Okay, I'm really sorry about how long I took to post this next chapter. I had a bit of a writer's block, and then things got really busy around here. Schoolwork and soccer picked up, then we had the Saints in the playoffs, then the Superbowl (GEAUX SAINTS!), and then Mardi Gras, more soccer, and now I've finally gotten to sit down and finish this chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Twenty: The Great September of 1940
September flew by, and it was a great change for the prisoners. The monotonous routine of eating, working, and sleeping was now being broken by the activities of finding a way to escape. Actually, it was the officers that tried to come up with plans. The non-coms went about filching anything they thought could be handing. Luckily, the guards never thought to search them when they came back into camp. The loot was hidden throughout every barracks. After a month, a number of things had been abducted from the farms, in town, and even the guards would find something missing. But that was rare, because no one wanted to bring attention to themselves. Everyone got involved, making it go faster. There were now collections of candles, spoons, kitchen knives, skinny rope, some thick rope, matches, kerosene oil, light bulbs, and copper wire. A few lucky fellows managed to jack picks from a farm. They took the picks apart, and brought the pieces back to camp. So now, they were in possession of three picks; better than nothing.
Communication between the French and British side of camp was becoming more sophisticated as well. The officers agreed that it would be too suspicious of they were seen talking to one another, so messengers were involved. Friends like Peter and Louis, who always talked, would sometimes really be swapping messages from their C.O.s. The job was moved around, ensuring that no one would appear to look suspicious ever. Also, in keeping tally of everything collected in the camp, Private Torben Arcenau came up with an ingenious way of communicating the total from the French to the British and vice versa. They all ate in the same mess hall, so Torben began a tally of each item. Each table represented a certain item. When someone brought something into camp, they scraped a tally underneath the item's table, making it possible for everyone to know how many of each item, in total, the camp had acquired.
All of this activity was helping everyone cope with being trapped here day by day. There was more of a sense of unity as well. The prisoners began to trust more, and even if they didn't like someone, it was comforting to know that they weren't traitors, but that they just didn't get along.
The French were able to have a meeting. So that the entire camp was not there, one man from each barracks went. The French officers, Commandant Géraud Beauvais and Capitaine Cyril Noël, took charge well in the camp. They were liked by the non-coms, making their job easier. The meeting took place in their barracks for a good hour during the night, and they were able to get some things done. First order of business was where to start a tunnel. All the barracks were raised about a foot-and-a-half off the ground. This meant that if there was a tunnel being built, there would have to be very careful planning on disguising it. Most of the French suggested that the tunnel be built directly behind the stairs, which would already throw a shadow over it while working at night. Also, they would keep movement around it at a minimum. No going in and out. Just once going in and once coming out. The officers agreed this was the most logical, but that it was still very risky. Despite keeping it somewhat hidden, everyone felt that it was still very exposed, which it was.
The second order of business was that the officers wanted prisoner to have roles in this. It would keep things organized, as well as hopefully get things going. Instead of having a bureaucratic sort of system going on, they wanted to be able to say something needed to be done, and then just have those people do it however they could. So, a list of jobs that needed to be taken care of was made, and for now the job was to find the people for the jobs and report back with them.
"Corporel LeBeau," said Capitaine Cyril. It was at the end of the meeting, which LeBeau had been lucky enough to attend. "I want you to relay this to your friend on the other side. Tell him to tell his own officers what we discussed."
"Oui, Capitaine," answered Louis.
"Were they ever able to have their own meeting," asked Commandant Géraud.
"Non, Commandant," answered Louis. "They planned to but someone was caught out of barracks. Le Boche never knew what was going on, fortunately, and just punished the one man. They were going to try again tomorrow night."
"Hopefully this will help them move along then," said Géraud. "Alright then, that's all for tonight. Go back to your barracks, and tomorrow start up on looking for men to take charge. Bonne chance."
The following day, during the rec period, Louis found Peter and gave him the information. Peter seemed please on how far they got.
"Doin' quiet a shot better than we are," he said. "Though I will say, we got pretty lucky yesterday. Luke found a radio in the warehouse with all the tools. It's in perfect condition."
Louis smiled. "Did 'e take it?"
"No," snapped Peter. "You think we were goin' to be able to sneak an entire radio—" He paused as a guard came too close. "—an' Mavis said she was meetin' a boy around the pub lately, but I told 'er she'd better watch out."
"Oh, mon ami," said Louis. "You are just being too protective. She is almost an adult, and I think she can date who she likes."
They both paused, watching the guard moving on.
"Anyway," said Peter. "It's too big to bring in. We're goin' to 'ave to take it apart, an' bring it in piece by piece."
"Right," said Louis. "I will let le Commandant know."
"An' I'll let the Cap'n known about the tunnel problem," said Peter.
"So," said Louis. "'Ow is Mavis?"
They had just gotten another batch of letters yesterday.
