I'm sorry to tap you for another one so soon Craig, but it just seems too close a match to pass up." Edwards turned back from the window and observed the other man.
"It's all right, sir," Garrison said with a sigh that cause him to wince and hold is breath a moment. "The doctor's not too crazy about this but," he continued, still concentrating on the briefing materials and photos they'd been pouring over for the last two hours, "you're right. This is too good an opportunity to let go."
"How long do you figure, to get in and get the job done?" the older man asked as he sat back down next to the bed. Edwards noted the bruises, faded now but still evident across Garrisons face and saw the signs of exhaustion in the mans posture. He thought again about the report the doctor had given him and wondered once more, if he was asking too much.
"Depends" Garrison said, meeting his gaze with a glint in his eye, "on the quality of the team you send in."
"And I suppose you have a group in mind?" Edwards ventured with a slight smile. He cocked an eyebrow at the young man, "You that anxious to be back in harness with those trouble makers?"
"Yes, sir!" came the immediate response. "And I'm ready to have experienced people at my back again."
The Major looked down at his hands and merely nodded.
"Sir?" Garrison waited for the other man to look up. "Sergeant Major said their graduation date's set. D'you think you could spring me out of here?"
Edwards smiled, getting to his feet "Well, I can give it a try Craig. Just remember, doctors out rank all of us! I'll see what I can do." He walked over to the door, grabbed the knob and then turned back, "If they try and hold on to you I could always get your guys down here to break you out." He'd stressed the words 'your guys' and after a moment been rewarded with a slight smile from the man in the bed. Maybe this would work out alright after all, he thought as he stepped through the door into the hallway.
ggg
It was such a simple thing. Masterson had dropped his tool belt as he took it off and the guard had slipped on the nails that spilled onto the sidewalk. When the angry solider approached him the young man, nerves already raw from a day spent working with one eye on the guards patrolling the worksite, had panicked and turned to run. He hadn't gotten far. The guard issued one warning to "Halt!" and then brought his rife up and fired. Before Garrison could reach out and stop him, Baskins had moved with threatening intent on the solider and drawn attention back on them.
Garrison slid the small camera out of it's hiding place in his work vest and tossed it away from him into the bushes. He looked up at a car moving slowly passed on the street and as he made eye contact with Jeffries he jerked his head towards the corner and the road out of town, ordering the man away. He waded towards Baskins and the guard, through the crowd of men. When he got close he laid hands on the biggest fellow he could find, jerked him around, and landed a punch, hoping to cause a diversion by starting a riot. As he ducked the fist that came flying at his head and turned to strike out at the man to his left he heard the shrill whistle and shout from the guard on the street and then the tramp of boots as reinforcements arrived, surrounding them. Instead of using the confusion to melt away into the crowds they were caught.
They'd been searched and then taken to the Colonels office. No bonds had been placed on them, there were enough armed guards to insure their cooperation. It was dark outside, the building quiet. The Colonel had kept them standing in front of his desk for five hours now while he went about his duties. A man behind each of them, out of sight, had a rifle trained on the middle of their backs. They could feel it. The strain was getting to Baskins. Garrison kept his eyes locked on a map on the wall over the Colonels head, and worked to keep his emotions from showing on his face. He could feel the tension and fear building in the kid standing to his left.
With a final flourish the German officer signed the document he had been working on and set it aside. Carefully placing the pen back in its holder on his desk he moved his chair back and stood up. He stretched casually, and then moved around the desk to sit on its edge, facing his two captives. "Now," he asked, pleasantly, "who will tell me what I wish to know?" Garrison continued to stare straight ahead, and prayed Baskins was doing the same.
"Come gentlemen!" the Colonel continued, "you know I will get what I want from you," he paused for effect, "in the end." The man smiled reasonably as he drew his side arm and rested it in his lap. "Why put your selves through what will come?"
Garrison saw Baskins from the corner of his eye, move and turn towards him, slightly.
The Colonels smile broadened. "Ah! Very good!" And he raised the pistol he had in his hand and fired. Baskins was dead before he hit the floor.
