Chapter 4 – Explosions and Hangovers
The next day dawned grey and full of rain. Casino came in from standing watch, dragged his hands through his wet hair and quietly shook Actor and Goniff awake. He raised a finger to his lips as he tilted his head towards the two sleeping figures at the far end of the room. "Those two ok?" he whispered to Actor.
"They both seem to be improving. There's no problems with their breathing, but I'll have to keep an eye on Chief's injuries to make sure they don't get infected."
"We didn't realise how bad he was hurt until the Warden noticed," said Goniff quietly. "They're both as bad as each other sayin' they're fine when they're not."
Actor took out a map and put it on the table. "We'll leave now and meet up with the Resistance here," he pointed to a spot. "Its a small town about seven miles away. Garrison gave me the passwords so we shouldn't have any trouble. We can take the opportunity to get more food, clothes and medicine for the Warden and Chief. I think they're going to need a lot of pain killers as well as cream for their bruises".
"Not even gonna say goodbye?" said a soft voice from the other side of the room.
"Damn, Geronimo's awake," hissed Casino.
Chief stretched painfully and winced. "Geronimo can hear you Pappy."
"Hey babe, how're you doin', you're looking better." Casino grinned. Dark eyes glared at him. "Just askin' that's all."
"Ok Chief, did you hear my plan for the next few hours?" asked Actor.
"Was awake and listenin' from the moment Casino came in. It's hard to sleep with all you makin' a noise!" Chief grimaced as he forced himself to get up. "I'll come with you."
Actor held up a hand. "No Chief, you stay here with the Warden. You're in no shape to to walk seven feet let alone over seven miles with us. We'll be fine. Goniff has left you some rabbit stew in the pot." Actor glared at the thief who smiled and backed away towards the door, he'd tried to finish it off when he thought no one was looking but Actor had caught him redhanded. "We'll be back in six or seven hours, don't worry about us just look out for yourself and the Warden."
Chief gave in. "Ok Actor. Don't do anythin' stupid Casino."
Casino turned and jabbed a finger in the scout's direction. "The only stupid person 'round here is the crazy Indian who dived into a ragin' river yesterday to save one of his friends," he broke into a grin, "but I sure am glad he did. See yah later Chief." He waved and the three went out to go to their rendezvous.
Chief slowly walked over to the table and eased himself onto a chair. He looked at Garrison, he was still asleep despite Casino's outburst. He thought about what Casino had said, he hadn't had anyone he could call friend in a very long time. Casino had said friends – plural, had he been accepted by the others even though he was a real danger to them? He knew he watched over them more after his talk with the Warden, but real friendship? He'd forgotten what that meant.
He thought about Actor's worry about his welfare and the careful treatment he'd given him – not like those butchers in stir who called themselves doctors. Then there was Goniff's genuine offer to help, the concern that was well hidden under all of Casino's bluster and Garrison's quiet support and subsequent gratitude. He helped himself to some water and looked at the door they'd recently disappeared through - friends!
GG-GG-GG
Garrison woke up to an empty room. He looked around, the fire was still burning in the hearth. Where was everyone? He struggled to get up and staggered to the table, he noticed the two automatic pistols placed on it, their barrels facing the door. He leaned heavily on the table with both hands, paused for a few seconds to take a deep breath and turned to the door leading outside. When he was halfway across the door opened and he almost collided with Chief who came in carrying a sack. Chief grabbed an arm and steadied him. "Take it easy, where you goin' Warden?
Garrison tried not to look embarrassed. "Got to take care of business Chief or I'll bust a kidney!"
Chief dumped what he was carrying on the table. "Ok, lean on me and I'll take you out to the trees. After that you're on your own, call me when you're done."
"Thanks."
Chief put Garrison's arm over his shoulder, walked him slowly out to the treeline and returned to the hut. When Garrison called he went over and helped him back again.
Garrison lowered himself onto a chair. "Thanks Chief that feels so much better!"
Chief looked at Garrison's face, noting how pale he looked. "No problem Warden. You hungry? There's leftover rabbit stew keepin' warm in the pot by the fire."
Garrison looked up expectantly. "I could eat a horse right now. Have you eaten?"
"Had my fill earlier," lied Chief sincerely, "this is yours. Goniff and Casino cooked it but it's still good." He carried the pot to the table, tipped the stew out into a bowl and handed it to the Warden. He took a seat and watched as Garrison wolfed down the food without a second's hesitation. Once he'd finished he turned to look at what Chief had brought in earlier. "What's all this?"
"This is willow bark. It's good for pain – you just chew it. There's lots of willow down by the river. It'll do until Actor can bring back some stronger painkillers. This is arnica. It's poisonous if you eat it but I can make it into a rub to help with the bruises."
