Chapter 15: William Mackenzie
Basta had watched Anna turn her back on him, and walk away. That had been four hours ago. He himself walked in the opposite direction, licking his wounds and nursing his spastic heart. By the time he'd reached a fork in the road, he felt completely numb, from head to toe.
Basta chose the road that turned to the right. Right was east, and east was Switzerland. Little did he know that that road would lead him to something more terrible than he could have ever imagined.
Why did I tell Anna the truth? If I were to have said nothing, she would still like me. Now, she can't even bear to look at me! Good lord, what have I done? He walked like a zombie, dragging his sore feet, cursing his scraped knees. You told her because you respect her. You told her because she wanted to know the truth, and because she has risked her life to keep you safe! That's why! He sighed through his nose and plodded along. He had been walking for hours, and he began to feel rather peckish. Though he didn't want to sit on the road, in fear that the SS would suddenly drive up in their shiny black cars. And he didn't want to sit in the grass, because the ground was wet and mushy, and he didn't want his fatigues to get wet. So he just kept moving forward, his cheeks turning pink in the chilly November afternoon.
The hayfields eventually petered out to fields of long yellow grass. The fences eventually disappeared too. But there always seemed to be enough crows. Perched in the dead trees, cawing up to the grey sky. Basta shuddered. He began to wonder nervously if he had taken the correct path. You're too far along now he thought to himself, finally sitting on the dirt road for a meal. You had better just keep going. He pulled the baguette out from his bag, and broke off a piece. He stuck the chunk of bread in his mouth and chewed robotically, staring ahead at the dead yellow fields. After his snack, he packed up once again and set out up the road, grumbling miserably to himself. I'm all lost, alone, and... BLONDE! Can it get any worse than this?
The road to Switzerland was very, very quiet. All Basta could hear was the whisper of the wind through the grass, the crunch of rocks under his boots, the caw of the crows, and his own breathing. But around dusk, a new sound caught Basta's attention. It was a moan of pain.
"Hello?" Called Basta softly. He tried to see through the fading light, but he couldn't seem to find the source of the sound. Another moan. "HALLO?" Basta hollered in German, in case the troop was German. He began following the sound of the moans, wading through the grass, straining his eyes against the dull light. Suddenly, the grass before him was tinted a rusted orange color. Dried blood. As the grass depressed in front of him, the sounds of the moans grew a bit louder, until Basta came across a young man lying in the grass. This man was dressed completely in green, wearing fatigues much like Basta's. His thick heavy jacket was covered in pockets and buttons. Basta felt his stomach churn when he saw why the soldier was moaning in pain: his entire stomach was bleeding. Basta made a bit of a face, and averted his gaze away from the dark red stain on the man's jacket front. "Do you speak English?" He asked, looking at the pale face of the soldier.
"Of course" said the troop, wincing in agony. "I'm American!" Basta remembered the Atlas, and the country called the United States of America. "Do you have any water?"
"You're from the United states?" He asked, not really noticing the troop's request for water. The brunette soldier nodded. Basta couldn't believe it! He was meeting his first American. He quickly realised that the bleeding soldier was very young; mustn't have been a day over eighteen. "Why are you on your own?" Asked Basta.
"I was shot" spat the soldier. "They left me for dead! Damn krauts!"
"How long have you been out here for?" asked Basta. He was feeling extremely uncomfortable. He realised that the man had been tagged with one of the guns Anna had taught him about. Anna... Basta's heart ached for a moment, before he turned his attention back to the soldier that lay withering on the ground before him.
"Four days" he whispered.
"Four days?" Basta couldn't believe it.
"Do you have any water?" Repeated the soldier. His lips lacked color, and his walnut coloured eyes pleaded.
"Oh!" Basta quickly dug through his bag for the canteen Anna had packed him. He quickly unscrewed the lid. The American soldier held out two very shaky, blood stained hands. "Here" Basta gently tipped the canteen over the soldier's chapped mouth. The young man gulped down the cold water with great gusto.
"Thank you so much" said the troop.
"What's your name?" Asked Basta, giving the troop more water.
"William Mackenzie. Just call me Will." The young troop winced and let out another little moan of pain. Basta didn't know what to do.
"Can you walk?" Asked Basta.
"No way, man!" Will shook his head, making his helmet crunch against the dead grass. "I'm way too fucking sore! My gut's on fucking fire, man!" His voice was strained and a little frantic, though he kept his voice at a comfortable level. He didn't seem to be panicking...
"How can I get you out of here?" Asked Basta. Will's eyes shone hopefully for a brief moment, then he seemed crestfallen.
"You can't" he muttered. "I'm gunna die anyways."
"You're not going to die. I won't let that happen." Basta decided that Will was the perfect opportunity for him to redeem himself. Though nothing will ever make up for what you did in Lombrica, this can help clear your conscience .He thought to himself. Basta bit a lip before giving the soldier a once over, trying to judge his weight. He had clearly lost quite a bit of weight, in the four days he spent without food. And he was short, shorter than Basta. Probably about 5'5. Basta figured the young man weighed about 120 pounds.
"I already have an infection" said Will, very, very quietly. "I have a fever." Basta stared at the young man questioningly. He took the back of his hand to Will's forehead and withdrew quickly. The young soldier's skin was flaming hot. "I'm not going to make it" his tone was distorted because he was gritting his teeth against the pain. He frowned his brown eyebrows and stared up at Basta with a definite expression. Basta shook his head.
"No. I'm going to get you out of here. There's a town, just up that road. Only a five hour walk-"
"I can't move" said Will.
