2. Nightmares: Guard and Prisoner

Schultz was tired. It was late and he was cold. He lay down in his bunk, hoping he could sleep the night through, unlike the past few nights. Nightmares had plagued the Head Guard, and he really hoped they would go away. He didn't want to have to talk to anyone about them, or have his sleeplessness affect his work. He wanted to avoid trouble as much as possible.

Finally, after an hour or so, Schultz drifted off to sleep. Immediately the nightmare began, the same as always. His precious toy factory was right there before his eyes, bright and beautiful, turning out all sorts of wonderful toys, just as it had since his grandfather's time. And then, the letter had come. The factory had escaped conscription once before, through some sort of political maneuverings of his grandfather. But Schultz didn't have that ability, and his factory was taken over by the Nazis for their damnable war. And while they were at it, Schulz was conscripted as well. In real life, the factory produced ball bearings. In his nightmare, things were much more hideous and violent.

Helpless in the grip of the dream, Schultz watched as the scenes unfolded around him. His beloved toys were all there… dolls, bears, horses and carousels, elephants and giraffes, all manner of toy soldiers and trucks, ships and dollhouses. Suddenly, they all sprouted guns and cannons and began firing bullets and explosives all over the factory floor. Then the screams of terror and cries for help began. And Schultz was helpless to do anything at all. He awoke abruptly, tears streaming down his face. He sighed and sat up, wishing for a cup of coffee, but he daren't wake the other guards. It was going to be another sleepless night.

Meanwhile over in Barracks Two, another man was having trouble sleeping. Andrew Carter was tossing and turning in his bunk. Nightmares had been plaguing him recently, but he couldn't make much sense of them after he woke up… he just knew they scared him. He did know they involved his parents and the farm he'd been raised on… and something about the Nazis.

His mother's voice marked the beginning of the dream. "Son! Help us son!" And then she shrieked. "Noooo!"

"Mom, what's wrong? What's happening?" He couldn't see very clearly but he'd never heard his mother scream like that before. He was running through the south pasture, trying to reach the house, but it seemed like he was making no progress at all. The wheat field, one of his favorite places in the world, suddenly seemed malevolent. The stalks of wheat were grabbing at his legs and tripping him. When he fell down, they would rake at his clothes and arms, whipping him horribly. He got up as fast as he could, but it was never fast enough.

Meanwhile, his mother's voice continued to call for him. "The Nazis, son. They've taken the farm! Forcing your father… oh, help us, please!"

"NO MOM! I won't let them do that! I'm coming! I'll help you; I promise!"

Before he could reach the edge of the field, though, a snarling Nazi soldier stood in front of him, his gun aimed right at Andrew. "Zey belong to us now. Go back to your vork."

Andrew glowered at the soldier. "My work is defeating vermin like you. Leave my family alone. Heedless of the rifle aimed at him, Carter lunged at the soldier.

The soldier fired. But instead of bullets, cannonballs ripped out of the gun and flew at Carter, threatening to bowl him over. From the farmhouse, his mother shrieked again and again, pleading for him to save her.

Carter felt the impact of the cannonball as it struck his chest… and woke up abruptly, tears streaming down his face.

Newkirk was standing over him, rubbing at his shoulder. "'Ey, Carter. Wha's wit' you, mate?"

"Just a nightmare, is all. I'm okay." He sat up and quietly went to the stove to see if there was any coffee left. Fortunately, there was. It might not be the best coffee, but it was better than going back to sleep right away… It looked like it was going to be another sleepless night.

The End