"Sand is our worst enemy out here, apart from the sun and the heat", Hitch tries to copy Moffit's college lecturer tone even trying to make his New York accent sound more British by adopting a nasal speech. Gottschlich nods, as he listens intently, while Tully hides his grin at Mark's mischief behind chewing his matchstick more intensely. "Here, you can have one of these to keep you hydrated", Hitch offers the Japanese descended American one of his wrapped chewing gums. "Once you have chewed it properly, you can even do this!" Proudly blowing a large bubble which explodes with a soft popping noise, the former college student grins widely at the younger man's dumbfunded expression. While Hitch elaborately talks about the risks of dehydration and heat stroke enjoying his stage time in replacing Moffit as the know-it-all, Tully walks ahead through the camp's motor pool unable to keep listening. Where are Troy and Dietrich, when one needs them to put an end to such nonsense? The Sarge has stayed behind to talk about some important stuff with the German and the Captain does not even know what to do first to keep the camp running. Tough luck.
After 15 minutes of watching Hitch instruct Gottschlich on bubble blowing techniques and lecturing with a raised index finger about his personal theory of the protective powers of chewing bubble gum, Tully finally decides to save the Corporal himself. Interrupting Hitch's highly exaggerated horror story about finding both his boots full of scorpions one morning, Tully calls the younger Corporal to come along with him and be shown the Jeeps' engine to learn about their maintainance. "I wasn't finished yet!", Hitch protests slightly. "Cap wanted us to break him in on the job, not talk him to death!", Tully retorts dryly. "But knowing about scorpions and snakes is important! Look at what happened to Ari", Hitch argues. "You tell your stories, while I show him the technical stuff", Tully relents with a sigh regretting to even have started arguing and deciding to keep silent again from now on.
Sam Troy observes their interactions from a distance more determined than ever to keep an eye on this Gottschlich character after his discussion with Dietrich and having been taken completely by surprise in his fight. Pride goes before a fall. Grudgingly he has to admit that he has truly underestimated the young man and paid quite dearly for it, well at least his throbbing head and his wounded pride have paid dearly. Silberblatt has bet against Dietrich and assumed that the German has merely wanted to motivate the bullied young man and Troy has fallen for the same assumption independently, even though the Captain has warned them both clearly. Whatever the German has observed after their arrival at the camp, when Sam has taken care of getting Moffit to sickbay as quickly as possible must have tipped him of, but Troy is highly motivated now to find out what it has been. Knowing about the kid's broken cheekbone, the American Sergeant has not seriously considered to harm him and apparently he has not seriously considered him a threat either which has turned out to be a grave misjudgement. If this fight would have drawn more in the length, Troy is sure that he would have beaten the much leaner and less experienced man through better constitution and vast experience, but he has let him get two direct hits in succession, a mistake that is truly bugging him.
Rubbing the lump forming at the side of his head, Troy muses how different the Corporal has behaved in the night of the fight between Hitch and the drunken soldier the Sergeant himself has arrested on the Captain's order. Today, the kid has appeared almost like a different person and the fighting style he has employed is unlike anything Troy has ever been confronted with. Brawling with fists, throwing stuff, even attacking the other's eyes with bare fingers or grabbing things at hand as improvised weapons are methods he has encountered and employed hundreds of times in his life, but never before has he seen somebody block an attack with his foot only shifting the body slightly. That way of fighting is in an uncanny way much more precise and efficient than the wrestling and boxing he knows from countless confrontations from combat to bar brawls.
After Tully is through with his demonstration of the inside of the Jeep's engine compartment and it is time for dinner, Troy finally makes his appearance, shouting: "Chow time, boys!" Even though he gives a salute as a greeting, the American Sergeant can observe that Corporal Gottschlich tenses visibly and avoids looking him in the eye. The young man is the very image of a guilty conscience. "That's an impressive skill you got, Corporal", Troy tries to be friendly. "Th..Thank you, S..Sergeant", the young man stutters nervously. "I'm s..sorry, if I injured you, S..Sir" Too proud to admit the injury openly, the American Sergeant just waves him off. "You must show us how to do that sooner rather than later", Sam Troy adds fighting to maintain his friendly tone. "I w..would be honored, S..Sir." Hitch startles Gottschlich by patting him on the shoulder. "Excellent idea! I'd love to learn that and take the Jerries by surprise. Can you imagine the expressions of the SS guys when you kick them in the face instead of in the butt?" Troy and Tully have to grin in spite of themselves infecting the young Corporal with their mirth, as he gives a shy smile in Hitch' direction. Considering all that has happened Troy muses that they could make something of the shy kid.
"So tell me, Corporal", Troy addresses the young man directly with a more serious tone, "what did Dietrich observe that convinced him to not only to give you the dressing down, but also that you could win against me?" Gottschlich looks torn and unsure how to answer the question. "Captain Dietrich", he pronounces the title more intensely after Troy has dropped it completely, "m..must have s..seen that I s..struck one German s..soldier who t..tried to f..flee down with the f..fist and kicked a second one with the uhiro geri, the back kick." All three note that during the statement, the young man gains enough self-assurance to stop stuttering. Troy nods contently now that he can understand Dietrich's assessment better. "You'd better not hold back with that skill. It's a real feat, kid!" "No, Sir!", Riku Gottschlich answers obediently. "Unlike Dietrich we're not so much into the all prim and proper attitude. Call me Sarge or Troy", Sam Troy offers with a friendly smile. "And while you're at it, you can call me Hitch and he's Tully", Hitch adds with an open-hearted smile that the Corporal returns shyly.
At dinner Troy, Tully and Hitch are joined by Riku Gottschlich who barely leaves their side, now that he has been assigned to them by Dietrich and they have finished their earlier introduction. Their exhausted looking Captain eats at the officer's table where not only several of the officers seek to speak with him and provide their reports, but also he addresses general Atkins directly about their options for improving the supply situation of the camp. To the general's great annoyance, Dietrich's calculation have revealed that even with strict rationing and taking care of reducing anything that the German considers merely inconsiderate waste of ressources, they could not even maintain full rations for a single week. Atkins is sceptical whether trading with the Bedouins will be possible, but states his trust in Dietrich's and Moffit's expertise in this regard, while he openly enforces the idea of creating an air bridge to provide the overly stressed camp with the much-needed supplies, since the Germans have lost their air superiority almost completely and their planes can mainly be found along the coast not this far into the continent. Atkins orders the German Captain to ask major Bracken about support through the RAF. Briefly Dietrich wonders why the general does not request this support himself, but abstains from speaking the thought out loud too experienced from the German Wehrmacht and his run-ins with the SS to ask such impertinent questions of superior officers.
