August 20
The Tunnels – 2350 Hours
I'm trembling right now. I have just finished rounding up Jozef. Another agent, from Unit 9, is coming for him. I feel so awful that I have sent Nitlz to England but now I have to send Jozef to a prison camp in England. Just as he sent me off to be a prisoner, he's heading to a prison camp in England, all in thanks to me (we'll each know what it is like in the enemies' camps). Not to mention, he has no family left except for me. His parents are dead (his mother had been killed by the Nazis, as I've found out from my personal research of this evening's radio contact with Headquarters). His grandmother and uncles are dead. Plus, he has no cousins and is the only child of his generation (I remember him being born, before Mother left for Germany again, but had no idea that he incorporated himself into German society easily). The only living relative of his is sending him away for his own good because he's on a different side.
Rob has tried telling me that it would be a better and more humane thing to do for this side (and the operation, for that matter, since it's in danger everyday) instead of letting him run hog-wild through the tunnels and trying to shoot everybody, just like earlier today. "There should be something much improved than this!" I argued again. "Couldn't London Headquarters use Jozef as a tool, as Nitlz, and create roles for him, if he agrees to some conditions?" I was desperate to have Jozef redeem himself because I believe in him. I believe that he has courage and with the proper conditions, he could be a benefit to us all.
"Not so fast, Desertstar," Rob said, crossing his arms. He had a counterargument ready. "We don't know if he would be sincere with his promises. Granted, he has a habit of trading positions all the time. However, time in a prison camp might loosen his tongue. He might be of use, as Nitlz is now, but not enough to have him taking risks. Headquarters is strict about such things. It would take time to gain his trust and them, his."
I said nothing more, thinking of this morning. A smaller crew has been watching the tunnels. It was about two per barrack because we caught what person had started this mess. LeBeau and Kinch were watching the section under our barracks, the emergency tunnel and exit. Our double agent had been believed unconscious and tied to his chair, for that was what Rob wanted him to be until we had a better chance at talking to him. Eventually, we were going to hand them over to other agents, but not then. After the explosion at the bridge (thanks to us), security has been jacked outside. The Gestapo has had its investigations and the Krauts have been more alert.
Well, roll call was over and Rob and I wanted to get this minor interrogation done and over with. Today was, after all, the first day I felt that I could get out of bed and walk around. Wilson even approved and offered to help me walk. I declined, saying, "I think I have my own support system, thanks." We were talking in Rob's quarters with the door open and discussing how I could get down the ladder to the tunnels. Wilson laughed as I pointed to Rob, who I was referring to in my comment. He was standing near the door and looked puzzled that I even pointed to him.
In due time, Rob and I had to get down to the tunnels and talk to Jozef. I've spitefully and painfully called our double agent or the Sergeant or him until recently. I really shouldn't, for he has a name and he is a human being.
Jozef has admitted (according to Kinch) that he has been messing our tunnel system around (this comment came as Kinch radioed London). That explains some things, but not everything. Who is he really? What is his mission as a Gestapo agent? Why take on the role of a German child, in need of help, seeking asylum with the Allies? These questions plagued me as slowly but surely, I got down to the tunnels. Rob helped me down, knowing all-too-well how many times I get myself into trouble or how it always seems to find me.
When Rob and I got down, we were in for a surprise. Everything was a disaster again. The room was in disarray! The radio was wrecked again, books were scattered, papers were ripped, everything! Rob was alarmed and started yelling, "LeBeau, Kinch, where are you?"
I couldn't move and only could groan, holding back some anger. I was more shocked. All I could do, in my frustration, was put my head in my hands. What happened this time?
Rob ran around our part of the tunnels for a few seconds before finding LeBeau and Kinch coming from behind, from the tunnels near Barracks 6, with guns in their hands to the main room. "Colonel, that sergeant has escaped and…" Kinch was so out of breathe that he couldn't finish.
"Colonel Hogan, he untied himself and wrecked the place. We tried to catch him, but he's a fast little Kraut," LeBeau finished with a flush of red to his face. "When I get my hands on him, I'll –"
"We gotta find him, he could ruin our operation," Rob said, pointing out the obvious before our patriotic Frenchman went wild. LeBeau offered Rob a frustrated face, angry that he was interrupted. Oh well, he can complain later. His hotheaded attitude isn't getting us anywhere.
"Split up?" Kinch asked.
"Carry the guns and don't hesitate to shoot the kid," Rob answered spitefully. I haven't seen him so angry about something like this before. He grabbed two guns from the cabinet in the room next to the bookshelf and handed me one.
"Be careful," Rob added, gazing especially at me. He knew me too well: thoughtless, even when I was hurting. I knew he wanted me to be with someone on the search, but we also need to keep split up and update each other often.
Kinch then found four walkie-talkies from the other room and handed them out. "Don't hesitate do use those," Kinch said, also stating the obvious. Our codes were agreed upon and anything we found was either reported to Rob or me, who would then inform Rob.
~00~
We split up and went into four different directions. I was following the tunnel that led to the recreation hall and towards Barracks 5 when I heard a crash and then a shot. I had found him! And it hadn't taken me too long, maybe five minutes. But five minutes could also mean the difference between everything.
