Facing the Fear

Chapter 1

While waiting for the sub Casino was breaking a small branch into pieces and throwing the bits at Chief. Goniff watched as Chief ignored the annoyance until the bits began to get bigger and one would have hit him in the face if he hadn't knocked it aside. He turned to glare at his tormenter.

Actor had been watching the interplay. He thought back to their first introductions. Casino had always been cocky. He was good and he knew it. It had taken time for Chief to get comfortable with the others, starting with Garrison and then himself. Goniff made friends with everyone but Chief and Casino had not really hit it off. Maybe it was because Chief seemed unimpressed with his team mate. As they had worked together the bond between the two dark haired men had become like one between brothers. Casino still tormented him but if the younger man was in trouble Casino was right there to protect him. Not that he would admit it and not that Chief would ever admit he needed help but Actor had seen it happen. He watched to see how far this present situation would go. He did not want to step in, that was Garrison's venue but he was on watch so that left it to him. He would have to say something soon. He was planning what to say when Goniff stepped in.

"Hey Casino. When was your first run in with the coppers?"

Casino paused in mid throw to think. A smile appeared as he remembered back to a happier time.

Was that just a coincidence or had Goniff done it on purpose? He had diffused the situation with his question. Actor had suspected he was smarter than he let on. This was further proof. He filed this incident away with the rest and sat back to watch and listen. In the back of his mind he started to plan what he would say if they asked him.

"It must have been when I was ten or eleven," began Casino. He had lowered the branch to his lap and was staring off into the distance. "A couple of us guys were walking home from school. We had to pass this grocery store. Old man Giovani was a miserable old coot. Nice as pie to the adults but he used to glare at us kids. His wife was always going to church or just coming back. I think she had a thing for the priest."

Goniff snickered.

Casino continued. "They had two kids. The girl, Adrianna, was two years older than me and had her nose so far up in the air it was a wonder she could breathe. The boy, a skinny little weasel, was younger by a year. He thought he was a big shot. Used to take candy from his old man's store to school. If you wanted any you had to be real nice to him, kiss up. I'd seen some of the younger kids carry his books just for a sweet. Couldn't stand either one of them or the old man so as I was about to walk past the shelf out front I took an apple. I was just polishing it on my shirt when I saw the cop. He was just standing there big as life; one hand on his hip and the other one held out for the apple. Well, we just looked at each other and I laughed. This was all too good to pass up so we took off with the cop in pursuit."

"Over an apple?" asked Actor incredibly.

"No. It had nothing to do with the apple. We just wanted to outrun the cop. You see he was old and overweight. Beside he was all right with us guys. We knew he wouldn't do anything. Just tell us that it was wrong to steal and that we should go to confession and confess our sins; that God would deal with it. He wouldn't even tell our parents."

"So what 'appened?" prompted Goniff.

"After a bit I slowed down and I just tossed him the apple. He caught it and we kept going. Too bad cause shortly after that he retired and they brought in a new guy." Casino's voice turned hard. "He was a miserable bastard. You couldn't do nothing, and he was all over you. Everyone hated him."

"Maybe only the criminals hated him." interjected Actor. That earned him a scowl.

"Came right to the house one afternoon and asked me about some missing stuff that he knew there was no way I coulda snatched. He just wanted me to know he was watching me and to make sure my old man knew what I was doing. Just being a real jerk."

"So what did your old man do?"

"Beat the shit outta me as usual."

"Obviously that did not stop you, did it?" asked Actor rhetorically, a smile on his face.

That earned his chuckles all around.

"Later he arrested me for a job even though I wasn't even there," continued Casino bitterly.

"Probably off robbing someone else," suggested Goniff.

Even Casino laughed at that as he tossed a bit of stick at him. Ever agile the little thief dodged it.

"Hey Limey, how about you?"

"I was framed." The others laughed.

"No cops here, really, what happened?"

