Following Kirby's lead, Doc was stunned at how easily the smaller man got the two out of camp. This time, they were thankful for the thick fog. It enabled them to stick to the road and set as fast a pace as possible, so that they made much better progress than before. They would jog til Kirby's ankle became too sore, then walk for a short time. They repeated the process again and again, making the trip to the church in a little over two hours.

After making sure the area was clear, the two soldiers knocked quietly on the door. Kirby wasn't exactly thrilled to be this close to a cemetery in the dark, misty night. It was giving him the heebie-jeebies. After several knocks on the door, it finally opened and Sister Marie's frightened face appeared. Upon the sight of the two familiar men, delight replaced her fear. She glanced around as she ushered Kirby and Doc into the sanctuary.

"Oh, you came! I knew you would help me and the children."

Once again taking a place by the window, Kirby shrugged. "Well, nobody could be sent to get the kids for three or four days, so me and Doc came to get 'em. We gotta hurry though, so we can be back in time for Doc to go out on patrol."

With a puzzled look, Sister Marie asked the medic, "Monsieur, where is your truck? I heard nothing until your knock on the door."

Doc gave her a helpless shrug. "Ma'am, we didn't come in a truck. We're not supposed to be here at all; we had to sneak out of camp. We walked from Tourleron, and we'll hafta take the kids back the same way. I'm sorry; it's the best we could do."

Looking intently at the two soldiers, the nun realized what the men were risking by coming here to help her. "You will be in much trouble when you return, non? You have risked much to come here in answer to my prayers. I thank you, believe me. Rest here, while I get the children up and ready to leave." Lighting a candle so the men would not be left in the dark, she lifted her lantern and slipped through another door. Hushed voices came from the other room, along with muffled crying.

Dropping tiredly onto a pew, Doc looked up when he heard laughter from the direction of the window. "What's so funny, Kirby?"

"You should've told her you know first hand how hard it is to steal a vehicle from Uncle Sam."

"I didn't steal that ambulance, I borrowed it. The motor sergeant said I could use it for whatever Sarge needed it for."

That made Kirby laugh even harder. "Somehow, I don't think wrecking it to kill a German was what the sergeant had in mind."

Smiling ruefully at Kirby's laughter, Doc shrugged. "Yeah, well, after he found out about the ambulance, he decided Arkansas wasn't almost Oklahoma after all. He decided he didn't want to share that beer he had stashed away, either."

Their laughter died away when Sister Marie returned with the children. She spoke quiet words of comfort to the little ones, then pointed to the children as she named them. The older boy, with dark hair and big blue eyes, she called Jacques. Kirby figured the kid to be about twelve or thirteen. The oldest girl, Annette, was maybe a year or so younger. Her long, auburn hair was tied back with a ribbon. The tow-headed twins, Jeanne and Claudine, were only five. Michel and Alain, brothers, were about seven and eight.

Handing the medic two bundles, Sister Marie gave the children instructions to behave and to be careful. Doc saw that the bundles were blankets, rolled up and tied with rope to make them easy to carry. He slipped one over his shoulder and handed the other to Kirby. Sister Marie gave them both a grateful smile and wiped a tear from her eye.

"I just hate to see them go, I will miss them so much. They are good children. Take good care of them."

Kirby suddenly realized what a task it was going to be to get six children all the way to Tourleron in the foggy darkness. "Sister, are you sure you won't come? It's too dangerous for you here; you could get hurt or worse."

"No, monsieur, my place is here. I will not leave the church I have dedicated myself to serving. I thank you for your thoughtfullness, however. Now, take the children and return to Tourleron. I will say a prayer for your safe journey."

As the the two soldiers led the children from the church, Sister Marie stood in the doorway and whispered, "Au revoir, mes enfants. Au revoir." She watched sadly, as the small group disappeared into the swirling mist.

Keeping an eye on the straggly line of children between them, Kirby grumbled, "What is it with these crazy nuns anyway? She's gonna get herself killed staying there. She's as bad as those nuns with their statue."

A smile of remembrance flickered across Doc's face. "I wouldn't call it crazy, Kirby"

"Yeah? Then what would you call it?"

"I'd call it faith."

