Betrayal
Chapter 2
Garrison had spent several unproductive hours searching his memory for anybody in his and Chief's pasts who could possibly have enough influence and money to bank roll an operation in a foreign country, let alone an occupied foreign country in the middle of a damn war. Granted he didn't have much to work with. It had only been six months now since he had pulled Chief and the others out of the cells they had been residing in. "Dammit," Garrison cursed as his fist slammed into the cot he was lying on. It made no damn sense at all. Sure the cons had managed to piss off a long line of army personnel, and some pretty high ranking personnel at that, but the success of the missions they undertook always seemed to clear the slate. And all the officers were career soldiers like himself; they wouldn't jeopardize their careers for this type of revenge.
It was unlikely to have been instigated by anybody in Germany, Italy or even France. Most of those capable of devising and carrying out such a plan were dead or residing in Gestapo prisons. No this hadn't originated on the continent, of that he was sure.
Garrison shook his head in frustration. Somebody wanted him out of the way, but obviously un-injured so they could get at the cons, or more specifically Chief. He'd never really considered, when he pulled them out of the prisons, of the possibility that someone would seek retribution on one of them for past altercations in the middle of a bloody war. Of course there were any number of pub owners throughout London who would be glad to see the backs of his four men, not to mention a few MP's and the odd husband or two. Garrison ran his hand through his hair. This was getting him nowhere.
It seemed the only unknown factor was this General Wilbur, but that didn't seem plausible either. Until yesterday morning neither he nor his team had ever heard of the general, let alone met him. Garrison sighed. You didn't become a general over night. Wilbur was a career soldier, and he guessed close to retirement age, sitting out the war in a nice safe office behind the lines. There were a lot of army brass doing the exact same thing and he supposed that he would end up in the same position at the end of his career too, if he got out of this alive, he thought.
Garrison was so pre-occupied with his thoughts that he didn't hear the door to his prison open or Leclerc enter until the Frenchman spoke. "It will not do you to think so heavily Lieutenant. Such a mistake could get you killed, could it not?"
Garrison's head snapped up and he lunged to his feet, fists balled tightly at his sides. "Tell me who is behind this and why, or so help me…."
"You will what, Lieutenant? Beat me, kill me. Your threats are empty. You cannot hurt me."
"You can't keep me here. My men will find me or the resistance will hear about it."
"The resistance, pah" Leclerc spat on the floor. "The resistance, they are weak washer women, they can do nothing. I will keep you here as long as necessary. Nobody will find you until it is time for you to be found. Now I suggest you eat. There will be no more food until tomorrow when I get back." Leclerc indicated the bowl of food and slices of bread on the table.
"Get back from where? Where are you going?" Garrison demanded.
"Ah so many questions Lieutenant. You Americans are so nosey, no? Where I go is no concern of yours, yet." Leclerc turned on his heels and left the room.
Garrison's fist slammed into the table, making the plate and bread slices jump. "God dammit," he cursed, glaring disdainfully at the food. He turned back to the cot and then thought better of it. He hadn't eaten since leaving London and he was hungry. And he realized that making himself sick through not eating would not help him get out of there. Grudgingly he returned to the table and sat at the chair. At least the bread was fresh and the stew, whatever it was, was hot and not half bad to taste either.
"Come on Chief, you've gotta rest for a minute." Casino pleaded in the ear of the silent man he was all but holding up. "You know you can't go much further like this."
"I'm alright. Don't need to rest."
"Yeah, sure you are Indian and I'm the king of England." Casino muttered as he adjusted his hold on the other mans belt. They'd been travelling for almost an hour. The first twenty or so minutes had been fine with Chief holding his own but since then Casino had been taking more and more of his weight while trying to ignore the stifled groans and grunts from the injured man.
"We gotta keep moving…gotta find the Warden," Chief breathed out through firmly clenched teeth.
"Five minutes won't make a difference Geronimo." Casino growled.
"Names not Geronimo," Chief hissed as he tried ineffectually to pull away from Casino's grip.
"Alright, take it easy Indian." Casino muttered as he re-adjusted his grip yet again. "Dammit. That's it, we're stopping." Casino stated firmly as he felt Chief falter beside him, but the decision was taking out of his hands before he could call a halt to Actor.