Meanwhile Jakob takes care of Ari who sits at the table between him and Hans Dietrich. As the German Captain is too focussed on his discussion with the general to spare much time for the boy who looks intimidated by all the Americans around him, Ari keeps close to Jakob. Only Fritz' arrival brings a smile to his lips, as he starts to slip some scraps of his meat ration under the table to the begging dog.
After dinner, the Rats retreat to their tent for their personal council of war to discuss Gottschlich and how to deal with him. Before that, Troy has told the slightly distressed Corporal that he would only be able to move in with them once Dietrich has finally approved of him, not telling him that this approval would depend on the outcome of their council as well.
Hans Dietrich accompanies Jakob Silberblatt to bring Ari back to their tent where the boy is supposed to go to sleep, while the two officers split up to take care of their respective duties. As Jakob turns to speak with Major von Stolberg under his disguise as the German nobleman Ulrich von Schwarzenberg to check on him for the evening, his friend starts an evening round to assess the situation of the prison guards and POW officers, the sickbay and all the camp's night guards. This is a routine the German Captain has adopted during countless desert crossings in the last year which also helps him to wrestle the unease he feels about his current position. Leutnant Haberfeld and Tenente Marcello ask about the transfer to a POW camp which has been overdue according to what they have been told. Dietrich calms them that Major von Stolberg's arrest and the meeting with the Arabs in two days time will deter this even longer. "Ich mache mir Sorgen, dass die Männer des Majors Unruhe unter die Gefangenen bringen, Herr Hauptmann", Haberfeld voices his concern that von Stolberg's men stir up troubles among the prisoners. "Vorhin hat es bereits eine Prügelei gegeben, als einer von denen über Sie geschimpft hat." Dietrich raises his eyebrows in surprise upon hearing that some men started a fist fight after somebody of von Stolberg's troops has insulted him in front of his former men. "Sorgen Sie für Ruhe und Ordnung, Leutnant! Sie machen das ausgezeichnet", the German Captain orders his former Lieutenant to uphold order and praises him for doing his job excellently. With his confidence boosted again, Leutnant Haberfeld salutes and turns to keep an eye on the Germans. After a few minutes of small talk with Tenente Marcello, Dietrich can finally extract himself from his overbearing presence and bear hug to continue his evening round.
The light and voices in Major von Stolberg's tent tell the German Captain that Jakob is not yet finished with his evening interview and he decides to continue toward the sickbay without looking after the unnerving German arisocrat himself. Peace and quiet which has been missing for days has settled in the field hospital tent which has been extended by the Red Cross tent and helped to split up the wounded soldiers with more space for the medical personnel in between cots. As Hans Dietrich scans the interior of the combined tents appraisingly, Doctor Andrews steps toward him with a smile. "Finally, we have regained some space to breathe, as you can see Captain. Major Bracken ordered his British soldiers to help the Red Cross with building the second tent." "How utterly selfless of him", Dietrich mutters with dry sarcasm. "Well, I could not afford to look the gift horse in the mouth", the American medic smirks ruefully. "That's unfortunately true, Doctor. It looks like you could finish all necessary treatments." Andrews nods. "We could and even had time for dinner with our Swiss colleagues. Deirdre, Lisa, Sara and I are looking forward to our first night without night shifts to wake us up, as Doctor Riggioli and nurse Arno have offered to take care of these." "You deserve the night off, Doctor", the exhausted officer states more empathically than he would have intended to sound. "So would you, Captain!", Lisa Hartigan admonishes sharply and Dietrich tenses automatically at the tone, as his eyes narrow in suspicion. "No need to worry, Lieutenant. I intend to find some sleep, after I have checked on some of your patients and with all the night guards", the young man states tersely while drawing himself up into a proud stance and glaring slightly at the insolent nurse. Both Americans look surprised at the German's dedication of putting up several night guards, a concept that they are obviously unfamiliar with, since the small camp of scouts hardly requires many guards on a daily basis.
Captain Boggs has become aware of the younger officer's presence and is waving Dietrich over to the now secluded area where Boggs and Bracken as the only officers are separated from the other patients. Dietrich is relieved to get out of the Lieutenant's clutches in this way, since the woman has the uncanny ability to push his trigger points even more efficiently than Troy and the Rats. After saluting to both the major and the American Captain sharply, the German Captain reports the camp's situation dutifully and with well-honed precision, mentioning the stabilisation of the medical situation and describing their increasing supply problems as well has the propositions made to the general. "I do not know the exact location of the Australian and New Zealand divisions of the LRDP, as they have been on the move a lot since Tobruk, but the units with code names Green Crow and Blue Crow could still be in the area. Try calling them. However, most would not be overly well equipped, as all scout units tend to keep small camps which do not require many supplies to be quick on the move", Boggs explains to the German Captain. "That is what I would have suspected", the younger man replies with a scowl. "If you know of any British units in the area that could help resupply us, we would be grateful, Major Bracken", Dietrich speaks with a serious expression, as he turns to address the British officer directly, "or if you have contacts to the RAF to create an air supply bridge, as otherwise we will have to reduce rations for prisoners and active soldiers alike within the next two days." Eyeing the German's lean stature that speaks clearly of his vast experience with such situations, Bracken replies: "I would rather avoid such unpleasantries, Captain. Air commodore William Harrington in command of the squadron stationed near Agedabia is an old acquaintance of mine. You may call the British station there and use me as a reference which should help you to gain trust and support, Captain Dietrich."
A spark of new hope is visible in the German's brown eyes, as he bows his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Major. I will contact them as soon as possible, before continuing on my camp round." Boggs looks baffled, as the concept is unfamiliar to him, since the camp he has been in charge of has typically been limited to a fourth of its current size and never housed more than a handful of prisoners. With a sarcastic smile the young officer elaborates: "Prisoners in such large amounts are better not left unchecked, Captain Boggs. Besides I had too many commando units taking my bases apart to not be wary." Reminded of the German's shift of role, both Axis officers self-consciously avert their gazes. "I trust that you know what you're doing, Captain Dietrich", Boggs placates the young officer, fully aware that he has ordered his patrols to go after the German Captain countless times in the past months. "I would hope so after the experience I have amassed!", Dietrich remarks sarcastically, before returning to a more neutral tone: "I will try to contact the RAF and then report to the general." With a sharp salute, he turns to the American medic. "I would like to speak with Sergeant Moffit, unless he is asleep." "I will take you to him, Captain", the American nurse Deirdre O'Donnell offers, as she is passing them by. "Thank you, Lieutenant."
