The Village
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 1
"Hitch, take the watch!"
Hitch nodded, grabbed a weapon and a pair of binoculars, and ran to one of the few buildings still standing in the town. The Germans had shelled the town, destroying it so completely that the population had all been driven out. Of all of the buildings in the town, only three remained standing, and they were in bad shape. Jagged timbers protruded from large holes in the stone walls. In two of them the walls themselves were leaning at dangerous angles to the street; Hitch had chosen the third one to use as a lookout.
Slipping through the door he noted that the door frame had been hit and the door hung open on twisted hinges. A set of stairs to the right led to the upper floor, and hopefully to the roof. He put a hand on the stairs and pushed, checking to make sure that they were solid. They didn't shift when he pushed so he began to climb.
The stairs did lead all the way to the roof and the roof gave him a good view in every direction. He noticed a few spots that looked like they should be avoided but the rest looked solid enough. He took care to reach the edge of the roof where he could look out over the town. Lifting his binoculars, he did a sweep of the surrounding desert, especially the trail they had left as they entered the town. Anyone following them would come from that direction and may not realize that they had stopped.
There was nothing but sand as far as he could see. Some of it was piled in huge dunes while in other places it was as flat as a highway. The dunes presented a place to hide, if you could reach them without being seen. One of the things he watched for was the tell-tale dust trail left behind by vehicles moving across the dry landscape. He knew if they moved slowly enough they could avoid the dust giving them away, but if that were the case, they would never catch up to the fast moving jeeps. Troy had set a hurried pace to the town; they were all eager to return to their base. He couldn't see any dust rising from their back trail and they hadn't expected any. They had been long gone before the charges they had set had detonated. The Germans would have been too busy putting out the fires to bother hunting them after dark. They had camped for the night well clear of the German base.
He glanced down to check on the other members of his team. Tully was working on the jeeps, filling the gas tanks and the radiators. He had already gone over both jeeps looking for any damage resulting from the rough terrain they had covered since breaking camp. Troy had deliberately chosen the rough route to avoid contact with any German patrols. The Germans kept to the roads to avoid damage to their vehicles. Dietrich didn't like to lose his valuable vehicles to the protruding rocks if it could be avoided. He was trying hard to protect the ones he had at his disposal. It seemed that the Germans were having trouble getting supplies through to their bases, and that included new vehicles or parts to repair the ones they already had. The Rat Patrol knew he was having problems; and they knew why, but they didn't feel the least bit guilty for having had a hand in causing his shortages. Troy was interested in preventing the Germans from solving their problem, thus the rougher road.
Troy and Moffitt were busy refilling the canteens and water cans from the jeeps. While the town had been destroyed, its well had survived intact and was being used by both sides, though not at the same time. Neither side wanted it destroyed since they planned to use it when they controlled this region. Right now the Germans were in control but the Allies were planning on changing that soon.
Hitch counted the cans by the well and realized that the sergeants were just getting started. He made another sweep of the surrounding desert with the glasses, still nothing.
The ruins of the town drew his eye. Most of the homes had taken direct hits. Timber, mortar, and rocks had been shattered, splintered, or thrown helter-skelter around the streets. The streets as far as he could see were littered with debris from the shelling. It reminded Hitch of a picture he had seen once of a town after an earthquake had hit. He remembered seeing pictures of rescuers digging through the rubble looking for survivors. It had surprised and amazed him that victims had been pulled out from under the buildings alive even days after the quake. He couldn't imagine how it must have felt being trapped for that long. It had been hard to imagine anyone surviving the fall of the walls at all.
Tully dropped the hood on one of the jeeps, drawing his attention. He looked down just as Tully looked up. Tully grinned and winked, Hitch nodded and flashed him a smile in return. Hitch blew a bubble and popped it as he turned away to search the desert again.
He didn't see Troy watch the exchange with a smile.
"How's it look Hitch?"
"Okay Sarge." He answered without looking down.
"We'll be ready to go soon."
Hitch nodded that he'd heard and lifted the glasses to scan the desert again.
"These are the last of them." Moffitt handed Troy a string of canteens that he had just filled. "I'll fill the cans and join you at the jeeps."
"Take your time; the jeeps need to cool down." Troy answered.
"Sarge!"
Troy shaded his eyes to squint up at his driver. "Yeah?"
"I think I caught the glint of a plane."
"Tully, cover the jeeps!"
