by Alexa Kang
19
In the thick forests deep in the Vosges, Operation Dogface was in full swing. Along with the Third Division, Anthony and his company had held their position while the 45th cleared the sectors around Brouvelieures, and the 36th launched an attack in the areas surrounding Bruyères. With German forces diverted, the true mission of Operation Dogface was about to begin. The Rock of Marnes would lead the Seventh Army's main offensive to push through the Vosges toward Saint-Dié and launch a surprise all-out attack along route N-420.
For Anthony and his strike team, their mission to capture Klaus was seamlessly incorporated into the plan.
"Go past Les Rouges-Eaux north of N-420," Colonel Callahan told Anthony when he gave Anthony the secret location of Klaus's whereabouts. "That's where his command post is. If he hasn't escaped yet, you'll find him there. Dennison and the rest of your company will take Highway D-7 and cut off his escape route. You and your strike team will go after him."
"Yes, sir." Anthony knew that this time, he had to succeed. When they had let Klaus get away back in Montélimar, his entire unit had had to take the fall for it.
"We've got him cornered," Callahan said. "Good luck, Captain. We're counting on you."
Anthony could feel the pressure mounting. The command thought they had taken all the necessary measures to capture the German major. They did not know the true extent of how shrewd Klaus could be. Anthony didn't blame them. One could not know what an extraordinary soldier Klaus was without dealing with him in person. Klaus had demonstrated he could turn a situation around in the most tenuous of circumstances. He had done it without blinking an eye. Whether he was under siege or captured, he always remained cool and calculating, and somehow always found a way to save himself.
"Captain Ardley. Pleasure to finally meet you." The way Klaus spoke, one might have thought he was meeting Anthony over dinner. He had thrown Anthony off guard by revealing that he had known all along about Anthony and his team's mission.
Not this time, Anthony made up his mind. The pressure to get Klaus didn't come only from command. He wanted to do it for Warren too. This time, Anthony swore, he would make Klaus answer for what he had done.
A light armored vehicle carrying the forward observers led the way as Anthony and the Orion strike team trekked up the steep hills. The low hum of their mortar vehicles followed not far behind. They weren't far from Klaus's headquarters now. Today, their target was within reach.
Along the way, Anthony looked out for the slightest rustle of leaves and the faintest crackle of tree branches. Here, they had to be cautious. The Vosges was Satan's fun house. In these forests, the slightest error could spell death for all of them.
They had come a long, treacherous way. The roads up the High Vosges followed along the Moselle River. The river diverged into canals, ditches, and streams that crisscrossed the mountain plains. Climbing up the mountains, they had waded through frigid water with ice frozen on their uniforms. And that was only the beginning.
For days, heavy rain poured, sometimes mixed with snow. Not a moment went by when they weren't freezing and wet. When they finally reached higher elevations and water was no longer there to torment them, the mountains doled out a new array of obstacles to perpetuate their misery. All the roads had become narrow and steep. Getting the tanks and mortar vehicles up the slopes had been an exercise in pure frustration. Sometimes, their convoy would go a long way up the paths, only to come to a dead end in the middle of nowhere. Other times, they would come upon large roadblocks of fallen trees, placed there intentionally by their enemy to obstruct their advance.
If their vehicles did pass the roads, there would be dense thickets of trees and shrubs to further test their will. Riding in the vehicles, the soldiers could not see through the trees and bushes to strike their targets. At the same time, the vehicles themselves would become easy targets for the enemy camouflaged in the foliage. So rather than the tanks protecting the infantry, the infantry had to spread out to patrol the surrounding area to protect the tanks from being ambushed.
The infantry soldiers on patrol had to be on constant lookout. Tripwires, snipers, machine guns, Panzers, and self-propelled armory were hidden everywhere, waiting for them. Danger came not only from the ground, but also from above. Without warning, machine gun bullets would shower down from the tops of the trees. The forests were filled with lethal hidden weapons and booby traps. One small erratic move was all it took to set them off.
For those who were lucky enough to survive through the forest, the landmines buried under the mountain plains would be there to greet them when they came out of the woods.
