his own guy. The other two got away. The one with the gun went up the hill. I am going after him. You need to track the other one down before he gets to a radio. What are your plans for these two?”
Without saying a word, Sergeant Cannon led all but Jeff away from the unconscious Germans. Em did not look back.
Sergeant Cannon said they had to disable this weapon and get its location to the Allies. The technology of one of these things was much more advanced than the Allies had thought, he said. Philip said he and Captain Murphy would get back to the truck and use the radio while Sergeant Cannon and Em and Jack took care of the Germans.
Two hours later, all six men were standing beside their truck with quite different looks on their faces. Jack was so full of adrenaline he could not calm down. Jeff was quiet and looked deep in thought. Captain Murphy was talking to Sergeant Barnes in the truck again, and Colonel Roth and Sergeant Cannon had their heads together discussing their situation. Em felt the overwhelming need to write but resisted. He knew when he got the chance to write, he would probably edit some of the things that had just happened.
When Sergeant Cannon had tracked down the frightened German who had fled the launch site, he never even tried to surrender. This made what they had to do a little easier. Em still had not had to fire his weapon or use his combat training against an enemy. He was not quite sure of how this made him feel.
Jeff did not even need to explain what had happened with him and the shooter. To all their amazement, no one else had showed up. Something else had to be happening. The Germans would not be so careless with their weapons unless they had something else going on.
The seven of them climbed back into the truck. Colonel Roth radioed their location. Em knew the launcher was still operational, but maybe the army could get to it and either destroy it or take the rocket and learn more about the technology.
Em was still sitting in his bunk thinking about that night and the following two days.
The truck made its way toward the monastery. They did not encounter any resistance. When the monastery opened its doors and the truck drove through, the monks began to work. One directed Sergeant Cannon to drive the truck into one of the large buildings while the others directed the airmen into the cathedral in the center of the compound. They were hurried into the back of the cathedral and through a long narrow passageway. To Em, it felt like he was descending. He could feel the temperature rising. The cathedral had felt cold and damp, but now he felt dry and cool. He was not uncomfortable.
Before he passed through the door, he smelled the bread. His stomach began to roar. The monks led them into a small room with one table and some books on one wall. The food was already on the table. The seven of them didn’t even wait to be asked. They just started grabbing food. Em did not hesitate. He had not had fresh bread in over two months.
The rear door opened, and a man walked in. Colonel Roth stood up and wiped his mouth with his right hand while his left held on to the turkey leg. He looked around at the rest of them and indicated that they should rise. Sergeant Cannon and Jeff were the first to arise, followed by Em and Jack. Sergeant Barnes and Captain Murphy were slow to get up.
The colonel wiped his hands and cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, King Leopold the Third.” The colonel looked uncomfortable. He did not hold his hand out to be shaken. He held it in an awkward position.
The king approached the colonel and held out his right hand. “Nice to meet you, Colonel Roth.”
Em swallowed the hunk of bread in his mouth and put down the fork he held in his hand. He looked around the room at the faces of his friends and realized that the team he was on was a good one. The other Americans all were standing politely as each of them waited to be introduced. Em looked at the king, and he saw the haggard look on his face. The war had certainly taken its toll on the young king, but Em could still feel a royal presence. The king looked tired, as if he had been on the go for an eternity. The king labored through the introductions and then immediately turned toward the door he had entered through. He quietly asked the colonel to join him. Colonel Roth walked through the door behind the king. No one else followed.
Sergeant Barnes sat back down and grabbed an entire turkey breast. “A king. He don’t look like no king.” The sergeant needed to wipe his face.
“Shut up, Barnes,” Captain Murphy said as he sat back down and resumed eating.
“I’m just saying, he sure as hell don’t look like no king. What the hell is a king for anyway?” Sergeant Barnes was still stuffing food into his mouth. Em thought that as long as there was food on the table, Sergeant Barnes would probably not get up again, king or no king.
The six of them ate until they were full and still. Colonel Roth had not come back through the door.
Sergeant Cannon stood up from the table and began to pace. “I got a bad feeling about this place.” He looked at Jeff, and the two of them exchanged a look.
“Everybody, up! Get your gear and get ready. It’s too quiet around here. Monastery or not, I don’t like it.”
Sergeant Cannon walked toward the rear door, and Jeff said, “Wait a minute. I hear someone coming.”
Em did not hear a thing. He looked around the room and saw that they were alone. None of the monks was still in the room. Sergeant Cannon tried the door. It was locked. He banged on it four or five times and did not hear anything on the other side. Jeff sprinted to the other door and opened it. The six of them assumed their usual positions and exited the room. The only possible way to go was the same way they had entered. The long tunnel-like hallway definitely was ascending. Em felt his muscles in his legs tighten. Jeff was leading the way. He did not even have his weapon out. He searched the long corridor for any other possible way to exit but never slowed down at all. Captain Murphy was practically walking backward as he watched over his shoulder for anyone following.
When they reached the rear door of the cathedral, Jeff put his ear next to the door. He once again held his finger up to his lips. Sergeant Cannon made his way around Sergeant Barnes, and Jack and squatted next to Jeff. “I think we ought to go back. We don’t know what’s on the other side, but we know which way the colonel went. I really don’t think the king is up to anything, but these monks, well, I don’t know. I know how to get through that door.”
Sergeant Cannon looked at Jeff and the rest and said, “I think he’s right. Philip won’t let them take him too far. Murph, let’s go.”
Before Em had turned completely around, Jeff passed him and was in front of Captain Murphy at once. He said, “Let me go in first, sir.” Captain Murphy stepped aside without making a sound. Jeff took off down the tunnel.
Em passed the captain, and so did Jack and Sergeant Barnes.
When Sergeant Cannon caught up to the captain, he said, “I got this, Murph. Why don’t you stay up front with Em and Jack? Somebody needs to keep an eye on Jack. That boy is capable of anything.”
Captain Murphy said, “No problem. I just wanted to tell you that the colonel don’t have his gun. He gave it to me when the king asked him to follow him.” The captain turned and went back to the front of the line.
Jeff was already at the door to the small dining room. When he entered, three monks were clearing the food from the table. They did not act startled. The other five followed Jeff into the room. All of them had a gun in their hand except for Jeff. The monks did not react to the guns either.
“Where did he take him?” Sergeant Cannon was speaking. All three monks stopped clearing the table and stood still.
“We are sorry,” the monk in the middle spoke slowly with a heavy accent. “The king must remain here. We have to keep him inside. We have no choice.”
“If he’s not going with us, then what the hell are we doing here?” Sergeant Cannon’s neck was beginning to show signs of bulging. “I don’t like being led around. Take me to him now. I don’t give a damn whether he goes with us or not. You tell me where the colonel is right now, or one of you is going to get hurt.”
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