"Honest to God's truth." He heard the sniggers and pressed on. "I was just a lad when a few a me mates and me were wanting to go to the picture show. We didn't 'ave enough money so we tried to sneak in. Willie, the oldest, 'e nicked this guy's wallet but when the guy grabbed him, 'e turned and yelled at me as if I'd done it. 'E 'anded it back and told me to never do that again or 'e would call the cops. The bloke reaches into 'is pocket and pulls out a badge. 'E was a cop. Threatened to take me to jail right then and there."

"What did you do?"

"What would you do? I kicked 'im in the shins and scarpered."

They all laughed at that.

"Actor, how about you?"

In my case it was an accident."

"What you weren't framed? Oh wait that was the Limey's excuse," laughed Casino.

"No in my case it was literally an accident. I had just parted from a lovely young lady…"

"After taking all her money," put in Casino.

Actor scowled at his tormentor. "Not all." he replied haughtily. "As I was saying, I was leaving in a cab when the driver, momentarily distracted, was involved in an accident. Unfortunately there were too many people around for me to disappear.

The Doctor wished to detain me for a few days because of internal bruising. I agreed, assuming a hospital would be the last place anyone would look for me. To my great misfortune it turned out one of the doctors at the hospital recognized me as being a friend of the heiress. Being a good friend, and thinking he was helping he called her. She of course rushed to my bedside."

"Of course," chimed in Casino sarcastically."

"She insisted on paying the hospital bill and arranging for a visiting nurse when I was discharged."

"That's when she discovered you had stolen all her money," laughed Casino.

"Really Casino! It is all a matter of semantics. I didn't steal anything. I was merely investing it for her. She had left too much un-invested. It was just being wasted. I on the other hand know where to keep money safe, how to put it to its best use."

"Yeah, in your pocket." Again the others laughed. Even Actor smiled.

"So you ended up in the slammer. What about the money?" asked Goniff.

A knowing smile gave them their answer.

Their attention swung now to the youngest member of the team. Chief had always protected his past, kept it from everyone. There was too much there to cause him pain.

"Go back where you came from. Nobody wants you here. Even your mother didn't want you." Even as much as he tried to tell himself it wasn't true the words had wrapped themselves around his heart like barbed wire. They had struck so hard and so deep that they had become part of his truth. "Keep moving. No one wants you here. If your own mother didn't want you then why would anyone else."

Over the time he had lived and worked with these men, risking his life for them and they for him, he had learned that some things were all right to reveal. At times it had been accidental and other times on purpose. Each time he had survived. Occasionally he had had to fight it out with Casino or shut out Actor and once Garrison but in the end it had not changed how they treated him.

As he had listened to the others he had thought about his own brush with the law. Some were just too painful and shameful to ever be revealed. Those he discarded. He thought back to one early incident.

"When I was little I remember being chased by a cop. I don't remember why or what I'd done. I just remember knowin' that if he caught me some'm bad would happen."

Before they had a chance to question him further, their contact arrived. The motor Torpedo Launch had been damaged and had to return to England. They were now to make the crossing by sub.

The sea was high enough on their way to the sub that the lack of details in Chief's story was forgotten. Eventually they reached England and returned cold, and tired, to their base. After debriefing and showers they all went to bed.

Hours later the quiet was interrupted by a mumble, at first unintelligible, then clearer.

"No, don't. I don't want..."

Actor was roused by the mumble. Hearing the rest brought him completely awake. The sound had brought back memories of when he was a child. His little brother had been ill with a high fever. His Mother had tried to bathe him but the water was too cold causing him to cry out. She had persisted, though in the end he had died.

"Let me go."

Again the voice in the darkness and Actor switched on the light before moving over to the bed of the sleeping Chief. The light woke up the others who joined him at the bedside. Seeing the tortured look on his face, Actor called his name as he placed his hand on Chief's shoulder, shaking him gently.

Even before his eyes fully opened, the sleeper exploded. Encumbered momentarily by the blanket that had bunched up around his upper chest, he fought to get free.