Moffit looks up in surprise not having expected anybody after dinnertime. The German Captain is nothing, if not dedicated to his duty, he has to admit. "Good evening, Captain" the Brit tries a smile while speaking softly, as a sting in his lung reminds him of the reason for his stay in the sickbay. "You are my most attentive visitor." The German smiles wryly at the dry joke, as he crouches next to Jack's cot. "Sergeant, how are you?", Dietrich decides to at least keep up the appearance of civility before turning to his actual professional interest. "Better. The operation definitely helped", Moffit answers with a slight grimace of pain, as he has to cough. "You need not speak more than necessary", the German states calmly with an expression of concern. "Nodding or shaking your head should suffice to answer my next question. Are you acquainted with any locals, Bedouins or else, who could be persuaded to trade us food and water?" Moffit looks honestly surprised by the question, creases his brow, as he weighs his possible answers before shaking his head. "Sheikh Sulaiman's tribe is in charge of the land in 2 to 3 days radius around here", the Cambridge scholar whispers. "Selling the German major might be our best offer to establish trade."
Hans Dietrich grits his teeth, as he visibly struggles with his pride. "I'd rather not start selling humans or go begging to the Arabs for their support." Jack Moffit nods. "You should never beg. Bring a worthy gift for the Sheikh to show your respect! Then start negotiating. They want something from us, we from them. I am sure you can manage to settle a deal." The German Captain cocks his head. "Would you consider it wise to contact them a day early or wait until the third day?" Moffit frowns. "Unless our supplies run dangerously low already, I would wait, Captain." Dietrich smiles wryly. "My thoughts exactly. I'd rather not give away our desperation and vulnerability. Thank you, Sergeant. You have helped me more than enough and I should let you rest." Jack Moffit smiles dryly. "You're most welcome, Captain. It was much more pleasant talking to you than staring at the ceiling." Looking bemused the lean German stands up and salutes. "Look after yourself, Captain, and get some rest!", Moffit adds silently, as Dietrich is about to turn around. "Although I enjoy your company, I'd rather not wish to have you around all day sharing the cot next to me." "Don't worry! That attitude is quite mutual, Sergeant", comes the dry answer.
On his way out, the German Captain addresses the American medic once again: "If all is under control here, Doctor Andrews, and you have nothing to report or ask of me, I will continue with my duties. Good night!" His first goal after leaving sickbay is the radio station to contact the RAF right away. Lieutenant Williams looks up in suprise from his cup of cold coffee, as the German Captain enters the tent so late at night and greets him with his usual sharp salute. "Lieutenant, I need to contact the RAF at Agedabia and speak to Air commodore William Harrington", Dietrich states matter-of-factually. Williams does not hesitate, but starts to search for the right frequency, pressing buttons and shifting the controls with concentration, until the static turns into a voice. "Black Owl, this is Red Crow", the American Lieutenant identifies himself with their current code name. "Our Captain wants to speak with Air commodore William Harrington." Williams listens to the other man, before asking Dietrich. "He said that the commodore has retired for the night." Gritting his teeth slightly and taking a look at his watch, the German decides that 2100 is not too late to have the offiqcer called to the radio. "Tell him that Major Bracken has recommended that we turn to him and that it is rather urgent." The radio officer dutifully relates the message and listens to the answer. "He sends someone to contact the Air Commodore", he tells Dietrich who nods in approval. "Well done."
Both wait quietly for almost three minutes, until an answer comes on the the radio. "Air commodore William Harrington has arrived and wishes to speak with you, Captain!", Williams hands the head phones to Dietrich. "This is Air commodore William Harrington", a resonant baritone with strong British accent greets Dietrich. "Captain Boggs?" "Captain Boggs has been wounded in a mission and I am replacing him until his recovery. I am Captain Dietrich", the German explains carefully. "Repeat your name please!", the alert sounding Brit asks. "Captain Hans Dietrich. I was formerly a member of the German Afrikakorps and serve with the American sub unit of the Long Range Desert Group since my defection. You can check my credentials with the American high command", Dietrich argues calmly. "I will do that. Why have you contacted me, Captain?", the British Air Commodore asks warily. "A friend of yours, Major Bracken, has been gravely wounded and is treated in the sickbay at my camp along with dozens of Allied and Axis soldiers. He has recommended that I contact you. In addition to the wounded, we have more than 100 prisoners of war to keep under control. Our supplies do not suffice for more than five to six days. Due to the critical state of the wounded men and negotiations with the local tribes we cannot leave within the next three days which makes it impossible to reach any Allied camp in time before our supplies run out completely and we would have to neglect POWs under the protection of the Geneva convention and our own soldiers."
The British officer has listened intently until now. "Howard Bracken is indeed an old friend of mine. However, Captain Dietrich, I am an officer of the Royal Air Force. What could I possibly do for you?" Dietrich smiles slyly even though only the American radio officer can see his expression. "I ask you for sending us supplies of food, water and medication via an air bridge, Commodore Harrington! I am well aware that we do not serve in the same army, but I appeal to your human decency and honor to not let your Allies or POWs under protection by the Geneva convention starve or die of untreated wounds, if it can be prevented." For a few seconds the British officer remains silent, before he answers cautiously: "I will verify your identity, Captain Dietrich, and contact you tomorrow morning regarding the type of medical and other supplies required by your unit." "Thank you, Commodore Harrington", the German Captain answers with honest relief clearly audible in his voice. Only static remains after the British officer has cut the connection and Dietrich exchanges a glance with the American Lieutenant. "Captain Boggs recommended contacting the Australian and New Zealand divisions of the LRDP. He mentioned Code names Green Crow and Blue Crow."
Williams nods in understanding. "New codenames should be distributed within the next two days, Captain. I can contact the LRDP units right away." "Please do that, Lieutenant", the German orders calmly. "Inform them on our location and ask whether they can make it here within two days." The first division of the LRDP answers within twenty seconds, as a young man's voice with heavy Australian accent speaks so loudly that Williams takes off the head phones and Dietrich can listen in: "T'is Green Crow. Who's callin'?" "Green Crow this is Red Crow calling", Lieutenant Williams answers professionally. "Howdy, mate", comes the jovial greeting of the Australian radio officer. Dietrich raises an eyebrow in surprise. Such casual conversation on the radio would not have occurred in the German Wehrmacht. Lieutenant Williams looks amused by the German officer's reaction, as he answers by giving their position and asking whether they are within two days reach by truck. "Stuffed, I'll be. Gotta check this with my Capt'n." Then, the radio falls quiet.
