Neutral Territory

By: AliasCWN

Chapter 4

"So everything went as planned?"

"Yes Sir." Troy glanced at Moffitt as he answered Captain Boggs. "Tully and Hitch picked up the package at the wadi after we drew the watchers away. The spies followed us, thinking that they were just waiting for us. I dropped off my packet where I was told to leave it; one of the SS officers picked it up as soon as I was out of sight."

"You're sure that they fell for our story about the courier being killed in a plane crash before he could return with the packet?"

Troy shook his head. "I can't say for sure Sir. They never mentioned the courier; they did search us to see if we had anything on us."

"Then they may suspect that the story is a lie?" The Captain searched the faces of the men before him, looking for confirmation one way or the other.

"I think they would have searched us either way." Moffitt joined the conversation. "They were going to take us prisoner even though we weren't carrying anything."

"So they knew that you picked up a packet?"

"I think that they were just being cautious Sir. Dietrich left us go because he knew he didn't have any grounds to hold us."

"Not exactly true." Troy added. "They knew I dropped off the packet; they watched me do it. They could have used that as an excuse to hold us."

"Then why did they let you go Sergeant?"

Troy smiled at the Captain. "Because if they used that as an excuse to hold us, they would have had to admit that they had the packet. They think it gives them an advantage if we don't know they found it."

"So maybe they did buy our story. They'll try to use that information against us."

"And they won't know that it's all false until it's too late to pull their troops back. They'll fall right into our trap and we'll have them surrounded and outnumbered." Troy finished the Captains' thoughts out loud.

The Captain smiled, suddenly in a better mood. "And Pettigrew and Hitchcock found the packet right where it was supposed to be?"

"Yes, Sir. Tully spread a blanket over it and picked it up with the blanket. Even if they were watching, he never uncovered it; he picked it up when he picked up the blanket."

"Do you think that they watching them?"

"No Sir. They were able to get above Dietrich and his men while they were waiting for us. I don't think that they had any idea that they were there until they showed themselves. I don't think that they would have searched us if they had known they were there."

"Very well Sergeant, well done. If this works out we'll be able to claim another sector or two with a minimum loss of life. The Germans will be outnumbered and surrounded; they may even surrender without a fight. A few more operations like this one and we'll have the Germans whittled down to nothing around here."

"I wouldn't count too strongly on that Captain; the Germans aren't stupid, they'll figure it out sooner or later."

"The later the better Sergeant. You and your men have earned a break, why don't you take a few days of leave?"

Troy laughed. "And go where Captain?" He shared an amused look with Moffitt. "I have a feeling that neutral territory is not going to be safe for us any time in the foreseeable future."