The Soul of the Unbroken

by Derrick Quick

  Oberfuhrer Bollenbach’s left leg was missing from just above the knee on down. Blood was spurting out of it like a hose. He saw Friedrich and I, and he locked eyes with us. “Help me. I don’t want to die.” He pleaded with us. His eyes were filled with tears. “I am scared to die. I don’t think they will have me in heaven.” Without wasting another second I ripped off my belt. “You are not going to die,” I reassured him. I wrapped the belt around his leg and pulled it as tight as I could. Then I grabbed the buckle and twisted it, tightening the make-shift tourniquet even further. Friedrich took out his canteen and started pouring water on the wound, washing away the dirt.

  The bombs had stopped falling, the plane was gone, and the dust had settled. Everything was in ruins besides one tent on the far side of the encampment. “Let’s take him over there Friedrich,” I said, gesturing with my head towards the lone tent. We each put one of his arms around our shoulders, then we each grabbed a leg. Friedrich got what was left of his leg anyway, and then we carried him over to the tent.

  The few stragglers that had survived began to make their way out of the woodworks. “We need a medic over here!” Friedrich yelled to them. One crawled out from under a fallen tent and jogged over to us. “Wow, you did a good job making this tourniquet.” He said to Friedrich and I. Then he turned back to Oberfuhrer Bollenbach and said, “Don’t worry this has pretty much stopped the bleeding. I think you will be fine.” The relief washed over him, and he finally calmed down. “Thank you.” Was all he could manage to say.

  We left him and went to help the other soldiers that were still alive. There weren’t many, but we did find some. A couple of them had severe burns, a few had massive head injuries, and we found one soldier almost suffocating under a mound of dirt that had been blasted over him from one of the explosions. We took each of them to the lone tent and had them examined by the medic. Luckily, he thought they were all going to survive.

  Shortly thereafter we finally had a backup platoon arrive with fresh supplies, and all of the injured soldiers were taken away to the nearest hospital. “I hope Bollenbach survives. He was a good man.” Friedrich said to me. “They seemed to think he would be fine. But he definitely won’t be leading anyone into a battle anytime soon.” I responded. Friedrich nodded with a sad look on his face. “He may not be able to fight anymore, but at least we saved his life.” I said, hoping to cheer him up a little bit. The sky had turned dark, and it was time for us to try and get some sleep. I walked to the first newly rebuilt tent I could find, found a wool blanket, and went to sleep right there in the dirt.

  Not long after I drifted off to sleep, I was jolted awake by the sound of the air raid alarm going off. I jumped up and ran out of the tent. There were soldiers running around everywhere, getting to their stations. I reached out and grabbed one by the arm. “What’s going on?” He looked at me with wide eyes. “The Americans are coming. Planes were spotted in the west, heading right for us.” Then he yanked his arm free and ran away. I looked around, trying to figure out what to do next. “Come on Eloy!” Friedrich was waving to me a short distance away. I followed him to see where he was going.

  We weaved through the mass of soldiers, ran past lines of tents, and jumped over cooking fires until we came to the same AA gun that we used the day before. “It’s my turn this time since you have such lousy aim!” Friedrich said with a laugh. He jumped into the seat and aimed down the sights. “Start feeding me some ammo, Eloy!” I grabbed the closest ammo box, popped it open and loaded up the giant gun. “I don’t see any of them yet!” He shouted over the wailing of sirens and screams. He scanned the sky, watching from North to South. I looked as well, but didn’t see any of the planes yet. Maybe they turned around, I thought. Or our intel could have been wrong.

  “There they are!” Friedrich pointed over to the northwest. Off in the distance, three planes were buzzing our way. One in front, and two on either side a little bit behind. Friedrich started firing away. The bullets zoomed through the air but fell short of the plane. “They are too far away still!” I yelled to Friedrich. He didn’t care, he kept firing away. Bullet after bullet fell short of the planes, but they were getting closer as each second passed. The planes started to get within distance, but they weren’t just going to wait for us to shoot them down. The American planes sent down a flurry of bullets at us, ripping apart the ground around us. Friedrich ducked down but continued to fire right back. The planes broke from the formation and two split out wide and started dropping bombs, and unleashing a flurry of bullets, that shredded all of the tents that we just put back up. The plane that was in front continued bearing down on us, aiming it’s bullets directly at us.