Two minutes later, the call continues. "Red Crow this is Green Crow." "Red Crow here. We hear you", Williams answers. "This is Captain Brown speaking. You asked for our position." Williams hands the head phone to Dietrich again who speaks calmly: "This is Captain Dietrich temporarily replacing Captain Boggs." The other man's surprise is obvious from the short silence following the introduction. "Dietrich as in Hans Dietrich?", the Australian officer asks. With a sigh of resignation the German answers: "Yes indeed. You should have been informed that I serve with the American subunit since my defection." Again the Australian Captain remains silent for a few seconds. "I'd thought that was the Yankees' idea of a joke", Brown states dryly. "Sorry for the misunderstanding. What do you require, Captain Dietrich?" The German adopts a professional stance, as he inquires calmly: "We have more than a hundred POWs and more than 50 wounded Allied and Axis soldiers to treat in our field hospital and run dangerously low on supplies. Are you within two days' reach and would be able to resupply us, Captain Brown?" Again the Australian Captain remains silent for a few moments, before answering: "We would have moved camp tomorrow. We can join you by tomorrow 1700." Dietrich sighs in relief: "Thank you, Captain Brown. That would be helpful." "Until tomorrow, Captain Dietrich. I'm curious to meet you in person." The German frowns upon the last statement, but refrains from inquiring any further. "See ya tomorrow in arvo then", the young radio officer answers having retrieved the phone from his Captain. "Green Crow out. Toodle-oo", the Australian gives as a final greeting and Dietrich asks slightly incredulously: "Are they all like this?" Williams smiles: "Fortunately not. O'Malley's special though. But he really loves his job." "I can imagine", the German answers dryly. "Inform me immediately, when the Air Commodore or any of the LRDP officers calls again, Lieutenant! Good night!" With a salute the German turns around and leaves the radio tent.
Dietrich walks to the first small camp fire providing light and a meeting point for the patrolling night guards. The German exchanges a quiet salute with a British and an American soldier who both look briefly surprised that the Captain is checking on them himself and not some lower ranking officer. Satisfied that both look alert and attentive he warns them to watch out for break-out attempts of prisoners as well as potential outside attacks. Then, he continues his round to the second night fire where similarly two American LRDG soldiers are on night shift. One of them looks rather sleepy and Dietrich admonishes him sternly to stay awake and alert as well as save coffee for future night shifts. Looking embarrassed enough to not fall asleep immediately after the dressing down, the young soldier starts walking out into the night for his patrol round, as the German continues on his way to the third post.
When he sees no soldier resting at the fire, his instinct trained over months by the Rat Patrol's assaults against his German camps practically screams that something is wrong. Both could be on patrol simultaneously, but that would be extemely unlikely. Drawing the Colt with his left hand, the German Captain approaches the fire cautiously and looks for any signs of struggle or the missing guards. When he can make out dark wet blotches in the sand which look suspiciously like blood, he does not hesitate, but fires two shots in the air to alert the camp. After years of experience this is still the most efficient method to get every soldier alert and at attention immediately. Before Dietrich can give a shout of alarm, a blade grazes his upper left arm. Too wary to take any risks, the German drops to the ground and tries to make out his attacker, as a second throwing knife passes over his head giving away the other's position. Not caring for subtlety under the circumstances the German Captain fires several times in the direction, until a cry of pain and the sound of a dropping body indicate a success.
By now several soldiers with torches are out of the tents and trying to discern the source of the commotion, some of them running in his direction called by the shots. Among them are unsurprisingly Troy, Hitchcock and Pettigrew who have an uncanny instinct to catapult themselves into the middle of any fray. "What's going on?", the American Sergeant barks loudly with his own hand gun already drawn. Tully runs to the fallen dark-clad figure of Dietrich's attacker and lights his face with his torch. "The man's dead", the silent private announces with finality, then reaches at the soldier's neck to retrieve his dog tags which turn out to be a German oval Erkennungsmarke that they all recognize immediately from the Wehrmacht. "German commando", he shouts and Dietrich who has gotten back to his feet and approached him draws his Arab dagger and cuts the man's sleeve at the upper left arm up to the shoulder pit. "What are you looking for, Cap?", Hitch asks curiously, as the German moves the arm to look at the skin in detail under the light provided by the electric torches. "A tattoo with a capital letter that would identify him as SS man", Dietrich answers crisply during his investigation of the dead man's arm. "Never heard of tattoos that marks you as SS", Troy wonders. "It encodes the blood type without Rhesus factor, because the Nazis don't believe in Jewish doctor's medical findings. Originally intended for the police, they use it more and more frequently for SS soldiers in the field to ensure that their blood type is known independent of wearing their dog tag. They never bothered with that for the Wehrmacht soldiers or officers", the German snarls his explanation in disdain, as he checks the soldier's armpit. Troy smiles almost with delight. "Brilliant. A quick and easy way to identify the real Nazis." "Yes, Sergeant. But he does not seem to have it. So he is from the Afrikakorps, not the SS", Dietrich finally assesses.
Standing up from the position crouched next to Tully, Hans Dietrich becomes aware of the American officers and soldiers who have surrounded them by now. "The guards were missing on check-up and this man attacked me, when raising the alarm. He is a scout or commando trooper from the Afrikakorps and likely not alone. First Lieutenant Adams, check with General Atkins and inform him on the situation!" The American officer salutes and swiftly takes off followed by two soldiers from his unit. Dietrich turns to the next officer. "First Lieutenant Winters, Lieutenant Griffith, you check on the prisoners, especially the major's troops who have already caused troubles during the day and might use the distraction for a break-out. Refrain from killing anybody, unless it is unavoidable!" Dietrich adds the last order upon seeing their grim expressions, as they salute and take off with half a dozen soldiers in tow. Next, Dietrich turns to the Rats. "Sergeant Troy, you and the privates check the motor pool and ammunition depots for any signs of sabotage. You are the experts for such missions. If you would for once keep one of my camps from getting destroyed, Sergeant, I would be much obliged!" Troy narrows his eyebrows, but nods with grim determination. "We know what we're doing, Captain. You can count on us." Nodding in acknowledgement, Dietrich gives his final order to Lieutenant Carter. "Check on the sickbay and that nobody attacks the wounded officers or soldiers!" Then, he announces to the Rats and Carter who have still not taken off. "I will check on Major von Stolberg. This could be a rescue mission for him." "You shouldn't go alone, Captain!", Troy demands. "Of course not, since I value my life. I will take armed guards along. Off you go, gentlemen!"
After calling two of the armed soldiers to his aid, Hans Dietrich approaches the tent in the prison area where Major von Stolberg is residing. There is still light shining in the tent which is suspicious, as the German officer would not expect the conversation with Jakob to last this long and the prisoner would not have been granted his own light source. Indicating the two Americans to ready their weapons and stay alert, the German officer approaches the tent entrance. Checking against the light whether he can see a shadow lurking next to the entrance, Dietrich indicates one of the soldiers to open the tent flap so that he can keep his weapon ready, while waving toward the second one to cover the Captain's back. Opening the tent flap reveals an over-turned chair and camp bed, but no person within view at first sight. Then the German can make out feet clad in brown shoes belonging to an American officer's uniform, Jakob's uniform.
