High Flying Trouble
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 4
True to his word the lieutenant made a point of apologizing to Hitch first thing the next morning. Hitch accepted the apology but Troy noted that the blond didn't turn his back on the lieutenant while they were getting ready to leave. They heated a quick breakfast, fed themselves and the prisoner, and resumed their journey.
The German air base was still close enough to be a threat so they stayed close to the base of the mountains for another day. Twice they spotted planes in the sky but neither of them came close enough to be a real threat. The Germans seemed to be concentrating their search on the area behind them.
The day wore on and the combination of the sun's heat and moisture from the ocean turned the air heavy and muggy. Everyone was ready for a break when Troy called a halt to service the jeeps. Hitch took the watch while Tully went over both vehicles. Hitch still had a headache and Troy was trying not to make it too obvious that he was taking it easy on his driver. Moffitt dug out the maps and calculated their position and checked their route.
Troy wandered over to Moffitt while keeping a close eye on the lieutenant and the German pilot. "How's it look Doctor?"
Moffitt looked up and smiled. "We're making good time despite our passengers. At this rate we should reach the base by dark."
"Good, I can't wait to get rid of this guy."
"Which guy would that be?" The Brit asked as he looked over at the two passengers.
"The kraut." Troy replied. "The lieutenant I could get used to."
Moffitt nodded knowingly. "I heard what the lieutenant told you last night."
"He did apologize to Hitch right away this morning." Troy added.
"He did." The Brit agreed. "I suppose he's not such a bad chap once he calms down a bit."
Troy glanced over at the lieutenant who was staring off across the desert. "I guess not…but that doesn't mean I trust him now. Just because he got all chatty last night doesn't change the fact that he tried to kill our prisoner, twice."
"Of course not." Moffitt smiled at Troy's defensive tone. "And he hit Hitch." The Brit added. "But one can see where the anger is coming from; those pilots don't have it easy."
"None of us do Moffitt, that's no excuse."
"I wasn't claiming that it was, I was just saying that it makes it easier to understand."
"I can't let him kill our prisoner."
"No, you can't, but we don't have to condemn him for the thought either. We aren't exactly immune to those desires ourselves. We haven't acted on them but we think them from time to time, at least I do."
"We never killed an unarmed prisoner. Every one we killed had the chance to defend himself."
"That's true." Moffitt watched the officer for a moment. "I think what you told him finally sank in, he hasn't even looked at the prisoner since we stopped."
"Or he could be trying to get us to lower our guard." Troy answered suspiciously. "Maybe he thinks if he ignores him now he'll get a chance to try again later after we relax."
"That's entirely possible too." The Brit smiled. "But we all know you won't do anything like that."
"If he doesn't he'll find out quick enough if he tries something." Troy growled.
Moffitt smiled again and began to put the maps away. "I'll let the prisoner stretch his legs before we start again."
Troy nodded and walked away to stretch his own legs a bit before climbing back into the cramped rear of the jeep.
"Sarge, I hear something." Hitch's call put everyone on alert.
Troy ran up to where Hitch stood guard to listen for himself. Tully made sure his jeep hood was secure and went to check the other one. Moffitt urged the prisoner back into the jeep and kept him covered as he waited to see what was happening.
"Get down!"
Troy's yell sent everyone ducking for cover. The shell from the halftrack hit near the jeeps sending shrapnel and bits of rock flying through the air. Moffitt, Tully, and the lieutenant were huddled behind a large rock while the prisoner hid behind a smaller rock close by. A second shell landed on the ridge where Troy and Hitch had taken cover.
As the bits of rock and dirt hit the ground Moffitt leaned out to look for the others. "Are you all right Troy?"
"We're fine Moffitt but we need to get out of here." Troy called back. "Wait for the next shell and then run for the jeeps."
"Right." Moffitt turned to look toward the jeeps and gave a startled cry as he spotted the prisoner.
The German pilot had already reached the jeeps and was pulling a machine gun out of the holder.
"Look out!" The Brit yelled as the German aimed the gun at them.
The lieutenant hit the ground behind a small rock. Moffitt twisted and went down as Tully grabbed his arm and pulled. He heard the shot as he fell, followed by a scream. Confused for a second, he twisted to look at Tully, checking for wounds. Tully didn't look hurt and he knew he wasn't injured. It occurred to him that the scream had come from the wrong direction to be the lieutenant. When he looked toward the officer the lieutenant was staring wide-eyed toward the jeeps. Moffitt turned to look that way too.
"I never got a chance to clean that weapon." Tully drawled as they stared at the ruined face of the German pilot. As Moffitt had warned the lieutenant, the sand in the barrel had caused the weapon to explode when fired. The gun had literally blown up in the German's face, killing him almost instantly. The scream had been more of a reflex than a conscious thought.
"It's a bit late now Tully." Moffitt answered. The next shell whistled by to land in front of the jeeps. Moffitt picked himself up and ran for the vehicles. "Let's go!"
Tully, Moffitt, and the lieutenant reached the jeeps just ahead of Troy and Hitch. Both jeep engines roared as they left the dead German pilot behind and ran for their lives.
