Chapter Eight
February 1 Evening
Drew, Dane, and Angelique walked around the building and looked at the halftrack. It was set up to haul troops, with a canopy over its bed. Drew checked out the cab while Dane and Angelique looked at the bed. There were three cases sitting there. Curious, Dane opened one of them. The box was full of silverware, jewelry, wedding rings, gilded picture frames, and other valuables. Surprised, Dane and Angelique stared at it. Dane quickly opened up the other two cases. The second was just like the first, but in the third one there were also a number of cloth bags. When Dane opened one of the bags, money spilled out.
“Well, won’tcha look at that?” said a voice behind them. They whirled around to see Zabronski and Webster looking at the wealth. The captain hurried from the cab and gaped at the open boxes, “Where did that come from?”
Angelique swayed, her face white. “Oh, those poor people!”
The others looked at her. “What do you mean?” asked Dane.
“This must be the loot from the Jews. The Gestapo rounded them up, and the rumor is that they were all killed.”
The others were stunned. “You mean they killed all of them, men, women and children?” Drew was incredulous.
“But yes,” Angelique nodded vehemently.
“So that’s why they are here, someone’s trying to make off with the loot,” Dane said slowly.
“Major Lindisl,” Angelique breathed and shivered. At their questioning looks she went on, “He is in charge of the Gestapo in this part of Tunisia. It is rumored that he personally oversaw the looting and murders,” she shivered again. “Oh,” she was startled as remembered something. “I heard one of the Germans mention Major Lindisl’s name.” She shivered for the third time.
Dane drew Drew aside, “Captain, I don’t like this. I would feel better if we left here now.”
Drew bit his lip indecisively, “I don’t know, Shaw. Angelique is on her last legs, we have shelter here and it is practically dusk. How much further could we go? I think we would be better off staying here for the night.”
Dane looked around, not liking the answer but not seeing an alternative either, “Yes, sir.” Then seeing a pick and shovel, he took them and handed them to Zabronski, “Here, have that Arab start digging graves, and I don’t want shallow ones!” He shut the cases and walked back and into the building, Angelique following him. Drew stared after them, he had noticed that everywhere the corporal went, Angelique was with him. “She sure is a good looker, isn’t she Captain?” Zabronski gave a sly grin. Drew cursed, “Get those graves dug!” and stalked off.
Inside the hut, Dane looked around. There was a kitchen area with a table in the main room, and a smaller room off of it with a door. He nodded to himself and motioned for Angelique to sit down. She collapsed onto a chair at the table. He gave her a critical look. The captain was right, she couldn’t go any farther. Captain Matthews came in just then and Dane nodded to him. He turned and saw a coffeepot on the fire and checked the contents. “Would you like some coffee?” he asked Angelique.
“Oui, Monsieur Shaw.”
“Dane, please,” he smiled encouragingly at her.
“Oui, Dane,” she gave a trembling smile back.
He poured her a cup and then held the pot up questioningly to the captain. Drew nodded and Dane poured him a cup also, and placed the cups on the table and they all sat down.
Drew cleared his throat, “How did you wind up here?”
Angelique shuddered, “I left Faid because the Boche took my house and was on my way to Sfax to see if I could stay with some acquaintances.”
“To Sfax?” Drew sat up straight. “Do you know Sfax?”
She gave him a puzzled glance, “I have been there a few times. Why, Monsieur Matthews?”
“Call me Drew,” after all if he can do it, so can I, Drew thought to himself. Angelique gave him a shy smile. Drew went on, “Have you heard of a café called Le Belle Francais?”
“Le Belle Francais?” she repeated, and then, “Oh, oh yes, I have been there once or twice. Why, mons…Drew?”
Drew leaned forward in his intensity, “I need to go to that café, could you take me there?”
Angelique drew back in horror, “Non, non, how could I lead you Americans into there? We would all be killed!” Her nerves were shot and she started shaking. Dane reached out and took her hand, which she grasped like a lifeline, “Captain, let’s wait until she’s rested before asking her any more, she’s had a bad day. Let her get a good rest tonight and talk to her in the morning.”
“Tonight,” she repeated, and then her eyes opened wide in terror, “They were, they were going to take turns at me tonight!” She howled and threw herself into Dane’s arms, sobbing hysterically. He wrapped his arms tenderly around her and murmured comforting sounds until her sobs quieted into hiccups. He raised her head and tenderly wiped her eyes with his handkerchief.
“Is that why they had you tied up,” Dane asked gently.
Angelique shuddered and nodded, “The one you killed, he was telling me what they were going to do to me. I tried to run away and they tied me up. They gagged me because they were tired of my screaming.” She explained how she had been captured.
Tielson came in just then, wiping his face, “It sure is hard work digging those holes in the stony soil.” Drew cleared his throat, “I’ll go take care of the bodies. Shaw, you and Tielson prepare supper,” and he left.
As Dane and Tielson bustled around preparing supper, Angelique drooped at the table, holding her cup of coffee in both hands. Dane had held her so tenderly both times she had flung herself into his arms, and yet she had felt the latent strength in his arms that made her feel so safe and secure. It had been a long time since she had felt that way. It also had not escaped her notice that was Dane, and not the captain, that had issued most of the orders. He had such an air of command about him that she had been shocked to discover that she was actually a little taller than he was. On the other hand, it had been so nice to converse in French with the good looking captain and not have to think up the English words when she was so tired. She closed her eyes and drooped some more.
