The Long Walk Raid-Chapter 10
The trees were thinning out as King Company led the way toward their own lines. The men were again in a diamond formation. Rat Patrol, carrying the Colonel, stayed to the center of the formation.
They'd bypassed a farm house earlier in the day, suspicious of the stillness surrounding it. Now the trail they followed was getting narrower and almost nonexistent at times.
Lt. Hanley called for a rest period. The men all dropped in their tracks, the long day and night behind them having taken its' toll. The short rest they'd received earlier having been insufficient to replenish their energy levels.
"Sargent."
Saunders hurried to the lieutenants' side.
"Let's scout ahead. According to the map there's a road not far from here. We could make better time it we could use it."
Saunders was skeptical. "The krauts are sure to have it watched LT."
"I know but if we can spot them first we can go around. It would save us a lot of time. We have to stay ahead of them. Send Cage out again."
"You got it LT."
Cage left to scout ahead blending seamlessly into the trees. Littlejohn and Billy were talking quietly with Hitchcock and Pettigrew. Doc took the opportunity to check the Colonels' wounds. Sawyer was watching their back trail, an intent look on his face.
"How is he Doc?" Lt. Hanley knelt next to the injured man.
"He's doing okay Lieutenant. The pain meds are wearing off. I was just about to give him another dose." He slipped a needle from his pack along with a bottle of morphine. "I've been giving him light doses in case he needs to be awake for anything."
The Colonel nodded his approval as the needle slid into his arm.
"I'd like to thank you and your men Lieutenant." Closing his eyes at a fresh stab of pain, the Colonel did his best to remain stoic.
"Don't thank us Sir. That other team got you out."
"But they said they couldn't have done it without your help." The Colonel smiled at the lieutenant. "Don't worry Lieutenant, I already thanked them."
"We'll do our best to get you back Sir."
The officer nodded weakly and allowed his eyes to drift shut. With the sun shining in his face, he was soon asleep.
"Cage is coming." The call was passed from man to man.
Cage went directly to Lt. Hanley and Saunders. "There's a German outpost ahead. We can get around easy enough. I heard trucks driving by so the road has to be close. If we go around the outpost we'll have to stay alert for more traffic. It sounds like they're using that road pretty heavy today."
"Looking for us." Saunders guessed.
"And they're going to find us if we don't make some tracks." Cage added unnecessarily.
"Sarge!" Sawyer called urgently from his place at the back of the formation. "I think we may have company coming up behind us."
In an instant every man present had taken cover, leaving the area looking deserted. A thick hedgerow between them and an open area provided cover for the German patrol as they combed the area for signs of the American soldiers. They paused at every low are to inspect the ground before continuing. Several times they spread out over a wider area to inspect the soft ground or a heavy clump of brush.
Sawyer closed his eyes briefly as one soldier seemed to look right at him. Branches crunched underfoot as the patrol resumed their search.
Littlejohn exhaled loudly, expressing the relief that each and every one of them felt.
They huddled among the undergrowth and waited for the patrol to get ahead of them.
"Well, I guess we won't be going that way." Sawyer commented.
'That's exactly the way we're going to go."
Sawyer turned to Saunders in surprise. "Sarge?"
"They'll never expect us right on their tail. They'll even flush out any outposts for us. We'll just stay back and follow them as long as they're headed our way."
"That's risky Sarge." Cage cautioned.
"Any riskier than us wandering around here on our own?"
With a small smile and a tip of his head Lt. Hanley answered for all of them. "Lead on Sargent."
"Cage, you have point again. Keep us back far enough that they won't spot us."
"Okay Sarge." The Cajun shook his head at the order. "You're the boss."
The men of King Company followed the Germans through German territory for the next hour. They bypassed several outposts and roadblocks. The Germans stopped for a break and the men of K Company took a break too. There was no talk as everyone strained to hear any sign of the Germans. Another hour passed and the strain was starting to take its' toll. The lieutenant was debating the wisdom of continuing to follow the patrol when Cage returned again.
"There's a truck up ahead. I think it's broke down. I don't see anyone around but they may send someone back for it."
"Let's take a look." Saunders gave everyone the signal to rest while he followed Cage to the truck. The two men were gone almost half an hour before they returned.