"How'd you learn all this Chief?" asked Garrison gently, aware that he might be having the first real insight into his scout's background.
"My shicheii, my grandfather taught me about herbs and healin' when I was a kid. He was a medicine man for the tribe."
Garrison gave him an encouraging look. "Where's your family now?"
"All dead," Chief replied flatly and turned back to the table. He picked up a couple of pieces of willow bark, put one in his mouth and offered the other to Garrison. "Here, chew on this for a while Warden, you'll feel better soon."
GG-GG-GG
The others returned slightly later than planned in a car they'd 'borrowed'. Chief heard the sound of the engine in the distance, grabbed his rifle and slipped outside. He waited in the treeline.
The car pulled up, the occupants piled out and started unloading boxes and bags. They walked in to find Garrison sitting at the table with a gun levelled at the door. A soft step and the sound of a rifle cocking let them know Chief was behind them. "Hey Pappy, you're late."
"How does he do that?" exclaimed Casino.
Goniff shrugged and grinned. "Told ya, he's Chief!".
"We bring gifts," declared Actor as they deposited their burdens on the table. There was a supply of bread rolls, cheese, ham and bottles of wine. They also had medicine, blankets, clean clothes, explosives and clock timers, courtesy of the Resistance.
"Here you go Chiefy, a thank you for yesterday," said Goniff as he presented the bounty. "Sit down and I'll make you a cheese and ham roll to die for. Oops, sorry about the dyin' part Warden – although you didn't. Do you want one too? I'll make you one each, how's about that?"
Garrison and Chief exchanged glances. "Thanks Goniff that would be appreciated," said Garrison amused at the thief's consternation.
"I'll have two," said Chief, all too aware he hadn't eaten since he'd left England.
Goniff gave them a huge grin. "Right mates, prepare to be amazed by my 'Croque monsieur', sorry it's cold – they served it hot in town. Still beggers can't be choosers. Here you go, get some wine down you while you wait," he popped a couple of corks and handed over the bottles. He smiled innocently and whistled as he set to work.
An hour later Garrison watched as Casino assembled the final time bomb. He'd just finished the last piece of his second 'croque' – they weren't half bad. Chief had asked for and finished a third, Garrison started to have suspicions about the rabbit stew. Oh well too late to do anything about that now. He picked up a bottle of wine, took a couple of swallows, looked blearily at the bottle and put it back down. "You sure this'll work Casino?" He slurred slightly.
The safecracker carefully packed the bombs into a large box. "Oh yeah, no sweat Warden. We'll take these little babies in tomorrow mornin', attach the wires to the timers and exit stage left in an orderly manner."
He grinned at Garrison before grabbing the bottle, taking a gulp and handing it back. "Here you go Warden, get the last of that down yah and you'll sleep like a baby!" He turned round to look at Chief, and waved. "Doin' alright Geronimo?" he said loudly, grinned and held up a thumb.
Chief waved a bottle at him and upended it. During the evening Goniff had sat down with him and shared a couple of bottles, although it seemed that Goniff had taken small sips before passing the bottle back, encouraging Chief to take his fill. Chief smiled, at last he was feeling no pain, this stuff worked better than the painkillers!
Casino turned back to Garrison and continued. "The Resistance'll help us so we can manage to do this without you two. All you and Chief need to do is wait outside in the car like good little boys and be ready to get outta Dodge."
"I'll drive," slurred Chief.
Casino rolled his eyes and turned around to look at him in amusement. "Oh great, we'll be wrapped round a tree in no time straight. You can't even move Geronimo, how the hell do you expect to drive? Just sit in the back with the Warden and enjoy bein' chauffered by 'Casino's Car Service' instead of 'Geronimo's Jalopies' for a change."
"What about 'Goniff's Getaways'," said the thief.
Casino snorted. "Too slow, they'd catch us in no time Limey."
"Or 'Actor's Automobiles'," chimed in the confidence man.
Casino burst out laughing. "Even slower. We don't wanna be in no funeral procession babe or it'll end up bein' ours!"
"What about 'Garrison's let's just get the hell out of here!'?" said Garrison indistinctly.
"No charisma but it works Warden," laughed Casino. Garrison gave him a bleary glare and threw a leftover bread roll at him. Casino caught it easily, grinned and took a big bite.
Actor looked at Garrison and Chief, they both appeared to be just about done in. The plan had worked! He clapped his hands like a school teacher.
"Ok mes enfants off you two go and get a good night's sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow. Casino you're on first watch, I'll take second, Goniff you're on third."
Garrison walked unsteadily over to his bed aided by Goniff and settled in, he fell asleep almost immediately.
