We all jumped at the voice. It had a German accent, and a slightly insane glee to it.
"Again, vat ze hell are jew doing in my church?!" He roared. As we turned to face him, we could see he was wearing a light green uniform, covered with badges and Swastikas. The suite of a Nazi. "Lower your vepons children, I mean jew no harm... yet." The man murmured the last part just loud enough to hear. Hoffman dashed up and aimed his trench gun at the German's throat.
"You move, you die! What are you doing here you dirty Krout?!" He growled, aiming his gun at the bottom of his jaw.
"I hate it ven jew dumb shit Americans call ME A KROUT!!!" The German grabbed Hoffmans shotgun gave it a sharp twist and in one skillful move, he was about to shoot Hoffman!
"Put the gun down Richtofen!" Peter exclaimed with a grin. It wasn't a grin of the final kill, it was a true friendly smile.
"Vate a minute... PETER!" The Nazi named Richtofen yelled. He ran and gave Peter a big bear hug. "Ets been a long time in deed brozer."
"It has, old friend! It has. Now what have you been doing out here?" Peter asked, bouncing with excitement. I had never seen him like this. He was usually so calculated. So in charge. Now he was bouncing around like a zombie in a slaughterhouse.
"Oh! Ed, you must meet the rest of my squad. This is Hoffman, Parker and Blackthorn. Gentlemen, this is Edward Richtofen."
"Oh!" Hoffman boomed pointing at the doctor with his knife. "So the Krout has a name? I prefer to call them Dead Bastards! I prefer my Dead Bastards in the fire pits, not standing here in front of me!"
Richtofen looked blankly at Hoffman. "If jew meant those threats jew flilthy American, I vould be dead , and jew vould be shunned, and rejected by jour squad." The doctor said, in a menacingly calm voice.
"Why I aught to tear your throat out!" Hoffman growled and he began to advance on the Nazi.
What happened next stunned us all. Richtofen whipped out a pistol and shot at Hoffman! The bullet grazed the American's ear, making a small, bloody nick where the bullet hit. As Hoffman was stunned, the German leaped, grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and flicked a Bowie Knife up onto his throat.
"Jew shouldn't scew vith EDVARD RICHTOFEN!" The insane man screamed.
Peter ran up and kicked Richtofen's hand causing the knife to go skimming off across the church floor. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" He yelled. "Get a hold of yourself!" He said smacking Richtofen in the face, whose eyes had widened at the impact. He sunk to his knees.
"I guess zat is vat happens ven jew are alone with zombies for two jears eh'?" The doctor said with a weak grin. "I am sorry. It vont let it happen again. Jew have my German word!"
Blackthorn snorted with suppressed laughter. "You just attempted to murder Andrew! You are a psychopath! Why should we trust you?" His eyes had slanted and he had raised his BAR.
I spoke for the first time since meeting Richtofen. "Richtofen... I don't know if we can trust you, but you seem to know about the zombies. You have managed to survive this long alone, and I can imagine you could do with some extra help with whatever you are doing. I am willing to help you if you can help us survive."
"Very vell put... Parker vas it? Jess." Richtofen nodded. "Spoken almost as vell as Hitler himself! Very vell jew American diplomat! I shall bring jew, and even jour annoying ass friend." He pointed over his Swastika embellished shoulder at Hoffman.
Without another word, he brusquely walked out of the church, ignoring the zombies that lunged and reached for him.
"I don't like this... Blackthorn grumbled.
"Does it look like we have a choice?" Hoffman whispered. "Ah well! We get to his lab, use his weapons, then snuff out the S.O.B.'s Nazi light!"
So with those last grim words, my fellows walked out of the church, and into the horde, clinging to the hope we werent being led into a trap by the stranger clad in the green Nazi uniform.