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-I believe he's sleeping quite peacefully, don't you think? Adele squeaked out the words. She tried to smile but it wouldn't come out. Her teeth were chattering too much.

Patricia turned to Adele, who was now gently prodding the captain's nearly lifeless body. His breathing seemed to be hampered by the dessert plate, which was wedged between his face and the table. Henry, the servant, moved closer. The captain slept on, breathing heavily. Henry pulled the plate away and raised the man into a more comfortable position in his chair.

-He's dead to the world, if I do say so myself, madam.

-Well, it looks that way. Got any notion as to how long he'll stay that way? Patricia looked at her watch. It was nearly one o'clock. She was exhausted. The dinner had lasted longer than she expected. The men had been hungry and thirsty. Good thing. They had eaten nearly everything in sight. The soldiers laughed at the ones who passed out first. Then eventually they all ended up hanging out of their chairs snoring soundly.

Henry and Adele both shook their heads.

-Madam, the others have all been tied up, so to speak. They are resting uncomfortably in the living room. The servants found some duct tape in the cupboard and they've used it to tape their arms and legs. I have no idea how secure they are. But it's a frightful mess in there. Bodies strewn everywhere, all still alive though, all snoring and twitching. I'd actually feel sorry for them if they weren't such beasts.

-Good work, Henry. Now, what about the other servants?

-They wanted to leave. I told them to go. They've taken away with them what they could carry from the kitchen. And they took some firearms too. We won't see them again, I fear.

-That's quite all right. I hope they'll be safe. I think we'd better get out of here too.

-I don't think I can move the men myself, ma'am. Perhaps we should just let them sleep it off and get out of here ourselves.

-I'm going to be sick. Whatever will we do now? Adele was visibly shaking and pale.

-Get a grip on yourself, Adele. For God's sake, shake it off. We don't have a moment to lose. Well, then, let's tape up the captain too.

Patricia peered outside the window. The rebel jeep was standing outside the door, deserted, just as they'd left it.

-Henry, what do you think, should we take the major with us? He might be useful for roadblocks along the way. Otherwise, I think if we try to get away in the jeep we'll be stopped right off. What could we possibly say that would convince anyone to let us drive on?

-Well, madam, that might be an idea. But I don't know how we'd get him to cooperate. I'm not terribly good a bullying people around.

-Well, you've got a point there. And he would take up too much room in the jeep.

Patricia thought for a moment, looking around the room. Adele began to whimper. Henry took a deep breath.

-You were going to say something, Henry? Patricia prodded the faithful servant.

-Well, yes, ma'am. Perhaps it would be easier if I just put on his clothes and tried to impersonate him myself. We're about the same size, you see. In the dark I might be able to get away with it even though I'm a bit older then him. And, ah, please excuse my impertinence, but perhaps you two could pretend to be rebels too. I think it would be much easier for all of us that way.

-Damned good idea, Henry. We'll dress like rebels. And Adele, we'll try to act like them too. Now there's no time to lose. Let's get on with it, pack up the jeep and get out of here. It'll be dawn before we know it.

The jeep was a four-seater, a one-time sport utility vehicle. The outside was grimy, pock-marked and its frame was bent and bashed in. The inside was no better. The floor and seats were filled with broken glass, dirty rags and litter. The seats themselves were stained, broken down and squeaky. Inside smelled like a mixture of gasoline, sweat and urine.

They'd thrown their bags into the back, along with some food and water and a few blankets over their meager possessions. They'd found a couple of side arms that they placed on the floor under the seats. They didn't find much ammunition, but that didn't matter because they had no intention of firing the weapons. A semi-automatic rifle lay on the floor by Patricia's leg.

-This gun scares me. What if it goes off?

-Don't worry, madam, Henry said, as he peered through the dirty windshield. The safety's on and besides, I don't think it's loaded.

-Humph. Patricia sat in the front with Henry and braced herself against the door as they bumped along the rutted and torn-up roadway. It was going to be a very slow ride.

In this country everything ran toward the sea. That was where they were headed. There was only one road out of the village that skirted the narrow belt of relatively flat land between the chasm and the equally treacherous mountain slopes. They could just make out half-dead trees and brush alongside the road, and in the near distance, the vague shapes of bombed-out farm houses and out-buildings. Henry had laughed at Patricia when she asked about a map. They wouldn't need a map. There was only one road through the area, and they were on it.