Garrison made a lunge for the man and was clubbed to the ground by the guard standing behind him. "Take him away." the Colonel instructed with a wave of his hand. He smiled into Garrisons face when the guards hauled him to his feet. "I will be with you shortly. " he promised.
ggg
"All I'm sayin' is we busted our butts up there, and I just think the guy could'a made the effort to come up when we finished. That's all!" Casino growled.
"You're right, mate! Been nice to have somebody watchin us march around out there in the rain like all them other blokes." Goniff groused. "And then not even to be here when we got back! That's just,,, just,,," searching for the right word, "UNfeelin, that's what that is!"
Chief spoke up from his place by the fire. "Goniff, the weather was lousy, a lot of people probably didn't make it."
"Yeah! Well, that don't explain why he ain't here… Does it?" Goniff sniffed, unwilling to see reason, he slouched further down on the sofa.
"I"ll tell ya what explains that, ya dope! He's probably snugged up in London with a dame and forgot all about us! Typical!"
Actor spoke up from his favorite chair, "Casino," he observed, "you are carrying on like a petulant child."
"What'a ya mean by that?" Casino turned on him, irritated by the mans superior tone.
"He said you're talkin' like a spoiled brat." Chief translated obligingly.
Casino raised his fist in Actors direction. "Why! I ought a…"
"You ought to…. What, Casino?" Actor asked mildly, closing the book he had in his hands and laying it aside on the table that stood next to his chair.
"Watch out Casino!" Goniff said with a laugh. "Actor got awful good at that hand-to-hand stuff."
"Aw, I could still take him out", Casino snorted.
"Oh I dunno, Pappy. The last time they paired you two up, seems to me you spent a lot a' time on your back sides." Chief observed.
After a moments sputtering denial, even Casino had joined in the laughter.
ggg
Garrison had just gotten back from his final briefing with Colonel Reynolds, and stood outside the library door with his head bowed, listening for a moment. 'Well', he thought, 'that's an improvement.' Three months ago that kind of conversation would have escalated into a fight that would have taken him and a couple of the guards to break up and left him with a pile of reports to fill in explaining away the broken furniture. He shook is head as he turned the knob and shoved the door open and wondered how long it would last.
"Gentlemen!" He smiled as he addressed them. The laughter died as they all turned and looked in his direction. "Glad to have you back." He wondered at their silence, and continued. "Would you come down to my office, please? I have something to go over with you." He frowned slightly, waiting, and when no one moved added firmly, "Now! Gentlemen!" Turning, he limped down the hall towards his office. Behind him he could hear a magazine slam down on the floor and Casino exclaim, "Damn!"
"Lasted a little longer than I thought it would." he mumbled to himself.
ggg
They'd just stared at him as he explained the mission and told them how soon they'd need to be at the airfield. No grousing, no complaining, not even from Casino. Just dead quiet and stone faced looks. Then they'd filed out by him to go up stairs and gather their gear together.
Craig knew that they'd been upset that he hadn't been in contact with them during their training. And, he imagined, there were some hurt feelings that he wasn't there to see them finish up with their group. Even if they never admitted it he knew that it was a matter of pride for them to have completed that course. And he'd wanted to be there. Things just hadn't worked out. The doctors insisted on a longer stay in the hospital, his preparation for the mission had been intense and time consuming, and then the weather had turned bad. The flight he had depended on to get him up there had been canceled.
He'd never tell them that, not as long as they'd closed rank against him. He reminded himself that it was a natural thing for men to think of the guy in charge as 'one of them'. But it felt colder and more ominous to him, and left an empty spot in the pit of his stomach.
He shook his head and hoped that the punishment and then their time away in 'basic', hadn't broken the bond of trust that had been gradually building between him and his men. No he thought, they were laughing and joking together when he'd walked in on them. He heaved a sigh and stared into the box. He was definitely the odd man out. Too bad. He'd gotten kind of used to being almost, 'one of us.' He was going to miss that he thought, slamming the door to the safe and giving the dial a spin.
ggg
"My God!" Casino said, looking around at the others. "What in the hell happened to him?" Throwing his arms up, he continued, "And what bone headed idiot thinks he's in any shape to pull this off?"
"D'you notice? There was a cot in that room off his office." Chief added from his position near the window. "Looks like he can't manage the stairs on his own. How's he gonna handle the jump tonight?"
