found him.
"Do you remember getting hurt?"
"Warden I don't even remember getting here! What n'the hell happened?"
"You hit your head, man. You hurt anywhere else."
"I don't think so, but I wish the ruddy ground would stay still."
They shared a quick concerned look.
"You dizzy?"
The little man nodded his head and then clutched at the ground, moaning "Shouldn'a done that."
"You sure you aren't hurt anywhere else."
"Yeah! I'm sure, Warden. I'm just cold and tired and me head hurts. I'll be alright."
"Alright. Chief, you stay with Goniff. I'll go on ahead and see if I can find the others."
"You can't go on your own!"
"And Goniff can't go any further, and we can't leave him here. You guys stay here, I'll be fine. I'll just go upstream a way and look for them. Pull some of this dirt and stuff up around you. It might help keep you warm." Checking his watch he looked back at Chief, "I'll be back in three hours."
He left the cover of the trees and went back out into the storm. The wind was blowing steadily from the East now, driving the rain before it into his face. The temperature was dropping, the rain turning to sleet as the Lieutenant made his way up the mountain. He hadn't gone half a mile before it started to snow.
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"Jeeze! Will you be a little more careful!"
"Quiet!" Actor hissed, "I thought I heard something!"
"How in the hell can you 'hear' anything over this wind. You're imagining things."
"Quiet!" the con man gestured towards the clearing, "I tell you there's something out there!"
"You're serious!" Casino dropped his voice to a whisper and craned his neck, peering across the clearing in front of them, "Where? What'd you see?"
"Over there along the tree line. Something moved. I'm sure of it. I'm going to try and get around behind that stand of treesfor a better look. Cover me."
Actor moved quickly along the rock face towards the trees. Keeping close in cover he strained to see through the falling snow, into the shadows. As he moved forward he was sure there was something, someone there, crouched down waiting, motionless, just outside the cover of the trees. He crept closer, never taking his eyes from the shape before him. Reaching the edge of the sheltering trees he halted, searching the surrounding area for any other sign of danger.
"Not bad, but you stood out when you moved across the base of that cliff." The huddled figure stood revealing a welcome outline.
"Warden!" Actor stepped across the small clearing and grasped the outstretched hand of his commander.
"Is Casino with you?"
"Yes. He's covering us from over there in those trees"
"Thank God." Garrison turned away from the con man, heading back the way he'd come. "Come on. The others are about two hours back this way. Goniff's hurt."
Actor laid a restraining hand on his arm "As is Casino."
Garrison stopped and looked skyward, taking a deep breath before turning back around to face him. "How bad?"
"I don't know for sure. He can't tolerate any weight on his right leg. There's a deep gash along the knee but in this," he gestured at the falling snow, "I haven't been able to get a good look at him." They walked around the perimeter of the small clearing towards the spot where Casino was concealed.
"Casino! How are you doing?" Garrison crouched down next to the injured man reaching out to pull the torn fabric back away from the mans right knee. The makeshift bandage was soaked through with blood.
"Oh just great Lieutenant. I'm freezing to death here, but at least I'm cold enough my leg doesn't hurt anymore!" Casino looked past him into the clearing, searching for the other members of the team. "Where are the other guys?"
"About four or five miles down hill from here. Think you can make that if we help you?"
"If it'll get me outta this damn snow storm I'll crawl down on my own!." He reached up and let the two men haul him to his feet.
Pulling an arm over his shoulder Garrison started back down the slope. "I don't think that'll be necessary. Come one, let's get out of here."
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The temperature had dropped taking the snow level with it and snow had fallen steadily since he'd left them. Nothing looked the same any longer. All of the landmarks he'd noted along the way were covered over, softened and obscured by a thick blanket of white. Garrison felt a knot of fear tighten in his chest as he searched the landscape for a familiar sight. Suddenly the wind dropped and the sound of water reached his ears.
"Hold up here for a second." He slipped away from Casino, letting Actor take all of the mans weight and made his way towards the sound. When he reached the rivers edge he breathed a sigh of relief as he recognized a waterfall that he'd marked not fifteen minutes after leaving Chief and Goniff in the shelter of the trees.
Smiling as he reached out and pulled Casinos arm back across his shoulders he started off again with a determined stride, "Come on, they're just down this way." Just as his confidence was waning again Chief stepped out of the protection of the trees and beckoned them towards him.
