Before the Cease Fire

By: AliasCWN

Author's Note: Just one more. Merry Christmas everyone.

It was almost Christmas and a cease fire had been negotiated. Forty-eight hours of blessed peace and quiet. Forty-eight hours in the midst of this war where no one would have to kill or be killed. I was looking forward to it, as were my troops. And, I am sure, so were the Allies. Only it hadn't begun yet, so, here we were.

I was just returning to my base after having been called to a meeting with my superiors. They had a new weapon for me to use against the enemy and I was given samples to try on my next prisoner. I hadn't expected to get the chance this soon.

It was just coincidence that brought us to this wadi. A flat tire and a cold night wind had conspired to bring us to this wadi to seek shelter while the tire was being changed. No one had expected to encounter the young American. It turned out that he was fixing a broken hose on his jeep and had chosen the same wadi for protection. He was alone, and that was odd; usually there were four of them and two jeeps. I could only assume that the others had gone off somewhere and left him to fix the jeep thinking that the cease fire was close and he would be safe. But the cease fire hadn't started yet when I arrived at the wadi, they had taken the chance too early. Of course, this was all conjecture since the young soldier was stubbornly refusing to talk.

That's where my new weapon comes in; a truth serum. Earlier trials had supposedly yielded good results. I wondered about those trials. How stubborn had the subjects been? How ruthless were the interrogators? I admit, if only to myself, I have no stomach for torture. I guess that is why I had hopes for this serum, it was supposed to be humane.

The drug was injected into the private's arm ten minutes ago. The instructions said that the prisoner should be as calm and comfortable as possible. I ordered my men to make a bed out of blankets for him and place him on it. Then they cut the ropes and stepped back.

Private Hitchcock appears calm enough. But then, he has been my prisoner before and he always has a cocky confidence about him. I suspect it is his way of hiding his fear, but I could be wrong; there has been plenty of evidence of his bravery. There is a dreamy look on his face that seems to suggest that the drug has taken effect. I was warned that the drug would not last long so I have to hurry if I want to get the answers I want. I step forward.

"Hello Private."

"Hi Captain, fancy meeting you here."

He's talkative, but then that seems to be his nature.

"What are you doing here Private?"

He grins at me and blinks his big blue eyes. "Fixing the jeep. She broke down on me. Can't have that."

"Are you alone Private?"

"Nope."

That's all, just nope. Who answers a superior officer in such a manner? Even if that officer is an enemy officer. I don't know how Sergeant Troy puts up with such disrespect. It's like pulling teeth, trying to get answers from him, but I keep trying. It's possible that only one jeep was out tonight, perhaps a courier run. "Who is with you?"

"You are."

He grins like he knows that that is not what I meant. Maybe this drug isn't all that they say it is.

"Where is Sergeant Troy?" If Private Hitchcock is not alone then the most likely person to be with him is his sergeant. He is, after all, Troy's driver.

In response all I get is a shrug. I look closer. Is he laughing at my efforts?"

"Private, I want to know where Sergeant Troy is right now."

"So do I."

"Don't you know?"

"Right now?" He looks like he's thinking about it, so I wait. "Nope."

I try a different approach. "Where are the others, Sergeant Moffitt and Private Pettigrew?"

I get another shrug in answer. "I guess they're with Troy."

I try not to get too excited but maybe we are finally getting somewhere. "Where would that be?" My excitement seems to make him wary. I will have to try harder to stay calm. He doesn't answer me so I try again.

"Let me go!"

Not the reaction I was expecting to get to my question. Is it possible that the drug is wearing off already? I see his hand close around a rock the size of his fist. Before I can react, he throws it at me. His coordination is affected by the drug and the rock hits his own shin.

"Ouch! That hurt!"

One of my men aims his gun at him and I have to react quickly. I can't let him shoot Private Hitchcock. I use the excuse that I need to question him, but I know that it's really because I can't watch him get shot while he is under the influence of the drug and basically helpless. He is the enemy but I have my honor. I won't let any harm come to him when he doesn't know what he is doing because of the drug.

"I'm a prisoner of war, you shouldn't be throwing things at me!"

I refrain from pointing out that he is the one who threw the rock. A glance at my watch tells me that the cease fire will be taking effect soon. Do I continue my questioning or do I take him back to my base and continue after the cease fire is over? The others will be gone by then, so I decide to continue now.

