"Sarge, they're right on our tails!" Young Mark Hitchcock shouted over the roar of his jeep's engine and the stacatto clatter of the big .50 cal mounted on the back. Swerving to miss a large rock Hitch held his breath as the jeep teetered on two wheels for a few minutes then settled back onto the ground.
"Hey!" Sergeant Troy shouted from his precarious perch, standing in the back of the jeep his hands grasping the gun as he fired and tried his best to stay in the vehicle.
"Sorry!" Hitch hit a soft spot in the african sand and dropped a gear to get out of the hole. Spinning sand in all directions he managed to wrench the jeep free of the sucking sand.
"Watch out for those spots. We are dead if we stop!" Troy yelled unnecessarily.
"I know, Sarge!" came the exasperated reply.
Nearby the other two members of the team known as the Desert Rat Patrol, rode alongside Troy and Hitch in their own army jeep. Sergeant Moffitt was firing madly at their pursuers while his driver, Private Tully Pettigrew, steered a course around the many obstacles the desert floor held for them. As the two jeeps raced along they neared a small canyon. The opening was not wide...barely enough for a jeep to pass through safely. Troy's plan was to get inside it where the chasing trucks could not reach them. He hoped it did not turn out to be a box canyon.
Looking to his left, Sergeant Moffitt saw a german half-track coming at them from the side in a flanking manouver. "Troy!" He shouted, pointing at the danger but his commander could not hear him over the battle and roar of engines. Tapping Tully on the shoulder, Moffit got his driver's attention long enough to show him the approaching threat. "Faster!" The englishman shouted. He was out of grenades and escape was their only chance of survival. Tully expertly dodged a group of boulders and gunned the already screaming engine. It coughed in protest but sped up, the opening to the canyon was getting rapidly closer.
Troy prayed his plan would work as he and Hitch's jeep neared the canyon's mouth. He saw Moffitt and Tully enter the ravine and a second later he and Hitch followed suit. With the last grenade they had with them, Troy pulled the pin and threw it back against the crumbling sandstone wall. A heartbeat later the explosive went off, collapsing a large section of the canyon wall as it did so. The german vehicles were forced to stop at the canyon's mouth. Troy grinned as the trucks faded from view as he and his team disappeared around a bend.
After a few minutes driving the canyon became rocky and difficult to navigate. At Troy's order, they halted to regroup and rest. The men dismounted from the jeeps and met in the shade of the rock wall's overhang. Sitting down heavily the tired men drew out canteens and drank gratefully. Troy waited until they had drunk their fill then addressed Moffitt. "What was that back there? They didn't act like a scout column and they had no supplies to speak of." He asked, referring to the german trucks they had just escaped from.
Moffit leaned back on his elbow, he slowly twisted the cap back on his canteen, his face thoughtful. "It doesn't make sense..." he said softly, distractedly, then he sat up, "Troy! Did you see into the half track?"
Troy shook his head.
"Well I did, It was driven by a man in a turban. An arab."
Troy's eyes widened, "Where did they get so much equipment? It's not unusual for a few raiders to steal a truck or some supplies...but a whole convoy?" his voice was laced with uncertainty.
Moffitt spoke louder, now sure of what he had seen earlier, "No that's exactly what happened, Troy. A renegade band of arabs must have abushed a german column and stolen the vehicles."
Troy nodded, seeing the logic in Moffitt's explaination, "I wonder who the colomn belonged to..."
"An old aquaintance of yours, Sergant Troy!" A german accented voice spoke up from above the weary patrol. Instantly they were on their feet, guns drawn.
"Dietrich?" Troy called out, "You must have survived the trip to the field hospital!" He reffered back to thier last meeting, Dietrich had nearly died after being beaten by the SS. Troy had saved his life but had not known until now whether or not the german captain had survived the ride to the aide station.
"Indeed I did!" Dietrich stepped into view now, an MP 40 submachine gun in his hands. "You should never let down your guard when in unknown territory, Sergeant." he said, stepping closer to the four men. He had two german privates with him, flanking him on either side, armed with lugers.
Troy nodded respectfully at the captain, "It's good to see you alive, Captain!" There was no sarcasm in this last statement. Even though the two were enemies, they had learned to repect each other and maybe even admire each other over their years of aquaintance. "What do you want from us?"
Dietrich nodded back, "It pains me to admit this, Sergeant...but I need your help."
Troy fought to keep the shock he felt from showing on his face, "You need my help?" He asked finally.
Dietrich nodded and gave a quiet order to his men. Slowly, hesitantly, they dropped thier guns. "You see, Sergeant. I am sincere in my request for help." He said as he too, lowered his gun to the ground. He raised his hands out at his sides, "We are unarmed. You are free to search us. I simply ask that you listen to my request."
Troy nodded towards Hitch and Tully who ran forward and after patting down the germans, brought them before Troy and Moffitt. "Alright, Captain. Explain why you need my help."
Dietrich glanced over at the still armed men of the rat patrol. Troy saw his gaze and holstered his gun, ordering his men to do likewise. Satisfied that he and his men were safe, Dietrich grasped his hands behind his back and faced Troy. "Do you remember Tannen?" He asked simply.
Troy nodded, "The man who helped us and you escape the SS camp a few months ago. Last I saw of him he was taking you to the hospital."
Dietrich nodded, "He has been a loyal soldier and friend to me since he came into my command almost six months ago. He needs my help...he was taken prisoner when my column was attacked by the arabs yesterday evening. They took us completely by surprise and managed to get away with everything. Our vehicles, radios and food."
Troy nodded, listening to the Captain's story with interest. Even though Tannen was a german soldier he had risked his own life to help Troy rescue Dietrich and escape the SS camp where they were being held prisoner. "Is there a chance he's even still alive?" He asked solomnly.
Dietrich's face took on a pained expression, "I certainly hope so, Sergeant."
"What do you think, Moffitt?" Troy asked. "Think he's still alive?"
Moffitt shrugged, "That all depends on what they took him for. If they think he's valuable to trade or for information then there is a chance...if they took him as a tribute to thir chieftan..." He trailed off, everyone knew that the 'if' ment death for Tannen.
"I say we try and save him, Sarge!" Hitch cried out from where he had been listening.
"Me too," Tully nodded, spitting his matchstick out on the ground.
Troy met Moffitt's eyes, "You think it's a trap?" he asked quietly.
Moffitt surveyed the german's standing before them, his eyes stopped on Dietrich. He noted the way the Captain stood, obviously ill at ease, with very little of his normal calm composure. "No, I think Dietrich's telling the truth."
Troy nodded then turned back to his enemy, "Alright, we will help you rescue Tannen if we can. We owe him a good turn for saving our lives."
Dietrich closed his eyes in relief for a moment then smiled at the American Sergeant, "Thank you." he said simply.
Troy nodded then jerked his head towards the jeeps, "We have food and water. Night is coming soon so we'd better make camp here. Maybe tomorrow we can get out of this canyon without busting an axle."
Dietrich explained the situation to his men in rapid german then looked back to the Sergeant, "Lead the way."
Soon the men had a cheery fire burning but they kept it shielded behind rocks so it could not be used to trace their location by any night stalking arabs. After a few minutes the C-rations the patrol always carried were heated at distributed. After the hot, tastless meal the seven men lay back to get a little rest before morning. Troy took first watch and he sat his lonely vigil as the darkness deepened into night