The Sleeping Beauty Raid-Chapter 7
The Germans stopped at the crash site and examined the wrecked ambulance. The wounded men were discovered and moved to the back of the truck. The dead they left for the cleanup crew to recover. Medical records and transport orders were collected and handed to the lieutenant in charge. He took one look at them and rushed the wounded men to the base hospital.
"Lt. Stahl is the son of Wilhelm Stahl." The lieutenant offered the papers to his captain. "He and Sgt. Wolfe are being sent to Berlin to meet the High Command personally. It is said that Hitler himself will present them with their medals. I thought that perhaps you would wish to see to their comfort yourself."
"Of course." His captain assured him. "Have them placed in the room directly across from my office. "I can tell the lieutenants' father that I personally had my eye on his son during his stay here."
The lieutenant smiled at his captain. "I thought that you might wish to do so Captain. I have already ordered that room to be prepared for them."
The two men walked to the office window to look into the window across the alley. The hospital building was less than five feet from his office. The room in question was a bustle of activity as orderlies prepared the room for the captains' special guests. They watched everything as the two wounded heroes were wheeled into the room and made comfortable.
"Unfortunately Sir, the lieutenant has yet to regain consciousness. According to his medical records, he has been in a coma since right after he was injured." The lieutenant indicated the papers that his captain had tossed onto the desk. " Both he and the sargent have head injuries sustained in an explosion. You could however speak with Sgt. Wolfe."
"Yes. Yes. Let them rest first. I'll be by later to pay my respects." The Captain waved his subordinate away. "Take care of their comfort until I can finish my paperwork. These new battle plans must be implemented soon and I must plan my troop movements. Tell the sargent I will stop by later tonight."
The lieutenant saluted and accepted the dismissal. He hurried to the hospital to make sure that everything possible was being done to assure the men were comfortable.
Sgt. Wolfe was still awake when the lieutenant entered the room. The officer introduced himself as he glanced around the room.
"Has the staff given you everything you need Sargent?"
"They've been very kind, thank you." The injured man answered weakly. He hesitated before he continued. "There is one thing Lieutenant."
Eager to be able to offer any help, the lieutenant was quick to ask how he could be of assistance.
"I am very tired but I seem to be having trouble falling asleep. I was wondering if it would be possible for the doctors to give me a pill to help me get to sleep. I wouldn't ask, but I want to be well rested for the ceremony."
The mention of the medal ceremony left the officer with the impression that the sargent expected to be awarded the honor very soon. Understanding the desire to be rested, he assured the sargent that he would inform the doctors of his request. To show his good intentions, he called to a passing nurse and passed on the request. The two men talked quietly. Moffitt, aka Wolfe, feigned interest in the lieutenant to avoid talking himself. He pleaded exhaustion when the officer started to ask questions. While they talked, the pills were delivered to the room.
"Do you really need to sleep now Sargent?"
Moffitt held the pills in his hand and waited to see what the German had in mind. "No, not right now. It can wait until later. But I'm afraid I'm not very good company Lieutenant."
"I'll let you rest Sargent. But Captain Haus will be dropping by after he finishes some important work. You really should try to stay awake until after his visit."
The command was phrased as a suggestion but Moffitt wasn't fooled. He realized that he would have to wait. As he thought about it, he realized that he could turn it to their advantage.
Of course Lieutenant. I will take the pills after the Captain has gone. It will work out well. After the Captain retires I can rest undisturbed until the pills wear off." Moffitt gave a weak looking smile and nodded to himself. " I really must be awake to thank the Captain for his hospitality."
"Very well Sargent, I will let you rest until the Captain arrives." Moffitt thanked him and the lieutenant took his leave.
Moffitt dozed off and on until the Captain arrived. The hospital staff had been over attentive until he had complained that they were keeping him awake. During his talk with the Captain he had again pleaded exhaustion and mentioned the sleeping pills. Before he left the Captain had instructed the staff not to disturb the sargents' sleep.