"Tell me where to find the others."

"I don't want to talk to you.'

He sounds like a petulant child. He almost looks the part too. This war has forced so many boys to become men before their time. Even I would have liked a little more time to be young and carefree, but it wasn't to be. For a moment I wonder what I am doing. Will my forcing him to talk with the use of drugs do more harm than good? He is proud, I have seen that. Will my forcing him to talk while under the influence of this truth serum destroy that part of him when he realizes what he has done? I shake my head to chase away those thoughts. I can't let it stop me. This way is much more humane than beating the answers out of him. I try again.

"Private, we need to talk."

"No."

The petulant child again, but I have no time for this. "You know me Private. You can tell me where Sergeant Troy is right now. I want to talk to him."

"Why?"

I wasn't expecting that question so I didn't have a ready answer. I have to think fast because the drug will be wearing off soon.

"I have a few questions for him." It sounded reasonable to me and I hope it does to him too. He seemed to be considering my answer so I waited again. After a reasonable amount of time I try to encourage him. "If you tell me where I can find Sergeant Troy, I will leave you alone to sleep. You look tired."

"We were going back to the base to enjoy the cease fire." He looked at me and blinked owlishly. He still had a dazed look. "You know about the cease fire, don't you?"

"Yes, I know," I assure him.

"Should start pretty soon." He looks around as if he could see it coming.

"It will start soon, but we have time to talk before it begins." I smile in what I hope he considers a friendly manner.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

For a second I thought I saw a gleam of clarity in his eyes that shouldn't be there. If so, it was gone as quickly as it came. "I want to be your friend," I answered. Not truly a lie; another time, another place, and we might have become friends.

"Oh."

A strange answer, but perhaps it's the drug.

"Private, can you tell me where to find Sergeant Troy?"

"I guess so."

My elation threatens to show again so I struggle to maintain a calm demeanor. "Where is he?"

"Here."

I pause. "Here?" The answer doesn't help much. I suspect that he is close by, but here?

"Yeah."

Again with the one-word answer. Troy's men were impossible, even when drugged!

"Private Hitchcock," I sigh, "where exactly is here?"

"Right here."

I spin at the new voice and there he is. If fire could flash from someone's eyes I am sure I would be burning right now. He glances at his driver and I can see the concern in his eyes.

"Hi Sarge."

I try not to cringe at the happy greeting. There is no doubt that Troy has been here long enough to realize that there is something wrong with his teammate.

"What did you do to him Dietrich?" There is no indication of any Christmas charity in that gravelly voice. Only a thinly veiled threat of retribution if any harm has been done to his driver.

"A truth serum Sergeant." I watch as he processes my answer and slowly lowers his rifle. Not completely, but at least I now feel that I can take a breath without worrying about being shot. I know better than to try anything because I am certain that Sergeant Moffitt and Private Pettigrew are out in the darkness somewhere watching my every move.

"I'm taking him Dietrich."

Since I haven't much choice, I concede graciously. "Do you want me to help him to his feet?"

"You've done enough. Stay away from him."

"He hasn't been harmed Sergeant. The drug will wear off rather quickly."

"Lucky for you."

Again I can feel the veiled threat in those few simple words.

Troy slips around me and helps his driver to his feet. The private leans heavily on him as the sergeant helps him to the jeep. The sergeant puts the private in the passenger seat and goes around to the driver's seat himself.

"What about us Sergeant?" I indicate my men who have wisely made no move to stop the two Americans from leaving.

"The cease fire starts in ten minutes Captain. Consider your freedom our Christmas gift to you."

Troy starts the jeep, and driving one handed, he keeps me covered as he exits the wadi.

Private Hitchcock winks at me as they drive past. "Merry Christmas Captain."

I hear the second jeep roar past the entrance a few minutes later. They're gone again, but I 'm not too upset. After all, it is Christmas, and there will be another chance, after the holidays.

My men haven't spoken a word but I can see the relief on their faces. We hadn't expected to run into Troy and his team on this trip. I suppose that they were just glad to escape with their lives this close to Christmas. As I stood and listened to the sounds of the jeeps fading into the distance, I realized that perhaps we were all lucky to be alive. My eyes sought the stars above as I gave thanks. Merry Christmas Sergeant Troy, until next time.