part 3
�I wouldn�t a been able to pull something like this off on me own. And help was right there t�hand, down in that little valley I come down in. You was right, mate. This place is just lousy with vampires. All I had ta do was look up in a tree and I found this one �ere.� Goniff laughed at the look on Casino�s face as he motioned towards the Warden. �Here ya go. Get back in there and change inta this while I�m takin� care a your funeral rites.� And before they broke eye contact, �Did ya like the bit with the blood on the cuffs?� The little cat burglar winked and shoved him into the bushes and turned back to his duty. He�d wrapped the coat Luca had used over his uniform and was playing grave digger and cemetery grounds man. Garrison and the brothers had already turned and headed back to the castle. They�d bring Chiefy out next and then they could get on with the next act of their little drama.
Casino watched as Actor finished buttoning up the front of his tunic. He shook his head as he started to strip out of his clothes. �You really gotta worry when the Limey turns into the brains a this outfit.�
Actor gave a quick laugh before he stepped out of cover, �Hurry up.� he called back over his shoulder. �Goniff is right. They are going to need all the help they can get with Chief.� Settling the helmet firmly on his head he shouldered the rifle he�d found waiting for him in the bushes and started back across the compound.
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As soon as they cleared the building he made his move. If he was gonna die he was gonna to do his best to take that Major with him. But they were ready for him, seemed to expect it. He still pulled the cripple off his feet when he turned. He managed to get hold of the cord they�d tied around his ankle. When he fell back he�d given the thing a good jerk and brought the Major down on top of him. They were struggling face to face in the gravel as Chief tried to loop the cord around the Binaay��s neck. The guards couldn�t get a shot, they were afraid they�d hit the German officer.
He�d just managed it, just started to pull the cord tight when he heard it....
�T�adoo �n� �n�, Atsil�!� whispered close to his ear.
��naa�!?�
�Ao�. Ni h�gosh�� k'ad?� The ruined face just inches from the young man�s was going a little purple...
Chief took a deep breath, he held the cord tight a moment longer, and after he let it drop it took him a long time to answer... �Haoh.� Chief went limp with relief, anyone watching would take it as a sign of defeat, surrender. As he lay there in the gravel he didn�t think he�d ever be alright again,,, not really. They had to help him to his feet and support him for a moment as he stood there glaring back at them.
�C�mon kid� Casino prodded him in the ribs with his rifle. �You got an audience... Start talkin��
�B�out what?�
�Anything� He heard Actor�s deep voice from behind him. �They aren�t close enough to make out what you say. Just let them see and hear you speak.�
�Who came up with this little scam?� he asked, in what he hoped was a normal voice.
�Goniff.�
�Where is he?�
�Over there near the trees, buryin� me.� Casino managed to keep the smile off his face, but he couldn�t keep it out of his voice.
�Alright.....� The young man bent and brushed the dust from the side of his trousers, then looked up at the officer who stood waiting in front of him. �...I�m gonna kill him when we get back to England.�
�I�ll help ya.�
�We both will.�
�That�s enough." Garrison shared a long look with the younger man and his mouth twitch up in a smile before he turned away. "Head for the truck." He and the two soldiers flanking him headed back inside, back in to finish the mission they�d come here to do, as Actor and Casino escorted Chief to the waiting truck.
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The captain of the guard added his own men to the company that brought Iagar and Petre out to the truck, and he watched as the prisoners were loaded in the back and secured to the seats with the American. He stood talking with Major Todeskopf now, trying valiantly to look the man in the face. The Major was obviously a very powerful man, and it wouldn�t hurt his career to have a friend in the SS. He could carry on with the courtesy for the few minutes required of him...but he thought he would probably have nightmares for the rest of his life.
Actor sat in back guarding the prisoners with Casino and Goniff, who had joined them as soon as he�d finished 'burying' Casino. Jon would drive the truck out and Luca would continue to be Major Todeskopf�s chauffeur. Enric and Toma were leaning together as Toma explained that, yes, they really were being rescued, to a disbelieving Iagar.
The con man nudged Chief�s shoulder and they sat and watched as the captain escorted Garrison to his car. The German officer was trailing by a half pace, just far enough back so he didn�t have to see the Major�s face. When they reached the car he hesitated before offering his hand to help the SS officer up into his vehicle. They were all watching by this time, and shared a laugh when the young officer surreptitiously wiped that hand on the back of his tunic as Todeskopf�s car pulled away. Jon put the truck in gear and the men swayed on the benches as he pulled onto the road to follow the car.