"Fine," said Peter. "She told me that they've bombed London every night so far. She said it's a part o' the routine now. Instead o' goin' 'ome an' sleepin' in 'er bed, they go down into the subway, an' sleep there. But they're alive, an' that's wot matters. Still, a lot o' people are buyin' it. An' Jerry is goin' after other cities too." He sighed. "Never mind all that. 'Ow about your family? They weatherin' the storm all right?"
"Oui," said Louis, though Peter could tell something bothered him. "Mon oncle 'ad to close 'is restaurant for two months, and that 'urt 'im and ma famille. But 'e is back in business, and le Boche like 'is food, so 'e does not think they will shut 'im down. Kraut officers come all the time 'e says. 'E says it disgusts 'im that they come so much, but 'e deals with it anyway."
"And," said Peter, prompting him on.
"Well," said Louis. "They are taking away people."
"Wot d'you mean," asked Peter.
"I'm not really sure what it is all about," said Louis. "Ma famille does not know either. But the Germans 'ave taken people out of Paris, and moved them away."
"Randomly," asked Peter.
"Non," replied Louis. "It does not seem random. It is Jews, Gypsies, and anyone who 'as a record of making statements against Germany."
"Well the last sort makes sense," said Peter. "But Jews? Gypsies? That doesn't make any sense at all. Leastways, not to me."
"Well," said Louis. "I told Marcel. 'E said that when 'e was in Germany, the Germans did not teat the Jews well. We all know about 'ow the Germans think of themselves as pure Aryans, and Marcel said that the Jews were supposed to be the worst compared to the Aryans. Marcel also said 'e 'eard rumors about what 'appened to Jews in Germany. They go to labor camps. And Gypsies too, an' the disabled, mentally and physically. But also anyone who might be considered a traitor."
"The unclean, you mean," said Peter. "Everyone the Aryan race shouldn't be mixed wif." Peter spat on the ground. "That's disgustin'! Still, at least they're alive. I mean, if they're in labor camp…that's wot this is, right?" He looked around their camp pointedly.
Louis shrugged. "I suppose. Still, it is sad. They are civilians. And my father wrote that they spare no one. Even children are taken away."
Peter watched Louis carefully. "You know someone who might've been taken?"
"Oui," said Louis. "One of my friends I know from Paris is un Juif. 'E did not enlist, because 'e was taking over 'is father's job in the city. 'E 'as a good family, and I feel bad for them now."
"I'm sure they'll make it," said Peter. "All they've got to do is outlast the war."
"Like us," said Louis.
"No, not exactly," replied Peter. "We've got other duties. We've got t'get out o' 'ere, and get back in the fight."
"Right," said Louis. He paused as a guard passed again. Then, he smiled. "Well go on now. Take the information to le Capitaine."
"Cheerio, mate."
And they parted from the fence. Peter sought out Captain Lawrence, and found him talking with Lt. O'Neill. When Peter approached, Lawrence beckoned him over with a wave of his hand.
"We saw you talking to Corporal LeBeau," he said.
"Yes, sir," replied Peter. He relayed Louis's information about the French meeting to them.
"Well," said O'Neill, once Peter was through. "That was definitely progress on their part, even if it's just a little."
"Beggin' your pardon, sirs," said Peter. "But 'ow about a suggestion?"
"Shoot," replied Lawrence.
"This whole tunnel thing is complex," said Peter. "But I've noticed that the only buildin's built not built off the ground are the infirmary, the recreation 'all, the mess, the Kommandant's buildin', an' the guards' barracks. Now, skippin' the last two for obvious reasons, why can't we start a tunnel from any o' those places?"
Lawrence and O'Neill looked at one another, and then O'Neill gave a skeptical look to Peter. "And just how do you think we could? We don't live in those buildings, nor have much access to them to begin with."
"True," said Peter. "But doesn't that make it even better. Jerry's thinking' the same thing. They're always goin' over our barracks, but you never see them goin' over the mess or infirmary. An' blimey, we don't even get to use the recreation 'all; it's just there for show. So, if we could get somethin' started there, we would 'ave more chance for success."
"You still haven't answered the question on how we would even get there to begin with," said O'Neill curtly.
Peter glared at the smart tone, but before he could say anything Lawrence calmly put in his own words. "Now wait," he said. "There is something here. Now, the mess hall we could definitely say is out of the picture. There are always Krauts in the place to begin with. But the other two…we might be able to do something there."
"But, sir," said O'Neill. "How could we possibly do that? Like Corporal Newkirk said: we don't even get to go into the recreation hall."
"Well," said Lawrence. "I think I can fix that. I'll have a word with the Major."
Peter's eyebrows shot up. "Major Duerr?"
"There's only one Major, Corporal," said Lawrence. "Why? You sound nervous."
"Well, that chap makes me nervous," said Peter. "'E's the enemy, but 'e's too nice sometimes. That's not right in me 'ead, so it makes me nervous."
"Distrustful, you mean," said O'Neill pointedly.
"Wotever you want to call it," muttered Peter. "Sir."
"You two pipe down," said Lawrence. "Look, I'll go speak to Major Duerr, and you guys figure a way of how we could get into the infirmary."
"Wot? Wif 'im?"
