ggg
"So what am I s'pose to do again?"
"Just get over the wall, Goniff."
"There ain't no ropes, 'r pipes to climb up. How m'I gonna do it, then?"
"Use your imagination. Just get over that wall." It seemed simple enough to Garrison, one man boosted another over who then reached back to pull the first man up… but these guys weren't ready to rely on each other yet. He could hardly blame them they'd only been on the grounds for forty eight hours. Alright, he thought, let's see how they do it.
Goniff studied the stub of a wall and the raised tower next to it. He scratched his head and took another look at the lieutenant before rolling his eyes and starting across the open yard. When the guards on the tower tensed up and pointed their rifles down in his direction he just grinned up at them and waved. Clambering up the corner of the tower he got a few feet above the wall and turned to stand on the crossbeam, calculating the distance in his head he leapt across and took a few running steps along the top of the wall until he got his balance. A few steps forward and back with his arms held out to his sides and he turned to bow to the others on the ground before dropping down on the opposite side. In a moment his hands could be seen on the top of the wall again, and then his head as he pulled himself up to sit astride the top.
"Come on Casino! I'll give ya a hand up, mate." Slapping the wall and then holding out his hand he encourage the safecracker to make the attempt.
Casino didn't wait, just took off at a run and made a jump for the wall. He knew the pick pocket'd be there to catch his hand. The Limey needed protection and he could provide it. It was in his best interest to help him and people always looked after their own interests first.
Both of them disappeared over the wall leaving the other three to figure it out for themselves. Garrison leaned back against the jeep. There's one pair, he thought, now what about the others.
Actor tapped Chief on the shoulder, "Come on, I'll boost you up and then you can help me over."
"Huh uh. S'gotta be the other way around." The younger man gave Actor a measuring glance. "You'r too heavy for me."
The pair approached the wall and was over without any trouble… that only left Wheeler. He waited for a moment but no one appeared at the top of the wall to offer him a hand. Stalking across to the base of the tower he started to haul himself up along the supports. When he reached the cross beam he turned but couldn't make himself jump.
"Alright, that's enough." Garrison motioned for the guards to bring the others back around the wall. "Wheeler get down from there. Now, let's do it again."
"Again!" Casino planted his fists on his hips and stared at him. "We already got over the damn thing once. Why do we have to do it again?"
"Not all of you got over Casino." Garrison turned to face the east coast thief as he moved up to confront him. "Wheeler didn't make it."
"Well that's just too bad for him, isn't it."
"No, it's too bad for all of you because we're staying right here until all of you get over that wall. You are supposed to be a team, remember?" He didn't raise his voice, just crossed his arms and stared back waiting for them to decide. They'd been out on the course for three hours now and were tired and hungry. If they wanted a break they'd have to work together to get it.
Actor studied the group for a moment. It appeared the lieutenant could be just as stubborn as Casino and he didn't doubt the man would keep them out here all night if he had too to make his point. As uncomfortable as it was he preferred to spend the night in his bed inside rather than standing here. "Come on, let's get this over with." Starting back towards the wall he called over his shoulder. "Wheeler can go first but I'll need some help with him."
The others didn't make a move, not even Wheeler. Craig waited. Goniff finally broke away from the group and headed for the wall. Turning when he got there he laid a hand on his belly and shrugged back at the others. "Come on then you blokes, before I starve to death."
Wheeler was big, but he wasn't in very good shape and it took three of them to hoist him up so he could catch the top of the wall. When he swung over the top he dropped down on the other side without offering a hand to help anyone else. Actor didn't waste anytime listening to Casino complain, just boosted each of them up and over. Goniff dropped down the other side but both Casino and Chief stayed on top and reached down to help the con artist up.
"Round them up Corporal Jergens. We're done for the day."
"Yes sir."
Well we have the beginnings of an alliance, he thought, and a potential negotiator. Actor had taken the lead and the others had seen the sense in following him. All but Goniff, Garrison laughed to himself. He was only motivated by his ever present hunger.
ggg
The light switched on to groans of protest. "Alright gentlemen, on your feet." Garrison watched them roll out of their beds. Chief was on his feet almost instantly, alert and ready. Actor and Casino were sitting on the sides of their cots, interested in their surroundings but not fully awake, but Goniff and Wheeler were still wrapped in their blankets.
"Bloody Hell! We just got the lights turned out!" Only disheveled blonde hair could be seen as the cockney pick pocket shielded his face with the blanket.
"That was six hours ago, Goniff. Now get up."
The little cat burglar folded the covers back and did the calculations on his fingers. "It's only four o'clock in the bleedin' morning! You ain't gonna make us run that blinkin' obstacle course in the dark?!" Swinging his legs over the side of the cot he scrubbed his hands through his hair and yawned in the lieutenant's direction.
"Breakfast first Goniff, then the firing range. You've got weapons training with Sergeant Major Rawlins before we start on the jump tower."
"Breakfast! Whyn't ya say so!"
