Chapter 3 - Extracurricular Activities
The next morning the team stepped out of the mansion and climbed into the jeep, Chief took the driver's seat as usual, although a little stiffly, and Garrison rode shotgun. Once he was sure Garrison's leg was comfortable Chief gunned the engine and drove them down the road to the army camp, they went through the security gate and pulled up outside the large building used for combat training the day before.
"What's all this about Warden?" asked Casino suspiciously.
"Your chance at redemption Casino," replied Garrison as he manoeuvred himself out of the jeep.
Casino gave him a jaundiced look and snorted. "Miracles don't happen babe!"
They walked into the hall and stopped, Garrison surveyed the scene and turned to Chief. "I think our friend Drummond has gone totally overboard on this!"
There was a long trestle table with different types of safe on it, another table had various types of door locks and padlocks strewn across its surface. Dummies were standing around, some of them wearing jewellery and others wearing jackets and carrying bags. There were ten vehicles parked around the edge ranging from a lorry to a small car – they were all German. There was a large practice target in the corner.
"What d'you expect Warden? He wants his men to be safe, just like you do," was the quiet reply from his scout.
Garrison turned to look at Chief, his compassion astounded him, this man had suffered hate, violence and prejudice since childhood but he still looked for the best in others.
The door opened, Drummond walked in and waved the squad in after him. "Well you are a lucky bunch today lads, you've not only got Chief and Garrison but the other Gorillas have decided to grace you with their presence too! Do the introductions Lieutenant."
Garrison turned to his men and held out a hand. "This is Actor, he's our confidence man, he makes a better SS Officer than a real one, he's also our language and art expert." Actor smiled and waved his pipe. "Casino here is a master safe-cracker and explosives expert." He fixed the soldiers with a stern look. "After today's session I don't want to hear of any bank robberies ok?" Everyone laughed as Casino grinned and took an elaborate bow. "This is Goniff our resident pickpocket, second-storey man and thief." Garrison paused and remembered the first time he met Goniff in prison. "Make sure you empty all your pockets now and give your valuables to Sergeant Major Drummond to look after until you leave."
"Aww Warden, would I do that?" Goniff's innocent smile would've melted the hardest heart.
"Goniff, you'd steal the gold out of your grandmother's teeth!" laughed Garrison.
Casino nudged Goniff in the ribs. "Gotcha there babe!"
Garrison indicated the last member of the team. "You know Chief already, he's my scout, wheel-man, security expert and your combat instructor."
"And who are these young gentlemen?" asked Actor indicating the now highly excited group.
Drummond did the honours. "Gentlemen, this is McAllen, Dalgleish, Edwards and Fuller, otherwise known as Trainee Commando Special Ops Team Navajo 5."
"Navajos!" exclaimed Actor, now he understood what that word signified.
Casino stepped forward to take a closer look and noticed a familiar feature on each man. "They've all got shiny new leather sheaths and knives just like Geronimo."
Goniff smiled as he surveyed the group. "Aww a whole load o' little Chiefies!" he crooned and looked over at the scout. "Ain't they cute – just like their daddy!"
Chief glared at the blonde thief. "Knock it off Goniff."
Actor did a quick tot up in his head. "So you mean there are another sixteen men just like this?"
Drummond nodded. "Yes Actor, well twelve at the moment, Navajo 4 passed out a couple of days ago and will start operating next week. Chief's taught them all how to fight, amongst other things."
Casino nudged Chief in the ribs. "So why ain't we won the war yet Geronimo?"
"Give 'em time Casino," replied Chief. There was a hint of pride in his voice, he was making a difference and it felt good.
Drummond sidled up to Garrison. "I knew the lads would ask for sheaths and knives just like Chief's, the other squads did the same so I got a few ordered ahead of time."
The door was thrown open and twelve more men entered, like Navajo 5 they were all dressed in fatigues and wearing sheaths on their arms, they looked over, saw Chief and walked over to him with huge smiles on their faces.
"There you are," boomed Drummond, he turned to Garrison and his men. "These lads here are Navajos 1, 2 and 3. I think you'll all recognise Navajo 1 from Garrison's and Chief's recent stay in hospital, they were the men standing watch over them. The Navajos are based and working out of here, they're between deployments and as soon as they heard about this session they insisted on joining in."
The men surrounded Chief, smiling and gently patting his back. One warmly shook his hand. "Hi Boss, how you doing? You're looking a damn sight better than the last time I saw you."
Chief smiled. "Feelin' a lot better too McAllen, thanks for bein' there."
McAllen indicated the rest of the team. "We were all more than happy to do it for you, Boss. You've done a hell of a lot for us and we wanted to repay the favour."
Garrison and the others stared at the man quizzically. "Boss?" queried Actor.
