part 2
"D'you notice? There was a cot in that room off his office," Chief added from his position near the window. "Looks like he can't manage the stairs on his own. How's he gonna handle the jump tonight?"
"Actor, you gotta talk him outta this. He's gonna get himself killed this time, and he's probably gonna take one or two of us out with him!" Casino pointed out, emphasizing his opinion with a finger jabbed in the con man's direction.
With a sigh, the older man turned from arranging his gear. "You all know that look, and tone of voice." He gazed around at the others. "He's set his mind to this thing, and there's nothing, short of breaking his legs, by tripping him on the steps, that is going to dissuade him from undertaking this assignment." And after a moment's consideration, "Besides, he is right. This is too great a coincidence to pass up." As the others looked at him in protest, he continued, "He looks like the officer they are expecting. His background allows him to handle the science and mathematics. He is a trained pilot and has even qualified in a similar craft..."
"And even his bloody injuries kinda match up!" Goniff added with a shudder. "Gives me the willies!"
"So, where does that leave us?" Chief asked. "We can't just let him walk in there alone."
"We ought'a call that Reynolds guy, and tell him we ain't having no part of this stinkin' plan," Casino fumed, slapping the flat of his hand over his clenched fist with a snap.
"I hardly think that would be well received, Casino. Remember, we have just renewed our agreement with the Army, and we are expected to accomplish the tasks they require of us. I don't see them just accepting our refusal," Actor said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Hold on a minute. What'd they tell us up at that school?" the little cat burglar rubbed his jaw, casting his gaze upwards. "They said sometime it was OK to refuse an order." Goniff asked, looking around at the others, "Didn't they?"
"That is only if the order is morally wrong, Goniff, or goes against military law," Actor reminded him. "Since the Warden is not being coerced into doing this thing, I don't believe they would accept our refusal on moral grounds."
"Besides, that only went for the officers. The poor enlisted slobs still had to do what they were told. Well, this might not be morally wrong, but it sure, the hell, is stupid!" Casino insisted.
"Well, if we can't get out of it," Chief wondered aloud, "And we can't talk him out of it, what are we supposed to do?"
"I suppose, " Actor answered, "Our role is to see to it that the Warden succeeds."
"You mean, survives, don't ya?" Casino planted his fists on his hips and looked around the room at the rest of them. "Now, just how are we gonna do that?"
"Well, for starters," Goniff stated, with confidence, "We ain't letting him go in there on his own."
"I'll go with him," Chief offered quietly, immediately willing to resume his self appointed position, watching the Warden's back.
"Naw." Casino jammed his fists in his pockets, gazing down at the carpet a moment, he then looked up at the others. "It should be me."
Actor nodded his head. "I agree. He would be calling on you to come in and remove the documents from the safe, anyway," and he shrugged an elegant shoulder. "You may as well start off inside."
"But," Goniff stuttered, looking at them as if they'd just gone mad, "Casino don't speak German!"
"What if he didn't have to?" Chief held his ground and their gazes as they turned and stared at him.
"What do you have in mind?" Actor took his usual seat by the fire, and pulled the pipe out of his pocket.
"Well," the younger man started pacing the room, looking around for inspiration. "Warden's playin' a guy who's supposed to be hurt, right?" He stopped by the fireplace and looked back at the others. "Why couldn't Casino?"
"Hey, yeah!" Moving now, he came to stand next to Chief. "I could'a hurt my throat, or neck, or something, so I couldn't talk..."
"That would only explain why you could not speak, Casino. You would still be expected to understand what was said to you." Actor tapped the stem of the pipe on his jaw as he considered for a moment. "But, a head injury might suffice." He raised an eyebrow as he looked around at the others. As they began to smile, he nodded his head. They were on to something. Now they just had to develop the story, embellish the con...
