Female Trouble

By: AliasCWN

Chapter 3

Lydia awoke as the guards made their rounds. She lay in the cot and listened as their footsteps faded down the corridor. She could hear the sergeant in the cell across the hall breathing steadily in the dark. She knew from the pace of his breathing that he was awake too. She wanted to speak to him, hear the sound of his voice, but he had made it clear that he didn't want to talk to her. She slipped from underneath the blankets and shivered as the cold air hit her bare arms. The captain had ordered a jug of water be left in her cell. She poured herself a drink by the dim light coming through the narrow window of the cell. There was an unusual sound and she struggled to identify it. After a minute the sergeant shifted in his cot, making the springs squeak. She shook her head at her nervous energy, feeling foolish for jumping at shadows. She couldn't explain it, but she trusted Captain Dietrich. She trusted him to keep her safe. There was no reason for her to fear the sounds in the night. Feeling her way to her cot, she slipped back into her bed and tried to go back to sleep.

Sometime later she awoke to another sound that didn't belong. This time she identified it as coming from the sergeant. She could see him pacing back and forth in his small cell. In the dim light he was barely more than a darker shadow moving softly on cat-like feet. She was about to go back to sleep when there was a sound from outside. The sergeant froze, listening intently. Lydia strained to hear if again. They both continued to listen but the sound was not repeated. Lydia finally managed to fall asleep again.

A voice speaking in a whisper woke her for the third time. Lydia sat up, thinking that the sergeant was talking in his sleep; only he wasn't sleeping. He stood at the door of his cell, and he wasn't alone. Another man stood on the outside of the cell door whispering urgently to the sergeant. The man pulled a ring of keys from his pocket and unlocked the cell door.

Lydia couldn't help it; her curiosity got the better of her. She threw the blanket aside and moved to stand by the door of her cell. The stranger heard her approach and spun to cover her with a weapon. She gasped and took a step back as her hand went to her throat.

"Who are you?" the stranger demanded in a gruff whisper.

"Lydia Fontane," Lydia answered. "I'm a nurse. I was on the same convoy as the sergeant." She nodded to the sergeant who now stood in the corridor, a free man.

"Is that true?" the stranger demanded of the sergeant.

"Yes," the sergeant answered. "And I'm not going anywhere unless she goes along."

The stranger, to Lydia's surprise, didn't offer any objections. He used the ring of keys to open her cell. "Come on. Do exactly as you are told."

"Where are we going?"

"Does it matter?" the stranger asked. "Wherever it is, it isn't here."

"It matters to me," Lydia answered. "I don't want to end of in a POW camp."

"Then move!" the stranger hissed.

Lydia followed the sergeant and the stranger followed her. She knew he was back there but he moved so quietly that she found herself looking back to be sure he was still there. When they reached the door to the outside there was a tall, blond soldier guarding the door. She froze in fear as she realized that he was wearing a German uniform. She spun to warn the stranger but he just pushed her forward.

"All clear Sarge," the blond called to the stranger, in English.

"Okay, lead the way. We'll pick Moffitt up and then join Tully."

The blond nodded but his eyes were on Lydia. "Where did you find her Sarge? You didn't mention any woman in the briefing."

"That's because I didn't know about her," the stranger hissed. "Get moving."

The kid nodded and slipped out the door after checking to make sure that it was clear. The unknown sergeant motioned for Lydia to follow.

It was dark outside and the streetlights that had been on earlier were now out. A German guard walked around the corner of the building and Lydia froze again. She could have sworn that her heart was lodged in her throat. To her complete surprise, the blond merely nodded at the guard and kept going. The guard fell in behind them.

The blond soldier led them through the dark streets until Lydia was hopelessly lost. He never looked back, pushing on after checking each street for danger.

"Hitch!" the unknown sergeant hissed.

The blond ducked into a dark shadow and paused. "Yeah Sarge?"

"Take the sergeant and the girl and go get Tully. Moffitt and I will hang back and cover you if you're spotted. Head directly for the jeeps, we'll meet you there."

"Right Sarge," the blond nodded, "don't be late."

The sergeant smiled in response. "We'll try not to be, but if we are, you and Tully take the jeeps and get out of here."

"Without you?"

"Without us. We can't let Dietrich get his hands on them again."

The blond nodded and rose to move on.

"And get out of that uniform," the sergeant added. "Take it off before you get near the walls."

The blond nodded and stopped to remove the German coat. Underneath he had an American uniform. "We'll leave one of the jeeps in case you need it. We can all fit in one jeep until you and Doc rejoin us." The private waited until the sergeant nodded before he turned to leave again. "Come on Sergeant, Miss, the wall isn't far." He headed across an open space before ducking into the shadows again.

Lydia looked back in time to see the second soldier in a German uniform removing his disguise too. The blond led them directly to the wall surrounding the base. This time Lydia wasn't surprised when the guard waved them over the wall. As the three of them slipped over the wall and dropped to the ground on the other side, the guard from the wall followed them. Numbering four now, they ran across the open desert toward a small wadi nearly a quarter of a mile away.

Lydia was breathing hard by the time they reached the small hill that hid the tarp covered jeeps. She remembered seeing the low hills around the base and thinking that no one could hide in there. She eyed the jeeps and wondered if the Germans realized how vulnerable they really were.

As the one called Hitch stood guard, the guard from the wall removed the covers from the jeeps, folded them, and stashed them in the rear of the vehicles.

