Chapter 5 – Return to Caen

One minute after they'd driven away from the German headquarters Garrison shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "This is impossible, we can't get far with nine people in one car, especially with four wounded."

Goniff looked up from his cramped position on the floor. "Can't we go get the other one from the safe house?"

Garrison shook his head. "No, Chief transferred all the gas over before we set off, we didn't have enough for two cars to get far."

"We ain't gonna get far like this neither," piped up the thief.

Chief slowed down, turned a couple of corners to make a circuit of the headquarters building, stopped and reversed the car into a dark alley. "Wait a minute, I know where I can get somethin'."

Casino looked at him in disbelief from where he was in the front passenger seat. "What? You gone crazy Geronimo? We can't be here, we gotta get outta Dodge fast." The safecracker waved a hand in the direction of the building they'd just come from. "They could walk over 'n catch us now."

Chief gave his friend a quick grin. "Keep your hair on Pappy. We know they won't be raisin' the alarm for a while, I got time to hunt down what we need. You wanna get away in one piece or not?"

Casino nodded. "Sure I do."

"Then trust me." Chief slipped out of the car and disappeared around the corner.

Actor looked across at Garrison, like him he was perched on a small drop-down seat leaving the back seat for Eckhardt and the other three wounded members of his team. "What's Chief up to now?"

Garrison shrugged as he tried to twist around to see out the front of the car. "Your guess is as good as mine. He wouldn't stop for nothing."

Five minutes ticked by, everyone was starting to get a little on edge as the prospect of discovery grew bigger. "Damn, crazy Indian," muttered Casino as he glanced at his watch yet again. "He's gonna get us all ..." He paused as the end of the alley was blocked by a large vehicle. "...Way to go Geronimo! He's only gone 'n got us an ambulance!"

Goniff scrambled up onto his knees to peer out the window. "Bloody hell, can he hunt or can he hunt?"

Garrison got out of the car and walked over to meet Chief as he exited the ambulance. "Where did you find this?"

Chief went to the rear, opened a door and grinned. "Saw it the first time we were here 'n it was still parked up when we arrived, figured it might come in handy. I checked, it's got a full tank o' gas 'n plenty o' medical supplies in the back, will it do?"

Garrison put his hands on his hips and regarded his scout. "Will it do? It's just what we need," he turned and beckoned to the men in the car. "Eckhardt, you and your men get in the back. Actor you're with them, there should be enough supplies in there to tide you over until we are far enough away to stop and plan what to do next." He watched as the Captain and his men slowly climbed into the ambulance aided by Actor, Casino and Goniff. The invalids gratefully stretched out and waited as the conman started sorting through what was available.

Garrison closed the door. "Goniff you drive and follow us."

"Alright Warden." The thief looked over at Chief. "No speedin', I got some sick men in the back."

The scout nodded. "You got it."

Garrison and Casino climbed back in the car as Chief took his place in the driver's seat, Goniff pulled the ambulance forward to allow the car to drive out.

"Which way Warden?" asked Chief as he approached a road junction.

Garrison thought quickly. "Head south, it'll be safer." Chief turned right and the ambulance followed behind as they made a sedate escape.

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"Head south, it'll be safer," moaned Casino half an hour later as they stopped at a crossroads and watched a convoy of troop carriers, trucks and fuel tankers pass ahead of them.

"Can it Casino," said Garrison gruffly as he studied the map he'd spread out on the back seat. "They're heading to Amiens and that's the way I want to go," he looked up. "Chief tag on to the end. Dietrich will have been discovered by now and they'll be looking for us, we'll be less obvious as part of a large convoy than if we were two vehicles on their own."

Casino carried on counting the vehicles as they passed. "You mean hide in plain sight? You sure do like pushin' your luck Warden. What happens if they rumble us?"

"Knock it off Pappy, Warden knows what he's doin'," said Chief, he looked in the rear-view mirror to check on Goniff and saw that he was patiently resting his chin on his hand as he watched the convoy pass by and tapping the steering wheel with his free hand.

