The Germans had set their trap well, Troy groused. Baited, set, and sprung, flawlessly. And now, all four rats were in a firefight for their lives. The situation looked bleaker with every passing second.

It had been the perfect setup, too perfect Troy thought ruefully.

The German convoy was thinly defended, heavily loaded, and passing single file through a steep wadi.

When the time was ripe, both jeeps barreled over the wadi edge, their drivers straining to fight the incline. 50's roaring, they attacked the convoy from behind, cutting off any chance of escape.

What none of the Rats had counted on was the convoy stopping in its tracks, blocking off the road ahead. Or, the heavy armor following at a short distance, and closing fast.

"Germans in front and behind, and the wadi walls too steep to climb," Hitch observed grimly, "Looks like our luck is finally giving out."

Setting his jaw, and clearing the chamber of his 50, Troy growled defiantly,

"We make our own luck."

Fighting the wheel in an increasingly tight space, with the bullets and Germans, getting closer and closer, Hitch yelled over his shoulder,

"We can't keep them off our backs for long, Sarge. What's the plan?"

"We go back the way we came."

Troy waved his arm in the signal to retreat. Moffitt gaped at him like Troy had gone out of his mind. Tully bit down on his match and aimed for the wadi wall.

Both jeeps hit the incline, sending their noses up with a jolt. Moffitt and Troy stitched the advancing Germans with their 50s, keeping kraut heads down.

If the going down was difficult, going up was impossible. The jeeps labored up the hill, gears audibly grinding. Hitch's jeep caught traction and nosed ahead of her sister. Up they pushed, through the sliding sand.

Tully swerved to avoid a rock and hit a patch of soft sand. Almost instantly, the spinning tire had dug itself in.

Troy saw Tully shout something over his shoulder. Moffitt jumped out of the back and grabbed a machine gun from its fender holster. He was already running up the hill while Tully climbed out and reached for the second gun.

A well placed german bullet hit the gas tank, throwing Tully backward in the explosion.

Hitch and Troy just crested the wadi, where Troy could see everything below. Tully was lying on his back, stunned. Moffitt was making good progress when he heard the explosion. Instinctively, he hit the dirt. Then he looked back and saw Tully. Troy could see Moffitt intended to go back for him. He was pulling himself up and turning back.

But the Germans were already swarming up the hill and would soon have Tully surrounded.

"Jack!! You'll never reach him. Come on!"

With final burst at the oncoming jerries, Moffitt tore himself away.

"Sarge, what's going on?"

"Don't turn around, Hitch. As soon as Moffitt gets in we need to be gone."

"What's happened to Tully?!?"

"Nothing yet, the jerries got him."

"Well, is he okay? I mean is he hurt?"

"I don't see any blood, but he looks pretty dazed."

Hitch slammed the wheel with his palm and growled.

"This hasn' been our day, Sarge."

"Here Moffitt, take the front seat. We gotta get outta here."

The brit had hardly collapsed in the seat before Hitch hit the gas.


From their new vantage point, all three rats watched the proceedings in the wadi.

Tully had been rounded up brought down to the armor. He had no visible cuts and no broken bones, his buddies took that as a good sign. His wrists were tied behind his back, and relieved of any weapons, as well as his helmet. A stone-faced, Werhmacht major, obviously in charge, was speaking with him now.

"Any idea what they're talking about?"

Hitch, the only one without binoculars was impatient. Moffitt answered without looking away,

"None. But the Major speaks english."

"How do you know?"

"Tully is answering him."

"What are they doing?" Troy spoke for the first time since they'd been watching.

The Major had his pistol out and was marching Tully down the wadi, away from the Germans, toward their hiding place.

What was he doing? Had he seen them?

The Major stopped.

"Sergeant Troy! I know you are listening and watching every move I make. I am Major Jaeger. It was I who planned this trap, although I admit I did not foresee your slippery tactics. You have truly earned your reputation for cunning. One of my officers told me I should be happy to have caught even one of you." The battle-marred face twisted into a smile, "But I am never happy with partial victories. Rats are clever; once they smell the trap, they will never go in. So, I must find better bait; something the rat would risk his neck for," the twisted smile returned to his impassive expression.

He put the muzzle of his pistol to Tully's leg and pulled the trigger. Tully cried out and crumpled to the ground.

Troy gripped his binoculars. Moffitt grabbed Hitch's arm before he could vault over the dune.

Tully was writhing and groaning in the dirt. Jaeger merely stepped back and holstered the gun.

"This was an unimpassioned action, Sergeant. I have set my bait, now, will you brave the trap to save your man? Or, let him bleed out in the dust? The choice is yours, and you have until sundown to make it. If he manages to stay alive that long, I will simply finish the job."

The Major turned and walked back to his men.