Raiders Folly
Chapter 7
"What are you going to do about Mosby when we get back Craig?" Actor asked softly as he moved up to Garrison's position under the trees. Goniff was still sitting morosely on the tree stump refusing all attempts to talk and Casino was pacing around the clearing
Garrison shook his head as he watched the two men in the clearing closely. "I don't know Actor." Garrison sighed heavily "I'll talk to Richards when we get back but without proof…"
"Goniff was there Craig, he can confirm what happened." Actor pointed out as he studied the pick pocket's dejected posture.
"Goniff's a con, Actor, you're all cons. The army isn't going to believe any of you."
"Do you believe him Craig, or are you part of the army now too?"
Garrison's head snapped around at the words and he glared at the conman beside him. "Of course I believe him."
"Then back him up; and Casino. Take them with you when you see Richards. Let them tell their stories, make Richards believe. You owe that much to Chief at least and the other two as well."
"You think he's dead?" It was more a statement than a question but Garrison still held his breath as he waited for Actor to answer. Death was a part of the damn war they were fighting, an expected part but not an acceptable part. None of them were stupid, they all knew the likelihood of them surviving the duration was thin at best but this waste of life was just senseless. Even if Mosby hadn't killed him by his own hand it was his actions that will have led to Chief's death at the hands of the Germans.
Actor chose his words carefully; a little knowledge could be a curse, like now. Bruised ribs were not a problem, sore yes but not life threatening. Cracked ribs were painful but treatable with rest and binding but broken ribs left untreated as Chief's undoubtedly were, were another thing altogether. Pneumonia, punctured lungs, internal bleeding if they shifted and severed a vein or artery…Actor closed his eyes. "I sincerely hope not…"
"But?"
Actor sighed, "But the fact is, he is not here." He shrugged, "And that is not like Chief, injured or not. Even if he isn't dead and the Germans do not have him, by now he will be in no condition to move under his own power."
Garrison nodded absently, "That's what I thought you'd say. God, what a mess." Garrison straightened suddenly as Casino and Goniff whipped around and brought their guns to bear on the trees on the far side of the clearing.
Davies burst into the clearing heedless of the guns pointed at him.
"That's one way of getting yourself killed babe," Casino growled as he began to lower his gun.
Davies sucked in a deep breath, "Kraut patrol coming…this way." He managed to warn between gasps.
Garrison and Actor strode quickly to where the three men were standing. "How far and where's Chief?" he demanded harshly.
"Krauts, maybe a half mile. Chief and Casey three miles back that way."
"Chiefy's alright." Goniff asked hesitantly.
Davies shook his head, "Chief's alive but he's far from alright. He needs help but Casey and I couldn't carry him any further. He passed out on us. I left Casey with him."
Raised German voices interrupted the conversation and the men hurried to take cover behind the trees. "No shooting unless absolutely necessary," Garrison hissed. The last thing they needed was the woods swarming in krauts if they could avoid it. The men watched silently, fingers lightly pressed against triggers as the German patrol swarmed into the clearing. Nobody needed a translator to understand that they were looking for the escaped saboteurs. Garrison braced himself as one of the Germans headed purposefully in his direction but a shout from another over near where Goniff had been sitting changed his direction. Garrison was just about to curse Goniff for leaving some evidence of their occupation when the German held up a piece of bloody cloth and then pointed through the trees on that side of the clearing. The Gorilla's and Davies held their breaths as the Germans hurried off through the trees and away from them, following the path taken by Mosby and his two men. Garrison waited until there was no sound of the patrol before he moved from cover, quickly followed by the rest of the men.
"Poor buggers," Goniff muttered.
"Yeah well if you ask me they're getting what they deserve if the krauts catch up to them." Casino growled menacingly.
Garrison shrugged, "I doubt the Germans will find anyone now. They have a good head start. Sub should be picking them up in two hours. Come on we need to get back to Chief and Casey before they're discovered." Garrison nodded to Davies to lead the way and they carefully retraced Davies steps back to the two waiting men.
Garrison caught Actor's eye and nodded toward Davies. Actor returned the nod, understanding what Garrison wanted. He was just as anxious to discover Chief's condition for himself and what he might be dealing with when they reached the two men. Actor caught up to Davies, silently keeping pace with the man as he led them back to Chief.