"The truck won't start. They left it behind. Cage got it to turn over but it still won't start. We didn't see anyone around."
"Let Tully take a look at it."
Saunders looked over as Troy walked up to them.
"The Germans are generally lousy mechanics. Maybe Tully can find the problem and fix it. We'd make better time in a truck."
Hanley and Saunders considered the suggestion.
"Go ahead and try Sargent. We've got nothing to lose. We'll wait here."
The sargent looked around for Tully, finding him next to Billy Nelson. "Tully, you and Hitch look at the truck. See if there's any chance of getting it running." The two privates nodded and started to walk away.
"Cage, show them where it is. Billy, go along to help keep watch."
With another opportunity to rest, the others found comfortable places to sit until the four men returned.
They were still sitting there, getting more nervous by the minute, when Kirby heard the first branch crack behind them. Everyone ducked behind rocks or trees, straining their eyes and ears for any sign of the culprit. A low grunt drew their attention, followed by a whispered curse in German. Gradually a line of soldiers appeared, weaving between the trees. They searched the ground ahead of them carefully, weapons ready.
Hanley motioned for quiet. They watched silently as the Germans drew closer. Kirby shifted to a better position. One of the Germans paused to stare in his direction. When he couldn't detect anything, he rejoined the search, keeping pace with his fellow soldiers. That path would take him directly over the area where Kirby sprawled in a dip in the ground.
Lt. Hanley gripped his Thompson tightly and prepared himself to lead the assault. They needed to catch the Germans by surprise and keep the fight short. The longer the gunfire lasted the more attention it would draw.
The sound of a truck motor starting could be heard in the distance. The officer in charge of the patrol raised his hand and halted his troops. They listened for a moment before he urged them forward. Recognizing the engine sounds as German, they bunched together as they moved forward. When Hanley opened fire his men followed suit. The Germans were so bunched that most of them fell in the first volley before they could take cover. Those few who survived dove for cover on the forest floor.
Hanley and his men pinned them down with quick bursts of fire whenever they lifted their heads. Littlejohn and Kirby split up and flanked the now outnumbered patrol. A brief but lively fight followed that left the rest of the German patrol dead.
Kirby rolled at the sound of footsteps behind him, bringing his rifle up. He stopped when he recognized Cage in his dark beret.
"Everybody okay?" Lt. Hanley did a quick head count to be sure all of his men were alright. Saunders conducted a quick check of the dead Germans.
"All dead LT. I found this map on the guy over there. It's marked off in grids or something."
The lieutenant took the map and glanced at it quickly. "Okay, we'll figure it out. Right now we have to get out of here." He turned to Cage. "Did I hear a truck engine?"
"You sure did Lieutenant." The Cajun answered with a huge grin. "We can ride from here on out."
"Then let's go. We're going to have a lot of unfriendly company around here pretty soon."
Saunders called for all of his men to head for the truck. He was surprised to find Sgts. Troy and Moffitt taking the uniform jackets off two of the dead Germans.
"What are you doing?'
"Insurance Sargent. This is still German territory." The British sargent quickly donned the jacket in his hand and reached for a helmet. Troy laid the jacket and helmet he had taken across the Colonels' legs. The two men picked up the stretcher and followed their escorts to the truck.
They found Nelson, Hitchcock and Pettigrew waiting for them near the truck. At the sight of them the three men hurried to join them. The engine was no longer running but Nelson was telling everyone to get in the back.
"Will it run private?" Saunders ask the redhead.
"It will now Sargent. Ready as soon as everybody gets loaded." Pettigrew rolled the matchstick in his mouth and grinned happily.
"Hitch, put this on. You drive, Moffitt rides up front with you." Troy tossed the jacket and then the helmet to the blond. "Alright with you Lieutenant?"
Not sure of the plan, Hanley still agreed without hesitation.
The truck rumbled to life and started moving with a puff of black exhaust.
"So how does this work Sargent?" Hanley sat between Troy and Saunders braced against the bouncing of the ride.
