Major Mix-up
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 7
"It worked, he's not coming back for a second look." Hitch watched the plane fly over their heads and keep going.
"Keep driving anyway. Any change in speed or direction will look suspicious."
"We're almost to the American lines Sarge, they're going to get suspicious if we don't turn soon. Their patrols don't usually cross the line."
"Wait until the plane is gone before you make any changes."
Hitch nodded and chewed on his gum. He was down to his last piece and he was eager to get to the American base so he could get some more. Of course, that wasn't the only reason he wanted to get there. He was tired and hungry and ready to relax for a few minutes, or hours, or days.
Tully pulled up next to Hitch and Moffitt cupped his hands around his mouth to be heard above the clatter of the German engines. "Dust ahead Troy."
Hitch looked over in surprise. He hadn't seen any dust.
"They aren't close yet but they are directly in our path." The Brit smiled as if reading Hitch's mind.
"How far ahead?" Troy called as he looked for the tell-tale dust.
"Perhaps a mile or more." The Brit answered. "Tully spotted it above those hills in the distance."
"All right, change course and let's try to avoid contact. The closer we are to our lines the better chance we have of delivering this package."
Tully took the lead and led them around the hills where he had spotted the dust. The hills were low and the patrol cars managed to cross then easily. Tully was trying to use the hills for cover but there were times they had to reveal themselves to cross over the top. Troy and Moffitt kept their eyes open for the source of the dust as the drivers concentrated on staying out of sight.
The plane returned and caught them crossing over one of the hills. This time the pilot took a second look and this time he realized that something wasn't right. He gave the plane more power and it roared up into the sky where he began a strafing run.
The two cars split up and the sergeant's used their machine guns to shoot at the soft underbelly of the aircraft. The pilot soared past and began to turn for another run. Tully and Hitch headed for the open desert where they had more room to maneuver. The bulky patrol cars didn't handle like their jeeps and both drivers fought to get the most from their vehicles.
The pilot opened fire again and the bullets tore into the body of Hitch's car. Troy tried to drive the plane away by aiming for the pilot. The German flyer ignored the bullets that bounced off his canopy and stayed on course. Hitch twisted the wheel and the car slid sideways. The pilot tried to correct his aim but he didn't have much time. The bullets tore into the engine compartment, stopping the car, but missing Troy and Hitch.
Tully took his car up the slope of the next hill. Moffitt used his machine gun to aim at the fuel tank on the plane. With his higher angle he was more fortunate than Troy. The bullets punched through the outer shell and penetrated the fuel tank. The resulting explosion sent shrapnel flying in every direction. Pieces of the plane rained down on the cars below.
Hitch ducked a burning piece of metal and squeezed lower in the car. He heard Troy cry out as more burning material dropped around them. "You hit Sarge?"
"No." Troy grumbled. "Just some burning material. Scorched my arm a bit."
"Your hair is singed too." Hitch announced as he took a closer look at the sergeant.
"So is yours." Troy grinned as Hitch immediately reached up to check his hair.
"Is everyone all right?"
Tully pulled to a stop next to Troy's car as Moffitt scanned his friends for injures.
"Yeah, thanks to you and Tully." Troy looked over at the remains of the plane that lay smoldering in the sand. "I really miss our jeeps."
Tully and Hitch both grinned at the comment.
"Sarge, we need to do some repairs on this car if it's going to get us home." Hitch warned.
"He probably called in our position. We should get moving."
"We can leave this car and the dead Germans behind." Hitch suggested.
"I don't want to do that unless we have to. If we can fix the car we should do that. The next attack might damage one beyond repair."
"Okay." Hitch answered as he went to work on the car.
A half hour later Tully and Hitch dropped the hood on the car and wiped their hands. Troy looked up when they walked over to hm. "All ready Sarge."
"Good. Let's get out of here."
"Which way Sarge?" Tully asked.
"Let's make a run for the base." Troy decided. "They know we took the plans so they're going to go all out to stop us from reaching our side. We'll get as close as we can before they catch up to us."
The cars started off again once again running side by side. Tully chose a course that would get them to the American lines by the shortest route.
They were reminded of the earlier dust sighting when the bullets started raining down on them. Tully and Hitch quickly ducked behind the next hill and circled around the attackers. Troy and Moffitt prepared to shoot their way through the soldiers blocking their path. Their guns were aimed, their fingers on the triggers, but both men held their fire. The soldiers turning to face them were American.
Troy threw his hands into the air, letting his weapon drop between his knees. Hitch hit the brakes and slid to a stop, keeping both hands in plain view on the steering wheel. Tully slowed and stopped next to Hitch as Moffitt allowed his weapon to fall from his hands. The four of them sat in the German patrol cars wearing German uniforms and facing one of their own units.
For several tense moments they expected to feel bullets hitting their bodies. The American soldiers facing them seemed as stunned as they felt.
"We're Americans!" Troy called out before the soldiers could recover from the surprise of being out flanked.
"Keep your hands in the air." A sergeant called out as he ordered men forward to take their weapons.
"They're in the air.' Troy answered. "Tell your men not to get trigger happy."
The sergeant kept them covered until his men stepped away and gave the all clear. "Who are you?" The sergeant demanded.
Troy told him.
"What are you doing out here posing as Germans?"
"Trying to stay alive." Troy replied. "We broke out of a German base and had to travel across German territory with half of the German forces looking for us. This was the best way we could find to accomplish our mission."
"I suppose you can prove everything you say?"
"Not hardly." Troy answered. "The only thing we have that says we're us is us. We couldn't carry any papers with us. We do have our dog tags."
"Maybe I can help Sergeant."
