Warning: there is swearing.
I don't own Inglorious Basterds at all… wish I did, though.
Bugs… damn these bugs. Even though she has lived most of her life in the outdoors, Gabrielle still had issues with the forest fauna. She despised mosquitoes with all her heart. Especially if they were tickling her nose when she was asleep… wait, what? Gabrielle felt pounds on her chest and panted a little only to find out that only her nose was uncovered. She fixed the cloth she dared to call "mask" and raised her head to see if anyone woke up.
"Just Wicki" she thought. He was smoking a cigarette while sitting on top of the truck's hood. She turned her back against him and tried to sleep once again. After that horrible nightmare, she knew that she had to be extremely careful always. This time she would prove herself to everyone, especially her parents. She knew that her mission would've made her parents proud. She will honor them.
What would've happened if that little mosquito had not landed on her nose and a guy walked next to her and noticed that? A little insect saved her identity from being discovered. It may sound exaggerated but it was a great deal to her.
She repressed a sob. Remembering her parents was hard and when she was nostalgic she could get loud sometimes. With her sleeve she wiped her tears.
She sniffed her shirt and thought that she needed a bath urgently. The sun was starting to come out slowly and the air felt cooler.
"Avant soir, Gabrielle, avant soir (Before evening, Gabrielle)" she thought to herself. If she was lucky, Aldo would want to ambush a German patrol in an area around 3 miles from here. There was a lake nearby and she would get the bath she desired for so long. No more "bathing" with her clothes on.
Her potential sleep time was gone thanks to her messy mind. She stood up and headed to prepare breakfast for the guys. After all, it has been her habit.
"Listen, boys! Remember that our reputation has been compromised by a crazy French gal. We don't know if she ran to another patrol or whatever, but if you see her, bring her" announced Aldo. Gabrielle gulped and Stiglitz smirked at Aldo's order. She could only imagine what was going on in his mind.
"We need to keep moving also, so I suggest that one group will go with Sgt. Raine to the nearest village to get more provisions and the other group will prepare the camp site with me" ordered Donny.
"Oh please! Pick me to go to the village! I could have really decent bath there" she thought.
"This half will go with me and the other will go with Donny" motioned Aldo with his hands. Gabrielle was in Donny's group and for her surprise, Wicki and Stiglitz too.
Merde, she thought, why are these Krauts always near me?
She grunted, walked towards her post and started to pick up her stuff. This was very ridiculous. How long can she stand up being in the presence of two Germans?
When she looked at them she could feel a knot in her throat. She despised them more than mosquitoes. Her deepest wishes were to dismember them and watch them bleed to death. A malicious grin was formed under the black bandana that covered her nose and mouth. But at the same time, she feared for her life every time she closed her eyes. She feared being killed in her sleep just like in one of Stiglitz's stories about how he killed a Gestapo officer. Her nightmares haunted her even in daytime.
She finished packing, loaded her bag onto one of the trucks and got on the passenger seat. She rolled the window up so she could get a moment of silence for herself.
With all the noise, I feel I could go mad, she thought while massaging her temples. Loud knocks on the window startled her and she turned her head to see who was destroying her moment of peace. It was Stiglitz.
He stared at her with his steel eyes and his cold expression. She rolled down the window.
"What the heck do you want, Stiglitz?" asked Gabrielle annoyed.
"Donny says we go on the other truck, dumbass" responded Stiglitz. With that said, he walked away. Gabrielle sighed and tilted her head backward.
She got out of the car, picked her bag and headed to the other truck.
While Aldo's truck went to the village, Donny's truck went to the new camp site. The trip was rather boring and Gabrielle was not that interested in the chat the boys were having. She closed her eyes and tilted her dark grey newsboy cap forward so she could get a little nap.
The truck parked and the basterds started to unload it. Donny threw a bag to a napping Gabrielle roughly.
"Wake up, lazy ass!" shouted Donny. Gabrielle massaged face lightly and cussed under her breath.
Setting the camp site was exhausting and it was almost 4 pm. The tents began to be a pain in the ass for her. She was having trouble lifting it by herself. The Basterds watched in amusement at how pathetic Gabrielle looked. They laughed at each time her tent fell.
"Come on guys! Let's cut it off" said Donny between laughs, "Stiglitz, give a hand to Tony"
Hugo raised an eyebrow at this order. He fixed Gabrielle's tent with an annoyed face and shooking his head. When he finished, he walked towards his post without letting Gabrielle say "thanks". Jerk
"Alright guys, I was counting our provisions and looks like the two last bean cans are out. We have to wait for Aldo to come with more provisions but it looks like it will be until dusk" said Donny.
Gabrielle recalled the night when she ate those two cans of beans secretly. She was awfully hungry at the moment and a little nostalgic.