Goniff worriedly watched the two men ahead of him. He couldn't help but notice the way Chief was leaning more heavily on Casino with each step. He knew Casino was trying to talk Chiefy into stopping but it didn't look as though he was having much luck. They all knew that with the Warden missing Chief wouldn't stop the search until it killed him, which by the look of things was a distinct possibility. When he saw Chief falter he took matters into his own hands. If Chief wouldn't stop for himself then he'd bloody well have to stop for the others.
"Ay Actor, come on man, give us break. We been traipsing along this bleeding path for an hour now. It ain't easy carrying two back packs and a couple of guns you know. I need a break. Besides I'm hungry." Goniff called as he slumped to the path, not giving Actor the barest opportunity to object.
Actor spun around, ready to counter Goniff's winging but it only took him a moment to see what was really going on behind him. Goniff was staring pointedly at Chief who was swaying precariously beside Casino now that all forward movement had stopped. He berated himself silently. He should have realized that Chief would not ask for a break but would continue the pursuit until he collapsed. "You're always hungry Goniff." Actor replied with a slight nod of understanding towards the little English man. "Very well, we will stop for ten minutes. It will give me time to check your injuries Chief."
"They're fine, don't need looking at," Chief grumbled half heartedly as Casino carefully lowered him to a sitting position on the track. Chief took a couple of shallow breaths and dropped his head onto his pulled up knees as a wave of dizziness hit him.
"Here Chiefy, drink this mate." Goniff thrust a half cup of water into the man's shaking hands. Once he was sure Chief wouldn't drop the cup he returned to rummaging through his backpack for biscuits to chew on.
Actor waited until Chief had drunk the water and then gently pushed him forward so he could get a look at the wound in his back. Actor sighed, "Chief, how long has this been bleeding for?" he asked quietly.
Chief shrugged, "Don't know, a while I guess."
"Of all the stupid…" Casino exploded. "Why the hell didn't you say something? All that stupid Indian crap you go on with about working through the pain isn't going to do you much good if you bleed to death and what the hell were we supposed to tell the Warden when we find him? Huh?"
"That's enough Casino, it's not helping. Now hold Chief while I get this bleeding stopped." Actor directed firmly.
Chief didn't have the strength to retaliate against the safe cracker's tirade, not that it mattered anyway. The Warden already thought he was dead. "Warden already thinks I'm dead." Chief mumbled softly.
"Yeah well you're not yet and that's the way it's going to stay. I ain't dragging your sorry carcass all over France. You got that Indian?" Casino demanded.
Actor and Goniff shared a knowing smile over the top of Chief's bowed head. Despite the bluster the men knew that the little Italian cared for Chief, just as much as they did, he just had a funny way of showing it.
"That's all I can do for you now Chief. The shoulder's looking alright; it's the gash in your back that's the problem. Next time you feel it bleeding you say something do you understand? Like Casino said, you're not dead and we want to keep it that way. I for one do not want to have to tell the Lieutenant that you survived the attack only to bleed to death looking for him."
Chief sighed heavily but nodded his head in agreement. Thanks…Actor."
Actor rested a hand on Chief's shoulder. "We'll find him Chief, don't worry. Now rest for a few minutes more then we'll move out."
"And where do you think you will be moving out to Monsieur?"
Startled, the three men spun towards the voice, only to be confronted by seven heavily armed men. Chief lifted his head off his knees and stared blearily at the men now surrounding them before collapsing to his side.
"Chiefy?" Goniff called as he reached out to his friend.
A small stout man in his late forties stepped forward from the group and addressed a silent Actor. "You are American, Qui? What are you doing here? We were not informed that you would be coming."
Actor studied the man before him, he was obviously French and the leader of this group. Chief hadn't reacted angrily towards the man in the bare seconds he had been conscious, so Actor prayed that this was not Leclerc. He chastised himself for not thinking to ask Chief what Leclerc looked like.
"Come now Monsieur, we heard you speaking, we know you are Americans and your man there seems to be badly injured. We have shelter and can help you with him."
Actor glanced down at Chief who was now resting in Goniff's lap. He couldn't deny that Chief needed help urgently and so did they if they only cared to admit it. Actor nodded. "Yes we are Americans." Actor replied ignoring Casino's growled warning.
"Very good Monsieur. What are you doing here?"
"Dammit Actor, don't you…"
"Casino, be quiet will you. Monsieur…" Actor raised an eyebrow in question to the man before him.
"I am Jean-Paul, Monsieur."
Actor nodded in acknowledgment of the man's name before turning to Casino with a warning glare, "They have already heard us speaking Casino and if you hadn't yet noticed we are out gunned at the moment and Monsieur Jean-Paul is correct, we need help for Chief."