***
The flight over had been pretty smooth, so far, Garrison thought, as he rested his head against the fuselage. It was a rare experience to be going in already knowing the part he'd be playing. 'Krueger's' dress uniform had been tailored to fit him, and was secured, along with all of his identity papers, and orders, in a pack that was strapped to his back. The rest of the things he would need, extra clothes, personal gear, were in a supply package that would be dropped with them. The weather reports showed another storm front moving in, and he knew they'd hit rough air soon, but it would bring them some cloud cover over the drop zone. He'd trade some nausea for that bit of protection, any day. Of course, reflected with some amusement, it'd likely be Goniff and Casino suffering the nausea.
His leg stared to throb, again, and as he reached forward to rub it with his hands, the muscles in his back and shoulders tightened into a cramp. He closed his eyes in a frown, reaching his hand across his body, he tried to knead the soreness away.
***
"Who helped you get into this town? What was your objective here? Who was to help you get away from here? Where can I find these people? They are simple questions, my friend, and as soon as I get my answers, you may go." Garrison could hear the man moving around him, he didn't have to wait long for the blow. They'd brought him into the 'examination room' hours ago, blindfolded, and with his hands tightly bound together. The questions had begun. The same four questions, over, and over. Each time he didn't answer he'd received a blow. It'd just been a hard slap at first, but it had escalated. When they'd tired of backhanding him across the face, they'd slipped a cord through the ropes that tied his hands, and hauled his arms up over his head, and started using their fists on his midsection ,and back. They had some sort of supple hose, or pipe, they were using now. "A rubber hose." he thought, with grim amusement. "Classic." It hurt like hell when it connected. The man wielding it knew his business, and did his best to land the blows in the same place, again, and again, over his ribs, and the muscles of his back and legs. "Who helped you get into this town? What was your objective here? Who was to help you get away from here? Where can I find these people?" He clenched his jaws and bit down on a groan. He didn't know how much more of this he was going to have to take.
***
Garrison opened his eyes and looked toward the tail of the aircraft, where his men had gathered. They were still pretty quiet, talking among themselves, but not offering him more than a grunt, or a nod, to acknowledge his orders. He had a gut feeling they were up to something. When Actor stood up, and started forward, he thought, "Here it comes." But he was surprised when the elegant Italian con man settled himself a few feet away, where there was enough room for him to stretch his long legs out more comfortably, and seemed to be intent on getting some sleep. When he turned his attention back to the others, Goniff was curled on his side, with his eyes closed. Chief and Casino were still leaning together, talking. Something was definitely up, he knew it.
He dropped his hands to his side. Rolling his head and shoulders, he tried to work the kinks out. Failing, he leaned back and closed his eyes again. He knew he'd hear it soon enough. Casino couldn't keep his mouth shut forever.
"You think he's gonna go for this?" Casino asked, glowering at Garrison from under lowered brows. "He's pretty damned hard headed, ya know."
Chief snorted. "Well, you'd know something about that, Pappy!" He continued on before the other man could respond. "He's stubborn, Casino, but he's not stupid. Besides," he said, turning a critical eye on their leader. "I don't think he's gonna be strong enough to go against us."
***
Garrison looked below him. All four chutes were open, and they were maneuvering down in good, tight group. The intense training they'd just gone thorough had been worth it, he thought. A sudden gust of wind snapped his attention back to his own imminent landing. He hoped all the extra tape, and padding, would do the trick.
The ground was coming up fast now, as he fought the cross wind that was carrying him further away from the others. He bent his knees and prepared to roll when he hit the ground. Even though he was ready, the jolt sent a searing pain through is right thigh. When he rolled onto his feet the leg gave way under him, at the same time, the chute filled with air, pulling him off his feet, dragging him several yards. He managed to struggle onto his knees, and, leaning back, against the pull of the wind, fought the lines until the chute, finally, collapsed. He was trying to get to his feet, to gather the silks, as the others jogged up.
"Hey Warden, you need some help with that, babe?" Casino offered, dropping the supply pack on the ground near his feet.