"Each of you take a seat," the soldier from the wall ordered. "If we have to leave in a hurry we want to know right where you are." He motioned toward the passenger seats of the two jeeps. He took a stand near the jeeps and stared off into the desert.

The sergeant walked around the jeep and slid into the seat without a word. Taking her cue from him, Lydia took a seat in the other jeep. She fidgeted nervously as she waited. One thing she noticed was that the guards were never far from either jeep.

"Here they come!" The young blond called Hitch ran toward the jeeps. He slid his weapon into the holder on the front fender of the jeep and slid behind the wheel. The other private did the same in the second jeep. A moment later the two sergeants entered the wadi and ran for the vehicles. They put their weapons in the holders and climbed quickly behind the big guns mounted in the back of the vehicles.

"Let's go!" the one called Sarge ordered.

Both jeep engines started and the little vehicles moved slowly out of the protection of the wadi. Behind them, a siren began to sound on the base. Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Lydia leaned over to question her driver. "What is that siren?"

The blond looked over at her and smiled. "Intruder alarm Ma'am. The Germans have figured out that we were there."

"Huh, a little late," she scoffed.

"Yes Ma'am, but that's the way we like it," her driver grinned.

She wanted to ask more questions but the driver seemed to be concentrating on his driving. Considering the speed at which the desert was flying past the jeep, she decided to leave him to it. Taking a firm hold on her seat, she waited for the wild ride to end.

It was several hours before the two jeeps stopped and pulled into the protection of another wadi. Lydia stayed in her seat, not sure why they were stopping.

"You can get out now Ma'am." The one called Sarge announced as he jumped to the ground. "We're going to be here for a while."

"We're staying here? Aren't we still in German territory?"

"Yes Ma'am," the sergeant answered. 'But we need rest. We'll camp here and start again in the morning."

"But won't they find us? Surely they'll be looking for us."

"Yeah," the sergeant answered, "they'll be looking for us. But they won't find us in the dark and we'll be up and moving bright and early tomorrow morning."

"Captain Dietrich seemed like a very capable officer. I wouldn't underestimate him if I were you."

The sergeant laughed. "Oh he's capable all right. Probably the most dangerous officer in this part of the desert. You're right about that, but even he can't follow tracks in the dark. Don't worry, we'll get you back to the base all right."

"That's what Captain Dietrich said too," Lydia answered. "He said he could get the base to send someone to get me. I guess he didn't know that you were already here."

"Dietrich offered to send you back to the Allied base?"

"Yes," Lydia confirmed. "I suppose I was a fool to believe him, but he seemed so sincere."

The sergeant shook his head. "If Dietrich said he would do it, he would do it. He doesn't make promises he doesn't intend to keep."

"That sounds strange coming from you Sergeant…"

"Troy Ma'am," Troy supplied his name for her. "And it isn't so strange. The captain is a man of honor and he can be counted on to keep his word. We've had dealings with him before, he has proven he can be trusted. He's a tricky enemy but he is a good man."

"It still seems an odd thing for you to say," Lydia insisted.

"It's the truth," Troy shrugged. "Being on opposite sides doesn't change who we are. I think if we were on the same side, we'd be friends."

Lydia would have continued but the blond private walked up just then.

"What is it Hitch?" the sergeant asked.

"I made a bed for the lady between the jeeps Sarge. She can turn in any time she wants."

"Okay, thanks. Get some sleep yourself, Moffitt is taking the first watch. I'll take second. We'll leave bright and early tomorrow."

The blond nodded and returned to the small fire in the center of their camp. As she watched he kicked sand over the fire and extinguished it. Then he went to one of the jeeps and took a blanket out of the back. He moved to the edge of their camp and made his own bed.

"Sergeant, I'm not using your blanket, am I?"

"No Ma'am," Troy smiled, "you're using Moffitt's."

"Oh, what's he going to use?"

"He can use mine when I relieve him. Don't worry, we've done this before. You'd better get to bed Ma'am; the morning is going to come early."

"I guess I will," Lydia nodded. "Thank you, Sergeant."

"Is she all right?"

Troy turned as the other rescued prisoner spoke for the first time. He glanced back at the jeeps and nodded. "She will be. We'll get her back to the base okay."

"It's my fault you know."

"No, I don't know," Troy replied. "What's your fault?"

"The medical team wasn't supposed to be on that convoy. The plane was supposed to land in Benghazi but I needed to reach my destination in a hurry. They changed the destination of the plane to accommodate me. Once they dropped me off the plane was diverted and the medical team had to travel by ground transport. They should have flown to the base in Benghazi and been safe at a large base away from the front."

"Things happen and plans change," Troy answered. "We came in for you and ended up with her," Troy shook his head, "not exactly our plan."

"So what now Sergeant?"

"Well Sergeant, our orders haven't changed. We are to deliver you to your destination ASAP."

"What about her? It's too dangerous where we're going."

Troy looked toward the jeeps again. "I spoke to Sergeant Moffitt. He has some friends near here. I thought we could leave her there until we get back. She'd be safe with them. It should only be a few days."

"That might work. I appreciate your help Sergeant." The sergeant yawned. "I didn't sleep too well in that cell, I guess I'll turn in too."

Troy nodded as the other sergeant walked off. He looked toward the jeeps again. Moffitt was going to ask his friends to keep the girl safe, but they hadn't agreed yet. He decided to keep that bit of news to himself until it became a problem. He headed for his own bed.