"In the meantime", continued Donny, "we'll go into the forest to hunt our dinner."
The guys got their rifles and ventured into the forest. They were divided in pairs and Gabrielle decided to stick with Wicki. After all, he was kind with her.
They walked in silence with only the sound of birds and twigs breaking under their feet. The air was cool and the ground was covered with dry leaves. She remembered that she needed to change her bandage and wash her wounded hand once more; good thing that it did not get infected.
"Uh, Monsieur Wicki… May I ask you something?" asked Gabrielle just to break the ice.
"Sure"
"What brought you here with these… American dogs?" she asked unsure. Her French accent was still notable. He silently sighed.
"I got a nasty experience back in Austria at the hands of a Nazi colonel. I'm a Jew in Nazi territory. Do the math" he said, "I heard rumors of an American brigade that would come to exterminate Nazis; why not join them?" he continued.
"Oh I see." There was another moment of silence. They stopped for a moment and leaned on a tree.
Wicki took out a cigarette, put it in his lips and lit it. Gabrielle turned her back against him. The smoke was unbearable. She inspected her surroundings; everything seemed calm. She took a few steps forward, climbed a big rock in front of them and found something surprising. About 20 meters away there was a lake.
She smiled with excitement. For once she could bathe properly. But how could she get rid of Wicki?
"We should get going. The sun will set soon and we haven't found anything yet" Wicki announced as he threw his cigarette and stomped it. Gabrielle climbed down the rock.
"Uh Wicki, I think we should split up so we, um, can hunt better, don't you think?" said Gabrielle nervously. He gave her a skeptical look.
"No. The group has already been separated enough" he commented.
"But we should set traps or something. Ooh! I know!" she said. She took out of her pocket a piece of bread she had saved in case of emergency and handed it to Wicki.
"What do you want me to do with this?" he asked.
"It can be bait for the animals. There has to be a goddamn duck somewhere. This!" She replied. She turned to a bush covered with what seemed like wild berries. She took a handful of them and gave Wicki some.
"I think rabbits or deer eat this shit. I don't really know if it's poisonous so don't eat it" She reckoned.
"And what will you supposed to do?" he asked sternly.
"Well I-I, um, on our way here I saw a tiny burrow where I think, uh, there is a family of hares" she replied.
"Why do you have to go alone?" he asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"Parce que… since I'm smaller than you I could easily fit my arms in the burrow and grab those hares. You would just be standing there doing nothing when you could do something useful, like setting traps" she replied. Wicki kept his skeptical look.
"Do as you say, but don't come back empty-handed. We shall meet in this spot again in two hours or so. Got it?" He uttered.
"Oui" she replied.
"Good" With that said, Wicki turned and walked away. When he was out of her eyesight, Gabrielle started to run towards the lake.
Yeah fuck them. Those assholes should break their backs looking for dinner while I can calmly bathe and relax a little, she thought. She reached the lake and kneeled down.
Making fun of me even though I help them… Thankless bastards, she thought.
She took her cap, goggles, mask and gloves off and touched the chilly water.
"Il a dit deux heures? (He said two hours?)" she thought loudly. She searched in her gray slacks and took out a golden pocket watch.
"Oui, oui. Je crois qu'il est assez de temps. (Yes, yes. I think there is enough time)" she said to herself.
She took off the worn ribbon that tied her hair and began to undress. Being completely naked became a forbidden luxury for her but she did not bring a spare with her. An ugly scar on her abdomen became her permanent torment but "Antoine" helped her try to forget her physical curse. After many months, she was completely naked.
She entered the chilly water slowly and gasped softly just as the water reached her thighs. With determination, she took a deep breath and sunk completely. The cold was stinging her face but it was great to feel the clean water surrounding her. She came back to the surface and gasped.
The cool water and wind may cause her a cold but she didn't care at all. She embraced the moment of peace. Her moment. She swam short distances and tried to keep her splashes silent.
Il y a un homme… Il y a un homme que m'aime… (There is a man… There is a man that loves me…)
She massaged her scalp and hair tenderly. Her mind became clouded with thoughts, memories, old photos and songs. She cupped water with two hands and splashed it all over her head.
Yes. Wash away my sins. Wash away my scars. Wash it all away. Then she sunk completely once more.
Wicki had finally caught two hares with his improvised trap. It only passed an hour but he decided it would be good to come to the spot he agreed with Antoine and keep an eye on him.
As he approached the big rock and leaned against it, he heard footsteps coming into his way. He gripped his rifle as tension built up in his head. The steps felt closer and closer. Wicki turned violently to the side.
Make me clean. Make me pure. Make it all better again. Make me forget.