"I can give ya some pointers on yer landins, if ya like, mate," Goniff chimed in with a laugh.
"Can it you guys!" Chief snapped, as he pushed past them, and gathered the fabric together, waiting as Actor helped the man out of his harness. As soon as Garrison stepped clear of the rig, Chief bundled it into Casino's arms. "Get rid of that somewhere," he instructed.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Just who do you think your orderin' around?" Casino snapped back.
"Go!" Chief and Actor said in unison, as they both reached out to catch hold of their commander, and steady him, before he collapsed on the ground.
"Shit! I knew this was gonna happen!" Casino fumed, as he stalked out of the clearing, and found a place in the trees to hide the gear. He turned to watch the others help Garrison up into cover. "Great! Just great!", he thought. " This is startin' out just fine!"
***
Garrison concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. His breath was coming in short gasps, and sweat had broken out on his face, and was sliding down his neck and back. The chute had dragged him along the ground on his damaged ribs. Each breath sent a stab of pain in to his chest, and he could feel the telltale warmth of the blood, as it started to seep into the bandages on his belly and leg. He heard the concern in Actor's voice, "Warden, are you alright?"
"I'm OK", he mumbled. "I can make it," And as his senses faded, and consciousness deserted him, he heard Chief say, "Sure you can, man."
***
He'd been dragged into this room and left, he didn't know how much time had passed. The cords still bound his hands, but he'd managed to pull the blindfold from his eyes. A lot of good it did. This place was almost pitch black. The only light coming in from the narrow crack under the door, and, then, even that had gone out. It must be nighttime. "Guess the working day must've ended," he figured, trying to work on the cords with his teeth. That was the only thing that stopped the beating, he thought, "Shift change,"
There was only silence. He lay there, straining to hear, and though he could make out the creak of the ceiling, as people moved over head, there were no sounds of activity anywhere near. "That's good." he thought. "When the guys find me, they won't have to deal with any guards while they're getting through the door." And he tried to imagine what kind of scam they'd come up with, to get inside to him. Then the realization hit him, and a knot formed in the pit of his stomach, causing a wave of nausea. The 'guys' he was expecting, were far away from here, and didn't even know he was in trouble.
That's the thought that almost broke him.
It was no good, he let his hands drop onto his chest, he couldn't work the cords loose.
***
"Chief?" Actor asked, as he folded his jacket and placed it under Garrison's head. "Did you get a good look at our surroundings, as you were coming in?" He got the affirmative nod he expected. Chief, always observant, loved the view he got from the air, and always noticed features on the land below that the others missed. He slipped the map out of Garrison's inner pocket, and handed it to the young man. "See if you can tell where we are."
Chief walked back down into the clearing to get his bearings. He opened the map and tried to match what he'd seen from the air, with what was printed on this piece of folded paper.
"Goniff!" Actor nodded towards the clearing and the smaller man moved out to cover their partner.
"He's got the shakes." Casino said, and stripped off his jacket to cover their fallen commander. "I told you this was nuts! What in the hell was he thinking, agreeing to this?"
"I suppose the prize seemed worth it, when he heard the plan. You have to admit, it's a striking coincidence." He checked Garrison's pulse, it was rapid and weak, his breathing shallow.
"The only thing I have to admit," Casino straightened up and planted his fists on his hips, adopting his classic, belligerent stance, "Is that this hasn't got a chance in hell of coming off!" He added, looking down at the man on the ground. "But your right, babe. He sure looks like he's been in a train wreck!"
Garrison mumble from his position on the ground. "It was a plane crash, Casino, not a train wreck." He tried to pull himself up and was punished by a sharp pain in his chest.
"No! Wait!" Actor cautioned, pressing him back. "Take some time and rest. We are still trying to confirm our location."
Garrison laid back and closed his eyes, saying, with more strength than he felt. "We were right on target. The farm where we're supposed to meet our contact should be about three miles, south-southeast." Then he added, with a groan, "I've got to sit up. I can't get a breath."
