Anxious Days Chapter 3, a garrison's gorillas fanfic

Chapter 3

Since the explosions, the two men had seen no evidence of German patrols along the river but had heard a number of vehicles travelling in the distance. They had scoured the banks, looking for any signs that Casino might have made it to the shore, taking their time to cover the two miles, investigating any potential dark object, submerged or otherwise, but had still found nothing to suggest where their team mate might be. The speed of the current had increased significantly as they approached the road bridge, partly due to the constriction of the narrow span of the arch. Debris deposited by spring rains, further restricted the river at this point. It was very likely that, if Casino had been swept this far, he could be beyond the bridge.

Keeping to the shadows, Garrison and Chief warily made their way towards the bridge. There was no evidence of Marcel's truck but they knew he wouldn't have left it in plain sight. Chief halted and pointed to some trees on the far side of the road, indicating there were four people there. Taking no chances, they doubled back, enabling them to cross the road further away and move up towards the waiting men.

Hearing a chance word in French, Garrison whispered Marcel's name and, on getting the expected response, they joined the larger group. Marcel explained they had only just arrived, having picked up two more men to help with the search. Garrison gratefully accepted their assistance and they agreed to split into three groups, with two groups continuing downstream on each side of the river, while the other group checked the opposite bank upstream, that had been difficult to see.

It was now well past midnight and Garrison was becoming increasingly concerned that Casino could have been swept much further away in that time. They just had to hope he had somehow managed to make his own way out of the water.

Dawn was approaching, when Chief and Leo found the dinghy. They carefully searched the water and banks nearby but found nothing. Strangely, the boat had been beached above the water level and Chief soon discovered scuff marks and footprints further up the bank. Could someone have just rescued the boat for use later or had Casino clung onto the dinghy and made his way ashore here. But if so, where was he now?

From the other side of the river, Garrison could see Chief and Leo examining the dinghy. By this time, the men who had gone upstream, had returned with no news. Leaving them to continue on downstream for now, Garrison and Marcel dashed back to a bridge they had recently passed, then followed the opposite bank to the spot where the dinghy had been found.

''Any sign of Casino?'' the Lieutenant asked hopefully.

''Nothing. Some odd marks above the boat and on the top of the bank,'' Chief pointed out what he had found but Garrison couldn't distinguish anything significant in the early morning light, though he knew he could trust the Indian to make sense of them. ''Looks like narrow wheels. Maybe a handcart. And footprints, small and large,'' Chief continued.

''Casino's?''

''No, too big,'' Chief decided, placing his own foot alongside.

''Why bring a handcart here and then leave the dinghy behind,'' Garrison wondered. ''Can you tell which direction it went?''

Chief surveyed the land around the river. ''Looks like a gate over there. Maybe a lane or track beyond. Could've gone that way,'' he suggested.

''Are there any houses or farms around here?'' Garrison asked the other two men. But neither had any knowledge of the area, being so far from their local town. Grasping at straws, Garrison decided that he and Chief would take a look further inland, while Leo and Marcel continued along the bank to the next bridge, a mile or so away, where they would meet up with the others and then return here. Time was of the essence now. Casino's life could well be in the balance if they didn't find him soon - though Garrison refused to consider the worst, even at this point. It was getting light and there was a real possibility more patrols or road blocks would be organised as the Germans continued looking for the saboteurs. Furthermore, Marcel and his men would need to return home soon, to get ready for their working day. Garrison also knew he would have to make a decision about their return to England but was keenly aware he would have a fight on his hands, if they didn't find Casino. Chief may have been a lone wolf in the past, vital for his own survival, but he had shown himself to be fiercely loyal to the team, particularly Casino, despite their constant quarrelling and fights.

As the light improved, even Garrison began to make out the marks in the grass and soil along the track they were following. About half a mile further on they came to a farm gate, beyond which was a small cottage. Curtains still covered the windows but smoke was issuing from the chimney, suggesting that someone was up and about. They left the track, keeping to the shadows, not knowing who might be there. With a gesture from Garrison the pair split up, moving in opposite directions around the building. Garrison made his way along the side of the cottage towards the back yard where he could hear the mournful mooing of a single cow. As he neared the back door he was startled by a cockerel, heralding the morning from the roof above his head. This was quickly joined by a dog barking, at which point, an elderly woman emerged from the cottage with feed for her animals. Garrison pressed himself into the shadow of the wall.