Garrison watched them for a moment to make sure they were all started on the process of getting up. The light had come into the second story man's eyes at the mention of food, Wheeler looked up at the promise of the firing range. This would be the first time they'd been allowed to get their hands on a weapon. No one commented on the prospect of the jump tower and the only reason he could figure for that was that none of them had ever been on one before. The next time he made that little announcement it probably wouldn't be taken so quietly.
When he followed the servicemen hauling the food into the room several minutes later, the men were ready with their questions.
"Whadda ya mean, 'jump tower'?" Wheeler shouldered the soldier away to get to the tray that had been placed on the table next to his cot, then turned on the man, "What'r you waitin for, sweetie, a tip?" When the irritated guard took a step towards him the convict rose to his feet to meet the challenge.
"At ease, corporal!" Garrison was across the room and standing in front of Wheeler as the soldier stepped back as ordered. "Wheeler if you've got enough energy to cause trouble I guess that means you guys can make it around that obstacle course a couple of times before you hit the firing range… Right?"
Wheeler glared at the officer in front of him before sinking back on the cot and turning to his food. Garrison turned to survey the room, the others were quietly absorbed in their trays.
ggg
"I said … Get outta my way!" Wheeler was on the prowl and rather than pace back and forth in front of Actor's area, where the way was clear he'd chosen the path past Chief who was in no mood to move.
The young man cocked his head and asked quietly. "You think you got what it takes to move me, Wheeler?"
It had been a long day. Their new jailor had them up before dawn and out on the firing range to practice under the watchful eye of armed guards. Then in response to trouble from Wheeler they'd made a quick run through the hated obstacle course before loading onto the truck for the trip out to the jump tower where they'd had their first taste of what it was going to be like for them when they dropped into Europe to do their job. They were sore and tired, all of them, and Actor was in no mood to participate in the punishment that would be meted out to the whole group if the lieutenant found these two fighting.
"Be quiet, both of you." He rose to his feet to confront Wheeler as the man started back along the track towards him. "All this argument will get us is another chance to run a circuit around the grounds." By the time he was standing face to face with the angry man the others were on their feet murmuring their agreement. "Are you so much a fool that you can't understand these security measures?" The European con artist swung is leg fast enough to cause the chain to rattle in the track. "To meet even our simplest needs, Wheeler, we have to cooperate and I would wager as soon as we do, these," he jerked the chain again, "will come off." Gesturing to the others in the room. "They seem to have worked that out so I suggest that it's only your continued stupidity and stubbornness that is keeping us in these shackles."
The others had moved along the track to stand at the man's back, leaving Wheeler only one choice, backtracking.
"More trouble, gentleman?"
Goniff, standing at the back of the group, whirled to face the door. "No trouble, mate!" he grinned. "Actor here was just gonna read us a bed time story outta one of 'is fancy books. We was just decidin' which one."
Craig watched them shuffle along the track as they turned to follow his movement across the room. By the time he'd settled himself against the wall next to the window they were all ranged along the track in front of Actor's area. The confrontation had been between the con man and Wheeler this time he noted, with the other three men standing at Actor's back.
"Actor, can I see you over here a moment?" As he expected it was the little pick pocket who made the first move, sidling along the track to reach the slot that led up to the confidence expert's cot. When he'd cleared the main track Goniff dropped onto the cot and patted the blanket next to him, encouraging the other two men to move out of the way. Casino glared at Wheeler a moment and had just started to move when the belligerent get-away driver finally took a step back.
"It's faster this way. You too much of a fool you can't see that!?" Turning his back on the group he stalked back to his own slot and pulled back out of the way, bowing the tall Italian through with a wave of his hand.
Actor considered Wheeler a moment. "Thank you, Wheeler." And then he started along the track towards the lieutenant.
Wheeler gritted his teeth and smiled as Actor moved past him, "This better work." he growled, just loud enough for the con man's ears.
A gallant gesture, Garrison thought. Too bad the feral smile didn't match the act. But, he sighed to himself, at least they'd convinced Wheeler to cooperate… Maybe there was some hope after all. He glanced up at the group's de facto second in command as he stood calmly waiting to hear what was required of him.
"We've got less than a week and these guys need to learn some German and French… Think you can handle it?"
Actor smiled, he knew he would be called on to help the young Army officer eventually and he had every intention of encouraging the man to rely on him. He already had a plan in mind that could see them free of their chains and their agreement with the government but he hadn't broached the subject to the others. Language sessions would be the perfect cover. "Of course, Lieutenant Garrison, I would be honored to help." Turning his smile on the group ranged across the room he continued, "And I am certain I will have a most eager and cooperative group of students."
ggg
Actor was encouraged. The safecracker knew a bit of Italian and the Indian had been exposed to Spanish as a child making it easier for both of them to understand the French he was trying to teach them. Goniff had grown up near a Jewish section in East London but he thought his limited store of Yiddish would prove more of a hindrance that an advantage as it had a tendency to corrupt his accent if he tried to say anything in German. Wheeler lacked all language skills even, to Actor's ear, slaughtering his own English with street slang.