As Casino squatted down and supported the man into a sitting position, Chief walked up to them with the map help out in front of him. He gestured, first with his left hand, "The stream's running along there," and then with his right, "And there's a line of hills, about a mile, that way. So, the meet should be about three miles behind me."
"I told you." Garrison gasped, as he tried to sit on his own.
"How you doin', Warden?" Chief looked down with concern.
"I'll be OK. But we need to get moving, if we're going to make that rendezvous on time." He had to lean back against Casino to draw a deeper breath.
Casino opened his mouth to object, but Actor interrupted, smoothly. "Warden, I believe I should meet with our contact and bring some type of transportation back for you. Your condition will only work for us if you don't allow it to deteriorate."
With a cough and another groan, Garrison admitted, "I don't think I have much of a choice right now. But, Actor, don't go alone. Chief, go with him, and watch his back. Where's Goniff?"
Chief nodded, and looked back towards the clearing. "He's watchin' out for company. I'll get him."
Garrison closed his eyes, and took a ragged breath, through clenched teeth, that ended in a fit of coughing. "You remember the sign and countersign?" he managed to gasp out.
"Of course." Actor said, as he stood, slipping his jacket back on. He smoothed down the front of the coat, brushing dirt and leaves from it, he tugged it into place, pulling the sleeves of the turtleneck out until he was satisfied with his appearance. He checked his watch and looked at Casino. "We should be back here by three, if all goes well." Casino met his gaze and gave a slight nod. "Try and keep him quiet, and warm. I don't like the sound of his breathing. And, Warden," he waited for Garrison to open his eyes and look up at him, before he continued, with a slight smile. "Do what Casino tells you." Which drew a soft laugh and a hiss of pain. "I'll try."
"You! Listen to me?" Casino grunted. "That'll be a first!"
***
They'd been walking steadily for twenty minutes. The weather was clearing and it was quiet now. There was broken cloud cover and a waxing moon that gave enough light to allow them to move quickly. Actor estimated they had covered nearly a third of the distance to the meeting place. He hoped their contact was there with a car, or had quick access to one. He was sure Garrison would have tried to walk to this meeting but he was glad he had seen the sense is staying behind, and letting them bring transportation to him. But that acquiescence concerned him too, the man didn't usually give in to his arguments so easily. He hoped the Warden's condition wasn't more serious than it already appeared. Seeming to pick up on his thoughts, Chief asked from the shadows to his right.
"How bad d'you think he's hurt?"
He took a moment to consider his response. "I won't really know until we can get him into that safe house and I can remove the bandages. He's certainly re-injured his ribs. I am concerned that he may have damaged the lung as well."
***
"He still out of it?" Goniff asked, uneasily, squatting down next to the other two.
"Yeah. But I think he's breathin' better," Casino responded. "I wish His Highness and Geronimo would get their butts back here with a truck or something."
"I don't think it's been long enough, mate," Goniff offered. Both men jumped when Garrison spoke up, quietly, "They should have reached that farm fifteen minutes ago. The contact was supposed to be there waiting. He might not be too willing to show himself right away when he sees them, Martin was expecting me. He may take some convincing."
"Can't blame a bloke for being careful, I suppose." Goniff considered, scratching his chin.
"No kiddin', Limey! Especially if the 'bloke' wants to keep breathin'!"
"Well, Actor's got the words, he'll talk 'im 'round." Goniff reached out and caught Garrison by the arm as he tried to sit up.
"Casino, I think we should start heading in that direction." Pulling his arm down tight against his ribs, he leaned forward and tried to get his feet under him. "We can meet up with them..."
"Oh no you don't!" Casino laid a firm hand on the injured man's shoulder. "You're stayin' right where you are, and we're waitin' for them to get back here and pick us up!"
Garrison turned to protest, but felt another hand go down on the opposite shoulder.
"Now, Warden," Goniff said, with a chuckle. "You're s'pose to do what you're told."