"Hey, it's OK. You were dreaming," said Casino. Meaning to help he grabbed at the blanket accidentally grabbing Chief's wrist.

The terrified man's eyes flew open and he blindly struck out, trying to free himself from the real hands that were tied to his tortured dream.

As reality set in he realized that the others had seen him terrified. No one must ever see that he could be afraid. Fear was something to be exploited. Sadly he knew he had used that himself in the past. He couldn't deny what they had all so plainly seen so as he had always done in the past he fell back on his standard response; anger.

Without warning he launched himself at Goniff, who was standing at the end of the bed. "You bastard," was the strangled cry.

Momentarily stunned by the complete transformation and the unusual target the others remained paralyzed until Chief almost had his hands around Goniff's neck. Casino lunged first, grabbing Chief by the first available target, his upper arm. This deflected the young man's trajectory causing him to swing around right into the arms of Actor.

Again he was being restrained by hands and arms. He fought without thought. Finally the two older men succeeded in pinning the young man face down on the cot. He screamed his rage in an inarticulate cry, more animal than human.

"Chief! Stop!"

The two men slowly release their hold and as soon as he was able Chief turned over and with undisguised rage snarled at them, his eyes blazing. "Don't you ever do that again."

"Chief. What is going on here? You were having a bad dream." said Actor calmly. He held his hands out to show he wouldn't harm him.

"We just tried to wake you up," said Casino, concern evident in his voice. He, too, tried to ease the man's fears.

Again Chief turned on the slightest man on the team, who had wisely tucked in behind the two bigger men.

"It's all his fault." At their puzzled looks he continued angrily. "If he hadn't asked about the cops then none of this would have happened."

"What's the big deal," asked Casino becoming angry as well. "So you dreamed about the cops. Don't tell me that's never happened before."

A haunted look began to replace some of the anger. "It wasn't a cop that was chasing me. It was a God damn priest." It suddenly dawned on him that he never meant to reveal this much. No one must ever know. He rounded on Goniff again. "If you hadn't asked then I wouldn't've remembered. Damn you." He wanted to throttle the man but knew he wouldn't get close enough.

"Remembered what? That a priest chased you? You probably stole from the poor box," replied Casino snidely.

"No!" He took several breaths trying to calm himself. They stood waiting but he remained silent. He had seen an old priest in his dream and then he was being chased but he didn't know who was chasing him. What if they ask him more? They would. They would want to know why. He couldn't tell them. Again he covered with anger. "Just leave me alone. Get away from me." He jerked his hand like he would if he had a knife. The others took the hint and walked back to their cots.

Goniff felt bad. It scared him that Chief wanted to attack him. He was defenceless against the angry fighter. On the other hand if he had caused it then he had to tell him he was sorry. Then maybe he wouldn't try to kill him when the others were not there.

"I'm sorry Chief. I didn't mean..."

That was as far as he got. Chief snarled something he couldn't understand verbally but the intent came through loud and clear. He was not forgiven.

"Chief." The voice of reason spoke. "Goniff did not do it on purpose. He did not mean to stir up old memories. Do not take it out on him. Maybe if we talk about the memories we can get them put back where they belong."

"NO! Just leave me alone." He started to get dressed.

"Where are you going?"

"Nonna your business," was the quiet, though still angry reply.

"I am afraid it is my business. When Garrison asks where you went he will expect an answer."

"Well then when you say 'I don't know' you won't be lyin' will you."

Actor thought about stopping the young man until he saw him strap on the leather band that held his knife. Chief had a point. He could honestly say he didn't know where he was going. It would be better to have Garrison confront Chief.

Actor placed a hand on the smaller team mate's shoulder and told him they would discuss it in the morning when Chief had time to cool off. Everything would be all right.

Goniff replied with a wry smile, not convinced one bit, then climbed into his cot making sure he was facing door. Not that it would matter. If the Indian came for him in the night there was no way he would hear him. He closed his eyes but continued to listen. He relaxed a bit when he heard the door close.