"He's not breathing well," Davies took a moment to look at Actor. "That's what you want to know isn't it?"
Actor nodded. "I suspect he has a couple of broken ribs."
Davies snorted, "The moment he jumped out of that plane he had broken ribs, the damn fool. Don't know how he managed to last as long as he did." He muttered, "He's got a wet cough too, my guess would be pneumonia, sounds like my father when he had it. He's been sick a couple of times, light headed and dizzy and probably a fever is starting as well. Finally passed out about an hour ago. Smoke sure as hell hasn't helped him either."
"Hey Actor, Chiefy's going to be alright isn't 'Ee," Goniff asked worriedly not liking the description the sergeant was painting of their missing team member.
Actor sighed, "I hope so Goniff, but we need to get him back to England as soon as possible."
After that the five men lapsed into silence, none willing to voice their worries concerning Chief's condition. Davies suddenly slowed and raised his hand, cautioning the others to keep quiet. He moved carefully through the trees, stopping just before reaching the edge of the small hollow where he had left the other two men. He knew Casey was a good, solid soldier not generally prone to fits of nervousness but after all that the boy had been through in the last forty eight hours he had no doubt that his nerves would be on edge. The last thing any of them needed was for him to start shooting, especially as Garrison, Actor and Casino were still dressed in SS uniforms. "Casey," Davies called softly, "I'm coming in."
The Gorillas had all been watching, the grey light of early morning and the shadows cast by the trees making it difficult to see properly but none of them missed the sudden movement of one man leaping to his feet while the other remained deathly still. At the sound of the voice, Casey had jumped to his feet, swinging his gun around towards the voice. There was a slight hesitancy as Casey spoke. "Sarge?"
"Yeah Casey, lower your gun, I've got Garrison and the others with me."
"Ok Sarge," Casey replied as he began to lower his gun, but it swung back up menacingly as he spotted the German uniforms.
"Easy Casey," Davies warned.
"Stand down Private," Garrison ordered as he came to an abrupt halt with Actor and Casino behind him.
"LT?" There was suspicion in his voice as he warily watched them resume there walk into the small hollow. Once he recognized the faces he lowered his gun with a sigh. "Sorry LT," he mumbled as he squatted down to check Chief.
"Nothing to be sorry for Private," Garrison replied, coming to stop beside the squatting man. "You acted correctly." Garrison stared at Chief, unable to tear his eyes aware from the stillness of the man. Chief could spend hours not moving when he was on guard duty, it was part of what made him so valuable, but this was so wrong. He hadn't stirred, not once in the last few minutes since they had been watching from the trees. Chief never allowed anybody to get this close to him unawares. Garrison hadn't noticed Actor dropping to his knees on the other side of Chief, all he could focus on were the soft gasps as Chief tried to breathe.
"Casino, help the Private lift Chief up a bit," Actor ordered, as he felt the Indian's forehead, sighing heavily when he felt the heat. "Careful," he warned urgently when Chief grunted in pain as the two men lifted him. "Chief, can you hear me, it's Actor?" Actor tapped the sweat covered face, eliciting another moan from the injured man followed by a strangled cough.
"Easy Chief," Actor coached quietly as the dark eyes blinked open.
"Actor?" Chief whispered around another cough.
"Don't talk Chief, just concentrate on breathing slowly while I check you out."
Chief nodded tiredly, accepting the help of the two men supporting him without argument as Actor began the painful process of unwrapping the binding around his ribs.
"Geez Geronimo, what the hell did you think you were trying to prove?" Casino demanded as he got his first look at the Chief's side.
"Looks worse…than it…is." Chief panted between gasps as Actor gently probed the injured ribs. With the binding removed he could feel every minute movement of the broken ribs as he tried to breathe. Actor's fingers pushed against a particularly tender spot that sent Chief into a coughing spasm that left him gasping for air. The colour drained from his face, his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped into the arms of the two men holding him.
Garrison had remained silent, watching Actor work in numbed shock since seeing the damage to Chief's ribs. He couldn't believe that he had allowed one of his men to continue a mission in such a condition. Granted he hadn't truly known that anything was seriously wrong with Chief until it was far too late to change their plans but he should have known. He should have been far more aware of the vagaries of his men than he obviously was. His thoughts were cut short as Chief slumped back into Casino and Durrant's arms. "Actor?" Garrison demanded urgently.