In the High Vosges, no place was safe. No one was safe.
"Sir, we're coming close," Fox said. As always, he was walking with Anthony. They had been climbing this mountain all morning. Like a squire ready to guard and protect his leader, Fox remained close by his side. Klaus's command post was not far ahead past the next thicket of trees further up the slopes.
Mindful of the perils surrounding them, Anthony kept his eyes and ears alert. A burst of wind blew through the chilled air, and the tree branches swayed. A startled bird screeched and flew off. The sudden flapping sound of its wings made everyone's heart jump. Mumbles of profanity and nervous laughs followed.
Before they were done breathing a sigh of relief, Boom! A shell blasted into the top of the trees above the armored vehicle leading their way. A hailstorm of burning shrapnel and splintered wood sprayed down at the men below. Their shrieks of pain were answered by more shells blasting into the top of the forest. The troops scattered and ran for cover. The cyclone of enemy machine gun bullets continued as they raced to brace themselves against the closest trees to avoid being hit by the deadly shell fragments falling from above.
In the confusion, Anthony dashed up the slope to a safe spot behind a tree. Through the acrid smoke, gunpowder, and deafening explosions, he saw the German Tiger tank higher above them that was causing all the mayhem. The Tiger tank kept on shelling until the Orion strike team's own destroyer fired its gun and the Tiger tank blew up.
The horrifying shelling had stopped, but the strike team and the enemy soldiers were now caught in a deadly gunfight. Near him, rifle shots snapped down from the slope above. Jonesy, Fox, and everyone else near them were pinned to the ground. One of his soldiers tried to return fire. In return, a sniper's bullet zipped down and hit him, killing him instantly.
Anthony winced. Behind a bush, Fox fired in the sniper's direction. Another round of gunfire ensued, but Jonesy and his squad still could not move. Anthony looked up the slope, searching for a way out. Concealed behind a wall of oak trees, the sniper's vision was obstructed. Making as little movement as possible so as not to draw the sniper's attention, Anthony moved higher up into a thick row of fir and scuttled toward a boulder near the sniper. From behind the boulder, he pulled his pistol from his holster and aimed. When the sniper raised his gun again toward Jonesy's squad, Anthony pulled the trigger and fired. His bullet hit the sniper in the head, and the man fell backward behind the trees.
Anthony threw a grenade into the oak trees, in case there were other snipers up there. The grenade exploded. For a brief moment, he thought the threat had subsided, but a round of machine gun bullets came firing in his direction. Behind the dead sniper, the woods thinned out. Anthony could see the German machine gunners guarding Klaus's command post from behind a barricade of tree logs.
He looked down the slope. Jonesy, Fox, and the others were now pinned down by the machine gun behind the barricade. The machine gunners were showering bullets at them as they tried to climb up. Anthony was the only one far enough up the slope to try to take the machine gunners down.
There was no time to think. As fast as he could, Anthony sprinted toward the barricade and lobbed a grenade, then another one for good measure. The grenades went off. Several men behind the barricade howled. The machine gun fire stopped.
Cautiously, Anthony walked up the slope to the barricade. Beyond whe
re the trees thinned out, he could see Klaus's command post. An underground bunker well-concealed by the rise of the natural landscape and camouflaged behind soil, weeds, and leaves.
"Jonesy, Jonesy," he said into his walkie-talkie.
"Captain," Jonesy's voice returned.
"I found it. Klaus's command post. Bring everyone up." He gave Jonesy the coordinates and took a few steps toward the path to the command post. Could Klaus be in there?
Should he wait for Jonesy and the rest to catch up?
Below, Jonesy had gone back down the slope. The strike team and their support units were still battling the German troops below.
Klaus was not one to wait for his own death and do nothing. He had to know the American troops were on to him and his own troops were faltering. Every minute lost was another minute for Klaus to make his attempt to get away.
Warren.
"You're not getting away this time," Anthony muttered under his breath and started toward his target.
Clutching his Tommy, Anthony came to the edge of the woods not far from the bunker. He stared at the entrance and ran through in his mind the possible ways to capture Klaus. Behind him, the rustling sound of leaves made his heart jump.