Relying on the two soldiers to cover him, he enters carefully, but sees nobody within the tent. Once assured that he is alone, Dietrich kneels next to his unconscious friend and checks him for life signs and a pulse at the neck. A gash at Silberblatt's head is bleeding intensely, but otherwise the young officer appears unharmed. A rustling noise outside the tent, makes the Captain look up and call out: "What is going on?" Instead of an answer something piercing hits his upper left arm close to where he has already been grazed before, while he can only make out two shadows moving in the darkness outside. Cursing his inattentiveness the German officer dodges behind the upturned cot to avoid getting struck by another throwing knife, as he draws the blade from the wound and has to shift his gun from his now injured left to his right hand. His attacker uses the defensive action to run toward the Captain's temporary cover and strike toward his head with the gun butt from above without allowing Dietrich time to dodge in his half-lying position cramped behind the over-turned cot. Then, the scene turns completely dark for Hans Dietrich.
"Tully, check all the Jeeps' motors for any signs of sabotage!", Troy commands clearly. "Hitch, we check for any hidden explosives. I cover the ammunitions and weapons depot, you check the motor pool!" "Sure, Sarge!", Mark Hitchcock acknowledges loudly, while Tully nods silently and they both run off toward the motor pool. Both take the check seriously, after all they have placed more than enough explosives themselves and have sabotaged enough German vehicles to know that Dietrich's wariness is not unfounded. "I check the back, the crates and cans", Hitch announces, as he climbs onto the Jeep and starts looking for any explosive device. "Mhm", Tully acknowledges and opens the bonnet to start looking at the engine and its compartment. "All clear!", Hitch announces, as he jumps down from the back of the Jeep, as Tully closes the bonnet. "Same here."
A painful jab from a boot connecting with his ribs stirs Dietrich awake. The German is groaning in pain as his arms and his impaired shoulder protest against the stress of having his hands bound behind his back and being hauled up by his injured shoulder. "Maul halten, Verräter!", somebody hisses into his ear that the Captain should keep his mouth shut calling him a traitor. A hand grabs a shock of his hair bringing his head up to look at Major von Stolberg who declares: "Er mag uns noch von Nutzen sein, der niederträchtige Kerl." Before the arrogant aristocrat pointing a gun at the younger officer can continue, a second man interrupts his tirade about Dietrich still having some use for them, as he whispers that they have to be quiet: "Leise, Herr Major Graf!" By now, Hans Dietrich is fairly convinced that their attackers are a commando or scout unit connected with Major von Stolberg. Glancing around he realizes that they are still in the major's prison tent and he finds Jakob awake and standing on his own. His Jewish friend bears a look of shock and horror to find himself a captive in the hands of German soldiers. Dietrich knows him well enough to predict that he will not be an active help in fighting their captors. The sooner he can give him a chance to escape the better. Then, he has only himself to worry about.
The man holding him up places the knife at Dietrich's throat ordering in a harsh whisper that they should stay quiet and come along: "Kein Mucks! Mitkommen!" A second armed man points his blade at Jakob who pales even more upon the direct threat, while the major struts like an arrogant peacock in between his soldiers pointing his gun at the whimpering Silberblatt apparently enjoying his distress. "Tot sind wir nichts wert als Geiseln", Dietrich snarls back that they are not worth anything as hostages, if they are dead. "Schweig, Verräterschwein!", his captor snaps at the traitor to be quiet, while pressing the edge of his knife against his captive's jugular. Dietrich falls quiet but sees an opening here, as they cannot kill them both outright, but appear nervous enough to be goaded into making noise and drawing attention.
"Wohin wollen Sie uns bringen? Sie wissen, dass wir keine Motivation haben, zu kooperieren, wenn wir ohnehin umgebracht werden, Herr Major Graf von Stolberg", Dietrich continues his questioning with a whisper after his guard has relaxed his stance again, as they are approaching the motor pool where the Rats should be somewhere around checking for explosives. Asking where they are brought and that they would not have any motivation to cooperate, if executed anyways, is merely a ruse to get the major talking and hopefully draw the Rats' attention. "Wir haben ihm bereits gesagt, dass ein schneller Tod eine Gnade wäre, die ein Verräter seines Kalibers keinesfalls verdient", pointing his gun at the younger German officer Major von Stolberg answers arrogantly that a quick death would be a mercy a traitor of Dietrich's caliber does not deserve. The Captain glares at him undeterred by the gun pointed at his head and states coldly: "Erschießen Sie mich und Sie werden dieses Lager niemals lebend verlassen!" Indeed shooting him would just be the mistake to draw the whole camp's attention and lose their valuable hostage simultaneously. "Leise, Herr Major Graf! Nicht schießen!", Jakob's captor whispers frantically to silence the major and warning him not to shoot.
In the motor pool garage, Hitch blows bubble after bubble in annoyance that searching for exlosives is much less thrilling than placing them. "We've already checked more than a dozen of these Jeeps and still found nothing", the former college student complains loudly and lets another bubble pop, while his silent companion continues checking the engines with unwavering dedication. "Hush!", Tully whispers suddenly interrupting Hitchcock who has drawn breath for another complaint. "What is it?", Hitch whispers looking around with more excitement than fear, almost hoping for something to disturb his boredom. "Voices", Tully whispers and dodges behind the Jeep covering his electric torch during the movement. Hitch copies his action and takes cover in the back of one of the Jeeps he has been searching.
Five people in the light of a single electric torch enter the motor pool. Tully and Hitch immediately recognize their Captain who has his hands bound behind his back and a knife at his throat, as well as his friend Lieutenant Silberblatt who looks like a deer caught in the headlight just being pushed forward by his captor without bothering to bind his hands. Also they recognize the German Major von Stolberg, once the arrogant aristocrat gives orders in his strange nasal voice. The two dark-clad blond men holding Dietrich and Silberblatt captives apparently are the commando troopers responsible for their problems. Slowly and silently Tully extracts a few hand grenades from their storage box on the back of the Jeeps nodding to Hitch who only needs to stand up to fire the .50 machine gun.