"Just passed out Craig, but it's not good." Actor replied as he continued to palpate Chief's ribs and abdomen. "Definitely two broken ribs, possibly three, that cough indicates he's got some fluid in the lungs and coupled with the fever that's starting…"
"Pneumonia," Garrison muttered.
Actor nodded, "I'm afraid so Craig. On the bright side…"
"There's a bleeding bright side," Goniff muttered.
Actor ignored Goniff's remark as he continued. "There doesn't appear to be any internal bleeding or punctures to the lungs." Actor shook his head as he re-wrapped Chief's ribs with the binding Chief had fashioned out of the pillow cases. It wasn't really satisfactory but it was all he had to work with and would have to do until they could reach the sub. At least then there would be medical assistance available.
"So now what do we do Warden?" Goniff asked, "I mean 'ow are we going to get Chiefy to the sub?"
"We use the damn car limey, what did you think we were going to do? Carry him like this?" Casino growled.
"As much as I would like to use the car Casino, we can't. By now the Germans have probably found it and even if they haven't we can't just drive along the roads around here. Too much chance of been stopped and besides it isn't large enough for all of us." Garrison sighed, scrubbing tiredly at his face. As far as the mission itself was concerned it was a success and in no small part due to Chief. They had the plans and the munitions factory was a burning ruins but as for getting his team plus two out of France… "We'll have to carry him for now."
"What? You can't." Casino glared menacingly at Garrison. He already felt responsible for the condition the Indian was in and he wasn't about to let him get any worse if he could help it.
"No way Warden. Actor, tell 'im."
"I'm afraid Craig is right Goniff, we can't use the car…"
"But Chiefy's done more than 'is share on this ruddy mission. 'Ee didn't 'ave to come, not after what they did to 'im, none of us did but 'Ee wasn't going to let Mosby win and now 'Ee's the one suffering for it."
"I can make it Goniff," Chief grunted as he shifted uncomfortably in Casino and Casey's arms. He had come around in time to hear both Actor and Goniff's comments. While he was grateful for the pick pocket's concern he didn't want the team arguing over him. If getting out of here and back to England meant he had to walk then that's what he'd do.
"Help me…up…Casino."
The words were barley above a whisper but Casino heard them and tightened his grip on Chief's arm. "No way Geronimo, not until we find some wheels." Casino's eyes widened and he turned on Goniff. "Where's the damn truck you were driving?"
Goniff's cheeks turned red and he shrugged apologetically. "We 'ad to ditch it, ran out of petrol."
"Geez Goniff, what sort of a thief are you?" Casino snorted.
"I'm a ruddy pick pocket Casino, what do I know about stealing cars, beside Davies nicked it, not me."
"Alright, that's enough," Garrison ordered, before Casino and Goniff started an argument. "Goniff, change places with Casino. Casino get out of that uniform, you too Actor. Once we've changed we'll move out. We have to get away from this area. Chief, we'll keep a look out for a truck but in the meantime you're going to have to walk. We'll help you. Think you can make it?"
Chief nodded tiredly, "Yeah," was all he could manage as he rode through the flaring pain in his side.
Garrison squeezed Chief's shoulder in acknowledgement, it wasn't the best solution but it was all he could offer for now.
They'd been walking for a couple of hours with Goniff and Casino supporting Chief. At first he had been able to help, the rest and the re-binding easing the pain in his side but the further they travelled the more unsteady Chief was becoming and he found himself leaning more heavily on the men supporting him.
Goniff could feel Chief's weight hanging more heavily off his shoulders but the man had stubbornly refused to rest so far. "'Ay Warden, how far is it to Calais anyway?" Goniff called as they trudged along the road. Davies was up ahead and Actor was guarding their backs from attack. They had started off through the woods following the path taken by Mosby and the Germans but the going was to rough for Chief. After he had stumbled several times Garrison had ordered them up on to the road.
"About a hundred and seventy miles Goniff," Garrison replied.
Goniff came to an abrupt halt, causing Chief to stumble.
"Watch it you damn limey," Casino growled as he tightened his grip on Chief.
"Sorry Chief," Goniff apologized hurriedly. "You don't expect us to walk all the way do you?"