***
Actor placed the new dressing down against Garrison's abdomen, above his belt, and held it in place as he brought the bandage around. He added several more layers, wrapping them up to support the man's injured ribs. "You were lucky," he observed. "I don't think you damaged the lung. But you've torn both these wounds open again. You will need to keep changing the bandages. And your ribs, and that leg, will need to be bound if you are to move about at all. You cannot possibly do these things for yourself," he added with a shrug. "So it is obvious that you must not go in there alone."
Chief dropped the covering back over the window, and walked across to stand in front of the Warden. "He's right," looking the man right in the eye, "And you know it. You gotta have somebody in there with you."
Garrison shook his head slowly. "They are only expecting 'Krueger'" His breath caught as he leaned forward. "There'll be a medical officer on a project this size, he can take care of me. In fact, he's expecting to. Besides, we only have papers for one."
"My friend," their contact spoke up from his position at the table. "I have a man who could make up orders the commandant of that base would swear he wrote, and signed, himself."
"Martin, that would cause too much of a delay. We haven't got the time! I've got to report tomorrow at 0800." Garrison objected.
"Nonsense! We already have a supply of blank forms. All you must do is make up a name, and decide upon a background. We can even produce an identity disc that will pass inspection by the entry guards," the little man said with pride. "You could be on your way in only two, or three, hours."
"Warden, you're out numbered," Casino insisted with a smirk.
Garrison let out a sigh of resignation, and leaned back against the wall. Every eye was on him as he considered them. "What did you have in mind?" He caught the quick look that flashed between the members of his team, and then he listened, as they laid out their plan.
***
"Casino, I appreciate the improvement you've made, but you still don't speak the language! And I'm not going to be there, every moment, in case somebody comes up, and asks you a question, or gives you an order you don't understand!" He was getting exasperated now, they'd been over this before and the argument was beginning to wear him out.
"But, Warden, he would not have to speak German," Actor stated calmly. "And the history of injury we have given would explain away his inability to understand. Don't you see, it's perfect!" He looked from Garrison to Casino and gave a subtle nod.
Casino stepped forward, took a deep breath, and launched their final assault. "Look, you're goin' in hurt, and you're s'pose to be some big shot pilot, right?" he rushed ahead, not giving the other man time to object. "They'd give you an assistant, or an aide, or something. Why not another injured guy? Especially one of his own! You'd try and keep one of us with you, if you thought you could help us out. Why wouldn't this guy?" Casino met Garrison's skeptical gaze and persisted, "And I'll be right in there with you, babe, when they don't just hand you those damn blueprints and test results, and you find yourself starin' at a safe that needs opening."
"Give it up, Warden," Chief said from the doorway. "You know this is how it's gonna go down."
He finally heaved a sigh, and turned his palms up in surrender. "When'd you guys figure all this out?"
"Oh, we worked everything out while we was upstairs, packing for the trip," Goniff told him, grinning.
"Alright," he said, with a resigned sigh. "But that means another uniform, extra clothes, money. Goniff, think you can handle that?"
"Aw, Warden, you don't doubt me, do ya? You know if there's a market square in that town, and the right sort a shops, I'll have everything you need, in about twenty minutes."
Casino snorted a laugh, "Should we time you, you arrogant, little bastard?" To their contacts questioning look he replied, "Goniff is a pick pocket."
"Now, wait a minute!" the little cockney said, laying his palm on his chest, "I am a.... a.... Uh, Hey, Actor? What was it you told them I was, up at that camp?"
"An Appropriations Officer."
"Yeah!" Goniff said, with a bit of a swagger. "Pretty grand sound to it, don't ya think?"
Garrison threw him another skeptical look. "Uh huh! Mr. Appropriations Officer, sir? I don't suppose you learned any French, or German, during your time at camp?" Goniff's sheepish grin was all he needed for his answer. "Martin, he'll need some help, and back up. One of your people will need to speak some English, I'm afraid."