One look at Garrison and the guards opened the gate and waved the little column right on through.
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They�d moved to another one of Toma�s caves, and they�d arrived in style. The group traveled back to the first cavern to pick up the supplies there, and the car Goniff and the brother�s had used on the road when they were waiting for Todeskopf. Goniff and Jon completed the disagreeable task of dressing the Major up in civilian clothes and they�d hauled him down to the truck that was waiting on the road. They�d thrown a sack over his head, just seemed all of them felt more secure that way. After dealing with Garrison's appearance the Major didn't look all that bad to them, but Goniff figured that as he hadn't seen the way into the hideout there was no sense in showing him the way out... just in case. They�d bundle him in the back of the truck with the other �prisoners�. Chief changed into a uniform to act as their guard. Jon drove, with Casino riding shotgun. Luca continued on as Garrison�s driver and Actor was assigned as Goniff�s chauffeur, much to the little 'SS Colonel�s' delight.
The only delay came when they let Toma and Estera have a little time together in the small cave before they left. After a few private moments, that the others could actually hear clear down by the vehicles, the couple walked down from the cavern arm in arm, Toma dried her tears and kissed her before he handed her up into the �Colonel�s� car. She�d gone back into the town while they were gone and packed her bag, it sat on the floor of the car. There were to be no more separations, she said, and Toma agreed. The life they had together would be lived together, regardless of how dangerous that might be. Estera leaned out of the car and kissed Toma one more time, on a reddened area of his face that look suspiciously like her hand, before he turned to climb into the back of the truck. Turning on Goniff she caused him to flinch a bit before she managed to catch his face between her hands and kiss him too before settling back in the seat. Dressed in her best she leaned into Goniff�s side, smiling as he cautiously draped his arm over her shoulder, and for an hour or so he had a lovely woman to dote on him and hang on his every word, but he did find that he was just a little bit careful about what he said to her.
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The con man threw his hands up in exasperation. �I don�t believe you used all of it! Do you know how difficult it is to get that stuff?�
�Hey! It was an accident, wasn�t it?� the little second story man protested.
�I�ll put the quartermaster on it, Actor. Just get it off me.�
The older man started searching through his bag, then looked up and fixed the pick pocket with an icy stare. �All right, where is it?�
�Uh... You mean that clear liquidy stuff in the bottle?� Goniff shoved his hands deep in his pockets. �The, uh... uh, the bottle broke.�
�All of that�s gone too?! I don�t believe you! You clod!...�
Garrison pulled at the con man�s sleeve, trying to get his attention. �Come on Actor, you�ve got something else in there that�ll take this stuff off....�
�Of all the clumsy, ham fisted....�
�....Blimey! A bloke �as a little accident and...�
�Quiet!� His voice was still only a whisper and neither one of them heard it, but no one in the cave could ignore the fit of coughing the shouted whisper caused the Warden. It took him a good five minutes to recover and by then he had their undivided attention...
�Actor, if you don�t find a way to get this stuff off of me, right now, I�m going to rip it off.�
The confidence man reached out and took Garrison's chin in his hand, carefully turning his face to the light that streamed in through the cave�s opening. �Boy, oh boy... Does that itch?�
�It�s driving me crazy!� The Lieutenant reached up to scratch the side of his face only to find his hand caught and held down by his second.
Actor chuckled. �And here I was going to complement you on your characterization, attention to detail, and mannerism.�
Casino had joined them, bringing a canteen of water when the Warden was having his choking fit, and Chief stood looking over his shoulder. They both watched as the Lieutenant�s face twitched and the muscles around his left eye started to tic. �What�s wrong with him? Outside a bein� damn ugly I mean?�
Actor glanced up at them and almost managed to look serious. �He�s allergic to it.�
Chief frowned and leaned forward for a better look. �That what�s causin� the blisters?�
�Get it off of me......�
Goniff leaned in and ran a finger along the Warden�s jaw. �It�s turnin� a nice rosy red in�t it? And it�s gone all bumpy along here.�
�.....NOW!�
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The group moved outside the cave where the light was better. After a quick assessment Actor sent Goniff off with Luca to haul water up from a nearby stream, Chief was paired up with Estera as she went in search of herbs and plants she said might help, and Casino and Jon were assigned the disagreeable task of keeping an eye on Major Todeskopf. Toma and Enric had already set off to make contact with Enric's larger band.