Jozef was in one of the spare rooms that carried extra guns and ammunition. He was trying to find the light switch (the only one down there, by the way, and it's wired to the barracks upstairs) and get out and the doorway wasn't in his sight. Oy vey, I thought as I stood to one side, observing. There isn't a lot of light down this way, just a torch about a few feet away from where we were standing, so it gave me cover however quiet I had to be. And I knew that I had time before Jozef noticed me.
I got out my walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button. As I walked away from that spare room, I said in a whisper, "Papa Bear, this is Desertstar, come in Papa Bear." I got static before Rob got to me. I hoped that Jozef didn't hear the noise (he didn't). Behind me, I heard some tumbling and then a crash. Rob answered me nonetheless.
"This is Papa Bear Desertstar, please report," I heard Rob say. "Kinch saw the package being carried in your direction. LeBeau is meeting you there to –"
"Papa Bear, I found him." I interrupted him and waited for my orders.
"Desertstar, please stay where you are and keep silent and that's an order. Be there with the others, do you read?"
"Over and perfectly clear," I answered, almost resenting that I couldn't corner the kid by myself. Like I couldn't handle a child half my age!
"Good. And Nikki, keep your behind there. I'll be on over within a few minutes. Papa Bear, over and out." The line went dead. I flicked off the switch went back to the spare room, making sure to stay outside, seeing what is inside and not being seen. I watched Jozef tumble around the room, still searching for a switch for the lights and trying to find a way out of the room. It gave me thought that perhaps, he has no idea where he is and what he has landed himself in.
Well, at least he hadn't seen me yet and that is all that matters.
About a few minutes later, I was still watching Jozef try to find his way out of a wet paper bag. I mean, he has that von Rumey touch, where sometimes, the simplest tasks turn into the hardest Herculaneum missions. It was entertaining for a while as it was some time before I had company. I wasn't aware that behind me, LeBeau, Kinch and Rob had snuck up to join me. I saw a red sweater and relaxed. It was only LeBeau. I saw that behind him were Rob and Kinch. Both had their gun safety off and it was ready for use. I switched mine off (I didn't bother to do so earlier in the radio room) and as I did so, I thought that shooting the child wasn't the answer. Jozef needed to be reasoned with and I was the only one qualified. Besides, what was the point in shooting him when he has done the same to me? What are we achieving here?
Rob crouched down lower and ordered that we do the same. I obeyed, but my neck prickled as soon as Rob quickly crossed to the other side of the doorway. He ducked as he heard another shot come out of the room. This told me that Jozef was trying to find out where the doorway was by using a supply of bullets. Well, I didn't want anything to happen to Rob and even Jozef, to a point. I had no choice but to stop Rob from hurting him.
I turned to Kinch and LeBeau and said, "LeBeau, Kinch, stay here. Let me talk with Colonel Hogan." Kinch and LeBeau didn't even bother to contradict me and they knew that I was angry when I was.
I crawled over to where Rob was and gently tapped his shoulder. This time, the one and only time I could save him from this, he became angry. "Nikki, where are you doing here? This isn't the Officers' Club Massacre, you know!" Rob's eyes flashed anger. "There isn't anything to dull whatever pain you have in that insane head of yours and then take it out on the first person who comes over!" He briefly mentioned our joke about the Officers' Club Massacre, one event in our military lives that I could have done without. I had gotten very drunk, apparently, and I thought everyone was out to get me (I think this was about a month after our child died), but Rob got me out before the fight that I had started in the Officers' Club got me killed. Not to mention, after that particular day, we did have some serious time in the infirmary (I had to be sedated because I kept fighting, so I was groggy for months) and it took a while before I was cleared of all charges. So, a silly gag was born. Well, we usually bring it up when one thinks there isn't trouble but the other does, and in this case, I knew there was trouble about.
"Rob, if you'd listen to me, then there'd be no massacre at the Officers' Club," I said with confidence. "Let me talk to him. He wouldn't dare shoot his own family, even if we are enemies. There is always that familial love. I felt it for my mother and stepbrothers, no matter what happened to them. Why do you think I was upset for a while?" Rob hesitated. I'm sure that he was thinking this over logically. I bet that he was even surprised that I mentioned it.
Upon thinking on it after a few seconds, Rob waved me on. He motioned to a confused Kinch and LeBeau, over my shoulder, to hold fire until he or I called for it. The three of them would be my back-up in case I get shot or even if I was killed. Rob will call for gunfire, whether I liked it or not.
The hallway was still dark and damp and that lone torch still glowed in the hallway beyond me. I gulped and went into the room quickly. As soon as I hit the light switch, I ducked my head and hit the ground yelling, "Safety off, safety off!" with reason, even though the three behind me already had them as such. Jozef, when he saw us through the light, was aimlessly and recklessly shooting his gun. He was quickly running out of bullets, thankfully for us. I could tell that more than half of his supply in the gun was gone already.
