Acuntae led the Basterds and children deep into the woods and towards a small stream. Aldo never took his eyes off the defensive female and tried to fathom on what she was up to.
"I'm not going to kill you," Acuntae said simply as if she had read all of Aldo's thoughts, "You're not worth it."
Donny side glanced the girl and had to hand it to the girl, she had guts. Aldo on the other hand took out his bowie knife and said,"How can we trust you?"
Acuntae looked at Aldo with a bored look and said, "For starters you better put that knife away or else you're gonna loose more than your stick and two stones."
Aldo stared in shock at the girl who ignored his expression completely.
"Secondly, I would have shot all of you dead when I had the chance which was back in the field where I had saved your lives."
"We didn't ask you too."
"No... you didn't have too."
Donny swung his bat onto his shoulder and said, "Where you from Girly?"
"America," Acuntae said, "Ohio to be exact."
The Basterds just gawked at Acuntae who knelt down and placed her hand in the water. She looked at the children and her expression softened as she said, "L'eau est sûre."
The children were still edgy but moved to the stream and started to take small sips and rub the water into their hair.
"Fresh stream," Acuntae said. Donny's throat was parched but he didn't do anything. Acuntae looked at Donny and said, "You can drink you know."
Donny was ready to ask her how she knew but Acuntae merely said, "You're expression was clear."
Acuntae moved away from the group and then kicked away a large brush to reveal two thick wooden doors.
"Coming?"
The children all moved towards Acuntae but the Basterds all looked at Aldo for orders.
"Do you think we can trust her?" Donny asked, "Strange fucking girl."
Aldo looked at Acuntae who was patiently waiting for them.
"She is strange," Aldo said he then moved away from his comrades and walked up to Acuntae.
"You coming?" she asked.
"One move Girly," Aldo warned, "And I'll scalp you myself."
Acuntae leaned in and said, "One move, and you'll be fetching more than one stick."
With that Acunate turned on her heel and then walked down the bunker's stairs. Aldo motioned his Basterds to follow.
Inside the bunker it was a mildly warm temperature, the walls were covered with metal and a small fire crackled heartily in the middle. Donny was mildly impressed by the knife collection that was set to the side while Aldo didn't seem to happy about it all. A small shovel was placed near a cleanly dug hole and Acuntae appeared with a few plates.
"Where the hell did you find this bunker?" Donny asked.
"Abandoned, five months ago," Acuntae explained, "Found the owner half decomposed clearly shot a few times."
Donny looked to see the children huddled around the fire.
"You gonna help or gawk like an asshole?"
Donny turned to see Acuntae turn and crawl through the hole. He decided to follow while the other Basterds took their seats.
"Come on soldier boy!" Acuntae's voice echoed frm the hole. Donny peered into the hole and then walked through. He cursed immediately as his head had hit on the of the boards that outlined the small tunnel. He followed it until he came to another part of the bunker which was where a slightly bigger fire burned with a pot over top. Acuntae was stirring the pots contents with a metal spoon. Acuntae caught Donny's surprised expression immediately even in the dim fire light and she smiled, "Wanna say something?"
"Did you build this?"
Acuntae shook her head and then hesitated, "Half, it was already partially done by the first owner. I had to re-dig the tunnel and made this room more secure."
Donny moved over to the pots and peered in, the smells made his mouth water. Acuntae opened a small chest and took out a few more bowls and rummaged around for spoons.
"So Ohio huh?" Donny asked.
"Yeah, and?"
"You're accent...it isn't American."
"You spend time with Germans...something bound to change."
"And you're parents?"
"One's Canadian and the other is American. How about you hot shot?"
Donny shrugged and said, "American."
"Gotta girl?"
"Back home," Donny said proudly.
"Which would be where?"
"Boston."
Acuntae rose with the spoons and said, "Explains much."
Donny frowned and then said, "So what the hell are you doing in Germany?"
"My business," Acuntae said sternly, "Go back."
Donny took the utensils and bowls then went back through the tunnel and he heard Acuntae rustle some more.
Back in the main art of the bunker Hugo was sitting cleaning his bowie knife while Utivich was sitting next to the kids. Donny handed out the bowls and then listened as Acuntae's footsteps echoed from the tunnel then came into the main part. She started to dowel out the stew and saw Aldo's weary look.
"It isn't poisoned," Acuntae said.
They all ate in silence and Acuntae watched the children eat at top speed as if they had never been fed in their lives.
"D'où êtes-vous?" Acuntae asked.
"Village," the girl replied timidly clearly intimidated by the men with the guns and knives.
"Où?"
The children looked at each other clearly unknowledgeable of their village.
"Est cela sur la périphérie des bois?"
The small boy gave a small nod and then Acuntae turned to the Basterds.
"Their village isn't far then," Acuntae explained, "Probably a few mile hike, I'll take them tomorrow."
"We'll come with you," Aldo said, "For protection."
Acuntae snorted and said, "I believe that it was I who had saved you. I don't need your protection."
Aldo was ready to reply when Donny quickly said, "WE might find some Nazi's on the way, never know."
"I can take care of myself."
"My men owe me hundred scalps," Aldo said firmly, "We're coming with you Girly."
"Alright," Acuntae said then she added, "As long as you stop fucking calling me Girly.
Outside Acuntae led the way with the kids right behind her. The Basterds on the other hand were scattered some walked a head while some stayed behind the kids.
"There is something about her," Donny muttered to no one in particular. But Utivich was only a few centimeters away from him and he heard.
"You jealous?" Utivich asked innocently.
"Jealous?" Donny cried, "What the fuck would I be jealous about?"
"The fact that a teenage girl saved your lame ass."
Donny's face turned scarlet but he shook his head and replied, "No she has fighting skills sure, but she ain't better than me!"
Donny swung his bat and it cracked against a nearby tree. Utivich shook his head and started to walk forward.
"Keep up," Acuntae called behind her. Aldo didn't seem to impressed but didn't reply.
As they came closer the smell of smoke burnt their nostrils and it was Donny who was the first one to spot the dark smoke in the sky.
"This isn't right," Acuntae muttered. She grabbed the knife strapped to the side and heard the Basterds cock their guns.
"Vehicle!" Acuntae hissed. Everyone dove for the nearest brush and listened as a large van roared by. The children were all terrified out of their wits and Acuntae cautiously peered through the brush.
"All clear," she said getting up. The Basterds rose bu the children were frozen to the ground.
"Come on," Donny said grabbing the boy's arm and hauling him up. The children's fear factor was still there but they slowly trod along. Donny moved the children forward and looked up only to see the horrified looks on his comrades and Acuntae's faces. He turned to what they were looking at and felt bile creep up in his throat. Before them was a great bonfire that was blazing wildly and what fueled the flames were bodies.