THE TRAITOR 2
Craig peered into the darkness that surrounded them.
`Nice going Warden, real keen eyes you got there`, said Casino.
`Shut up`, said Craig, being careful not to use Casino's name..
He heard someone laugh.
`Your men should learn to be more careful`, a voice said. `Lt Garrison?
Craig said nothing.
A gun was raised, and pointed at Casino and Goniff.
`I know who I should be meeting, if you are not them well , witnesses are a liability are they not?
Craig looked at the man and nodded.
I'm Garrison`, he said.
`Good then you will know the password`. Said the voice.
`Goldilocks`, said Craig.
The guns were lowered.
`Ah good, we missed you at the rendezvous, we have been trying to catch up with you in case you needed assistance. I am Phillippe`, he said.
`And ? Asked Craig, ignoring Phillippe's greeting.
` I am Red Riding Hood`, he said smiling.
Relieved at last Craig smiled back and held out his hand.
`Glad you finally found us`, he said
`Yes my friend, we have been following your path . Something went wrong I take it? He asked.
`Had some trouble at a road block, lost two of my men, we were on our way to try and find you , but we needed the rest, It's been a long forty eight hours and well….
`Everything looks different in the dark , does it not ?Especially when you are exhausted Asked Phillippe
`Yeah you could say that. `sighed Craig
`Then come , we will go to our camp , you will feel better after some food and rest, we will decide what to do in the morning about getting you all home`.
Craig sighed ,
`I can't go back yet, I need to know what happened to my men, they might just still be alive.` he said
`I doubt that very much my friend, not after all this time, the Krauts in this area do not treat prisoners kindly, if they take them at all`. Said Phillippe sadly.
`I'll not leave until I know for sure`, said Craig.
`Very well, but we can do nothing tonight, and you all need rest, and the camp is still another hour's walk away, as I said we will deal with this is the morning, now come`.
Phillippe turned without waiting for an answer and headed deeper into the woods.
Craig looked at Casino and Goniff and nodded.
Goniff shrugged his shoulders.
`Well. You 'eard the man mate, lets do what we do best, let's start walking`. He said.
`Ain't leavin' without them Warden`, Casino said.
`I know Casino`, he said `I know`.
`Well just so you do`, said Casino nodding, as he turned and followed Goniff into the woods.
`Just so you do`.
….
Phillippe stopped and looked at Craig.
`You see any sign of the camp? He asked smiling .
Craig looked around him, seeing only the hills that had started to appear in front of them. Then he shook his head.
`No `, he said.
`Neither have the Germans`. Said Phillippe proudly.
`Come`, he said.
Craig followed as Phillippe took them towards the hillside .
Craig could still see nothing that even looked vaguely like a camp until Phillipe pointed out the opening to the cavern. Until you were more or less level with the entrance it looked to be just part of the
hillside.
They followed a narrow path for a few metres and then the whole of the hillside seemed to open up into one large cavern, with maybe thirty people mulling around.
`We have everything we need here`, said Phillippe. We are far away from the nearest town as not to draw attention to ourselves , but near enough to get all the supplies we need. We have a safe
house a couple of miles away , where we keep a truck and can keep anyone that we are not too sure about until we know we can trust them`.
`You brought us straight here, you don't even know us`, said Goniff.
`True, but I know I can trust your Lt. he has worked with my brother before, and if he trusts you then I have no cause to doubt him.` said Phillippe.
Goniff stifled a yawn.
`You are all tired , come , eat and rest for a few hours and then we have a great deal to discuss, do we not?
Goniff didn't need telling twice and headed off towards the kitchen area of the cavern, followed by Casino.
As Craig started to follow Phillippe grabbed his arm and stopped him.
`You have a name for me do you not? He asked.
Craig reached into his pocket and gave Phillippe the piece of paper that he had kept there.
Your informer`, he said.
Phillippe looked at the name.
`You are certain? He asked.
`We did three separate rendezvous' with your people, this one was the only one that the Krauts turned up for, they knew we were coming,. I'm sure`, said Craig.
Phillippe nodded his thanks.
`It is not unexpected , but at the same time not welcome either, but the problem will be dealt with , no more lives will be lost ,I promise you. Thank you Lt.`
Craig looked at him and nodded sadly. It had already cost to many lives.
`You must rest my friend, tomorrow we will decide what we can best do to find out if your men are still alive`, he said as if reading Craig's mind`.
Craig didn't move.
`I have lost men too, and our women and children through this traitor , I know that it eats away at you if you let it, but remember , you have others to think about too, and you being too tired to think
will not help them,` he said nodding towards Casino and Goniff.
Craig sighed.
`You're right Phillippe, thanks`, he said
`Come I will introduce you to the best cook I know`, he said smiling.
He pointed to the makeshift kitchen and allowed Craig to lead the way .
`This is my wife Anna`, said Phillippe proudly. `The best cook you will find anywhere`,
Anna laughed.
`He only says this because he thinks it will get him larger helpings than the others`, she said.
`Please sit Lt`, said Phillippe.
Craig did as he was told, he suddenly felt drained, he knew that loss sometimes affected people that way, took all the life out of them. He shook his head , well he wouldn't admit defeat yet, he would
know for sure that they were dead before he gave up on them .
As Phillippe returned with the food , he smiled as he looked at the Lt asleep at the table with his head in his folded arms. Food could wait, right now the man needed sleep. He looked at the other two ,
already sleeping on the blankets that Anna had given them. He would let them all rest for now, and try to talk them into going home tomorrow, instead of risking their lives trying to find friends that
were almost surely already dead.
He turned round and gave the food back to Anna .
He put his arm round her waist and kissed her .
`You know who it is , don't you? She asked You know who betrayed our son.
`I do `, he said simply.
`Tell me`, she said quietly.
`It is not your concern`, he said. The problem will be dealt with in the morning`.
`I need to know`, she said.
He pulled her to him and held her .
`It will not bring him back`, he said
He held her as she cried softly for their child, and gently led her away .
`We must try and get some rest, it will be a long day tomorrow`, he said.
They laid on the blankets together with her in his arms.
`Make him suffer for what he did, for the deaths he caused`. She said.
`Phillippe pulled her closer.
`Sleep now`, he said.
She snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes, and in a few minutes was asleep in his arms.
Phillippe looked at her lovingly, he closed his eyes and tried to shut out the world , hoping that tomorrow he would have the strength to do what must be done.
Have courage enough to kill someone that he had known all his life.