They had folded up some of the blankets brought back from the village and put them on the floor next to Garrison for Chief to rest on comfortably.
Casino nudged Actor and nodded at Chief, he was fast asleep on the chair. He walked up to him and ruffled his hair, confident of not getting a knife somewhere painful. Chief mumbled and his head lolled forward, Casino gave a huge grin. "Hey Goniff good job, you got Geronimo to the Happy Huntin' Ground alright."
Goniff gave a thumbs up. "Warden's in the Land of Nod too."
Casino looked at the table. "How many bottles did it take to knock out Chief?"
Goniff held up two fingers. "I think all that brandy we slipped in the bottles earlier helped."
Casino surveyed the scene with satisfaction. "We won't be hearin' a peep outta them all night! Ok Actor let's you 'n me get Crazy Horse here to bed."
"You sure this was necessary Casino?" asked Actor as they looked down at the sleeping forms.
Casino turned to the conman. "Look, you know as well as I do they would've both insisted on joinin' in and they're in no shape to do that, they'd get their stupid asses killed. They won't be feelin' up to doin' anythin' tomorrow." He looked up at Actor with concern in his eyes. "We nearly lost both of them already on this stupid mission and I'd rather we all get back in one piece."
Actor nodded and took a puff on his pipe. "Still I think they'll be wanting to have a little word with us about this later – especially Chief, he might get a little, shall we say, intense!"
Casino looked down at the scout and gave a small smile. "Let him. At least Geronimo'll be alive to do it."
GG-GG-GG
Early next morning Garrison and Chief waited in the rear of the car as the others entered the munitions site in a lorry with the local workers. The time bombs were secreted in their lunch boxes.
The car had been parked, well hidden in some trees, down a road near the main gates. Garrison was very pale and quiet, he leaned his head back, closed his eyes and gently rubbed his temples. "Those bastards," he groaned quietly, "wait 'til I get my hands on them!"
On the seat beside him Chief was feeling very queasy and was nursing a monster headache. He picked up a small box, took out and swallowed another painkiller with a sip of water from a canteen. He gingerly passed them to Garrison.
"Thanks Chief," Garrison looked at him and gave a weak smile. "You feeling ok?"
Chief blinked at him. "Don't know. Think I'm dyin'!"
Garrison gave him a sympathetic look and swallowed a painkiller along with some water. "Me too."
One hour later the rest of the team sauntered over and climbed in the car. "Everyone's gotten out and the place is empty except for the Kraut guards," reported Casino as he climbed into the driver's seat. He waited for Actor and Goniff to settle on the front seat next to him and fired up the car engine.
"Allora, andiamo rapido!" Actor shouted as Casino floored the gas pedal and roared off down the road. Garrison grimaced as his head throbbed.
"Arrivederci Krauts!" Casino yelled as the car slid round a corner. Chief's stomach lurched and he felt sick, he gulped manfully, rested his aching head on the cold glass of the window and watched as the countryside sped by in a blur, he groaned and had another sip of water.
Ten minutes later there was a loud thud and a huge mushroom cloud appeared in the sky behind them, a ring of smoke and dust formed around it and expanded quickly, spreading out over the countryside. Garrison thought his head had exploded, he raised his hands up to make sure it was still there. Chief quickly wound down the window and threw up.
Casino watched them in the rear view mirror and grinned. "Lightweights the pair of 'em!"
Goniff turned round with a look of mischief on his face. "Oh Chiefy, you could've got your own back on the Warden!"
Casino screeched to a halt so he, Actor and Goniff could get out to view the spectacle.
"Now that's what I call a callin' card baby! 'Garrisons Gorillas' were here," whooped Casino, punching the air in triumph.
Garrison covered his eyes with his hand. "Unbelievable!" he muttered as he carefully shook his head.
Half an hour later they met up with the local Resistance and were taken to their pickup point. They arrived at the makeshift airstrip in good time and waited for the plane to arrive. Garrison and Chief spent the time breathing in deep lungfuls of fresh air to help clear their heads. The Resistance lit markers as soon as they heard the drone of the engines to guide it in. The little plane landed, taxied to a halt and turned quickly to take off immediately. The co-pilot threw open the door and shouted at them to hurry. As they piled in they saw that it was the same crew that had brought them out on their mission. The team helped Garrison and Chief climb in and watched in amusement as they collapsed against the fuselage.
"Hope we have better luck landin' in England than the Warden had landin' in France," quipped Casino as he looked at the two of them.
Garrison threw him a no-nonsense look that promised words would be said once he was feeling better.
Casino threw a couple of blankets over them. "Hey, just sayin' babe."
The plane's engines revved up, they hurtled back down the field and took off. Goniff looked at the two casualties, nudged the others and nodded in their direction. They were both asleep.