Finally we are seeing things from the Allies' point of view - I was worried that readers would think that poor Alfred had been forgotten about by the rest of the team :)
Frances put his hand on Arthurs' shoulder.
"I know you don't want to hear this, but it's time you went to go get some rest."
"Just one more hour! Christ!" He said irritably, fiddling with the dials on his radio to try and pick up a signal. The Frenchman did not say anymore and simply laid down a cup of coffee next to his comrade – almost as if he knew what Arthurs' answer would be.
"I'll be in the next room if you need me."
Arthur finally put down the headphones he was holding to one ear and sighed
"No, it's okay, I'm sorry for snapping at you."
Frances was about to make a friendly jibe at how Arthur was being so nice to him, but he knew better than to joke about at a time like this. Instead he seated himself down next to the Englishman.
"How long have you been at it for?"
"About 6 days now – I suspect that whoever found him has either destroyed the radio or torched the entire plane because I'm getting absolutely nothing on the airwaves." He put his head in his hands and his tone became grave "it was a futile effort from day one - I don't even know if he's dead or alive anymore, Frances."
"You mustn't talk like that! Alfred is a strong lad and you know it!"
"Well that's it right there - he's just a lad! He still reads bloody comics for Gods' sake!" huge tears formed in those deep green eyes "Why did I let him go off like that? Why didn't I step in and prevent him from getting in that plane? For all I know he's probably being tortured or-or" For the first time in his entire life, Arthur sobbed onto Frances's shoulder and allowed himself to be pulled into a comforting hug.
"We must never lose hope, Arthur."
"But what else can I do?"
"We must assume he's alive and keep on searching for him – however long it takes."
Arthur did not reply, and it was then that the other man realised he had fallen asleep on his shoulder. One look at those dark-circled eyes and that dull pallor told him that Arthur hadn't slept for a good while.
"Ah Ivan there you are – can you give me a hand?" Frances whispered, as he caught the tall Russian walking by.
"Da, of course." His voice dropped low "Still no sign of Alfred?"
Frances shook his head solemnly.
"If you take him to bed, I'll sit here and check the airwaves again."
Frances took Arthurs' position and, by the light of the weak sun permeating through the blinds, began tweaking the dial on the radio to scan every frequency.
Elizabeta was a very careful woman. Every morning, despite her great discomfort, she would hold the rising bile within and wait for her husband to leave – once gone, she would run to the bathroom and release the tell-tale sickness into the toilet, which she'd clean as soon as possible.
On a usual day, Roderich always expected her to be downstairs within the half hour, so she had to fit and lace up her corset as soon as she could – taking extra care to not harm the baby within. She always thanked God and the Saints that Roderich never even suspected her pregnancy, much less caught her putting on her bindings.
However today, she murmured groggily that she did not feel well and allowed herself to be sick in front of him for added effect.
"Well you'd better stay in bed for today then, I certainly don't want you infecting anyone." He grimaced, putting a pail beside her in case she ruined even more of the carpet. She waited twenty minutes exactly and, safe in the knowledge that he was downstairs in his office, gingerly stepped out of bed and got dressed into her civilian clothes.
If I get caught, I can just say that I felt like going outside for a refreshing walk – they'll soon scarper when I reveal that I'm ill!
Elizabeta made her way downstairs, as quietly as she could, and arrived at the grand hallway bearing their banners. Walking daintily on the marble floor bearing the symbol of the Axis, she could hear footsteps approaching from behind, causing her heart to seize in her chest.
It can't be Ludwig, they're much too light. Oh God, please say it's not Roderich!
"Ah hello there, Herdervary-san. Roderich mentioned that you were not feeling well today?" Kiku smiled politely, as Elizabeta turned to face him.
"Good morning, Honda-san. Yes, I'm feeling frightfully ill - I couldn't bear being cooped up in that room all day, so I thought I'd go for a nice walk!" Whenever faced with another of this building, Elizabeta always feigned doe-eyed simplicity.
"That is a very good idea indeed – a brisk walk around the nearby pine forest will certainly make you feel better." They bowed goodbye to each other and he held the door open for her – I'm not fooled by your civility, you little prick! Elizabeta thought angrily as she simpered a grateful smile and went on her way.
Winding her way through the streets and ignoring the stares (many Japanese people had not seen such a beautiful, European woman – especially one wearing strange, yet luxurious western clothing), Elizabeta found herself at the entrance to the pine forest. Stealing secret glances left and right, and knowing herself to be alone, she entered the woods.
To the average onlooker, the Hungarian woman would seem very casual, almost aimless in her direction – in reality it was far from the truth. She knew exactly where to go and what she was looking for, and, coming to the clearing lined with flattened trees, found it.
The American plane, in all its' wonderful, tenacious glory, standing proud and still intact. She was always so glad that the soldiers didn't manage to torch it – Kiku was very concerned with the environment and would not have allowed further damage to his beloved forest.
Climbing into the cockpit, Elizabeta ducked down into the foot well and switched on the radio. It was smashed in with a rifle butt in an attempt to cut off communications with the rest of the Allies, but she repaired it within hours and got it back to full working order. The only problems she faced now were finding what frequency the Allies were on and sneaking out to the plane as much as she could without alerting suspicions.
Anxiously twiddling the dials and holding the receiver up to her mouth, Elizabeta began her search.
Frances was growing weary was about to take a break, when he heard a faint murmur in Hungarian on Alfred's frequency. Listening intently, he beckoned Ivan over and turned up the volume, then demanded to know who this was.
"I'm Elizabeta Herdervary – is this the Allied HQ?"
"What is your business?" He asked coldy, taking the pen and paper in front of him and carefully sidestepping her question.
"I know where Alfred F Jones is – he's still here in Hiroshima and he's being held by the Axis!"
Frances and Ivan looked at each other in shock, then Frances barraged her with questions.
"Mademoiselle, is what you are speaking true? Have you actually seen him?"
"Yes! I swear to you! He's young and blonde and wears a bomber jacket with a "50" on the back!"
Frances wrote down "What do you think?" and showed it to Ivan, who simply replied by wavering his hand in an unsure gesture. Turning his attention back to the mysterious young lady, Frances asked her exactly where she is.
"I'm inside his plane – I think the engine blew up, plus I had to repair the radio. I'm speaking from the Hiroshima prefecture – the pine forest near the Axis headquarters to be exact."
"How do I know this is not a trap?" he retorted, jotting down everything she had just said.
"I don't know, I swear if I could prove it I would! But whether you believe me or not, you must come and save him!"
"Why?" Frances was beginning to cast doubts over this woman and her "good Samaritan" act. This was war and anyone can act like anything if need be.
"He's injured and they're torturing him-"
Frances hung up the receiver and switched the radio off – much to Ivan's great surprise and protests.
"Is her name not familiar to you?" he asked, screwing the paper up and throwing it in the waste basket.
"Well nyet…"
"Elizabeta Herdervary is Hungary – wife to Austria and therefore part of the Axis Powers. They obviously got her to tell us that Alfred's being abused so we'd rush over there and fall right into their clutches, because after all, who wouldn't believe such a lovely young woman?"
Ivan made a face of pure disgust and cursed the deceit of their enemies.
"May a great evil fall upon their heads and infect their families for years to come…" He murmured darkly as Frances got up to take a breather.