Silent Salute Chapter 5, a garrison's gorillas fanfic

Chapter 5

Early the following morning, Chief accompanied Gina as she went off on her usual round to deliver bread and groceries. The staff car they had used to rescue Garrison, was far too conspicuous and had been abandoned, meaning the men were now in need of another vehicle to get them away from the factory, later that evening. Knowing some of the people who were sympathetic to the Germans, Gina was able to suggest places for him to search, without impacting on local workers. Eventually, they found a suitable car and she left Chief nearby, while she carried on with her work. The car was already hidden behind the safe house when she got back.

Just before two o'clock, Gina dropped Actor, Garrison and Casino not far from the factory gates and watched as they entered, showing their papers without any problems. Each carried a rucksack or pack of some sort, containing their rations for later, plus some hidden extras! Instead of returning straight away, Gina waited until she saw Marcel leave after his shift. Meeting up some distance away, she explained what she needed and he agreed to organise what he could for her.

As the day wore on, Gina spent most of her time feeding Goniff and trying to stop him getting bored. He was not the sort to sit still for any length of time and this enforced rest was making him irritable. How the others put up with him between missions was a mystery. She even tried to teach Chief and Goniff some words in French and German but their accents were so appalling, they all spent more time laughing than learning. Still it kept everyone's nerves at bay, for a while. Eventually, about nine in the evening, Chief and Goniff said their goodbyes and left the safe house.

As soon as they had gone, Gina changed into trousers and jacket, scooped her hair up under her beret then, carefully wrapped various items and placed them in her jacket pockets. Checking that she had everything she needed, Gina drove off in the same direction, taking a slightly different route as she got nearer to the factory.

It had been a long and hard shift in the factory and, by nine o'clock, the workers and the guards were becoming tired, looking forward to finishing their work for the night. Taking their opportunity, Garrison and Actor stood guard while Casino wriggled under the machinery. The noise in the factory covered most of his movements as he attached the explosives and set the timers. If anyone came too close, the other two men would chat in French, giving Casino warning. By moving casually from one area to another, all the explosives were set and primed by nine-forty five and, like everyone else in the building, they were keen to get away as soon as possible.

Leaving the car at the agreed place, Chief and Goniff quietly made their way to the back of the factory, where a high chain-link fence, topped with barbed wire, surrounded a compound. A rail line worked its way across the compound, with a number of wagons lined up near the loading area. At the point where the rail line entered, a metal gate had been closed and padlocked. Goniff quickly dealt with the padlock, gave a thumbs up, and then hobbled his way back to the car, leaving Chief to slip inside the compound.

Making his way cautiously along the rail line, Chief collected a couple of oil cans. Keeping the heavier of the two, he slid under the wagon nearest to the loading bay and placed the can beside one of the wheels on his left. Using the dim light, he set the timer and placed the explosive on the can, while he felt around for a suitable place to attach it to. As he reached for the pieces of twine in his pocket, Chief hesitated. He had heard a sound to his right. His blood ran cold as he heard it again and instinctively threw up his right forearm to protect himself.

Gina met up with Marcel and he handed her two packages. She was surprised and opened both carefully. The first was plastic explosive but the other contained meat. She looked at Marcel in confusion which turned to dread as he explained. Earlier that evening, a German dog handler had arrived and been assigned to the loading area. The meat, Marcel had brought, was laced with a swift acting poison. As they had no way of knowing if there was more than one dog , they split the contents of the meat package between them.

Gina handed back the plastic and showed him the pencil detonators she had brought with her. As quickly as she could, she explained how to set the explosives. At the gate, Marcel made his way towards the generator, while Gina followed the rail lines towards the loading bay.

The attack was sudden and violent, as a large dog hurled itself forward and clamped its jaws onto Chief's forearm. His first thought was to shake himself loose but he could feel himself being dragged from under the wagon. Bracing his right shoulder against the wheel, Chief reached down to his boot, releasing his knife, and swung his left arm upwards. The first thrust sliced flesh but the jaws hardly relaxed. Trying again, he concentrated on bringing the knife up just beyond his clenched right hand. This time he felt a rush of blood and a downward movement as the animal collapsed.

Before he could recover, he was aware of a gun pointing in his direction and an order given in German. Almost immediately he heard a snick and knew the knife had left Gina's hand. Too late to warn her, he saw the flash and felt the searing pain in his thigh, when the dying guard's finger tightened on the trigger as he fell forward. She was at his side in an instant.

''Rainey, Rainey, are you ok?'' she cried.

''Took a bullet in my leg. Not sure how bad. Need to get this cur off me an' get outta here.''

Even in death the jaws hung tightly onto his arm, as he tried to prise them apart single handed. Together they managed to release the grip, tearing most of his arm sheath in the process.