All three sergeants turned at the voice.
"Luke!" Troy called. "Glad to see you made it back okay. I thought you were on leave."
"Typical army." Luke snorted. "It got canceled. Headquarters says the Germans are planning something and all leaves were canceled until further notice."
"Do you know these men Private Stevenson?" The sergeant asked.
"Sure do Sarge." Luke answered. "We delivered them to some Arabs in German territory a few days ago." He looked at Troy. "I guess you didn't find whatever it was you were after. We weren't expecting you back so soon."
"We got it." Troy replied. "And now we need to deliver it to headquarters. The German offensive starts tomorrow."
"Holy cow! Captain Kaufman was right; you guys were the right men for the job." He turned to the sergeant in charge. "We have to get these guys back to Captain Kaufman right away. This could be something really big!"
"Hey, you're back!" Carson Stewart walked up with Martin Bartholomew by his side. "That was fast!"
"They say the Germans are planning something for tomorrow." Luke told his friends.
"Private! If this is so important then I think we should head back to the base." The sergeant in charge declared. Turning to Troy he eyed the patrol cars. "Your men can bring the cars. You can ride in the truck with me. We'll deal with the men you lost later. Your men can drop them off at the morgue."
"Thank you Sergeant." Troy replied. "But they aren't mine. They really are German. We just needed a few extra bodies to fool the Germans."
"Dead bodies?"
"Less trouble than live ones." Troy shrugged.
"I suggest we get moving." Moffitt spoke up. "Jerry isn't happy with us at present and we are expecting him to keep coming after us."
"In force." Troy added.
"Are you the ones who took out that plane?"
"Yes, but he most likely radioed our position." Moffitt warned. "And there are no doubt ground troops heading this way as we speak."
"All right." The sergeant agreed. "Get those cars in line with our trucks and we'll head for the base. Captain Kaufman's leave was cancelled too so we can hand you over to him."
Troy nodded. "Hitch, Tully wheel those cars around and get in line. We'll see you back at the base."
"Right Sarge." He hurried to obey the command. He wasn't eager to get caught wearing a German uniform, driving a stolen patrol car and carrying dead German soldiers around. Tully nodded and followed Hitch.
"Stevenson, Stewart, ride with them back to the base." The sergeant ordered. The American troops climbed into the trucks parked nearby and they all headed for the base.
"How come you have dead men riding with you?" Luke asked Hitch with obvious distaste.
"We couldn't get them to walk on their own. They refused to take a single step. What other choice did we have?" Hitch answered with a straight face.
Luke looked surprised at first but then he laughed. "Okay, if you don't want to tell me."
"A patrol car carries four men." Hitch explained. "And they travel in pairs. We needed to fool anyone who saw us from a distance. They're not very good company but they got the job done."
When Carson asked Tully the same question Tully said the Germans were along in case they needed someone to push. Carson looked at the silent passengers and kept quiet.
Tully spotted the two patrol cars watching them from a hill. The Germans apparently didn't want to take on a group the size of the American one. They got back into their cars and disappeared into the hills.
There was dust behind them at one point but the trucks weren't heavily loaded and they easily out distanced the pursuit. The American base was a welcome sight. The four men were given a chance to change into American uniforms before they were ushered into the presence of Captain Kaufman.
"Well Sergeant, it looks like you were the right men for the job. Lieutenant Daniels and Sergeant Kline say you have important information for me."
"Yes sir." Troy replied as he pulled the packet out of his shirt. "The entire German offensive. Troop strengths and movements, armor and artillery, dates, places, maps, all of it."
"Do they know you have it?"
"Yes sir." Troy admitted. "But they don't have time to change anything. They'll either have to go with it as it is or cancel the offensive."
"Why is that?" The captain asked with a frown on his face.
"Because it is scheduled to start tomorrow morning."
The room got quiet as Troy dropped his bombshell of an announcement.
"Tomorrow morning?"
"Yes sir."
"Let me see those papers Sergeant!" The captain reached for the packet in Troy's hand. Turning to his orderly he snapped instructions. "Call a meeting of all officers in my office in an hour. I want everybody, on duty or not." The office became an instant center of activity. Taking a seat the captain began to sort through the papers Troy had brought. "And find me someone who can read German!"
"Perhaps I could be of service." Moffitt volunteered.
"You read German?"
"Of course." The Brit replied. "How else would we know just what it is we have in that packet?"
"Well start translating Sergeant, tomorrow morning doesn't give us much time."
"I'll make two copies so that you can send one on to headquarters." The sergeant offered.
The captain nodded and yelled for his clerk. "Get Sergeant Moffitt some carbon paper! And he needs some blank paper too. Make it fast!" He stood up and motioned for Moffitt to use his desk and chair. "Tomorrow morning. We need to alert the surrounding bases and tell them what to expect." He was still mumbling to himself as he walked out of his office.
Troy grinned at Moffitt after the captain left. "We sure stirred up a hornet's nest."
"He didn't even say thanks." Tully grinned.
"Can we go now Sarge?" Hitch asked.
Just then Captain Kaufman stuck his head back in his door. "Good work Sergeant. Why don't you and your men find some place out of the way and get some rest? I'm sure you haven't had much lately as busy as you've been." He disappeared into the hall again only to reappear quickly. "All but Sergeant Moffitt that is; we need him to finish the translations before he can go."
Moffitt looked up and smiled.
"I'll see if I can find you some help." The captain promised before he disappeared again.
Troy chuckled. "That's what you get for volunteering. We're heading over to the mess hall to get something to eat; we'll bring something back for you."
"Thank you." Moffitt replied absently. His mind was already focused on the papers he was translating.