Chapter 13
Aching fatigue from the long sleepless night was definitely taking its toll. Amanda's body craved a power nap, but she couldn't rest with thoughts of Lee racing through her mind. Would he survive in the cramped box? Would they both make it out of Hungary? Would they ever hold each other again?
She was just about to ask Tamas to stop and check on Lee, when he cleared his throat.
"Mrs. King, I need to explain a few things to you before we reach the border." Slowing the vehicle, his weathered gaze studied her for a beat.
"Yes, of course." Amanda gave her head a shake and tried to focus her attention on the kind gentleman.
"There are many stories about the Iron Curtain. I assume you have heard some scary tales."
"Well, yes. I suppose you mean the Berlin Wall, barbed-wire fences, minefields, no man's land, and heavily patrolled death strips. They aren't exactly bedtime stories I tell my sons." Amanda shrugged her shoulders, wondering why he'd want her to dwell on frightening images. She was already scared to death; she didn't need anymore help. "I would guess the stories are true."
Tamas nodded knowingly. "Yes, what you have heard is accurate. However, not all border crossings in Eastern Europe are exactly alike. I have tried to pick a place that will be to our advantage. The area we need to cross between Hungary and Austria is quite short. Only thirty yards separate us from freedom. Also, this is a quiet rural area. There is a small village nearby and some open fields for agriculture. At the break of day, very few vehicles cross the border."
"Are the soldiers friendlier along rural borders?" Amanda could guess what the answer would be.
Tamas held her gaze, his face open with honesty. "All border crossings carry risks. We could be detained for hours and even days. Strip searches are not uncommon. Some people simply disappear and are never heard from again."
"Oh." Amanda looked away. The truth worried her more than she could say.
"On the other hand," he continued with a snort. "I once was caught in the crossfire of a snowball fight. Even communist border guards sometime play games."
"I vote for the games," Amanda said with a slight laugh. "I wish I'd thought to bring my sons' soccer ball."
He wrapped his gnarled fingers around her arm. "Mrs. King, try not to worry. I chose the time and place of our destination with great thought. Border guards are rotated about every three weeks, and this particular patrol is due to be relieved of its assignment. The soldiers on duty have been up all night. If we factor in their fatigue and their eagerness to escape the miserable isolation, we can come to a very logical conclusion. They are not looking for trouble."
Amanda smiled. "You mean they just want to get home to their wives and girlfriends."
"Exactly. If we are lucky, the Hungarian border guards will wave us through without too much scrutiny. However, we cannot sit back and hope that happens. We need a plan."
"What kind of plan? I realize we can't hand the guards some egg salad sandwiches and a thermos of hot cocoa and then expect to be waved across the border."
The old man grinned. "We need to create a ruckus."
"A ruckus? My gosh, that sounds like a sure fire way to end up in prison. Are your jails heated?"
"Trust me, Mrs. King. Our ways are different in Hungary, are they not? If we act like cowards, they will bully us. If we are assertive, they will respect us. Do you see?"
"If you say so, Mr. Lazar." Doubts clouded her mind, but she kept them to herself. Tamas certainly was the senior partner in their venture.
"It may work to our advantage if I distract them with an argument. A confrontation will take their minds off the inspection. Besides, the border guards are more apt to be suspicious, if I sit passively in my truck. They will guess that I am hiding something. Yes?"
Amanda stared in disbelief. "In my country, an argument with the authorities would quickly lead to an arrest."
"Then don't try my plan in the United States. Oh, and one more thing, Mrs. King. I want you to wait in the truck. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," she mumbled, swallowing an indignant retort and turning toward the side window. Was this just an example of old world paternalism or another dose of mighty male chauvinism? Whatever the intent, it still felt like a put-down.
Tamas continued talking, seemingly oblivious to the offense. "Mrs. King, you remind me of the storks silhouetted against our skyline."
"Storks? What storks?" Amanda craned her neck, but, in the faint light of dawn, she didn't see any large birds overhead.
"Look, there." Tamas pointed toward the side of the road. Sure enough, the lanky birds sat dangerously exposed in enormous nests, high atop the rural utility poles.
"Oh my gosh, they are storks."
"Yes, Mrs. King, and like you, they sit with majestic dignity, unafraid of their precarious perch." Tamas smiled as Amanda nodded in understanding.
"Thank you," she responded before returning to her solitary vigil of the countryside and the chaotic images of Lee that overwhelmed her thoughts.
All too soon, Tamas slowed the rattling truck to a crawl when the Austrian-Hungarian crossing came into view. "Welcome to the border" he said with thick sarcasm in his voice.
What a welcome. Just ahead, a gray steel watchtower loomed menacingly against the skyline. Its ugly frame stood in stark contrast to the glorious view of dawn's early light. Silhouetted against the backdrop, a lone guard patrolled the catwalk, his rifle mounted snugly over his shoulder.