"You're late." The young man looked at Garrison for a moment, "I didn't think we were gonna see you again, man." Turning he focused his attention on the man suspended between Actor and Garrison. "Casino! What happened to you?" Chief pulled the branches back as far as he could to make it easier for them to maneuver the injured safecracker into their refuge.
"Welcome to the casualty ward." Goniff laughed up at them, "Casino you're in worse shape that I am. What'd you do, mate?"
"Aw, hell, I don't know. I musta come down on a sharp rock or somethin'" he grunted as they lowered him carefully down next to the smiling Englishman. "That's gonna be a beaut of a shiner when we get enough light to see it. Chief finally haul off and hit ya?"
Goniff reached a hand to his head and winced as he touched the dressing on the cut over his eye. "Blimey, he mighta done for all I know about it. First I was flyin outta that airplane, then the Warden had me slung over his shoulder like a sack a coal."
Actor looked at Chief and Garrison with concern. "How long was he unconscious?"
"'Bout three hours." Chief answered for them. "He really wadn't out, he was walkin' and talkin' at first. He just didn't make any sense 'til we pulled up in here."
"Well, how could ya tell the difference then? Goniff never makes any sense." Casino jibed, wincing as he tried to duck a handful of dirt thrown in his direction.
"Oh! Cor! I shouldn' a done that!" one of Goniffs hands clutched at his stomach, the other clamped over his mouth.
"Nausea? Are you dizzy too?" Actor searched the small first aid pouch secured around his waist and pulled a small flash light from it. "Come on, let's have a look at you."
"Hey! You're not gonna get sick or nothin' are ya? There's no room in here for that!" the concern in Casinos voice contradicted his insensitive words.
"Come on! Knock it off!" Garrison tried to be stern with them, but he was too relieved at having them all in one place, he knew what kind of odds they'd beaten in finding each other in the storm. "Looks like we're stuck here until morning, so get in close together where you can stay warm." He watched as Actor started to sort through the limited supplies he carried to handle their injuries. "I'll take the first watch."
"Warden, any branches down around the trees out there?" Chief asked quietly
"Yeah. I guess." he shrugged and looked at the young man curiously, "Why?"
Casino looked up in alarm, "You're not gonna start a fire here under this tree you crazy Indian! You'll roast us all alive!"
"Casino will you shut up! The only one I'd be interested in roastin' would be you." Chief said with an evil gleam lighting his eye "But we'll wait 'til Goniff here gets good and hungry." Turning his back on their laughter he left the sheltering branches.
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"What's up?" Garrison hunched his shoulders against the cold and turned his collar up.
"Well these branches are pretty thick" the younger man reached out and touched a heavy drooping branch, "and they curve and go right down to the ground. If we can kinda pile others up across them we can build a sort of wall that'll help keep the wind off us."
Garrison turned and looked at the tree and was impressed by his point mans suggestion, suddenly seeing the beginnings of better shelter for his men. "Good idea." he said and started off on the search immediately. "Let's get to it."
With both of them working they had a barrier wall built in less than an hour. Scooping snow over the structure and packing it down helped cut off even more wind and had the added benefit of obscuring their building effort from view. When they finished Garrison stepped back and surveyed their work with a satisfied nod. "OK. Go on in and get some rest." and he turned away to take up the watch.
Chief reached out and caught the sleeve of his jacket, "I been restin' Warden," and continued before Garrison could protest. "And I been stuck listenin' to Goniff," earning a quick smile of sympathy. "I'd rather be out here for a while." He'd been amazed when Garrison had merely rubbed the back of his neck, before nodding his agreement.
"Alright," he said ducking back into the rough shelter, "but wake me in two hours for my turn at the watch."
Chief moved several yards away from the tree and found shelter against the trunk of another large pine. Pulling smaller branches and snow up against the wind that was now steadily blowing up the river course he huddled down, scanning the area along the trail. He'd gotten a break from the rain and sleet while he was hidden with Goniff but there'd been no way to dry out from the drenching they'd taken. Snow had replaced the rain now so he wadn't gonna a get wetter than he already was, he thought, but it was damn cold. Two hours was about all he was gonna a be able to take.
