"The Song of the Nightingales"
Chapter Six
Hans Olbricht was a proper, loyal German officer. He was the type the propaganda ministry loved. He was tall, with blue eyes and blond hair. His muscular physique just added to the look of Hitler's idea of the perfect Nazi Officer.
It was said he was of aristocratic decent from the days of the Old Prussian Army. Hans always carried out his orders to the best of his abilities. It did not matter to him who issued those orders. Nazi or not, he was a pure military man. Orders were meant to be carried out.
He had been promoted quickly from Private to Captain in less than a year and a half. Hans liked the rank of Captain. It kept him from the mundane jobs, but still allowed him to be out in the field. Not stuck behind a desk somewhere, doing nothing more than shuffling papers that had previously been shuffled by someone else.
Hans was sitting in the ruins of what was left of a building he managed to dive into when the bombing had started. The putrid smell of the upturned earth mixed with the smells of burning flesh was the only sensation his senses where able to focus on. He could feel the rumblings of the last of the explosions. The screams from his men had finally ceased. With the heavy smoke from the fires still burning around him, he was unable to see how many of his men were still alive.
The bombardment caught them by surprise. Most of the men did not have time to duck into one of the many demolished building for cover as he had. They had stopped at this location to rest a bit. That didn't matter now as around Hans lay the dead and dying. From what he could tell only a couple of his men had survived the onslaught.
Sturmbahnführer Färber, the SS Major who had been assigned to their squad, was sitting upright just a few kilometers away. What looked like a knife, but in actuality was timber from a building that had been blown apart one too many times, was protruding out of his shoulder.
Hans was not fond of anything or anyone connected to Hitler's SS command group. Even in the middle of buildings being blown apart, and suffering a severe injury, the SS officer still looked in control and a menacing presence to deal with.
Hans escaped the rain of shrapnel with little more than a scratch or two. As Hans got shakily up, he took in the damage in one quick gaze. Only the Major, himself and one other soldier were left alive.
Chapter Seven
Gabriel had just finishing changing Caje's dressing and was trying to talk him into letting her administer something for his pain. She knew the trip to the new field hospital was going to be rough on him. But as always, Caje refused.
He explained to Gabriel why he needed to be in full control of his senses during their journey. He knew out of experience, that during war, even the smallest and simplest of tasks could turn, at any moment, into a life or death situation.
"But Paul, the ambulance will have a guard along in case anything should happen. You need to let others do their jobs. Besides sir, in your condition, do you really think it wise to even try and lift that rifle of yours? Think about it Paul. You need to concentrate on getting well. This war is doing just fine without you for the moment, I assure you."
As Gabriel tried again to reason with the stubborn Cajun, she heard the rickety old door open slowly.
"Ma'am, could you come here for a moment, please?"
"I'll be right there Rhonda." Gabriel answered with a frustrated sigh.
"Ma'am, please, I need you right now."
"You should listen to the child." An unfamiliar voice broke in.
"I am NOT a child. I am a nurse." Rhonda answered.
As Gabriel turned to face the door, she could see the outline of a strange man in a uniform she was not familiar with. It was that of a German soldier. As he stepped farther into the room she could feel Caje starting to rise from the bed. With a firm hand, she touched his shoulder and eased him back down. In a low voice she whispered to him,
"Please, let me handle this."
Looking into the enemy's eyes, she squared her shoulders, tilted her head back and demanded,
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my hospital?"
Ignoring her question, the intruder pointed his gun in Caje's direction and asked,
"Who is he?"
Gabriel answered, "He's a patient."
Hans starred menacingly at Caje,
"Get up 'patient'. You and these women need to come with me."
"He can't get up, he's been wounded."
Gabriel knew she needed to act fast. She continued to talk, and as she did, she moved slightly over, putting herself in front of the rifle that was amid at Caje's chest. She was sure that with her in-between, Caje would not try anything at this time.
"Then I will shoot him here. He is to come with us or die here. Which will it be?" Hans's steady gaze made her feel uncomfortable, but she again stuck out her chin,
"He will come with us." Gabriel replied.
With a look of disgust on her face, Gabriel turned her back to Hans.
She then reached down to help Caje to his feet. As she was doing this, she looked into his eyes and mouthed, "please".
Caje nodded his understanding and tried to stand; only his strength would not permit it. Rhonda rushed to his other side to help Gabriel steady him. With Rhonda on one side and Gabriel on the other, Caje slowly stood up.
Chapter Eight
"Is there anyone else here?"
The German officer looked around then continued,
"Where are all your other patients? This is a Krankenhaus, uh, in English it would be a hospital, yes? Where are the patients for your hospital? "
Gabriel, trying hard to steady her voice, said,
"We are in the process of moving our hospital back to set up at another location. All but Private LeMay have been moved. Private LeMay is not able to be moved by stretcher. We are waiting for an ambulance. It should be here soon. I think it would be wise of you to leave before it arrives."
The man just shook his head and continued,
"This is a hospital and we too have wounded who need tending to. You will help with this, and then we will leave."
As Hans opened the office door, he pointed with the barrel of his gun in the direction in which he wanted them to go. Rhonda and Gabriel, with Caje held tightly between them, slowly moved forward. As they walked, Gabriel looked up into Caje's eyes. He nodded that he understood. Even though every fiber in his being was screaming out to fight, he knew, in his condition, he couldn't.
They walked slowly to the other end of the building. As they arrived, their captor pushed open the door. Gabriel looked in and saw a man leaning against a desk at the far corner of the room. As Hans lead his three prisoners into the room, the man slowly stood up.
"Ladies" The man addressed them, "Please come in. As you can see I've had a slight accident."
Pulling his jacket open,
"I'm afraid I am in need of medical attention."
Rhonda and Gabriel walked into the room and helped Caje over to a chair. As Rhonda tended to Caje, Gabriel walked over to the Major.
Another soldier was standing to the right of one of the buildings shattered windows, holding a rifle. He peered out the window, making sure they were alone.
He then walked over to where Caje was sitting. He looked down at Caje and said in a menacing voice,
"You will fix our commander because if he should die," he aimed his rifle at Caje, "so will this man."
The Commander broke in, "Karl, you are scaring the ladies."
Rhonda turned toward the injured man and said,
"No he's not"
She tried to sound as brave as Gabriel had, but as she spoke, the wavering of her voice gave her away.
The Major laughed.
Rhonda quickly turned back around to tend to Caje.
Caje was looking down quietly as all this was going on. He had his hand over the bandages that were wrapped around his mid-section. Rhonda looked down at him and noticed that the bandages, along with his hand, were stained red with blood.
She turned back towards Gabriel, and said in a scared voice,
"Ma'am he's bleeding again. His wound must have torn open when we were walking."
Caje looked at Gabriel
"I'm OK; do what you have to do. I'm fine."
Gabriel looked into his eyes, nodded her head, and then turned her attention back to the injured German.
"Ronda, go get me the ether." Gabriel ordered.
The soldier known as Karl stepped in and answered,
"She cannot leave the room."
Gabriel looked at him and in a commanding voice said,
"Look, I need to sedate your commander to clean out and then sew up his wound.
I need Rhonda here to go fetch me the ether.
And I need you to stay the hell out of my way."
The injured commander smiled. He liked this girl Gabriel.
He knew he would be in good hands.
And maybe after, she would be in his hands.