"I can carry you" the more Basta thought about the situation, the more unsure he felt. He didn't want to walk back to the town where Anna lived. But looking down at the kid dying the grass made Basta sigh. He made his decision. Unless... "How far away is Switzerland?" He asked. Will let out a laugh.
"Switzerland?" He shook his head a bit, and a strand of dirty brown hair fell onto his forehead. "Switzerland is a couple days... that way" Will thrust a blood soaked arm to the right. "But you don't wanna go up there" he shook his head and pressed his colorless lips together. "No way, man. That's where my squad is. They're fighting a whole mess of fucking krauts."
"Krauts?" Basta furrowed his brow.
"Yeah, Krauts." When Basta just stared at the troop, Will sighed. "The Germans!"
"Oh!" Basta pretended like he had known that all along, and had just misunderstood Will. The young brunette shook his head again.
"What's you deal, man?" His voice cracked a bit. "You're not in the army, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
"Damn Brit. How'd you get out?"
"I uh... I write documents on the war." Basta lied as swiftly as he could. He was very good at lying. Will just shook his head a bit before wincing and letting out a moan of pain.
"Oh God!" His face paled under the dirt smeared on his cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Basta bit his lip.
"I'm fucking dying!" Cried Will.
"I'm getting you out of here." Basta shrugged into his backpack.
"Where are you going to take me?" Asked Will. He seemed panicked, but slightly relieved (if those two emotions could really mix).
"To a little town a few miles south" said Basta.
"You mean to Auleau?" Asked the troop. Basta raised an eyebrow. "You can't take me there! It's being occupied by the Germans!" Will was panicking now, his eyes wide with fear.
"Then where am I supposed to take you? You're dying! You don't have much time left! You need a doctor!" Basta rose his voice a little more than he had intended. Will's eyes saddened.
"They'll make me a POW" he said. When Basta said nothing, the young man clarified. "A Prisoner of War."
"Would you rather be a prisoner of War, or die?" Basta raised his eyebrows in question. Will's frown deepened.
"Ok, ok. Let's go. But I can't stand on my own" he said. Will looked so pathetic just then. Basta's heart actually went out for the kid.
"I'll help you." Basta swiped his blonde bangs from his face before helping Will to sit up.
Will screamed.
"OH GOD!" Cried the young man. "FUCK!" He turned his head and vomited clear bile into the grass. The stain on his jacket grew wetter and spread. "FUCK!" Basta quickly hauled the troop to his feet, trying his best to ignore the young man's screams of agony.
"You're ok, you're ok. I've got you, I've got you!" He supported Will's weight, and led him out of the grass field.
"I'm not gunna fucking make it, man! I'm gunna die! I know it! You shoulda left me there!" He slurred his words and his head fell forward. With his chin resting against his chest, he looked fast asleep. Or dead. The blood stain moved south as Basta held Will to his feet.
The afternoon light had more or less died by the time Basta had grown accustomed to Will's weight. Basta was more or less dragging the young man's dangling feet up the dirt road, back towards the town Auleau.
Will didn't utter a peep for the longest time, just the occasional moan or a complaint about how much his gut hurt. When darkness had finally fallen, and Basta's body was sore from having Will lean on him, he finally spoke.
"Will, I don't actually write documents about the war." Silence. Basta thought that Will had fallen asleep, or was simply ignoring him, when the young man responded.
"Yeah? Doesn't surprise me." He panted after uttering his words. "You don't seem to know what you're doing."
"I'm actually a prisoner myself."
"You escaped?"
"Yeah. The Nazis are looking for me." He readjusted Will's weight, winced a bit because his ankles hurt, but kept walking.
"We'll they'll get a two for one deal when we get to Auleau" he said with a dry, pained laugh. Basta didn't know what to make of Will's dry sense of humour.
Will fell asleep after four hours of walking. Basta was absolutely exhausted, but he knew he had to get Will to Auleau before morning. He couldn't imagine the soldier would live much longer with that wound. So gathering his strength, Basta scooped up Will in his arms, like he would hold a baby or a bride on the honeymoon. Basta grunted under the weight, but after re-adjusting the troop ever so slightly, he was able to continue on without much of a problem. Will's helmet had fallen off, but Basta was too tired to pick it up, and it made his load lighter.
The walk to Auleau took six hours with Will instead of five. When Basta finally reached the small city, he began in the direction of the hospital. At that point, he was too exhausted and sore to even worry about being captured by the Nazis. Basta had considered taking Will to Anna's apartment, but he didn't want to put her in any danger. Plus, he knew the way to the hospital on his own. He'd seen it when he and Anna had left the city.
"Will, wake up" Basta gave his accomplice a little nudge. The man didn't stir. Terrified that the soldier was dead, Basta shook him harder. Will moaned.
"What?" He asked, his voice a weak little squeak.
"We're here" Basta eased Will out of the honeymoon hold, and they resumed the shoulder support position. The hospital lights were like a beacon of hope in the black night. Following the streetlamps up to the entrance way, Basta saw that Will was smiling.
"Thank you so much" he wheezed, trying very hard to move his feet.
"Don't worry about it" murmured Basta. He swung open the doors to the hospital, and blinked his eyes against the light. A nurse at the front desk gasped in horror and called for someone down a hallway. Basta dragged Will into the lobby, and passed off the soldier to a French doctor dressed in a white robe.
"God Bless you" said Will, before he was hauled onto a gurney. Basta just made a little smile as he watched the American disappear on the stretcher to an operating room. Before anyone could come up to him and ask questions, Basta darted out of the hospital with what little strength he had left, making his second escape from the city of Auleau.
A/N:
Hey, guys! I would like to thank the only two fans of this story for reading and reviewing! Basta's Girl and Insanepyro, you guys are great!
And just so I can get an idea: What was your guys' favourite chapter?