Hostages

Chief knew that something was wrong, yet he was unable to put his finger on just what it was that was making him feel so uneasy: to all intents and purposes, the mission had been a resounding success. It would be a while before the Nazis would be able to use that particular installation again, and the plans of the latest guidance device for the Germans' lethal rockets now rested firmly within Garrison's inner pocket.

Keeping the larger part of his attention on the surrounding area, Chief casually threw a look over toward the man he now considered a friend; Garrison was deep in discussion with Actor. The local partisan leader, Meladdon, had left a short time before - the news he'd brought had obviously not been good, and the Indian realised that ever since then Garrison's body had been radiating anger. Even now his face was intense and he was waving his hands about as he explained something to Actor, the ever-present cigarette smoke trailing after his moving hand like a ghost trying to catch up with its life-force.

Actor patiently waited until the lieutenant had finished then emphatically shook his head, his expression one of total disagreement and - Chief frowned - real anger. It was then that the Indian realised that it was this that was making him uneasy. The tension and hostility coming from the team's conman could be felt even across the small clearing that they now rested in.

Standing, the Indian slowly made his way over to the two men. His approach was so silent that, when he spoke, it caused both men to start with surprise. "What's up?" Chief's tone was deceptively mild, the intent behind his question was not.

"Nothing, nothing at all," snapped Garrison, glaring at the conman and daring him to refute his statement.

Actor gave Craig a hard look before he purposely turned his back on him and explained to the waiting Indian, "The Warden considers himself expendable... again." There was definitely real fury behind the words.

Chief felt his eyes close to slits as he waited for a further explanation. When it became obvious that they were not going to answer, he demanded, "Expendable?" He directed the question at Actor, who was now withering under the steady glare that Garrison was sending in his direction.

Actor compressed his lips before he finally reiterated, "Ask him." So saying, he spun about and marched away from them, heading toward the other two members of the team who were watching the scene unfolding before them with growing concern.

Chief watched Actor for a few tense moments before he asked, "Well?" Although it was quietly spoken, the tone held a wealth of meaning. Garrison contemplated the ground before him, then dropping his dying cigarette he squashed the life out of it with such ferocity that the Indian wondered briefly who the other man was destroying in that action, his glance automatically switching back to the conman. "Well?" he prodded - he was not going to go away, and both of them knew it.

"It's nothing... nothing you can do anything about, at any rate," Garrison finally stated as he made to move away, but the Indian was swifter and a firm hand restrained the lieutenant from moving. Garrison was so surprised by the action that he momentarily forgot to be annoyed.

"Don't lie to me, man." The words were grated out, and Garrison realised that the Indian who stood before him had been lied to too many times to allow this to pass without the loss of some trust.

Garrison took only a second to gauge the situation and to come to terms with what the loss of this man's respect would mean to him. Swallowing hard at that thought, he began hesitantly, "Most of the villagers in this area have fled into the hills...."

Chief nodded; a large majority of the locals had joined the partisans and taken their families into the hills to be safe from the reprisals of the Germans. "So?" he added for good measure as Garrison paused, fighting down growing pain as the memory of Meladdon's words came back to haunt him.

"After we destroyed the installation and took these plans," the lieutenant gently tapped at the pocket which held the valuable documents, "the Nazis rounded up some people who had not made it to the hills. They are threatening to shoot them in the morning unless the plans are returned," he finished in a whoosh of words, as if to say it quickly could make the idea of those people dying for his actions any less hard.

Chief closed his eyes at the other's words and knew how this would torment the lieutenant. "How many?" he asked, his tone now totally neutral.

"Fifteen." Again a slight pause, before Garrison added in barely a whisper, "Eight of them are children."

"And the Nazis are going to kill them?"

"In the morning... unless I... return the plans to them."

Chief felt a ripple of pure shock course through him as Garrison spoke, and suddenly realised why Actor had been so upset. "Unless you return the plans to them?" he repeated slowly, shooting a quick look over at the conman.