Chief crept down the other side of the house, making his way along the wall to a window. The curtains were ill fitting allowing him to see into part of the room. There was a fire burning in the grate, around which had been placed items of clothing, one of which immediately caught his eye. Trying the window, he found the catch was loose and he was able to pull it open enough to climb through. Blade ready, he slid silently inside, pulling the window closed behind him. His eyes quickly became accustomed to the poor light and he could see a shape lying on the settee, which had been pushed close to the fire.

As he made his way around the furniture towards the couch, a noise behind him made Chief spin around, his knife held out in front of him, menacingly. A thick-set man was sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room. To Chief's astonishment, the man took one look at the knife, put his arms over his eyes, drew up his legs and began to wail, rocking backwards and forwards in the chair. Moments later the door flew open and he was confronted by an elderly woman, holding a rifle. Chief had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender, allowing the knife to dangle from his fingertips. Though the woman spoke soothingly to the man in French, she never took her eyes off the stranger in front of her.

Garrison had heard the noise coming from inside the house and watched the woman hurry back though the door. Guessing Chief had been discovered, he moved quickly to the back door and peered inside. Finding no one in the kitchen, he followed the sound of crying, along a short corridor. Ahead he could hear a female voice talking gently in French but, as he came closer, he could see the elderly woman standing in a doorway, her stance suggesting she was holding some sort of rifle. Not wanting to scare her into pulling the trigger, Garrison kept his distance but moved into a position where he could see she was holding Chief at gunpoint.

When Chief's eyes flickered above her head and a soft voice behind her spoke reassuringly in French, the woman froze, before reluctantly lowering the rifle. Allowing Garrison to take the weapon from her hands, she moved over to the chair to console the sobbing man. Chief, meanwhile, stepped up to the settee and moved aside some of the blankets. With relief he looked up at the Lieutenant and nodded. Garrison let out a deep breath, joining his scout by the fire. Having reassured himself that it was Casino, he explained to the woman who he was and tried to discover how his safecracker had ended up in her cottage.

His head hurt, as if it was being held in a vice and he was shivering, even though the air in the room was hot. His clothes felt loose and baggy, as if he had shrunk during the night and he was covered with several layers of blankets that seemed to weigh him down. He could hear murmured voices but couldn't work out what was being said or where they were coming from. He had tried to open his eyes but the glare from the fire nearby, or maybe it was the smoke, made them sting and when he had tried moving his head, he thought he was going to throw up again. Again? Yes, he remembered now, he had been sick several times, which was probably why his throat hurt when he swallowed and the inside of his mouth tasted like a sewer. He had no idea where he was or how he had got here. Just thinking about it made his head hurt, he just wanted to sleep, just needed to block out the pain.

Chief returned with Marcel and his men and they all crowded into the tiny kitchen. Having accepted that the unexpected visitors in her house were not going to harm them, the elderly woman, who told them her name was Ester, made them welcome and provided hot drinks and a thin porridge, for which they were all very grateful, after their long night searching the river banks.

Now that they knew Casino was safe, Marcel felt he needed to get his men back home as soon as possible, concerned that there may be road blocks in place. Thanking the woman for her help, he promised Garrison he would return later that day to find out how the injured man was doing. Hopefully, he would also have some news regarding arrangements to get them all back to England.

Once the Resistance fighters had left, Garrison remained in the kitchen, helping Ester clear the dishes and encouraging her to tell him how they had discovered Casino. Meanwhile Chief made his way back to the other room to watch over his team mate. The safecracker was sleeping, though he still appeared quite feverish. Chief wondered if this might be because the room was very hot and sultry but he was reluctant to remove any blankets, knowing that Casino had been in the cold water for some time before he was found.

Garrison eventually joined him at Casino's side and translated what Ester had told him. ''It seems the old lady and her son live here alone. The son has always had the mind of a child and was often taunted by the local children, so they tend to keep away from other people, especially since the Germans occupied France. Fortunately, last night when they heard the explosions, they decided to leave the house to see what was happening. That's when they found Casino in the water and brought him back here,'' Garrison related. ''Apparently, he had his arm wrapped around one of the ropes on the side of the dinghy. That must have kept him afloat as he drifted downstream. Casino was still lying in the water and clinging to the boat, when they discovered him. As you thought, the son fetched their handcart to carry him here.

