"The Song of the Nightingales"
Chapter Nine
As the others waited for the ambulance for Caje in the front building of the now deserted hospital, Doc decided to go back into the supply room in hopes of finding blankets. He knew that moving Caje was not an ideal thing to do. Caje had already suffered a few setbacks and Doc wanted to make sure that this move didn't set him back even further. He figured if he could find enough blankets, he could use them as padding to protect him from the rough trip ahead.
After searching through trunks and foot lockers that were left behind, Doc finally found a couple of torn up but clean blankets that he guessed were being thrown out.
"Well lookie here."
His face lit up as he pulled the two blankets from an old trunk.
"Thank the Good Lord above. These may not be in the best of shape, but for what I need them for, they're perfect."
With the blankets tucked safely under his arm, and a big smile on his face, Doc headed back towards the hospital. As he got closer though, he thought he could hear a man's voice coming from the back of the building.
He knew Caje and the nurses where waiting for the transport in the front entrance of the hospital so to hear voices coming from the back surprised him. The closer he got he also noticed that the male voice he was hearing had a slight accent to it, but not a French accent.
Cautiously, he crept closer until he could clearly hear the conversation in the next room. As Doc carefully peeked in, he realized what was happening.
Slowly he pulled his head back. He knew he only had two choices. He could either stay and get captured by the enemy, or he could go for help. As hard as it was to turn and leave, he knew he had to. Silently he stole away from the building.
He moved back around to the other side of the hospital where the bushes had not been cut back. Once he was sure no one could see him, he took off running.
He ran along the route the squad had traveled just hours before. And he did not stop running till he found Sergeant Saunders and the rest of the squad.
Chapter Ten
"So what are you saying Doc, you just left them alone with three or four Germans with their Commander being an SS officer? Damn, I knew I should have stayed."
Kirby was practically spitting out his words, he was so mad at himself.
Doc was still doubled over, trying to catch his breath.
"Well yeah Kirby, there wasn't much I could do except leave and hopefully get help before anything happens. From what I could make out, their commander is seriously injured and all they want is medical help for him. But I don' trust the one they call Karl. He seemed a bit too anxious and a bit too eager to use his rifle."
Doc turned his attention back to Saunders.
"Sarge, we need to go back."
"Yeah Doc, I agree with you. And we are going back, but we can't just storm in there. If that one kraut is jumpy, the first thing he'll do if we bust in, is start shooting up the place. And my guess would be, his first target would be Caje. So we need to plan this out."
Suddenly the door to the field hospital flew open and Susan stormed into the conversation.
"YOU!" she screamed at Doc. "How could you just leave my sister, you, you, coward."
Totally caught off guard by Susan's verbal assault, Doc tried to explain his actions. He was hoping she would understand that he had no other choice.
"There was nothing I could do but come get help. I have no rifle, I'm a non-com."
"You're nothing but a spineless worm. And my sister, my sweet clueless little sister love's you. Huh, wait till I tell her how her big brave "Doctor" turned tail and ran out the door the minute trouble started."
Saunders turned to Susan and quietly said,
"No one turned and ran. You, Lieutenant need to get yourself together. Pointing fingers and accusing won't help anyone. We have no time to waste so please Lieutenant, either be quite or leave."
Sergeant Saunders knew the Lieutenant was only acting in this manner because she was fully aware of the danger her sister was in. Even so, Saunders also knew he needed his men clear headed if they were going to stand any chance of getting Caje and the two nurses out alive.
As the Sergeant turned away and resumed his discussion, Susan turned and buried her face into Kirby's chest, and cried.
Chapter Eleven
Hans decided it would be best if he accompanied Rhonda into the next room to retrieve the ether for Gabriel. In the meantime Gabriel turned her attention back to the Major and what she was doing.
As she helped the commander remove his shirt for the surgery, the Major's hand brushed softly and then lingered on one of Gabriel's breasts. Startled, she reacted with a slap to his offending hand.
