Smoke

By: AliasCWN

Epilogue

Colonel von Ziegler sat in his chair with his injured leg elevated as he read the reports pouring in from the previous night. Both American prisoners were gone. The briefcase was gone along with a lot of important papers from his safe. His private car, his pride and joy, had been blown up. His fuel, ammunition, and most of his armored fleet had gone up in smoke. His base had been invaded and he himself had been wounded. All this had been done, not by a superior force, but by a mere four men. Four seemingly ordinary men.

He knew for certain that it had been the Rat Patrol. After he had been freed and the doctor had treated his wound, he had checked the faces burned into his memory against the pictures in the files of the four man unit. There was no doubt in his mind at all.

He read the reports again. Not one man could be found who had seen any of the commandos. Not unless you could count those who had watched two soldiers escort his prisoners across the base early in the morning.

He recalled Captain Dietrich's description of the elusive team. Daring. Unorthodox. Determined. He had certainly seen all that and more in the two he had met. Fair and not unnessarily cruel. He had seen that too. He rubbed his injured leg and remembered the sergeant's gentleness as he had bandaged it before leaving.

What was it the Captain had said? "It was like trying to catch smoke in your bare hands." The Colonel sipped a glass of brandy and read the reports again. Somehow, someway, those four men had defeated all of his carefully structured security measures, and done it completely undetected.

"Bring me Captain Dietrich!"

Captain Dietrich saluted sharply and stood stiffly in front of the Colonel after being delivered to his office.

"You were in the cells last night; did you see or hear anything when the prisoners escaped?"

"Like what Colonel? I heard them bring that drunken cook in and put him to bed. I fell asleep shortly after that." Dietrich stared straight ahead, letting silence follow his answer.

"I don't understand." The Colonel sighed. "How could four men enter this base, do so much damage and escape taking two other men with them and no one saw anything."

Dietrich remained silent but he was smiling inside.

"It makes no sense." Colonel von Ziegler continued. "Someone must have seen something. I sent patrols out, there are not even any vehicle tracks out there to show how they arrived and left."

Since he wasn't asked a question Dietrich offered no suggestions.

"Unnatural." The Colonel continued. "Very well Captain, you are free to go."

"Go Sir?"

"Yes, go, return to your unit. Return to your base and your command."

"But what about the investigation Sir?"

"Forget it Captain, it's over. I'll send my report to headquarters clearing you of all charges. In fact, after last night, I am even considering recommending you for a commendation. It's surprising really, how many convoys you do manage to get through considering what you are up against."

"Thank you Colonel."

"Yes, yes Captain." The Colonel waved him away. "Have my aide call your base and arrange for your driver to bring your car to pick you up. There are visitor's quarters in the next building that you can use to make yourself presentable." The Colonel picked up the reports and began to read them again.

Dietrich made arrangements to be picked up before looking for the visitor's quarters. Thinking about the Colonel, he smiled all the way to the showers. Tomorrow he could resume his pursuit of the Rat Patrol, today they had earned a rest.