In front of the small guardhouse, the statuesque form of another soldier stood sentry, a machine gun clasped against his chest. Nearby, a weathered clapboard patrol station blended with the barren fields and the distant cottages of the tiny village. The unpainted building looked deserted, save for the white puffs of smoke that rose from the chimney. In all likelihood, it housed more border officials who still dozed in the early morning hours or gathered in the kitchen to enjoy a cup of coffee.
Sturdy metal gates blocked the roadway, and barbed-wire fences stretched across the countryside, as far as the eye could see. The fault lines of the two countries wordlessly proclaimed the separation of two distinct ideologies: east versus west, communism versus democracy, oppression versus human rights, captivity versus freedom.
As expected, the noisy vehicle put the patrol unit on full alert. Instantly, a soldier bounded out the door of the station and, along with the guard, moved toward the checkpoint. Waving their arms, they motioning for the driver to stop.
Amanda sucked in her breath, clinching her fists so hard she could feel her nails biting into her skin. This would be their final moment of truth. In a few minutes, they would either roll across the border to freedom or find themselves cuffed and shackled on their way to prison. Even worse, someone could be shot and killed.
"Okay, Mrs King, from here on out, we improvise." Tamas mopped the beads of perspiration from his brow and reached to squeeze Amanda's trembling hand. Letting the truck drift to within inches of the armed men, he hit the brake hard and brought the large vehicle to a jolting stop.
Immediately annoyed, the soldiers advanced angrily toward the driver's door, their weapons poised for ready action. The old man challenged their authority when he jumped from the cab and planted himself right in their path. Soon a loud tirade of Hungarian words were tossed back and forth between Tamas and the older of the two guards.
Amanda slouched in her seat and pulled the brim of the cap over her eyes. Maybe she could be spared an interrogation, if she appeared to be resting.
A persistent rapping on her passenger side window spoiled her plan.
The words "oh my gosh" flashed through her mind as she gingerly released the lock. Instantly, the door was pulled from her grasp.
A rough hand reached inside to yank her from the seat. "Gyorsan, az utleveled," the Hungarian soldier hollered.
Amanda didn't need her college drama courses to be convincing as a frightened peasant. Frozen in place, she stared blankly at the ground, while the inquisitor walked around her, shouting out words she didn't understand. Desperate to try something, she finally looked her adversary in the eyes. Silently pointing toward her throat and wordlessly moving her lips, she attempted to pass herself off as a deaf mute.
The annoyed guard gave his capitve a hard push and slammed her against the truck, aiming his gun straight at her chest.
Rushing to her aid, Tamas caught onto the ploy immediately. He played the role of the irate peasant farmer to the hilt. Angrily, he stomped the ground with his foot and shouted his outrage. Shaking a fist and standing toe to toe with the tormentors, he finally convinced them to back off. Reaching into the cab, Tamas snatched up his credentials and slapped them into the waiting hands of the guards.
Amanda jammed her fingers into the pockets of her jacket and jutted out her jaw with false bravado. She found it hard to believe that all the shouting failed to trigger a round of bullets. Apparently the border patrol enjoyed the clash of wills, but was now tiring of their morning entertainment. After scrutinizing the paperwork, the guards casually walked around the truck, peering over and under the trailer until they were satisfied. Handing everything back to Tamas, the official motioned for them to proceed through the crossing. Stepping into the guardhouse, he activated the controls that swung open the heavy metal gates.
The pathway to liberty beckoned to them. Just a few more yards and they would be safely embraced by the free world.
Greatly relieved, Amanda turned to get back into the truck. With one foot braced on the running board, she paused in mid-motion. What was that? Waiting a split second, she heard it again. A muffled sound was coming from the trailer. She felt her heart drop like a rock. My God, it was Lee. Looking at Tamas, she caught his slight nod. He'd heard it, too. Taking her cue from him, she proceeded to climb into the cab, only to hear the noise repeated - this time louder and longer.
There was no mistaking the sound of the human cough.
Apparently, it also caught the attention of the younger guard, putting him on full alert. He moved with deliberate steps along the side of the truck, tilting his ear toward the direction of the muffled noise. Waving his arm, he signaled for his superior to join him.
The narrow window of opportunity was closing fast. It was now or never. With practiced ease, Tamas brought the vehicle to life. The engine hissed and sputtered and groaned, but soon the wheels started to roll, propelling them to the very edge of the gateway.
"Megallni, megallni," the guards screamed. Immediately both border officials took deadly aim with their weapons.
It was too late. Tamas abruptly halted the vehicle, but left the engine running. Instantly, the doors were yanked open, and the soldiers forced the two from the truck, brutally pushing and shoving their captives toward the rear of the vehicle.