Why was he so upset about a priest chasing him, though Goniff. What could a priest do to him anyway that would make him so afraid. He thought back to what the Indian had told them the day before. If the cop/priest caught him then bad things would happen. What bad things could a priest do? Excommunicate him? Throw you out of the church? Tell your parents? How bad could that be?

And if it was a cop, Chief said he was 'little'. That made it sound like he was a little kid. They didn't put little kids in jail did they? Chief was American. Americans didn't put little kids in jail. Then what was he afraid of? Maybe his father. Maybe his father would beat him, or his stepfather or whoever ran the orphanage. How bad could that be? Chief fought all the time. He was no stranger to pain. Whether the cop/priest caught him or not he could still tell on him. So he would still be in trouble. None of it made sense. The only thing that could be trouble was if the cop/priest was the one to hurt him. Priest didn't beat little kids. They blessed them and saved their souls. Where Chief grew up, where ever that was, did cops beat little kids? What was worse than a beating?

Goniff's fertile imagination went into over drive as he drifted off to sleep. He dreamed he was a pirate captain and his crew consisted of a very tall but subservient first mate and a tough deck hand, named Actor and Casino respectively. They had just brought him a new cabin boy that they had procured from a local cop. He wouldn't tell his name so they called him Chief.

Actor pondered the events that had just transpired. Chief claimed it was a priest who chased him. If he had stolen something as Casino had suggested then he might have said he was sorry, or he would not do it again. But he had clearly said 'No, don't. I don't want..." What had the priest done to cause that reaction? It could not have been in response to priestly things like baptism or blessing and he did not believe that Chief was the devil and the sprinkling of holy water was causing him to burn. No, he had to be mistaken. Dreams were an interpretation, not necessarily fact. He would talk to him in the morning.

Chief slipped down the stairs. He knew there were no guards in the building but the Sergeant Major, whose room he had to pass, was a light sleeper. Over time he had memorized the squeaky steps and floorboards so by now he could pass without a sound. The door to the courtyard was locked on the inside so his progress was unhindered. Once outside he kept to the shadows as he carefully made his way to a specific tree and climbed up to a notch. Leaning on the vertical trunk he stretched out his legs along the horizontal limb and felt himself relax.

Why couldn't the past stay in the forgotten? He obviously had blanked it all out but every once in a while something would surface. Why couldn't it stay gone? This one with the priest….He shivered and then hung his head. He dared not explore that one. The fear he had felt in his dream told him that was a part that had to stay hidden. His eyes welled up with tears. They were tears of pain and shame.

Here up in the tree he felt safe enough to let the tears flow. He had been told that tears wash the soul so he made no effort to stop them until his soul felt clean. He was still the discarded one but he would go on. Someday, he promised himself, he would find out where he came from and why he had been abandoned.

He wiped his face and dried his hands on his jacket. Climbing down he went to the stream, knelt beside it and splashed water on his face. It was cold but refreshing. Unfortunately it made his hands cold but they would warm. He returned to the tree, got comfortable and sat watching the stars through a break in the leaves. He dozed for a bit each time waking relaxed and alert. He had learned to do this a long time ago. Prison farm barracks were no place for deep sleepers. Eventually he returned to the rooms the cons shared.

ggggg

A tapping at his door drew his attention and he looked up. Mrs. G stood tentatively peering into his office.

"Come in Mrs. Greeves."

"I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy. I can come back later."

"No, no. Come in. What can I do for you?" She took a nervous step into the room so Craig got up to meet her. That helped and she moved into the room.

"I don't want to get anyone in trouble; I know the lads like to blow off steam… It's probably nothing but…"

"Go ahead," he said with a smile. "They do like to get into mischief. What is it this time? You know, I should write these antics down. It would make a good book." He had a bad feeling this was more serious but he had to put their housekeeper at ease or he might not hear about their latest antics until it was too late.

"Well," she said, "I was changing their beds…"

"The men are supposed to do that and bring the sheets down. You shouldn't have to."

"I was not 'ere yesterday."

