Chapter 6 – Fight or Flight

The sun was coming up, seagulls took to the chill, early morning air and whirled around in protest as a German ambulance stopped on a dirt track near the beach halfway between Arromanches-les-Bains and Courseulles-sur-Mer. Garrison got out and watched as Actor, Goniff and Casino helped Eckhardt and his men climb out and set off in the direction of the sand dunes by the beach. They'd left the staff car behind in the hope that one, solitary vehicle might not be spotted.

Chief hefted a Schmeisser over one shoulder and his sniper rifle over the other, he scanned the terrain and frowned. "Somethin' don't feel right, those birds ain't settlin' back down again."

Garrison looked at the bleak terrain. "It could be a fox."

Chief faced into the wind that was blowing offshore. "Don't think foxes smoke cigarettes, there's a patrol camped out there 'n they don't know we're here yet, they will once they hear the Dragon come in. They might wanna investigate what's happenin'. How long we got 'til they get here?"

Garrison glanced at his watch. "About an hour." He reached for his own weapon. "Eckhardt and his men will be easy targets when we get them on that beach. We have to do something."

Chief's attention was suddenly fixed on a small movement in the distance, his eyes narrowed as he focussed on the distant figures. "I'll do the somethin', you go 'n make sure everyone gets on that plane."

Garrison followed the direction of his scout's gaze but couldn't see anything. "What are you planning on doing?"

Chief gave a small smile and patted his sniper rifle. "I'll go pay 'em a friendly visit."

Garrison took hold of his brother's arm and looked him in the eye. "Make sure to get your ass back here and on that plane. I said I'm not going to leave anyone behind and I mean it. I'm not going without you again, Trish would definitely kill me." Chief nodded and silently vanished into the bleak countryside.

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Eckhardt and his men settled down as low as they could among the dunes while Actor, Goniff and Casino took up station around them and kept watch for the Dragon. Garrison joined the group, knelt down and kept scanning the countryside inland.

"Where's Geronimo?" asked Casino, he took out a pack of cigarettes and passed them around.

"He saw a Kraut patrol out there, he's making sure they don't bother us." Garrison took a cigarette and lit it. "This is how he knew they were here in the first place, he could smell tobacco smoke."

"I swear that Indian's part huntin' dog." declared the safecracker.

Goniff looked at his cigarette. "Should we be lightin' up, won't the Jerries smell us too?"

Garrison shook his head. "No, the wind's in the wrong direction for a start, we should be safe for now."

Eckhardt took a puff on his cigarette. "You let Chief go on his own? One man against a patrol of maybe six or ten men, what were you thinking Lieutenant?"

"Chief moves fast and quiet," Garrison looked back inland. "I'd never be able to keep up with him without alerting the patrol to our presence. He's better off on his own."

Casino let out a short laugh. "Only six or ten Krauts? No sweat, Geronimo's got 'em surrounded 'n outnumbered ain't he Limey?"

Goniff smiled and nodded. "Yeah, those Jerries don't stand a chance."

Actor had been scanning the horizon, he saw the small dot appear and head towards them. "The Dragon's on approach Warden."

Garrison looked at his watch. "They're early."

Eckhardt watched the flying boat bank to fly parallel to the shoreline. "It's not a problem is it? The sooner we get out of here the better."

"It's no problem for us here but the Germans will have heard it and they'll mobilise fast." Actor took a glance at Garrison's worried face. "Do you think Chief's had time to get in position?"

Garrison shook his head. "I doubt it, they were some way off."

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Chief settled down and sighted down the scope of his sniper rifle, he knew he should have got closer but time was against him. He took careful aim, breathed in and swore softly as the familiar drone of the flying boat reached his ears. He looked out to sea and saw the familiar outline of the triple-engined craft as it lost altitude and started its approach.

Shouts from the temporary camp brought Chief's attention back to the patrol, they were pointing at the Dragon, grabbing their weapons and climbing into the two trucks parked nearby. Chief took aim once more and squeezed the trigger, the nearest vehicle jolted as a tyre blew out, he reloaded, took aim and fired again sending a soldier whirling around and dropping to the ground.

The remaining solders climbed into the second truck and it headed off at speed before Chief could get off another shot. There was nothing more he could do to delay the patrol, he scrambled to his feet and set off at a dead run back to the beach.

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The Sea Dragon splashed down in the choppy surf, turned and surged towards the shore. It sank lower in the water as the engines throttled back and momentum carried it close to the beach where it bobbed up and down gently in the waves facing the beach, the side hatch was thrown open and a crew member beckoned for everyone to wade out the short distance.

The team helped Eckhardt and his men to the plane, the crewman reached out and hauled them into the spacious fuselage where they were made comfortable. The pilot turned in his seat and yelled, "Is that everyone?"

"No." Actor was hanging halfway out the hatch, he shook his head and turned to see Garrison who was standing in knee-deep water looking inland with his rifle in his hand. "We're a man short, he's stopping a German patrol from getting here."

The pilot turned back and took hold of the yoke. "Tell your guy out there to get in now, we're going." He froze as he felt the cold barrel of a pistol nestle in the hair behind his ear.

Casino bent down and leaned forward, his voice was low and threatening. "We ain't goin' nowhere babe. You see that guy out there?" the pilot nodded carefully. "Well he 'n the guy we're waitin' for stole this plane from the Krauts, without 'em you'd be sitting on your ass in some airfield waitin' to go on some borin' milk run, ain't this a whole lot better?" Again the pilot nodded. "So we're gonna wait for Chief to turn up, if it's a choice between fight or flight we'll fight first 'n fly second, you understand me Fly Boy?"