Goniff tried to hum to himself as he tapped the steering wheel to calm his nerves, he gave up. "Oh crap, is Garrison gonna do what I think he's gonna do?"

Actor's voice came from the back of the ambulance. "What's happening Goniff?"

The thief grimaced as he threw up his hands in frustration. "Oh nothin', the Warden's just pushin' our luck again."

It wasn't long before the end of the convoy came into view, Chief engaged the engine and slipped in behind the last truck with Goniff close behind.

Garrison took out his cigarettes, passed one to Casino and lit them. "It's sixty miles from Boulogne to Amiens, that'll give us some breathing space before we have to make our next move."

"We ain't makin' more 'n twenty miles an hour, we should have three hours if nothin' happens." Chief held a hand up for a match which Garrison immediately passed over. The scout looked up at the sky. "We sure do make a temptin' target for any of our fly boys if they see us. Just sayin'."

Casino looked out the window. "Yeah, what is your Ricky flyin' nowadays?"

Garrison blew out a cloud of smoke and leaned back in his seat. "Better keep a good eye out then."

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Actor looked at his patients as they dozed, satisfied that there was nothing more he could at the moment he stepped to the front of the compartment and opened the small hatch into the driver's cab. "What's the delay Goniff? We've been stopped for a while."

The thief pointed ahead. "We got company, looks like a load o' Krauts is goin' our way."

The conman peered out past the blonde thief and watched as the traffic rumbled past. "I thought I heard trucks. I expect the Warden will join the convoy, clever, it'll make it harder to find us."

"If you say so mate," Goniff saw the car ahead of him move forward and prepared to follow. "Here goes nothin'."

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The convoy made slow progress through the French countryside, occasionally a motorbike would pass by with an armed guard in the sidecar, it would circle around behind the last two vehicles in line and then head back to the front. Chief wound down his window and spat his matchstick out onto the road. "Not far to go, you want me to start droppin' back?"

Garrison picked up the map again. "Not yet, we don't want to attract any attention from those outriders. I want to see which way they're going, they can either keep heading south to Paris or turn west for Rouen."

Casino leaned forward to peer through the windscreen. "Which way we goin'?"

Garrison put his finger on the map. "West past Rouen and on to..." he paused as memories he thought he'd suppressed flooded back.

Casino looked at where Garrison's finger pointed and frowned. "Caen."

Chief looked in the mirror his face was full of concern. "You okay Craig? It's just a place, just like any other."

Garrison took in a deep breath. "I'm fine."

Chief looked ahead, there was a fork in the road coming up. "Looks like the convoy's splittin' in two, some are headin' to Paris and the rest are turnin' west, looks like we'll have company a little longer."

Casino tried to distract Garrison from thinking about their destination, he offered a cigarette. "How far to Rouen Warden?"

"About sixty miles and then seventy more to Caen." Garrison took the cigarette, lit it and breathed the smoke in deeply, he knew Chief understood his feelings of guilt about Caen, they'd come to blows about it, he didn't want his judgement affected by emotions that he couldn't control – the fate of nine men rested on him keeping a cool head.

"We're stoppin'," warned Chief as he slowed to a halt. "Outriders headin' this way."

Garrison got out of the car, stretched and watched as the motorcycle came down the line stopping at each vehicle, at last it reached them. "What is happening soldier?" demanded Garrison, "I have wounded prisoners to transport."

The soldier in the sidecar took in the black SS uniform and gave a crisp salute. "We are taking a short break so we can fill up the trucks with fuel from the tankers and our drivers can rest and relieve themselves. Does your vehicle need fuel Herr Hauptsturmführer?"

Garrison considered for a moment and nodded. "That would be a good idea, we'll need fuel for the ambulance as well. Get it done as soon as you can."

"At once Herr Hauptsturmführer." The soldier saluted, tapped the driver on the shoulder and they roared off up the road.

Chief had silently walked up behind Garrison to cover his back. "What was all that about Warden?" he asked quietly as he folded his blade and put it away.