Now Gina was faced with a dilemma, how to get him out from underneath the wagon? Carefully she supported his leg, as he tried to wriggle down away from the wheel. Twisting slightly, he managed get his shoulders and arms out over the rail line. She knew he was in a lot of pain and his breathing was coming in gasps, as he tried to lever himself up. Although she was able to grasp him under the shoulders, he was much too heavy for her.

As they began moving away from the rear of the factory, where Casino had been setting the bombs, they heard a sound from outside. They looked at each other.

''That a shot?'' queried Casino.

''Chief?'' asked Actor.

''Could be. I'll go and check. Try and keep the guards away. I'll meet you at the car, '' said Garrison as he dashed off towards the loading bay, using the machinery for cover.

Actor and Casino glanced around but no one else inside the factory seemed to have heard anything above the noise of the machinery. Strolling back to their work place, they copied the other workers and made their way out of the factory, for the end of their shift.

Gun in hand, Garrison crouched just outside the loading bay doors.

''Chief?'' he hissed.

''Over here,'' whispered Gina, appearing from below the loading platform. She almost cried with relief as she saw Garrison coming towards her. ''He's been shot and I can't move him on my own.''

Garrison came round the wagon and saw the two bodies of the guard and his dog. ''What happened? How come you're here Gina?''

''Later Warden... Need to get outta here... Gonna explode,'' whispered Chief, through clenched teeth.

''Where is it? Is the timer set?''

''By the wheel... On the oil can... All set.''

Garrison crouched down. ''I see it. It'll be just fine there. Now let's get you out.'' Grabbing Chief under the arms, Garrison dragged him from under the wagon and sat him up against the wheel. ''Can you stand?'' Chief nodded and managed to push himself to his feet but, he was so light headed, he would have tumbled forward if Garrison hadn't caught him. Hoisting Chief over his shoulder he followed Gina back to the gate and into the side roads, to the car.

Actor and Casino arrived at almost the same time. Gently they helped Garrison to get Chief settled in the back of the car. While Actor checked Chief over, Gina explained what had happened, casting worried looks in her brother's direction.

''Good job you just 'appened to be passing,'' said Goniff with a wink.

''Mm, it seems we have a lot to thank you for this trip, '' agreed Garrison hesitantly.

''Ah, come on Warden, you'd still be in a kraut jail if it wasn't for Gina and her contacts,'' argued Casino.

''I know. Thank you Gina.'' Stepping forward, he put his arms round her and gave her a hug. ''He'll be alright, he's a fighter,'' Garrison whispered to her.

Not to be outdone, both Goniff and Casino put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a peck on the cheek.

''Chiefy'll be fine.''

''Take more than a bullet to keep Geronimo down, you'll see.''

They hung back as Gina went over to the car. Chief was lying across the back seat. He had passed out, making it easier for Actor to deal with his wounds.

''How is he?''

''There are two puncture wounds on his arm but no serious damage there. It was lucky it was the arm where he wears the sheath. The bullet has passed right through his thigh and I have covered the wounds with dressings. He has also lost quite a lot of blood. I've done what I can but he needs proper medical attention, before any infection sets in. The sooner we get him back to England the better,'' answered Actor.

''Thank you Actor. I know he's in good hands,'' said Gina, as he gently squeezed her arm. She turned away as the tears threatened.

Aware that time was of the essence, especially the importance of getting Chief home safely, Garrison herded his men toward the car. ''We need to get going before the fireworks start. Casino you drive. Goniff in the back. You can help Actor with Chief.'' They all clambered aboard and the car moved off.

''How is he really?'' asked Garrison turning in his seat, as Casino drove them away into the night.

''Just as I told Gina, although, the angle between the two bullet wounds suggests it may have clipped the bone on the way through. We will need to try and keep the leg still, in case there are any loose bone fragments. Infection is also a very real problem, especially the bite on his arm. I will feel happier when we are back in England and he can be given proper medical care.''

Gina stood back and watched as they drove off into the night, trusting Garrison to ensure that they would reach the coast without incident. For a long moment she looked into the night until she could no longer hear the engine.

Making her way back through the dark streets, she met up with Marcel. Only a few moments later, two small explosions lit up one side of the compound. Instantly, the factory was plunged into darkness as the generator was partially destroyed. Marcel grinned at her in the darkness. Then a third bomb exploded, toppling a wagon off the rail lines and igniting everything nearby, as flaming oil covered the immediate area.

Workers and guards began to stream out of the factory. Some of the guards warily tried to tackle the flames in the compound but most were content to guard the doors and gates, not wanting to be in the vicinity, in case there were any more detonations. A quarter of an hour later, six more explosions were heard coming from inside the factory. The mission had done its job and much of the factory would be out of use for some time to come.

Pulling three knives and the remains of an arm sheath from her pockets, Gina slowly walked back to her van. Looking off into the night she willed them all home safely. ''Thanks guys. Just look after him for me,'' she whispered as she gave them a silent salute.