The German column tried to follow but the faster jeeps soon left the heavier vehicles far behind. They shifted their route even closer to the mountains in case the column called for air support. Their caution paid off as a pair of fighters streaked over the mountain top just minutes later.
"Here they come!" Troy yelled to the others.
"We can't outrun them!" The lieutenant shouted as the jeeps picked up speed.
"Hang on Lieutenant!" Troy responded as he cleared the chamber on the 50.
The planes came in low, one following closely behind the other. Bullets tore up the ground behind the racing jeeps as the pilots tried to walk their shots to the targets.
There wasn't much room for the jeeps to maneuver but they followed their usual procedure. The jeeps stayed side-by-side until Troy gave the order to split up. Both drivers yanked on the wheels, sending the tiny vehicles off in different directions. The pilots, not expecting that maneuver, overshot their targets.
Troy and Moffitt took full advantage of the temporary confusion to hit the planes with heavy bullets from the 50's. The pilots tried desperately to pull up and get out of range.
Troy's bullets tore gaping holes in the wings of the first plane. The thin outer skin of the wings began to tear as the force of the wind passing beneath them widened the holes. The pilot managed to gain altitude but not without causing more damage with the rapid climb.
Moffitt's bullets hit a fuel line on the second plane, setting the fuel on fire and leaving a glittering streamer of burning fuel chasing after the plane. Both jeeps slowed as their occupants watched the streamer catch up to the plane. The wing exploded sending the fighter into a spiral that drove it nose first into the ground with a huge bang.
The first pilot had troubles of his own. The damaged wing was getting worse and affecting his ability to stay airborne. The five men watched as he turned toward the ocean and fought for altitude. Moments later they saw him eject over the water. The plane continued on for a while until the wing completely disintegrated and the fighter crashed into the waves. The pilot hit the water and struggled to get out from under the wet parachute. He was still fighting the clingy material as the jeeps roared out of sight over the hill.
Troy glanced over at the lieutenant as Hitch guided the jeep skillfully around the rocks and hills. The officer hadn't said a word since the battle with the planes. The sergeant noticed that his color had returned after his initial shock of surviving the encounter. Glancing over his shoulder Troy made sure that Tully and Moffitt hadn't dropped behind.
Moffitt was watching the sky but Tully noticed him looking. He gave Troy a wink to let him know that all was well. Troy turned back to watch for their next challenge.
It was almost dark when they reached the American base. They had managed to finish the trip without having to fight off any more Germans. Troy, Moffitt, and the lieutenant stretched after sliding out of the jeeps in front of the commanding officer's headquarters. Troy looked around at the flurry of activity on the streets and frowned.
"Can you find the motor pool okay?"
"We'll ask if we can't." Tully answered. He rolled his matchstick in his mouth and shifted to relieve tired muscles.
"Where do you want us to meet you?" Hitch asked. He blew a bubble and popped it as he waited for an answer.
"You'll probably be done before we are so just meet us back here. We'll get our room assignments before we come out. Then we'll head for the showers before we get something to eat."
"Right Sarge." Hitch answered as Tully nodded. They drove off leaving the three men to turn and enter the building.
Hitch and Tully were waiting outside when Troy and Moffitt finally finished their briefings. The commander had insisted they finish their written reports and turn them in before allowing them to leave. They had their room assignments when they stepped out into the cool night air.
"Everything okay Sarge?" Hitch asked as Troy gave a huge sigh.
"Fine Hitch, I'm just glad that's over."
"Did that lieutenant try to get us in trouble for not letting him kill that kraut?"
Troy looked at his driver in surprise. "Why would he?"
"He said he was going to put us all on report for insubordination." The blond explained.
"I guess he had a change of heart then because he didn't say anything to the commander."
"He really couldn't say much." Moffitt added. "He hit an enlisted man." The Brit pointed at the bruise on the side of Hitch's head.
"Did you tell them that Sarge?"
"No, I didn't." Troy admitted. "You can file a complaint if you want but I figured that he had already suffered enough. Why make it harder?"
"Are you talking about him losing his buddy?" Tully asked.
"Not just that one, all of them." Troy explained. "The kraut's dead, Hitch wasn't seriously hurt, it's over. I just thought it might be easier on all of us if we just let it stay that way." He looked at his driver, waiting for him to agree or disagree.
"I guess you're right." Hitch nodded. "I know I'd be mad if someone killed one of you guys."
"Especially if they did it the way that kraut did it." Tully added. "That pilot never had a chance."
"That's part of it too." Troy agreed. "Getting the lieutenant in trouble wouldn't help anyone."
"I get it Sarge. I don't need to file charges."
"Good," Troy nodded, "because I didn't really want to stick around long enough to testify. Now, did you happen to find the mess hall or the showers? I'm ready to scrape about three layers of dirt off of me and get something to eat. Then I'm going to sleep for two days straight."
"At least." Moffitt added.
Tully and Hitch laughed.
"We found them Sarge." Tully grinned. "We knew you'd be looking for them."
"Then what are you waiting for, lead on." Troy urged. "I'm starved."