The whole day, the map burned under his jacket. An escape plan! And he had never seen the Dutchy writing it! Most likely, nobody in the whole barrack or in the whole camp knew about this map. Alfred was again digging, it was almost impossible in the frozen ground. Who could he trust of the barrack? He couldn't take everybody with him, just a few. Arthur of course, that for sure. Maybe also Gilbert, he had an even worse time here then most POWs. And he was useful when they were still in Germany, the accents of Alfred and Arthur were to obvious and they would be caught with ease. Just one patriotic German and they were back in camp.
They had to get out of here, there were more prisoners who got sick. And the rations were decreasing every week. But they also needed one who could get outside easily, someone who wasn't a prisoner. Someone who could tell them where the troops of the allies were, which direction they had to go to.
For that, he needed a guard. One of them trusted them already, Ludwig. Alfred was sure he couldn't be convinced into helping them escape but he could be useful without him knowing. Just chatting could provide them with the information they needed.
But for that, Alfred had to act like he didn't hate Ludwig. He had to forget the murders the German committed. Alfred had to ignore the deaths to save the living.
He saw from the corners of his eyes Ludwig walking around, checking on how the work was progressing. He was more lazy than the rest of the guards, not screaming and yelling, just walking around.
Alfred put the shovel in the ground and pressed down with his foot. The work was even more boring than usual. It seemed like years before finally the order to get out of the ditches was given.
The American climbed out and walked back to the barrack, searching for Arthur. He saw him, just before he went into the barrack. ''Arthur!'' he whispered, while signing him to come this way, in the corner of the barrack. ''Look what I found, it was Marks'' Alfred looked around, checking if no one was watching, before taking the map out and showing it to Arthur.
''This is the fence, those are the barracks. This side is at night'' he turned the map upside down and pointed at a triangle. '' That's all they can see from this watchtower. And this from the other tower'' he said, while pointing at another triangle. ''We have to get out of here, are you with me?'' Arthur stared at the map for a minute, too shocked to say anything. He nodded slowly. ''Who are going with us?'' he asked whispering.
''For now just you. But I want to ask Gilbert too, he can lead us through Germany and he can talk us out of difficult situations, he's a native German speaker. And because he is treated even worse than the rest of us.'' Alfred looked around, still seeing no one was watching or paying attention. Arthur nodded. ''Good idea'' Alfred continued. ''I don't want to take any other with us, we will only pull the attention towards us.'' Arthur pointed at the map. ''How are we going to get out of here? Those fences are 'decorated' with barbed wire'' Alfred nodded, he had thought about that.
''You know that nazi guard, Ludwig is his name. He thinks I am some kind of his 'friend'. I think I can lure him into giving us useful information and tools to get out of here. Of course, without him realizing. He can tell us where the allied troops are and I offer to help him put the shovels back in the shack. There are wire cutters in that shack, I will try to sneak one out.'' His voice was still soft. Arthur nodded. ''Okey, but be careful. That German is clearly not afraid to use his gun.'' He said, thinking of the Dutchy.
Alfred again hid the map. ''A few more weeks, maybe a month, then we can escape. I will first talk to Gilbert.'' Arthur climbed into his bed, clearly still struggling because of his bruises. Alfred signaled to Gilbert.
He told him the same as Arthur but Gilbert was a bit more careful. ''You has idea vhat happen to ve, they catch ve?'' he asked. ''Yes, I know what will happen if they find us, but they won't! And you will be able to go to America'' Gilbert clearly wanted that, he wanted to get out of Germany, the land he betrayed. ''Okey. I do it'' he said, before he also returned to bed, they weren't escaping yet so they had to save as much energy as possible.
The next few days, Alfred tried to talk as much as possible to Ludwig, trying to act like his friend. The guard had been a bit surprised but he was also lonely, mostly ignored by the other guards because he wasn't as harsh on the prisoners as they were. After a few days, Alfred tried to make the German get another blanket. It was just a test but the blanket could also be useful, they would escape in the middle of the winter and needed everything they could get.
'''Ludwig. My blanket is worn-out, it is barely keeping the cold away. Can't you get a other one?'' he asked, after chitchatting with him for at least half an hour. Ludwig hesitated. ''Nobody will notice! There are still lots of blankets in the stock barrack'' Alfred tried to encourage him. Finally the nazi nodded. ''I vill try vhat I can get'' his English had improved last time, it was more easy to understand him now.
It took another thirty minutes before Ludwig returned, with a blanket. Alfred smiled. ''Thanks!'' he said, smiling while taking the blanket. ''You is welcome'' Ludwig replied.
For the next few days, Alfred asked nothing of the German, not wanting to scare him of. But then the next request came. ''Do you got a lighter? Mine has run out of fuel and I can't lit my cigarettes'' Ludwig frowned. ''Vhat is lighter?'' he asked. ''Fire, for cigarette'' Alfred tried to explain him.
It took even longer for him to return, but he did have a lighter with him. Useful when they had to make a campfire for warmth. ''Thanks man! Want a cigarette? It's an American one, better than those German'' Alfred grinned, he knew even the Germans hated their own cigarettes. Ludwig accepted one gladly.