by Tom Larcombe
Merlin spent the next two days getting everyone ready for the journey. He was exhausted before he was done and once he was sure that everyone's requests were taken care of, he spent the afternoon of the second day napping so he could be awake and alert when they left.
* * *
Chapter 10
They arrived on the beach in the early hours of the morning when it was pitch dark.
“This is the place,” Nimue said.
“How can you tell?” Anselm asked.
“Landmarks, the beach all seems the same but if you could see up past the pillboxes you'd see some distinctive landmarks.”
“So now we wait,” Merlin said.
“Not for very long,” Nimue replied. “I can See them out there.”
The splash of oars in the water was barely audible over the waves striking the beach. The boat rasped on the sand as it reached shallow water. Nimue walked forward.
“Gabriel, it's good to see you,” she said.
“I see you kept your promise about the winds. I assume the weather will cooperate as much on the return trip?” Gabriel replied.
“Most assuredly. Allow me to introduce the rest of your passengers.”
The group stepped forward and began to climb into the boat.
“This is Anselm, Gunter, and my husband, Merlin.”
“Your husband? I thought you said you would never marry and relationships were more pain than they were worth.”
“Merlin returned from my past. It was neither of our faults that we were separated, but when he returned, there was nothing else I wanted but to be with him. So now we are married,” Nimue said.
“Good for you, but we must be off. If we're to make it back before dawn, even with the weather cooperating, we should leave now. Better to have some extra time, just in case. You never know what might happen in a small sailboat.”
Nimue hopped into the boat and Gabriel pushed it off the beach. A short ride brought them to a sailboat at anchor. The group transferred to the sailboat and the rowboat was hauled up out of the water onto the deck. Gabriel set his crew to work and the boat got underway. As they sailed out into the channel, Nimue asked what weather conditions would suit them best. Shortly after that a strong breeze came from the northwest, speeding the boat along. The wind also blew in a heavy fog that muted sound and limited sight.
“Nimue, isn't that overdoing it a bit? Do you normally find heavy fog with a strong breeze in the channel?” Merlin asked.
“Gabriel said that would be the best weather for us. I assumed that meant it was possible for it to occur naturally, and he hasn't said anything otherwise, so...”
Merlin shrugged. He simply watched as the boat cut through the fog. Twice during the crossing he heard the engines of larger ships in the distance. Gabriel heard them as well, and each time he brought his small crew to a standstill until the noise faded.
When they reached the French shore, Gabriel aimed the sailboat towards a small cove. He and his three crew members began to break down the mast as soon as they were near land. After they got it down and lashed to the deck, the boat was pulled into a section of heavy growth that protruded over the water.
“Come with us,” Gabriel said. “We'll take you to the safe house where you'll be met this evening.”
* * *
“We're going to have to get used to sleeping during the day and being active at night,” Merlin said after they were ensconced in the safe house.
“It should come back to me quickly,” Nimue said. “I did that for several years while helping the Maquis.”
“They certainly aren't the social types, are they? I don't think I heard a word from any of them except Gabriel during the crossing,” Anselm said.
“Think about it from their point of view. They've helped some Germans escape the country, but this may well be the first time they're helping some sneak back in. I couldn't tell them much about what we were doing either, so they have to be wondering,” Nimue said.
“I suppose I can understand that. Still, I hope that all the people we're getting help from on this trip aren't like that. It would get tiresome very fast,” Anselm replied.
“The Maquis may all be that way. Most of them chose to join for personal reasons, which all too frequently means they lost someone to the Germans.”
Anselm shook his head and moved off to find a place to sleep. They were all equipped with traveling gear, including minimal equipment to camp out if necessary.
“The Rom will not be like that,” Merlin said softly. “I imagine they will be completely accepting, especially if we deal with the wizards of the Rom and can tell them the truth about our mission.”
“It's a relief to not have to constantly conceal my abilities with magic. I used to when I worked with the Maquis. They never knew how I did some of the things I did. They also never stopped trying to find out,” Nimue replied.
“Shall we attempt to sleep? I have to agree with Anselm, I felt as though I were receiving the cold shoulder throughout the crossing, so I'll be glad to meet the next group.”
“In your case, it wasn't your nationality. The crew members were probably just picking up on Gabriel's feelings.”
“How so?”
“He has, in the past, propositioned me several times. Each time I told him no, that I was done with men. So when I introduced you as my husband, it was probably a bit of a shock for him. I'd guess that he was jealous.”
“I never have been able to tell if a man dislikes me personally, or is simply envious of something about me. I just thought he disliked me on sight.”
Nimue smiled.
“Probably not until I introduced you the way I did.”
“Well, we're done with them, yes? I'm still glad they were willing to assist us in crossing though.”
“I did have to pull in a few favors but at least some of the Maquis remember what I've done. I told them that we were on a mission to cause the Germans grief. That, combined with favors I've done them in the past, got us the assistance. But, you're right, we should sleep.”
