Chapter 2
Around the shack, the ground had originally been churned up by vehicles but now it was being reclaimed by nature, making it tough going underfoot. Actor and Chief picked their way downhill following the overgrown trail which, fortunately, soon joined a wider track and walking became much easier. Before long the track split in two, a less used route continuing straight ahead, while the wider section curved away to the left. Opting for the straight route, it wasn't long before they could see the end of the tree cover and water glistening in the distance.
''Possibly a river or a lake,'' Actor suggested. ''We must be too far inland for it to be the sea.''
Hiding in the shadow of the few remaining trees, Chief and Actor surveyed the land ahead. About 30 yards of open grassland separated them from a high metal fence, topped with barbed wire. The track they had followed, continued up to and beyond the metal fence, leading down towards an array of small wooden sheds and several dilapidated bunkhouses and tents. As they watched, an armed guard sauntered along, inside the perimeter fence.
''Evidently something worth protecting. It looks like this track and the shack have some connection with that fenced off area. Maybe they were in use when the underground site was first being built and this could be the site of the entrance,'' surmised Actor.
Moving to their right, they soon had a good view over the encampment and beyond. The camp was built on a bend in a river, where a large stream joined the main waterway. A stone jetty had been constructed, forming a small sheltered harbour, allowing goods to be transported in and out by boat. Two barges were tied up on the river side of the pier, while a motor boat was moored to a buoy within the harbour . The fence continued down to the banks of the smaller river, then followed the shoreline back towards the jetty, beyond which, rocks and barbed wire formed an effective barrier between the camp and the river. A road, seemingly emerging from the hillside directly below their position, curved around to the left to where a guard post and gate blocked the way. The road then continued uphill and inland, away from the compound and the river.
''Not much cover. Be hard to get in there without being seen,'' commented Chief.
''Let's hope we don't have to,'' agreed Actor.
Keeping within the trees, the two men returned along the line of the fence. Eventually, it turned at a right angle and continued downhill, presumably towards the guarded gateway. Further ahead, they could see buildings, forming a small community. Wanting to avoid the settlement for now, they returned to the point where the track in the woods split and followed the wider trail this time. After turning away to the left, the trail straightened, running downhill until it met a road. The road then continued down to the river, where it followed the river bank along its meandering course downstream and away from the camp. At the point where the road reached the river, a small cove of shingle created a sheltered spot. Here a short wooden jetty provided moorings for two small fishing boats.
GG
Garrison knew the Captain had doubts, even though their papers appeared to support their appearance as conscripted labourers. Casino's language skills could be a disadvantage but he might be able to get by as an Italian.
Hopefully, Goniff had found his way back to the others, then Actor should be able to come up with a con to get them out, or at least he hoped so. Meanwhile they would have to maintain their identities and try to find out what was going on down here. He thought they had got away with it but then the Captain appeared to have second thoughts, ordering them into separate rooms, while he decided what to do. This was looking bad.
Ten minutes later, a soldier and the officer came into his room. ''Put out your hands,'' the Captain ordered in French. Garrison complied. The soldier moved forward and studied his hands carefully, looking at both sides. He then grabbed Garrison's hair, pulling his head back, and scrutinised his face, ears and hair. Turning to the officer, the soldier shook his head. With sudden understanding, Garrison realised the significance of the soldier's actions. Any workers in the area where they were found, would be covered in coal dust, probably so ingrained it would be impossible to wash off. The German officer would know they were not supposed to be there. It looked like they could be subjected to some difficult questions and there was nothing he could do about it. He'd been on the receiving end of German interrogations before and knew how long he could probably maintain his silence but what about Casino? Casino was a fighter, he had taken punishment of various forms in prison but this was different. Had they been together long enough for Casino to keep silent, until the others could get them out?
Meanwhile, Casino was sitting in another room down the hallway. He knew that placing them in separate rooms could only mean the Germans were suspicious and they would be interrogated. Deliberately ignoring the two guards who had entered the room, he thought about his family back home. If he didn't survive this mission, he hoped they would be proud of what he had achieved so far. Lost in thought, the blow came so hard and unexpectedly, that Casino nearly lost it, but he had the presence of mind to swear profusely in Italian. As the soldiers pulled him upright, tying him to the chair, he spat blood onto the floor, narrowly missing the guard's boots, and glared at the man who had punched him. He just hoped they weren't fluent in Italian. Something was said but his ears were still ringing, so he was unable to recognise words or even the language. As he readied himself for what was to come, Casino remembered the state of Garrison when they had rescued him in the past. He knew the Warden wouldn't talk, so he had an idea that things were set to get a whole lot worse. That Limey had better get help. And fast!
GG
Actor and Chief followed the road back towards the group of buildings they had seen earlier. On their right the land was mostly meadow, rising towards the trees, some providing pasture for cows and sheep. Below the road, the fields sloped gently downwards to the river bank, many showed signs of soft tilled earth and recently sown crops .