"Warden?" Chief asked quietly, from his corner by the window. "Goniff don't speak English, does he?"
"Hey!" Goniff turned wounded eyes in Chief's direction.
"Ah!" motioning two of his men forward, as the room filled with laughter, the contact instructed them. "Go with him, and watch very carefully. You may be able to learn something from him."
Goniff laughed, "Naw! It'd take years, and years! But there's a trick or two I might be able to show ya." He threw his arm around the shoulder of the closest man, and headed out the door. "Lemme see your hands, mate."
Actor watched them go, and then turned back to Garrison, shaking his head, "Warden, we may have just started a crime wave in this town."
***
Casino turned and looked over his shoulder at Garrison, sitting in the back seat of the staff car. "How'er we gonna play this?"
"I thought you guys had this all worked out?" Garrison answered with a smile at the way Casino's face fell slightly... "It's a good plan. The papers we have are perfect, and Actor did a damn good job putting together the medical file on you. We'll be fine. But I think we should assume that the quarters they assign us, and the office and work areas, will be bugged." He turned his gaze out the window, "And as soon as we turn loose of this car, they'll probably wire it, too."
"Why'd they spy on their own guys?" Casino wondered aloud.
"This is important work, Casino, and they don't know Krueger." He leaned back against the seat and rubbed his right leg, rolling his head to each side, he tried to relieve the muscles that were cramping in his back and shoulders.
"What're we gonna do if we need to talk, if somebody's listenin' all the time?" Casino gripped the steering wheel in frustration.
"We'll have to find a way." Considering a moment, he continued. "My records say I have to exercise this leg. Easiest way would be by walking. We'll talk then. We'll just have to make sure no one's looking at you. You don't talk. Remember?" And then with a chuckle, "That's the part that has me most concerned."
Casino looked up and eyed him in the rearview mirror with a frown. "Whadda ya mean?"
"I just don't see how you're going to keep your mouth shut for three, or four, whole days."
***
"Alright, take it easy." Garrison said quietly, as Casino pulled up to the guard shack. "You'll understand the basic commands. I'll step in if it gets too complicated."
Casino brought the car to a full stop and set the break, before he rolled down the window and looked at the guard walking towards them. "Ihre Papiere!" When there was no immediate action the guard repeated him self with more force. "Ihre Papiere!" Garrison leaned forward with two sets of identity papers and tapped him on the shoulder. Casino eyed the guard and then turned and took the papers, handing them over for inspection. After a tense moment they were handed back. "Diese sind im aft rag. Sie konnen fort fahren." The barrier was raised, and they were motioned through. Garrison returned the guard's salute as they drove onto the base.
Casino let out a low whistle and rolled his shoulders to release the tension. "Here we go," he said softly.
***
The road curved around to the right, and ran along the runway. They passed what appeared to be machine shops, and several large hangers before driving through the barracks area and on through the office and research buildings. The administrative building was set back towards the rear of the complex and a large expanse of lawn surrounded it. Behind this, between the buildings, and the trees that lined the fence, was a small structure, the commandant's house. There was a man waiting on the steps of the administrative building, watching the progress of the car. When they pulled to a stop, Casino got out to help Garrison from the car, but found the other man already standing at the open door. "Oberst Krueger? Velkommen! Ich bin Major Georg Hoffmann." The Major reached out a hand to help Garrison from the car, "Kann ich ihnen Sir helfen?"
Garrison turned and put both feet on the ground, gripped the cane in his right hand, and took the hand offered him in his left, and hoisted himself out of the car. "Danke, Major Hoffmann. Sie konnen."