"I'll get a copy of them drawn and Actor can take the rest of you out of here. You will... meet with the plane as arranged tomorrow night." Garrison was gaining speed as he talked; the plan had been formed in his mind and it would be hard to change.

"They'll kill you," Chief stated starkly, barely containing his own anger at the other man's insistence on treating his life so cheaply.

"And they will kill fifteen people in the morning unless I return these damned documents.... One against fifteen seems like pretty good odds to me," Garrison finished with a slight, sad smile. It didn't reach his eyes, and Chief realised that the other man was trying to persuade him to go along with his plan.

"That's mental, man," the Indian suddenly snapped, refusing to allow Garrison to believe that what he proposed was right, or the only answer. "You've got no guarantee that they will let those other people go - they're just... just as likely to kill them as an example... and then shoot you."

"Chief," Garrison snapped, not wanting to face the reality of the situation in such stark words, "this way they have a chance. If I don't...." He stopped, unable to continue.

"It's suicide," Actor commented in a quiet tone, moving back over to stand with them. He was closely followed by the others, their solemn expressions informing Garrison that the conman had informed them of the situation.

"It's not open for discussion," he snapped, hoping to stop any arguments before they could get started.

It didn't work, as Casino snorted and shot back, "Yeah, right... you hand yourself over to the Jerrys, they shoot you, and we all go back to prison." He indicated himself and the others as he spoke.

"You're not going to go back to prison," Garrison stated firmly. "You've already proven yourselves too valuable for that."

"Yeah, right," Goniff put in, his expression uneasy. "And the next warden we get might just think that we really are expendable. Besides," he added in a whiney voice, "we trust you, Warden."

"We are going to have to break them out," Actor said, the expression on his face one of pure calculation.

"What?" Casino asked, not sure that he had heard right or that he liked what it implied.

"We've done it hundreds of times when it's been one of us held prisoner..." Actor stated firmly as the idea began to appeal to him. "Why not these fifteen hostages?" He paused and gave Garrison an expectant look. He felt the tight fist of fear ease from his gut when he saw the growing light of possibility in his friend's eyes.

"Might work," Craig said, licking at his dry lips, "but it's going to take one hell of a con."

He gave Actor a hard look, but the conman just barked out a short burst of laughter and stated firmly, "That's my speciality."

"We've got about seven hours," Garrison stated, glancing down at his watch. Then, looking at the others, he asked, "If you're agreeable, that is?" This was not a mission; he could not expect them to risk their lives in this venture. He knew that Actor was with him, and was almost certain that Chief would follow him to hell and back, but the others.... He threw them an expectant look.

"Ah... what the hell? At least we know where we stand with you," Casino said grudgingly, before he broke into a wide smile.

"It took us long enough to get you trained just right, Warden, I for one don't plan to start with another lieutenant," Goniff retorted, before he ducked the gentle fist that Casino threw his way.

Garrison would not have been able to put a name to the surge of emotion that welled within him at that moment, but its glow kept him warm for the remainder of the night as they carefully planned their attack upon the building which held the hostages.

***

Four hours later and all was in readiness. They had 'liberated' some clothes and a vehicle, and were now waiting just outside the small town's perimeters. The mayor's house had been taken over by the Gestapo, and the prisoners were being held in the cellar - if the information they had received from the partisans was correct.

"Ready, Actor?" Garrison asked as he straightened the German SS major's uniform. It was a tight fit, but not too uncomfortable; at least he would be able to move freely if the need arose. As he spoke, he glanced about at the others: Actor was dressed as an SS colonel and Chief as his driver, with Casino and Goniff portraying normal foot soldiers. They had encountered the entourage as they made their way toward the small town. After checking the papers on the dead men, Actor had discovered that the colonel had been called in from Rijeka to look into the local situation after the attack... its timing could not have suited them better.