�You will be able to get this stuff off me, won�t you?� Garrison�s whispered voice held just a note of desperation as his hand drifted back up towards his face.
Actor caught it and shoved it back in his lap. There was a fine sheen of perspiration on the Warden�s face, where it wasn�t covered by man made scars. �You�re beginning to perspire, that should help loosen it. We can use hot and cold compresses to help that along but I�m afraid it�s going to take some time to get all of it.� The con man reached out and stopped the Lieutenant from scratching at the back of his left hand. �Whatever made you think of doing this?�
�It was Goniff�s idea. Once we got a look at Todeskopf and saw that they hadn�t put an �after� picture in his papers.� Garrison shrugged his right shoulder up and let it drop. �It seemed like a good idea at the time.�
The con artist chuckled. �Goniff�s ideas often seem like good ones at first.� He looked at the Warden again. �How well can you see?�
�Good enough to get down that hallway. Good enough to pick you out, but that�s only because you�re taller than the others.� Garrison�s right hand seemed to have a mind of its own and was intent on scratching at the offensive makeup, he sighed in frustration as his second stopped him again. �I can�t tell you what a wonderful experience it was, having Goniff pry my eyelids apart.�
�You do seem to have lost some eyelashes.� Actor smiled and studied his commander for a moment. �I assumed that you had created Todeskopf�s mannerisms, but since they appear to have been caused by your reaction to the makeup, is it safe to assume the limp and crippled arm are not being feigned either?�
�No.. I mean...Goniff took care of everything Actor, I�m fine.�
�I�m sure you are, and I'm sure he did, but why don�t you let me take a look at you all the same?�
Garrison frowned, at least it seemed like he frowned, under the scars, and after a moment closed his eyes to consider the request. Chief and Estera had returned from gathering plants and the young man moved quietly up on the Warden, reaching to help him out of his uniform only to be waved back by the con man. Actor leaned back against his rock and waited for the Warden to work through the exercise. He smiled to himself, in his mind it was comparable to Garrison making them run the obstacle course, or work out on the firing range before a job. The Lieutenant just needed to practice admitting he needed help, and accepting it, and they had the time... Besides after the fright he and Goniff had given them it seemed he was owed a little discomfort.
Running an irritated hand through his hair that ended in an absentminded scratching of his jaw before Actor put a stop to it Garrison heaved a sigh and started on the buttons at the neck of the tunic he wore. �Alright!�
The older man laughed, reached out and took over unbuttoning the high collar. �Here it will go faster if I do it. Let�s have look at you.�
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�What in God�s name happened to cause all of this!?� Actor had gone from amusement to alarm as the Warden�s tunic and then his shirt were removed. There hadn�t been enough in the first aid supplies for Goniff to cover all of the damage the branches had done, and the skin that wasn�t covered in bandages or makeup seemed to be bruised or gouged and abraded.
�I landed in a tree.� Now that it was uncovered he was scratching at the material that had oozed down his neck and onto his chest, wincing as his nails moved across one of the minor gouges. Actor leaned forward and caught the hand and put it firmly back in the Warden�s lap.
Casino stepped out of the cave into the sunshine, it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the bright light. �Jeeze! Warden, what n�the Hell happened to you?�
Chief turned and answered for him. �He landed in a tree.� Leaning forward he lifted his commander�s left hand away from where it had been busily scratching at his right.
Actor was already heading back into the cave to check on the first aid supplies they had available. The bandages needed to be changed but many of them were obviously stuck to the wounds they covered. When Goniff and Luca returned with the water he�d get started on soaking them off, but only if there were replacements. The Warden�s left arm was bruised and swollen and would probably feel better if in was wrapped and supported in a sling. As he sorted through the supplies it soon became apparent he�d need to make his way into town to get more, there was barely enough here to take care of the blisters Goniff had on his hands from his work with the shovel. When he moved back outside the little pick pocket had returned and was crouched down next to the Lieutenant.