"Stop," said a voice behind him.
Anthony's heart plunged as soon as he heard the voice.
"Hands up. Drop your weapon."
Lowering his arms, Anthony felt his whole body sinking. This can't be. How can this be?
He dropped his Tommy and raised his hands.
"Turn around."
Having no choice but to comply, Anthony turned around. Klaus's crystalline eyes and the barrel of his Luger were all Anthony could see. He still had his pistol in his holster, but he could not pull it out with the Luger pointing at him.
"Here we are, Captain Ardley. Just you and I. Curious, isn't it? Are you chasing me? Or am I chasing you?" Klaus smiled at him. The smile sent a chill down Anthony's spine.
Refusing to back down, Anthony looked Klaus in the eye. No. He would not give Klaus the satisfaction of seeing his fear. If this was the end, then he would at least stand up to his enemy until the end.
"You didn't think I would just sit around and let you hunt me down, did you, Captain Ardley? Maybe I overestimated you."
Defiant, Anthony said nothing. His eyes remain fixed on Klaus. Cold sweat dripped down his back.
"You don't talk much, do you, Captain?" Klaus said. Even now, he was speaking as if they were only having a friendly chat. His demeanor, though, showed his true intent. He watched Anthony, his eyes clear and alert. "You should've killed me when you had a chance. Your mistake was being too greedy. It wasn't enough that you got me. You wanted information from me," he said with a condescending smile before his lips hardened. "I would've never given you and your brass any information. Not about the Amerika Bomber. Not about anything else. If you were smart, you should've gotten rid of me, and we wouldn't be here today."
"That's not how we operate," Anthony said. "We don't kill unless we have to. Unlike you." He still remembered Warren's dead body lying on the ground.
"Ah," Klaus said. "You're telling me you had mercy. Captain, we're at war. Mercy is not a good thing in war. It's a defect. A weakness. You should know that. Next time, don't give in to mercy. How unfortunate though. You won't have a next time." He raised his Luger and pointed it at Anthony's head. "You'll forgive me, I hope. It's nothing personal. But next time, you might be pointing your gun at me, and I can't risk that."
Anthony took a short, deep breath. In a moment, his entire life flashed before him.
Tessa.
He closed his eyes.
"Drop your gun." A voice came from behind Klaus. Anthony opened his eyes in surprise. Jesse was pointing a rifle at Klaus. Klaus turned his head slightly sideways to see who it was.
"Drop your gun or I'll shoot," Jesse said.
Klaus glanced at Jesse and the red cross banner around his arm. "Medic. Are you sure you know how to handle your gun? Got to be careful with that, or you might hurt someone. We wouldn't want that now, would we?"
Jesse didn't answer him. Klaus turned his gaze back to Anthony. "Captain. Looks like today's your lucky day after all."
"Quit stalling and drop your gun," Jesse warned again.
"Okay, okay. Take it easy, medic. Let's not have any accidents." Klaus bought his arm gingerly to his side, crouched down as if to put his gun on the ground, and quickly turned toward Jesse. Before either Anthony or Jesse could see what he was doing, Klaus raised his Luger and fired a shot at Jesse. On reflex, Jesse pulled the trigger of his rifle as he fell back. The shot hit Klaus's arm as he lurched sideways and dropped his gun.
"Jesse!" Anthony shouted. He grabbed his Tommy off the ground and aimed it at Klaus while Klaus fled into the forest. He fired but Klaus ran and disappeared into the mass of trees.
"Garland! Garland!" Anthony ran over to Jesse. Blood was spilling out of the left side of Jesse's chest. Anthony pressed his hands on the wound and tried to stop the bleeding.
"It's no use," Jesse said. He grabbed Anthony by his collar and pulled Anthony toward him. "Ardley. I want you to listen to me."
"Jesse," Anthony said. "Hold on!" Anthony pressed harder on Jesse's chest while blood oozed over his hands.