"Casino, Goniff," Garrison suddenly said, moving toward the other men and motioning for Chief to accompany him. As they pulled together, he explained, "Chief, once you've dropped us off I want you to go in search of a lorry or van to carry the fifteen hostages in. Casino, you and Goniff keep a sharp eye out in front, in case our little con is discovered and we need to make a quick escape." He paused before adding, "If you get the chance to take out some of the vehicles... then do so."

The three men in question nodded, before Chief asked, concerned, "What about you and Actor having some backup?"

Garrison took a deep, steadying breath and considered the other's words, knowing that going in without sufficient backup was dangerous - and in some cases could be fatal. Then, dredging up a smile, he reached out and gripped the Indian's shoulder, offering more faith in the plan than he actually felt as he commented, "Hopefully we'll be in and out before they realise that we're there."

The look the three men threw informed him in no uncertain terms just what they thought of that comment. He suddenly offered them a bright smile and added with growing confidence, "This is going to work." It was a statement of fact, and he waited until he got a smile in return from each of his men. Then he spun about and headed towards the car, saying, "Okay, let's get this con on the road."

***

The town was silent under the blanket of deepest night as they slowly pulled to a halt outside the Gestapo's headquarters. Moving with the air of one born to authority, Actor ordered his men to remain outside as he and Garrison marched firmly into the building, straight past the sleep-bedraggled soldiers who stood to attention to allow them to pass.

"Major Hoffman is asleep at the moment," spluttered the night duty officer, a major, as he leapt to attention at their approach. He saluted, waiting at attention while Actor removed his gloves and slowly looked the man up and down.

"I understand that you are holding certain locals... hostage," Actor began, his attention firmly fixed on the young man who stood before him.

"That's right, Colonel. They are to be shot in the morning - at dawn." He spoke the words with obvious eagerness, and both Actor and Garrison had to fight down growing horror at the pleasure the thought of those deaths gave the young man.

Garrison kept his eyes open as the conman began to weave his web of lies. He had to admire Actor; he was as cool and calculating as any professional. Turning slightly, Craig saw another two soldiers appear at the end of the corridor and took them into his evaluation of men to be taken out if trouble arose.

"I want to see them... now," Actor stated firmly, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette and impatiently waiting while Garrison leapt forward to light it.

"But... but..." the young man spluttered, "I'll have to contact Major Hoffman. He will have to be informed," he stated firmly, reaching for the telephone.

Garrison stepped forward smoothly and rested a hand over the receiver before it could be raised, advising in a sweet tone, "I do hope that Major Hoffman is an understanding superior..." he glanced meaningfully at his watch. "After all, it is four-fifteen in the morning."

The officer swallowed hard at that thought and glanced at his hand, which had halted on its way to the phone, uncertainty written across his face as he considered his options.

"I will speak to Major Hoffman in the morning, at a more reasonable hour," Actor slipped in smoothly. "After all, the man has done a remarkable job of killing the natives on behalf of the fatherland."

Although the words were spoken with a unique dryness, the German soldier didn't seem to realise, taking the compliment at face value. "Major Hoffman is a very efficient and loyal officer," he stated arrogantly. "We are all proud to work under him."

"An officer who needs his well-earned sleep," Garrison put in for good measure, smiling with open friendliness at the younger man, who basked in the glowing warmth.

"Of course," the young major commented. Moving from behind the desk, he motioned forward, saying, "If you'd like to follow me...?" He began to lead them toward the back of the house. "We were lucky to capture these peasants - they were making for the hills, no doubt to join up with the rest of their inbred dogs."

Garrison and Actor locked glances and the lieutenant gently motioned his head to indicate the two soldiers at the end of the hall; they would have to be taken care of when they came back up the stairs.

The German officer opened the door that led to the cellar and motioned for them to precede him. "Why the interest in the hostages, anyway?" he asked in a polite, interested tone.

Actor began to spin a tale of an informer, useful to the Germans, having been picked up in the sweep, and they wanted to extract him before the others were shot in the morning. "He has proved himself useful in the past," Actor commented, and both noticed the small start of confusion that the young officer gave.

