Chapter Ten: Connections Everywhere
Johann heard the shots, and looked around him. Danube was nowhere to be seen. He looked at his father.
"Not very resourceful friends, eh," he said.
"Shut up," said Johann with irritation. He pulled out his own gun and then started walking back up the hill to the tracks. He pulled his father along.
"Hey," exclaimed Geoff. "What do you think you are doing? If there's shooting up there, shouldn't we be going the other way?"
"They might need my help," said Johann. "Now come on, or I'll just shoot you in the knee cap to make sure you don't go anywhere."
Geoff followed his son quickly.
The shooting paused, and then there was one more shot. Johann crept up the last few yards until he could see over the ridge to the tracks. He saw Danube's body lying on the edge of the woods. He saw Newkirk standing beside the bodies of two soldiers, with his hands up. He saw the conductor with the gun, and the body of the Captain lying inside the train.
Mein Gott, what happened, he thought. He looked at his father. Geoff was wide-eyed at the scene. He looked at Johann.
"Like I said, not very resourceful friends," he whispered.
Johann wanted to slap him. You have no idea how resourceful they are.
"Stay here," whispered Johann furtively. Geoff nodded and then watched as Johann crept up some more so that he was behind a tree. He slowly stood up, and peeked around the tree. Newkirk was talking to them, trying to get them to understand something about the train. How about the fact that it's about to blow, Johann mentally joked with himself. And if you guys don't get off it, you'll be dead.
Just then, the earth was shaken with the explosion of the train. It took even Johann by surprise, and he instinctively shrank behind the tree. Then, he looked back. Through the cloud of smoke and dust, he saw Newkirk jump up and start running across the bridge. He saw the conductor and the two other men stumbling out of the engine, which had not been blown. Momentarily surprised to see them alive, Johann thought that something must have gone wrong with the explosives. He looked back at the train, and smiled. The cargo cars were demolished, but the passenger cars were in perfect shape, if not rattled slightly. The first passenger car appeared to be beat up some, but there was no doubt in Johann's mind that the passengers on board the train were alive.
Johann's smile was wiped off his face when he heard more gunshots. He looked back to the conductor and saw that the man was shooting at Newkirk. Johann cursed and began firing at them. He hit the conductor, and the gun was then forgotten about when the two younger men became preoccupied with taking care of the older man. Johann shot some warning shots at their feet, and they all scrambled away. Then, Johann started running towards the bridge.
At first, he saw no one. Then, he noticed that Newkirk was hanging off the side of the bridge. Johann forgot about any explosives and began to run onto the bridge. He stopped, though, when he saw Newkirk let go.
Then, the world exploded.
Johann was thrown back by the force of the explosion. His back hit the engine and he cried out. Debris followed him and he threw his arms over his head. He lay there for a long moment, watching the smoke drift away.
When it was finally gone, Geoff was suddenly at his side. Geoff helped Johann up, and started dusting him off. But Johann's gaze was transfixed on the bridge…or where the bridge had been. Only twisted metal on either side of the river was left. Stepping to the edge, he looked down and saw debris going down the falls quickly. The only sound was the roar of the waterfall. Geoff put a hand on his shoulder.
"Come," said the older man. "We should go down to the river and meet your other friends."
But Johann was stuck there.
"He didn't blow the whole train," he whispered.
Geoff had no idea what he was talking about.
"That's good," he said, and tried to pull his son away. "He didn't steal away any more lives than he had to."
"I know it's good," said Johann. "But I was so convinced…"
"What," asked Geoff.
"Never mind," said Johann. "It's too bad you never met him."
"Who," asked Geoff.
But Johann just shook his head and didn't answer. "Come on." He walked brusquely by Geoff and back into the woods. Geoff looked at the gaping hole and the river again, and then followed his son.
()()()()()()
Hogan walked off the bridge, and then looked back as LeBeau jogged across. He clapped the Frenchman on the back as he stepped off and then looked at the others.
"Okay, as soon as that train blows we'll head down to the river," he said.
The others nodded. Then, Carter's eyes went wide and he pointed across the bridge. "Look!"
Hogan spun around, and immediately was alarmed to see three soldiers walking up to the train. The leader pointed his gun to the inside of the engine and they heard him ordering someone outside. They all knew it was Newkirk.
"Quick," said Hogan. "Get into the woods."
It would do Newkirk no good if they were seen. They all concealed themselves in the shrubbery beside the tracks. They watched as Newkirk was pulled out of the train and then punched in the face. Kinch gripped LeBeau's arm to keep the Frenchman down. LeBeau cursed angrily at the SS officer. They saw the SS soldier go into the train and then there were shots fired, and suddenly Newkirk was free.