Stumbling under the weight of the guard's heavy hand, Amanda's knees buckled, landing her in a heap on the ground. Before she could regain her footing, he grabbed her by the hat, snatching it from her head. In one fluid motion, her brunette locks tumbled around her shoulders. She could only stare in wide-eyed alarm as her captor exhaled a cry of delight. Her cover was blown.
"Noi, Az amerikai," the younger guard shouted, exchanging a hopeful look with his comrade. The news of the wanted American spy and his partner had undoubtedly reached the Austrian/Hungarian border. Now their search would begin with earnest.
Rising from the ground and holding her hands high above her head, Amanda gave herself up to their fate. The escape attempt had culminated in a dismal failure. There would be no backup team to save them. They were out of options. In moments, the guards would have all of them in custody.
Rare thoughts of self-doubt raced through her mind. She had refused to listen to the voices of reason, and now everyone would pay the price. Joe didn't want her in the dangerous business. Billy didn't want her to go behind the Iron Curtain. Her mother didn't want her to leave the family and travel overseas. Lee didn't want her to stay in Hungary to help him escape. Her stubborn optimism had defied them all, and they were all the losers. She blinked back tears of defeat as she saw the images of her happy family and bright future fade from reality.
"Gyorsan," yelled the border official, snapping her out of her despair. This wasn't the time for self-incrimination. She needed to fight for freedom or die trying.
Motioning with their weapons, the guards positioned their prisoners at the rear of the trailer, forcing them to lower the tailgate.
Glancing at each other, a silent understanding passed between the hostages. Maybe there was still a glimmer of hope, after all. As they released the bolts, Tamas snapped his fingers. Then they both quickly stepped aside, letting the gate fall free. Instantly, the guards came face to face with the snarling fangs of an over-protective canine.
Suzie bared all her teeth and barked ferociously, causing the startled captors to jump back in alarm. Before they could recover and take aim, the German Shepherd sprang to her feet and propelled herself off the deck of the trailer. In a monumental leap, the animal sent both guards flailing to the pavement, knocking their weapons from their hands.
Growling furiously, Suzie sank her teeth into the forearm of one guard. The other soldier struggled in vain to free his comrade from the jaws of the beast.
A sharp report from the watch tower sent a bullet ricocheting off the trailer's rear fender.
Tamas dove behind the vehicle, shoving Amanda with him. The pounding of boots on the pavement alerted them to reinforcements, running from the patrol station.
Pinned down and about to be surrounded, Amanda deserted her cover and lunged for the abandoned machine gun, only a yard away. Her fingers no sooner grasped the weapon, when a volley of bullets sprayed the earth around the truck.
With lightening speed, Tamas pulled her to safety and snatched the gun from her hands. Then in a frenzy of motion, he fired toward the approaching soldiers and then took aim at the tower. The burst of bullets managed to take down the sentry and halt the approach of two more soldiers.
"Go, go, go," Tamas yelled as he nudged Amanda and rushed her toward the front of the truck. Still discharging the weapon, he followed her slender body into the vehicle and hit the accelerator before he'd even closed the door.
"Stay down," he ordered as she sank to the floor.
Shots rang out, and bullets whizzed by their heads. Glass shattered everywhere as the windows splintered into thousands of pieces. The lumbering vehicle strained and protested as Tamas pushed the gas pedal to the floor. Barreling passed the gate, the truck rumbled its way across the border, littering the roadway with farm tools that tumbled from the back of the trailer.
They had no sooner passed the red and white boundary poles of the demarcation zone when Austrian guards came running up with their weapons trained on the Hungarian patrol. As each side threatened the other with an exchange of shots, a ceasefire was quickly called.
Tamas and Amanda slowly caught their breath and climbed from the vehicle, just as a badly battered Suzie came limping across the border and into the arms of her grateful master.
Smiling at the joyful reunion, Amanda hurried to be reunited with her partner. She slapped her hand on the side of the cab and called out, "Lee, Lee, we made it. We're in Austria." Rounding the rear of the trailer, she felt panic rise in her throat when she saw dozens of bullet holes that riddled the body of the truck. "Oh my God. Lee, are you all right?" When no reply came, she hoisted herself to the deck and dropped to her knees.
"Lee, Lee, answer me." Pounding on the false floor, she yelled in vain, praying for a response.
Tamas and the Austrian border guards were soon at her side. Strong arms pulled her away, so they could work to free the fake floor from its resting place. Amanda was trembling uncontrollably when they lifted Lee's still body from the hidden compartment.
All she saw was the ashen face of her deathly silent partner. Devastated, her over-taxed emotions crumbled. Slowly, she fell to the ground, letting the oblivion of unconsciousness protect her from her worst nightmare.
To be continued