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The rustle of branches as Chief made his way back into the larger shelter startled Actor into raising his weapon as Garrison rolled up on to his feet his own pistol already in his hand. Chief stopped for a moment his face impassive, eyes flicking from one to the other. "S'been two hours." he said simply. "Snow's stopped. It's startin' to clear up. Moon's out"
"Alright, wake Casino, so you two can get some sleep." Garrison unclipped the small canteen from his belt and turned to Actor, "Give me your cans I'll go fill them up before we get settled." Leaving the shelter of the trees, he headed down to the rivers edge, knowing Chief would continue his watch over them until he got back.
"Don't bother Casino, Actor, it's gonna take me an hour or two to warm up enough to go to sleep," Chief told him before stepping away and moving down where he could watch the Warden making his way towards the water and still keep an eye on the trail.
Garrison filled the canteens and carried them back up to their makeshift shelter asking Chief as he passed him, "Did you get out with anything?"
"Just the field pack."
"Actor, what have you got on you?" he asked quietly as he handed down the water.
"I've got the first aid kit."
"Explosives." Casino volunteered, as he levered himself up onto an elbow. "But the primers were in the supply pack. And I've got my field pack too."
"I don't know where my stuff is" Goniff mumbled.
"That's OK" Casino patted the little man on the shoulder, "You musta dumped it with your chute"
"Well I've got my field pack and the maps," Garrison reached along his belt and unsnapped the long narrow pouch that ran across his back, "so at least we can get something to eat and figure out where we are."
"Warden! You don't mean you actually consider those rations edible?" the Italian con artist looked up at him and smiled.
"In the middle of nowhere, in a snow storm, yes, Actor, I consider them edible." Looking at the square package he held in his hand with a grimace, "Back at the estate I consider them disgusting."
"Maybe you'd prefer to sample our selection of maps, Your Highness?" Casino snorted and turned to stare at Actor, "I'm sure the Warden there has a good variety!"
"Do you know where we are?" Chief asked.
"Not exactly." Garrison considered him a moment before he continued, "We were short of the drop zone. But with the storm shoving us around, I don't know by how much"
"How'r we gonna get outta here then?" Goniff was still flat on his back with his eyes closed, and his fingers gripped into the dirt as if he were afraid he might fall. He'd refused a share in the food they had, causing concern to flash through the rest of the team. Goniff never refused food.
"We'll get out." he reassured them. "We'll just have to wait until we can figure out where we are. I'll make my way down into the valley later, when it gets light. There'll be a town down there. If there's a resistance group we'll make contact, and arrange a way out."
"You so sure there's resistance everywhere?" Chief asked with a skeptical lift to an eyebrow.
Garrison shrugged his shoulders, "They may be here. But it's going to depend on where we are. The border's changed between France and Germany dozens of times along here. It's almost like it's own country. And then each valley tends to follow the big landowners way of thinking."
Actor shook his head and looked up at him, "It sounds almost feudal"
"Oh Great!" Casino grumbled, "Our luck, we'll be in the only valley around where the big cheese's a big Kraut supporter!"
"Well, we're not going to know until we figure out where we are." Garrison said, trying to keep the irritation from his voice. "And we're not going to be able to figure that out 'til morning. So just stop grousing about it and try and get some rest."
"Have you been in this area before?" Actor watched the mans face and wondered at the emotion he saw slide across it.
"A long time ago" The Lieutenant tossed his ration pack on the ground next to Casino before he turned, heading out to take up the watch. "Now everyone get something to eat and try and get Chief mad at you so he'll warm up."
"Uh, Warden" Casino called after him, "I don't think that's a very good idea in these close quarters!"
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If any of them had still been asleep the loud grumble from Goniffs stomach would have put an end to their rest. "What are we gonna do about food? I'm starvin'"
"You're always starvin'" Casino smiled with relief. If the little thief was hungry he must be on the mend.
"Here take the rest of the rations from my pack" Chief offered up the food as he pushed himself up into a crouch. "That ought to hold you 'til we can find something better" He looked over at Actor and frowned, the guy should be standin' his turn at the watch. "Where's the Warden?"
Actor read the irritation on the young mans face and in his voice, "He came back outside about an hour ago and sent me in. He said he couldn't sleep," motioning towards the little cockney, who was eagerly tearing at the package in his hands, "and Goniff was sick again." They stared at one another for a moment before the young man nodded finally and turned away.