''When they got him to the cottage, Casino was very cold and wet, slipping in and out of consciousness, so they found him some dry clothing and covered him with blankets, leaving him here in front of the fire. Ester also discovered a gash on the back of his head and several scratches and bruises, which she has cleaned as best she could. Although they did what they could for him, Casino still doesn't seem very well. But it's extremely likely he would not have survived the night, if they hadn't found him when they did.''

''So how we gonna get him home? Can he be moved?'' Chief wanted to know. Just being here in France was putting everyone in danger, including their hosts and the Resistance group.

''Let's see how he is by the time Marcel returns later today. We need to get him some proper medical care and I'd rather that was in England.'' Garrison too, was aware of the risks to those helping them and wanted to get Casino away from here as soon as possible. Local doctors were often watched by the Germans, especially if they made unexpected home visits, but if Casino needed more immediate medical attention, they may have to take that chance.

Ester had provided anything that Garrison needed, leaving the two men to look after Casino. She also shared her meagre rations with them, though her son, still frightened by the men, remained outside most of the day, tending to the animals and the vegetable plot, only coming to the kitchen table for his meals.

Casino woke up for a short while, complaining of feeling cold and sick. They managed to give him some water but he didn't seem to be aware of them or his surroundings. Now he was sleeping more peacefully, still covered in blankets to keep him warm. Garrison had redressed his wounds, discovering the scalp was not cut as deeply as he had first thought, but Casino remained quite drowsy and confused, which was cause for concern.

''He gonna be ok?'' Chief asked as he joined Garrison at Casino's side.

''I don't know. The cut isn't deep but he probably banged his head when he slipped off the pier. He may have concussion which could account for the drowsiness. The sooner we can get him back to England, the better.''

Throughout the day, Garrison and Chief took it in turns to sit with him and keep an eye on his progress. Marcel arrived later that afternoon with news that he had arranged transport to the coast and a fisherman to take them out into mid channel, to meet up with a Naval boat. He said he would come back at eight o'clock that evening with the truck, all being well. He was also able to confirm that part of the railway bridge had collapsed after the explosions and the rest of the structure was extremely unstable. It would be some considerable time before it could be reconstructed.

By early evening Casino had woken up again. He immediately recognised Garrison and Chief, much to his team mates relief, but it took some explaining for him to understand what had happened and how he had ended up in the cottage.

As they removed the blankets so he could sit up, Casino was appalled to find he was wearing someone else's pyjamas, which were several sizes too big! Garrison and Chief turned away and began gathering up his dried clothing, in order to hide their amused grins. Even his flying jacket, which Chief had seen earlier hanging from the back of a chair, had dried out in the heat from the fire.

When Marcel arrived later that evening, Casino was able to get himself into the truck, though he was rather unsteady in his movements. Garrison thanked Ester and her son for the care they had taken of Casino, knowing they had probably saved his life. He also pressed several francs into her hand in repayment for the food she had provided for them all.

The trip in the truck to the coast, seemed to take forever. Casino was conscious most of the time, but no longer quiet, complaining of a headache and dizziness.

''Sounds like a hangover. Sure you only drank river water, Pappy!'' grinned Chief, knowing Casino was in no position to retaliate, though he was secretly relieved that their safecracker seemed to be acting more himself now. Unfortunately, the boat crossing was quite rough and Casino groaned in his bunk, until they reached the calmer waters off the English coast.

They arrived at the hospital around breakfast time, where Casino's head wound was stitched and his other cuts treated. The doctor administered some pain relief but refused to let them leave until he was sure Casino was showing some more improvement. Garrison took advantage of the time to make his report to HQ, leaving Chief to watch over his team mate.

By the time Garrison returned to the hospital just after mid-day, the doctor was reluctantly prepared to release Casino, who was making it known to all and sundry, how keen he was to get out of the hospital. The doctor finally agreed, on the condition that the Lieutenant ensured he rested for at least another twenty-four hours. Casino certainly appeared to have made a rapid recovery, after his enforced rest, and was beginning to sound much more like his normal, grouchy self.

Garrison was also able to confirm the destruction of the railway line, a message having been passed to HQ whilst he was there. As Marcel had reported, the bridge had been partially destroyed and would require a lot of time and resources to repair, putting the Germans plans for the factories in the area into disarray.

Chief jumped out of the jeep and made his way towards the steps of the Mansion, there he noticed a small pile of hedging material on the gravel below the bottom step. Pausing for a moment, he moved aside the broken twigs with his boot as he scanned the hedge along the perimeter of the grass. A shadow, where there shouldn't be a shadow, told him all he needed to know. Making a slight movement with his hand, he continued up the steps to the front door, followed by Garrison and Casino.