"No. Listen to me," Jesse coughed, choking on his own blood. "Ugh!" He groaned and struggled to talk. "My whole life, I've loved only one person. One person." He pulled Anthony closer. "Tessa. She's the only one...the only girl I've ever loved, and I can't do anything about it because she's yours." He choked again. Blood dripped out of his mouth and spots of blood splattered over Anthony's chin and collar as he spoke.
"She loves you. She thinks you're her everything. The only thing I can do for her that you can't is to look out for your sorry ass. So I swore to myself, if you ever get hurt, I'll do everything I can to get you back to her. I haven't let you out of my sight since we left Rome." He looked at the wound on his chest and laughed. "This wasn't what I had in mind."
Anthony listened, too stunned to respond.
"The lady or the tiger, Ardley."
"What?"
"The lady or the tiger, remember? We talked about this."
The Lady or the Tiger. Anthony remembered now. The first time he met Jesse. Jesse who said he wouldn't do anything for love. Jesse who thought the princess should have killed the maiden rather than send her lover to either the lady or the tiger.
"Guess you're getting the lady." Jesse laughed. Anthony watched with a falling heart as Jesse coughed. "You have to stay alive, all right?" Jesse took his lucky seven dice out of his pocket and placed them on top of Anthony's hand. Anthony stared at him, confused.
"For luck. To keep you alive." He smiled. "You stay alive no matter what. You do what you have to but get through this war. Get through it and go back to her. Nothing else matters. Nothing. You hear me?" His voice growing weaker. "If you die, she'll be very sad. Don't make her sad."
Unable to stop the bleeding, Anthony watched Jesse's life seep out of him. "Jesse!"
But Jesse couldn't hear anything anymore. As the world slipped farther and farther away, he felt calm. Serene. Shrouded by a comforting sense of peace. Everything was now behind him. Whatever wrong he had done in the past, whatever pain he had caused, whatever inexplicable reason had brought him onto this earth, and to whatever or whomever he owed his life, his debt was paid. It felt like spring again. A new beginning, and all he felt was love. In his last vision, he saw Tessa, smiling at him.
His eyes closed. His hand that was holding Anthony's collar dropped to the ground.
In shock, Anthony picked up the lucky seven dice. What happened?
Jesse…in love with Tessa…
Jesse…took a bullet and tried to protect him. If Jesse hadn't come to his rescue, Klaus would have killed him. He would be dead now. Anthony's hands trembled at the thought.
But what about Jesse? He didn't want Jesse to die for him. He wanted to bring Jesse back to life.
"Jesse!" He picked up Jesse's shoulders and shook his body, wishing he could wake him, but there was no response.
"Captain," Fox called out to him. "Captain Ardley."
Devastated, Anthony held on to Jesse's body. Fox came closer. "Captain! What happened?"
"Klaus got away," Anthony said. He put the lucky seven dice into his pocket.
Fox looked around. "Captain, we should go."
Not heeding Fox's warning, Anthony touched the blood stain on Jesse's uniform where the bullet had struck him in the chest.
Jesse, in love with Tessa. Did she know?
If she knew, how would she feel now knowing Jesse had died for her? For them?
"Captain. Let's go. We should keep moving," Fox urged him.
Anthony picked up Jesse's body and carried him over his shoulders back down the hill. The weight of guilt bore down on him like a colossal mountain.
The High Vosges. It was an unforgiving place.
VI
Part Six - Reunion in Paris
20
A feeling of déjà vu overcame Tessa as she placed the farewell letter on Aaron Haley's desk. Hadn't she already done this once already? She looked around and found herself in the doctor's office at the 33rd Field Hospital. She was back in Rome.
Someone was watching her. Who? She turned around. Jesse. Standing by the door, he seemed so close, yet so far away. "This is goodbye then?" he asked.
He looked so forlorn and alone. She wanted to go to him and console him. Inexplicably somehow, she could not move. Her feet felt stuck to the ground.
He came toward her. He still looked sad, but there was no more anguish in his eyes. In its place was a distant look of acceptance that she could not understand.
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Will you miss me?"
His voice was so tender, she wanted to hear him whisper in her ear.