This statement effectively silenced Kirby for a while. The little group walked in silence along the road, then Doc whispered for Kirby to stop. "Kirby, I think I hear voices. Hold up a minute." After several tense moments, Kirby also heard it. *Germans! Aw, nuts!*

The two soldiers silently herded the children toward the trees, trying to find enough cover for them. They found a bushy area that would offer some concealment, but the Germans would be sure to find them if they looked in the right place.

Doc placed a finger to his lips to warn the children to be quiet, then lifted the blanket roll over his head and gave it to Kirby. He then slipped his medical bag from his shoulder and handed it over, too. After a moment of thought, Doc unbuckled his web belt and passed it to Jacques. They'd need the water from his canteens.

"Doc, what're you doing?"

"Kirby, that patrol is getting closer; they must've heard us. If they get close enough, they're gonna find us and these kids. One of us has to be a decoy and get those Germans outta here."

Placing a restraining hand on Doc's arm, Kirby hissed, "Well, why can't I be the decoy?"

Shrugging Kirby off, Doc crouched and prepared to run. "You've got the only weapon, Kirby. The kids'll need you to protect them, so you gotta stay. Besides, I can run faster than you. Wait here ten minutes. If I'm not back by then, take the kids on to Tourleron. You better stick to the trees, though, and stay off the road. That might not be the only German patrol around here." Without another word, Doc took off at a sprint. He headed directly toward the German voices, before angling away from the direction Kirby would need to travel.

Kirby gripped his BAR tighter when he heard the sounds of shouting. The Germans didn't come in his direction, though. Doc's plan was working; now the krauts were after their prey.

He waited ten minutes, but Doc didn't return. Kirby decided to give the medic another ten minutes. He didn't show. Feeling a tug on his sleeve, Kirby turned to see a pair of big brown eyes staring back at him in fright. It was Alain, the little boy who'd delighted in Doc's flashlight. "Monsieur, ou est le docteur?" Although he didn't understand French, Kirby understood "docteur", and knew it was a question. "I wish I knew kid. I wish I knew."

Giving Doc ten more minutes, Kirby paced nervously. Something had to have happened to the medic, or he'd gotten lost. The wiry soldier brightened. *Yeah, that's it! He just got lost is all. I'll give him a few more minutes, then head back to the village. He'll probably be there waiting for me.*

At least, that's what Kirby wanted to believe.

Staring at his watch, willing the hands to go slower, Kirby knew his time was up. He had to get the kids out of there. Just as he was about to gather the children, he heard someone moving through the trees. He raised his BAR to fire when a figure stepped out of the gloom right in front of him. He barely managed to keep from squeezing the trigger and shooting the panting soldier.

"Geez, Doc! I almost shot you, you nut."

The medic rested his hands on his knees and gasped for air. "Kirby...I thought...I told you...to only wait...ten minutes."

"Yeah, well, if ya thought I'd listen to ya, how come you came back here?"

Still trying to catch his breath, Doc gave the smaller man a shaky smile. "I guess...I just know...you too well."

When the medic had his breathing under control, Kirby handed him back his medical bag. Doc took the bag and slipped it on his shoulder, then stuck his hand out for the blanket roll. Settling the rope over his head, Doc smiled as Jacques returned his belt.

Watching as Doc buckled his web belt, Kirby tapped his fingers on his BAR impatiently. "Well, what the heck happened? What took you so dang long?"

"Well, they were faster than I thought. It took me a while to shake them and double back. Thought for a minute there that they were gonna catch me, but I climbed a tree and waited for them to leave."

"Well, it's just a darn good thing you DID shake them. If I'd had to go tell Sarge that I lost you..." Kirby shuddered at the thought.

Doc didn't much like to think about that either. "Well you didn't lose me, that patrol is long gone, and we need to get goin'."

Both men waved for the children to come out of their hiding place in the brush. Doc felt a small hand slip into his, and was surprised to see Alain smiling up at him. Returning the smile, Doc gave the little boy's hand a light squeeze.

Looking up from helping the twins out of their hiding place, Kirby grinned. "Ya know, that kid was worried about ya."

"And you weren't?"

Trying to look serious, Kirby shook his head. "Naw. Well, not about you. I was just worried about being left alone with these kids, and what I'd tell Sarge."

"Sure Kirby." Doc smiled knowingly; Kirby would never admit it, but he cared about the guys in his squad. That's why Doc had been pretty certain he'd find the little group right where he'd left them.

