Fortunes of War

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 7

"They managed to disappear into the desert." Dietrich told the lieutenant.

"I expected as much." The officer admitted. "Their jeeps are much faster than our halftracks."

"What now?" Dietrich asked. "They will report your position as soon as they are in radio range."

"I know." The lieutenant agreed. "We have no choice, we must abandon the base. We aren't equipped to defend it. If our artillery were already in position it would be different. We could hold them off if we had the big guns here."

"Did you find out who helped them escape?"

"No, no one saw or heard anything. I trust my men Captain. I do not think any of them would have helped the Allies."

"I trust my men too lieutenant. Besides, they were preparing the trucks to leave under the watchful eyes of your men." Dietrich replied.

"One of your men was seen near the American vehicles earlier today." The lieutenant offered. "But I had him watched; he was not the one who threw the grenades." The young officer did not make any excuse for having had the Captain's men watched.

"I cannot think of anyone who would have helped the Allies escape." Dietrich reiterated his support for his men.

"I think that there may have been a second American team out there Captain. The commander got careless after capturing the prisoners."

"That would explain it." Dietrich agreed. "Would you like me to try to run them down?"

"No Captain, the damage is done."

"The fortunes of war?"

"Yes sir. I have no choice but to pack our trucks and abandon this base before the American planes find us. I suppose the planes will be here either today or tomorrow at the latest. I have to supervise the dismantling of the base. Excuse me Captain."

Dietrich walked back to his halftrack deep in thought. There was one among his soldiers who might have helped the Allies escape; except, he knew that Karl couldn't have been involved. Young Private Litzman had been his shadow since leaving the commander's tent the night before, and neither of them had gone anywhere near the American jeeps.

In their halftrack Karl and Fritz were watching the two officers as they talked.

"They are going to try to blame the captain." Karl worried.

"How can they? The captain never went near the American jeeps."

"The jeeps?" Karl asked in surprise. "What about the jeeps?"

Fritz looked around quickly to make sure that he couldn't be overheard. "Gunter and I were talking about…you know, what you told us. It didn't seem right to us. We know that they are the enemy but we have decided that they are not so bad. Otto was killed in battle and they did treat us well while we were their prisoners." Fritz talked quickly, watching Karl closely as he talked.

"All we did was give them a chance to die with honor." Gunter explained hurriedly. "We didn't mean to help them escape."

"You could be in serious trouble if anyone finds out." Karl warned.

"No one saw us." Fritz explained. "I went to the jeeps and took the hand grenades. I left them near the gate and made sure that I was in plain sight when they detonated."

"I threw the hand grenades and then rejoined the other drivers. Everyone's attention was on the prisoners. I was never near the jeeps." Gunter finished explaining.

"You are the only one we have told." Fritz continued. "We thought that you would understand. If you tell the captain we will not deny it. We just ask that you remember what you told us."

"What did I tell you?" Karl asked.

"You said that they were soldiers and deserved to be treated as soldiers. There was no honor in the death the commander had planned for them. That was what we were trying to give them, an honorable death. We thought that they would be killed trying to escape."

"We never thought that their escape attempt would be successful." Gunter added.

"I do understand." Karl nodded. "But I am not sure that the captain will be so understanding."

"Must you tell him?" Fritz asked.

Karl bit his lip. "No, not if you promise to never speak of it again, to anyone. By keeping silent about this I am now as guilty as the two of you."

The two friends exchanged happy grins. "We promise."

"Good." Karl smiled at the two men. "This never happened. We will never mention it again."

"Private!"

Karl turned at Dietrich's call. He gave his two friends a wink and jumped down from the halftrack. "The Captain is calling me, I have to go."

Dietrich wondered what serious conversation he had interrupted but he decided to leave his men their privacy.