The Hard Way to Get Home
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 1
Troy and Moffitt had just reached their quarters after briefing Captain Boggs on their latest mission.
"Tully and Hitch aren't back yet," Moffitt noted as he walked through the door to their shared room.
"We used a lot of our supplies on this last mission," Troy reasoned. "They're probably still restocking the jeeps. We can wait for them or we can go ahead and get our showers. I'm sure they'll catch up."
"I'm filthy, I think I'd rather shower. We can leave the lads a note telling them that we went ahead," Moffitt answered. He began to gather clean clothes and a towel. "Hopefully the showerswon't be too crowded this time of the day." He added a bar of soap to his bundle and waited for Troy to finish collecting his gear.
"I don't care if the showers are crowded or not," Troy replied, "it will be worth the wait. I'm covered with so much sand I feel like I'm going to crack every time I move."
Moffitt smiled. "I know what you mean rather. That sand gets into places I'd much prefer it didn't."
"You write the note while I finish getting ready," Troy answered. "I wrote the report for the mission."He gathered the rest of his gear while Moffitt wrote the note.
The two continued their idle conversation all the way to the showers. The line was short and it didn't take long for them to get their turns. The privates still hadn't joined them by the time they finished so they headed back to their room to wait.
Moffitt entered the room first and stopped just inside the door and looked around.
"Is something wrong?" Troy asked as he stepped around his fellow sergeant. He looked around the room but everything looked the same as before they left it. "It looks just the same."
"Yes, it does," Moffitt agreed as he deposited his dirty clothes in the laundry bag. "And just like before, the lads aren't here."
Troy noted the beds with the tight blankets, a clear indication that the privates hadn't been there. Tully and Hitch both had a habit of dropping onto the bunks as soon as they walked into the room. Troy frowned. "It shouldn't take this long to restock the jeeps."
"I suppose it's possible that they are still there talking to the mechanics," Moffitt suggested.
"Was Tully having an issue with his jeep?"
"Not that he mentioned," Moffitt answered.
"Hitch didn't say anything either."
The Brit shrugged. "I'm sure they'll be along. We are on the base, what could happen to them?"
Troy shook his head. "Well, they'd better hurry or I'm going to the mess hall without them too."
A knock on the door interrupted them before Moffitt could answer. Troy turned and opened the door, expecting to find the privates standing in the hall. "What kept you?" He stopped when he realized that it was the captain's clerk standing there instead. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else."
The clerk recovered from his surprise as Moffitt joined Troy at the door. "The captain wants to see you right away."
"We just left his office," Troy answered.
"I know, I was there," the clerk answered. "But the captain sent me to get you."
"My men aren't here yet."
"He said to bring you and Sergeant Moffitt," the clerk explained. "He didn't say anything about your men."
"What's this about?" Troy asked.
"I can't say," the clerk answered, "you'd better ask the captain."
Troy reached for his hat and nodded to the clerk. "Okay, we'll be right there." He turned to Moffitt. "Get your hat Doctor."
"I'll just leave a short note for the lads," Moffitt replied. "They'll worry if they get here and we aren't here."
Troy nodded but the clerk spoke up. "That won't do any good."
Troy spun around to look at the clerk. "What does that mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to say. You'd better talk to the captain."
Troy didn't wait for Moffitt or the clerk. He rushed down the hall and down the stairs. Moffitt and the clerk rushed after him, none of them saying a word. When they arrived at the captain's office, Troy didn't wait to be announced. He pushed the door open and looked inside.
Captain Boggs looked up at the unannounced interruption. Upon seeing Troy, he rose from his seat. Moffitt and the clerk followed the other sergeant into the office.
"I'm sorry Sir," the clerk appeared flustered. "I was going to announce them."
The captain waved the clerk's apology aside. "That's quite all right. Shut the door and don't disturb me until I call you."
"Yes sir." The clerk pulled the door shut as he backed through it. They heard him walk away from the door.
"You wanted to see us Captain?"
"Have a seat Sergeants."
"We sat in the jeeps all the way here," Troy answered. "We'd rather stand if you don't mind."
Captain Boggs nodded and pushed his chair back so he could stand behind his desk.
"Are Hitch and Tully in trouble Sir?"
The captain looked surprised before he recovered and hid it. "What have you been told?"
"Nothing," Troy growled. "Your clerk just hinted that they might be in trouble and then he clammed up. He said to ask you."
The captain wiped a hand across his face and nodded. "Yes, well, they haven't done anything wrong as far as I know."
Troy cocked his head to one side, confused by the officer's choice of words.
The captain squirmed a bit before raising his eyes to meet Troy's. "There's a private assigned to this base named Newman. I've been getting reports on him nearly every day for the last few weeks. Nothing serious usually, just odd behavior. That all changed a few days ago. Four days ago he tried to hop a plane to England. He claimed he was tired of war and he was going home. His commanding officer thought he was drunk and had him thrown in the stockade for the infraction. The men he serves with weren't quite as generous with their reaction. They filed a report saying he was acting crazy and they wanted something done about it. Some of them thought he was dangerous. Unfortunately, it seems that they were right."
"What does that have to do with us sir? That's not exactly our department."
"Private Newman broke out of the stockade this morning. He put two men in the hospital before he left the base in a jeep; one of your jeeps."
"The lads aren't going to be happy to hear that," Moffitt suggested.
The captain frowned at the comment so Moffitt refrained from saying any more. Troy was still confused and his expression reflected that.
Captain Boggs sighed. "The men he put in the hospital," he paused to look at both Troy and Moffitt. "One was a guard at the stockade; the other one was Hitchcock." In the silence that followed that announcement the captain continued. "When he took your jeep, he also took Pettigrew."
"Sir?"
"I think you heard me correctly Sergeant."
"So let me get this straight," Troy began. "This guy broke out of the stockade, hurt a guard and Hitch, and then took off in one of our jeeps with Tully?"
"That's right," the captain nodded.
"How did Hitch get hurt?" Moffitt asked.
"Private Newman shot him when he took Pettigrew and your jeep."
"How badly was he hurt?"
"He going into surgery when I sent for you. I haven't heard anything yet. I called you here to go after Private Pettigrew. Private Newman has proven that he is indeed dangerous. Private Pettigrew is in imminent danger. Private Newman is unpredictable. He forced Pettigrew to drive him off the base. I am concerned about what he will do once he decides he doesn't need Pettigrew anymore."
Troy looked at Moffitt and the Brit cocked an eyebrow in response to the captain's concerns.
"We'll go after Tully right away," Troy decided. He turned to leave, motioning for Moffitt to follow.
"The MPs have already gone after them but I thought you might have better luck since you know the desert so well."
"Not just the desert," Moffitt answered as he eyed Troy. "We know Tully better too."
"Tully?" Troy asked.
"Of course," Moffitt answered. "You don't think Tully is going to go with Private Newman quietly, do you? Hitch was hurt and you know how Tully feels about taking care of family. And Tully won't meekly be taken hostage. You know Tully better than that."
"Yeah, I do," Troy nodded with a smile. "Maybe we'd better go save Private Newman from Tully."
"Sergeant."
"Yes sir?" Troy turned toward the captain.
"Remember, Private Newman is sick. He's not responsible for his own actions. I'd like to see you bring him back alive if at all possible."
"We'll try Sir."