Kirby took the lead, and they once again led the children toward Tourleron. Only now, they kept to the trees. They didn't want to take the risk of running into another kraut patrol.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Doc felt a tug on his trouser leg and looked down into the mirrored faces of Jeanne and Claudine. Four thin arms reached up for him, begging to be carried.

The medic took pity on the children, and bent down to pick up the twins. The girls smiled gratefully, and wrapped their little arms around Doc's neck. Jeanne mumbled a sleepy, "Merci, Monsieur."

Kirby looked back and smiled at the sight. He, too, wanted to carry one of the weary children, but he needed both hands for the BAR.

Doc returned the smile, then looked at the line of ragged children between them. Chuckling, the medic said, "Ya know, Kirby, I feel like the Pied Piper of Hamlin."

"The who?"

Looking at the smaller man in surprise, Doc adjusted his grip on his twin burdens and laughed. "You mean you've never heard the story of the Pied Piper?"

Kirby just shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head. "Nope. Can't say as I have. Tell me about it."

So Doc told Kirby the children's story, pausing now and again to jog his memory. When he finished, Kirby gave the medic a puzzled look. "You mean when the villagers refused to pay him, the Piper led the children away?"

"Yup. That's what happened."

Looking at the group of children following behind the two soldiers, Kirby snorted with laughter. "Yeah, I kinda see what ya mean about us bein' Pipers, Doc. Does sorta look that way, don't it? Ya know, it's a good thing our landlord wasn't the Pied Piper when I was a kid. The whole building woulda been in trouble."

Doc tried to supress his laughter at that comment, so he wouldn't jostle the girls. The twins, lulled by the medic's soothing voice, had fallen asleep during the tale. Their heads drooped to rest on his wide shoulders. Seeing the other children stumbling with weariness, Doc called a halt.

"Kirby, those bushes over there should give us some cover. Let's stop for a couple of hours; let the kids get some sleep."

Kirby nodded in agreement, and helped Annette and the boys crawl into the bushes. He then reached out and took one of the twins from Doc. They settled the twins together with Annette, and covered the three girls with the blanket Kirby had been carrying.

Doc sat down with his back against a large rock, and felt two little forms snuggle up to him. The medic glanced down to find Alain and Michel, one on each side, nestling against him. Doc hugged the two boys to his side, and noticed that Jacques had chosen to curl up by himself.

Kirby removed his jacket and draped it over Jacques, who had already dropped off to sleep. He then slipped the BAR's strap over his head, sat down near the girls, and rested the weapon next to him.

Spreading his own blanket over the two bodies snuggled up to his, Doc yawned, then whispered to Kirby, "Why don't you catch some sleep. I'll keep the first watch."

Needing no further urging, Kirby curled up on the hard ground. He wrapped his hands around the BAR and pulled it toward him.

Placing his arms around each drowsy boy, running gentle fingers through their hair like his mother used to do to him, Doc began to croon the only lullabye he knew the French children would understand. "Frere Jacques. Frere Jacques. Dormez vous? Dormez vous?..."

The medic sang the children's song all the way through three times, his soft baritone lulling even Kirby to sleep. By the time Doc got to the last "Ding, dang, dong", he was the only one still awake.

The next hour was the longest of Doc's life. He played every mind game he could think of to keep himself awake. Finally, the hour had passed and Doc nudged Kirby with his foot.

The BAR man woke with a start. He yawned widely, nearly dislocating his jaw, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Aw, man. My turn already?"

Doc just closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and let sleep claim him.

"Guess so." Kirby climbed to his feet, and slipped the BAR onto his shoulder. He figured the only way he was going to stay awake was to walk around. As he paced the small area, swinging his arms to keep warm, Kirby idly wondered if he and Doc had been missed yet.___________________________________________________________________________________________

Sgt. Saunders wondered what had woken him. He lay there for a minute, then silently berated himself. *Well, if you didn't drink a gallon of coffee waiting for word of Doc and Kirby, you wouldn't need to make a midnight trip to the latrine.*

The sergeant slipped out silently, not waking his sleeping men. When he returned to the little shop he and his squad were temporarily calling home, Saunders wondered if Littlejohn's snoring would bring the dilapidated roof down on their heads. He also saw what he hadn't noticed before: Doc and Kirby's bunks were empty.