It was Stiglitz. He drew his handgun quickly and pointed it at Wicki instinctively. They chuckled for a moment and put away their weapons.
"What are you doing here alone, Wicki?" Stiglitz asked. Wicki motioned to the dead hare at his feet.
"Hunting dinner, what about you?" Wicki said.
"I see but weren't you supposed to be with escargot face? You know he is not to trust" said Stiglitz as he kneeled down and inspected the hares.
"Let time decide. If we smell something suspicious about him, I'll spend no time to have his French throat smeared on my blade" uttered Wicki with a grin.
"Not if I do it first" commented Stiglitz. He laughed. Splashes were heard from the distance.
Wicki and Stiglitz searched with their heads the source of the peculiar sound.
"What on earth…? Where is that coming from?" asked Wicki. Stiglitz approached to the rock Wicki leaned against and they both saw the lake in the distance.
"What is that?" asked Stiglitz.
"I can't tell. Let's move closer. It could be ducks, eh?" replied Wicki.
Why did you do that, my love? She did not want to cry. She just couldn't take it anymore. She had to focus on her mission… oh merde, combien de temps il y a passé? (how long has it passed?)
Wicki and Stiglitz were behind a tree because what they thought was ducks turned out to be even better: a woman bathing in the lake.
Gabrielle combed her hair with her fingers softly when she heard some noises behind her. She turned slowly.
"Wait. Isn't that…?" said Wicki.
"She looks just like… her" said Stiglitz with disdain. He locked his gaze with hers.
I'm so fucked
1940
"Maman, est-ce que Dieter a téléphoné?" (Mom, has Dieter called?) asked Gabrielle.
"Pour la troisième fois, non" (For the third time, no) answered her mother as she washed dishes. Gabrielle went back to the living room and sat next to Sophie. It was already dark and it was raining outside.
"Je ne sais pas pourquoi tu veux lui voir. Il est un monstre" (I don't know why you want to see him. He's a monster) said Sophie.
"Sophie, pour quoi dis-tu ça?" (why do you say that?) asked Gabrielle.
"Parce que… je ne lui fais pas confiance" (because… I don't trust him) she said while sipping from her mug.
"Mais pourquoi? C'est parce qu'il est un Nazi officiel?" (But why? Is it because he is a Nazi official? ) Gabrielle said. Sophie gave her a skeptical look. She sighed.
"Tu es jalouse (You are jealous) Gabrielle said. Sophie was shocked.
"Jalouse de quoi ? Jalouse d'aimer un monstre ? Ah oui!" (Jealous of what? Jealous of loving a monster? Ah yes!) Sophie said sarcastically and annoyed.
"Il n'est pas un monstre! Il est un chevalier" (He is not a monster! He is a gentleman) Gabrielle reckoned.
"Pour quoi tu ne peux pas comprendre? Il est dangereux" (Why can't you understand? He's dangerous) Sophie said holding Gabrielle's shoulders. Gabrielle shoved Sophie and headed to the doorway.
"Mensonges! Je vais voir Dieter. Je veux lui étonner" (Lies! I'm going to see Dieter. I want to surprise him) Gabrielle stated as she left. Sophie looked helpless.
"Adonai, aidez Gabrielle, s'il vous plait. Aidez-nous" (Adonai, help Gabrielle, please. Help us) Sophie pleaded between sobs.
Gabrielle arrived at the German base which was not that far from her home. For him, she was willing to walk a good distance. She greeted the guards at the entrance and asked where Dieter's office was. They pointed to her the way and she followed. She entered his office silently but she was disappointed to see that he was not there.
His office was really cozy and neat. Her eyes searched for the details of his office: arranged books in the bookshelf (apparently alphabetically), exquisite paintings hanging on his walls, the swastika flag hanging behind his desk, photos of him with Hitler on a side of his desk, sheets of paper piled and no apparent hint of dust.
Her eyes landed on a curious object that was next to the pile of sheets of paper. It was a golden pocket watch. She grabbed it curiously and examined it.
The moment was cut off by the muffled sound of a shriek. Gabrielle was startled and searched with her head for the source of that horrible sound. She got out slowly from Dieter's office and followed the hall. It didn't pass a minute when she heard another shriek. She reached a half-opened door and peeked.
Dieter was giving his back and smoking a cigarette. He wore a white wife beater, black slacks with suspenders at his sides, and slick hair, as always. On his other hand, Gabrielle saw something that terrified her: a bloody whip. She felt something for Dieter: fear.
A/N: Man, that was a long chapter. Reviews are welcome! :D
Oh! By the way, this chapter was inspired by this soundtrack at youtube ( watch?v=KLthrgbPoxY ) and by no means the title is related to this story… or is it? :D