Chapter 12
Amanda removed the towel from Lee's shoulders and handed him the mirror. "There, all done. What do you think?"
With trepidation, he studied his new haircut. "Hell, Amanda, you practically scalped me."
She bit her lip at the reprimand. "Well, what did you expect with a pair of dull scissors and an electric razor? Honestly, Lee, I did my best. At least I left it long on top and in the back."
"I know, I know," he said, trying to soften his tone. "I'm sorry. Today's a big day, and we're both a little tense."
"Yes, I guess we're feeling the pressure." Amanda quickly put on a bright smile and took refuge behind her cheery façade. "Well, pal, it's time for you to have your first shower."
"Yeah, it's long overdue." He eyed her skeptically, wondering what she had in mind. "I hope you aren't planning to baby me. Really, I can manage showering on my own."
"Well, of course, you can," she replied with a telltale blush. "I'm certainly not getting in there with you."
"Good," he said, a bit too gruffly. "At least we agree on something."
"Come on," she huffed, not meeting his gaze. "Let's get you moving."
Lee winced as Amanda helped him from the bed. Putting pressure on his bad ankle sent a shockwave of pain pulsating through his foot. "Damn."
"Take it easy, Lee," his sidekick said, as she kept a firm arm wrapped around his waist. "You can lean on me. I'm a lot stronger than I look."
"Yeah, I bet. Another two feet, and we'll both be falling on the floor in a heap."
Amanda sighed and tightened her hold. "I wish we had a few more days, so you could gain back your strength."
"Well, yeah, but escape attempts from communist countries don't usually guarantee ideal circumstances."
"I know that, Lee."
Taking a few more steps, he began to gain some confidence. The injured ankle may just hold, if he held onto Amanda or the wall for support. However, it was an arduous trek to the bathroom, and his grumpiness grew with each step.
Amanda held the door open for him. "I've laid out a towel and some clean clothes for you on the commode. Call me if you need anything."
"Thanks." He nodded tersely, eager to have his privacy. As she stepped back, he gave the door a shove, and it closed with an unnecessary bang.
Hell, why was he being so hard on Amanda? She didn't deserve the extra burden of dealing with Scarecrow at his worst.
Turning on the shower, he slipped off his pajamas and stepped into the pulsating stream of water. It felt wonderful to wash his hair and cleanse his body completely. Closing his eyes to the luxury, he suddenly howled when the temperature dropped. Damn it. He'd run out of hot water.
Immediately, he heard the bathroom door creak open and a raspy voice call to him. "Lee, are you all right?"
"Fine, I'm just fine," he growled. "Hell, Amanda, you didn't leave me any hot water."
"I'm sorry," she defended. "I only took a very short shower. I'll heat you some water on the stove."
"Forget it, just forget it."
Lee's frustration was firmly in place when he tackled the challenge of dressing. The effort only served to stimulate a spasm of coughing. His patience was teetering on edge, when another knock sounded on the bathroom door. "I don't need to be mothered," he yelled. "You can stop playing nursemaid. Please, give me a break."
"Lee, open the door. I want to give you something for your hacking cough. It seems much worse now that you're up and around."
"I'm fine, Amanda," he called through the closed door. "Just give it a rest, will you?" Tossing the damp towel over the rim of the tub, Lee struggled with his boxers and blue jeans. He could still hear his devoted keeper hovering outside the bathroom. If Amanda had her way, she'd have him checked into a rest home when they got back to Washington.
Grabbing his gray sweatshirt off the commode, he jerked open the door, only to be overcome by another fit of coughing.
"I brought you some cough syrup," Amanda offered, as she held out a spoonful of purple liquid. Stepping back, she stood frozen in place, obviously bracing for another Scarecrow outburst.
"Amanda, I'm not taking that crap. Now cool it, please. I want to finish getting dressed." Reaching for the wall to maintain his balance, Lee steadied himself before slowly moving away from his helpmate. Just getting up to shower had sapped all his strength.
"Please, don't be stubborn," she called to his retreating back. "Lee, you look terrible."
Amanda's weary sigh only served to increase his guilt. Nevertheless, the grouchy Scarecrow continued to ignore her concern as he soldiered on alone.
Collapsing heavily on the bed, Lee pulled the sweatshirt over his head and struggled to ease his arms into the sleeves. Even then, he was keenly aware of Amanda standing in the doorway. Looking up, he caught the worry and sorrow in her face, before she graced him with a tentative smile.
"Hey," he offered, by way of apology.
"Hey, yourself." She hesitated for a beat. "Ah, would you like something to eat? I made meatloaf."
Ignoring her offer, Lee patted the space next to him, inviting her to sit down. "Listen, I'm sorry," he said, as she cautiously sat by his side. "I shouldn't be so rough on you." Reaching to take her hand, he settled it in his lap and stroked a thumb across her knuckles. "I guess I'm concerned about tonight. I have serious doubts about my readiness for an escape attempt."