Pulling the branches aside Chief stepped out into a blindingly white, clear morning, the air had the sweet taste of new fallen snow and the cold made it hard to take in a deep breath. He stood for a moment letting his eyes adjust before moving off towards the tree they'd used for their watch. The sun was up, already melting the snow that had fallen in the storm turning it from powder to ice. Steam rose from the dark trunks and branches, and the water dripping from the burden of snow the branches held pattered down like rain. He could hear the stream mumbling to itself as it made its way down hill towards the valley, tamed now that the storm was over. Birds were singing in the tree tops. 'Birds', he thought and shook is head, 'in the middle of a war'.
There was no way to move quietly across the snow and his feet crunched through the crystalline coating of ice and frost, alerting Garrison to his approach. "Goniff's hungry" he told him quietly.
The other man smiled, "That's good."
"You frozen yet?"
"Just about." Garrison reached up and grasped the hand the younger man offered him, grateful for the help, he'd been out here a long time and he was stiff from the cold.
"You better get over there in the sun." Chief pointed to a spot a little further up hill where the snow had already melted off a jumble of dark rocks and boulders.
"Let's get the others out here. I haven't seen or heard any sign of anyone else." The Warden started off towards the shelter. "I think this area must be deserted."
Chief glanced around him, "Doesn't seem t'be much of a reason for anybody'd be up here." and as he turned back the way he'd come. "Not yet, anyway."
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They'd moved out into the warming rays of the sun. Casino supported on either side by Actor and Garrison, Goniff squinting against the glare, clutched onto Chief as the world still seemed to spin around him. Settling against the dark rocks they gratefully let the heat soak into them for several minutes before anyone moved, or spoke.
Garrison finally got up. "Come on Casino. Let's see that leg." He and Actor moved to examine the damage the safecracker had done, tearing the fabric of the mans trousers back and carefully peeling back the bandage.
"Jeeze! Careful, will ya. that hurts!" Casino hissed as he tried to hold still.
Garrison pulled the lid from his canteen and poured water slowly onto the bandage. "It's stuck. We'll have to soak it off." It took several minutes and when they finally pulled the last layer away from the wound he let out a low whistle. "That's deep!"
Actor gently probed the area around the injury. "I don't think anything is broken." frowning at the bruise that discolored the side of the safecrackers leg and the swelling around the knee, "but he certainly can't walk on this, he may have damaged the tendon that runs along here. And, you see," he shifted his hold and let the mans lower leg down a little. "The wound will open every time he bends the knee."
"Shit!" Casino gasped. " Enough with the anatomy lesson Professor, will you stop screwin' around down there!"
Garrison looked up at his injured man, reaching out he squeezed his shoulder in sympathy. "We'll have to find someway to splint the leg."
"Here, use these." Chief dropped several long branches and strips of supple bark and vines he'd pulled down from the trees along the edge of the stream. He reached into his pockets and pulled out moss that he'd collected while the other two had worked, and tossed that down as well.
Actor raised an eyebrow in surprise and then sorted through the supplies, nodding his approval he set to work. The wound was scrupulously cleaned again and liberally dusted with sulfa powder before first a thick dressing and then the splint was applied. At the end of twenty minutes Casino was resting comfortably against his rock and Goniff was wincing and complaining under the same ministering hand.
"Ow! Blimey I think your enjoyin' yourself Actor! Now leave off! Me stomach's startin' to turn on me again."
Garrison followed Actor when he moved down to the stream to wash his hands and fill their canteens again. "How are they?" he nodded back towards the others.
Actor looked up at him and considered his answer. "Goniff probably has a concussion. That would explain the dizziness and the nausea last night. I'm concerned that his vertigo seems so severe."
"What could cause that?"
The con man shrugged as he stood, wiping his hands on his trousers. "It could be something as serious as a skull fracture," he put his hand up when he saw the look of alarm flash in Garrison's eyes "which I don't believe he has. Or as simple as an ear infection, or a cold. But he certainly cannot be left on his own. He can barely stand without support."
"Casino?"
"The wound on his leg is deep, you saw that for your self, but it appears to be clean. If he tries to walk on it he will open the wound again and start bleeding, and he's twisted it badly. I suppose there is still a chance there may be a fracture in the small bone of the leg."
"Damn!" The Warden swore in frustration and worry, "Do you have enough stuff to take care of them?"
"For now. There's not much more that needs to be done but keep their wounds clean and keep both of them quiet."
"But that's just what we can't do that. We can't stay here." turning his back on Actor, Garrison walked back up into the rocks. "Chief, did you see any place better to stash these guys while you were finding this stuff."