"Actor, you gotta talk him outta this. He's gonna get himself killed this time and he's probably gonna take one or two of us out with him!" Casino pointed out, emphasizing his opinion with a finger jabbed in the con mans direction.
With a sigh, the older man turned from arranging his gear. "You all know that look and tone of voice." He gazed around at the others. "He's set his mind to this thing, and there's nothing short of breaking his legs by tripping him on the steps that is going to dissuade him from undertaking this assignment." And after a moments consideration, "Besides, he is right. This is too great a coincidence to pass up," As the others looked at him in protest, he continued. "He looks like the officer they are expecting, his background allows him to handle the science and mathematics and he is a trained pilot and has even qualified in a similar craft…"
"And even his bloody injuries kinda match up!" Goniff added with a shudder. "Gives me the willies!"
"So where does that leave us?", Chief asked, "We can't just let him walk in there alone."
"We ought'a call that Reynolds guy, and tell him we ain't having no part of this stinkin plan." Casino fumed, slapping the flat of his hand over his clenched fist with a snap.
"I hardly think that would be well received Casino. Remember, we have just renewed our agreement with the Army and we are expected to accomplish the tasks they require of us. I don't see them just accepting our refusal." Actor said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Hold on a minute. What'd they tell us up at that school?" The little cat burglar rubbed his jaw, casting his gaze upwards. "They said sometime it was OK to refuse an order." Goniff asked, looking around at the others, "Didn't they?"
"That is only if the order is morally wrong, Goniff, or goes against military law." Actor reminded him. "Since the Warden is not being coerced into doing this. I don't believe they would accept our refusal on moral grounds."
"Besides that only went for the officers. The poor enlisted slobs still had to do what they were told. Well, this might not be morally wrong, but it sure the hell is stupid!" Casino insisted.
"Well, if we can't get out of it," Chief wondered aloud, "and we can't talk him out of it, what are we supposed to do?"
"I suppose, " Actor answered, "our role is to see to it that the Warden succeeds."
"You mean survives don't ya?" Casino planted his fists on his hips and looked around the room at the rest of them. "Now just how are we gonna do that?"
"Well for starters," Goniff stated, with confidence, "we ain't letting him go in there on his own."
"I'll go with him." Chief offered quietly, immediately willing to resume his self appointed position, watching the Warden's back.
"Nah." Casino jammed his fists in his pockets, gazing down at the carpet a moment, he then looked up at the others. "It should be me."
Actor nodded his head. "I agree. He would be calling on you to come in and remove the documents from the safe anyway," and he shrugged an elegant shoulder. "You may as well start off inside."
"But" Goniff stuttered, looking at them as if they'd just gone mad. "Casino don't speak German!"
"What if he didn't have to?" Chief held his ground and their gazes as they turned and stared at him.
"What do you have in mind?" Actor took his usual seat by the fire and pulled the pipe out of his pocket.
"Well," the younger man started pacing the room, looking around for inspiration. "Warden's playin' a guy who's supposed to be hurt, right?" he stopped by the fireplace and looked back at the others. "Why couldn't Casino?"
"Hey, yeah!" moving now he came to stand next to Chief. "I could'a hurt my throat, or neck, or something, so I couldn't talk…"
"That would only explain why you could not speak Casino. You would still be expected to understand what was said to you." Actor tapped the stem of the pipe on his jaw as he considered for a moment. "but a head injury might suffice." He raised an eyebrow as he looked around at the others. As they began to smile, he nodded his head. They were on to something. Now they just had to develop the story, embellish the con…
ggg
The flight over had been pretty smooth, so far, Garrison thought, as he rested his head against the fuselage. It was a rare experience to be going in already knowing the part he'd be playing. 'Krueger's' dress uniform had been tailored to fit him and was secured, along with all of his identity papers and orders, in a pack that was strapped to his back. The rest of the things he would need, extra clothes, personal gear, were in a supply package that would be dropped with them. The weather reports showed another storm front moving in and he knew they'd hit rough air soon, but it would bring them some cloud cover over the drop zone. He'd trade some nausea for that bit of protection any day. Of course he reflected with some amusement, it'd likely be Goniff and Casino suffering the nausea.