Garrison sighed as he stopped walking and turned back to Goniff. He noted Davies had also stopped and was watching the road ahead of them, "Only until we find a truck or the Resistance, Goniff."
"There's Resistance around 'ere. Why didn't we contact them earlier?"
"Several groups in this area but our orders are to contact the group in Laon if we need help. They didn't want to compromise the groups in this area. The Germans will be out in force rounding up suspects for the job we just pulled."
"Well 'ow far's this Laon then."
"About twenty miles, now."
"Chiefy can't walk that far, 'Ee needs to rest and so do I." Goniff knew Chief wouldn't complain no matter how much he was hurting so it was going to have to be up to him to make both the Warden and Chief rest. Goniff looked over the top of Chief's bowed head at Casino hoping the safe cracker would take the hint. If he could feel how much of Chief's weight he was supporting then surely Casino could too.
Casino nodded in agreement, picking up on what the little limey was trying to do. "Yeah Warden, I'm bushed too. Geronimo here isn't exactly light you know," he grumbled as he tightened his grip on the Indian's belt when he felt Chief's knees begin to buckle.
Garrison nodded; he had been watching Chief as he spoke to Goniff. He knew as well as the others that Chief would keep going until he dropped. He smiled to himself as Goniff and then Casino took the decision to stop out of Chief's hands but the smile quickly left when Chief collapsed against the two men supporting him. "Get him off the road and into the trees, hurry," Garrison ordered as both Davies and Actor jogged back to where he was still standing in the road.
Actor didn't stop but followed the other men into the trees to check on Chief.
"What do we do now LT?" Davies queried as he stopped beside Garrison. "Chief's not going to make it if we keep travelling like this."
Garrison rubbed a hand across his face. "I know Davies," he snapped. Garrison shook his head, "Actor and I'll have to go on to Laon, leave Chief here with you and the others; locate a car and the resistance if possible but definitely a car."
"Shouldn't Actor stay here with Chief, he's the one with the medical knowledge."
"There's not much Actor can do for Chief out here that you and the others can't do Davies. We all know he needs proper medical attention and soon. Actor and I are the only ones who read and speak French. We'll try and at least bring back some more medical supplies as well as a car. If we can contact the resistance we might be able to bring a doctor back as well."
Davies nodded slowly as he watched the Lieutenant head towards the trees and his waiting men. He knew Garrison was right he just didn't like the idea of splitting the team up again but Chief wasn't going to go any further without transport at the very least. Davies followed Garrison into the trees and stood back to listen as Actor gave his report to Garrison.
"Well Actor," Garrison demanded brusquely as he squatted beside the conman.
Actor shook his head, "He's not going any further like this Craig." He replied as he carefully rebound the ribs. "The fever is up and his breathing is getting worse. Walking and been carried is putting too much pressure on his lungs and ribs."
Garrison sighed; he really didn't need to hear Actor's words. The flushed cheeks and wheezing breaths told the story clearly enough. Garrison pushed himself to his feet. "Alright, Actor and I will head into Laon; find a car and hopefully the resistance and a doctor or some medical supplies at least. The rest of you stay here out of sight and wait for us to return. We probably won't get back until later tonight. Davies is in charge until we get back. Any questions?"
"I'll come with you LT; I'm pretty good with cars. My uncle owns a garage back in Virginia. I've helped him out plenty of times." Durrant offered.
Garrison shook his head, "Thanks Casey but no, if there is trouble here it's going to take all four of you to get Chief moved. Any other questions?"
"You going to leave the Sarge and me here when you come back Lieutenant?"
"Casey," Davies warned as Garrison spun to face Durrant.
Garrison glared at Durrant for a moment before he softened his features, he couldn't really blame the kid for asking, not after the way his own team had treated him. "No one gets left behind Casey. When we go you and Davies are coming with us." Garrison turned away from the men cursing Mosby as he waited at the edge of the trees for Actor to join him.
"You can't really blame him Craig," Actor commented as he caught up to Garrison. "After what Mosby did to him and Davies…"
"I don't Actor, but when I get my hands on Mosby…" Garrison left the threat unfinished.
"Let Major Richards and the army take care of him Craig. A personal vendetta will serve no purpose other than to get you locked up in the stockade and then where will that leave us?"
"Remind me of that again when we reach England, Actor." Garrison moved off through the trees beside the road, not waiting for a reply from his second in command.