Extracurricular Activities

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 1

"I'm out." Caje threw his cards on the table in front of him and pushed his chair back. Crossing his arms in front of his chest he watched the other players.

The next player stayed in the game, raising the ante. Caje didn't know the guy who had been introduced as "just Alec." "Just Alec" had been losing steadily all night but he was still in the game. Caje figured that he would run out of money soon despite his cautious approach to gambling. The others were starting to play for some "serious" money now that they had weeded out the "lightweights".

Kirby leaned back in his chair and studied the cards in his hand. The stub of the cigar in his mouth bobbed as he chewed on it. With one last look at his cards he raised the ante ten dollars.

"Aren't you broke yet Kirby?" Caje asked as he watched the play move on to the next player.

"Naw, I got plenty." The cigar bobbed again as the pot went to someone else."

"Let's go Kirby." Caje rose to his feet and left the seat empty for any of the spectators who wanted to join the game.

"Not yet Caje, I'm just getting hot."

"Hot? You've lost more than you've won!"

"But my luck is about to change, I can feel it."

There was a snicker from one of the other players that earned him a glare from Kirby.

Caje looked around the room but none of the spectators made a comment. Several of them looked amused but they wisely remained silent. None of them showed any real interest in Kirby's luck.

"You do what you want," Caje answered, turning to leave, "but I'm calling it a night. We've played cards every night this week and I'm broke. I don't know where you're getting all of your money but maybe you should save some of it for another day."

"I told you, I'm good, I've got plenty."

"Do you have a rich uncle or something?" Caje asked jokingly.

"Or something." Kirby agreed with a grin. "I can loan you some if you want. Just let me know how much you want and I'll get it for you."

"No thanks."

"Come on Caje, between friends, that's what friends are for."

"No thanks, borrowing money has ruined more friendships than any other cause. I'd rather have your friendship than your money."

"Okay, but if you change your mind."

"I won't. Are you coming or not?" Caje waited for Kirby to make up his mind. "Don't forget, we have a patrol tomorrow morning. Sarge will tear you a new one if you aren't in any condition to leave with us."

"All right, all right." Kirby growled. "We can head back. I'm sure I can find another game tomorrow night."

"Sure you can," Caje agreed, nodding good-naturedly at the other players, "everybody loves taking your money." He grinned as he bid them goodnight. "I bet Sarge will be mad 'cause you let someone else have first chance at it."

"Sarge doesn't appreciate all I've done for him." Kirby declared. "I'd share the wealth but you know how he is." Kirby paused to look around the room suspiciously. "I'm out guys. Maybe I'll see you again tomorrow." The BAR man joined Caje, saying good night to the men in the room that he recognized.

"Maybe you could give it a break Kirby." Caje warned.

"I told you Caje, my luck is changing; all I need is one good deal."

"What deal? Playing cards? You're never going to get rich playing cards."

"I don't need the cards." Kirby declared boldly.

The rest of the conversation was lost to the others in the room as the door closed behind the departing friends.

Outside Caje and Kirby paused to clear their lungs of smoke. The two friends stood and watched as several soldiers walked past.

"We'd better get back." Caje suggested in a low voice.

Kirby only nodded, his attention was on the street, looking for anyone lurking in the shadows.

"Sarge said not to stay too late."

"I know." Kirby answered, tearing his eyes from the street. "I'm ready." Stepping off of the sidewalk he walked up the middle of the street.

Caje followed, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. "I think we're being watched."

Just then two soldiers walked out of the building they were passing.

"Caje, Kirby, what are you doing out so late? Sarge said to get back early." Billy Nelson greeted his squad members as if he hadn't seen them in forever when in fact he had eaten supper with them.

"You're out just as late as we are." Kirby growled.

"Yeah, but Sarge sent us for supplies." Littlejohn held up the bundle he was carrying. He displayed the supplies they had picked up. "We were just headed back."

"So were we." Caje answered for the two of them.

"Good, then we can all walk back together." The large private suggested.

The four men stayed in the middle of the street as they made their way to where their squad was billeted.

Saunders was awake when they arrived, sitting by himself, cleaning his Thompson. He nodded at the four of them and watched as they turned in.

The next morning the squad went together to eat breakfast. Saunders briefed them on the mission as they left the mess hall.

"Our job is to make sure the krauts haven't moved into position between us and Baker Company. Headquarters says we're going to start a push in the next day or two and they don't want any surprises."

"Are they sending anyone out to talk to us about that kraut courier?" The others paused as Brockmeyer asked the question.

"Why would they send anyone out to talk to us?" Saunders demanded.

Brockmeyer shrugged. "Some of the guys from third squad said that they are talking to everyone. Rumor has it that whoever killed that courier also took his satchel."

"So what would we do with a bunch of papers written in German?" Kirby asked crossly. "You're the only one of us who even speaks the lingo."

Brockmeyer shook his head. "From what I hear there was a whole lot more in that satchel than just papers."

"Like what?" Caje asked.

"Diamonds and gold." Brockmeyer stated importantly. "One of the guys from third squad knows a guy who works at headquarters; he told him that there was a pouch of cut diamonds and another one of gold coins. He said that headquarters is watching for anyone spending a lot of money all of a sudden."

"Nobody can spend diamonds or gold coins around here." Littlejohn snorted. "Somebody would notice right away."

"They'd have to sell them on the black market." Saunders agreed.

"Where would they find a black market around here?" Billy asked.

"Beats me." Saunders shrugged. "But whoever buys them is going to get one sweet deal. The guy that stole them will have to sell for pennies on the dollar of get stuck with them."

"That's not fair!" Kirby shouted.

"Fair or not, I'd take the deal rather than get stuck with the rocks. The Army will come down hard on anyone caught with the loot." Saunders led the way to the trail leading to the area they were ordered to search.

Caje caught Kirby looking worried and he decided to find out what was bothering the other soldier.