"I don't think there were any men in the group, Colonel," the man advised slowly, a slight hint of doubt beginning to colour his tone.

"No matter," Actor answered, swiftly waving the words aside. "I might as well check while I'm here."

"I suppose so," the officer said, his slight fears allayed by the other's tone of non-interest. "Here we are," he finished as they reached the bottom of the stairs and two more guards came to attention outside a large wooden door. "We removed the wine before we placed them in there," the young man explained, indicating boxes of wine that littered the small corridor. "Didn't want them to enjoy their last night," he added with a cruel twist of his lips.

"No..." Actor began, feeling the swell of hatred for the young officer well within him.

"Now," Garrison snapped in English, and within seconds the young officer and the two guards lay dead at their feet. It was a knife display that Chief would have been proud of.

"I have rarely enjoyed killing someone so much," Actor said dispassionately as he wiped his bloodstained blade upon the uniform of the dead German officer.

"Actor," Garrison snapped, shocked at the force with which the conman had sliced the other's throat. "Look for the keys," he spoke again as he searched the bodies of the dead men.

"Here," Actor said, throwing the keys over toward his friend and waiting impatiently as the door was unlocked. The light which dribbled into the small, enclosed room revealed a small cluster of women and children who looked at them with utter fear in their pale faces. The sight pulled Garrison up short and he had to swallow his emotions as he asked, "Does anyone speak American?"

A few tense seconds passed before a small, weak, heavily-accented voice answered, "Yes." A small boy pushed himself to the fore and continued in a firmer tone, "My father dealt with the Americans... he taught me the words." He could have been no older than twelve, but he stood straight and held his head high. Garrison noted that he was also shaking with the effort of containing his fears.

"Tell the others that we are here to rescue them." Garrison spoke swiftly and within a few minutes he had explained the plan, the boy passing it on word by word to the women whose faces turned from total despair to hope. "Now, we've got to get moving, but you'll have to stay behind us." He started to repeat the words, but the boy shook his head as if annoyed and waved him to silence as he hurriedly translated. Garrison shot Actor a swift glance and noted the smile the boy's actions had wrought.

"I think that the Germans might have a fight on their hands if all the partisans are as brave as this little boy," Actor quietly commented with a smile.

"All right," the boy stated firmly. "They understand and will remain behind me." Although his tone was heavily-accented, it was clearly understood by the two men.

"Right," Garrison said, moving towards the stairs that led out of the cellar.

Once he reached the top he slowly opened the door, his gun ready as he checked the hallway. The two guards were still at the end of the corridor. Slipping the gun back into its holster, he removed his knife and hid it up his uniform sleeve before he motioned for Actor to wait, then he stepped out into the corridor and casually strolled toward them. Lifting a hand he asked for a cigarette, which one of the soldiers hurried to supply - he was, after all, dressed as an officer.

Lighting the cigarette, he took a long, deep drag and let the smoke settle inside his lungs before he commented on the temperature for the time of year. The soldiers looked at each other, but agreed that it was pleasantly mild. As he smoked, he paced about the hall, casually moving behind the two guards. As he reached the back of one of them, he slipped the knife out and buried it deep in his back. Before the man's knees had even begun to buckle, he had the other man's head in a deadly lock and twisted it viciously until he was rewarded with a loud popping sound, the body going limp in his grasp. He let it slip to the ground and raced up to Actor, who had moved forward at the first sign of attack.

The front door opened under their hands and, peering out, Garrison saw that Casino and Goniff had taken out the two guards who had been on duty outside the building, and there was Chief at the wheel of a large truck. Swiftly the hostages were loaded into it, Casino and Goniff helping the women and lifting in the children, while Garrison and Actor kept watch. Soon the lorry revved into life.