-How far is it to where we're going? Patricia thought that was a fair question.

-I don't know, madam. I've never been to the end of this road. And who knows what lies up ahead. This vehicle is in bad shape, I have no idea how much petrol we have left, and furthermore, there is a village a few kilometers from here. I imagine we'll run into our first roadblock there.

Adele gasped. Patricia, for once, was silent. She stared at Henry, perhaps wondering just what they had gotten themselves into. After all, they didn't even know this man, other than to order him around. Who was he really? Why had he consented to go with them? Consented! Hell! He'd just come along with them. It was sort of taken for granted that he would. After all, he could have left them at the mansion and scurried off with the rest of the help. She'd have to ask him that question soon, but somehow this simply didn't seem like the right moment.

Henry turned his gaze from the wheel and stared back at her.

-Madam, he finally spoke. When we get to the village, we'll pretend to be what we are not. You and Adele must leave it to me. Here. He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out some papers and handed them over to Patricia.

-These are identification papers I took from the men. They won't work if they're given close scrutiny but if we wave them at the guards as we drive along, perhaps we can just keep going. Look at the papers. Then put them here on the seat. When we get close to the village you and Adele pretend to be asleep. Lean against the window, but don't let them see you too closely. I'm going to wave and point and just keep driving.

After that exchange they drove in silence. Henry picked his way around the holes in the road and thrown up objects that half blocked their path in many places. The sky began to streak with the first light of false dawn. They could make out crater holes from shelling, torn fences, and the bleak landscape of neglect. More and more bombed out structures began appearing. They were nearing the village.

-Shut up, Adele. Patricia warned as they drew closer to town. Just shut your whimpering or you'll give us away for sure. And tuck in your hair. It's falling out of your cap. With that she adjusted herself too and then leaned against the door.

-How's this?

Henry nodded.

-Look there, he said, pointing down the road. Did you see something?

-What?

-There it is again, a light blinking at us. I'll answer back.

With that, he clicked on the headlights for an instant, and then again. They had been driving without lights, and then when they went on, even for just an instant, the whole world seemed to light up and go blacker than ever.

The village beacon answered him. He did not respond again. He slowed the jeep to a crawl and they crept forward. He clicked the safety off the automatic beside them on the seat. Patricia glared at him, and then pulled her cap over her eyes. He rolled down the window and hung his arm out. As he neared the first buildings, he could see a man standing beside the road with a rifle over his shoulder. He appeared to be waiting for them.

Henry pulled his cap lower over his face. It was still dark enough, he thought. And it was a little chilly. Good weather for sleeping. Maybe the guard was tired.

The guard mumbled something, perhaps a question. Henry nodded his head and mumbled back to him. He then gave him the thumbs-up sign and pulled his arm back in the cab. The guard continued to watch the jeep as they drove past. The wheels crunched over the broken glass and rubble, past the shops and into the square. The church's dome proclaimed its presence over them as they crawled along through the bombed out center of the small village. All was quiet. As Henry knew very well, nobody ventured out at night, only fools and those with some evil mission. Others stayed home and tried to keep out of harm's way.

He watched the guard's vague shape out of his rear view mirror, still standing and peering back at them. Were they supposed to turn off into some alleyway now? Is that what he wanted to see them do? Henry looked around. He slowed the jeep even further and stepped on the brake. The back light barely blinked. No give-away brake light on this vehicle. He smiled to himself. The guard moved off. He barely hit the gas pedal and they slowly moved on, the tires crunching and bumping over the cobblestoned- rubbish-filled streets. Would they ever get to the other side of town?

-Are we clear yet? Patricia raised her cap that she'd planted over her face and whispered to Henry.

-I'm not sure. I think so. As soon as we round that bend I'm going to pick up speed. I'm not sure about that guard. You two watch behind us, see if anybody's coming.

The women both turned and looked out the windows. They rolled down the windows so they could see and hear a little better.

-Okay now, I'm going to pick up the speed a little. Do you see anything?

-No, but I thought I heard something, like maybe a car starting.

-Then we better get out of here. Hang on, ladies. Here we go.

(Go to Chapter 6)

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