His leg stared to throb again, and as he reached forward to rub it with his hands the muscles in his back and shoulders tightened into a cramp. He closed his eyes in a frown, reaching his hand across his body he tried to knead the soreness away.
ggg
"Who helped you get into this town? What was your objective here? Who was to help you get away from here? Where can I find these people? They are simple questions, my friend, and as soon as I get my answers you may go."
Garrison could hear the man moving around him, he didn't have to wait long for the blow. They'd brought him into the 'examination room' hours ago, blindfolded and with his hands tightly bound together. The questions had begun. The same four questions, over, and over. Each time he didn't answer. Each time he'd received a blow. It'd just been a hard slap at first, but it had escalated. When they'd tired of backhanding him across the face they'd slipped a cord through the ropes that tied his hands and hauled his arms up over his head and started using their fists on his midsection and back. They had some sort of supple hose or pipe they were using now. "A rubber hose." he thought, with grim amusement. "Classic." It hurt like hell when it connected. The man wielding it knew his business and did his best to land the blows in the same place, again, and again, over his ribs, and the muscles of his back and legs.
"Who helped you get into this town? What was your objective here? Who was to help you get away from here? Where can I find these people?" he clenched his jaws and bit down on a groan. He didn't know how much more of this he was going to have to take.
ggg
Garrison opened his eyes and looked toward the tail of the aircraft where his men had gathered. They were still pretty quiet, talking among themselves, but not offering him more than a grunt or a nod to acknowledge his orders. He had a gut feeling they were up to something. When Actor stood up and started forward, he thought, 'Here it comes.' But he was surprised when the elegant Italian con man settled himself a few feet away where there was enough room for him to stretch his long legs out more comfortably and seemed to be intent on getting some sleep. When he turned his attention back to the others, Goniff was curled on his side with his eyes closed. Chief and Casino were still leaning together, talking. Something was definitely up, he knew it.
He dropped his hands to his side. Rolling his head and shoulders he tried to work the kinks out. Failing, he leaned back and closed his eyes again. He knew he'd hear it soon enough. Casino couldn't keep his mouth shut forever.
"You think he's gonna go for this?" Casino asked, glowering at Garrison from under lowered brows. "He's pretty damned hard headed, ya know."
Chief snorted. "Well, you'd know something about that, Pappy!" and continued on before the other man could respond. "He's stubborn Casino, but he's not stupid. Besides," he said, turning a critical eye on their leader. "I don't think he's gonna be strong enough to go against us."
ggg
Garrison looked below him. All four chutes were open and they were maneuvering down in good, tight group. The intense training they'd just gone thorough had been worth it, he thought. A sudden gust of wind snapped his attention back to his own imminent landing. He hoped all the extra tape and padding would do the trick.
The ground was coming up fast now as he fought the cross wind that was carrying him further away from the others. He bent his knees and prepared to roll when he hit the ground. Even though he was ready the jolt sent a searing pain through is right thigh. When he rolled onto his feet the leg gave way under him, at the same time the chute filled with air, pulling him off his feet, dragging him several yards. He managed to struggle onto his knees and, leaning back against the pull of the wind, fought the lines until the chute finally collapsed. He was trying to get to his feet to gather the silks as the others jogged up.
"Hey Warden, you need some help with that, babe?" Casino offered, dropping the supply pack on the ground near his feet.
"I can give ya some pointers on yer landins if ya like, mate." Goniff chimed in with a laugh.
"Can it you guys!" Chief snapped, as he pushed past them and gathered the fabric together, waiting as Actor helped the man out of his harness. As soon as Garrison stepped clear of the rig Chief bundled it into Casinos arms. "Get rid of that somewhere." he instructed.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Just who do you think your orderin' around?" Casino snapped back.
"Go!" Chief and Actor said in unison, as they both reached out to catch hold of their commander and steady him before he collapsed on the ground.
"Shit! I knew this was gonna happen!" Casino fumed, as he stalked out of the clearing and found a place in the trees to hide the gear. He turned to watch the others help Garrison up into cover. "Great! Just great!", he thought. " This is startin' out just fine!"
ggg
Garrison concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. His breath was coming in short gasps, and sweat had broken out on his face, and was sliding down his neck and back. The chute had dragged him along the ground on his damaged ribs. Each breath sent a stab of pain in to his chest, and he could feel the telltale warmth of the blood as it started to seep into the bandages on his belly and leg. He heard the concern in Actors voice.