They were gathered in a conference room that had been set up next to their dormitory. Actor kept the language lessons boring and repetitive and at his 'suggestion' the others had been cooperating with the base personnel. After the first session the guard left them alone in the room. The shackles they wore secured them and he was only going to be across the hall…
"Where you figure they'r sendin' us?" Casino stubbed the cigarette out and tossed it in the tray.
The European con man shrugged. "It can only be France."
"How come you'r so sure it ain't Italy hot shot? Or right into Kraut land?"
"Because they are training us to jump, Wheeler. There are already Allied troops on the ground in Italy… "
Casino snorted a laugh. "Yeah we could land there all nice and comfortable you idiot"
"…and if we were going into Germany there wouldn't be no need of us learnin' French." Chief offered quietly.
Actor spared the Indian a surprised smile as he cautioned the others. "Keep your voices down, both of you! If the lieutenant hears you we will all be out on that obstacle course." Leaning back in his chair he considered each of the men in silence.….It seemed now might be the right time to introduce his idea.
Goniff slid forward, resting is elbows on the table. "You got somethin' cookin' in that head a yours?"
There was a possibility that not everyone would be willing to go along with him and if his reading of the men had been inaccurate he ran a big risk. If there was an informant in the group, a 'squealer', and he continued to have doubts about the Englishman, he ran the very real risk of being returned to American and prison in chains. He kept his voice casual. "I was merely considering the possibility that we might be able to get away once they drop us over there."
"And then what, get shot by the Krauts?"
"I admit there would be certain risks involved… but it might prove lucrative as well."
Chief frowned a moment. He thought he knew what the con man meant,,, but he wasn't sure. He didn't want these guys to think he was stupid, but he didn't want to risk his neck without all the particulars either. "Lucrative… what's that?"
Casino gave a derisive snort and just raised his hand, rubbing the first two fingers and thumb together. "Moolah, dummy. Dough!"
Chief stiffened and shot a black look across the table. He swallowed his come back. There'd be another time and if he played it cool now he might have more than words to use to show the sarcastic east coast con he wasn't dealin' with a dummy.
Goniff shared a worried look between the two hot heads. They'd had 'words' before and had come to blows over it causing the whole group to be sent through the obstacle course. "You mean just scarper?" The plan sounded good, but only if all of them went for it. "Just take off as soon as we land over there?"
"Jeeze! Don't be an idiot!" Casino scoffed. "We're gonna come down right in the middle of a squad a military goons packin' rifles."
"You are probably right Casino." Actor concurred. "There will probably be someone waiting on the ground when we arrive. Goniff, I am not proposing we set out on our own immediately. What I am suggesting is that there may come a time that the opportunity will present itself and I believe we should be ready for it."
"Don't sound like you think it'll just be the one job?"
Actor turned and looked at the Indian leaning by the window. "I don't discount the possibility of the government holding to their agreement." He waited a moment until they were all looking at him, waiting for him to finish. "I just don't want to stake my life, or my chance at freedom on it." There was a lose board in the floor just outside the room and they heard the guard before the door opened. The con man let his eyes range over the men. "We'll continue this discussion later." And by the time the door was open they were all diligently studying German rank insignia.
g
The men had been herded down onto the firing range for a practice session with the Sergeant Major. They spent the remainder of the day practicing at the jump tower. The day always ended with a trip around the obstacle course before they were allowed to hit the showers. Their meal was still brought to them in their room. The group had been quiet and cooperative, their attention on the mission and the possibility of freedom either in Europe before they started the job or back home in America after they were done.
Goniff sat staring at his empty plate a moment before risking a glance around the room. He figured up the odds of getting the leavings off any of the other's trays and decided they weren't very good. With a sigh he shifted his tray off his knees onto the table that sat next to his cot and turned his attention on the man that sat across from him. "You don't believe in that parole much, do ya mate?"
Casino snorted a laugh and settled his tray on the floor, sliding it under his bed. "You got that right, babe. That crack at a parole's nothin' but a pipedream." Throwing himself down on his back on his bunk he stared up at the ceiling.
Goniff followed the half filled tray with his eyes before shifting his gaze back to the safe cracker. "If you din't b'lieve in it why'd ya take the deal?"
"Jeeze! You are an idiot aren't ya Goniff! Got me out where I might get away, didn't it?"
"And just how do you figure we get ready to blow this deal, professor?" Wheeler wanted out alright, but he wasn't sure he wanted to follow the con man's lead.
Actor turned and settled a steady gaze on the irritating wheel man. This could work, he could make it work there was no doubt about that, but it would be much easier if Wheeler wasn't along. "By learning the language Wheeler, something you seem reluctant to do. By working together, something else you have difficulty with. And by keeping ourselves open and ready to exploit any opportunity that presents itself…. But you have to have a certain level of intelligence and imagination for that."
Casino snorted another laugh from his side of the room. Wheeler's eyes narrowed in hatred. The con man had big ideas, he thought, but he didn't have the guts to see them through. He might have the contacts over there in Europe and he might know the languages but he didn't have what it took to lead them against Garrison. "I'm smart enough to handle myself big man. I done it plenty a times in the joint. You just be ready to follow my lead when it goes down!"
"Sure Wheeler, we'll be ready."