***
The introductions had taken nearly two hours. Hoffmann had the technicians and pilots come and meet him in the main office, explaining that they had been informed of his injuries, and did not wish to tire him. Then the schnapps had been produced, and they spent some time getting to know each other, discussing the project. The scientists, Hoffmann proudly informed him, were only slightly behind schedule in their tests on the new bomb sight and release mechanism. They would be ready for a practical demonstration in three days time. They were honored, he said, to have him as an observer and consultant. They had cleared an office for his use in the research building across the compound, and Colonel Krueger and his aide were to stay in the commandant's house. Hoffmann would use the officers' quarters. When Garrison had struggled back to his feet and excused them with "Ich bin mude." it hadn't been an act, he was exhausted.
As soon as the door closed on Major Hoffmann, Casino started a systematic sweep of the rooms. Just as they had expected, he found several microphones. While Casino had combed their quarters Garrison spoke to him in German, telling him about the house, naming the different rooms and articles held in them. He quietly put their things away in the closets and cabinets so that if they were visited, or if the apartments were searched, it would appear that his 'aide' had done his duty, and everything would support their ruse of being here on a short term assignment. When he was finished he collapsed into a chair, took a ragged breath, and closed his eyes.
Casino, finished with his survey, watched his commander. "Shit!" he thought. "He looks like he's passed out." He stepped across the room and put his hand on the man's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. When the Warden looked up, he raised his eyebrows in a question, and got a slow nod for his answer. With a frown he moved away into the kitchen and rummaged around until he'd put together some bread, cheese and water for them both. Armed with the simple meal he returned to the sitting room, tapped Garrison on the arm to rouse him again, and handed the food over. "Danke, Hans," Garrison said quietly. "Wille verbinden Sie mich?" inclining his head towards the other chair to indicated that he was expected to sit too. Casino sat, shaking his head. This was going to be a long couple of days.
Garrison hadn't eaten much before his head started to drop. He caught him self on the edge of sleep and jerked back in the chair once or twice. "That's it," Casino thought, and he stood up, looked at the other man, closed his eyes while he let his own head drop over to the side. He made a pretty good rendition of Goniff's loud snore, then he opened his eyes, pointed first at Garrison, and then jerked his thumb over his right shoulder, towards the bedroom.
Garrison blinked once and then started to laugh. "Alright Hans, if you insist." And he let himself be hauled up and marched off to bed.
***
When the door was thrown open the light from the bulb in the hallway seemed so intense he threw his hands up to ward it off. His pride had taken over, during the night, and he'd resumed gnawing, and pulling at the cords that bound him, until they had finally fallen away. Then, for his efforts, he had been tortured the rest of the night, by the pain of the blood flowing back into his hands. They grabbed him roughly by the arms and pulled him to his feet, not bothering to replace the restraints. He tried, at first to stand, and walk, on his own, but then decided to conserve what energy he had, and let the bastards drag him along. They hadn't put the blindfold on yet and he tried to take stock of where he was. They were moving him along a corridor with doorways spaced along it on either side. Only an opening at one end, no door at the other. No windows, no openings in the doors. At the end of the corridor he was yanked around to the right, a few steps further and he was being hauled up a flight of stairs. "Then basement." he thought, "Storerooms."
A door was opened at the top of the steps, and they were suddenly out into the main working level of the building. There was a guard on the door and others, evenly placed along the long hallway. The military personnel going about their business along the hall never even broke stride at the sight of their procession. But there were locals, here and there, along the route and they stopped and watched silently as he was maneuvered past. "This must be the administration building for the town," he thought as he struggled to come up with a plan, a way to escape. He managed to pull his feet under him and started to walk on his own. He saw woman cross herself, and a man take his hat off, and bow his head as they turned into the room from the day before. There was something familiar about the women, but he couldn't remember. He turned his mind towards surviving another day.
Staring silently, he watched as the guard bound his hands, and felt the searing pain of abused muscles and joints, as they pulled his arms back over his head. He just caught sight of the Colonel, walking into the room, as the blindfold was pulled down over his eyes. He set is mouth in a grim line of determination. "Who helped you get into this town? What was your objective? Who was to help you get away from here? Where can I find these people?"
"Here we go," he thought, and gasped as the first blow landed.