Me: Kind of a short chapter, but that's okay! :D

Tintin: I suppose so. :I

Me: Aw, what's wrong? :O

Tintin: Well, I feel like this story is coming to an end. :(

Me: Sure! But it's okay! I've got two more stories with you to finish! :D

Tintin: I guess that's okay. :)

Me: Alright! I don't own the Adventures of Tintin or the characters, except for a couple. :D

Tintin: Go and read! :)

Chapter 8

September 21, 1940

The night was particularly cold with heavy rain. Tintin, Eloi, and Snowy had made it to a barbed wire fence separating France from Vichy France. A few armoured cars rolled by as they trio ducked behind a hill. They peered over when the coast was clear and darted towards the fence.

"What is your plan, mon ami?" Eloi asked through chattering teeth. "You can't possibly go to Berlin to have a small chat with Hitler about this."

"I'm sort of making it up as I go, but I'm certainly not talking to him," Tintin mumbled. Snowy growled in agreement. The young reporter glanced quickly in both directions and crawled through the barbed wire. Eloi helped him get Snowy through the same way. "Aren't you coming along?" Tintin asked, "It'll be dangerous to stay since they know who you are."

"Oui… I may as well come. I can't let you go getting into trouble," Eloi joked, carefully maneuvering through the wire. We cross the road and head north towards Loir et Cher, trudging through the rain and mud the whole night. A few Nazi cars drove by, but they steered clear of them to avoid any trouble. By dawn, they made it to the town and quickly find a hotel. Eloi brought some money so they bought the cheapest room they could afford. There was only one bed, so Tintin opted to sleep on the floor.

"Are you sure? I don't mind the floor," Eloi said uncertainly, but Tintin shook his head.

"Hush. I don't really care." Tintin grinned and flopped on the ground. It was more comfortable than sloshing around in the muck. Snowy jumped on Tintin's chest and fell asleep there. "Whatever makes you comfortable," Tintin chuckled. He too drifted off to sleep.

September 22, 1940

Tintin woke with a stiff back and a sleeping dog still sprawled out on his chest. Tintin shoved Snowy off of his chest and sat up, stretching. Eloi was still snoring softly as Tintin walked towards the door. He headed out to scout out the town. His new plan was formulating in his head. Do I go back to Marlinspike? The Captain probably isn't back and the Professor won't be able to hear me… do I talk to the army? That's probably my best bet… better than getting the Nazis to help me, he thought, strolling around town. He sighed. Von Gottfried is probably already on my tail. How can I lose him? I suppose the best way is to lead him into a trap… oh ho, Tintin, you devil~ He smirked to himself as he waved to some locals.

"Alright, I think I have a good plan~" Tintin said to himself, jogging back to the hotel. He came back in just as Eloi and Snowy were getting up. "Morning!"

"Bonjour, mon ami…" Eloi mumbled sleepily, "You're incredibly cheerful for a fugitive."

"Of course! I have a good plan. However, we have to get to England," Tintin said, sitting on the floor and poking Snowy. The little white dog growled and got up. Eloi raised an eyebrow.

"England? During war time? We'll be lucky if we make it across France on the train without the Nazis catching us," Eloi said uncertainly. He ruffled his hair and put his hat on. "You don't have any papers and mine might get me arrested at this point."

"True… we might have to get fake papers… know anyone of that trade?" Eloi shook his head and Tintin crossed his arms. "I guess we're hitchhiking, then. We'll get a car to Calais and take a ferry to Dover." They get up and start to head out to catch a car.

"You really have this planned out, Tintin," Eloi said, "What's your plan?"

Tintin grinned slyly. "You'll see."

Von Gottfried paced around his tent, awaiting the return of his search party. Some soldiers entered and saluted. "Well?! Have you found him?!" von Gottfried snarled.

"N-no, sir," one soldier stammered. "But we received a telegram from our base in Loir et Cher. Someone claims to have seen Tintin and his dog!" Von Gottfried slammed his fist on the table.

"Then go after him, dummkopf!" he shouted.

The soldiers look at each other nervously and one said, "Sir… we can't leave here. We're under direct orders. You're not in command anymore." Von Gottfried looked as if he were about to explode to a firey mess.

"WHO SAYS I'M NOT IN COMMAND?!" he roared. The soldiers stepped aside as the Reichsmarschall Herman Göring walked in. Von Gottfried leaned against the table in shock. "R-Reichsmarschall! What are you doing here?"

"I am relieving you of your duty, Herr von Gottfried. The Führer is not pleased with your brazen use of his troops. You will be sent back to Berlin to court," Göring said coolly, "Until we find a suitable replacement, you are hereby discharged from the army to be held in Paris." The soldiers took von Gottfried to an armoured prisoner car and roughly throw him in the back.

"You cannot do this to me! You will not hear the last from me!" he shouted as the car doors slam shut. The car rolled away from the base.

Herman Göring addressed the soldiers, "Men, you shall discontinue your search for Tintin. The Führer and I have determined this man is not a threat to our regime. We will continue to keep the peace in Vichy France. Now, get back to work!"

September 23, 2014

After quite a lot of hitchhiking and some miscommunication, Tintin, Eloi, and Snowy reached Calais. Tintin purchased a newspaper and glanced at the front page. He gasped, "Great Snakes! This is fantastic!" He ran to the docks where Eloi and Snowy were waiting for the ferry. "Eloi! Eloi, look at this!"

"Que? What is it?" the scruffy Frenchmen asked, taking the newspaper. "Mon deiu! This is great! Tintin! Fantastique! 'Army Calls Off Search for Tintin. Nazi General Jailed for Treason.' Incredible!" Eloi exclaimed, jumping up and shaking Tintin's hands excitedly. Snowy barked happily. "Does that mean we're in the clear?"

"I'm not sure," Tintin admitted, "Von Gottfried is clever. I'm sure he may find away to escape and come after me…"

"Well, one Nazi isn't anything like the whole army," Eloi said, shrugging.

The ferry came into the dock so Tintin said, "Let's get on. The sooner we're out of France the better. Von Gottfried shouldn't be able to find us in England." They boarded the boat and awaited departure. Hopefully this trouble will pass and I'll be able to go back to Marlinspike. I need to take a long vacation, Tintin thought as the ferry left the port on the way to England.

Meanwhile in a prison in Paris, Axel von Gottfried sat in his dingy cell, contemplating the various ways in which he'd ruin Tintin. A guard opened the door and tossed the former general some food. Secretly, the guard also tossed a file for the window bars. "Hagel Kapitän von Gottfried," he hissed, leaving quickly. Von Gottfried grinned icily and ate his food, pocketing the file.

"You'd best watch your back, Tintin. I will not rest until I've beaten you to the ground."