Troy meanwhile checks behind and inside crates of ammunitions for places where he would place an explosive. As in addition to their own supplies, they have looted several weapons and ammunition crates in the past few days from Dietrich's and von Stolberg's camps, he also has to check several crates with German descriptions which the American Sergeant eyes with particular wariness. Even though he is searching everything throughly as ordered, Troy cannot shake off his intuition that something is wrong. "Amateurs. If you really want to work stealthily, you have to do it at 2 in the morning, when even the most hard-working officer is fast asleep", has been his first thought when running into Dietrich after the Captain has called the alarm over the missing night guards. However, thanks to the Rats' training, the German Captain is admittedly more dedicated and paranoid than most officers to have checked himself that late in the evening on every single night watch. Otherwise, it might have been overlooked on a regular night, when Boggs would not have bothered to put more than two guards up at all which is usually sufficient for the scout camp with typically around thirty soldiers present.
Who would attack the camp in the late evening instead of the middle of the night? Troy wonders again. And what do they want? The longer he thinks about it, the less he believes sabotage to be the intent, until he opens another small crate with some German word he does not understand anyways printed on the side. As the American Sergeant still muses on the necessity to finally get Dietrich and Moffit to teach him some German, his heart briefly skips a beat, as he finds a small package of explosives wired with a time fuse lying in the crate. That would not be half as bad, if the explosion would not be timed to barely a minute in his future. Troy is painfully aware that making something explode is more within his skill set than disarming such a device of which he does not actually know how it works precisely in the first place. There is one thing he can do though, take the crate and bring it as far from here as possible. "Come on! Help!", he shouts to be heard by the soldiers guarding the tent and one of them indeed storms in immediately. "We need to carry this outside the camp and be quick!", Sam Troy baffles the young man with his strange order which the soldier carries out nonetheless without further quetioning the Sergeant once he sees the explosive device.
As they run behind the supply tent which is located at the rim of the camp, Troy directs the young man right out into the desert while never taking his eyes off the ticking time fuse. When there are 10 seconds left, he orders to drop the crate and grabs the soldier at the uniform sleeve dragging him over the ridge of a dune where they drop into the sand just in time, as the crate explodes behind them. "Holy mother of god!", the younger man curses loudly. "Say that again, kid! We were right lucky to find that in time. You wouldn't have wanted to stand guard outside, when this would have exploded in the ammunition depot", Troy declares with a self-content grin which fades quickly when his earlier thoughts catch up with him. What do the Germans striking against their camp want? Where is Dietrich, when one needs his advise? Thinking of the German Captain's intention of checking on the German Major makes Troy pause. That nasty bastard could be the target of a rescue mission for which an ammunition depot blowing up would be the perfect distraction, the American Sergeant realizes. If that is true, the Captain is in grave danger. Without looking back at the young soldier, he runs back toward the camp spurred by actual worry.
As the explosion resounds in the garage, the two German commandos frown, as the sound is much further away and far too silent to be the ammunition depot. Their prisoners who have been forced to sit in the back of the Jeep exchange a glance and Dietrich whispers: "Stay low and only run, when I tell you." Slowly he shifts his position from sitting leaning against the jerry can to kneeling which would allow him to jump to his feet more quickly. One of their guards has walked to the entrance, while the other watches them from the corner of his eyes, as he tries to ready the Jeep for driving off. The Major looks around with a frantic expression, asking: "Ist das alles so geplant?" Apparently his own commando soldier feels slightly unnerved by the question whether all is going as planned, as he merely shakes his head. A movement four vehicles to the left is Dietrich's only warning, before a hand grenade is thrown with uncanny precision to land at his captor's feet. "Runter!", the German pushes his friend down quickly, before their Jeep is turned over by the explosion. Having his hands bound behind his back however prohibits Dietrich from protecting his head or even curling up in a more protective position, when he is thrown against the gun fixed at the back. The thought that he has suspected for almost a year that this accursed thing will be the death of him crosses his mind before blacking out.
Jakob Silberblatt follows his friend's command to go down and curls up before he feels himself thrown into the air and barely misses the gun at the back of the vehicle. When the ringing in his ears has stopped, the scratching noise of the Jeep's metal slightly moving in the sand and a soft whimpering sound remains. Then, a machine gun salve resounds in the hall and he curls up again praying that this will all be over soon. When the hammering sound of the gun stops, the whimpering has died down. As Jakob dares to open his eyes again, he sees his friend lying on the ground without any sign of movement. Before he can even calm down quickly enough and draw himself to his feet, two more people step into his field of vision. Tully Pettigrew with another grenade in one hand and a knife in the other checks on a second figure lying at some distance, while Mark Hitchcock kneels at Hans Dietrich's side and checks the unconscious man's neck for a pulse and injuries. Then he draws a knife of his own to cut the straps that bind the German's hands behind his back which causes the Captain to stir. Knowing better than to stay within Dietrich's reach, Hitch quickly sits back and lets him find his way back to consciousness. Apart from a fresh bruise at his right temple and a bloody gash from the last explosion, Hitch sees that the German's left shirt sleeve is covered in clotted blood.
With a groan, Dietrich opens his eyes and blinkingly looks around until he recognizes Hitchcock. "Have you managed to blow my camp up ... again?", the German drawls sarcastically, as he pushes himself into a sitting position and presses a hand against his throbbing forehead. "It wasn't us, well at least not all of it", Hitch tries to sound apologetic. Dietrich snorts at the ridiculous answer, before asking in a more serious tone: "How is Jakob? Is he alive?" Silberblatt who has managed to sit upright calls: "I'm here and alive, Hans." Dietrich breathes out a sigh of relief, before he continues his questioning knowing the Rats well enough: "Is any of them still alive? In particular the major." "The commandos are dead. The Major's just about alive", Tully gives the answer to the question after having checked the German officer's condition. "We need to discuss your habit of blowing vehicles up which I happen to be in, Privates", Dietrich speaks sarcastically, while Hitch and Tully exchange worried glances. "But today you have my gratitude, gentlemen", the German adds with an actual smile speaking in a friendlier tone than they are used to hear from him.
"Hey. You had all the fun without me!", Troy shouts from the entrance and steps over the body of the German commando struck down by several .50 bullets. "Your timing leaves much to be desired, Sergeant", Dietrich counters sarcastically from his position on the ground, as he is still wondering how he will make it to his feet with his right shoulder injured and now his left arm cut by that cursed throwing knife. "Sorry, Captain", Troy replies with a wide grin, "I was held up by a bomb in the ammunition depot." The German tenses immediately. "I assume that was the explosion we heard previously. For an ammunition depot, it was rather silent though." With an amused grin, the American Sergeant explains: "You would have the experience to hear the difference, wouldn't you, Captain? I carried the bomb out of the camp and dodged behind a dune." Dietrich raises his eyebrows and shakes his head in slight disbelief, but regrets the action immediately, as it makes him feel dizzy and his headache return in full force. Noticing the grimace of pain, Troy takes in the Captain's injuries, before he grabs him under the left shoulder and gently hauls him to his feet. The German pales and sways slightly reaching again for his forehead with his right hand. "Are you alright, Captain?", Troy asks worriedly not even considering to withdraw the arm that currently supports the younger man to keep in a standing position. Dietrich snaps irritatedly: "Do I look alright, Sergeant?" "Not at all, Captain. We'd better get you, the Lieutenant and all that is left of that goddamned major to sickbay", Troy suggests. "My thoughts exactly", Dietrich sighs wearily. "Get going, gentlemen! Please retrieve the major. We need him alive for negotiating with the Arabs."