"A wise man Monsieur."
"You are with the resistance in this area Jean-Paul?" Actor asked.
"Qui, I am the leader in these parts. Why were we not informed that you were coming Monsieur Actor?"
"That's because we were sold down the river." Casino growled.
"Monsieur, I am sorry but I do not understand these words."
"Enough Casino," Actor warned, "it is a term Jean-Paul and a long story, but my first concern is Chief. Can you get a doctor for him?"
"Qui, that can easily be arranged. Pierre and Marcel will carry your man…"
"Now wait just one damn second here." Casino stepped threateningly in front of the two as they moved forward. "Nobody touches him but me."
"Monsieur please, you have carried his burden for long enough. It is time to allow my men to take over. They will not hurt him of this I promise you. Our camp is not far and there is food and places for you to rest where you will be safe."
"Casino, let them help Chief. You need the rest and it will be easier on Chief if two are carrying him. Besides it's the only choice we have at the moment."
Casino glared at Actor before nodding reluctantly, "But I'm going to be right beside them." He stated as he grabbed his rifle from Goniff.
Goniff bent down to pick up the two back packs but stopped as another hand reached down and took them from him. Goniff straightened and with a shrug headed up the path after the others. Who was he to object if someone else wanted to do the heavy work instead.
An hour later saw the team settled into the resistance camp and with a hot meal under their belts. The three mobile members sat around the open fire nursing battered mugs of coffee while Chief slept peacefully on a pallet in the cave behind them, his wounds and injuries ably attended to by Claudette and her father Francois.
"This is certainly some set up you have here Jean-Paul," Actor commented as he leaned back against a tree stump and puffed on his pipe.
"Qui Actor, we are fortunate to have these caves. There are many such gullies as these but this is the only one to have such an extensive cave formation. The Germans have tried many times to search these mountains and have failed every time.
"I can see why. I have visited this area many times in the past but not even I imagined this existed." Actor waved an arm encompassing the small clearing and caves nestled into one end of the hidden gully.
Jean-Paul nodded, "There is much to be discovered in the Pyrenees. I have lived in these hills all my life and I still have not found all their secrets."
Actor watched as Claudette and Francois joined them at the fire. "I must thank you for attending to Chief, Francois. I am afraid my meager medical supplies and training would not have sustained him for much longer."
"Ah do not sell yourself short Actor; you did well to tend him as you did. He will make a full recovery but it will take time for those ribs and the shoulder to heal. I was able to remove the small pieces of debris from his back. The infection should not be a problem now but he will be weak for sometime and should really be in a hospital in his own country not in a damp cave."
"That's bloody good news, that is. Chiefy weren't looking so good before, Ee wasn't," Goniff rambled in relief before another thought came to him. "Ay, 'ow come you live out here instead of in the village then? Not that we're not grateful that you were here mind. Chiefy sure needed the help. But don't the people in the village need you too?" Goniff asked curiously.
"Qui my friend, they do but the Germans they demanded my attention for the silliest little things and would barge in whether I was with a patient or not. I could not take it anymore and so I joined this group. If the people in the village need my services they know how to reach me and I visit after dark every two or three days."
"Yeah well it was just lucky for Chief you were here." Casino acknowledged suspiciously.
"Do you not worry that someone will betray your whereabouts to the Germans, Francois?" Actor enquired.
"Non, the people are loyal to the resistance in this area and will not betray us. We have lived in this area for generations. They do not like to see what the Germans have done to this country and its people."
"Yeah well not everybody feels that way doc."
"Casino," Actor warned.
"Now Actor," Jean-Paul interceded. "Perhaps you will tell me what brings you here and why we were not advised of your coming." Jean-Paul leaned over and refilled his cup from the pot resting at the edge of the fire while he waited for the Italian to respond.
"One of you knew we were coming, in fact he set it up, shot Geronimo in there and kidnapped the Warden. You've got a traitor in your midst." Casino growled as he got to his feet and stalked towards the cave where Chief slept."
"Casino I'm not going to warn you again." Actor threatened.
"Yeah well, you be nice to them if you want, but I've had a gutful." With that, Casino entered the cave.
"I'm sorry Jean-Paul. Casino can be quite ill-tempered at times and especially when one of us is injured."
"He cares for the young man in the cave?"