"It must've been Danube or Johann," said Kinch.
Hogan nodded, and started standing up. Suddenly, Newkirk threw himself on the ground and there was another shot. Everyone froze. They watched as Newkirk slowly stood up, with his hands over his head. They saw him talking with people inside the train. Someone shouted at Newkirk, and Newkirk replied, almost pleading like. Then, the train exploded and they saw Newkirk fall to the ground.
They all ran out from the brush and watched as Newkirk scrambled up and start running across the bridge. Hogan became immediately alarmed.
"No," he cried. "Go back! Go back!"
"What," yelled LeBeau. "Are you crazy? They are trying to kill 'im!"
He started to run onto the bridge, but Kinch grabbed his arm. "The explosives! He forgot the bridge was gonna blow!"
LeBeau screamed in panic. "Pierre! Get out of there!"
"No!" yelled Carter as they watched, horrified as Newkirk was hit in the back and then rolled off the bridge.
Hogan grabbed Carter's arms and began pulling him away from the bridge.
"Kinch, get LeBeau out of here," he yelled.
Hogan wanted just as bad to help Newkirk, but he knew that he and the others would be just as dead. He couldn't believe it. This was it. Carter was screaming as he struggled to get away from Hogan, and LeBeau was cursing in French at Kinch. They all froze and went silent when Newkirk let go of the bridge. Then, they were all thrown to the ground when the bridge exploded.
Hogan couldn't hear anything. He got up, leaving Carter behind. He had lost all reserve. He ran to the river and came to a skidding halt on the edge of the twisted metal.
"Peter," he yelled.
He didn't even know why he was yelling. Newkirk was gone. He just stared down at the river, watching the debris float away. There was no sign of Newkirk, and he knew there shouldn't be. He felt Kinch, LeBeau, and Carter run up beside him. He looked and saw Carter just crying as he looked down at the river, and LeBeau was on his knees, just staring. Kinch was looking across the other side, watching Johann.
Hogan couldn't hear anything for a long time. He couldn't hear the river, or his men's sobs, or Kinch telling him they had to go. He felt Kinch's hand on his shoulder and knew enough about what it meant. So, he started walking away and down to the river. Kinch watched him go for a moment and then got Carter and LeBeau on their feet. He pushed them forward, and they followed Colonel Hogan down to the river.
Kinch looked back at the falls. Good-bye, Newkirk…Peter. I don't think I'll ever meet another man like you.
()()()()()()
There was nothing.
It was not dark. It was not light. There was nothing to see.
There was no feeling. He could not feel. If he had wanted to move, he could not. He was just aware of himself being in the unfamiliar place.
He was just aware of things, though. He was not thinking. He was just aware.
He could not be sure if he was alive or not, because nothing meant anything to him.
For all he knew, he may have been there for years or a few seconds, and he would have never known the difference.
Then, he was thinking again.
He was remembering something. Something bright. There was a flash of warmth against his face. Then, he couldn't remember anything. He lay there for some timeless more. Then, he kind of remembered something else.
It came back to him. He was lying on his back, but felt like he was moving. He was cold. All he could see was a blue sky, and some clouds, and the tops of trees hovering over him. He was numb, too. His shoulder nudged something lightly, and he was no longer moving. He turned his head ever so slightly, in a daze.
Suddenly, he felt like there was a weight on him. He was so tired. He did not ache, though. He was cold, and his limbs and torso were like lead. So heavy.
He was compelled to move. He saw more trees, and knew he was in a forest. He rolled over, grabbing some rocks with his numb fingers. He pulled himself up…heavy…tired. When he was half in and out of the water, he lay there for a moment, his face lying on the cool mud. Then, he pushed himself up, and managed to stand up. He took a few steps, and collapsed onto the forest floor. Not bothering to stand up again, he dragged himself away from the river.
He wanted to go back to sleep. He was so tired. But something made him go on. He felt like he was looking for something. What, he did not know.
He collapsed again, and lay there for some time. He noticed that it had gotten darker out. The world was blue and gray.
He moved again, and climbed over a fallen trunk. When he unceremoniously dropped to the other side, he found himself looking at a nice welcoming place underneath a bush which grew next to a tall oak.
He felt a deep satisfaction and knew that this was what he had been looking for. He crawled over and curled up beneath the bush. His eyes remained open for a few seconds more. He briefly heard something.
"André. What are you doing?"