The settlement was fairly compact, the road passing several wooden houses and storage units before reaching a market square. On the river side of the square, was a small squat building, only distinguishable as a church due to a cross over the door and a number of graves scattered alongside. Here the two men found a spot where they could survey the area unobtrusively. Beyond the market square, the road led down a steep slope towards the compound, before it was blocked by the guarded gate they had seen earlier. But from this perspective, it was possible to see that beyond the gate the road turned inland, leading towards an entrance in the hillside. Gas canisters and fuel cans were stacked in several places near the entrance to the mine, as well as lining a track leading towards the jetty. Whether they were full or not, it was impossible to say. Various sheds near the mine entrance, probably held supplies.
A group of dishevelled and grimy inmates sat cross legged in ordered rows on the dusty ground, eating some sort of meal, while several guards stood around or walked between the rows, intimidating anyone who got in their way. Judging by their actions, the guards appeared to have been handpicked for their cruel and sadistic natures.
Having confirmed the location of an entrance, Actor and Chief went in search of food and supplies. The square had a number of stalls laid out, where locals and soldiers alike, milled around. Having bought what they needed, the men started back the way they had come. No one had challenged them, in fact most people appeared to avoid any contact or pleasantries, as if they were scared to be seen talking to one another.
GG
They had just passed the entrance to a field and were about to leave the road, when Chief put a hand on Actor's arm to stop him. Before he had chance to speak, Actor heard a muffled cry. They crept back to the gateway. Hearing the sound again, the supplies were left in the ditch as both men entered the field. Not knowing what to expect, they were appalled at the sight before them. A burly soldier straddled a young woman, pinning her to the ground, one hand over her mouth, while the other hand groped at her clothing, ripping her top and partly exposing her breasts. She clawed frantically at the man's face, as she tried to fight him off.
Both men rushed forward but it was Chief who got there first. He grabbed the man's hair, pulling his head back with one hand, while the other plunged the knife into his neck, the momentum rolling them away from the girl. Her relief quickly turned to dismay as she discovered she was now confronted by two men, one between her and the gate, the other now returning from killing her assailant, knife in hand. She cowered before them, pulling at her clothes to cover herself.
Slowly, Chief folded his knife and put it away. Then he removed his jacket and tossed it towards her so that it landed on the ground as close to the girl as possible, before retreating. Actor meanwhile had come to a halt, knowing Chief would deal with her attacker. He paused for a moment, unsure how to help, then realising he was blocking her escape route to the gate, Actor began to move further into the field. Suddenly, she sprang to her feet, grabbed the jacket to cover herself, then ran out of the gate, like a hare from a trap. She was across the road and out of sight before the two men reached the gateway.
''I doubt you'll see that jacket again.''
Chief shrugged ''Couldn't leave her like that.''
Retrieving their sacks of supplies, they left the road and began to retrace their route up through the trees. As they approached the meeting place, Actor, armed and vigilant, waited within the trees while Chief disappeared into the undergrowth to skirt around the area. Ten minutes later, the scout reappeared.
''Someone's been here and tried to cover their tracks. Could be Goniff. He's hiding in the bushes nearby. No sign of Casino and the Warden though.''
GG
''Where are the others?'' Actor demanded as soon as Goniff emerged from his hiding place.
Goniff had been waiting impatiently for over an hour before Actor and Chief appeared on the edge of the glade and he was more than ready to hand over his worries to Actor. He quickly recounted what they had discovered underground and what had happened to Casino and Garrison.
''Do they know about this shaft?'' Actor asked with concern. ''Did anyone follow you?''
''Didn't see anyone so I don't think so. We'd gone quite a way into the tunnels when that guard came outta nowhere. Hey Actor, what d'ya think the Jerrys will do with Casino and the Warden?'' the concern for his team mates obvious in his voice.
''They will probably shoot them as spies if we don't find a way to rescue them,'' Actor responded. Things never seemed to go to plan these days. Maybe we are all becoming too sure of ourselves, leading to mistakes, he decided.
''Can't let that happen. Kinda got used to havin' 'em around,'' Chief's off-hand remark hid his true feelings, something even he was surprised at. When had he started to worry about the fate of others.
''Now that we have found the entrance to the factory, maybe the SS need to make a surprise visit,'' suggested Actor, his mind working rapidly to come up with a convincing con. ''Though where we are going to find suitable uniforms and a vehicle around here, I don't know.''
At that moment, Chief caught their attention, gesturing for them to be quiet. He had been on tenterhooks for some time, knowing they were being watched but unable to determine the source. He didn't feel in danger but the unknown made him more wary. His heightened senses picked up movement and Chief whirled around, knife in hand. The others grabbing their weapons too.