Garrison gave his scout a small half smile. "They're offering to fill up the car and ambulance with gas, it would have been rude to refuse."

Chief returned the smile. "That's nice of 'em helpin' us escape."

Casino wandered over. "Wassup?" He laughed and shook his head as Garrison told him. "I'll go take off the petrol caps."

As soon as he heard what was happening Actor got out of the ambulance to watch events unfold and back up Garrison if needed. A few minutes later a small truck pulled up loaded with cannisters of fuel, the soldiers grunted and sweated as they carried the heavy containers to the car and then the ambulance, they were all too aware of the stern, impatient faces of the two high-ranking SS officers. They filled the tanks to the brim and then retreated as fast as they could.

Garrison stopped the conman as he was going back to the ambulance. "How are Eckhardt and his men doing?"

"They're sleeping, the ambulance was well stocked with pain killers, sulfa and bandages, they should be comfortable for the rest of the journey. I think I'll take over driving from Goniff for a spell and give him a chance to rest."

"Wish I could sleep through it as well," humphed Casino as he wrenched open the staff car door.

"What's stoppin you Pappy? It's comfortable in the back," asked Chief.

"Your damn awful drivin' Geronimo, I swear you're hittin' every blasted pothole in the road," complained the safecracker.

"You can take over drivin' if you ain't happy Pappy."

"Nah, I ain't that unhappy, yet."

Chief exchanged amused glances with Garrison over the top of the car. "He's always gotta complain 'bout somethin'."

Garrison nodded in agreement. "You can take a rest if you're feeling tired, I'll drive for a while."

The scout gave a brief shake of his head. "Uh uh, you're busy with makin' plans 'n worrying 'bout Caen. Don't want you drivin' inta the back of the wagon in front or wrappin' us 'round a tree 'cos your mind was somewhere else. I'll be fine."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as, once again, engines roared into life and the convoy continued on its slow progress towards Rouen.

It was dark as the vehicles reached the outskirts of the city, they stopped in a large area near the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, soldiers disembarked from the carriers and lined up next to their vehicles.

Garrison tapped Chief on the shoulder. "Keep on going, we'll cross the River Seine and carry on west, we'll make better time now we're not being held up by those trucks."

The guard on the bridge held up a hand to stop the vehicles for inspection and immediately had second thoughts when he saw the SS insignia on the driver's collar shining dimly in the beam of his flashlight, he raised the barrier, saluted and waved them through.

Casino leaned back in the seat and smiled smugly. "Ya always get through if you're SS baby," he said to himself before dropping off to sleep.

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Chief gently tapped Garrison on the shoulder, "We're here Warden."

Garrison jolted awake and looked around in alarm, he hadn't realised he'd fallen asleep. "Sorry, I should have stayed awake in case of trouble."

"I'd have woken you if there was any." Chief didn't bother to mention the road block they'd encountered twenty miles back, Actor had handled the situation with his usual aplomb and the sight of the dreaded SS uniforms had had the expected effect. "I got us to that château north-west of Caen that we used after we got away from the Krauts, Actor showed me where it was on the map. Do you know how to contact Jean-Claude Martin?"

Garrison nodded. "Yeah, let's hope he and his brother Pierre are still around. Let's get everyone inside and settled down. I'll need the car to take me and Actor into town, can you and Casino hide the ambulance before anyone sees it?"

"Sure, we're in the middle of nowhere it won't be a problem." Chief opened the other door, regarded the gently snoring Casino, reached in and shook his arm. "Rise 'n shine sleepin' beauty."

Casino stirred and grabbed Chief's hand. "What ya cookin' honey? Ya know I'm always hungry for your dumplin's."

Chief leaned forward, flicked the sleeping safecracker on the nose and whispered softly in his ear. "I got your dumplin's right here Pappy." Casino snorted and flailed his arms around before opening his eyes and focussing on his tormentor. Chief gave the safecracker a knowing grin. "Jeri's makin' you dumplin's now? You sure got your feet under her table."