"Yes, I remember you telling me about the funeral."

"I did the laundry the day before so I went and got the sheets off the beds."

Craig wondered what could have upset their unflappable house keeper about the sheets.

"When I took the blanket off the bed by the window, I… I smelled smoke on it."

"Several of the men smoke. I can tell them not to smoke in their room if you prefer." This had not been an issue all the time they had been there and he was sure Chief did not smoke. Had Casino or Goniff traded blankets with Chief? Strange.

"It wasn't cigarette smoke. It was from a wood fire like if he had sat next to the fireplace except there were no ashes in the fireplace." She had been speaking hesitantly but now hurried on almost apologetically. "I don't want to get anyone in trouble. I know you work for the Army and you're doing good work but I am responsible for the house and if they're lighting fires…" She ran out of steam. "It's probably nothin' and I don't want any trouble but I thought you should know."

"Thank you Mrs. Greeves." He gave her a smile. "You did the right thing and I will certainly have a word with them. Don't worry about getting them into trouble. They do that all on their own." Craig was glad to see the look of relief on her face. She was a good woman and he did not want to lose her for any reason.

After she left he considered what she had said. Chief's cot was the closest to the window and of all of them was the most likely to be sitting next to a fire but why the blanket? No ashes could be explained if he had cleaned them out after. This was something he was going to have to look into as soon as he finished the paperwork and made a phone call.

Hours later he met up with his men for Tea, as Mrs. G and Goniff called it. Not wanting to embarrass his Guardian Craig waited but he did notice how tired he looked. Maybe he was sitting up late. Finally after the dishes were cleared and the men began to disperse he told Chief to wait. He had tried to catch his eye but he was avoiding looking at anyone. This was not entirely out of character but put together with the wood smoke and the tiredness meant he was on the right track.

"You got a minute Chief?"

"Sure." There was no hesitation or sign of guilt.

Goniff was lingering, looking very interested in one of the paintings on the wall. He might be out of earshot but …

"Come," he said as he headed for the door. It was cool outside, cool enough for a jacket but he hoped he wouldn't be that long. Once they were out on the stone terrace he started. "Is something bothering you? It doesn't look like you've been sleeping well."

"I'm all right." It was the denial Craig had expected. "Can I go now?"

He was hiding something. Normally he would have let him go and just kept an eye on him but not this time. The evidence was too serious.

"Mrs. G smelled wood smoke on your blanket." That got a reaction; Chief's head jerked up but he did not turn around. "What's going on Chief?"

There was a long pause. "I had a bad dream so I went outside."

The men were no longer locked in and nothing had been said about not being allowed to go outside but nocturnal wandering was pushing it. "I would rather you not wander the grounds at night. The Guards have orders to shoot." There was no reaction. Maybe he had better rescind that order.

Craig had solved the mystery of the wood smoke smell but he had a feeling he had not gotten to the bottom of the problem. Chief had a nightmare but with the life he had before and with what they were doing now, it was to be expected. It was a wonder they all didn't have them occasionally. Hopefully this was a onetime thing though he doubted it.

"Sometimes talking about it helps." He was not a psychologist and knew nothing about dream interpretation but he wanted Chief, like all his men to know that he was here for them. Your men should know they could count on you to back them at all times. You were responsible for them.

That night Craig fell asleep quickly but woke sometime later. He tried rolling over but sleep eluded him. Something was wrong. He sat up and listened but nothing was out of order. The old boiler groaned, the floors creaked, just the usual nocturnal sounds but still he remained alert. Getting up and dressed he took a walk through the building. Maybe if he reassured his mind that all was well he would be able to go back to sleep. He had a two day training session coming up and he needed to be alert.

It was all quiet downstairs so he headed up to the second floor. The cons were not the only ones who knew how to avoid the squeaks and creaks of this old house. At the con's room door he paused, listening, then opened the door. A cloud chose that moment to slide in front of the moon but there had been enough time for Garrison to see the white sheet on Chief's bed. The brown blanket was missing and so was Chief.

