Chapter 2
''A number of times we have managed to destroy parts of the rail lines but the Germans just replace them with new sections. They have also stepped up their patrols, so it is becoming harder to get on to the tracks. We need to do something more permanent,'' Marcel told them. He and Leo, one of his men, had joined the team at the safe house early the following morning. Now they were all discussing the train link to the factory and how best to sabotage the line, to slow down or halt the German's rebuilding of the factories in the area.
Garrison took out a map, compiled from recent information, and some aerial photographs, both provided by RAF reconnaissance planes, spreading them on the table. Marcel pointed to the branch line, which served the local area, and had now been reconnected to the factory and beyond. Tracing the rail track back across the map, they could see where it joined the main railway line, which ran south-west from the Belgium border, before turning south, towards Paris. ''In the past, this route from Belgium was hardly used. However, now the Germans have extended their rail line from Germany, which then runs across Belgium, to gain access to the north of France,'' he explained. ''You can see it also gives the Germans another route towards Paris.''
Casino had been studying some of the aerial photographs, covering land further away from the local area. ''What are these?'' he asked, pointing to several shapes about twenty miles north of the factories.
''They are some of the small bridges where the railway passes over rivers, streams and marsh land, this side of the Belgium border,'' replied Marcel, pointing out the equivalent symbols on the map
Garrison had also been looking further afield. ''Maybe we need to concentrate on the main line and have a look at some of those bridges. If we can destroy part of that line, it will disrupt the German's ability to supply the branch line and the factories in this area, but it might also cut off their access towards Paris from this part of France, too.''
Marcel nodded his agreement. ''There are many places on the main line which we should be able to attack, now we have more explosives. There are regular patrols but it is a long stretch of line, so it is not possible for the soldiers to guard everywhere.''
Having picked out several possible sites, Casino and Chief donned overalls 'borrowed' from the local depot where Leo worked and Marcel handed them each a set of documents. If they were stopped and questioned for being too close to the railway lines, they were hoping to pass as a work detail, with Garrison dressed as an ordinary German soldier, in charge of the group. Clambering into Marcel's truck, they set off.
GG
The road initially ran parallel to the main track until the landscape began to change. Streams and rivers caused the road to follow more ancient routes towards suitable crossing places, where fords had now been replaced by bridges. Meanwhile, the railway continued straight ahead, using tunnels and bridges to maintain its course.
Leaving the truck hidden away from the road, Marcel led them across country until they had a good vantage point over the valley below. Using binoculars, Garrison scanned the terrain and the line of the train track. Most of the bridges they had seen so far had been stone built. However, this small river crossing used a trestle bridge, with three of the trestles supported on concrete foundations in the river itself. Garrison handed the glasses to Casino.
''Well, what do you think?'' Garrison asked. ''Could we blow that bridge?''
''Maybe,'' said Casino, looking closely at the structure. ''Need to get down there and see if we can access those middle piles, then figure out the best places to attach the explosives.''
''We could walk along the rail lines until we got to the bridge, then attach the explosives to the rails across the top,'' suggested Leo.
''Yeah, we could,'' agreed Casino. ''But it'd be too easy for the Germans to repair. No, we need to set the charges at the base. That way, even if the bridge doesn't come down, it will be too unstable to use, see. Then the whole thing will need to be rebuilt from the bottom, up.''
Garrison looked along the river banks. ''It appears pretty exposed out there. Chief, while we make our way down into the valley and take a closer look at that bridge, see if you can find any sign of regular patrols or guards in the vicinity.'' Chief nodded and loped off downhill, to make a sweep of the area, just inland from the river banks and railway. Meanwhile, the others slipped down into the valley and made their way cautiously towards the bridge.
GG
In winter all three trestles would be standing in the water but, this being early summer, the river was confined to the area around the central pier, with the outer piers positioned just within the banks and surrounded by mudflats . Probing the mud with a stick, it was obvious to them all that the mud was deep enough to hamper their progress and would certainly be dangerous to cross in the twilight.
''We'll need something to place over the mud to enable us to get out to the first pier, then we can use a small dinghy to reach the other two piers,'' decided Garrison. Marcel and Leo agreed that they could find something suitable and bring it with them later that day.
As they prepared to leave, a shout in German came down from the top of the bridge. Garrison swung his gun off his shoulder in readiness, cautioning the others to remain where they were, then he stepped away from the piers and looked upwards. Three German soldiers were leaning over the top of the bridge wanting to know who they were and what they were doing. Garrison explained, flashing his 'order papers' in their direction. A conversation in German passed between the two groups ending with a round of laughter and a wave as the patrol moved on. Garrison breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the group on the bank.