Once Hitch has helped Silberblatt to his feet, Jakob can walk on his own leaving Tully and Hitch to carry the gravely injured major on a field stretcher which they have retrieved from one of the Jeeps. Once his blood circulation has stabilized and the dizziness subsided to a bearable degree, Hans Dietrich insists on walking on his own too proud to ask for help if not needed. As soon as he has stepped out of the garage, several American soldiers and officers approach him. "We caught one of them alive before he could free the prisoners, Captain! Lieutenant Winters brought him to the general for interrogation", Lieutenant Griffith shouts enthusiastically, before stopping short to take in the senior officer's worn-out appearance and the blood on his face and uniform. "You're going to sickbay, Captain?" "I am, Lieutenant. Thank you for the report and good work! Double the guards on the prisoners for tonight!", the German replies matter-of-factually and salutes to the American to dismiss him. After saluting to Dietrich and exchanging a glance with Troy, Lieutenant Griffith turns around and starts shouting commands to several soldiers around including the confused looking Corporal Gottschlich.
Lieutenant Adams is the next to approach Dietrich with a salute that the Captain returns, while the American keeps observing the German officer with a worried frown. "General Atkins knows of the attack and is currently interrogating the captured commando soldier together with Major Turner." Dietrich nods in approval. "Thank you, Lieutenant. From what I have heard and experienced, they are most likely a scout unit connected with Major von Stolberg's column. Report to General Atkins that a break-out of the Major's troops to cover his own escape could be prohibited, as well as the explosion in one of the ammunition depots. Lieutenant Silberblatt and I will be treated in sickbay now, so will Major von Stolberg be after he has been gravely injured during his failed escape attempt. I will provide a casualty report, as soon as I have all reports. Currently, four guards on night shift are missing and presumed dead." Adams' eyes widen at the German's precise recount. Then, he salutes and returns to the general to relay Dietrich's report.
As they pass by Silberblatt's and Dietrich's tent, Troy and Dietrich look up and exchange worried glances, when soft sobs and whining can be heard from inside. "Bring the major to the sickbay immediately!", Dietrich orders sharply, as he sees Tully and Hitch hesitate, when he and Troy stop walking. Both hurriedly continue on their way, while Jakob looks at his friend hesitantly. "You too, Jakob. You are in at least as much shock as the boy and could not help us in this state", Hans Dietrich speaks more gently with his friend, but his voice carries his determination. After a brief moment of hesitation, Jakob nods and turns slowly toward the sickbay. Dietrich eyes Troy warily and asks him unexpectedly: "Do you have children, Sergeant?" Sam Troy briefly stares at him utterly nonplussed, before recovering from the shock. "No. How about you?" The German officer shrugs to avoid shaking his head to not cause his dizziness to return. "No", Dietrich speaks with dry irony in his voice. "It appears we will both be out of our depth here." Squaring his shoulders, as if he would march into a particularly challenging duel, the young Captain steps inside the tent and tries to adapt his eyes to the darkness within.
Fritz' whining and Ari's desperate sobs can be heard more clearly now and he navigates the room with his memory of the obstacles following the sounds. Behind him Troy suppresses a yelp of pain with an "Oof!", as his shin strikes against Jakob's field bed. "Ari", Dietrich speaks as gently and calmly as he can force himself to, given the situation and his own injuries. "*You don't have to be afraid. The bad men are gone and nobody will harm you.*" Another sob and panicked fast gulps for air are his only answer. "*Ari. We are here to protect you. You don't have to worry*", Dietrich continues speaking gently as if he were calming a spooked animal. A wailing cry answers his words and directs him to where Ari is cowered behind his over-turned sleeping cot. Dietrich almost starts in suprise, as Troy provides him with light from his eletric torch which he has finally drawn to avoid further collisions with the inventory. Now that he is close enough, the German can smell and see that the boy has thrown up his dinner and he can make out Ari's shivering shape in the darkness. Fritz presses against the German whining desperately in distress, until Troy picks the dog up and speaks quietly intending to free Dietrich to focus on the boy. "*Ari. Don't be afraid! we will bring you out of here*", the German speaks calmly, as he touches the boy's shoulder who continues to shake uncontrollably and struggles for air. "*Breathe, Ari!*", the Captain speaks gently and tries to exaggerate his own breathes recognizing the symptom from panicked and traumatized young soldiers.
After almost a minute Ari has adapted his breathing to follow Hans Dietrich's rhythm. Finally, the huddled up boy looks at his protector's face before quickly and rather unexpectedly grabbing him around the neck and pressing against the young German officer, the Jewish boy's body is wracked by sobs. "*Don't leave me!*", the child whispers in between short breathes. "*I won't leave you alone!*", Dietrich tries his utmost to sound calm and give a promise he does not have to break sooner or later. Although Ari seems to calm down slightly, as his breathing becomes more regular, he does not loosen the vice grip around the Captain's neck clinging as tightly to him as if to his life line. "*Ari, we need to go to sickbay. We both need help there*", Dietrich tries to explain, but the boy reacts with a new fit of panic. "*Don't go away!*" Dietrich sighs wearily. "*I will not go away, but take you with me. Sergeant Troy will help me carry you.*" Upon hearing his name Sam Troy looks at the German Captain intensely. "I require your aid for carrying the boy to sickbay, as he will not let go of me", the Captain explains with a pained expression.
Troy smiles back with a wry smile. "Don't worry. I'll get you there, even if I have to carry you both." For a moment the German officer looks utterly affronted by the notion of being carried, when he can still walk on his own, before he reminds himself of the actual message of support intended behind the American's word and his face turns into bearing a more amiable expression. "How exactly should we do this?", Troy asks cautiously. "As neither my injured right shoulder nor my wounded left arm can support the boy's weight, you would have to carry him without giving him the impression that you take him away from me. He is afraid of that, most likely because the fight today has brought the memories of his family's execution and losing everybody he has known back", Dietrich argues. Troy frowns briefly, before suggesting: "I could put my arm on your shoulder to keep us synchronous and never get at too far away from you to not distress the boy." Seeing the Captain tense slightly, he adds: "Come on. It's not like we haven't done this before, more than once." With a pained half-smile, Dietrich nods fatalisticly, as he mutters dryly: "Just when I thought that this day could not possibly become worse."
