Major Mix-up

By: AliasCWN

Chapter 9

Burying the charges was hot, dry work. They had to bury plenty of them because they had no idea where're the vehicles would actually park once they drove into the wadi.

Hitch finished burying the last wire as Troy and Moffitt finished the blind. They had taken the crate that Troy had sent the privates to get and buried it in the sand near the top of the wadi. The one who stayed behind would hide in the crate with sand brushed over the lid as cover and wait until the armor was in place. At the appointed time he would sneak out and check to be sure everything was ready. Using a shielded flashlight he would alert the others that it was time. Ten minutes later he would detonate the charges, hopefully eliminating most of the armor. He would then make a run for it, allowing the patrol cars to cut him off and capture him. It was hoped that in the confusion the Germans would not see him until he had a head start and they would allow their patrol to bring him back.

After all of the wires were attached and ready for detonation Troy dropped into the crate.

"What are you doing Sarge?" Tully asked. "I thought I was staying."

"I can't ask anyone else to do this." Troy answered. "Besides, Moffitt needs you to drive his car; he's going to be covering me."

"This was my idea Troy; I should be the one to stay." Moffitt urged.

"I'm staying so let's not argue about it." Troy growled. "You know where to hide the cars. Stay out of sight until I give the signal." Tully and Moffitt nodded but they didn't look happy.

"Sarge."

Troy twisted to face his driver, expecting him to have an argument for him too.

"Here, you might need these." Hitch handed him two full canteens of water and a machine gun. "We'll be waiting for your signal."

Troy took the items and nodded. He had already said all that needed to be said. He ducked into the crate and the others slid the lid into place before brushing a light coating of sand over the top. He hugged the canteens and settled in to take a nap before the Germans arrived to wake him up.

Hitch, Tully, and Moffitt carefully erased any trace of their presence before they left to hide the cars. Each one looked back to see if they could see the hidden crate but it blended well with the surrounding sand. None of them slept as they watched the wadi from a distance and waited for the Germans.

"What if they find him?" Hitch asked.

"I didn't hear you trying to talk Troy out of staying." Moffitt answered.

Hitch shrugged. "I know better. Once he makes up his mind you may as well accept it, that's what's going to happen." Hitch glanced at Moffitt as he sat in the front seat of the patrol car. "You believe this is going to work, don't you?"

"Yes I do." Moffitt admitted. "It's just that I am the one who volunteered us for this assignment and I think I should have been the one to take the most risk."

Hitch nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe having you here instead of Troy will turn out to be a good thing." He glanced at Moffitt in time to catch the annoyed look on the sergeant's face. "I didn't mean it that way Doc! I just meant that you speak German. If it looks like they might be thinking of shooting Troy you could start yelling at him in German and tell him to surrender. That might make a difference. Maybe give Sarge a better chance."

"That's a very good idea Hitch." Moffitt praised. "And I wasn't thinking that you were insulting me. I was just feeling guilty for getting Troy into this."

The blond chuckled. "Sarge is probably enjoying it. He likes this stuff about as well as you like your cloak and dagger stuff. Sarge likes to pit his brains against the Germans. He gets a kick out of outsmarting them."

"He told you that?"

"He didn't have to." Hitch answered. "Just watch his eyes when he comes up with a plan that no one thought he could make work."

"He is a master at his chosen profession." Moffitt agreed.

"He didn't choose to fight a war, it just sort of happened, but he does his job to the best of his ability."

"We were lucky when we drew this assignment." Tully agreed.

"Sitting here waiting for Troy?" Moffitt asked in confusion.

"The Rat Patrol." Tully answered.

"Oh. Yes, I agree there. I feel the same way."

"Hey Doc, it's getting late. Do you think they're almost here?"

"I would think if they were coming they would be close Tully."

"I hope so, it's getting cold. I hope Sarge isn't too cold to move around out there. He can't stretch like we can to keep warm."

"I should have given him a blanket." Hitch said.

"You're worried?" Moffitt asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm worried." Hitch admitted.

"Good, for a minute there I thought I was the only one." Moffitt smiled at Hitch's disbelieving snort.

Darkness fell and the sounds of armor reached their ears. The heavy grind of metal on metal identified the tanks without needing to see them.

"Keep your eyes open for scouts.' Moffitt warned the younger men. "I doubt they'll look this far out but we can't afford to take any chances."

Both privates nodded as they watched the distant wadi. The Germans were staying below the skyline but there was no way they could hide the sounds of the heavy vehicles. All three men listened as the tanks and halftracks filed into the wadi and shut their engines down. The silence was heavy with anticipation as the men watched for the flashlight signal.