Casino had the grace to blush. "She's a good cook 'n I like her apple dumplin's"

"I bet you do." Chief tilted his head. "Come on, we gotta hide the ambulance."

"Okay." Casino hauled himself out of the car, stretched and looked thoughtful, he looked around. "First I gotta go talk to that tree, it looks thirsty."

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Jean-Claude Martin was sitting in his little office at the back of The Blue Parrot Café, he'd heard the sound of a car arriving and looked up from his accounts book as Livie, the waitress popped her head in a few minutes later. "There's two men here to see you Patron, they say you know them."

The Frenchman got up, took a pistol out of his desk drawer, checked it and cautiously walked towards the door, his face broke into a welcoming smile as he recognised who was occupying a corner table enjoying cups of coffee. "Garrison, Actor, bienvenue my friends. It's good to see you're still alive and well." He gestured to Livie. "Get out the good Cognac and three glasses."

Garrison held out a hand. "It's good to see you too Jean-Claude, how's your brother Pierre is he here?"

The Frenchman laughed. "No, he's kicking some Kraut ass in Bretagne, paying them back with interest for capturing and torturing him," Martin paused. "Did your man make it?"

Garrison nodded. "Chief survived thanks to you and your doctor, he's at the château you took us to. That's why we're here, we need your help again and the doctor's."

Jean-Claude waited for Livie to arrive with the drinks, poured out three good measures and raised his glass in salute. "Of course, how can we help?" He passed around cigarettes as he listened to Garrison's brief account what had happened, he frowned angrily at Lucas' betrayal and then broke into laughter at the story of the trip from Amiens to Rouen. He shook his head in disbelief as he refilled the glasses. "You got the Germans to escort you? You are an audacious one mon ami!"

Garrison sipped on his cognac, he felt its fiery warmth go down to his stomach and spread through his body, he felt relaxed for the first time in days. "Can I ask if you have enough supplies to feed nine men for a couple of days while we make arrangements to get back to England?"

Martin leaned back in his chair and beckoned to the waitress. "Livie, get some provisions together for these men to take back with them. I'll bring the doctor and more supplies after I've contacted Louis, in Ouistreham to see if he can take you across in his boat again."

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Garrison parked the car and he and Actor walked into the safe house carrying two large baskets full of bread, sausage and local red wine. It had been good to see Jean-Claude again, the stocky Frenchman had been a reassuring presence during those terrible days after the team's escape from Caen on the mission to rescue his brother Pierre from the Germans. He'd arranged for a boat to take them to England when it wasn't possible for a plane to come get them.

Goniff's face lit up at the sight of two baskets full of food. "Warden, I could kiss ya, me belly thinks me throat's been cut." He took one of baskets, put it on the table and started to empty the contents, he looked at Eckhardt and his men. "Come on lads, tuck in."

Actor laid his basket on the table, more food and wine joined the food much to the thief's delight and he lost no time pouring out the welcome beverage in the glasses provided.

Garrison scanned the room and then looked at Casino. "Where's Chief?"

The safecracker nodded towards the back room. "Poor kid was out on his feet after all that drivin'. When we got back from hidin' the ambulance I told him to take a rest in there. I checked on him not long ago, he's out like a light, give him a couple hours, I'll make sure Goniff don't eat all the food."

Garrison took some food and wine for himself, sat down on in a comfortable chair and enjoyed the welcome meal and rest. Actor took up guard duty by the window while Casino, Goniff and Eckhardt's team settled down as best they could.

The arrival of Jean-Claude and the doctor woke Garrison from the doze he'd fallen into, he roused himself and got up to greet the visitors. "Hello Doc it's good to see you again." The warmth of his greeting was heartfelt, the doctor had tended to Garrison's broken leg and done what he could for Chief when he wasn't expected to survive the torture he'd suffered taking Garrison's place

The doctor put down the large bag of medical supplies he'd brought with him, looked Garrison up and down and shook his hand warmly. "I'm pleased to see you too, how is your leg?"

