Donny pointed in the direction of where they found Emmanuelle.
For Hans, a fear began to take hold. How badly shot was she? They ran as fast as their legs could take them. Over the hill, they could see Wicki propping up Emmanuelle's head on his lap, talking to her. Wicki had blood on his face. Not too far away, was the corpse of Dieter Hellstrom.
There was blood all over her. She'd been shot several times. Her face was deathly pale.
Aldo went up close to her. She smiled when she saw him.
'Aldo. You're alright. We were so worried.'
' I'm here now. I had a secret mission, and couldn't tell you about it. I'm sorry I've been away.'
'What happened. Wicki?' asks Aldo.
'This Kraut came out of nowhere, started shooting at Em, she couldn't run because of her broken foot. Donny and I were too far off. He shot her a few times before I could take him down. Utivitch sent him to kill us all.'
Hans sank to his knees beside her.
'Now, you can go home, like you wanted.' she says.
'Emmanuelle, all this, it's my fault. If I hadn't hurt you, you'd have outrun Hellstrom. He came for me. To kill me. Now you're shot, on my account.' There was an anguish in his voice. A restless guilt haunted his words. She raises her hand to silence him.
'Don't blame yourself. If you hadn't saved me that day, I wouldn't have known what a fine, brave man you are. No one's ever given up so much for me. I'm sorry you came to regret your decision. I guess I wasn't good enough for you.'
He shook his head 'That's not true. I was angry, and desperate to go home, I didn't mean a word of it. I have always, always held you in my heart.'
She pulls him down by the collar and kisses him on the mouth. A soft, gentle kiss. He returns the kiss with all the tenderness he had stored up for her. With the last of her strength she holds him close. He can feel her hand caressing his hair. 'You won't believe how long I've always wanted to do that.' she smiled. She looked at him with affection. As if he was the most precious thing in her life. Ever so slowly, the light in her eyes gradually faded. Until she wasn't there anymore. Her hand fell lifeless by his side.
Hans felt something inside him break, like a wound that will never heal again. As he held her close to him one last time, he let out a heartrending cry. How long he held her, he cannot say. Only that the first streaks of light were breaking overhead when he felt Aldo's hand on his shoulder.
'Landa, you gotta let her go, man. They've come to take her away.'
Medic came and said to him. 'Sir, we'll make sure she'll be treated right. Will you let us do that?' He nodded. They lifted her from his arms and laid her gently on the waiting stretcher. Her blonde hair cascaded down from the olive canvas to the grass. She looked like she was sleeping, her face serene. It broke his heart that he won't ever see her alive again.
The End