"Blimey. Don't let old Casino hear you say that. He'll knock your ruddy head off. Casino don't like to show 'Ee cares, that's why 'Ee's always so gruff." Goniff replied.
"But Casino is right Jean-Paul; it would seem you have a traitor within the camp." Actor interrupted, bringing the talk back to the original topic.
"Monsieur Actor, I realize you have been under a great deal of stress in the last few hours but I will not sit here and listen to you accuse any of my men of being a traitor. I suggest you tell me now, what this is all about."
"I'm sorry Jean-Paul I did not mean to offend. Allied Intelligence received word two nights ago from an operative in this area that there was a list of names of local resistance leaders in German hands and also that the Germans may have been moving heavy artillery into the area. We plus our Lieutenant were sent in to make contact with the operative, locate the list of names and confirm the Germans movements."
"Your Lieutenant?" Jean-Paul questioned. "Actor I do not understand. Is this not all of you?" Jean-Paul waved his hand in the direction of the cave where Casino and Chief were and then to Goniff opposite him. "And who are the Warden and Ger, Ger…"
"Geronimo. That's Casino's nickname for Chiefy in the cave, and the Warden is our nickname for the Lieutenant," Goniff supplied helpfully. "You see..."
"There are five of us Jean-Paul." Actor replied throwing a warning scowl at Goniff to keep his mouth closed. "Lieutenant Garrison and Chief went to meet the contact. The contact shot Chief and left him for dead and kidnapped the Lieutenant. We were looking for the Lieutenant when you found us."
"I can assure you Monsieur Actor; we did not send any such message to London. There has been no unusual activity from the Germans in this area for some time now. What is the name of this operative? What does he look like?" Jean-Paul demanded.
"I'm afraid I don't know what he looks like, Chief hasn't told us but his name is Leclerc."
"Leclerc," Jean-Paul spat the name out as though it burnt his tongue.
"You know him?" Actor asked, sitting up with interest as he heard the venom in the resistance leader's voice.
"I've got a bad feeling about this, I 'ave." Goniff whined on the other side of the fire.
Jean-Paul ignored the small Englander, his thoughts focused firmly on the French traitor who had once sat at his table as a friend and fellow countryman. "Qui, I know him, we all do and you are right he is a filthy traitor to his family, to the village and to his country."
"Do you know where he is or where he might have taken the Lieutenant?"
"Of this I have no idea. I have had nothing to do with Leclerc since the war began," Jean-Paul paused, "but perhaps there is someone here who may. I will check and have news for you come morning. For now Actor, I suggest that you and your men get some rest. There is no point in you continuing your search until you know where to look." Jean-Paul stood, nodded to Actor and Goniff and then moved to meet several of his men.
Actor and Goniff watched as the resistance leader spoke quickly with his men before hurrying across the clearing and disappearing into the caves on the other side. "Blimey Actor, Casino's not going to like this and I don't think old Chiefy's gonna be any too pleased either."
"Whether we or they like it or not Goniff, Jean-Paul is correct. Without information we could spend weeks searching for Garrison and not find him or Leclerc. Think of it as another con. We always get as much information as possible before a mission."
"Except this bleeding time."
"Yes, except this time." Actor confirmed. "Well we best get in there and tell Casino and Chief what is happening."
"We?" Goniff yelped. "I tell you what Actor, you go on in there and fill in the lads and I'll stand watch out 'ere. We always set a guard when we're on a mission."
"And you are volunteering to take that watch Goniff?" Actor asked not bothering to hide his chuckle.
"Well yeah. Safer out 'ere than in there once Casino and Chief 'ear we aren't going after the Warden right away."
Actor chuckled again at the second story man's reluctance to enter the cave and face the two waiting men. Although he had to admit the next few minutes wouldn't be pleasant. Still the rest would do Chief good, if only he could convince him of that fact. "Come on Goniff, we have plans to make so the sooner we get this over and done with the better."
"We're what?" Casino yelled. Not waiting for Actor to finish his explanation.
"Keep your voice down Casino. We don't want to wake Chief." Actor reprimanded harshly but the damage had already been done.
The loud yell startled Chief awake with a violent jerk, switchblade firmly grasped in his hand as he tried to sit up.
"Easy Chiefy," Goniff said as he pushed against the Indian's good shoulder and pressed him back onto the pallet he'd been sleeping on. "It's just old Casino letting off steam. Nothing for you to worry about mate."
"What happened?" Chief asked groggily as he lay back with a groan. "Where are we?" Chief looked around his surroundings in confusion.