"Remember who will be holding the scalpel Commander. Your advances are not welcome."
Caje, who was desperately fighting to stay alert, caught the gesture and sat bolt up-right. The result of his movement causing his injury to send a reminder in the form of severe pain.
Gripping the side of the chair tightly with one hand, Caje tried to keep himself from slipping on to the floor. He gingerly moved his other hand to the bandaged area around his mid-section. Pulling his hand away, he noticed the bleeding from his wound had started to increase. The only thing Caje could do at this point was press harder on the wrappings that were tightly bound around his bare chest.
Damn, not now, I need to get this stopped. I'm of no good to anyone if I sit here and bleed to death…damn!
The Major looked up and smiled at Gabriel. He then tried to make amends.
"It was but a mere accident my dear. I could not, nor would I offend you. I am, after all, an officer above all, no matter what your propaganda machines have tried to say."
But then, to himself he thought,
Maybe the little one will be a bit more receptive.
The commander's eyes searched for Rhonda
Hans, who had returned with Rhonda, had watched as the Major had tried his advances on Gabriel. Knowing full well that they were advances, Hans had hopped if he stepped in; he could re-direct the Major's attention towards them leaving as soon as possible.
"Sir, if you would, please let them do their job. We need to concentrate on getting you out of here before the ambulance that is due, arrives."
Hans tried to look sympathetic but his look failed him some.
"Yes, they should do their job Hans, I agree. But my dear Fräulein," The Major turning his attention back to Gabriel, "please remember one thing, it is true, you have the scalpel, but Karl here, he has the rifle."
Then thinking to himself,
We shall see about my 'advances' later Fräulein …yes?
Hans was hoping that the mere mention of the transport that was expected soon would help the Major focus on more important things. Like moving on and safely reaching their lines.
He was not interested in what seemed to be on the mind of the Major. He was not now, nor had he ever been what the Americans liked to portray as a typical Nazi. He was in this war to help his country. Not to rape and murder innocent women or soldiers to injured to defend themselves.
That is how all Germans were being portrayed. If he could accomplish only one thing in this war, he would like it to be that the German people, as a whole, where no different than any other nationality, including the Americans.
Leaving the Major's side, Hans walked over to where Caje was now struggling to stay upright in the chair. He noticed that Caje's wound had started to bleed again and that he seemed to be losing his battle to remain conscious.
Reaching Caje's side, Hans reached down and gently took hold of Caje's arm. Caje, startled by the gesture, looked up at his capture.
Gently, Hans helped him move to the floor and propped him up against a wall. He then bent down and again, very gently, moved Caje's hand that was covering his wound.
"Your wound, it is bleeding badly."
Caje just stared up at him. He was unable to phantom how, a man in the uniform that Hans was wearing, could possibly be concerned with his condition.
Hans, sensing what Caje was thinking replied.
"I am not here to kill, just for the sake of killing. I have family also. I have friends who have died in this war, as I am sure that you have too. I know Americans and Germans both are people. Not what both our governments say. Neither of us, left to our own accord, are monsters. I will get something to help stop your bleeding … 'patient'."
Standing up, he walked over to Gabriel and asked,
"What can I use to stop your soldiers bleeding?"
Gabriel looked over to where Caje was now sitting with his back up against the wall. The pain he was enduring he no long could hide, as it was etched into his face. She looked at Hans, then reaches down to a pile of discarded towels and picked up a few. She then handed them to Hans and said,
"Here, take these. Tell him to hold one tightly against his wound. If it bleeds through, tell him to add another and then another."
Looking at Hans, she added,
"Thank you."
She then turned her attention back to the Commander.
"Sir, we need to administer ether to put you under so I can remove the debris from your wound."
"That won't be necessary Fräulein, I will stay awake to make sure all goes as planned."
Rhonda, who had returned with Hans with the anesthesia, looked from Gabriel to the SS Commander.
"Fine with me sir." Gabriel answered,
"If you can stand it, so can I."