Seeing her about to protest, he placed a finger to her lips. "Amanda, I want you to go without me."
"No," she said emphatically. "I won't leave you behind."
"Listen, partner, I'll only jeopardize your safety." Watching a tear slide down her cheek, he paused to wipe it away with the cuff of his sweatshirt.
"Lee, we're so close to going home. We have a plan in place."
"What plan, Amanda? When you talked to your contact, he was concerned about helping a disabled American spy across the border. Only later was he informed of the need to take two Americans. You, he can probably hide, but not both of us. It's just too damn risky."
"Lee, we take risks all the time."
"Amanda, you have no idea how difficult our escape attempt will be." Feeling her left hand squeeze his thigh, he put his arm around her shoulders and held her close. "You've gone above and beyond the call of duty for me, and you've brought me back from the brink of death. Now that I'm healing, it's time for you to go home to your family. I promise, I'll work out something with other contacts. Hey, I may be just a few days behind you."
Turning to study him, Amanda tapped a finger against his chest. "Just give it a chance, Lee, please. Talk to Tamas before you decide. He wouldn't offer, if he didn't believe it would work. Besides, where would you sleep tonight? You certainly can't stay here."
Shaking his head doubtfully, Lee refused to meet her eyes. "We'll see, Amanda. We'll see."
She slid a delicate hand across his back and rose to go. "Get some sleep, Lee. Things may seem better when you're less fatigued."
As she silently retreated, he laid back to rest, hoping a nap would revive him. Maybe things would look more hopeful if he could shake the bone aching weariness.
It seemed like he'd barely closed his eyes when he heard a knock on the front door. A glance at the clock told him he'd actually slept for three more hours.
Within seconds, Amanda appeared in the doorway, with a guest in tow. Smiling, she made the introductions. "Lee, this is Tamas Lazer. Tamas, this is my partner, Lee Stetson."
Lee struggled to sit up, before politely extending his hand. "Have a seat, Lazer," he said, pointing to the straight back chair.
Tamas humbly nodded as he shook hands and eased his tall body onto the seat.
"Well," Amanda said, a tad too brightly, "I'll leave you two to talk."
Silently, the American and the Hungarian took each other's measure. The old man appeared more like a benign grandfather than an active opposition member to the current government. Waiting until Amanda disappeared into the kitchen, Lee raised the subject of his limitations.
"Mr. Lazar, I'm very grateful for your offer to sneak us across the border. However, I do have doubts about risking the lives of you and my partner to save myself. The priority is getting Amanda King safely back to the United States. I don't want my disabilities jeopardizing the success of the escape."
"Ah, Mr. Stetson, I have made allowances for your illness and injuries. I have rigged a farm truck with a false bed. You will be enclosed under the fake floor, and no one will be the wiser. It will not be comfortable, but it will keep you out of sight."
Lee was skeptical. "Certainly the guards are aware of other attempts to hide people in vehicles. If they search and find me, you and Amanda will be handed over to the communists, too."
"I agree, Mr. Stetson. It is a risk." Tamas studied the worn hat still clutched in his gnarled fingers. "However, this is Hungary, not East Germany. We have more freedom to come and go. I have been across the border many times with real and fake visas. Our soldiers refer to their quarters as the 'Happy Barracks.' Their assignments are not perceived as life threatening, along the border to Austria."
"Yes, I know. I had no trouble getting into the country. But now, I'm a wanted American spy. The authorities have also figured out Amanda's identity. If the guards realize who we are, they certainly won't be laying down a red carpet for us." Lee shook his head vigorously, determined to make his point. "I still think it will be safer for you and my partner to leave me behind."
"It may be, Mr. Stetson, but how will you feel if Mrs. King goes without you, and she is the one who is caught? I can give you no guarantees. It will be dangerous, but well worth the risk. As for me, I have friends in Austria. They will be glad to take me in until it is safe to return to Hungary." Tamas stood and began to pace, concern etched on his face. "I need your answer, my friend. If we are going, we need to go now."
Amanda appeared in the doorway and quickly came to stand by Lee, putting a protective arm around his shoulders. "We're going."
Reluctantly nodding his head, Lee raised his eyes to Amanda. "Okay, let's do it."
Tamas smiled at the jubilant Mrs. King. "Very good! Now, this is what will happen. We will travel by car until we get closer to the Austrian border, where I have left my truck. My hope is that Mr. Stetson will not have to remain immobile under the false floor for more than thirty minutes. It will be difficult, but I have made air holes in the deck for him to breath. Mrs. King, you will have to ride in the cab with me. I have fake visas for grandfather and grandson, so we have to disguise you as a young male. Our papers give us permission to buy parts in Austria for our farm equipment. We will appear at their border exactly when the sun is coming up."
Amanda looked at her partner and saw his nod of consent. "Okay," she said, "let's get this show on the road."