Down in the kitchen Craig turned on the light. It took about a minute to locate and check the flashlight that was kept for emergencies. Originally it was probably candles and matches so he was glad of the modern technology.

He turned out the light and headed outside. It was cold and damp, it would probably rain later, so he was glad he had put on his coat. He pulled the collar up as he walked. Out on the grounds there were a few paths. One of these he used for his morning run. Another led to a pasture that was used by a neighbor for his sheep. Craig did not know the details just that the sheep were there. A third path was less used and led back into the wood lot. This would be the one Chief would choose. Walking quietly he set off. Up ahead he thought he saw a flicker of light so he covered the flashlight beam with his hand allowing only enough light to see where he was going. Falling over a log or stumbling off the path could be painful and would alert whoever was up ahead. He could not afford to assume it was Chief.

The path opened up into a clearing where a small fire was burning but there was no sign of the builder or tender of the fire. Craig turned off his light and waited.

"You might as well come out, I know you're here." He watched, alert to any sound. Maybe he should have brought his weapon. Hopefully the guards had stopped any intruders. Movement to his right caught his eye and he waited.

Chief stepped into sight and approached the fire. The missing blanket was draped over his shoulders. Squatting down he reached out and warmed his hands by the fire. Craig moved in too. The fire was small but it burned hot. The warmth was welcomed.

"Another bad dream?"

"Same one," was the quiet reply.

"Want to tell me about it?"

"Not really." He sounded sad.

"It's interfering with your sleep. You're going to have to talk to someone."

"No." He shook his head slightly.

"This can't keep going on." The Lieutenant was not going to beg but he knew that sometimes orders were counter-productive.

"It won't."

"If you won't talk to me I can call someone." The only other option was sleeping pills but after the last time he gave him pills he was not about to do it again.

"No!

"Ignoring it isn't working. Did it have anything to do with our last mission?"

"No. Look, it'll be alright. It'll go away."

"Obviously that's not working or you wouldn't be out here, what two, three nights in a row instead of sleeping?" There was a way to get to Chief and as much as he hated using it, Chief was giving him no choice.

"A mission comes up with you this tired; you're going to be useless to me. You could even get someone killed." Chief turned his head away. Garrison had struck a nerve. He knew Chief was dedicated, he was loyal to the team and he took his role on the team seriously,

"What was the dream about? Maybe between us we can figure out what it means. Once you understand it, you can defeat it." At least that was what his Mother had told him when he was a child.

Again there was a long silence but he expected it. Chief was a thinker. He had to be very upset before he would just blurt something out. Craig figured it had to do with his lack of trust. Chief would think over what he was going to say, looking for hints he did not wish to reveal.

"I'm bein' chased."

"Do you know who is chasing you?"

"The first time I thought it was a priest but now I don' know. It's someone in black. All I know is it's all in black an' I can't let it get me. I run but I can't get away."

"When did this start? I assume you've had the same one more than once?"

"I used to when I was a kid but it's come back."

"Has it ever caught you?"

"Yeah." It was a shaky exhale.

Craig waited but there were no details so he asked what happened.

The young man looked down at his hands then tucked them into his arm pits as if he was hugging himself. Suddenly he jumped to his feet and moved off. "I fell and it landed on me. I couldn't breathe. Then it started dragging me. I woke up."

"That certainly is a nightmare. No wonder you don't want to go to sleep."

"If it kills me before I wake up, I'll die."

"If we can figure out what it is then you can defeat it. I take it you've been chased before, in real life?" Chief nodded and returned to the fire. "Was there anyone that stands out, maybe dressed in black?"

"I don' know," he said plaintively. Then in a smaller voice he said, "I'm just a kid in the dream. I don't have any memories of bein' that young." Then in a stronger voice he added, "None. There's nothin'."

"Children don't. It's as if we forget or maybe children's brains just don't remember. That's nothing to worry about."

"But what if … Why am I dreaming about it. Is it just made up? An' why? Why now?"