''What was all that about?'' asked Casino, not being able to follow the rapid German himself.
''They wanted to know who we were, as they hadn't been informed about any other work details. I told them I was going to make you all wade through the mud to check the bottom of the bridge and promised to tell them all about it, should we meet up later!'' grinned Garrison.
''Let's hope they don't come back this way then, and wonder why there are no footprints in the mud,'' commented Casino.
Having been alerted by German voices, Chief had hidden nearby with his pistol drawn, in case he was needed. Watching the Germans disappear, Chief joined the others and heard Casino's comment. ''Could always get down there and make some of your own,'' he suggested.
''Humph!'' was Casino's response, glancing back at the thick, glutinous mud.
GG
Later that day, Marcel and several men from his Resistance group, arrived at the safe house. In the back of the truck were a number of pieces of wood, of differing lengths, and a small dinghy. Marcel also informed Garrison that some of this group had organised a diversion not far from the abandoned factory, in the hope it would keep the Germans occupied here, whilst Leo and Marcel were helping them set the charges on the bridge, several miles away.
Casino spent the early evening showing Marcel and his men how to assemble the explosives and timers, that they would be using later that night. He also explained when to use the detonators, fuses and other devices that they were leaving with the Resistance group.
While Casino was setting timers, Garrison walked over to his scout. ''Did you find any sign of patrols or guards?'' he asked Chief, who was sitting by the window keeping watch.
''Nothing much. Found a flattened area just downstream of the bridge. Looks like one, maybe two people, had spent time there, no way of knowing who though. Good view of the bridge from there, so might be a small patrol,'' replied Chief, keeping his attention on the window.
''Or a courting couple!'' quipped Casino suggestively, raising a laugh. Chief knew that wasn't the case but decided not to argue the point. This was just Casino, being Casino, and helping to ease the tension in the room.
GG
At ten o'clock that evening, a number of distant explosions rent the air, as the diversion got underway. Meanwhile, five men made their way out to the first pier using wooden planking to span the mud. Chief and Leo climbed up onto the concrete base, ready to attach explosives to the bottom of this trestle. The other three men boarded the dinghy and paddled their way into midstream. Casino and Marcel took what they needed as they reached the middle pier, leaving Garrison to make his way to the further trestle of the bridge. Here, he quickly set about fixing the explosives on to the main struts, that Casino had indicated earlier. It was a clear night and the moon gave just enough light to avoid the use of torches.
As he worked, the explosives expert, was quietly explaining to Marcel what he was doing and why he had chosen particular places to attach the bombs and cause the most damage. Talking seemed to calm Casino's nerves, especially in dangerous situations. The whole group were all aware of how exposed they could be to passing trains and patrols in the area, even though it was late in the evening and the diversion, set off by the Resistance, was now well under way. Working quickly to attach the devices and set the timers, they hoped to get as far away as possible from the bridge before the next train was due.
Chief and Leo had just finished and were packing their gear, when Chief thought he saw a flash in the darkness, further downstream. Before he could shout a warning, the sound of a shot rang out, the bullet ricocheting off the middle trestle, close to where Casino was working. Marcel tried to grab him but the safecracker, startled by the shot, lost his balance, tumbling down the concrete base into the dark water below.
Garrison, in the process of fastening his final cable, jerked the line tight then dove into the dinghy and paddled over to the spot where he had seen Casino fall off the pier. Marcel pointed downstream and Garrison set off, searching the river for any sign of the man in the water. The flow wasn't too strong at that point but the dim light was making it difficult to see any distance from the boat. More than once, he thought he saw a dark shape emerge from the water but Garrison couldn't seem to reach the spot in time. All his men were good swimmers but if Casino was injured, he may not be in a position to help himself. The further he drifted from the bridge, the more he began to despair of being able to locate Casino before it was too late.
Meanwhile, having checked that the cables holding the bombs on the middle trestle were secure, Marcel jumped into the water and made his way to the mud bank. Leo helped him out and onto the wooden planks, then together they started off downstream. Ahead of them, Chief was already making his way along the bank towards the grassy area he had identified earlier, whilst keeping an eye on Garrison's progress. He could see no sign of Casino from the bank and had to hope that Garrison would be able to locate their team-mate.