She turned back to Rhonda and said,
"Put it away Rhonda, then come and assist me."
"Just please remember," The Commander continued,
"If I die, so does all here."
Gabriel gave him a look of disdain,
"I don't think it matters whether you live or die. I think what you have planned for us is the same."
The Commander looked at her with a hurt look on his face, then added,
"You have my word as an Officer, I will not hurt you."
Gabriel, hearing his assurance that they would not be harmed, relaxed a bit. But Rhonda noticed a look between the Commander and Karl that left her doubting the Commanders words.
Chapter Twelve
With a plan thought out, the squad, with Susan, stood by the ambulance, waiting for the Sergeant to give the order to pull out.
Saunders looked at Rhonda's older sister. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. Not sure what to say to her, he just nodded his head, and said
"Well bring her back"
He then turned his attention to his men.
"OK Doc, now you understand, you don't do anything but drive us up to the hospital. I don't care what's going on in there, you stay put. Got it"
Sergeant Saunders was aware that having the medic drive them to the hospital in the transport was not the ideal thing to do. But he also knew he needed a medic with him for no other reason than to tend to Caje. Hopefully, in the back of the Sergeant's mind, Caje would be the only patient Doc would be in need of tending to.
Doc understood. In response all he did was nod his head "yes".
"Kirby, Littlejohn, get in the back. I'll ride up front with Doc, as they will be expecting an escort."
"Sarge, ain't that putting you and Doc at risk?"
Kirby asked the very question the Sarge had been silently asking himself. But it was not his safety, and it was not his actions Saunders had concerns for.
"Maybe so but we have to make this look like a normal transport. If at all possible the Germans won't figure out that we're on to them till it's too late and it's all over."
Kirby had reason to be nervous, but he also had faith in his Sergeant.
"I guess you're right. Are we ready to leave then Sarge?"
Saunders, understanding Kirby's fears, but knowing there was no other way to go about a rescue without there being some danger replied,
"Yeah, we're as ready as we're ever going to be…let's pull out."
With the order given, Doc climbed up into the driver's seat of the transport. He waited while Kirby and Littlejohn climbed into the back and pulled the canvas drape closed to block the outside view.
Sergeant Saunders again looked over to where Susan was standing. She was slightly shaking. Not from the cold, but from fear. She had been in this war long enough to know that what these men were about to attempt stood about as much of a chance of success as that proverbial snowball surviving the blistering furnaces of Hell. She also was aware that it would do no good to let on just how scared she really was.
Chapter Thirteen
With the Major's wounds finally cleaned out, and the suturing completed, Gabriel turned her attention towards Caje.
He had slipped side-ways and down a bit. His attempt to stay conscious, lost. His hand still clasped the towel, but being unconscious and no pressure being applied to his wound, the bleeding continued.
As Gabriel attempted to go over to Caje's side to try an administer aide, the Major stopped her. He had other ideas of what she was going to do next. And nowhere in his plan did he have her tending to a man who, if he wasn't already dead, soon would be from the bullet he would order Karl to pump into him.
As she turned to leave, the Major reached out and grabbed a hold of one of Gabriel's wrists. He then savagely swung her back around to face him. In doing so, Gabriel cried out in alarm.
Through the hazy clouds of pain, Caje heard Gabriel's scream and jolted back to reality.
Seeing the Major with his hands on Gabriel again, infuriated the Cajun. He tried to get up and go to her aide only Karl was still in the room.
Seeing Caje struggling to stand made him laugh. He then walked over to Caje an administered a savage kick, which caught him in his stomach.
Falling backwards, Caje cried out in pain and clutched at his mid-section. With the pain too much for even the stoic Frenchman to endure, he passed out again.
Seeing Caje kicked into unconsciousness by Karl brought a smirk to the face of the sadistic Commander. The Major, with a sinister look in his eye's turned to Karl and Hans and said.
"I am not able at this moment to enjoy what I wish I could do with these two lovely ladies. But I know you two are both capable of showing them how much more pleasure being with someone of pure blood can be over the mongrel attempts of love making from any American."
