Chapter Thirty-Five
Perhaps she'd meet Jasper again. Perhaps...
With a small backpack and a thin, light brown coat, she went to the trainstation. It was a four hour ride to Texas City but she had a feeling that Jasper would be there. She did not know why she would want to see him if he was there. All she knew was that she did.
She'd brought with her a novel and for the upcoming hours she buried herself in Daddy-Long-Legs. She was a slow reader and stopped very often to gaze into the distance at the beautiful hills. This train ticket cost her very much money, but she'd been saving and allowed herself this little fun without worrying about the costs.
By the time they reached Texas, she'd only reached half of the book. However, that gave her the other half for the way back, so it wasn't really so bad. She went out the train and stepped to the first person she saw that seemed friendly enough to want to help her.
"Excuse me, I was hoping if you could tell me where this address is."
She showed the man the letter, on which the address was written on the bottom.
"Ah, yes, it's a tiny bit further away from this station," he said.
His accent instantly brought Alice back four year ago, when she'd spent only three days with Jasper.
"Once you get out, cross the street and walk until the first roundabout. There, turn to the left until the end of the street. You'll find that address on your right hand."
"Thank you so much," Alice said with a smile.
"Just a ten minute walk," he added, waving her goodbye.
"Thanks!" she called, waving as well and following the given directions.
She was an hour late, but according to the invitation, the event would last until eight o'clock. It was almost seven now, so she could still enjoy the event for an hour. She was starving from not having eaten any lunch and the long train ride. During her walk, she bought a take away tea and added two sugars. She thought she could survive one more hour without anything to eat. Besides, she never liked to rush down her food. On her way back home, she'd have much more time in the train to eat more peacefully.
The walk was indeed just ten minutes and the doors were luckily open. She noticed inside many people, some of whom were wearing their military clothes. She walked in quietly and thanked her small frame for not being noticeable so much.
It was not that she didn't want to be seen, but she felt shame for her lies. Her co-workers had often given her filthy looks and it was now deeply enrooted in Alice that her lie was disgusting to the outer world.
She walked around the room slowly, glancing at the people talking to each other. She knew none of them, obviously. Her entire team was dead after all and she'd never had the privilege of meeting the others.
For an hour, she walked, she searched, she sipped her tea. There was no sign of Jasper and most of the crowd had gone home.
She sat on a chair tiredly and sadness washed upon her.
"What's wrong?" a voice asked from behind her.
The person appeared next to her and sat beside her on a chair. He was an older man, in his forties. His hair was dark with a few gray bits. His body was lean and his face very friendly, with dark eyes.
"The war," Alice answered.
He nodded sadly.
"Stays in here," he said, tapping his chest, "doesn't it?"
"It sure does," she muttered.
"Did you meet any of your old friends?" he asked as if to make the mood a little lighter.
Alice was not the kind to sugar coat a story.
"All my friends died in the war. There's only one other person whom I've spent some time with in the war, but I don't know if he's even alive or not."
"Was he an American?"
"I think so."
He scowled at her strangely, which was understandable. It was after all not common to not know the nationality of a person you spent time with.
"What's his name? We have a list of all survivors and fallen ones."
She froze, suddenly not so certain if she wanted to know if Jasper was dead. But another power reminded her that it was best to know than forever doubt.
"Jasper Whitlock," she said.
The mans eyes widened and his mouth opened widely.
"My dear! Where have you been? Jasper Whitlock is very much alive, indeed!"
She drew in a breath and felt like a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders. His tone allowed her to bring forth the next question.
"Oh? Is that like...common knowledge...I mean, you did ask me where I've been, as if I've been living beneath a rock."
"Do not feel bad!" he exclaimed. "He was such an important man and I always find myself shocked when somebody asks about Jasper Withlock. Was he a friend of yours? A lover, perhaps?"
"Oh, no, no! He was...an acquaintance."
Alice brought her eyes down as she understood that this man thought Alice was a person left behind during war. Of course he didn't think she'd actually been in the war as well.
"Was he here tonight?" she asked carefully.
"No, my dear," said the man sadly. "He's been awarded so many prizes but he never comes to claim what is truly his."
"Prizes?" Alice asks in surprise.
"Oh, my dear! You really do not know... I shall tell you then, but first, let me introduce myself to you. I am Jason Jenks."
He extended his hand, which Alice took.
"Alice Brandon," she said.
"Nice to meet you, Alice. I helped Jasper, Aro, Caius and Marcus with one very important mission."
She shut her eyes briefly. Aro, Caius and Marcus were names Jasper mentioned as well.
"Berlin, as you may know, was heavily targeted in the beginning of '45. Every day, certain areas would get the flow blast. It was the task of Jasper, Aro, Caius and Marcus to find out these locations, report them back to us so we could bring people who still lived there in safety. At the same time, we knew when the choppers would be gone and where the choppers would drop the bombs. This extra information was crucial to sooner stop the attacks in Berlin and get the citizen there to safety."
"That sounds like a big task for four men."
"Yes, it appeared so," he said in yet again a sad tone. "Aro, Caius and Marcus were killed. Jasper managed to stay in Berlin until May, the last day the bombs were thrown. He reported to us very well when the attacks would be and we Americans went there to ambush the Nazi. It was a very successful mission. If it weren't for him, Berlin wouldn't have been freed so quickly."
Jasper Withlock was a hero.