SMK SMK SMK
The silent trio rode through the tranquil, Hungarian countryside. Lee dozed on the back seat of Tamas' sedan, with his head resting on Amanda's shoulder. He was unaware that his exhausted companion sat wide-eyed beside him, trying to conjure up positive thoughts about going home."There's no place like home. There's no place like home." Amanda quietly recited the familiar phrase from "The Wizard of Oz."
"If only wishing could make it happen, Scarecrow," she murmured as she stroked his hand that rested on her knee. Giving herself a mental shake, she reached to adjust her disguise. The boy's cap was pulled tightly down to her ears, and she repeatedly checked to be sure every bit of hair was hidden from view.
Tamas pulled off the main road and followed a rutted dirt driveway to a quaint farmhouse. Everything appeared pitch black, except for a sliver of moonlight and the headlights of the small car. An elderly couple instantly appeared on the tiny porch, waving a lantern to signal all plans were still on schedule.
Amanda gently nudged Lee, brushing her delicate fingers through his hair. "We're here, sweetheart." She stated the endearment with conviction, and he smiled back at her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Unfolding his long frame from the small car, Lee automatically slipped an arm around Amanda's slim shoulders, permitting her to steady him as they followed the Hungarians into the house for a final review of the plans. The kindly farmer and his wife reveled in the rare opportunity to show off their gracious hospitality to Americans.
"I bet she's been baking for hours," Lee whispered, grinning at the enticing array of cakes and breads awaiting their appetites. "Just like someone else I know."
"Well, we need to fatten you up. You're practically skin and bones." Amanda watched with merriment while Lee charmed the stout, matronly woman with his best Stetson smile.
When the brief respite ended, the troop headed for the barn to prepare for the most dangerous part of their journey. Leading the way, Tamas and the farmer proudly invited the agents to inspect their ingenious make-over of an old farm truck.
Encircling the vehicle several times, the skeptical Americans slid their hands over the wooden slat sides and tailgate. The ancient trailer was attached securely to a black metal cab. Even the critical eyes of Scarecrow and Mrs. King concluded the fake floor fit seamlessly into the bed of the truck. Nodding in agreement, Lee and Amanda both turned to give the inventors their enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"The time has arrived, my friends." Tamas motioned for them to start the final leg of their trip. "Koszonom," he said, as he graciously thanked his host and hostess. Then kissing the man and his wife on both cheeks, he stepped aside to allow the Americans to repeat the ritual. With the weight of the escape resting heavily on his shoulders, Tamas impatiently gestured toward Scarecrow, signaling for the agent to take his place in the false floor.
Moving to the rear of the truck, Amanda reached for Lee's hand, keeping her gaze focused on the ground. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears that she didn't want him to see.
Lee entwined their fingers together, before pausing to pull her into one last embrace. "Hey, we're going to be fine," he whispered as he rocked her back and forth in a comforting motion.
"Yes, we'll see each other soon," Amanda replied, with a catch in her throat. She sniffled, unable to hide her emotions any longer.
For a brief moment, they looked into each other's eyes, silently relying words, not yet spoken. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but the declarations stuck in her throat. "Lee, I want you to know something."
"I know, Amanda. The same goes here." Holding her firmly against his body, he gently brushed his lips through her hair.
A loud cough came from Tamas. "Okay, folks. We must leave now or call the whole thing off."
Lee released his grip and silently stepped away. With a great deal of effort, he hoisted himself onto the bed of the truck and prepared to lie in the hidden compartment. He looked at Amanda longingly, before lowering himself into the hole.
While the men struggled to maneuver the fake floor into place, Amanda peered through the slats of the truck, hoping for one more glimpse of Lee. Unintended for her eyes, she detected the brief flicker of fear that flashed across his face. She could well imagine his anguish as he relinquished all control. He was helpless to save himself, or anyone, for that matter. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she prayed Lee wouldn't suffocate in the hideous coffin-like contraption.
The two Hungarian men loaded bales of hay and an assortment of farm tools over the fake floor, successfully hiding all traces of the concealed compartment. When the tailgate was secured, Tamas placed his fingers to his mouth and let out a shrill whistle.
Suddenly the front door of the farm house banged open, and Suzie came bounding across the yard.
The grand dog leaped high in the air and flew effortlessly into the back of the truck. As her paws landed on the bed of the trailer, a muffled "oomph" sounded from beneath the floor.
"It's okay," Tamas yelled. "My dog will protect you."
The farmer helped Amanda into the cab of the truck, while Tamas climbed into the driver's seat. As he turned the ignition key, the engine roared to life, and they soon found themselves bouncing down the dirt road and turning toward the border.
The sky glowed with a hint of pink and orange as the first light peeked over the horizon. The day of reckoning was upon them. Before the sun reached it's summit, they'd complete their flight to freedom. If not, they may die, just short of their goal.
To be continued