"It's good, thanks." Garrison waved a hand at Eckhardt's team. "I've got some more customers for you."

The doctor walked over and cast a professional eye over the wounded men, he opened his bag and started his ministrations. Half an hour later he stepped back satisfied he'd done all he could. "Nothing too serious here, they'll be fine after a few weeks' rest." He looked at Garrison. "Jean-Claude told me your man survived his injuries, a miracle considering how badly hurt he was. Where is he?"

"He's sleeping, I'll go get him." Garrison walked to the back room, opened the door and looked in to see Chief lying motionless on his back on the bed. Suddenly the memory of the previous time they were here swept over him, the vision of his gravely injured scout rose unbidden before his eyes, he saw the terrible wounds that had been inflicted on him, the multitude of deep, bloody slashes on his body, the smell of burnt flesh, antiseptic cream and disinfectant once again assailed his nostrils, he gasped and almost gagged.

Chief's eyes flew open, he saw his brother's distress, rose quickly and rushed to his side. "You okay Craig? What's wrong?"

Garrison leaned against the door jamb and composed himself. "I'm fine, it was a shock seeing you here on that bed in this room."

Chief's eyes narrowed in thought and then he realised. "This is the room I was in when you brought me back ain't it?" Garrison nodded. Chief put his hand on his brother's arm and gave it a small squeeze. "I don't remember bein' here but you do 'n it still bothers you don't it Ánaaí?"

Garrison shook his head and tried to brush aside the thoughts. "It's not as bad as it was, I'll be alright, give me a second and don't worry." He took a deep breath, turned and lead the way into the other room. "This is the doctor who treated you."

Chief reached out and clasped the doctor's hand with both of his. "Thank you, merci, doc."

The doctor looked at Garrison. "I'm glad he survived."

Garrison's mouth curled up into a small, crooked smile. "So am I, he married my little sister and they've got a baby on the way."

The doctor's face beamed. "Marvellous, it's wonderful to hear of new life in all this death and destruction. My congratulations to him and your sister." Garrison translated what the doctor said.

Chief smiled, nodded his thanks and then wandered over to the table to find out if there was anything left to eat. Casino grinned as he held out a plate piled with food. "Here you go Geronimo, I had ta fight ta keep Goniff away from it. I saved you some wine too."

Chief's mind flew back to an earlier mission to blow up a munitions factory in Metz, Casino, Actor and Goniff had got him and Garrison passed-out drunk on wine and brandy because they were too injured to participate in blowing the place up, he remembered the horrendous hangover that had lasted days. "Is it red?"

Casino poured out a glassful and held it up. "Yeah."

Chief shook his head. "Got any water?"

Garrison, Actor, Eckhardt and Jean-Claude cleared the table and took out a map, cigarettes were passed out and lit as they studied it. The Frenchman sighed. "Louis says the Germans are increasing their security, they're inspecting every fishing boat before it leaves to make sure they are carrying no extra passengers. They may have been tipped off we've been using Ouistreham to smuggle out allied soldiers. We might have managed getting one or two through but it will be impossible to do with nine, especially with your wounded men."

Eckhardt looked up. "Leave us here Garrison, take your men and go. We'll manage."

Garrison shook his head. "No, we go together or not at all. I'm not leaving anyone behind."

Actor breathed out a cloud of smoke as he considered the possible escape routes. "We could go further west to Saint Malo, Saint-Brieuc or Brest and hope to catch a boat from there."

Garrison ground out his cigarette. "No, Eckhardt's team won't be able to travel that far and the possibilities of discovery are too great, the SS wouldn't be escorting prisoners in that direction."

Eckhardt banged the table in frustration. "What we need is a miracle!"

Garrison straightened up. "What we need is a dragon."

Eckhardt looked at the Lieutenant as if he was mad. "A what?"

Garrison stabbed a point north-west of Caen on the map with his finger. "Look at the coast between Arromanches-les-Bains and Courseulles-sur-Mer, it's nothing but empty beach. The Dragon could land close to the shore where there's no danger of mines, pick us up and take off without any problem. She more than big enough to take all of us and we know the Krauts won't fire on one of their own planes."