Moffitt and Troy hurried to the jeeps with the water they had. Tossing them loosely in the back, they helped Tully arrange the camouflage nets over the vehicles.
"Hitch, take cover!"
Hitch ducked into the stairway while the others hid under the netting. All four men strained to hear the drone of the planes' engines. It was only a few minutes until they heard it, far off but rapidly drawing closer. It passed directly over them, flying low and at a reduced speed. No one moved until Troy gave the all clear.
"A scout plane." Moffitt announced unnecessarily. "It was definitely checking the town."
"Looking for us?" Tully asked in his slow drawl.
"Perhaps." Moffitt conceded. "Or it might have been a routine flyover. We know that Jerry keeps an eye on this place as the only water hole in this entire region."
"I just hope he didn't spot our tracks leading in here." Tully responded.
"He didn't act like he saw anything." Troy reassured him.
"He's unarmed." Moffitt reminded him. "He couldn't have done anything but hang around and keep an eye on us for the ground troops even if he did notice."
"He could have called in his buddies with the big guns and bombs." Tully contradicted.
"If he saw us."
Troy waited a while to uncover the jeeps just in case the plane circled back. When it seemed safe he pulled the nets and lashed the canteens into their usual place. Secured so that they wouldn't bounce out, Troy turned his attention to the unfilled cans. "Keep your eyes open in case he returns but I want to wait and let him get out of the area. We'll finish filling the cans and let the jeeps cool a bit more." He folded the net for his jeep and stowed it in the rear. Tully took care of his while Moffitt took the cans back to the well.
"Are the jeeps cooled yet Tully?" Troy glanced at his watch and rose from the shade to check on the vehicles.
"They should be Sarge." Tully rose from his seat to feel the heat coming off of the radiators. He nodded with satisfaction and turned to Troy. "She's ready Sarge."
Troy smiled as Tully patted his jeep affectionately and rolled his matchstick between his teeth. At the nod from Troy he slid behind the wheel with an expectant air. "All right then, let's go." He twisted in his seat and looked up at their sentry. "Come on down Hitch!"
They all watched as Hitch made his way carefully around the edge of the roof to the stirs. They could hear him on the steps and each one relaxed just a little bit as they saw him clear the building with no mishaps.
Hitch holstered his weapon and slid behind the wheel of his jeep.
"See anything?"
Hitch glanced over at his sergeant and shook his head. "I thought I saw a little dust on the other side of the hills earlier, but it died down and I didn't see it again. Must have been a dust devil." Troy nodded so Hitch adjusted his goggles over his eyes and prepared to move out. "Where to Sarge?"
"Back to the base." Troy answered. "Only this time let's take the road."
Hitch smiled, the road would be easier driving. He started out and Tully's jeep pulled alongside to avoid the dust his jeep was raising. Hitch smiled at the other driver and got a wink in return. He settled deeper into his seat to get comfortable for the long drive. A short time later as they rounded a hill he glanced over at Troy to see the sergeant watching the sky. He turned back to watch the road and slammed on his brakes.
Troy was thrown forward at the unexpected deceleration. He threw a hand out to keep from hitting the dash. "Hitch, what the..?" He stopped in mid question as Hitch pointed to the road ahead.
The road was blocked by three halftracks abreast of each other coming toward them. Troy turned to look behind them but the road was clear as far as he could see.
"Troy!"
Moffitt was pointing toward two more of the armored vehicles charging toward them from the side.
Troy turned toward the other side, looking for more of the enemy.
"They're over there too." Hitch called. "I saw a flash through the brush." Even as he yelled the warning several patrol cars broke free of cover and topped the hill, headed directly for them.
"Go back! Turn back!" Troy yelled at the other jeep as the first group of halftracks opened fire on them. He didn't wait for them to acknowledge the order; he began to climb over the seat to man the 50. Hitch took the turn sharply, nearly throwing him over the side. He grabbed the handles and pulled himself upright, bracing his feet on either side of the gun mount.
"They're trying to cut us off Sarge." Hitch yelled as he swerved the jeep to avoid an incoming shell. The shell landed to the side, shaking the jeep and throwing dirt in Troy's face.
"Circle the town. We don't want to have to slow down to pick our way through the streets."
Hitch nodded and hunched over the steering wheel as another shell whistled overhead. This one landed far enough in front that Hitch had time to turn the wheel and miss the newly formed crater. Troy glanced back to see Tully dodging the hole in the road while trying to avoid the next incoming shell.