�I think we better get you a new set a bandages Warden, these look a bit worse for wear.� The second story man picked up his bucket and hauled it into the cave. �Luca and me'r gonna take the car and go into town and do a little shopping for the Warden. You want to come along, Actor? You�ll prob�ly want some special stuff from the doctors, right?�
Casino snorted a laugh at the look of shock that crossed the con man�s face before he could control it. �An excellent idea Goniff. I was just going to suggest it...�
�Why�n�t you and Chiefy get started soakin� this stuff of �em. It won�t take us long to get what we need.� Casino only nodded, open mouthed, as Goniff handed him a towel and a bowl filled with water. As he moved off down the path he called over his shoulder. �Come on Actor, get the lead out, mate.�
Chief laughed as the small procession moved out of sight with Goniff leading the way. �Come on Warden, dousing you with water ain�t gonna do that cough much good, let�s go back in by the fire.�
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By the time the foraging party returned from town all of the dressings had been removed and Casino had manage to peel the �scars� off the Warden�s hands. The safe cracker was working on the stuff that had smeared over his back while Chief kept him from absently scratching at the makeup that still clung to his face, neck and chest or the raw skin on the back of his hands.
�I see you�ve gotten all the bandages off.� Actor dropped their supplies next to the fire and stood watching Casino work.
�You get anything for this itching? It�s driving us nuts.�
�You?!� The strangled comment set off another bout of coughing that left Garrison gasping for breath.
Actor retrieved a bottle from the sack he�d carried in and poured a shot of it�s contents into a cup he found back with the rest of the supplies. Holding it out to the Warden he urged, �Here, try some of this.�
�What is it?� Garrison eyed it suspiciously before taking it from the con man�s hand.
�I promise it�s only something for your cough.�
The Lieutenant squinted up at the Italian towering over him. �Where�d you get it?�
�From the doctor in town.� Actor laughed. �What�s wrong with you?�
The Lieutenant studied the liquid in the bottom of the cup and gave it an experimental sniff before knocking it back. �There�s nothing wrong with me, I�ve just been handed one too many of these and been told they�d be good for me only to be knocked on my ass by some concoction of...� Garrison frowned and looked past Actor to the entrance to the cave. �Where is Goniff, anyway?�
�He didn�t like the place Luca picked to hide the car, so they are looking for a better spot.�
�Since when did the Limey get all careful and particular?� Casino asked as he peeled another strip off the Warden.
�Leave him alone, Casino, he�s just takin a little more interest in the details is all.� Chief handed Garrison a steaming towel to keep his hands busy.
�Chief is right and I think we should encourage him to take on a bit more responsibility.�
The east coast hood�s reply was cut off by the arrival of the subject of their discussion. Goniff bustled into the cave, deposited his heavy coat in the back near the supplies, checked on the prisoner and then dropped down next to the Warden. �'ere now, 'aven�t you blokes straightened out this mess yet? Let�s get with it, 'ey, so the Warden 'ere can get some sleep.�
Casino shot a look at the little pick pocket and then scowled up at Actor. �Yes, why don�t you produce something that will encourage this stuff to come off a little easier?� Then he turned back on the cockney thief. �Look we got all the bandages off and we made a dent in gettin� the stuff you smeared on him off while you took your nice little trip inta town, you...�
Actor shouldered the safe cracker out of the way. �You�ve been at that a long time, I�ll take over. Goniff, I�m afraid we can�t use anything other than the hot and cold compresses. All of the removers have an alcohol base, that wouldn�t feel very good on all of these scrapes.�
�And those ain�t all of �em by �alf� Goniff grinned at the Warden.
�Goniff!�
�What�s that?�
�The Warden here came feet first through those tree tops.... Where�d ya think most a them splinters was anyway?�
�Goniff!�
It took a few minutes to settle Garrison down again.
�Lieutenant you simply must keep your voice down or you�ll end up choking yourself to death.� Actor poured another dose of the doctor�s concoction in the cup and held it out.
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They�d finally managed to peel Garrison out of all of the artificial scars but he�d lost a layer of skin along with some eyebrow and the rest of the eyelashes on his left eye. The lids were swollen and the irritation caused by the compound itself, and his inability to close his eyes properly after it cured caused his eyes to burn and his vision to blur. Air hitting the exposed nerve endings in the raw skin increased the itch until it was nearly unmanageable. No matter how determined the Warden was or how hard the men tried to distract him it was impossible to keep him from worrying the tender spots on his face, neck and hands. He�d already drawn blood in more than one location and Actor had decided the only solution was to wrap his hands.
�This will keep you from scratching while you sleep.�
�While I sleep!? What makes you think I�ll be able to get any sleep?