He glanced over to where Caje was lying. His injury, after the savage kick from Karl was bleeding freely again. He knew the American would not last much longer.
He turned to Hans and continued,
"Remove the body of the American, then return and you can show me how a true aristocrat makes a women scream…with pleasure, of course. Seeing that I am unable to attempt to show them at this moment, I wish to watch and relieve myself as you both teach these women which race is truly the superior race."
He laughed, and then turned his attention to Karl.
"Karl, you should be delighted. I have chosen you to make a woman out of the little one. Make her scream. I think I would like to hear her scream."
Karl, the joy of what he had been ordered to do plainly showing on his face, turned to Rhonda and with one violent rip, tore Rhonda's blouse and brassier from her petite body. The savagery of his actions immediately left welts on her back and shoulders as the claps from her brassier tore across her delicate skin.
Hans, trying desperately to think of a way to stall the Major's request asked him,
"Major, if I could sir, I would like to make this woman help me dispose of her lover. I think the terror in doing this will make the task of what I have planned for her later so much more enjoyable for you to watch."
The Major, caught up in watching Karl none to gently remove Rhonda's clothing, waved his hand at Hans and said,
"Fine, fine, yes dispose of the American."
With a wave of his hand he dismissed Hans, and then turned his full attention back to Karl.
As the Major unbuttoned his trousers, Hans looked at Gabriel and whispered,
"I am not going to hurt you. Just help me get your patient into the next room and I will try to explain to you what we must do next to stop all of this."
Hans bent down and put his hands under Caje's arms and told Gabriel to pick up his feet.
Even though visibly scared, Gabriel did as Hans requested. She bent down and with effort, lifted Caje's feet in an attempt to move him.
As they neared the door to the corridor Hans told Gabriel to put Caje's feet down and open and hold the door whilst he pulled Caje through. She did as she was told and then shut the door on the sight of Rhonda; standing in front of the two Nazi's, half naked.
Hans pulled Caje over to another door and told Gabriel to again hold it open for him. She again did as she was told. With Gabriel and Caje both safe for the time being, Hans turned to Gabriel and said,
"I am going to fire off two shots. Then I am going back into the room and explain to the Major that I had to kill you both as you would not let me kill your soldier here. I am in hopes he believes me and returns to watching Karl with your nurse. As he is doing that, I will kill them both. This is the only thing I can do to stop what is happening to your nurse. You must stay in here till it is over. They must not know you and your patient are still alive or they will kill us all, do you understand?"
Gabriel was sitting on the floor with Caje's head in her lap. Tears rolling down her face as she gently stroked Caje's cheek, hoping he would open his eyes.
She was scared. She knew Rhonda was being hurt both mentally and physically by that monster Karl as her screaming kept getting louder and louder. She knew Caje was in desperate need of a doctor and even if a doctor was present, she knew in all probability, he was going to die. She also knew that if Hans's plan worked, it would be a miracle. She looked up at him and all she could manage to say was "yes".
Hans nodded his head and then put his finger up to his lips and said "Shhhh". He then pulled out his gun. Pointed it up towards the ceiling of the hospital and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
He waited a second, and then pointed the gun again up towards the ceiling and…
BANG!
He holstered the gun and then turned to Gabriel and again said "Shhhh".
As Hans walked towards the door to leave, he reached down by Gabriel and picked up one of the blood soaked towels Caje had been using in the vain attempt to try and stop his own bleeding. He rubbed some of the Cajun's blood on his own pants and hands. He then grabbed a cleaner towel to take with him. He was in hopes the blood would give credence to what he was about to tell his Commander.
As he walked out the door, Gabriel moved her hand up to Caje's forehead and softly brushed a bit of his hair back. She then lowered her head down to Caje's and gently kissed him on his cheek.
"Wake up my soldier" she whispered.
With her tears falling ever so softly onto her lover's face, she repeated
"Paul please… wake up."