"Hitch could be a poster boy for the Hitler Youth Movement. Most of them never give him a second look. Moffitt speaks fluent German. If we get pulled over, they'll try to bluff their way through. If that doesn't work or the gears start grinding, get set for trouble. Then it's up to us. Moffitt and Hitch will do their best to stay out of the line of fire. Just tell your guys to remember that my guys are wearing German uniforms too."
Hanley smiled despite the seriousness of the warning. "I think they'll remember Sargent."
The men in the back relaxed as the truck covered the miles taking them closer to home. Several times they took side roads to avoid the more traveled main road. They spotted more than one patrol searching he woods as they drove past.
"Heads up, we're coming up to a roadblock. We can't get around it." Moffitt turned in his seat to call a warning to the men in the back.
The truck rolled to a stop and Moffitt called to the guards. Saunders braced himself to roll to his knees as the sound of voices moved toward the tailgate. The British sergents' voice sounded close, it paused and then resumed. A hand reached up and gripped the canvas hanging over the tailgate. Moffitt spoke again, drawing the Germans attention as his hand ripped the cover aside. Three surprised Germans faced the tailgate, unprepared for the sight that me their eyes. Saunders and Cage opened fire and all three Germans dropped to the ground.
Moffitt jumped forward and ran around the drivers' side of the truck. Saunders followed, bounding over the tailgate and around the side. The blond private knelt next to the body of a German soldier wiping the bloody blade of a knife on the clothing. He looked up as Saunders rushed over and calmly slid the knife back into its' sheath.
"Everyone alright?" Saunders heard Hanley ask the first and foremost question on everyones mind.
"Billys' hit." Littlejohns' deep voice was low with concern. "That kraut got off one burst before Sarge got him."
Doc crawled across the Colonels prone form to reach Billy. Nelsons arm hung limp as blood dripped from his fingertips.
"It's not too bad Billy." Doc assured him. "The bullet went clear through. We'll get you to an aid station and you'll get a few days rest."
Billy nodded as he bit back the pain.
"I'll give you a shot. Just relax and enjoy the ride."
Billy was dozing in a morphine induced haze when the truck stopped again.
Saunders and the others gripped their rifles ready for the flap to fly open. Again there was a command in German, only this time Moffitt answered in English.
"It's alright Lieutenant. Things are not what they seem." The Brits calm voice rang out loudly, clear even to those in the back of the truck.
"Who are you?" A strange voice called.
"An American team on a special mission. We were sent to rescue a POW. At least the others are all American." The Brit added as an afterthought.
"What others?"
"We have eleven men in the back of the truck. Two are wounded. We are trying to get them to an aid station."
There was the sound of shuffling feet and Hitchcock and Moffitt were ordered to their knees.
Lt. Hanley motioned his men to stand down as he called out. "Lt. Gil Hanley here. We have wounded in here."
"Gil?"
The flap was jerked back and a surprised face appeared at the tailgate.
"Wes." Hanleys broad grin left no doubt that the two of them were acquainted.
"What's going on here?" The lieutenant looked past Hanley to the others in the truck and lowered his weapon. "Are those two with you?" When Hanley nodded, he turned and called over his shoulder. "Okay, let them up."
"Sargent Moffitt on loan to our army. And Pfc Hitchcock, on loan to us temporarily. They've been posing as Germans to get us through the road blocks."
"And it worked?"
Hanley grinned. "It gave us the edge. We got through."
"Let them go." He ordered his men.
Hitch and Moffitt dropped their arms but didn't make any sudden moves. They waited to see what would happen next.
"Who else do you have in there Gil?"
"Colonel Franklin McMasters." Hanley stated quietly.
"What? I heard his plane went down. There were no survivors." The other lieutenant peered over the tailgate with interest.
"He's hurt Wes. We need to get to an aid station."
"Let me call this in and see what we can do."
Hanley thanked him and sat down to wait while the call went through.
"Jack,Hitch, get out of those uniforms before you get yourselves shot." Troy growled at his two men. The two grinned as they stripped off the disguises. The other soldiers watched them uneasily'
"I don't think they trust us Sarge." The blond grinned as he popped a bubble.
"You did make pretty convincing Germans." Kirby laughed. "You could have convinced me."
The other lieutenant came back to talk to Hanley. "Headquarters wants us to escort you. They don't want to take any chances with your package. Got room for a few more riders?"