The sargent made a show of taking the pills just before dark. The staff checked on Hitch, aka Lt. Stahl, before closing the door and leaving them alone. The blond was still not awake. Moffitt slept for several hours before awakening to the quiet hospital. He pulled the sleeping pills out from under his pillow and threw them away. When he glanced out the window, the building next door was completely dark. Climbing slowly to his feet, he moved to the next bed. When he touched the blonds' arm, Hitch opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Ready?"
The blond nodded silently. He sat up in bed and waited quietly. He held out his right arm and Moffitt began to dig at the putty holding the cast together. After a few minutes the cast fell apart in two pieces. Moffitt caught the pieces and handed one to Hitch while he kept the other. Next he dug through some special pockets in the plaster to pull out a set of lock picks and a very small camera.
Hitch, meanwhile, was digging a small gold and jewel encrusted object out of the other half of the cast. He cleaned it carefully and handed it to Moffitt.
The sargent stuffed all the objects in his night shirt. With a nod from him, Hitch moved to the window to check for unwanted eyes. The sargent slowly opened the door to the hall to make sure the staff was respecting his request to not be disturbed. Seeing no one, he hurried to the beds and made human shaped forms under the blankets. On the second bed he left the white of the cast show above the top of the cover. Next he went to the closet and pulled out a stretcher. At a nod from him Hitch eased the window open. The five feet to the other building looked a lot further in the dark. With Hitchcocks' help, He dropped the stretcher from their sill to the window sill across the alley. Moffitt held it steady while the private crawled across the stretcher to the other window. He worked it open and slid inside. Once he was sure he was alone, he returned to the window. He held the stretcher tight as Moffitt made his way across the space.
Next they pulled the stretcher inside so they could close the window and the blackout curtain. Now they were ready to turn on a light and get to work. Moffitt reached into his clothes and pulled out the miniature camera and handed it to Hitch with a nod to the desk.
Hitch began taking pictures of the maps on the walls and any papers he could find. Since he couldn't read German he took pictures of everything. He was careful to replace all the papers exactly as he found them.
Moffitt scanned the room and found a locked cabinet. It took him several minutes but the lock finally clicked open. Inside sat a small gold object, almost exactly like the one they had brought with them. The main difference, this was gold and gems while the one they'd brought was a lead and paint replica. The sargent switched the two objects and relocked the cabinet. He checked to be sure he had not disturbed anything else. Satisfied, he turned to help the blond.
Hitch was almost done so Moffitt kept watch until he was finished. They turned out the lights and pulled the blackout curtain away from the window. Hitch opened the window so they could cross the space again by reversing their previous actions.
The blond closed the office window before sliding backwards toward the hospital. The stretcher shifted under his weight and he threw a startled look over his shoulder at the sargent.
Moffitt smiled an apology and gripped the ends tighter. Hitch slid into the hospital room with a barely suppressed sigh of relief.
They closed the window and Hitch put the stretcher in the closet while Moffitt checked the hall.
The staff was still avoiding the hallway outside their door. This gave them time to finish their preparations for their deception.
Moffitt handed the gold artifact to Hitch who placed it into the pocket in the cast that had held the replica. The lock picks and the camera were replaced in their special pockets too. Moffitt pulled a small packet of putty and powder out of another pocket. He replaced the cast on the blonds right arm and fitted the pieces together. Using the putty he glued the pieces in position. Next he wrapped the whole thing with gauze and made a paste with the powder to smooth out the final appearance. They inspected their creation critically.
"I guess it will do." Moffitt murmured with a bit of doubt.
"It looks good to me." Hitch confirmed. He sat on his bed and watched his sargent.
"Are you ready Hitch?" Moffitt looked into the blonds' wary eyes and tried to sound confident. "This will be the last time Hitch. You can stay awake after this one wears off."
The private nodded but his eyes were locked on the syringe that Moffitt held. The sargent slid the needle under the skin and pushed the plunger. He helped Hitch lay down as the drug took effect. As the blue eyes slid shut Moffitt squeezed his arm in reassurance. Hitch relaxed until he appeared to be in a coma. Moffitt pulled the blankets up around his shoulders and tucked them in with a gentle touch.
"Sleep well my friend. I've got your back."
The sargent returned to his own bed and fell into a troubled sleep.