The Price of Friendship Raid

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 3

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I am sure Captain." Thomas held himself stiffly as he faced his commanding officer. "I have been here for three days and have yet to leave the base. You said this is a routine patrol so I should be perfectly safe. I've spoken with the other officers and they tell me that there has been very little enemy activity in this sector of late. You are sending me with seasoned drivers who know their way around. This will give me a chance to get familiar with the desert and to clear my head. My brother's death still weighs heavily on me."

"I'm sure it does." Dietrich acknowledged. "I still cannot come to terms with it myself. He was my best friend."

"I can understand why he would ask that you be the one to tell me. He knew I was headed here and he had so much faith in you. It makes sense that he would think that it would be easier for me to hear it from you than from some stranger."

"I know it was hard to hear no matter who broke the news to you. I think he meant for us to console each other. I can only imagine that he thought it would be easier on both of us if we were together when we found out about his death. I am grateful to Major Schmidt for allowing you to deliver the letter." Dietrich looked at the ground and swallowed hard. "It is still difficult."

"I know Hans." Thomas kept his voice low as he addressed his commander by his first name. "His death has been hard on you too; I can see it in your face. You look like you haven't slept since we read the letter."

"It was as much a shock to me as it was to you." Dietrich answered. "I had no warning ahead of time. If I had I might have been able to cushion the blow for you."

"And who would have cushioned it for you?"

"I don't know." Dietrich answered sadly. "I haven't allowed myself too many friends since this war started. Ernest was a dear friend; I will miss him very much."

"As will I." Thomas answered. "I am glad that Ernest gave me the opportunity to be there for you when you found out. I think in a way it did make it easier." Thomas sighed. "But now I think it is time to move on. I need this patrol Hans. I need something to take my mind off of Ernest, if only for a little while. Not to make me forget, just to allow me to come to terms with it on my own. Perhaps the short amount of time that I am otherwise occupied will help to dull the pain if only for a few hours."

"If it works I shall have to try it myself." Dietrich answered with a sad smile. "You're right, I haven't been sleeping. I think the only thing that has helped is having you here to share my grief. You loved him too, you understand."

"I will be back before dark and we can have supper together." Thomas promised. "I need this Hans."

"I understand Thomas. I am sending some of my most experienced men with you to teach you how to survive in the desert, listen to them."

"I will Hans." Thomas replied. "Do try to keep yourself occupied until my return. Try to get some sleep if you can."

"You are out of line Lieutenant." Dietrich gave Thomas a wan smile. "I am the senior officer here." His smile did not warm his eyes. "Sometimes I feel so much older than I really am."

The patrol cars drove up and stopped next to the two officers. Thomas saluted Dietrich and turned to slide into the seat. He glanced back at the captain and nodded.

"I will try to rest Lieutenant, come to my office when you return." Dietrich called before the cars could drive away.

"Yes Captain." Thomas promised.

Dietrich watched the patrol cars until they were out of sight. When he could no longer see them he returned to his office and tried to concentrate on his daily reports. He read the reports concerning the attacks on the convoys but his mind didn't register the details. His mind kept going back to the dispatch informing him of the death of Ernest. His friend had known he was dying and had pleaded with his commander to allow Dietrich to break the news to Thomas. Thomas had already been assigned to Dietrich's base in the desert and had been preparing to leave. The major's dispatch had caught up with him as he was boarding the plane.

Dietrich gave up on the reports and allowed his grief to overwhelm him. Alone in his office he could give in to the despair that the death of his friend had caused. He had lost men before; he had lost friends before; but the death of Ernest had hit so much closer to home. The war had already taken so much from him that this time he felt it all the way to his soul. It dawned on him how others must have felt when they suffered too much loss and turned bitter and cold. Dietrich clung to the thoughts of Thomas. He had Thomas to consider. Thomas to help him cope. Thomas needed him. They could help each other through this difficult time. He was grateful for someone to lean on; someone who felt the same pain; someone who could be allowed to see his pain and would not consider him weak or sentimental for his suffering. Dietrich checked his watch to see how long the patrol had been gone. Only three hours. He still had time to try to get some rest as Thomas had suggested. He wasn't sure that he could sleep but he was sure that he needed to try. He had a base to run and for that he needed his wits about him.

The captain retired to his quarters with strict orders to his orderly not to be disturbed unless it was a matter of utmost importance, the only exception being the return of the patrol and Thomas. He left instructions with his personal cook to prepare something special for the evening meal. It was on his mind that he and Thomas could celebrate the life of Ernest as a final farewell. Before he turned in he dug through his personal belongings for a lighter that Thomas had given him. He thought it might make a fitting gift for Thomas. Ernest had left his younger brother plenty of memories but little else. Their parents were gone and the two of them were all that was left of their immediate family. Dietrich wondered if Thomas would be amiable to becoming an official part of his family. His own parents would take the youth into their home after the war if he needed a place to stay. He decided to ask Thomas when he returned and send a letter to his parents with the next batch of outgoing mail.

He decided that he could bring the matter up at supper and Thomas could make his decision before he finished his desert training. By then he should have heard from his parents and could make it official. It seemed right to offer a home to his best friend's little brother. After all, Thomas had been a part of their adventures almost from the start. Dietrich smiled as he remembered Ernest loudly complaining in public about his brother following them around, calling him a brat, but secretly admitting that he enjoyed having him around. That memory brought others and Dietrich fell asleep dreaming about his youth and the friends who shared it.

The knock on the door woke Dietrich from his nap. "What is it?" He frowned as he shook the sleep from his brain and tried to focus on the present. His orders not to disturb him had been specific and that meant that something serious had happened. His thoughts went immediately to Thomas and his patrol. His driver was experienced in the desert, Dietrich had seen to that. His patrol was a routine one, Dietrich had seen to that too. Worried about Thomas' state of mind he had deliberately sent him to a sector that had seen no action for the last several weeks. The young man was a good officer but he was not himself yet, he was still devastated by the death of his brother. And, Dietrich admitted to himself, he was not yet feeling up to the task of taking the young officer in hand and training him in the art of desert warfare. His own feelings were still too raw to risk taking the younger man into a combat situation where quick, rational decisions meant the difference between life and death. Dietrich feared that such a situation could turn deadly very quickly. Struggling with his concerns, the captain rose to answer the door.

"Captain, I'm sorry to disturb you sir."

"Yes, what is it?" Dietrich demanded. His concern for Thomas made his tone harsh.

"The convoy sir, it was attacked."

"The convoy? What convoy?" Dietrich tried to remember any reports about a convoy. He vaguely remembered a report about a convoy expected to arrive at his base sometime in the near future. Try as he might he couldn't pin down the exact details.

"The convoy that was due to arrive today." The sergeant explained as Dietrich continued to look confused. The sergeant watched Dietrich with concern as the officer fought to understand what was happening. "We just got a radio message saying the convoy is under attack. They are asking for our help Captain."

"Get a column ready to go out immediately." Dietrich ordered. "I will lead it myself. Tell Lieutenant Krieger that I will be down momentarily."

"Yes sir." The sergeant answered with a quick salute. Turning on his heels he ran for the stairs to deliver the message.

"Sergeant."

"Yes sir?" The soldier paused at the top of the stairs with one hand on the door.

"Where did this attack take place?"

The sergeant's answer was only partially comforting to Dietrich. His routine patrol, the one Thomas was on, was only one sector over from the attack, well within range to answer the distress call.