"Goniff, Casino," called Garrison, motioning for them to get into the back of the van. Both knew to keep their weapons ready - they were still a long way from safety. The two men jumped to obey, and Garrison headed toward the front of the truck. Actor was before him, and he impatiently watched as the conman scrambled into the front of the truck beside the Indian.

"Get moving," he cried as he swung up into the cabin. Even as he spoke, a burst of weapon's fire pierced the air behind them and he gasped in shocked agony, almost letting go of his hold upon the truck as sudden pain flared across his side. He would have fallen backwards out of the truck as it jerked away if Actor had not acted with lightning speed and, grabbing hold of his jacket, yanked him up and into the truck with brute force.

He sprawled against the conman, barely keeping conscious as he gasped deeply in agony at the pain radiating sharply along his left side. He could hear the ensuing gun battle between his men and the fast-awaking Germans, but it seemed to come from a distance. He blinked owlishly, gritting his teeth against the raw torment as he felt the swaying of the truck as Chief drove at a breakneck speed away from the town.

Suddenly they were out of the town and on open country road, the firing from behind them becoming more sporadic as they moved along the route with speed; now all they had to do was outrun the vehicles that would be sent after them. He must have voiced his concern, because Actor's face swam into view, creased with concern as he answered firmly, "Chief took care of their vehicles... hopefully," he continued, as he tried to make Garrison comfortable. "How bad is it...? Here... let me see." As he spoke, he gently began to pull Craig across his lap to get a better view of the wound. With shaking fingers, he pulled and cut Garrison's uniform out of the way to get a better look at the ragged laceration that seeped an alarming amount of blood over the lieutenant's form.

Garrison gasped sharply at the action, before he tumbled into the waiting arms of unconsciousness. His last conscious memory was of Chief's shocked expression as he tried to drive at a frantic pace and keep an eye on what Actor was doing.

***

Garrison weaved his way back to consciousness slowly; it was like fighting up through a thick layer of cotton wool. He seemed to be floating there, hearing words spoken above him, but was unable to let anyone know he was awake or able to move. It was his need for water that finally drove him to open his eyes and gasp for the required liquid. It was immediately supplied and a damp cloth was wiped gently across his burning face. It felt good, and he wanted to just slip back into the welcoming arms of sleep, but a thought kept nagging at him and he finally realised that he was concerned about the fate of the hostages.

"What... happened to... the hostages?" he finally gasped. His voice sounded surprisingly rough and weak, even to his own ears.

Chief smiled down at him, his relief evident. He had been the one to supply the water and the cooling cloth, which he used to wipe Garrison's sweat-drenched face and neck even as he explained. "We've just got back from taking them to the partisans... in the hills," he said softly - his words didn't describe the fear he had felt when they had had to leave the unconscious Garrison with Goniff, in a barely-hidden cave they had found, while they continued up into the hills to get the women and children to safety.

"How bad?" Garrison gasped, wanting to know about his wound, trying to lift his hand and reach his side where the bullet had struck.

Chief gently prevented him from moving, saying, "It's not too bad - bullet went right through. Actor says it missed anything important, but you did lose a fair amount of blood." He paused as he remembered the flow of the substance over the truck. The Indian had truthfully believed the man was bleeding to death by the time they had pulled off the road.

"You gave Chief quite a scare," Actor commented, coming up to stand behind the man, then - seeing the glare this earned him from the Indian - he hastened to add, "Along with the rest of us, I might say."

"What... about... pick up?" Garrison asked, his voice slurring but wanting to change the subject, knowing how embarrassed the Indian got when his concern for the other members of the team was brought into question.

Actor glanced at his watch. "It's only about a mile or two to the east. Don't worry, everything's going as planned. Why don't you try to get some more rest, and we'll wake you when we're ready to leave."

"You... all did... good," Garrison said as he felt the weight of his injury pulling him toward the arms of unconsciousness. "I'm really... proud... of...."

He was asleep before he could finish the sentence, so he didn't see the look of deep satisfaction that settled over each of his men upon hearing those words.

THE END

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