"Andrew," he murmured to himself. He didn't understand why he had made the connection.
Then, he was in the place again. That unfamiliar place where he felt nothing. No sense was of his was working. But he was aware of something more this time. That word meant something. Andrew. André meant something too. It was a connection to another word. Another word he could not quite place. He thought. But it was so hard to think.
He felt again.
He felt tired and heavy again.
He wanted sleep.
Then, he was just lying there. Whether or not he had closed his eyes or had even opened them never crossed his mind. He was just aware of himself being there. And he clung to that word: Andrew.
Andrew…
()()()()()()
"There is a patrol coming!"
Everyone jumped up. LeBeau came from the guest room.
"You two can't be seen," said Franz. "You can go down to the cellar. Pepin, you take them there and secure everything."
"Right," said Pepin.
"What about Newkirk," asked Kinch.
Franz cursed, and looked at his father.
"We can't move him," said Karl. He thought for a moment. "Pepin, stay inside the cellar with James and Louis. Peter will be you, Pepin. Analiese, go and sit with Peter." Analiese hurried into the guest bedroom. "Franz, go down with your brother and make sure everything is secure. And put your weapon up as well."
"Yes, sir," said Franz.
Neither LeBeau nor Kinch was happy with leaving a vulnerable Newkirk upstairs without either of them. LeBeau looked inside the guest bedroom and then at Kinch. Kinch put a hand on LeBeau's shoulder.
"C'mon. He'll be fine."
LeBeau just nodded. Wordlessly he followed Kinch and the brothers into the kitchen and down into the cellar. Fortunately, there was not much light in the house, so outsiders could not see the flurry of movement that was taking place. Karl walked up to a window in the front room, and looked out. An SS patrol was walking in two rows down either side of his long driveway, heading for the house. He watched until Franz came to join him
"Go upstairs," he told his son. "Get into your bed and act like you have been sleeping. Try to get rid of any sign that there was a person in Pepin's bed."
"Yes, sir," said Franz.
He barreled up the stairs. Karl looked out to the patrol once more and then went back to the living room. He sat down in his armchair again, and continued to smoke his pipe, to calm his nerves. In the guest bedroom, Analiese was on the bed leaning against the headboard. She waited with growing impatience, and breathed deeply to remain calm. The house was quiet.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Analiese jumped at the sound of a fist striking the front door. Karl slowly got up from his chair, placing his pipe on the mantle. He began to walk to the front door.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"By the order of the SS, you must open your door or we will break entry!"
Karl kept his irritation of the SS off his face as he walked into the foyer and unlocked the front door. Opening it, he found an SS Lieutenant and five enlisted soldiers on his doorstep.
"What I can do for you," asked Karl civilly.
"We need to search your house," demanded the Lieutenant.
Karl noticed that the rest of the patrol had branched out across his property, searching the grounds for anything.
"Looking for someone," asked Karl.
"Saboteurs," answered the Lieutenant promptly. "We are not accusing you of anything, but we must search your home."
Karl stepped aside. "Of course. An innocent man will not worry about that."
The Lieutenant smiled. "You should not."
He ordered two to stay outside the door, and the other three to come inside with him. They stepped inside the house, their boots making a hollow sound on the wooden floors. Karl shut the door behind them. The Lieutenant ordered two men upstairs and the third to search the ground level. Karl watched as the third soldier walked into the kitchen. Karl followed the Lieutenant into the living room.
"You are up awfully early in the morning, Herr…"
"Bachmeier," said Karl.
"Yes, Herr Bachmeier," said the Lieutenant. "You are up awfully early."
"My youngest son was horribly wounded in a sabotage attack this afternoon," explained Karl. "I am a doctor. My oldest son brought him home, and I took care of him. I have been up most of the night with my wife, watching over him."
"Where is he," asked the Lieutenant.
Karl pointed to the guest bedroom. "There."
He walked with the Lieutenant into the room. Analiese looked up and watched the Lieutenant carefully as he walked to the bed. He looked down at Newkirk. The Englishman's shirt was off, revealing the array of bruises all over his body. A bandage was wrapped around his head, now stained with blood. The sheets were pulled up to cover the bullet wound.
Then, there was a scuffle and they all looked to the doorway. Franz was pushed through by two of the soldiers. He appeared disheveled and confused.
"Father," he asked.
"We found him upstairs, Lieutenant," informed one soldier.
The Lieutenant looked to Karl for an answer.
"This is my elder son," explained Karl. "He brought Pepin back from the train."
"You were on the train as well," asked the Lieutenant.