�While we sleep, then.�
Garrison lifted the club Actor had created out of his left hand off his lap and looked up at his second. �How am I supposed to...�
�Don�t worry. We�ll help you with everything.�
�Actor, if you don�t mind, there are a few things I�d rather not have help with.�
�Hmm.� The con artist was unsuccessful in his bid to keep the smile off his face. �Would you like to attend to that now, before I finish?�
Casino was daydreaming by the fire and was shaken from his reverie when the two men left the cave. �Where�r they off to?
All he got from Chief was a raised eyebrow and a smile.
�Oh!� The explosives expert snorted a laugh and shook his head. �This is gonna make one hell of a letter home.�
�I wouldn�t do that if I were you, Pappy.�
�Why�s that?�
�The Warden�s the one censors our mail.�
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Actor sat up near the fire keeping watch, more on Garrison and his persistent attempts to scratch, even with the padded bandages, than any threat from out side. The cream the doctor produced when the con artist fed him his story of a lady friend who had broken out in a rash after a romantic picnic in the woods had little effect on the blistered skin they�d finally relieved of its burden of artificial scar tissue. Morning dawned and the group was rousing and going about their tasks as the con man sat applying compresses soaked in the infusion Estera produced from the plants she and Chief gathered in the afternoon to the more sensitive areas. It seemed to help for a short time after it was applied.
The Italian con artist considered his commander. He knew the younger man must be uncomfortable, some of the wounds on his back and leg had festered and Actor had pursued the remaining splinters with single minded determination until they were all vanquished. The Lieutenant�s arm was badly bruised and the shoulder had been twisted nearly out of joint, the muscles around it and up into his neck left swollen and tender. Both his exposure to the cold and rain while he�d hung up in his tree, and the damage done by the cord that lashed across his neck had left him with a painfully sore throat that prevented him from speaking above a whisper. And then there was the itching,,, the con man had contracted poison oak once and even though there had only been a small patch on his arm it had nearly driven him mad. But there was more to it,,, there was a dispirited air about the Warden as he gazed into the fire. �What�s wrong?�
�Reynolds is going to kill me.�
Casino brought the pot of coffee and several mugs to the fire and settled down next to the Warden. Placing a full cup on the ground next to the man�s feet he took a long pull of his own and sighed in contented satisfaction. A moment later he noticed that Garrison just continued to sit there and stare at the cup on the ground next to him. The safe cracker chuckled. �Oh yeah! Sorry.� Lifting the mug up he held it while the Lieutenant took a sip. �What�s Reynolds got to complain about we did the job, didn�t we?�
Garrison nodded as he silently held his hand out for Actor to remove the dressings that encased his fingers.
�Surely he won�t fault you for this, it was an accident.�
�I�ve been having a few too many of those lately." Garrison sighed "He probably thinks I�m bucking for a Section Eight.�
Chief joined them at the fire. The young man had been up early and gone outside to greet the dawn, making a quick check of their surroundings before returning. Accepting a cup of coffee from Casino he settled on the other side of the Lieutenant. �What�s that?� He asked as he took a swallow of coffee.
�A Section Eight?� The con man answered as he continued to unwrap the Warden�s hand. �It�s an Army regulation that allows a man to be discharged if he�s found to be psychologically unfit.�
�You mean if he�s nuts? Well, Jeeze...�
�Casino! Don�t say another word.� The Warden�s whispered growl didn�t come out as much of a threat.
The men ranged around Garrison laughed, Chief carefully helping his leader to another sip of coffee as Actor finally freed his hand from it�s restrictive binding. �But the Warden�s hurt, not crazy.�
�Well....�
�Casino!�
�But some men will injure themselves in an attempt to gain a discharge.� Actor explained as he patted their commander on the back and offered another dose of the doctors cough remedy.
The young man looked at him for a moment before declaring, �That�s crazy.�
�And...� The groups explosives expert turned his hands up in innocence as three sets of eyes fixed on him.
�Casino� Garrison whispered. �Maybe you better go find something useful to do.�
Goniff stumbled over from the side of the cavern where the food was stored. There was a second small fire there where Estera had boiled the local grain up into a serviceable porridge, he hauled the pot with him along with an assortment of bowls and utensils that he sat on the ground with a clatter. �What�s so funny?�
�Nothing.� The Lieutenant declared as finally got a decent swallow of coffee while the con man attacked the bandage on his left hand.