"The resistance found us remember, when we was resting on the track. They brought us 'ere. They 'ave a doctor, they do and 'Ee fixed you right up, 'Ee did. You'll be good as new before you know it."
Chief stared blankly at Goniff for several seconds before a fuzzy picture of men and guns came to mind. "How long have we been here?"
"Couple of hours. You feeling hungry mate? I think there's still some stew warming by the fire. I'll go get you some."
Chief shook his head. "Don't want any food Goniff. Gotta get after the Warden." Chief tried to rise again but he was no match for the little Englander's strength in his present condition.
"That's just what I was saying Indian." Casino raged, "But lord high and mighty here," Casino thrust a thumb in Actors direction, "says we gotta wait for the Frenchies to get us some information."
"That'll be too late Actor," Chief pushed himself up again and was surprised to find Goniff giving him a hand. He nodded in appreciation but kept his eyes on Actor. "The Warden could be dead by then." Chief pleaded.
"And he could already be dead Chief. We have to consider that possibility. Leclerc had no qualms about shooting you and leaving you for dead. There is no reason to believe that he won't do the same to Garrison. Jean-Paul, the resistance leader, believes there is someone here who may know where Leclerc maybe hiding. When we have that information we will make our plans. Until then you need to rest. You're not doing yourself, us or the Warden any favours by not resting while you have the chance. We're going to need you Chief; the Warden's going to need you."
Chief held Actor's gaze for several long seconds before nodding. Truth be told he felt lousy, he doubted he'd last five seconds on his feet at present, but he wasn't about to admit that to the others. Chief sighed as he let Goniff lower him back to the pallet. Moments later the dark eyes closed as Chief succumbed to his body's wishes for sleep.
"What the hell…" Casino started as he turned on Actor, only to have his arm roughly grabbed by the tall Italian and dragged towards the entrance of the cave.
Goniff watched the two Italians for a moment before turning back to Chief, carefully pulling the blanket up to the injured man's shoulders. He patted the uninjured shoulder gently, "we'll find him matey. Don't you worry about that." Goniff turned away from the bed and slowly followed the arguing Italians out of the cave.
"Let go of me damn you Actor," Casino snarled as he wrenched his arm out of Actor's grip.
"Then keep your voice down." Actor demanded.
"Then you tell me what the hell that was all about in there. You know as well as I do Geronimo's in no shape to be helping himself let alone us. You're gonna get him killed."
"What do you take me for Casino? I have no intentions of allowing Chief to join us in searching for the Lieutenant but I'd like to see you try and tell him he couldn't come. Look what happened on the track. If he thinks he's coming he'll at least co-operate with us and rest."
"Why don't we just radio London and get them to send a sub for him?" Goniff asked.
"I had thought of that Goniff but we don't know if Leclerc is acting alone or there is somebody pulling his strings. Remember whatever is going on, it directly concerns both Chief and Garrison. If we send Chief back alone we could be sending him into trouble he is unfit to deal with." Actor pointed out.
"So we tell London what's going on." Casino offered.
Actor sighed. "Are you not listening Casino? Who in London do you want me to tell. London sent us on this mission. We don't know who we can trust, at least not until we find Garrison."
"Blimey Actor, you don't think Colonel Thomas set us up do you. I know he don't like us much, but the Lieutenant, what with him been an army man and all."
"No Goniff I don't believe Colonel Thomas has anything to do with this. He may not appreciate us for who we are but he certainly appreciates us for what we do. I do not believe he would knowingly risk this team or the Lieutenant." Actor replied
"So where does that leave us?" Casino demanded. "If it ain't Thomas then it must be that General, what's his name? Wilbur, that's it. He must have set us up."
"But that don't make no sense Casino. Why'd he wanta go and do something like that. He don't know Warden and Chiefy. They said they ain't 'eard of him before."
"Just because they don't know him Goniff doesn't necessarily mean that they haven't crossed paths before." Actor replied.
"Oh come on Actor." Casino grumbled. "The Warden and Chief only met six months ago, hell we all only met six months ago. How the hell could they have both crossed paths with this General. The Warden I could understand, them both been in the army but not the Indian. He came straight outta stir the same as the rest of us."
Actor sighed heavily. "I did not say I had the answers Casino. It is all mere speculation until such time as we can find the Lieutenant. Perhaps he will have more information to share with us."
"If he's still alive you mean." Casino growled.