"Warden, are you alright?"
"I'm fine", he mumbled. "I can make it," And as his senses faded and consciousness deserted him he heard Chief say,
"Sure you can, man."
ggg
He'd been dragged into this room and left, he didn't know how much time had passed. The cords still bound his hands but he'd managed to pull the blindfold from his eyes. A lot of good it did. This place was almost pitch black. The only light coming in from a narrow crack under the door and then even that had gone out. It must be nighttime.
'Guess the working day must've ended,' he figured, trying to work on the cords with his teeth. That was the only thing that stopped the beating, he thought, 'Shift change,'
There was only silence. He lay there straining to hear and though he could make out the creak of the ceiling as people moved over head, there were no sounds of activity anywhere near.
'That's good.' he thought. 'When the guys find me they won't have to deal with any guards while they're getting through the door.' And he tried to imagine what kind of scam they'd come up with to get inside to him. Then the realization hit him, and a knot formed in the pit of his stomach, causing a wave of nausea. The 'guys' he was expecting were far away from here and didn't even know he was in trouble.
That's the thought that almost broke him.
It was no good, he let his hands drop onto his chest, he couldn't work the cords loose.
ggg
"Chief?", Actor asked, as he folded his jacket and placed it under Garrisons head. "Did you get a good look at our surroundings as you were coming in?" He got the affirmative nod he expected. Chief, always observant, loved the view he got from the air and always noticed features on the land below that the others missed. He slipped the map out of Garrison's inner pocket and handed it to the young man. "See if you can tell where we are."
Chief walked back down into the clearing to get his bearings. He opened the map and tried to match what he'd seen from the air with what was printed on this piece of folded paper.
"Goniff!" Actor nodded towards the clearing and the smaller man moved out to cover their partner.
"He's got the shakes." Casino said, and stripped off his jacket to cover their fallen commander. "I told you this was nuts! What in the hell was he thinking agreeing to this?"
"I suppose the prize seemed worth it when he heard the plan. You have to admit, it's a striking coincidence." He checked Garrisons pulse, it was rapid and weak, his breathing shallow.
"The only thing I have to admit," Casino straightened up and planted his fists on his hips, adopting his classic, belligerent stance, "is that this hasn't got a chance in hell of coming off!" He added, looking down at the man on the ground. "But your right, babe. He sure looks like he's been in a train wreck!"
Garrison mumble from his position on the ground. "It was a plane crash Casino, not a train wreck." He tried to pull himself up and was punished by a sharp pain in his chest.
"No! Wait!" Actor cautioned, pressing him back. "Take sometime and rest. We are still trying to confirm our location."
Garrison laid back and closed his eyes, saying, with more strength than he felt. "We were right on target. The farm where we're supposed to meet our contact should be about three miles, south-southeast." Then he added with a groan, "I've got to sit up. I can't get a decent breath."
As Casino squatted down and supported the man into a sitting position, Chief walked up to them with the map help out in front of him. He gestured first with his left hand, "The stream's running along there," and then with his right, "And there's a line of hills about a mile that way. So, the meet should be about three miles behind me."
"I told you." Garrison gasped as he tried to sit on his own.
"How you doin', Warden?" Chief looked down with concern.
"I'll be OK. But we need to get moving if we're going to make that rendezvous on time." He had to lean back against Casino to draw a deeper breath.
Casino opened his mouth to object but Actor interrupted smoothly. "Warden, I believe I should meet with our contact and bring some type of transportation back for you. Your condition will only work for us if you don't allow it to deteriorate."
With a cough and another groan Garrison admitted, "I don't think I have much of a choice right now. But Actor don't go alone. Chief, go with him and watch his back. Where's Goniff?"
Chief nodded and looked back towards the clearing. "He's watchin' out for company. I'll get him."
Garrison closed his eyes and took a ragged breath through clenched teeth that ended in a fit of coughing. "You remember the sign and countersign?" he managed to gasp out.