�The Warden�s worried about Colonel Reynolds� reaction to his latest injuries.�
The group�s second story man grinned around a spoonful of breakfast. �He did tell you to be more careful, din�t he?�
Garrison shook his head as he accepted a bowl from Chief. �He�s going to have me riding a desk for the rest of the war.�
Actor smiled. �Come now, you aren�t in that bad a shape... this time.�
�You�ve got to be kidding! Actor, take a good look at me.� Garrison held his arms away from his body and raised his chin for inspection. His eyes were nearly swollen shut. There were red, blistered patches on his face, neck and hands that looked as if he�d been splashed with scalding water. The muscles of his neck and shoulder were still bunched up in spasm and twisted his head down and his shoulder up. The gouges he�d suffered to his back and up across his abdomen prevented him from sitting or standing up straight, and he walked with a limp, favoring the leg that had collected the bulk of all those splinters.
Casino smirked as he considered him over his coffee. �You do look like an understudy for Lon Channey in one a them horror movies a his.�
�You�r right, man. You'r gonna have a hard time explainin� this one.� Chief smiled at their commander from behind his bowl of grain.
�I don�t know what all the fuss is about...� Goniff snorted. �We just won�t go back til you�r lookin� a little better. Blimey! I thought you two were s�pose to be clever.�
Goniff looked back as they all stared at him. �We got all kinds a reasons to stay �ere.... Toma and that mate a his, that Iagar fella, they could use some help gettin� this operation all set up couldn�t they?� And as the Warden leaned forward and started to explain to him why they couldn�t stay, why they had to go back as ordered he cut him off by reminding him, �You said it yourself, din�t you? That bloke�s important to the war effort.� and he mimicked Garrison�s strangled whisper as he continued, �'They�ve just started making an impact, delaying delivery of fuel and oil from the refineries here, blowing the wellheads in the oil fields themselves. ...He�s just started getting information out to us.' Seems like the Colonel�d want us to �elp that kinda a thing along a bit.�
�Hey! How come all of a sudden you�r comin� up with good ideas?� Casino grinned at the little Limey, watching as the ever hungry cockney peered down into the empty pot of porridge.
Goniff shrugged and clambered to his feet, calling over his shoulder as he headed back towards Estera to rummage for more food. �Dunno. Maybe it�s �cause Jon and Luca think I �ave �em.�
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Contact between the partisan bands and the Allies was tenuous at best and Actor and Garrison spent some time setting up a network of message transfer points and simple codes. The first message they got out was to headquarters,,, the reason they, themselves weren�t getting out... The message got through and the reply when it was decoded was �Take the time.� But the cons had to ask Garrison for an interpretation of the last line �FMEOR.�
The Warden sighed and shook his head. �Full Medical Eval on Return. I think we may have worked with Reynolds too long.�
Goniff laughed as he reached out and stopped the Lieutenant from scratching at the back of his right wrist. �Seems the Colonel 'as you figured out, Warden.�
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Actor joked that they were running a school for criminal activity as they worked with the men and women that comprised Iagar�s flock. Chief handled the appropriation of vehicles and disabling alarms, Casino simple explosives and lock picking, and Goniff, though he gave everyone a chance, only found two students he deemed had the natural talent to become pick pockets. Luca was one and Iagar himself the other. The men had practiced on volunteer victims and then set upon the more unwary members of the band until no ones personal property was safe, regardless of the pocket that held it.
When the opportunity presented itself to move into the next town and collect some information from the local commandant�s office the �students� were eager to try their hand. One of Enric�s contacts in this small town passed the word to him that the commandant was rumored to have detailed information of German strength and deployment in the area. The administrative building was small and they believed they could manage the guards that were assigned there. The area had been under German control for sometime and their level of security was low due to their arrogant certainty in their superiority. The instructors declared the setup was perfect for a trial run and it would be a final exam for their students.
�Alright, this is what you�ll do.� The group crowded around to study the diagram as it was scratched into the dust.
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Elizabeth Celaru worked inside the small headquarters building as a cleaner and pointed out the commandant's aid, he�d locked the office and dropped his keys in his pocket before heading out for his dinner. Iagar tripped neatly in front of the man and had the keys out of their resting place before they�d had a chance to pick up the warmth from the soldier's pocket. Estera had shown real aptitude for electrical devices and alarms. She and Chief found the simple system that protected the building and disabled it with little trouble, Toma and the other�s had the keys to get inside the building and office but they didn�t want to risk a device that might be in place to protect the files where they hoped to find their information. Casino went in just in case a safe was involved.