"Yeah! There's a place up stream a ways that's been out in the sun longer, so it's warm and already dryin' out. The rocks up there'll give 'em better cover, and it's closer to the water."
"Alright. Let's move everyone up there. Actor, you stay with Casino and Goniff. I'll take Chief with me and we'll try and see if we can figure out where we are and find a way out of here." Reaching out his hand to Goniff he pulled him to his feet and had to throw an arm around his waist to hold him up as his knees buckled. "Easy! I've got you."
The little man covered his eyes with his hands and took a shuddering breath, "This is gonna put me right off second story work!" He dropped his hands and squinted up at their leader. "Hey, Warden. You ain't gonna throw me back on account a this, are ya?"
"Come on Goniff" Garriosn reassured him, "There's nothing wrong with you a couple of aspirin and a little bit of rest won't take care of." But has they moved away he frowned over the thiefs head to Actor who could only shake his head, his dark eyes reflecting the Lieutenants concern.
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With good weather and daylight, even moving cautiously, it had only taken a short time for them to make their way down canyon to the edge of the trees and into the field where they'd come down the evening before. As they stood looking across the green meadows Chief pointed and said, "Lot prettier down here now than it was last night." And looking around him, "There's food down here."
"What do you mean?"
"Down here where its green." Chief gestured toward the meadow in front of them. "Doesn't seem much like it up higher, but its spring. There'll be food around if you know where to look for it." Reaching up he pulled the soft green tip of a branch down and inhaled it's fragrance. "We could eat the ends of these pines if we had to. It'd taste better than that stuff we got with us"
"You think you know what to get?"
"I did when I was a kid."
Garrison shrugged his shoulders and his mouth quirked up in a smile as he started off, skirting around the edge of the meadow. "So we'll go shopping on the way back"
The men continued moving, careful now to stay in cover of the trees near the stream that ran along the edge of the defile and made their way out of the mountains. They were moving cautiously through the undergrowth, and could see through it as it thinned, and knew they were nearly at the edge of its protective cover. The ground angled up slightly and when they reached the top of the rise the valley opened out below them.
Garrison stopped suddenly looking down. "My God!" They weren't where they were supposed to be, he thought, but they sure were somewhere they could've done a hell of a lot of damage.
Chief turned to stare at him, "What is it? What's wrong?" Watching the change in the other mans face and posture, he looked around them, searching for some kind of threat, but could only see the town far below and hills stretching away towards their right. "You know where we are?"
"Yeah. I know. I know exactly where we are." He searched his memory for the contact in this area as he stood staring down on the city. It had grown. The docks and refinery enlarged to supply fuel for the war effort. There was a flame burning down in the harbor, where the gas works were, burning off the by-product of the cracking process. That wouldn't be allowed to burn at night; he thought grimly, it'd draw bombers like a magnet. The sounds seem to channel up to him. Sirens and traffic on the roads and waterway, the rhythmic pounding of a stamp mill, someone gunning a motorcycle along one of the streets. And then there were three loud blasts of a whistle as a train approached a crossing, probably heading into the large switching yards. "Come on, if he hasn't been made, we have a contact down there." And he led off again, below the rise so they couldn't be seen against the skyline.
Looking back over his shoulder as they made their way down Chief thought that might be a pretty big 'if'.
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The old man had been startled from his work when the shop door opened, setting the large bell that hung above it jangling discordantly. Two young men had entered, one of them limped slightly, and complaining about the quality of his boots, speculated on the pedigree of their maker. In this town, on his own now that the others had gone, he had never thought to hear the code phrase that would, if he answered it correctly, activate him to the Allies cause, and the biding of these strangers that stood in his shop. He stared at the man that waited across the counter from him, frowning he studied his face and searched his eyes before, finally, speaking the words that committed him, and then continuing carefully in English, "Forgive me, I have had no word of anyone…"
Garrison put up a hand, "It's alright. We didn't expect to be here. The storm last night changed our plans. Can you help us?" As the man carefully laid his tools on the counter and continued to study him the Lieutenant thought he was going to refuse them. The guy was old for this kind of work, he thought, and was probably afraid, but suddenly the man mastered that fear and smiled.
"Of course. How may I be of service to you?" offering his hand, "I am Dieter Gehrlig."
Taking the hand in a firm grip, "Lieutenant Garrison, Herr Gehrlig. I have injured men up in the mountains. We need a way out of here."
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