Chief slowed as he reached the area of flattened grass and crept forward cautiously, instinctively knowing that at least one person was still there. Then, not far away, he could make out someone crouched in between the bushes lining the bank, looking out over the river. Although Chief's blade was in his hand, the vegetation surrounding the man, restricted his aim. Silently, the scout crept slowly forward, looking for a clear shot, when the man ahead of him began to raise his rifle and train the sights across the water, just as Garrison came into view. With no time to waste, Chief rushed at the sniper, knocking the rifle away to one side, his momentum leaving them both sprawled on the ground. Quickly regaining his feet, Chief grabbed for the man's clothing but he had already begun to scuttle backwards across the ground. As Marcel and Leo arrived in the clearing, the man sprang to his feet and turned to run, forcing Chief to prevent his escape with a deadly throw of his knife.
Out on the water, Garrison peered anxiously into the gloom, the boat now drifting with the current towards the bank. Momentarily, the dinghy rocked, as it knocked into an object under the water. Then a sputter and a hand grabbed the edge of the dinghy, before sliding away again. Immediately Garrison leant over the side, casting around in the water until he felt clothing, then pulled upwards as hard as he could. Casino was not the largest of their group but he was a strong, muscular man and that night he had been wearing his flying jacket. Garrison could feel the thick wet leather sliding from his grip, as he struggled to get a firmer hold. Drifting back into mid-stream, the current was already beginning to pull Casino away, when the dinghy caught an underwater rock and jolted to one side, tipping Garrison headlong into the water, too. Coming to the surface, Garrison swept the water from his face and quickly looked in all directions, but could see nothing nearby. Taking several gulps of air he forced himself back under the water, where he groped around in the darkness, unable to feel anything but rocks, gravel and weeds. Coming up for more air, he frantically tried again and again but, in his heart, he knew he had missed his chance and there was no telling where Casino might be now.
Quickly retrieving his knife and making sure the man would cause no more trouble, Chief then turned his attention back towards the river. He could see Garrison leaning over the edge of the boat, struggling to hold onto something in the water, as the current gradually began to take the boat away from the bank again. Even before he could wade out and help, the dinghy capsized, leaving those on the bank watching helplessly as the Lieutenant was thrown into the river. Casting aside his jacket, Chief slid down the bank and made his way out into the river but, by the time he reached Garrison, he could tell the man was becoming exhausted with his efforts, having deliberately dived under the surface, again and again, only to come up empty handed each time.
Aware of Chief beside him, Garrison shook his head ''I had him.. I know I did... couldn't hold on.. now I can't find him..'' he gasped, in despair. Grabbing the Warden's sleeve, Chief gestured towards the bank and pushed him in that direction, before diving into the murky water himself, leaving Leo and Marcel to help drag Garrison ashore.
It was too dark to see anything but Chief felt around the rocks and into crevices, in the vain hope of finding something. He could feel the current pulling him downstream and continued in that direction, coming up for air when necessary, but, like Garrison, he found nothing. Eventually, gasping for air, Chief clambered from the water. The other men having followed his progress, were waiting for him on the bank, Garrison still scanning the surface for any sign.
Chief brushed his hair from his eyes ''Flow's getting stronger here. Need to look further down river.'' He was frustrated and concerned that he hadn't managed to discover any sign of his team mate.
''It's too dark. Even the dinghy has disappeared. Maybe at first light...''
''I ain't goin' nowhere. Can't just leave him. Casino could be injured.'' Chief turned to check the river again.
''Those explosives are due to go off any time now, then the place will be crawling with Germans.'' Garrison put his hand on his scout's shoulder, to pull him away from the river. But Chief shrugged off the hand angrily, swinging around, his eyes blazing as he glared at the Lieutenant.
''I said I ain't leaving,'' snapped Chief before stalking off along the river.
''How far to the next road bridge?'' Garrison asked Marcel urgently. He was as worried as Chief and also aware how difficult it was to find a man in the water at night.
''There is a bridge about 2 miles from here,'' replied Marcel pointing downstream, the way that Chief had gone.
''We will carry on looking as we make our way along the river. Can you get some dry clothes and blankets and meet us there?'' Marcel nodded, then he and Leo headed back to the truck, while Garrison followed the direction his scout had taken.
GG
When Garrison caught up with him, Chief was standing on the bank in the shelter of the trees, watching the current and trying to gauge the direction of flow between the banks, as the river meandered along its course. The moonlight was not strong enough to illuminate the far bank but it was possible to see the ripples on the surface of the water, creating eddies here and there, wherever the water pooled , before twisting away from the bank again.
''I know how you feel Chief, and we will find Casino...'' Garrison almost ducked as the explosions shattered the silence around them, the sky up-stream brightening, as several more explosions rent the air. He had temporarily forgotten about the mission, in his anxiety over Casino. ''Let's get moving. Marcel is going to meet us at the next road bridge. We'll keep looking for Casino but we need to get away from here.''
Chief said nothing but turned and moved off downstream, with Garrison following along behind his scout.