  Trying to stay alive, I ducked behind the wall of sandbags that surrounded the AA gun and waited for the swarm of bullets to pass. The gunfire was too heavy for Friedrich to leave his position so he just stayed in the seat and sent wave after wave of AA bullets back at the plane. “YES!” Friedrich yelled. I looked up and saw the plane sputtering, and struggling to stay in the air. Smoke was billowing out of the engine, and the propellers slowed. The front end of the plane pointed downward and it started nose-diving. It plummeted towards the ground. “I got one!” Friedrich yelled at me. I was speechless. The plane reached the end of its descent and smacked into a crowd of trees a few kilometers away. A ploom of smoke billowed out from the tree line. The other two planes finished their pass over and turned around, heading in the direction they came.

  “We have to get to the pilot before the Americans do,” Friedrich said as he jumped out of the AA gun seat. Then he ran to the nearest vehicle and hopped in. I followed suit and hopped in the passenger seat. The engine roared to life and Friedrich hit the gas, sending me back into my seat. A few other soldiers jumped in the back as we were passing by, to join the manhunt for the American pilot.

  The truck rumbled across the open field towards the tree line. “Hopefully the pilot survived. Can you imagine the amount of information he could give us? We will be heroes. We might even get to meet the Fuhrer himself.” Friedrich said to me excitedly. I put on a fake smile and tried to act like I was excited as he was, but I felt sick to my stomach. The Americans were my only hope of setting Eliza free, and if this pilot gave information that helped the Nazis win, I may never see her again.

  The truck hadn’t even come to a complete stop at the edge of the woods when soldiers were jumping out and going to look for the pilot. Friedrich and I got out and ran into the woods, after the other soldiers. It was quiet. The morning light was just starting to peek over the horizon, which made it easier to maneuver through the forest. The wreckage of the plane was straight ahead.

  The front of the plane was smashed deep into the dirt, and behind it was a long trail of broken trees and shrubs, crushed by the plane. Friedrich walked up to the wreckage and looked in the cockpit. “He is not in the plane” Friedrich said. “Maybe he fell out at first impact. He might even be dead over there somewhere.” I gestured towards the trail of broken trees and shrubs. “We should split up. Yell if you find him.” Friedrich said back. He went off into the woods, and I started down the path the plane made.

  Every bush I looked in was empty. Every tree was personless. He could be anywhere by now. On we searched until the sun was high in the sky, and still we found nothing. Slowly the other soldiers gave up until Friedrich and I were the last ones in the forest. Friedrich found me and said, “We aren’t going to find him. I am heading back.” That was fine with me. I was hoping I would be the one to find him, so I could help him get the heck out of here. “Okay, I am going to look just a bit longer.” Friedrich walked back in the direction of camp and I was left alone in the woods.

  First, I decided to double-check the plane wreckage. The plane was no longer on fire, but it was still billowing smoke. The front was smashed, but the cockpit was relatively intact which lead me to believe the pilot had to have survived. He couldn’t have gotten that far when we started searching so he had to be hiding somewhere near the plane.<
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  I looked in the bushes all around the plane, and nothing. I looked up in the trees around the plane, and nothing. Then I stepped back and took another look at the plane. It landed nose first, and the tail was up just a little bit. That meant there could possibly be a gap underneath the back section.

  I walked up and took a look, and there it was! A small little gap between the dirt and the plane that I knew would lead to a little cave underneath. “I know you are under there. I don’t want to hurt you,” I said aloud. Then I dug at the dirt until there was a big enough space for me to look. I could see legs! I took a stick and poked the leg. The pilot yanked the leg back from me so he was definitely alive. “I am not going to hurt you.” I said again. The pilot crawled to the gap and looked at me. He was a handsome man. Just like everyone says the Americans look. He had short brown hair, blue eyes, and very white teeth.