Bullets whined as they passed his head. He turned to see the patrol cars closing the distance between them. Swinging the big machine gun around, Troy took aim at the more vulnerable targets. Without the armor that protected the halftracks, the cars would be easier to disable, giving the jeeps at least one side clear of the enemy. The heavy bullets caught the second driver as he hit a bump in the ground. He slumped over the wheel and his car continued forward veering to one side with no one in control.
The third driver had to swerve to avoid the second car as it careened into his path. His car hit another bump and went airborne. Before it landed he tried to turn the wheel, causing it to hit with the wheels turned to the side. The car flipped, throwing the occupants in every direction. The second car hit the third one as it rolled into its path. Both cars burst into flames as the gas tank on one exploded.
The driver of the first car didn't realize that he was now alone in his attack from that direction. He pressed forward expecting the others to help drive the Americans in the direction they wanted. Troy hit the engine of his car with a string of bullets that stopped him in his tracks. The soldiers in the rear of the car tried to leap free before Troy could get the range but he already had it. He let them have the next burst of lead. Their bodies jerked under the impacts, twisting one way and then the other. One of them fell forward onto the driver, knocking him from the car. He tried to roll free as the jeeps continued on their way.
"Sarge!"
Troy spun the heavy 50 around, looking for what had caused Tully to yell. The road ahead still looked clear. He glanced over at the second jeep to ask what was wrong now. Moffitt was lifting the barrel of his 50 toward the sky. Troy looked up and spotted the two squat bodied Stukas coming out of the sun.
"Hitch, planes!" The jeep swerved violently again as his driver reacted to the warning. Both jeeps continued forward driving side by side, their drivers waiting for the sergeant to give the order to separate.
The first plane came in fast, its gun kicking up dust as he shot up the road. The second one held back, waiting for an opportunity. Troy yelled 'now' and the two vehicles split apart, each one darting to the side as the plane shot between them. Both sergeants tried to punch holes in the belly of the plane before it could get clear. The second pilot, seeing what they were doing, came in to one side before turning toward them. He tried to take them off guard as they aimed at the first plane.
"Go!" Troy yelled to his driver. Hitch heard and twisted the wheel. The jeep hesitated as the wheels lost their grip on the road. A moment later it took off in a cloud of dust. The second plane was right on their tail, trying to match them turn for turn. Troy kept a steady string of bullets headed for the body of the Stuka. Most of them missed but a few caught the fuel line. The plane exploded in mid-air. Bits of flaming metal rained down on the jeep as Hitch tried to get out of the way.
A third plane dived at them out of the glare of the sun.
"Where's Moffitt?" Troy yelled as Hitch twisted the wheel again.
"The first plane kept after them." Hitch yelled over his shoulder. "I lost sight of them just before we ducked that last attack." He was concentrating on avoiding the third plane as he answered.
"Head for the village, we'll try to catch him off guard there." The sergeant twisted to look for the other jeep. He saw Tully swing wide as the plane circled for another run at them. Waving an arm, Troy told them to head for the village too.
Tully spun his jeep again as the first pilot came in for another run. The attack failed to touch the jeep and Tully soon had it headed for the debris littered streets of the village.
"The halftracks will over run us in there." Moffitt called over as the two jeeps raced side by side.
"We need the shelter to handle the planes. Once we take them out we head for open desert again." Troy called back.
Tully heard and understood what Troy meant to do. He took Moffitt one way while Hitch took Troy the other. The planes split up and each one chose a target. The pilots tried using bullets to catch the enemy jeeps but both drivers ducked behind low walls to cover their escape. It became a game of cat and mouse, each side trying to outsmart the other. Tully and Hitch knew they didn't have much time before the halftracks caught up with them and joined the fight. They had to get their sergeants in position to get those planes!
The first pilot took aim at Hitch's jeep as it dodged the rocks in the road. His twin streams of bullets passed close enough to leave grooves in the fender of the jeep. Hitch ducked into an alley, throwing Troy's aim off at the last second. The pilot pulled up and came around again.
Troy watched as the wings tipped as the pilot lined up for another shot at them. The plane was still coming in low, trying to get them the cheap way, using bullets instead of bombs. He was so low that Troy could see the look of concentration on the pilot's face through the cockpit bubble.
"Hitch, when I say, take a sharp turn and then stop."