Seconds later the sound of shooting was heard, Garrison let out a yell and pointed inland as Chief suddenly appeared hotly pursued by a German truck, now they were on level ground the vehicle was rapidly gaining on the scout. Soldiers were trying to take aim at the fleeing figure who was desperately zig-zagging in front of them.

Actor leapt into the sea and quickly joined Garrison, they raised their weapons and waited. Casino peered through the front window and grimaced. "Looks like we're fightin'"

The pilot made a quick decision, he turned to the safecracker. "Tell your men out there to drop, now!" he ordered, he turned and looked at his second officer with a grin. "Shall we join the party Alec?"

"Yes Sir!" The second scrambled forward and took up station in the bow-positioned turret.

Casino leaned out of the hatch and yelled at the top of his voice, Garrison and Actor looked at each other and quickly fell to their knees in the waves. Chief wondered what was happening and then threw himself facedown flat on the ground as the Dragon's single 20mm cannon opened fire with an ear shattering roar, he felt the rush of air as the shell passed low overhead to slam into the truck and blow it to pieces. He rolled over, propped himself up on his elbows and stared in dazed disbelief at the Dragon and then what was left of the truck.

Garrison rose to his feet, waded ashore, ran over and held out a hand. "You okay?"

Chief reached up and allowed himself to be hauled to his feet. "Yeah, I think so. Ask me again when I can hear better."

Inside the Dragon Casino grinned and slapped the second officer heartily on the back. "Nice shootin' babe!" He turned to the pilot. "Didn't I tell ya this was a whole lot better than milk runs? Now we can get the hell outta here."

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Two RAF Spitfires intercepted the Dragon halfway across the English Channel and escorted her the rest of the way to Portsmouth, she waggled her wings in thanks and began her descent as the two fighters peeled away. She landed in a cloud of spray, taxied up to the dock and moored at the end of a low ramp to allow her passengers to disembark.

An ambulance was waiting to transport Eckhardt and his team to the nearest hospital, the Captain waited as his men climbed aboard, turned to Garrison and held out his hand. "Thank you Lieutenant, you and your men were remarkable, I'll put that in my report. Do you still want me to tell the truth about Lucas?"

Garrison nodded as they shook hands. "Yes Sir. If the full truth is told there'll be no discrepancies in our reports, they'll be identical and there won't be anything the General or anyone else can say about it."

Eckhardt frowned. "Aren't you worried about what General Fremont will do? What about your men?"

Garrison turned to look at his four cons lounging around the dock in the late morning sunshine. "We'll be fine, it won't be the first time Fremont's come after us and it won't be the last, we can look after ourselves, plus we have Major Richards watching our backs."

"Have it your way then." The captain saluted, turned and joined his men in the ambulance.

Goniff squinted at the disappearing ambulance and then looked at Garrison. "How are we getting' home Warden? I reckon it's over a hundred 'n thirty miles to Colchester, we hitchhikin'?

Garrison gave the team a huge grin. "Why walk when you can fly? The pilot's offered us a lift home in the Dragon."

"Alright!" shouted Casino as he turned and headed back down the ramp.

The team settled back in their seats in the fuselage and waited for take-off, the pilot walked over and looked at Garrison. "Your man here told me it was you and your scout who 'procured' this plane for us."

Garrison nodded. "Stole her out from under the Germans' noses in Hamburg when we were on a mission."

The pilot smiled and waved at the two front seats. "I've had enough flying for one day, would you like to take her out and fly us to Colchester? I can take her back to base from there."

"Would I?" Garrison's delighted expression made everyone smile, he addressed his passengers. "Next stop will be the River Colne and the Red Dragon Pub, first round's on me!" He turned to Chief and pointed to the other seat. "Come on, you're still my co-pilot."

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Music was coming very faintly from Major Richard's office as Casino walked down the corridor, he quietly opened the door and entered. The outer office was empty but he could hear someone moving around in the Major's room and humming to the big band music playing on the radio. The safecracker grinned and walked over to stand in the doorway.

A large pile of documents was on Richards' desk and Jeri was busy doing the filing, she had her back to him and was deeply engrossed in her work and listening to the programme. Casino noticed she'd kicked off her shoes and was dancing in her stocking feet, he leaned against the door jamb, crossed his arms and watched as she wiggled and swayed in time to the music. The next song was a jive, his grin grew wider as she booped the filing cabinet drawer shut with a swing of her hip. He stayed quiet until the last document was stored away in the bottom drawer which was then pushed shut by a swinging foot. Jeri twirled and stopped dead as she saw she had unexpected company, her cheeks coloured a fetching shade of red. "Rudy! I didn't know you were back."

Casino straightened up, took a step across the office, reached out a hand and twirled Jeri into his embrace. "Just arrived honey, got a lift home in the Dragon. Garrison 'n the team are in the pub but I had ta come here 'n see you first." He lifted Jeri's chin with a gentle finger, bent his head and gave her a passionate kiss. "When you finished?" he asked huskily.

Jeri reached up and curled the rebellious lock of hair that always dangled over the safecracker's forehead. "The Major's in London and I haven't got anything else to do today, so I guess I'm all yours."

"Great." Casino turned and lead her into the outer office. "Go 'n dress your feet babe, I'm takin' you out for a late lunch or an early dinner." He paused. "Unless you got the makin's of your dumplin's back at your place." Jeri gave him a knowing smile. "Dumplin's it is."