Actor nodded. "I agree, it's the best alternative we have."

Casino piped up from where he was sitting and listening to the conversation. "Oh yeah, ain't seen that ugly flyin' canoe inna while. I hope those Limey fly boys have been takin' good care o' her."

Eckhardt was now certain that Garrison and his men were crazy or drunk. "A dragon? Have you had too much wine or something Lieutenant? You know dragons aren't real don't you?"

Casino threw back his head and laughed. "Oh this one's real alright babe. She's a Kraut Sea Dragon, a flyin' boat, the Warden 'n Geronimo stole her from the Krauts a few months ago, she's come in pretty useful since then."

Goniff picked up a piece of bread and enthusiastically slapped a slice of sausage on it. "Great, I don't hafta worry 'bout feeding no fishes." He took a huge bite and happily chewed confidant in the thought he wouldn't be seeing his food for a second time.

Eckhardt knew when he was out of his depth, he looked at his men and shrugged. "It appears we're going home in a dragon."

Garrison snatched up a piece of paper, wrote quickly on it and handed it to Jean-Claude. "Can you radio these instructions?"

The Frenchman nodded. "I'll be back in an hour or so."

Garrison looked at his men. "We can rest until he gets back."

Chief walked over, took Garrison by the arm and turned him towards the door. "Uh uh, you 'n me got somewhere to go first."

"You two need company?" asked Casino as he sipped on a glass of wine.

"No, this is somethin' we gotta do on our own," replied Chief over his shoulder. "We're takin' the car, won't be long."

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The car pulled up in a derelict area just outside Caen, Chief switched off the engine, got out and waited for Garrison to do the same. He watched as his brother looked around trying to work out where they were. "You recognise this place Craig?"

Garrison stared at the ruins and gradually realised where Chief had brought him. "This is the interrogation centre we were taken to, this is where you were..." He paused, unable to go on.

"Tortured, I can say it 'n so can you Craig." Chief looked around at what was left of the building. "Those Kraut bastards nearly killed me 'n you got me home. You 'n me are still standin', this place ain't but it's still got a hold on us, come with me Ánaaí." Craig watched as Rainey walked into the debris of the bombed out building, he followed the slim, dark-haired man as he picked his way into the heart of the wreckage, eventually he stopped and looked around intently.

Rainey scanned the area, he closed his eyes and freed his senses to roam the now roofless rooms and corridors where he'd once felt and heard the tormented spirits of all the prisoners the Germans had interrogated, tortured and killed. He couldn't feel the souls that had once howled and pulled at him trying to drag him into their realm, they'd been set free when the Navajos blew the place up in revenge for what the Germans had done to their unofficial leader. He heard his brother approach and stand next to him, he opened his eyes. "They're at peace now Craig, we gotta be too."

Rainey bent down, picked up a piece of rubble, tossed it in the air and then threw it as far as he could into the ruins. He picked up another piece and gave it to Craig. "Do the same, throw this place away so it can't come back 'n haunt us any more."

Garrison looked at the stone in his hand, he put all his worries, hate and anger into it and threw it with all his strength, he looked at his brother. "When did you get to be so wise Atsilí?"

Rainey gave a small smile. "I figured Estsanatlehi, had a plan for me when she arranged for you to cross my path in Attica. She knew you'd save me 'n we'd become brothers. You 'n me, we got a future Craig, wives 'n kids, things to look forward to." He turned to lead the way back to the car. "Let's go 'n leave all this in the past where it belongs."

As he walked away Craig felt that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Rainey's words had had a deep effect on him. He knew his brother wasn't religious, the priests and nuns at the missionary school had beaten that out of him, during his turbulent life he'd already been through hell and didn't fear it as they had tried to teach him. Instead Rainey had become deeply spiritual, all he'd suffered had given him a unique attitude to life that Craig was now beginning to understand, respect and appreciate.