With a grin, Troy places his left hand on the German's left shoulder to stabilise Ari with his right and help lift him up, while Dietrich struggles against his vertigo to get back to his feet as well. The tall, lean officer mutters calming words in the mix of Hebrew and Arab terms he uses to speak with Ari. Slowly to not disturb the distressed and panicked child they take step by step first crossing the tent the entrance of which is a real challenge for the duo which the manage at their second try after Ari has started crying onto Dietrich's shoulder again. By the time they reach the sickbay, the German has reduced his spectrum of things to look forward to to a morphine injection and a few undisturbed hours of sleep, as he stumbles and has to concentrate to remain on his feet. "Sarge, Cap!", Hitch shouts worriedly, as they enter the field hospital tent. Nurse Arno glares at him and silences him quickly with a hissed "Hush!", before she turns to the struggling trio of the two soldiers and the tormented boy. Briefly unable to believe her eyes, she steps forward and directs them to the separated ward for officers where Captain Boggs oberserves them with undisguised curiosity and Major Bracken awakes with a start looking around in confusion. Jakob Silberblatt who has been sitting on his cot staring ahead unseeingly, looks up with a far away gaze, before he finally registers his friend and the Jewish boy.
Dietrich sits down on an empty cot not sure how much longer he will remain standing on his own two feet. Ari still clings to him and nurse Arno questions him: "What has happened with the boy?" Dietrich sighs wearily. "He was crying and short of breath, when we passed by the tent. I suppose the gun shots and explosions scared him and brought the memories of his family's execution through the SS back." The Swiss nurse briefly stares at him dumbfunded. "What relation does he have with you, Hauptmann?" Dietrich closes his eyes and his tone becomes bitter and pained, as his expression speaks of guilt. "I was there, when they murdered his family. I tried to prohibit it unsuccessfully. He trusts me since I have given him the treatment for the diarrhoeic disease, as you might remember, and because he has nobody else." "I can give him some narcotic to help him sleep", the Swiss nurse offers and Dietrich accepts gratefully.
"*Ari. Please let go of me, so that they can treat my injuries. Nurse Arno will give you some medicine to help you sleep*", he speaks gently to the boy who still refuses to let go of his protector, but accepts that the medicine is given to him through a syringe without complaint. Only a minute later, the Jewish boy finally falls asleep and Dietrich is liberated from his vice grip around the German's neck. A sharp intake of breath has him look up wearily at the nurse who has put him under her scrutinizing gaze. "Do not expect to leave this sickbay tonight, Hauptmann Dietrich." The German answers dryly: "I have never expected to leave from here tonight. A light concussion after two head traumata, bruised ribs and stabbing wound on the left upper arm would be my diagnosis." After checking his pupil response and being satisfied that his concussion is indeed only light and not worrying, with a wrinkled nose the Swiss nurse eyes the Captain's shirt which is drenched in his own sweat, his sleeve covered in clotted blood and now has the boy's vomit smeared over the front. "Take this off! Then, we can start a proper treatment." Too tired and weary to start any complaint, the German officer does as he is told and drops the dirty and ripped up shirt on the ground. As a hand touches his face, he briefly starts before meeting eyes with the older nurse who eyes his head injury with calm professionalism.
"I will give you a tetanus shot and then an infusion which includes morphine, Herr Hauptmann", she explains and starts with her described treatments. Dietrich is nodding in acceptance, as this is more or less the treatment he would have expected. A rough hand on his shoulder makes the German start. "I'll leave you to receive your treatment, Captain", Troy speaks surprisingly gently, although Dietrich is not sure if his tired mind is playing tricks on him. "You'd better never consider complaining about rations again!", the American Sergeant adds in an admonishing tone causing the German Captain to lose his patience. "Why don't you shut up and get some sleep yourself, Sergeant?!" Troy still grins unperturbed. "Sure, Captain. Good night!" Then he adds in the direction of Hitch and Tully: "We're finished here. Let's call it a night!" "Night, Capt'n", Hitch adds sheepishly, before catching up with Troy to whisper in his ear: "He still looks awfully skinny."
Jakob eyes his battered and bruised friend with compassion that draws him out of his own shock. "You look terrible, Hans." Dietrich snorts, as he lets the nurse plunge a cannula into his right arm to receive the infusion. "What would I do without a friend like you to remind me of that, Jakob?" James Boggs eyes the lean German critically, briefly irritated that the officer still wears a German Erkennungsmarke, not American dog tags, before he interrupts their friendly banter with a concerned question of his own: "What has happened, Captain Dietrich?" The German Captain feels slightly lightheaded and annoyed that the commander of the commando units who have harrassed him for a year has the insolence to ask him such a moronic question. With sarcasm he grinds out: "Just the usual commando business. Covering a rescue mission of a high-ranking officer with a staged prisoner uprisal and placing an explosive device in the ammunition depot." Reminding himself of the absurdity of his behaviour for which he lays the blame on his concussion and exhaustion, Dietrich reigns in his tone and continues more moderately: "German commando troopers tried to free Major von Stolberg and attacked Lieutenant Silberblatt. Later they eliminated the guards with me and knocked me out. Sergeant Troy found and removed the explosive device in the ammunition depot, Lieutenants Griffith and Winters prohibited the prisoners' uprisal and caught one of the German commando trooper who is interrogated by the general. Privates Pettigrew and Hitchcock saved our lives, sacrificing one of the Jeeps." Boggs gapes at a loss of words for a few moments, as he listens to the brief precise summary of more action shaking this camp than Boggs has experienced in a whole year. "It seems you have a talent for drawing trouble as honey draws flies, but at least sent the the right people to do the right jobs, Captain Dietrich."
Dietrich smiles wryly at the assessment, still keeping sitting upright, as Nurse Arno bandages his arm after disinfecting and suturing the wound as well as giving the soldier a tetanus shot. Then he adds with more irony and self-mockery than Boggs would have expected from the proud German: "It seems that independent of which army I serve, commando units take apart any camp under my command. You'd better recover soon, Captain Boggs, as long as there is still something left to hand back over." Seeing the younger man's eyes drooping, Boggs smiles in surprise at the remark. "Don't worry. I can always extend my holidays." Dietrich feels reality drifting from him, as the morphine starts to take effect. Thus, he is not sure whether the American Captain's remark about holidays is real or just a product of his imagination. A hand pushes against his shoulder with a mixture of gentleness and determination to make him lie down, as a female voice speaks the according command in German: "Legen Sie sich nieder, Herr Hauptmann!" Her next statements are lost on him, as he drifts off to sleep completely.