The Problem With Prisoners Raid

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 1

The convoy was taken completely by surprise; they shouldn't have been. Many of their recent convoys had been hit in the same way, most by the same small Allied unit. The two small jeeps jumped the dune and barreled down on the unsuspecting convoy at a startling rate. Their 50 caliber machine guns spit a steady stream of high velocity bullets that devastated anything they hit, machine and human alike.

This attack went much the same as the others. The trucks exploded in spectacular fashion as the jeeps drove alongside. Each driver sought a way to escape the carnage but few were successful. Truck after truck fell victim to the Allied attack while the attackers seemed to be immune to the German bullets fired in return. The German soldiers fired at the fast moving vehicles and screamed in frustration as their bullets missed their mark. Their only accomplishment was to tear up the sand and use up ammunition.

Captain Anton Tieger shouted into his radio trying to rally his men. He watched helplessly as the casualties mounted and the moral of his men took a nosedive.

A gunner from one of his halftracks finally got in a lucky shot. His shell hit in front of one of the speeding jeeps and its driver did not have time to avoid the huge crater that suddenly appeared in front of him. The front wheel dropped into the hole just as the driver turned the wheel. The tiny jeep flipped onto its side and rolled, throwing the driver in one direction and the gunner in another.

The men in the other jeep saw the wreck and immediately rushed to rescue their teammates. As Captain Tieger watched the second jeep slid to a stop next to the tossed and shaken gunner. The gunner staggered to the other jeep and fell into the passenger seat. He saw the driver look around for his fallen counterpart only to drive away without him at a shout from the gunner in the rear. The three soldiers rode off into the desert leaving their last member behind.

The captain stepped from cover and rushed toward the jeep as his men surrounded the fallen Allied soldier.

The Allied soldier raised his hands above his head as the German soldiers surrounded him and pointed their weapons at him. He was still on the ground when Captain Tieger arrived. As the soldiers parted to allow the captain through the American turned his head to face him.

The officer considered the man before him. Calm despite the guns pointed at him, the soldier returned the look with obvious curiosity. The American was covered with sand as a result of his tumble from the jeep but he didn't appear to have any injuries. He was still seated but held his head high and met the captain's eyes boldly. With a word and a wave of his hand the captain ordered his men to move back and give the prisoner space. The prisoner watched the men step back and smiled. Without asking permission he rose slowly to his feet while keeping his hands away from his body. The careful way he moved suggested to the captain that he had been in this, or a similar, situation before. It was clear from his body language that he was signaling that he wasn't a threat.

Two of the German soldiers stepped forward to grab his arms while a third searched him for weapons. The prisoner offered no resistance as he was disarmed. As the soldiers released his arms and stepped away the prisoner ran his gaze around the circle of men surrounding him. The captain got the impression that the young soldier was not particularly worried about being taken captive. He seemed neither fearful nor arrogant, just quietly confident. When the soldiers around him relaxed slightly the prisoner took that as an indication that he could lower his hands. He watched his guards carefully to see how they would react.

Captain Tieger was about to speak to the prisoner when a blood- curdling scream drew everyone's attention. The soldiers turned to look toward a burning truck that lay on its side. The driver, trapped in the cab, had regained consciousness and realized his danger. As the others watched he tried to climb out of the overturned vehicle. He clawed at the door but he couldn't pull himself high enough to climb out of the window. Some of the drivers started toward him until someone yelled a warning about gasoline flowing toward the flames. All of the soldiers froze, acutely aware that the truck was going to blow up at any moment.

Suddenly the prisoner took off running toward the truck. One of the guards took a shot at him before the captain could order them to hold their fire. The bullet caught the prisoner in the side, staggering him before he caught his balance and continued toward the trapped driver.

The driver continued to struggle, kicking at the windows and screaming for help.

As the captain and his men watched the prisoner reached down and picked up a rock. He used it to smash the windshield. The glass shattered into jagged pieces but the driver ignored the sharp edges as he dove for freedom. The prisoner reached through the shattered windshield and helped pull the driver free when he got stuck.

There was blood on the prisoner's arm where he cut it on the glass but he ignored it to help the driver to his feet. He grabbed the driver by the arm and together they staggered away from the coming disaster.

The German soldiers rushed to help their fellow driver once the two men were clear of the burning truck. They were still too close when the gasoline exploded. The force of the blast knocked them all to the ground.

Captain Tieger watched as one by one his men regained their feet. The prisoner remained on the ground. The right side of his shirt was soaked with blood as well as his left arm. The captain called for his medic.