Nimue laid out her bedroll and curled up in it, leaving a spot for Merlin to do the same while in contact with her. Merlin laid down as well and within minutes Nimue was asleep. Merlin couldn't sleep for a while. His mind raced through the potential problems and outcomes of their mission. When he finally dozed off, it was into a light sleep that would allow him to respond to any problems quickly.
When dusk arrived they were all awake and ready to depart. They waited for the next guide on their journey impatiently. It was fully dark out when they heard someone approaching the house.
A sequence of knocks sounded and Nimue relaxed when she recognized the pattern. Rather than call out, she walked over and opened the door. A man stood outside and when the door opened, he slid into the house.
“Good,” he said, “I was worried that you might have been discovered. The Germans have increased their numbers in the area again.”
“Over what they were when I left?” Nimue asked.
“No, back to the same levels. I fear they know something is brewing here. I couldn't tell you how, but that's what it looks like.”
“Allow me to introduce my group,” Nimue said. “These are—”
“No, stop. I don't need to know names, just as they don't need to know mine,” he said.
“If that's how you want it. Shall we go then?”
“Yes, follow me. We'll be on foot for a couple of days before I hand you off to the next guide.”
The group shouldered their packs and followed the guide out into the night. Rein and Anguis flew overhead to scout for potential trouble.
* * *
They made the walk in darkness. The moon wasn't up and the light from the stars was insufficient to penetrate through many of the areas they walked through. The guide was more relaxed once they were under cover, even though it meant more difficulty for him to choose his footing. Gunter experienced the same problem, but the wizards in the group simply enhanced
their sight with a small use of power. When the group passed through open areas, the guide would hasten his pace as though he felt exposed and in danger.
They settled into a clearing in the middle of a small forest shortly before daybreak. A nearby spring provided water and a hidden fire pit, that somehow dispersed the smoke before it rose above the treetops, was used for cooking.
The guide started a fire and cooked his own food on a flat rock that covered half the opening of the fire pit. When he was done, Gunter took it on himself to cook food for everyone else in the same manner. When they were done with the fire, the rock slid across the top of the pit and a second rock covered the hole that fed air into the fire. There were no signs of the pit once the rocks were in place.
By the time Merlin finished eating, the guide was already asleep in the cover at the edge of the forest. The rest of them chose similar locations before trying to fall asleep themselves. None of them slept well, but they all got some rest.
An hour before dusk the guide started the fire again and cooked his own meal. It consisted of some sort of flat bread and strips of meat. He carried a small container of powdered mix with him. When he added water and kneaded it in, it made his dough. His strips of meat were soaked in water for a bit and joined the dough on the rock to be heated. He was skilled at it, and the entire procedure took under ten minutes. Merlin and the others took longer to prepare their meal but they were still done eating before full dark.
They began to walk again. Now their guide was more at ease in the open spaces. His pace was unhurried and he seemed more relaxed.
“Near your home are we?” Merlin asked softly.
The guide snapped his head around.
“Why do you ask? How did you know?”
“You're more relaxed tonight. Last night you hurried through any open area, but tonight you're setting a more leisurely pace.”
“Yes, we're near my home. We haven't had many Germans searching this area, so I feel safer,” he replied.
As the evening continued, the guide became more jumpy again. Two hours before dawn they were crossing an open field when the roar of an engine starting filled the air and the lights of a truck illuminated the group.
“Demon shit!” Merlin cursed, “How did they know where we'd be?”
The guide froze in place, shuddering with fear, as the truck began to move towards them.
“Merlin,” Gunter said, “do you remember my old uniform?”
Merlin nodded.
“Good, make this one look like it. Do it quickly, there have been others between me and the truck since they turned the lights on so they won't have seen me yet.”
Merlin pictured Gunter's old uniform in his mind and willed his current one to appear the same.
The truck came to a stop and the doors opened. A voice called out, in German.
“Stop right there. Let's see some papers. You shouldn't be out at night.”
“Back me up if you can Merlin,” Gunter said.
He called out in the same language.
“They're with me. I required their assistance.”
He removed his pack and stepped to the front of the group.
“I have information that there are some Undesirables in the area that are of interest to my superiors so I conscripted these locals to show me the back routes through this area.”
“Sorry Squad Leader, I wasn't informed that anyone else was looking in this area.”
“I received my information earlier today and acted on it before receiving confirmation from my superiors. Your superiors may not even have been informed yet,” Gunter said.
Merlin edged closer to the truck as the conversation progressed. He sent out a fragment of his awareness and noted that there were only three soldiers in the truck.
He spoke to Gunter's mind.
{There are only three, shall I put them to sleep?}
{Wait, if there's a problem you can do that, let's see if I can soothe their suspicions first.}
“I'm afraid I'll have to ask for your orders Squad Leader,” the German soldier said.
Gunter turned and looked at Merlin. He pointed to the pack on the ground and beckoned.