When supper was ready the others were called in. Fredericks and Zabronski started for the same chair. Zabronski glared at Fredericks, and Fredericks chose another chair. They started to eat, but no one noticed that Dane briefly bowed his head before he started eating. When they were done, Dane indicated the Arab with his thumb, “What do we do with him?” he asked the captain. Drew looked at him blankly, “What do you mean, ‘what do we do with him?’ ”
“Do we take him with us, set him free, or what?”
Drew continued to look blank, “I, I don’t know.”
Dane looked at Angelique, “Do you know anything about these Arabs?”
“Jackals! They are jackals of the desert,” she spat. “They would sell their own mothers for a franc.”
Dane looked at the captain, “We can’t take him with us, can we?” Drew shook his head. Dane went on, “I know I can’t kill an unarmed prisoner.” Drew looked up with a startled expression, “Of course not!” he exclaimed, and then went on hesitantly, “I guess we’ll have to let him go. He can’t keep up with us on foot.”
Dane gave him an enigmatic look, and then asked, “Has anyone seen the camels?” Drew was puzzled by the question, but Fredericks said, “I’ve caught glimpses of them, but they are keeping their distance. I guess they don’t like our smell.” He laughed at his own joke.
Dane looked back at Drew, “Once we have gone he won’t have any trouble catching those camels and following us. I for one don’t fancy getting my throat slit in the middle of the night.” He gave a surreptitious wink to Drew. “Maybe we can leave him tied up when we leave in the morning for,” he paused, trying to think of a place not in the direction they were heading. “Kairouan,” Drew supplied, divining what Dane was getting at and naming a town to the north. They both noticed with satisfaction the Arab’s response while t
he others look puzzled and Angelique started to say, “But aren’t we…” Dane halted her with a glance, “We’re keeping that a secret for now. Tielson,” Dane addressed him, “take the prisoner to the other building and tie him up tight. Angelique, you can sleep in the other room, we’ll all sleep out here.”
Drew started to get angry at the orders being cast around and opened his mouth, but then he shut it. The corporal’s orders were logical, and to argue would only seem to make him look small. Still, he determined to have a private talk with him about who was in charge.
Angelique caught Dane’s arm, “Please, I am so scared,” she whispered. Dane patted her hand reassuringly, “I’ll sleep outside your door.” She smiled at him, rose and went into the room and closed the door.
Dane started to say something, stopped, and looked at the captain. He had noticed the look on his face when he had given out the last batch of orders. “Shall I set the guard, sir?” Drew shot him a look from narrowed eyes, but could see no evidence of mockery. “Go ahead, corporal.”
“Zabronski, you take the first watch, Webster the second, Fredericks the third and Tielson the fourth. Two hour watches, check the prisoner every half hour, stay outside and stay alert.”
When everything was done and the men were getting starting to bunk down, Dane pulled a Bible out of his pocket and started reading. Webster tittered, “Are you going to read us a sermon?” Dane gave him a level look, “Why, do you want one?” he asked calmly. Webster’s laugh died away as he looked at the others and saw no support. Fredericks and Tielson were used to their corporal’s habit, and Drew was surprised to see someone actually reading a GI issued Bible. Dane read for a few minutes, and then went and lay down in front of the Angelique’s door.
Before they fell asleep, four people had busy minds. Angelique thought of her hero, the man who had rescued her and of his tenderness. Dane thought of how she felt in his arms and how protective he felt towards her. Drew thought of how elegant and pretty she looked, and how he wished he chosen that building and rescued her instead of the corporal. Zabronski’s mind was full of the lust he had felt since he had first laid eyes on her, and he also thought of all that loot, and how it might wind up in his hands and far away from any retribution.
Georgi Zabronski was the son of Russian emigrants who had fled the turmoil in Russia after World War 1 had ended. His father would beat his wife and children when he was drunk, and he liked to drink. One night when Georgi was sixteen, his father came home drunk and started to hit him. Georgi, already big and strong for his age, suddenly had had enough. In a fit of rage he beat his father into a bloody pulp. Georgi took all the money in the house and left, never looking back.
He spent the next few years roaming about, stealing things and beating people up. Usually his large size would intimidate his victims, but if not his crushing blows would swiftly win any fistfight. But he was not all brawn and no brain, more often than not his cunning stratagems were successful, although he did suffer from the same failing that most crooks have; namely that they think they are smarter than honest people. If a woman caught his eye he wouldn’t rest until he had her; few were the women who escaped him.
This night Zabronski went outside to stand the first watch. He checked the prisoner and made sure his bonds were tight, and then made his way to the halftrack. He felt his way into the dark bed and fumbled with the case that held the money. With a ‘creak’ the lid lifted. By touch he found a bag and thrust his hand inside, taking a handful of paper notes and shoving them into his pocket.
He stopped. This was a pittance of what was here. He would need a plan to take the whole vehicle and what was in it. He put the money back and shut the lid and climbed back out. He tried to think of a way to hijack the halftrack. The captain he dismissed as rather weak and inept, the corporal could be handled, but he hesitated, there was something in Shaw’s eyes …nah, he shook his head, he could break the smaller man in half like a twig. But just to be on the safe side, maybe he should see if he could get some of the other men on his side. Afterwards, well, he had double-crossed others before. He spent the rest of his watch thinking about Angelique and how to get her into his power.
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