"Something triggered it. On our last mission, did anything like that happen? I don't remember Hodgkins wearing black but did you have to run from somebody on that mission?" With a smile he added, "It's not like we haven't ever had to run from the Germans before." That was when he remembered the SS wore black uniforms. Was this what was in his dreams?

"It's not soldiers, it's somethin' else that wants to hurt me."

Craig thought about what he had heard. The boy in the dream was a child. The soldiers were from much later in his life. Had he put them together because they were even scarier to a child? Or was he right, this person or thing in black was not a soldier but someone or something else? Had someone chased him when he was a child, someone he was afraid of? Had he replaced this person with a symbol, a black presence?

As he sat thinking this through he realized why Chief brought the blanket. His front facing the fire was warm but his back was cold and getting colder.

"Let's go back to the house. I want you to try to get some sleep and we'll talk in the morning." He held up his hand to stall the objection he saw coming. "If you have the dream again, try to remember you're not a child any more. You're a grown man, quite capable of fighting back. You don't have to let anyone hurt you ever again. And not only that … you're not alone anymore. You have your team mates and you have me. We're all here for you."

"Yeah, I know." He did not sound like he thought it would help.

"Come on." He waited as Chief put out the fire and scattered the ashes then the two men headed back.

The next morning Craig was pleased to see Chief looking a little better. He still looked tired but not as bad as he had. He caught his eye and saw the slight nod. He was doing better. Maybe his advice had worked.

The second morning when he opened the kitchen door he saw Chief sitting slouched at the table. He looked like Hell. Craig was dressed for his run but instead he pulled out a chair and sat down.

"The same dream?" The small nod confirmed it. "Anything change?" A small shake of his head was his answer.

"I don't know what to do. I have to kill it but I don't know how?"

Garrison had an idea but he was going to have to check first. His first attempt was unsuccessful but before he could call again he was called away to London. The two day session on codes was being held at a secret location, no phone calls allowed. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't even get a message to Actor to make the call.

It was after midnight when he was finally returned to his base. The next morning Chief did not show up for breakfast.

"Where's Chief?"

"He was not in bed when I got up. He was either up very early or he did not sleep here last night," said Actor as he put the coffee on. "He did sleep here the night before though he was probably too tired to dream."

"Ever since 'e 'ad that nightmare 'e's been gone a lot."

Craig saw the look pass between the men of his team. There was more to it than that but he knew he would not get the story here, or would he?

"Anyone know what it was about?" Again the look.

"Just that he was being chased."

"He wouldn't say. You know how closed mouthed he is," put in Actor.

"'E almost took me 'ead …, started Goniff before being interrupted by Casino.

"Off for asking." He glared at Goniff. "Said it wasn't our business. You know how he is."

They were covering something. His best bet was to get Goniff alone. With some incentive he would tell him what he wanted to know. First he had to find Chief.

The back door opened and Chief came in. From the way he was dressed and the sweat on his face and shirt, he had been running. Stopping long enough to acknowledge everyone he headed down the hall and up the stairs.

The men began to get up. Now was Craig's chance to get Goniff alone but as he watched Casino herded him out the door. Today was a little warmer than yesterday and the cons were taking advantage of it. The Lieutenant had some catching up to do so he let them go for a bit.

"Don't go far. We have work to do today."

"Come on, Warden," said Casino petulantly. "It's too nice a day to work. We get so few nice days here."

"What a you talking about. It 'asn't rained in days." Goniff might claim to be an American but he wasn't going to let Casino disparage his homeland's weather.

"You can go out back but don't leave the courtyard."

With a final, "Yeah, yeah," they were out the door and down the steps.

All he could hope was that Casino did not threaten Goniff too badly that he wouldn't talk to him. He would have to appeal to the Englishman's friendship with Chief. Although not close they did get along. Basically Goniff got along with everyone. It was one of his good traits that helped balance out his habit of riling Casino to the point of violence that landed them all in the stockade. He would finish what he had to do and then find a way to get him alone. He could order Goniff to tell him but like the others he did not respond well to orders.