Doc had probably returned to help out at the aid station; it wouldn't be the first time. Who knew WHAT trouble Kirby was getting into. Saunders was exhausted, but decided to see what Caje knew of the missing men's whereabouts. The bleary-eyed sergeant gave Caje a gentle shake. "Caje. You know where Doc or Kirby might be?"

Caje rolled over and knuckled the sleep from his eyes. "I guess Doc's helping out at the aid station, or else he'd be here. I saw Kirby just before I came back to go to sleep, and he had that look on his face. You know, like he had something devious planned? I figured he found himself a poker game." The scout squinted at his watch. "Must be taking serious money from some poor pigeon."

Nodding in agreement, although wondering how Kirby had managed to find a poker game in the middle of the night, Saunders let Caje get back to sleep. He went back to his own cot, and dropped tiredly down onto it. He curled up without even bothering to remove his boots, writing it off as too much trouble. Pulling the scratchy blanket to his chin, he sighed. Doc, I don't have to worry about. Kirby...well, whatever that goldbrick's gotten himself into can wait til morning, he thought to himself sleepily.

When morning came, however, Doc and Kirby were still missing.

Not waking Nelson, Saunders sent the other two out to scour the village for the missing men. When the three soldiers met up again outside the shop, they still hadn't found Doc or Kirby.

"Sarge, a corpsman over at the aid station said that Doc was there last night, getting new bandages and stuff." Caje paused to rub his face worriedly. "One of the guys from 3rd squad said he saw Kirby and Doc arguing about something, before Doc got medical supplies."

Saunders had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Alright, Littlejohn, what about you?"

The tall private looked at his hands and shook his head. "Doesn't look good, Sarge. Charlie, from supply, said the guys drew extra rations; for the patrol this morning, they told him."

Saunders swore under his breath. "They went after those kids. I'd bet my life on it." They were putting the sergeant in a terrible position. He didn't want to turn the two men in, but what choice did he have? He dreaded having to tell Lt. Hanley that two of his men had gone AWOL during the night. Saunders looked at his watch. They still had almost three hours til they had to leave on patrol. He'd give them a couple hours; maybe they'd make it back in time. He hoped so. Of course, that wouldn't keep him from strangling the pair when they DID show up.______________________________________________________________________________________________It seemed as if he'd just gone to sleep, when Doc felt a nudge on his shoulder. The medic opened his eyes, and tried to shake the cobwebs from his brain. He was happy to see that the sun had risen, and the mist was clearing.

"C'mon, Doc, rise and shine. We need to get goin'."

"I'm awake, I'm awake. Let's get these kids up and let 'em get a bite to eat before we go."

The two soldiers woke the children, passed out their rations and one of Doc's canteens, and rolled up the blankets. Kirby knelt and started to tie the rope around his blanket roll, then stopped when Annette patted his arm. "Il fait froid, monsieur." The little girl had her arms wrapped tightly around herself, and she shivered in her thin cotton dress.

Kirby took his bayonet, made a slit in the middle of the small blanket, and draped it over the child's head. He wrapped the rope around her waist and tied it snugly. "There ya go, kid. That outta keep ya warm." The tough BAR man was caught by surprise when the little girl threw her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Merci, monsieur!"

Seeing the big, crooked smile on Doc's face, Kirby blushed. "You just keep that to yourself, you hear me?"

His shoulders shaking from silent laughter, Doc just shook his head. *Who'd believe me?* He went back to tying Michel's shoelaces, sighing in frustration. He'd be willing to bet sailors couldn't tie such tight knots.

Fed and ready to go, the little troop resumed its march. This time, Doc was giving Michel a piggy-back ride. The twins walked beside him, their little mouths set in a pout. The medic couldn't help but chuckle at their expressions. Over the next hour, Doc rotated the smaller children, giving each one a break from walking. He was carrying Jeanne, when they finally came out of the trees to the road.

Looking both ways, Kirby frowned. Which way was Tourleron? They'd travelled the road last time and couldn't tell if they had come out of the woods EAST or WEST of the village. They couldn't see the village from the road due to the curves in both directions, and clouds had drifted in to block the sun. "Well, Doc. Which way?"

Shrugging his shoulders, the medic set Jeanne back on her feet. It was Alain's turn. "I dunno, Kirby. That fog's had us so darned turned around...your guess is as good as mine. Pick one and we'll walk a ways, then if we don't come to Tourleron, we'll turn back. We can't be that far from it; it must be right around one of those curves."