Hitch nodded, his entire body tensed to react at a moment's notice.
Troy watched the plane come at them, its twin streams of bullets tearing up the sand toward the jeep. Counting the seconds until the projectiles would hit them, the sergeant braced for the sharp turn and sudden stop.
"Now!"
The jeep swerved onto an intersecting road, nearly going on two wheels as it made the turn. Hitch drove another dozen feet before he slid to an abrupt stop. Troy caught his balance and waited for the plane to come to them.
The pilot realized his danger and tried to turn away. The bullets from the 50 in Troy's hands tore gaping holes in the body of the plane. The sergeant kept up the stream of fire until the plane burst into flames. The pilot tried to pull up and eject but the controls were frozen. He went down with the plane as it hit the hills nearby. The resulting explosion shook the already unstable ruins in the village.
"Get us out of here!" Troy braced again as the jeep wheels spun in the sand in response to his order. When the tires caught the sand flew out behind them like a rooster's tail as they began their search for the other plane.
Meanwhile Tully and Moffitt had troubles of their own. The second plane had broken off and followed them when the jeeps split up and went their separate ways. Tully used the cover of one of the still standing buildings to hide from the plane. As soon as the plane passed them by he switched directions. He deftly dodged the debris in the road and ducked behind a crumbled wall. The pilot, expecting them to keep going forward, lost them for a minute. He was forced to make another pass before he noticed them next to the wall. The plane's wings tipped as he started his turn to come around again.
Moffitt, waiting for just such a maneuver, took aim at the cockpit as the plane tipped. The cockpit bubble shattered as the heavy bullets hit and penetrated it. A cloud of red mist on the front of the bubble was mute testimony to his marksmanship. The pilot slumped forward over the yolk, no longer caring if the plane flew or not. Moffitt leaned forward to tap his driver on the shoulder as the plane crashed just outside of the abandoned village.
"Let's see if we can help Troy."
Tully nodded and headed for the place where they had last seen Troy and Hitchcock. A loud boom and flying dirt and rocks reminded them that the halftracks were still after them. The first ones were rolling into the other edge of the village from the dunes beyond. Tully made another turn to put some crumbling buildings between them and his jeep. Both men searched the sky for the other plane.
"Troy!" Moffitt called out as soon as he spotted the other jeep headed their way.
"Where's the plane?" Troy called back, still scanning the sky.
"We got one." Moffitt answered.
Troy nodded. "We got one too. Those halftracks are getting close, time to go."
Neither driver needed further orders; they turned their jeeps toward the open desert.
Tully took the lead, his jeep clearing the ruins ahead of the second jeep. Hitch was three or four jeeps lengths behind when the shell hit. Sand and stone flew in every direction, throwing up so much dust that Hitch had to drive through a dust cloud. They had just come out of it when the next shell hit.
The jeep went airborne, its wheels spinning uselessly in the empty air. Hitch fought to hold the wheel steady as they landed with a thud. The jeep tilted onto two wheels and continued to move forward. Hitch tried to regain control but fate had other ideas. One of the front wheels fell into a hole and the jeep came to an abrupt stop before flipping onto its side.
Troy was thrown clear as the impact tore his fingers loose from the handles of the 50. He found himself flying through the air only to land roughly on the hard ground. He instinctively tucked and rolled. The landing left his head spinning and he had to shake it a couple of time to clear it. Bullets hitting the ground around him sent him ducking for cover. Crawling swiftly behind the frame of the overturned jeep, he armed himself with the only rifle within sight, Feeling better with the weapon in his hands, he took a chance to peek over the top of the jeep. Hot lead buzzed past his head almost immediately, forcing him to duck, but not before he spotted his driver lying motionless on the other side of the wreck.
The rattle of a 50 caliber machine gun close behind him told him that Tully and Moffitt were aware of the situation. Troy rose to his feet, preparing to run to where his driver lay unmoving.
"Troy, the halftracks are closing in." Moffitt yelled as the jeep slid to a stop behind him. Troy hesitated. "Troy, we have to go!" Moffitt's voice had taken on an urgent note.
Troy peered over the frame of the jeep one more time and saw the halftracks rapidly closing the gap between them. Hitch still hadn't moved. With a ragged cry Troy turned and jumped into the other jeep as Moffitt covered him with the 50. Tully hit the gas and the jeep tore away from the approaching Germans, leaving Hitch behind.