Merlin scanned the soldier's mind as he leaned over and picked up the pack. He found what the soldier was expecting to see and created illusory orders inside the pack for Gunter to retrieve. He opened the pack and held it out to Gunter, who saw the illusion on top. As Gunter reached in to retrieve the papers Merlin manipulated them so they reacted like the real thing.
The solider pulled out a flashlight and scanned the orders.
“Just as I thought, the damn SS are sticking their noses where they ought not be again. Go ahead, carry out your orders. Just because they're overreaching is no reason for me to get you in trouble.”
“Thank you. I don't know what your orders are but we haven't seen anyone on the back trails.”
“We'll wait here anyhow. We were told they'd be coming through this area before dawn.”
Gunter and the solider exchanged salutes before returning to their separate groups.
“Let's get out of here quickly,” Gunter said. “I don't know if they're going to report in about us or not but I'd rather be long gone if they do.”
Merlin noticed that Anselm was distracted and looked with his Sight. Anselm had a thin rope of power which was holding their guide still. He groaned inwardly.
Now what? Was the man about to break and run or something? How can we get him out of here without alerting the soldiers? I've got to figure something out fast, he thought.
Gunter was unaware of the problem and called out, loudly enough for the soldiers to hear.
“Let's get back to the trails in case they're ahead of us.”
He began to slide his pack on.
Merlin walked over next to the guide and used feather light touches of power to calm the man's mind. It was gripped by panic and fear, both from the soldiers and his current inability to move.
“Don't panic. Stay calm, follow our lead. We'll get away from these soldiers and that's what you want, isn't it? It will only happen if you stay calm and follow our lead. We've got them fooled, now we just need to get away,” Merlin whispered.
“Anselm, drop it,” Merlin said slightly louder.
Anselm's face eased and the guide's head snapped back and forth several times. Merlin continued to calm the man with light touches of power.
“Stay calm, move as though nothing is wrong, and we'll make it out of this,” Merlin whispered to him.
Merlin turned to follow Gunter who continued in the direction the guide was leading them before the soldiers found them. He hoped that the guide would follow but all he could do at this point was keep the man's panic under control.
He felt the guide following although the man's panic was desperately trying to break free and take control of him. It was a nerve-wracking ten minutes before Merlin managed to get the guide out in front of the group again. Once they reached an area that was less open, the guide spun on them.
“Who are you? What are you? What the hell is going on here?”
Merlin dispelled his illusions and Gunter's uniform was the one issued by the USO again.
“You said you didn't want to know. Do you want to know now?” Merlin asked.
“Yes, no... Tell me what's going on.”
“You know Nimue, yes?”
The guide nodded.
“I've worked with her in the past.”
“Never had a question about her name?”
“So she's named after some famous dead wizard, who cares?”
“Not so much. She is that wizard and decidedly lively, wouldn't you say?”
“Right, stop trying to put me on.”
“You're wondering what just happened and how it was done but you rule out the easiest explanation.”
“Merlin, you'll never get him to believe. I might have let the Maquis know about my powers if they were willing to believe, but they always tried to explain things away,�
� Nimue said.
The guide laughed, a high pitched sound that bordered on hysteria.
“Merlin? Right, I suppose these other two are Arthur and Lancelot then?”
“Just take us where you're supposed to. Then you can go back to doing whatever you do and forget all about this.” Merlin said wearily.
The guide turned and began to walk, but the last hour before they reached their destination was filled with his derisive remarks about witches, wizards, and the lost realms of Camelot.
* * *
The guide led them to the next safe house and ceased his comments as they got close to it. The farmhouse was in ruins, but the guide shifted a charred timber and revealed a trapdoor beneath. He gestured towards the door and Merlin lifted it.
“There you go,” the guide said. “That's as far as I'm supposed to take you.”
“Wasn't someone supposed to meet us here?” Nimue asked.
“Don't know about that, but my job's done. I'm leaving.”
The guide turned and disappeared into the darkness.
“Is this actually the safe house?” Merlin asked.
“I don't know, but we can go down and look,” Nimue replied.
“Let me,” Gunter said. “I'll check it out.”
Gunter withdrew a flashlight from his pack. He tucked it in his belt and descended the ladder. When Gunter turned the light on, Merlin saw that he was holding a pistol in his other hand. Gunter scanned the basement, shining the light in all directions.
“It looks safe. Looks well-stocked also, so it probably is the safe house,” he said.
The rest of the party descended into the basement. Unlike the above ground portion of the farmhouse, the underground area was in good shape. A hint of charcoal smell from the ruins above was the only sign that it wasn't the basement of a fully functional house.
“I wish I knew where our next contact was,” Nimue said.
“Nothing we can do about it for now,” Merlin replied. “The sun's almost up.”
The group settled in and had a cold meal before deciding on watches. Gunter was on first watch and the others settled in to get what sleep they could.