Another Exhausting Mission
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 7
Troy turned and scanned the hills for the Arabs. After chasing the jeep they had ridden off into the hills and he hadn't seen any sign of them since. He scanned the desert again, and to his relief, he finally spotted the jeep headed his way. Glancing behind him, he started down the hill. It seemed safer to meet the jeep in the open rather than have Hitch drive into the hills where the Arabs could attack them again.
Hitch pulled the jeep to a stop next to him and kept watch as Troy climbed over the radio to sit on the spare tire.
"Problems?" Troy eyed the rope that bound an angry looking Dietrich.
"The jeep broke down again and I had to make some more repairs," Hitch answered with a bubble. The private glanced over at their prisoner and smiled. "Luckily, I didn't need any help fixing it. The captain isn't much of a mechanic."
Troy noticed the glare that Dietrich gave Hitch. He also noticed the new bruise on the officer's head. Where there had been one before, now there was one on each side of his head. "How's the head Captain?"
"I'll survive Sergeant," the officer glared at Hitch. "Fortunes of war."
"Well at least you look more balance now," Troy grinned. "With just one lump on your head you looked kind of lopsided."
"Huh!" Dietrich huffed.
Troy grinned at his driver and jerked his head toward the desert. "Let's get out of here before those Arabs come back."
"Right Sarge." Hitch smiled and popped a bubble. Twisting back to face forward he started the jeep.
They had only gone a short distance when the radio began to crackle. Troy leaned down and picked up the mic. Twisting a knob he adjusted the reception.
"Blue dog two to blue dog one, come in one." The message repeated itself again before Troy answered it.
"Blue dog two, this is blue dog one. It's good to hear from you blue dog two. We thought the krauts got you."
"They did," Moffitt answered.
Troy motioned for Hitch to stop the jeep. Leaping to the ground he plugged the headset into the radio so only he could hear what was being said. He was adjusting the headset on his head when Moffitt spoke again.
"Are you still there Troy? I said they did capture us."
"I heard you doctor," Troy answered. "So I'm guessing that they let you make this call to make me an offer?"
Moffitt laughed. "Yes, they did," he admitted. "The lieutenant is offering you the chance to surrender, unconditionally."
Troy smiled. "Does he really expect me to agree to those terms?"
"It would seem so." Moffitt answered. "He seems quite serious."
"And if I refuse?"
"If you refuse he has threatened to shoot both Tully and I."
"I see," Troy nodded although Moffitt couldn't see it. "Tell him if any harm comes to either of you I will have no choice but to execute his captain."
A slow, agonizing two minutes passed before Moffitt spoke again. "Are you there Troy?"
"I'm here," Troy answered with a grin for Dietrich. "Judging by the time he took to make up his mind I am assuming that he doesn't have much use for his commander." He grinned at Dietrich again.
"Actually, I had to convince him that the captain was still alive. He says he saw the captain lying on the floor of his halftrack with a bullet wound to his head. I explained about the wound and the Arabs. He admitted that he wondered why the captain's body was not left with the others. He still isn't completely convinced. I was wondering old man, could you put the captain on the radio to talk to the lieutenant?"
"Make sure they let you listen in so he doesn't pull any tricks."
"Of course," Moffitt agreed.
Troy pulled the headphones off and unplugged them from the radio. Holding the mic in front of Dietrich's face he explained what he wanted. "Your lieutenant thinks you're dead. Tell him he's wrong. No tricks."
Dietrich looked at the mic and turned his head away. Speaking softly, he questioned Troy. "Why should I help you?"
"Because if you don't you could really end up dead," Troy snarled. "If he shoots my men, I'm going to kill you."
"No you won't," Dietrich smiled smugly.
"Don't try me Captain," Troy growled. "Talk to your lieutenant."
Looking into Troy's eyes, Dietrich felt the first pangs of uncertainty. The sergeant looked just angry enough to carry out his threat. "Very well Sergeant, I will talk to the lieutenant."
"Wise choice," Troy answered. He held the mic while Dietrich talked. He couldn't understand what was being said but he knew Moffitt would warn him if anything was wrong. After a few minutes Dietrich leaned away from the mic.
"Is everything okay Moffitt?"
"Everything is fine Troy. The captain explained what happened after the column left."
"Is the lieutenant open to a trade?"
"Us for the captain?" Moffitt inquired.
"That's the deal," Troy confirmed.
"He agrees," Moffitt announced a moment later. "When and where?"
"About a mile east of where the column was attacked there is a flat plateau. We'll meet in the middle where we can see the Arabs in plenty of time if they happen to attack. The lieutenant turns you loose with your jeep and we release Dietrich. They can pick him up and we all go home."
The radio was silent for so long Troy was beginning to think the lieutenant didn't want Dietrich back after all. Finally Moffitt spoke again. "The lieutenant wants Dietrich's approval of the plan before he agrees."
Troy held the mic out to Dietrich. The German glared at him before leaning forward to talk. "The arrangement is satisfactory Sergeant Moffitt."
"In German Captain, your lieutenant doesn't speak English and he's not the trusting sort. He wants to skip the translation," Moffitt explained.
Dietrich repeated his response in German.
"When do you want to make the trade Troy?"
"Right now. We'll both head over there and make the trade as soon as everyone is there. The Arabs are still out here looking for trouble."
"We'll see you then." Moffitt signed off.
Troy put the mic away and nodded at Hitch. "Let's go."
The jeep was the first to arrive at the meeting spot. Troy allowed Dietrich to stretch his legs while they waited. "Don't try anything Captain. I need you alive but no one said anything about your being wounded."
"I understand Sergeant," Dietrich replied in a huff.
When the column arrived Tully was driving the jeep while Moffit rode in the lead halftrack. There was a guard in the seat next to Tully with a rifle pointed at him the entire time. Tully saw the other jeep first and pointed it out to his guard. "Looks like you're going to be getting out soon." The guard didn't take his eyes off Tully to see what he was pointing at. Tully smiled and shrugged. "Doc."
"I see them Tully," Moffitt called back. He pointed toward the other jeep and spoke to the German lieutenant.
The officer picked up his binoculars and focused on the men standing around the jeep. Seeing Dietrich, he nodded at his men to release Moffitt.
Troy was on the radio when Moffitt reached Tully's jeep. When Moffitt picked up the mic Troy put Dietrich on. "Okay Captain, tell your lieutenant to release my men. As soon as they get here we release you and the four of us drive away."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then all of this was for nothing and more of your men will die when we go after them."
Dietrich repeated Troy's order.