Chief returned to the kitchen. He had gotten washed up and changed. Before he could get out the door Garrison called to him. "Get yourself a cup of coffee and sit down." He waited until the Indian was sitting. "Any more dreams?"

"Not last night."

"Did you sleep?"

"Some."

"You can't keep doing this."

"I know." He looked up from his cup.

"Have you thought any more about what the darkness represents? Or who?"

"I tried but I don't know." He took a sip of his coffee and grimaced. By now it was probably very strong.

There wasn't much else he could say so they sat in silence before the Sargent Major came in to say he was starting the training session on Morse Code and airplane silhouettes. Chief got up, dumped his cup out in the sink and headed for the map room. Taking pity and maybe delaying his office paperwork he stepped out the door and called his men inside. There was grumbling but they obeyed. The Lieutenant headed to his office. It was only fair, if they had to work so did he. Enough procrastinating.

He was well into his reports when he heard the cons returning. A quick check of his watch told him that not enough time had passed for the lesson to be over. This meant they had frustrated the Brit to the point of surrender or they had snuck out on him again. For some reason they refused to take their military training seriously.

Poking his head out into the hall he said "Goniff, my office, now."

The pickpocket turned, surprised at hearing his name or maybe the tone. Innocently he pointed to himself with a questioning look. It was the classic 'who me?'

"Close the door behind you." He stood waiting until his guest was seated before asking, "You know all your silhouettes? If I quiz you right now, how many would you get right?"

"They all look alike, Warden. Besides Casino knows'em. 'E can tell me if they're friendly."

"And if he's not there?"

"Then I ask Actor," he replied with a grin.

"You have to know this. If you see a plane, do you signal it or hide?"

"If it's flying east then, it's one of ours, west it's theirs." The satisfied grin was still there.

"Planes fly out then they fly back."

The grin disappeared and he looked surprised. "I 'adn't thought of that." The flicker of a grin returned. He was having fun.

Time to get serious. "After the next lesson I will quiz you. You get less than sixty five percent right, you lose a month's pay and no leave for a month."

"What?" That brought him up straight. "That's not fair," he protested.

"Tell you what. I'll reduce the penalty if you answer my questions."

"What questions?" He was hopeful but suspicious

Goniff often played the fool but Garrison had learned it was usually an act. "Do we have a deal?" Garrison was not a fool and he played for keeps.

"Deal."

"What was Chief's nightmare about?" He listened as the pickpocket explained about the nightmare and his reaction to being woken including the attack on himself. "Why would he blame you?"

"Back on our last mission I asked about everyone's first run in with the bobbies. Chiefy said he was chased by a cop when 'e was just a lad but 'e didn't remember why. After Casino woke 'im up 'e said it was a priest, not a cop, but that can't be right. 'E had to 'ave gotten it wrong. Priests don't chase kids, Bobbies do. They'll chase you quick as look at you."

"So it was your suggestion that triggered the dreams?"

"Yeah, but I didn't mean for it to 'appen," he said quickly, eager to explain.

"I know, Goniff. Thank you. You can go.""

"Do I get me pay back and me leave? I answered your questions."

"Yes." Goniff jumped up. "But…" Goniff stopped, looking pensive. I will quiz you and you had better know them," he warned.

"So I still get me pay and leave no matter what?"

"I said I would ease the penalty. I want at least fifty percent. If not then you get your pay but your leave will be spent studying." He saw the protest and said, "Study now, party later." He watched Goniff think that over and nod. Then he raced out the door before Garrison could change his mind.

Someone must have read his mind because the phone rang. After he hung up he called the Sargent Major via the intercom. Twenty minutes later Chief arrived at his office door. He was told to come in and when he was seated Garrison broke the news, not quite sure how it would be received.

"Katherine is coming to stay the week end at The Doves." Chief's eyes widened a bit as he took in the news. "She wants to talk to you."

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