  He said something to me that I could not comprehend. I motioned for him to come out from under the plane. He reluctantly did. “The other Americans are that way.” I pointed in the direction of the American frontlines. “Go,” I said. He didn’t understand. I pointed in the direction, then motioned for him to go that way. He still didn’t listen. His eyes were locked with mine, but then they peered behind me, and got wide.

  I whirled around to see Friedrich standing there, with a gun pointed at us. “I didn’t want it to be true Eloy. You were my friend.” I was so confused. “What are you talking about Friedrich? I have found the pilot we were looking for. We can question him.” I said to him. “He didn’t respond but continued talking, “I first knew when we went into battle and you wouldn’t aim your gun. You missed on purpose. Then I had you take control of the AA gun, and again you missed on purpose. I waited for you to find the pilot, and I saw you tell him to go. You are weak Eloy. You are no German. I should put you out of your misery.” He looked disgusted. I didn’t know what to say. I just looked at the barrel of the pistol he was holding, waiting for it to send a bullet straight into my heart. He lowered the gun. “That would be too easy for a coward like you. You will face all of Germany and show them how you would rather save an American life, than a German life.” He said. “Friedrich, I blew up the tank remember? I made the Americans retre…”

  “Shut your mouth!” Friedrich roared as he advanced towards us. I couldn’t let him take us back to camp. The American will give away information, and I will be killed. Friedrich was now in the way of setting Eliza free. She meant more to me than he ever would. There was only one thing I could do.

  Before Friedrich could react I pulled out the pistol that was on my belt and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced Friedrich’s chest and he dropped to the ground. I went over to him and held his head. “Why?” He said as blood filled his mouth. “Hitler, the Nazis, they took the most important thing from me. They took the love of my life...I’m sorry Friedrich.” He seemed to understand. He nodded and his and slowly reached up and patted my back. The blood slowly filled his mouth, he struggled to breathe, and eventually slipped into peacefulness. I laid his head back on the ground.

  The American was still standing there in shock. I motioned for him to go once more, and he finally understood. He turned and trotted away. Friedrich was heavier than I thought, considering how skinny he was. I carried him out of the woods and into the clearing. The walk back was going to be a difficult one. I took it step by step. My shoulders burned, my biceps quivered, but I kept walking.

  After a few hours, other soldiers saw me coming and they ran out to help. They took his body from my arms and rushed him to the medical tent. I knew he was not going to be saved though. “What happened?” A soldier asked me. “I left to give up the search for the pilot. Friedrich wanted to stay behind and look more. I was walking back when a gunshot went off. I immediately ran back into the woods and found Friedrich dead. The pilot was already gone.” I made up the lie, and nobody questioned it. I walked into the nearest tent and sat down. I needed to get out of here. I could be caught again. A soldier came into my tent and handed me a letter. “Who is this from?” I asked. He shrugged and walked out. The letter was addressed to me, but had no markings of who sent it. I opened it up and read what it said.

  Dear Eloy,

  I wanted you to know I received your letter from before. Sorry it took so long for me to respond. It was a bit difficult figuring out where you were. I hold no ill will for what you are doing. It was a tough decision for you to make, but I think you made the right one. It will help you to find Eliza, and maybe you can even help set her free. My friends and I will continue to do what we can in ending this war, so you can come home with Eliza at your side. Stay safe. You are all I have left.

  Love,

  Your brother Hans

  Hans had finally written back! It was such a relief off of my shoulders to know he was not mad at me for joining the army. It was enough to ease the pain of having to kill Friedrich. One thing in the letter stuck out to me though. He said that I was all he had left. That means something had happened to Aldo, but I didn’t know what. Was he dead? Was he captured? I probably wouldn’t know until the war was over and I could see Hans again.

  I put the letter in my pocket and decided to try and eat some food. The rations were not very good, but they filled me up. I opened my can of Fleischkonserve. It was supposed to be canned meat, but it looked nothing of the sort. It globbed out in its weird jelly consistency and smacked down on my ration of bread. My teeth easily squished through it and the flavor hit my mouth. It tasted somewhat like meat. It also made me want to gag. I choked it down as best I could.