"Sir, I can't work with—"
"That's an order," stated Lawrence firmly.
"Yes, sir," replied the Corporal and Lieutenant obediently. But when Lawrence turned his back and walked off, they just glared at one another. Once Lawrence was around the corner of the barracks, O'Neill turned the other way and walked off quickly.
"So where are you going," asked Peter hotly, as he followed O'Neill closely.
"Remember that I am your superior, Corporal," said O'Neill.
"Yes, sir," said Peter flatly. "Permission to speak, sir?"
"Go ahead," said O'Neill.
"'Ave you ever played sick, sir," inquired Peter.
O'Neill stopped short, and spun around on his heel, looking thoroughly annoyed. "What," he asked impatiently.
Peter smiled, as he stared eye-to-eye with O'Neill. "'Ave you ever played sick before?"
"Played sick," echoed O'Neill ardently. "What are you playing at?"
***** ***** *****
Lawrence stepped out of Major Duerr's office with an air of authority. The guards flanked him to escort him back inside the compound but as far as Lawrence cared, they could have been two lovely ladies. As they shut the gate behind him, he murmured contently, "Mission accomplished."
The talk with Major Duerr had started off slowly. He was hesitant and unsure about how to go about winning the recreation hall for the prisoners. However, after a few turns to make Duerr hopefully feel sympathetic towards the prisoners, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Winter was coming up, meaning less work for the prisoners on the farms. So, Duerr said that those prisoners would be brought back one hour earlier, and would receive an extra hour of recreation. He would also open the recreation hall, and allow the prisoner to do what they wished with it, as long as it did not bust the camp's budget. Lawrence could not have asked for anything better. They were in. And the best part about was that the prisoners for those two hours, would not be segregated any longer. Communication between the French and British would now be easier, and the pace on escaping would pick up.
Lawrence was now headed back to talk to O'Neill. He had no idea how he would find his second-in-command. He expected a sour looking Lt. that would be furious at Lawrence for leaving him with the brash, untamed Corporal. However, when Lawrence entered the barracks, he found O'Neill and Peter sitting at the table across from one another, bent over two pieces of paper that were put together to represent some sort of map. Lawrence shut the door behind him and slowly approached. Neither man had looked up when the senior officer had come in.
Then O'Neill's head shot up.
"Oh, hello sir," he said. "Was it a success?"
"Sure was," answered Lawrence cheerily. "But you know, it would be safer for you two to have some sort of sentries watching the barracks. You never know when Jerry might come in for a surprise."
"Oh, don't worry, sir," said Peter. 'I've some friends watchin'. They would've said somethin' if it wasn't you comin' in."
Lawrence nodded as he sat down beside O'Neill. "So, what in Earth do we have here?"
"A map, sir," said O'Neill. "Of the recreation hall and infirmary. Corporal Newkirk had a glorious idea of how to get into the infirmary. Very elementary. And I only wish I would've thought of it and taken the credit."
"Well," asked Lawrence, looking to Peter.
"It's quite simple, sir," said Peter. "We fake sickness. The way I see it, if we can get in a few people here and there every now and then, actin' like they're sick, they can be workin' on the tunnel durin' the night. The medics are our own people; maybe even they could do some o' the work when we can't get anyone in there. Jerry will never know the difference. People get sick; it's natural. And around this time o' year, wif the cold an' all, even more people will tend to get sick."
"Let's just 'ope we don't get a real illness," muttered Lawrence.
"Sir?"
"Of lead poisoning," emphasized Lawrence.
O'Neill paused in his drawing on the map. "You don't like the idea, sir?"
Lawrence paused and looked at both of them. "Like you said, Lieutenant: I wish I had thought of it. Let's get cracking chaps. This is going to take some work."
Okay, since it's been awhile, and we have quite a lot of characters involved now, I'll give you a list of everyone in case you're having trouble keeping them straight.
1) Corporals Peter Newkirk & Louis LeBeau: hopefully you know who they are
2) Private Luke Fairnth, Caporal-chef Marcel D'Orléans, Sergeant Stephen MacLean: friends of Peter and Louis; met on the march
3) Captain James Lawrence & Lieutenant William O'Neill: British officers
4) Commandant Géraud Beauvais & Capitaine Cyril Noël: French officers
5) Private Dean Matthews, Corporal Everley Blackwell, & Private Torben Arcenau: other close friends of Peter and Louis; met in the camp
6) Major Duerr: disciplinarian of the camp; acts mostly for the Kommandant
7) Kommandant: obviously in charge of camp; only seen once; a mystery
8) Sergeant Berg: the Sergeant-of-the Guard
9) Jakowitz: the owner of the farm that Peter works on
10) Symanski: the owner of the restaurant Louis works at
11) Sergeant Timon Lloyd: man who picked a fight with Peter and Everley
12) Sturmbannführer: SS officer in charge of Polish camp not far from Stalag XXXA
13) Hauptmann Roche Haussler: Wehrmacht officer who was in charge of bringing the prisoners to the camp
Note: Just because they're down the list doesn't mean they won't become significant later. ;)