"Of course." Actor said as he stood, slipping his jacket back on. He smoothed down the front of the coat, brushing dirt and leaves from it, he tugged it into place pulling the sleeves of the turtleneck out until he was satisfied with his appearance. He checked his watch and looked at Casino. "We should be back here by three, if all goes well." Casino met his gaze and gave a slight nod. "Try and keep him quiet and warm. I don't like the sound of his breathing. And Warden," he waited for Garrison to open his eyes and look up at him before he continued with a slight smile. "Do what Casino tells you." Which drew a soft laugh and a hiss of pain.
"I'll try."
"You! Listen to me?" Casino grunted. "That'll be a first!"
ggg
They'd been walking steadily for twenty minutes. The weather was clearing and it was quiet now. There was broken cloud cover and a waxing moon that gave enough light to allow them to move quickly. Actor estimated they had covered nearly a third of the distance to the meeting place. He hoped their contact was there with a car, or quick access to one. He was sure Garrison would have tried to walk to this meeting but he was glad he had seen the sense in staying behind, and letting them bring transportation to him. But that acquiescence concerned him too, the man didn't usually give in to his arguments so easily. He hoped the Warden's condition wasn't more serious than it already appeared. Seeming to pick up on his thoughts, Chief asked from the shadows to his right.
"How bad d'you think he's hurt?"
He took a moment to consider his response. "I won't really know until we can get him into that safe house and I can remove the bandages. He's certainly re-injured his ribs. I am concerned that he may have damaged the lung as well."
ggg
"He still out of it?" Goniff asked uneasily, squatting down next to the other two.
"Yeah. But I think he's breathin' better." Casino responded. "I wish His Highness and Geronimo would get their butts back here with a truck or something."
"I don't think it's been long enough, mate." Goniff offered.
Both men jumped when Garrison spoke up quietly, "They should have reached that farm fifteen minutes ago. The contact was supposed to be there waiting. He might not be too willing to show himself right away when he sees them. Martin was expecting me, he may take some convincing."
"Can't blame a bloke for being careful I s'pose." Goniff considered, scratching his chin.
"No kiddin' Limey! Especially if the 'bloke' wants to keep breathin'!"
"Well, Actor's got the words, he'll talk 'im 'round." Goniff reached out and caught Garrison by the arm as he tried to sit up.
"Casino, I think we should start heading in that direction." Pulling his arm down tight against his ribs, he leaned forward and tried to get his feet under him. "We can meet up with them…"
"Oh no you don't!" Casino laid a firm hand on the injured mans shoulder. "You're stayin' right where you are and we're waitin' for them to get back here and pick us up!"
Garrison turned to protest, but felt another hand go down on the opposite shoulder.
"Now, Warden," Goniff said with a chuckle. "You're s'pose to do what you're told."
ggg
Actor placed the new dressing down against Garrisons abdomen above his belt and held it in place as he brought the bandage around. He added several more layers, wrapping them up to support the mans injured ribs. "You were lucky," he observed. "I don't think you damaged the lung. But you've torn both these wounds open again. You will need to keep changing the bandages. And your ribs and that leg will need to be bound if you are to move about at all. You cannot possibly do these things for yourself," he added with a shrug. "So it is obvious that you must not go in there alone."
Chief dropped the covering back over the window and walked across to stand in front of the Warden. "He's right," looking the man right in the eye, "and you know it. You gotta have somebody in there with you."
Garrison shook his head slowly. "They are only expecting 'Krueger'" His breath caught as he leaned forward. "There'll be a medical officer on a project this size, he can take care of me. In fact, he's expecting to. Besides we only have papers for one."
"My friend," their contact spoke up from his position at the table. "I have a man who could make up orders the commandant of that base would swear he wrote and signed himself."
"Martin that would cause too much of a delay. We haven't got the time! I've got to report tomorrow at 0800." Garrison objected.
"Nonsense! We already have a supply of blank forms. All you must do is make up a name and decide upon a back ground. We can even produce an identity disc that will pass inspection by the entry guards." The little man said with pride. "You could be on your way in only two, or three, hours."
"Warden, you're out numbered." Casino insisted with a smirk.
Garrison let out a sigh of resignation and leaned back against the wall. Every eye was on him as he considered them. "What did you have in mind?" He caught the quick look that flashed between the members of his team, and then he listened, as they laid out their plan.