"Perhaps you should wait in the cars." Moffitt suggested. "I will watch for Troy's signal and let you know when it is time to go."

Both privates nodded and slid down the hill to the patrol cars. Moffitt focused his field glasses on the spot where they had buried the crate and waited breathlessly. When the signal finally came he almost missed it. He had been scanning the top of the wadi trying to locate any guards walking the perimeter of the camp. He ran down the slope and slid into the front seat of Tully's car.

"I miss our jeeps." Tully moaned as he reached for the starter of the German car.

"I miss the 50." Moffitt added.

"I miss Sarge." Hitch chimed in.

Moffitt smiled. "Then let's go get him."

The two patrol cars left the shelter of the hill and began to circle the wadi. Ten minutes later they had completed a full circle and were starting again. The explosions lit up the sky. They could hear voices shouting in pain and confusion as they turned toward the wadi. The cars slowed slightly as all three men scanned the desert for a sign of Troy.

"There's Sarge!" Hitch called as he stepped on the gas.

"Don't head directly for him." Moffitt called in warning. "He hasn't been spotted yet. We don't want to attract attention to him until we need to."

Both cars moved closer to the wadi while Troy continued to run away from it. Suddenly muzzle flashes announced that Troy had been spotted. The sergeant began to zigzag to avoid the bullets. Both cars turned toward him and Moffitt began to yell in German for him to stop and surrender. Troy ran until the bullets started coming too close then he stopped and raised his hands above his head. A voice behind him called for the soldiers to hold their fire. The Germans watched as the patrol cars stopped next to the fleeing figure. Hitch stopped between Troy and the Germans to give him cover in case any of the soldiers decided to fire again. Moffitt shouted at him again as he stepped out of the car to take him into custody. It wasn't until the cars drove away with the prisoner that the Germans realized that things hadn't gone the way they expected.

"Are you all right Troy?" Moffitt searched the other sergeant for injuries.

"I'm fine Moffitt." Troy replied. "Yelling at me in German was inspired. If they weren't confused before, they are now."

Moffitt smiled. "Actually it was Hitch's idea. He thought it might make them think twice before they shot you."

"I can't argue with success."

"Did we get the tanks?"

The car slowed and Hitch pulled up next to Tully as Moffitt asked the question.

"Yeah, we got them." Troy answered. "Maybe not all of them were destroyed but we damaged them bad enough that I don't think they'll go ahead with the attack. I guess tomorrow morning will tell for sure."

"Tomorrow should be interesting." Tully drawled.

Troy laughed. "Is that what you call it?"

"It won't be boring."

"No," Troy cocked his head to the side, "it definitely won't be boring."

"Troy, what's that wet spot on your sleeve?"

Troy looked down to see blood seeping from his forearm. He fingered the hole in his sleeve. "I guess they nicked me after all."

"You'd better let me take a look."

"It's not bad Moffitt."

"Then let me put a bandage on it." Moffitt ordered. "We can't have you with an infection tomorrow morning."

Troy reluctantly agreed.

"Hitch, stand on the top of the hill and make sure we weren't followed." Moffitt ordered. "Tully, can you find me a medical kit? Troy, I need your flashlight."

Hitch had his back to the cars when Tully joined him. "Anything?"

"No, I don't think they're following us."

"Good." Tully nodded as he looked at Hitch. "It's just a scratch. The bullet nicked his arm. Doc put a bandage on it and said it will be fine."

Hitch turned with a frown. "He should have told us he was hit."

Tully grinned.

"He could have been badly hurt and hiding it from us." Hitch insisted.

"Now who would do a thing like that?"

"Okay, so I have a time or two." Hitch admitted. "But this is Sarge! We need him!"

"We need you too."

"The team can do without me. If we lose Sarge…" Hitch shook his head. "I needed to know!"

Tully laughed.

"What's so funny?" Hitch demanded.

"Now you know how Sarge feels when you get hurt."

"Yeah, but I don't do it on purpose." Hitch argued.

"Neither did he."

"He took an awful chance."

"You wanted to take the same chance." Tully pointed out. "Any one of us would have done it."

"But we're talking about Sarge. You can do without me but we need Sarge."

"You're wrong." Tully shook his head.

"We do need Sarge." Hitch hissed. "Without him the team would be disbanded."

"Yeah, we need Sarge." Tully agreed. "But we need you too. This is a team. We are what we are because of all of us. None of us are expendable. If we lose someone the team might survive but it would be changed forever. It would not be the same team we have now."

"I'm not planning on going anywhere." Hitch answered sullenly.

"Good to know, but I bet Sarge would say the same thing."

"Tully, Hitch, we're moving out!"

Tully smiled at Hitch and punched him playfully in the arm. "Let's go."