Actor and Goniff had waited anxiously most of the afternoon, after being told the rest of their team had visited the hospital on their way back from the mission. Casino, now feeling much better, was in high spirits and, with plenty to tell about their recent mission, dropped his kit on the floor before joining Actor and Goniff in the common room. Garrison acknowledged their greeting, then made his way to his office. Casino was soon being bombarded with questions as he began relating details of their escapades, allowing Chief to slip away into the kitchen.

Having grabbed anything edible that would fit in his pockets and filled a water bottle, Chief quietly left by the back door and made his way to a group of out-houses, beyond the kitchen garden. Here were three dilapidated sheds and two greenhouses. He checked each in turn as he made his way towards the furthest building, where a broken stick stood forlornly in a plant-pot. They were all empty, though the last one appeared to have been used recently. Looking around, Chief noticed a low wall by the smaller greenhouse, originally part of a cold-frame. He made his way over and sat down. Setting out a couple of plant pots in front of him, he placed a rough piece of wood on top, then laid out the items from his pockets.

''How did you know I'd be hungry?'' Gina asked, stepping out from behind the greenhouse.

''Didn't. But I am. Been a long journey,'' Chief replied. Turning towards her as she sat down next to him, he gazed at his sister with some concern before continuing. ''What's happened to make you come here?''

''Hospital's been pretty busy lately with people going through files and checking names on lists. The other girls reckoned they were looking for deserters. But yesterday morning, Susie dashed into the room to say two officers had just arrived and asked for me.''

''What they want?''

''Dunno, I didn't stay to find out, just grabbed my stuff and cut out, down the back stairs. Then made my way here. I'm worried Rainey. You think they have found out who I really am and will try to send me home?''

''That ain't gonna happen,'' Chief stated, his jaw clenching with concern. He was determined to ensure Gina would be safe, even if it meant sending her back to a war zone. He didn't have much trust in the authorities, either here in England or in the States. ''Warden said he'd sorted it but, if not, we'll find a way outta here, together this time.''

''Oh no you won't, you've got too much to lose. Listen Rainey, I just need help to get over to France somehow, away from here, I don't want you taking any risks with your parole.'' Despite worrying about his future, Gina was glad her brother was determined to ensure she was ok. She knew she could rely on him, just like they'd always done when they were kids.

Chief slipped back into the kitchen, Gina just behind him. Having checked the hallway was clear, they quietly sprinted upstairs before making their way through the corridors to the area of the house which was supposed to be off-limits. Taking a makeshift key from behind a small portrait, he unlocked a door and they both slipped inside. Here the corridor continued with several doors opening into small bedrooms, a bathroom and, at the far end, a nursery. The furniture in each room was covered with dustsheets and had a slightly musty smell, having been closed up and mainly unused for some time now. Moving further into this wing of the building, Chief showed Gina the backstairs and servants entrance, in case she needed to leave quickly.

''We explored this place not long after our first mission, once we knew we were gonna be here for the duration,'' Rainey explained. ''Didn't take Goniff long to find a way in and create a key. Used to come in and out this way, when the Warden was away, before Casino found a way of cutting the bars on the window in the common room. 'Sides, Garrison knows we leave the estate sometimes, so there's no fun in sneakin' out the back door anymore.''

They returned to the original corridor and removed some of the dust sheets from the furniture in one of the bedrooms. ''You'll be safer here than out in the grounds,'' said Chief. ''I'll bring you some food later. For now lock the door behind me and stay away from the windows.'' Giving Gina a quick hug, he slipped back through the door, waiting to hear her lock it, then made his way back to the main staircase.

As Chief descended the stairs, he could hear two vehicles coming along the driveway and pull up outside. It wasn't long before the front door bell clanged, followed by a fist hammering on the door frame.

A startled Sergeant-Major dashed across the hall. ''Alright! Alright! 'Old yer 'orses,'' he spluttered as the bell clanged again.

By the time the Sgt-Major had reached the door, Chief was at the foot of the stairs, where the other three cons joined him, and Garrison had emerged from his office. As he opened the door, the Sgt-Major was brushed aside by several MPs and another man in plain clothes. The four cons, all looking grim-faced, glanced at each other in concern as the MPs walked into the hall and looked around, almost as if they owned the place. Their arrival could only mean bad news and each man wondered what was in store for them now.