Looking right, then left, Kirby made a decision. "Okay, we'll go left."

Lifting Alain onto his shoulders, Doc fell into step behind Kirby. Jacques grabbed the medic's arm to get him to stop. "Docteur, le village. Tourleron. A droite, a droite!" Doc looked at the boy in confusion. He sure wished Caje were here.

"What is he saying, Doc?"

Doc frowned at Kirby in annoyance. "How should I know? I don't speak French." The boy kept tugging on the medic's arm, and pointing in the other direction.

"A droit. Tourleron."

Kirby finally realized what the kid was trying to tell them. "Hey, Doc. I think he's trying to tell us the village is the other way." Pointing to the right, Kirby looked at the boy and asked, "Tourleron?"

Jacques nodded in relief. "Oui, monsieur."

Clapping the boy on the back, Kirby gave him a huge smile. "Thanks kid, uh, merci. Ya just saved us probably half an hour of walkin'."

Sure enough, when the ragged group finally rounded the curve, they could see the buildings of Tourleron.____________________________________________________________________________________________
Standing in the doorway of their little shop, Caje and Littlejohn exchanged glances. They weren't sure they'd ever seen such angry expressions on Sarge or Lt. Hanley. Nelson was just relieved that it wasn't him Sarge was so mad at. None of them wanted to be in Kirby or Doc's shoes when the two finally showed up. They had less than an hour to get back in time for the patrol.

Scuffing his feet in the dirt, Billy frowned at his two companions. "Geez, Sarge looks like a thundercloud. Think something's happened to Doc or Kirby?"

Chuckling humorlessly, Caje shook his head. "I don't know, but something WILL happen when Sarge gets his hands on those two."

Littlejohn sat on a crate near the door, and tightened his bootlaces. He was starting to worry about their missing comrades, but wouldn't admit it to the others. "Well, I'd say Lt. Hanley has first dibs. He doesn't look too happy right now, either."

Lt. Hanley definitely wasn't happy. "Saunders, if those men aren't back here in forty-five minutes, I'll have no choice but to bring them up on charges."

Saunders rested both arms on his Thompson, and frowned. "I know, Lieutenant. I just don't understand..." The sergeant stopped in mid-sentence and cocked his head. "Lieutenant, do you hear singing?"

"Singing?" Lieutenant Hanley paused a second. Saunders was right; he DID hear singing. He could make out children's voices and two adult male voices...one decidedly off-key. "Frere Jacques. Frere Jacques. Dormez vous? Dormez vous?..."

The lieutenant and sergeant exchanged looks of disbelief. Saunders was the first to find his voice. "It can't be."

It was. Rounding the corner, singing the little French ditty, were their missing men and six small children. Kirby had a little boy perched on his shoulders, and Doc carried a set of blonde twins. All eight of them were singing at the top of their lungs, the children with huge smiles plastered on their faces. Everyone winced when Kirby hit a particularly sour note.

Catching sight of Saunders and Hanley, Doc faltered to a stop. He nudged Kirby with an elbow, and set the little girls on their feet. One by one the little group stopped singing.

Caje, Littlejohn and Billy ran over to welcome their friends back. Littlejohn gave Kirby a particularly hardy slap on the back that nearly sent the slighter man tumbling. The children crowded around Caje, happy to find someone who spoke their language. They chattered excitedly, occasionally pointing to Doc or Kirby.

Lt. Hanley sighed and rubbed his chin. What was he going to do with those two? "Caje, take the children to the aid station; they'll see that the kids are taken care of."

"Yes, sir." Caje took the twins' hands and grimaced at Kirby and Doc in sympathy. He led the children down the street and smiled as they began to sing again. It felt good to hear the sound of children's voices lifted in song.

Looking at his watch, Hanley frowned at the two soldiers standing in front of him. "We'll discuss this when you get back from patrol. Oh, and Kirby? Since your ankle seems well enough for you to walk on it to get those children, then I think it's well enough for you to go out on this patrol. Don't you?"

Swallowing, his mouth suddenly dry, Kirby managed to mumble, "Yessir".

"Good. I thought you'd see it my way. Saunders, come with me; I've got a map for you."

Watching the two men leave, Kirby groaned. "Doc, I see a lotta latrine duty in our future."

Listening to the receding voices of the children, the medic smiled at the sound. "Yeah, Kirby...but it'll be worth it."________________________________________________________________________________________

END