Chapter 14

With Kirby assisting Hanley the two men traveled at a steady pace not knowing how far back the enemy patrol was could only hope to reach base before the Germans caught up to them. Kirby had been keeping an eye on the Lt's condition by gauging how much of the man's weight rest on his own shoulders. The man was all muscle and right now about fifty percent of that muscle was being supported by Kirby.

How you doing? Lt. Hanley, are you alright?

Hanley was trying to stay on his feet but it was getting harder and for the past few minutes he had been unfocused, moving automatically with Kirby's support. He heard the man speak but it sounded like it was coming from a distance and it took him a moment to understand what the man had asked. "Am fine, how much further do you think we have to go?"

"I figure another mile we'll be in camp should run into the night sentry in (checking his watch) twenty or thirty minutes." Stopping for a moment Kirby readjusted the Lt's arm on his shoulders glancing at the Lt's face as he did. {Man, he sure is pale the fever has really kicked up, Kirby could feel the heat coming off the Lieutenant as he supported him the constant shivers that coursed through the man's body, must be doing a number on his side} the blanket was offering some comfort but the man needed to be off his feet. Sir, do you want to stop for a moment and take a drink?

"If I stop Kirby I may not start again."

Thirty minutes later they made it to camp and Kirby would have jumped for joy if it wasn't for the fact he was supporting the Lieutenant.

"We made it Sir."

Hanley straightened up, body tense as he scanned the area listening for the normal sounds of an active camp. Kirby! Do you notice anything about the camp?

As the Lieutenant took more of his own weight, Kirby felt Hanley's back muscles tense through the arm he still had around the Lt's waist. "It's too quiet there should be some type of noise. " Where's the night watchman?

Hanley wiping sweat out of his eyes, removed the blanket from his shoulder handing it off to Kirby who put it back in his pack, pulling the carbine off his shoulders the LT gripped it tightly in both hands. "If anyone was here, they would have stopped us by now."

"They must have moved camp, if that's the case how are we gonna find them in the dark?"

"Let's check around and see if we can get a better idea of what happened you take the left side I'll go right, we'll meet near the building we used as OC the water barrels should be next to it and we can refill our canteens (catching Kirby's eyes) take a quick look and grab whatever you think we can use, meet me by the barrels in twenty minutes and Stay alert."

"You do the same Lieutenant."

Twenty minutes later Hanley and Kirby met where the barrels had been positioned but now there was only one, it had just enough water left in it to fill their canteens. Walking toward the center of the camp the men tried to figure out what direction to take.

"The Platoon didn't leave in a hurry so battalion must have sent orders to move, except for the water I couldn't find anything useful during my check." Did you have any luck Kirby?

"Nothing Lieutenant, our guys cleaned the camp out pretty good before they left. Lt. Hanley?"

Yeah Kirby?

If Captain Jampel knew we would be coming back here, why didn't he leave a few men to let us know what was going on?

"If the Captain couldn't leave a man maybe he would have left something else. Kirby, he would have left us a sign, it would be small, something positioned in such a way you wouldn't notice."

"Unless you knew to look for it." (Scanning the area it was hard to see much of anything, there wasn't a lot of light) "It's hard to see anything without using our flashlights Lieutenant."

"Can't use them Kirby they would make us easy targets and can't spend a lot of time looking because of the German patrol."

Kirby glanced at the Lieutenant. "Then we have to narrow our search area, we know they headed either to the South or further East, right."

"East end of the camp would be toward the old stable used as a sleeping area and south would start from the water barrel." Wait a minute! Suddenly the Lt moved quickly toward the water barrel knelt down and stared…The moonlight reflected on a small pool of water, a small pool of water in the shape of an arrow…Do you see it Kirby?

(Kneeling beside the Lieutenant) "They went south, Lieutenant, look (pointing at another pool of water only this was in the shape of an S)…Is it an S or an 8?

(Leaning forward) "Number eight, Kirby."

Kirby grinned, "They moved eight miles south."

"If we're reading the signs correctly then yes, let's move out." As he stood the Lieutenant lost his balance and would have fallen if Kirby hadn't wrapped an arm around his waist giving him time to recover

"Easy LT!" Are you alright?

Hanley wearily answered, "I don't know Kirby but we better move while I can still walk or you might end up having to drag me to camp."

"That would be easier than carrying you Sir."

"I suppose it would but let's use that as a last resort, I don't think my ribs could take the pounding."

"Yes Sir."

Kirby draped the browning and his pack over his left shoulder while Hanley slung the carbine and pack over his right, supporting the Lieutenant, Kirby led them out of the camp erasing the water signs as they left.

An hour later found Kirby worriedly looking at the sky, lightning was flashing a few miles to the north with thunder rolling behind. The wind had picked up and he knew they wouldn't be able to out run the storm coming their way. Glancing over at Lt. Hanley, he was doing a good job of staying on his feet but Kirby could see it wasn't easy, the man looked like he would pass out any second and Kirby figured it was only his determination not to that was keeping the man going. {It's taking a toll on him}

Hey, Lieutenant, how you doing? Receiving no reply he tried again…Lt Hanley are you ok?

How much further Kirby?

I'm not sure but I think four or five miles, that storm is getting closer we should probably look for shelter before it hits."

"Kirby, we can't stop again."

What about the storm LT?

Hanley looked up scanning the sky, rain would probably hit before they reached camp. {Damn, if we continue and get caught in the storm I'll be in worse shape than I already am…Barely able to stay on my feet as it is, if Kirby wasn't helping…with a sigh he rubbed his forehead} "We keep heading for camp (as Kirby started to protest) on the way we look for shelter just in case the storm hits."

"Ok LT."

Continuing on the men kept an eye out for any likely shelter while Kirby continued to keep Lt. Hanley on his feet, which was getting harder to do the more ground they covered. The man was worn out, when Kirby had caught a glimpse of his face a few minutes ago it was pale as the moonlight, stubbornly focused on the path ahead his fever glazed eyes were continually scanning the surrounding area. Kirby was getting tired to but knew they wouldn't stop until the Lieutenant either made it to camp or passed out. It was at this point that the storm caught up with them and rain began to fall.

"Hell, just what we needed, Kirby have you seen anything that could be used as a temporary shelter?"

"Not yet, Sir." (Adjusting the Lt's arm around his shoulders he tightened the grip he had on Hanley's waist) "Hate to say it Lieutenant, I think we're gonna have to keep trying for the camp, there isn't anything out here."

"I agree, we're only a few miles out, maybe we'll run into some of our men it would make finding camp a little easier and a lot faster than trying to find it on our own."

"It sure would, meanwhile we're getting soaked and that isn't doing you any good."

"No, it isn't doing either one of us any good Kirby but it can't be helped, let's keep going and maybe we'll get lucky." {I'll be lucky if I'm still on my feet when we hit camp}.