"Yes," answered Franz.
"But you appear well," observed the Lieutenant as he looked Franz up and down. "Were you not sitting with your brother?"
"Yes, I was," answered Franz. "But I had gotten up and left our car to go buy something from the club car. That was when the explosion took place. Unfortunately, we were sitting in the passenger car beside the first cargo car. We shall not do that again."
He smiled weakly.
"No," said the Lieutenant. "I expect you won't."
The third soldier came in.
"There is no one else in the house," he reported.
"Very good," said the Lieutenant. He looked at Karl and clicked his heel with a slight bow. "Thank you for your patience Herr Bachmeier." He turned to Analiese and gave her a slight nod with a warm smile. "And thank you as well Frau Bachmeier. I hope your son recovers well."
"Thank you," replied Analiese with a grateful smile.
"Let us go," said the Lieutenant.
He and the soldiers left the room. Karl followed them out and opened the door for them.
"I hope the rest of your search goes well," said Karl. "Saboteurs who harm and kill innocents are the worst."
"They are traitors," said the Lieutenant. "It is one thing to be in the war, but when you betray your fellow countrymen who are fighting for your country, it is disgusting."
"I could not agree more, Lieutenant," said Karl.
The Lieutenant nodded. "Heil Hitler."
"Heil Hitler," replied Karl.
He shut the door behind the Lieutenant. Karl walked back into the guest bedroom as patiently and normally as he could. Inside, he saw Analiese still at her position beside Newkirk and Franz leaning against the foot of the bed with his arms crossed over his chest. He stood up when Karl came in.
"I'll go get them from the cellar," he said.
"No," said Karl, holding up a hand. "Wait."
Franz let himself fall against the bed again. They listened to the shouts outside. The patrol was moving on. They heard the soldiers moving about their property. One walked right past the window, knocking about the bushes seeking anything unusual. Then, it was quiet, but no one moved.
"Stay here," said Karl.
He left the room and walked over to the front window. The patrol was headed back down the driveway as they had come. He watched until he saw that they were almost to the road, and then went back into the guest bedroom.
"You can go now," he told Franz.
Franz hurriedly left the room. Karl walked over to his wife.
"I think I get a few more gray hairs every time we must deal with those monsters," said Analiese. She looked down at Newkirk. "And these boys. Every time we see them I think more and more about the fact that it is very unlikely that they will live through the war."
"It is very unlikely that anybody in our line of work live through any war," said Karl. "But whatever we do here, that no one really knows about, we are saving lives. Even if we don't live to see the day that the Allies take Germany and our people can renew its glory for what it is supposed to be, we will be able to enjoy the peace we have in heaven after a long, hard road."
"I know," said Analiese. "Sometimes I just wish that either way, the journey ends soon."
"Everyone does, my sweet," said Karl, taking her hand into his.
Franz returned with Pepin, Kinch, and LeBeau. LeBeau walked over to the bed and knelt beside it, so that he was looking straight at Newkirk's face.
"You sleep through the craziest of times, mon ami," said LeBeau. "But I think you should wake up now."
Karl chuckled. "If it were only that easy." He moved aside for Kinch to stand beside the bed.
"I think he will wake up," said Kinch. "It just doesn't really go right for him to die right now."
"It's war," said Pepin. "A lot of people die at the wrong time."
"No," said Kinch. "We go when we're supposed to go. And something tells me it's just not Newkirk's time to go."
"Oui," said LeBeau. He glared at Newkirk. "So wake up. We need you. Think about all the things we will not be able to get our 'ands on without you around to snatch them. Think about all the tricks you 'ave not shown us yet, and all the money you 'ave not won from us yet. Think about all the gin games you and André 'ave to play so that 'e can beat you. Think about all the good times you will miss out of you leave now."
"Good times," asked Franz. "He is a prisoner."
"But 'e 'as us," said LeBeau fervently. "And we—together—'ave a lot of good times."
"Don't worry, LeBeau," said Kinch. "He'll wake up. Just give him some time."
"I do not know how much time that can be," said Karl. "No doubt, you are being searched for."
LeBeau squeezed Newkirk's hand and kissed him on the forehead. "You will wake."
Outside the window, someone smiled in the shadows as he overheard those inside talk. He cocked his gun and looked around. Then, when he was sure that all was clear, he made a dash for the woods, and disappeared into the darkness.
Then, somewhere inside Newkirk, another connection was made.
André.
Means Andrew. Andrew.
André. Means…Louie.
Louie. Means….means…
Nothing.