  When I was finished, I went out to one of our campfires and heated up some coffee. The warmth soothed my whole body and made the winter air more bearable. “WOLF!” Someone called out. A surge of fear shot through my body. What if Friedrich had survived and told them what I had done? What if someone else saw? Friedrich could have even told someone else before I shot him. I slowly stood up, “I’m over here.” I said. I waited to have them tie me up, and drag me to the gallows. Instead, the soldier said, “Come with me. Oberfuhrer Bollenbach wants a word with you.”

  I followed him over to a Kubelwagen and jumped in the passenger side. We left the camp and headed for the hospital that Bollenbach was at, just a few kilometers away. “Do you know what he wants to speak with me about?” I asked. “No, I don’t ask questions. He just said to find an Eloy Wolf, so that’s what I did.” We rode the rest of the way in silence. I looked out across the countryside and could see smoke and explosions in the distance. More reminders, of the never-ending war we were engaged in, and each day it was getting closer to our homeland. I didn’t want to think about it anymore so I focused on the path ahead.

  It was only about fifteen kilometers away, so it did not take too long. We pulled up next to a big brick building that was a few stories high. Each level was lined with windows, and there were vines growing up the sides. We got out of the car and walked up to two big doors that were at the front. The soldier that was escorting me, I forgot to ask his name, opened the door and walked in. When we stepped through the door, it was very bright. Everything inside was white. The nurses wore white, the doctors wore white, the walls were white. The elevator was straight ahead. We opened up the big fence like door and stepped in. Then the soldier closed it behind us and flipped the switch. The elevator jolted upward and soon we were climbing to the third floor. It creaked and groaned the whole way up. I thought for sure we would go plummeting back down to the ground, but it made it.

  We stepped out on to the third floor and walked down the corridor to our right. Bollenbach’s room was all the way down at the end of it on the left side. Once at his room door, we stepped in and I saw him laying down in his white bed. I instinctively looked down for his leg, but it was still missing obviously.

  He looked up when we walked in and got a smile on his face. “Eloy Wolf, the young man who saved my life. I am happy to see you. I sent for your friend as well, where is he?” The soldier spoke up before I had t
he chance to. “Dead sir. He was killed this morning by an American pilot that somehow evaded capture.” Bollenbach’s face turned red with anger. “Damn them Americans! I cannot wait to end this war and never deal with them again.” Then he said, “Get out, you are dismissed” As he motioned for the soldier to leave.

  The soldier walked out of the door, leaving me alone with Bollenbach. “I am sorry about your friend. He died defending our great homeland so you should be proud.” If only he knew that I was the one who killed him. He sat up and looked out the window. “I asked them to put me in a room with a view. I couldn’t stand to be in a room with nothing but four white walls. I would go insane.” He said. The view was beautiful. Rolling hills, trees in the distance. From here, you couldn’t even tell a war was raging on just over that hill. Bollenbach went on. “You remind me of myself when I was a young man. You have courage. You are strong. If it weren’t for you I would not be alive. Because of these things, I am going to do you a great favor.” I was stunned. He wanted to do me a favor? It was a good thing he didn’t know my true feelings about the Nazis, Hitler... everything really.

  “No sir, you don’t have to do me any favors. I was happy to help you.” I said, trying to sound gracious when I really wanted to ask what he could possibly give me that I would want. “Oh be quiet boy, I didn’t ask you I am telling you. You saved me, so now I am going to save you.” What did he mean by that? He continued, “Because of my leg, I will no longer be able to serve out in the field. I am being transferred to a prison camp. You will come with me. There you will not have to worry about being shot or killed. It’s an easy job. What do you say?” A prison camp? That could be perfect! Maybe Eliza would be there, if not I could see how she’s been living at least. I couldn’t wait to see her! “I would be extremely grateful sir.” I tried to hold back my smile, but it wasn’t working too well. Bollenbach let out a chuckle, “Haha, I knew you would be happy with what I had to offer. No more rotting out there in the wilderness. We leave in two weeks. Until then you will stay here and be my personal guard. I can’t have you dying before we get there.”