The Sleeping Beauty Raid-Chapter 6
Troy and Tully hid in the trees with King Company and watched as a truck full of German soldiers swarmed around the ambulance. Moffitt and Hitch were taken from the ambulance and loaded into the back of the truck.
"Looks like they went for it." Hanley said as they watched the Germans.
"I don't understand." Kirby said as he watched. "How are we going to get them back?"
"The Germans are going to return them. They just don't know it yet." Troy answered quietly. His eyes were still following the departing Germans.
"It's going to be a long night."
Troy looked at the Tully. The lanky Kentuckian had his teeth clamped tightly on the matchstick in his mouth. His eyes glittered with worry as he stared after the departing truck.
"Yeah, it is." Troy agreed.
Hanley and Saunders led their men back to the truck where Sawyer and Melnick were guarding the wounded Germans.
"Everything alright Sawyer?"
Sawyer glanced at Melnick before he answered. "Fine Lieutenant. The prisoners are still unconscious. Everything's quiet here. Did Moffitt and Hitchcock make it off okay?"
Hanley nodded. "Yeah, they did." Hanley eyed Troy and Petttigrew. Both men were trying to appear unconcerned but their eyes told another story. "Let's find a place to camp for the night. At this point all we can do is wait. We should all try to get some rest."
They piled into their truck and moved to a different location. Hanley and Saunders wanted to be away from the accident site.
"Sargent."
Troy was pulled from his thoughts by Saunders. "Yeah, what is it?"
"I was just wondering."
Troy waited.
"How did your private drop that guard back there at the outpost? I know one of them used a knife, but the second one was too far away for a good throw." Saunders had spent most of the day trying to figure that one out.
"Tully's an expert shot with a slingshot." Troy allowed a small smile to cross his face. "Saved our bacon a time or two. The krauts never expect that."
"A slingshot?" Littlejohn was amazed. "I used to be pretty good with a slingshot."
Tully looked at him silently. He hadn't spoken since they had made camp.
"I grew up on a farm and I used to shoot cans off of a fence with my slingshot. Haven't used one in years." Littlejohn finished wistfully. "Where did you get a slingshot?"
Tully did smile this time."Sarge made it for me. He used a blown inner tube from the jeep, my shoelace, and the tongue of my boot. Add a hardwood stick and you have it made. Works great."
"You guys really are nuts." Littlejohn repeated.
Tully smiled at the big man, not in the least bit offended.
Billy Nelson moved closer to Tully. "Could you teach me to shoot a slingshot?"
"Sure." Tully shrugged.
"Right now?"
"Sure." Tully shrugged again. He looked to Troy and Saunders for permission. Neither sargent raised an objection. Soon Tully, Littlejohn and Billy were shooting pebbles at tree branches. Littlejohn soon got his old form back and was hitting the target on a regular basis. Billy caught on quick and his aim rapidly improved. Soon he was doing some damage to the branches too. They kept at it until Hanley told them to get some rest.
Troy and Saunders watched the friendly rivalry between the three soldiers.
"I guess I'll have to get them each a slingshot. They certainly could come in handy." Saunders grinned at Troy.
"You'd be surprised." Troy responded. "Sometimes it's that little edge that makes all the difference."
Hanley studied the two sergeants, one dark, one blond, yet so much alike. His thoughts went to Chip and their friendship. They had both lost friends and faced the thought of losing each other. Saunders had gone above and beyond to save his life more than once. He had done the same for the sargent. He tried to imagine how he'd feel if he had to turn his friend over to the Germans. He couldn't picture it. Yet Troy had turned not one, but two, men over to the enemy. He shook his head, maybe Littlejohn had the right idea. He knew Chip had been right in his assessment. This war was crazy!
Hanley went to check on the prisoners. Doc was sitting in the back of the truck monitoring their condition. At the lieutenants' approach, he looked up.
"How are they doing Doc?"
"Not good." Doc shook his head. "The lieutenant is still in a coma. That head wound is beyond me L.T. He may have been hurt in the wreck too." Doc touched the mans' forehead with the back of his hand. "He's running a fever." He checked the second man before he continued. "This one is a bit better."
"Okay Doc, just do your best. We'll get them to a doctor as soon as possible." The lieutenant turned to leave. "And get some rest." When Doc nodded he left to find Sawyer.
Sawyer was wrapped in his blankets underneath the truck.
"Sawyer." The lieutenant called.
"Yeah L.T."
"Tell me what happened back there while you and Melnick were watching the prisoners."
Sawyer hesitated. Realizing they were practically alone, Doc, above them in the truck being the only one near, he answered.
"Melnick wanted to suffocate them both. Said they'd be a whole lot less trouble dead. I had to threaten to shoot him to dissuade him. I really believe he would have done it L.T."
Hanley thanked Sawyer and returned to his own bed. Sleep didn't come easily, he had a lot on his mind.