Estera kept watch outside the building in the alleyway, she could see the hallway and the door to the commandant's office and both ends of the alley. Tudor Stoica watched the street and the front of the building from the mouth of the alley and Actor was leaning in a doorway across the street. Luca and the others were waiting with the truck two blocks away. They�d move in to pick the group up when it was all over, or, if their luck didn�t hold, provide firepower and cover to get them out of any trouble that might come up. There were others stationed around the area to give them warning if the commandant was spotted returning for any reason, or if troops other than the guards who normally patrolled the street entered the vicinity.
The assault on the building went smoothly, the inside group easily gained access to the office but then had to spend their time waiting as Toma worked to open the locks on the files. Casino, normally short tempered and quick to act, proved a supportive teacher and talked Petre through the job allowing him the satisfaction of completing the task rather than damaging his confidence by stepping in to take over. There was no camera for this job, they simply copied the information off onto another paper to carry out with them after they returned everything to the files. Just as they were replacing everything in the office to it�s original position as Casino insisted disaster struck. A guard appeared at an unexpected time and Tudor froze when the solider challenged him.
Actor signaled the car and started across the street only to hesitate as Estera stalked out of the alley. In a loud angry voice she demanded to know where Tudor had been all evening. She slipped her hand into the bag she carried and flipped the cap off a small bottle that rested inside, letting the precious perfume spill over her fingers. As she brought her hand up out of the bag she tossed the bottle away in the bushes before she delivered a sound slap to the side of the startled young man�s face. Pulling at the collar of his coat and stepping in close, she started to screech about the strange perfume he had on him, and berate him for his infidelity. Actor strolled up to stand next to the guard who was watching the scene with amusement. The angry young woman jabbed her victim with her finger causing him to step back and twist to get out of her reach. She continued her rant as she watched the members of the inside team leave the building through the door to the alley and make their way out of sight at the other end. As soon as Chief gave her the thumbs up she grabbed Tudor by the arm and hustled him down the street leaving Actor and the guard to trade comments about the joys of married life before they parted to go on their separated ways.
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�How�d they do? Any trouble?�
�It went well." The con artist reported. "Tudor needs to work on his ability to improvise, but Estera was wonderful! The guard was completely taken in.� Actor leaned over and kissed the young woman on the cheek, and then turned and offered his hand to her husband, after a moment Toma smiled and took it.
�And inside?�
�Piece a cake...well, not really, but it�ll get faster and easier with practice.� Casino turned to his prot�g�, �You just swipe anything you can lay your hands on that�s got a lock and work on it until you got it down. It won�t take long Don�t go tryin� no safes though. You use the explosives like I show�d ya.� Toma was a large man and the enthusiastic hug he bestowed on the safe cracker in return for his praise left the man breathless and laughing.
�Well then,� Goniff rubbed his hands together and grinned at the group gathered around him. �Looks like you all passed! We better go back and tell the Warden.�
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�You hear that? That�s one a them werewolves. Jon told me all about �em. You were right Casino. This place is right crawlin� with werewolves �n vampires �n things... but they ain�t like the ones in the movies. Blimey, they�r way worse�n anything them movie blokes�d think up.......� The little pick pocket settled down next to Casino outside the farmhouse they were using for the night. The place was several miles out of town and hadn�t been lived in for a year or so. The windows were broken and the gardens overgrown with weeds. The tree in the yard was dead, green leaves only a memory now as the bare branches scratched at the side of the building and stretched skeletal fingers skyward. Goniff had finished his watch and Casino had just come out to relieve him.