Rob, Kinch and LeBeau were right behind me in an instant and they too, dropped themselves to the ground, avoiding to the deadly spray that was coming out. This time, it was more erratic because of the company: the more, the merrier. Jozef was trapped, either way, and no matter what he did, he would run out of bullets. Eventually, we could overcome him, if he wasn't strong enough.
"Arbeit macht frei,Jozef!" I yelled over and over in this potentially lethal bloodbath. It's the only thing that he can understand. Auschwitz, where he has sent me, reminds him of what work is: a freedom. At the same time, I continued to count shots. He kept shooting. And suddenly, he had one shot left and it left him no choice but to stop because the last one is always the one that counts.
I lifted my head up. Jozef had collapsed in a corner, his gun thrown aside. He had closed his eyes and was gasping for his breath. He looked down for the count. I couldn't be sure and I had to check. Sure as hell, I'm going to talk some sense to him, whether he tries to kill me or not. Even if he has that gun pointed at me, he won't kill me. I know it.
I got up, only to have Rob yell at me, "Nikki, down!" I turned to face him behind me, but Jozef was swiftly behind me, grabbing onto me and holding his gun to my head. I felt the barrel nuzzle itself to my head. It was a tight fit indeed, buried in the thin tangle of hair. All according to my improvised plan, I guess, I thought with some worry. I didn't even see him coming from in front of me and there he was. I sort of expected it.
"At last, the Jewish sorceress is in my hands and prepared to die for her crimes. How proud the German people will be when a spy dies," Jozef said. "It would be better when Hochstetter hears that he was right all along, that there is an operation here. Nobody believed me at first, except for Hochstetter. I was right and I can prove it. And the famous Desertstar is the part of its core with Papa Bear." He was beaming with pride.
LeBeau picked up his head and started, "Sergeant, you're making –"
"Shut up or she dies!" Jozef snared holding me up and the gun closer to my head. This was my only chance to speak.
I started to talk in German so the others didn't understand me or the plan I was making up as I went. "Arbeit macht frei,Jozef…don't you remember that? Work shall set you free. You sent me there. You shot me so that you could be promoted, so that you can say that you caught a spy trying to escape. She was almost successful, her and her comrade-in-arms, and oh, boy, did I catch her, I even shot her, my own aunt! You tried to be brave in a cruel world where the weak-minded are easily told 'Here, go shot some people who were only doing their duty.' How can you be so malicious to those who have tried to help after the Empire's downfall? How can Hitler try to put the blame on people who have been a scapegoat to many of history's problems for centuries? I mean it. Can you take the truth that Hitler is misrepresenting this country? Can this country ever look upon theirs and the world's problems and try to fix them instead of gripping their fists and blaming others? Do you see any magnificence in the death of others, no matter what side they're on? I just lost a friend because of this mess. Are you willing to kill another?"
I could feel Jozef's hesitation in the way he moved the barrel of his gun. Then I felt it go back to my head. He was going to kill me after all? I have to think quickly! Then I thought of another plan. I wanted to undertake something else, something I wasn't intent on using unless he was that desperate. Well, I was desperate as well and wanted this to end.
I spoke in English this time. "Jozef, go ahead and kill me." I gulped and turned to the faces before me, making sure that they heard. I saw their dire reactions. LeBeau and Kinch were shocked at what I said. Rob was putting his hands into his head and was lowering it, waiting for the bullet that will kill me. I couldn't see his face otherwise. I could sob if this backfired. I actually wanted to live.
Therefore I continued my ranting to Jozef just to prolong my life and say some final words, if necessary. "Yes, go ahead and kill me, you know you want to. Finish the job like you always wanted to. I am, after all, one of the last members of our family. I am a total outcast, but it doesn't matter to you. After all, I am the dirt you stand on, the scum of the Earth and an insult to the human race. Is this what you stand for? Do you want to kill an already dying ethnicity? If so, just destroy me now and get it over with. I've said my peace." I closed my eyes and waited for the end I encouraged. The barrel of that gun still remained trembling next to me. Then, it moved away from my head. I heard the clank of the gun against the floor.
Jozef had dropped the gun. It fired its last shot at the wall as it banged against the floor. He loosened his grip on me and before I could know what went on, I was long gone from his side. LeBeau and Kinch were quick to react to this, and in a few seconds flat, Jozef was in our hands again. Rob still remained seated on the floor, scared and trying hard not to yell at my carelessness again. The former he usually succeeds in holding back, but the latter he can never control. His anger is just as legendary as mine.
"Colonel, I'm really going to court martial you," Rob said. "What the hell were you doing, reverse psychology?" I could only smile at him. I was hurting again because of that and I didn't realize it until that moment. I guess Wilson was right: today was going to be too much excitement and I needed help.
Beside me, LeBeau and Kinch were taking our intruder away, the real culprit in entire this mess. I wanted to go back to my bunk and rest. Before I left for my bunk, though, I needed to say something. I past Rob and said, "This answers all the questions that have been nagging me. Temptation is still far from it." Then, I walked out, indicating that he can put me on trial for all I cared. And you know, Rob never tried to follow me out.