McAllen laughed as he looked over at the Gorillas. "Yeah, that's what we call him, he works us hard and makes sure we know what to do to survive, couldn't have had a better man to teach us. Now he's teaching my kid brother and his team."
Drummond waved a hand for silence "Chief, Navajo 2 got back from France last night and would like you to know something, tell him Peterson."
Peterson looked embarrassed at the attention. "Well Boss, on the way home we took a little detour to Caen and blew up a certain, so-called medical facility. We figured it was the least we could do."
Chief nodded, perhaps those trapped spirits could fly free now. "Thanks Peterson."
Casino regarded the men. "So this is the rest of the tribe Geronimo? It looks like you're buildin' your own private army!"
"Can it Casino." Chief turned to his Navajos. "Come 'n meet the Warden 'n the rest of the team."
After introductions were made Drummond stepped forward. "Right lads, make the most of your time with Garrison's motley bunch of cons and hoods." Everyone laughed good naturedly. "What you learn here today will keep you alive over there tomorrow."
The rest of the day was taken up with lessons, each Gorilla took a Navajo team for a couple of hours and ran them through the basics of their trade before moving on to the next group.
Dalgleish held back, he was embarrassed about the day before, Chief noticed, walked straight up to him, tapped him on the arm and pointed to the row of vehicles. "Come on Dalgleish, let's steal us some cars. Which one you wanna try first?"
An hour later Garrison stood next to Drummond and leaned on his cane, they looked round the training area in amusement.
Goniff was demonstrating his trip and stumble routine, he gave his victim his watch back, much to the amusement of the rest of the group, he then gave each one of them back a personal item they didn't know was missing.
Casino was patiently taking his students through the process of tumbling the lock on a small safe, he gave a yell of delight as one of them succeeded and the door swung open. He patted him on the back. "That's great baby, now let's try this one, its a bit harder. Don't think you're up to robbin' Fort Knox yet, give it a month or two," he said encouragingly.
Actor was practising German with another group and demonstrating how to act like an SS Major, he was strutting up and down, holding his pipe like a cigarette holder. "Passen Sie auf. Ich habe Ihnen einen Befehl gegeben," thundered across the hall.
"Actor's really getting into his role," said Garrison to Drummond with an amused shake of his head.
Casino cast Actor an amused look. "Stop hammin' it up Hitler, you're scarin' the kids. Anyway there's only one thing you gotta remember."
Actor paused and looked over. "What's that Casino?"
Casino stuck out his chin and put on his best insolent glare "You always get in if you're SS baby!"
"That's so true," laughed Actor.
Five pairs of legs were dangling out from under the bonnet of the large truck as Chief showed his eager students how to hot-wire it. The engine roared into life, they jumped down, grinned, slapped each other on the back and went to the next vehicle.
At lunchtime they all went to the mess hall, dragged half a dozen tables together, got their meals and sat down to eat. The air was buzzing with chatter and laughter, the Navajos were eager to talk and the Gorillas were more than happy to share their knowledge, everyone was engrossed in the conversation and smiling. Casino was exuberant and not only regaled the group with tales about his criminal activities with the mob but also talked expansively about his family. "Warden this is great!" he shouted across the table, his face wreathed in smiles.
Garrison pointed to his scout. "Thank Chief, not me, he started all this."
Casino grinned over at his team mate. "Geronimo, you're a genius. Why didn't you tell us about this before?."
Chief looked at Casino and smiled. "So I ain't a dumb Indian no more? Didn't think this was your style Pappy."
"How often do these teams come through Drum?" asked Actor.
Drummond leaned back in his seat. "Every couple of weeks or so. As I said before the Navajos are based and deployed out of here and I want to give them the best chance of survival I can."
Three expectant faces turned to Garrison, he laughed and raised his hands. "Chief and I are already in, so if any of you want to join and help, feel free."
They returned to the training hall and the afternoon's lessons went on well into the evening, nobody wanted to stop. At last Drummond called a halt.
"Can we come back tomorrow Warden?" asked Goniff. Garrison raised his eyebrows at Drummond who nodded.
Goniff grinned and indicated a dark-haired man. "Great, this lad's got talented fingers 'n with a bit more practice he'll be a reasonably good pickpocket."
Casino put a heavy hand on the young soldier's arm. "In this academy you don't get extra credit for felony purse snatchin', you got that babe!" The Navajo nodded his head.
Garrison rolled his eyes. "Come on you reprobates let's go home. See you tomorrow Drum, Chief you're driving."
Drummond laughed. "See you Garrison, thanks guys"
The hall emptied to the sounds of 'goodbyes' and 'see you tomorrows'.
Drummond looked round and surveyed the scene, he smiled happily, his unexpected friendship with Chief had come up trumps. He fully expected to receive loud complaints from Supplies about more requests for sheaths and knives in the future. "Sod 'em," he thought.
Goniff sidled in, silently gave Drummond his wallet, smiled and went back out.