�You better go on inside and get some sleep, Warden says were takin� off in the morning.�
�Aw I ain�t sleepy, I�ll keep ya company for a bit, mate. Ya know,� he started off softly. �Them movie guys got it all wrong about a lot a stuff. Luca told me how they deal with vampires here and it ain�t nothing like you think it is....�
The soft sound of large wings overhead made the explosives expert duck his head, to cover his action he leaned down to check to see that his boots were securely tied. �So, ah, how do they manage it?�
�Oh they got a whole ceremony for it. See they figure out which bloke is causin� the trouble, see.� Goniff sidled a little closer and lowered his voice. �Then they dig up �is grave and open up the coffin. Luca said they cut the head off and set it down between the feet, and then pound stakes through the body to sort a stick the fella to the ground so�s he can�t get up and cause no more trouble.� The little second story man got to his feet and stretched. �Then they split the chest open and take out the heart and cook it.�
�What�d they wanna do that for?�
�Huh? Oh! They get it all dried out that way, and then they grind it up and make a �ot drink of it.�
�What?! Why?�
�Blimey! How should I know? It�s their bloody ceremony.� The pick pocket stretched again and stepped into the farmhouse, leaving Casino behind staring off into the darkness. The safe cracker jumped as Goniff moved quietly up behind him a moment later and nudged him on the shoulder. �Easy mate! I just brung ya a cup a tea.� Holding the mug out until it was taken from his hand the cat burglar watched a moment and laughed to himself as Casino peered down into the cup he held in his hand and then brought it up for a cautious sniff before he sat it aside in the dirt and walked off to complete his rounds.
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Dawn saw the group getting an early start. The cars and truck they�d taken were to be left behind for Iagar and Toma�s group to use, along with some of the uniforms. In deference to the Warden a large covered sedan had been found instead of their usual open touring car. His skin, where the make up had covered it, still blistered on exposure to the sun and had kept him out action, sitting in the cave or safe house with Major Todeskopf through the daylight hours, waiting on darkness so he could move around freely.... �Just like one a Casino�s vampires.� Goniff joked.
They were leaving Todeskopf�s original papers behind with Jon who�d proved adept at falling into the roll of the crippled German officer. He�d already successfully taken a resistance fighter from a commander over in the next valley. Dragomir Celaru, Elizabeth�s brother, was fluent in German and called ahead to tell the commandant to expect a visit from the interrogator. Actor had come up with a concoction that marred Jon�s skin, at least temporarily, and after one look at �Todeskopf� the captive�s jailors quickly gave him up. The group felt they could make good use of the Major and the legend they were busily spreading about him in the area.
It had come as no surprise when Goniff approached the Warden the night before they left. to ask about their prisoner. �Uh,,, what�r we doin� about Georg there?�
�Who?�
�Major Todeskopf. That�s �is name. Georg Heinrick Todeskopf. We are takin� �im back with us, ain�t we?�
Already knowing the answer, Garrison asked anyway. �Why?�
The softhearted burglar shoved his hands deep in his pockets. �Well,,, He ain�t a bad bloke really, when you get to know �im... For a German, I mean.�
Garrison had come to the same conclusion having been cooped up with the German major during the daylight hours. He found that the officer had never actually questioned any of the men he�d been sent to escort to Berlin. After his injury the SS determined they could make use of his appearance to demoralize prisoners while they were on their way in. They�d withheld treatment that might have improved his condition to meet their needs. Up until they recruited him he�d been a pilot. And while he�d been disgusted by the assignment he�d hardly been in a position to refuse it.
The group would take Todeskopf out with them as an injured Allied flier being taken back for questioning. Garrison sacrificed himself and spent an hour or two outside in the daylight to blister up so he could reprise his role as the Major for the trip out, using a copy of the interrogator's papers that had been produced by the forger in Toma�s band.
Goniff donned his uniform, and the Warden had been right, Actor was jealous.
�Look at the fit! You must have had a tailor work on it for you. And the rank! I don�t believe this....� He was especially annoyed as he was dressed as a simple soldier and would again be the SS Colonel�s chauffer, with Chief and Casino along as guards.
Goniff snorted a laugh and winked at Casino as he held the door for him when he got in the car. �You�r right, mate! Takes class to be an officer!�
Garrison turned to consider the little cockney as he settled into the seat next to him. �You know Goniff you did pretty good this time out.� and he continued as his pick pocket preened. �I think I�ll put you up for OCS when we get back.�
The little man looked up at his commander and smiled. �What�s that, then?�
�Officer�s Candidate School.� The Warden had a hard time controlling his laugh as the burglar�s face fell. �It�s tough, but you can handle it, and it�s only seventeen weeks long.�
�Aw, Warden! What�d I ever do to deserve a sentence like that?!� and he turned away and crossed his arms, huffing as the men in the car laughed at him. �That sort a stuff�ll turn a bloke old before �is time, it will! Blimey! Make me all responsible for everyfing? ....I thought you was s�pose to be clever!�
