but she'll be made to choke to death.”
“That's so terrible.”
“Just remember, it could be you instead of her. If I'd not turned the directional finder on again, you'd be facing death. I feel horrible that I didn't believe you, but it was hard to accept at the time.”
“Trust me, I can see your side of things, but I'd never put your life in jeopardy for any reason on this earth, none. I was heart broken that you didn't defend me, but looking back now, I can say I understand. I was actually caught red-handed.”
Pulling her close, John said, “I'll never assume anything about you in the future and I'm very sorry I let you down. I should have trusted you and defended you, but I was so angry.” He kissed her cheek and trembled when he realized just how close he'd come to losing her.
“Baby, I looked guilty and even at the time, I could see why you'd not believe me. I really could. I'm just glad it all worked out well in the end.”
“At dawn tomorrow, Mollie hangs, so it won't work out well for her.”
“Let's try to sleep, because we'll be moving at first light. Mollie made her bed when she agreed to help the Russians, now she'll have eternity to sleep in it.”
An hour before dawn, all were awake and a very frightened Mollie stood in front of Willy. Willy read the charges and said, “Since you admitted spying for the Russians to both Tom and John, to protect your family, is there anything you want to add before I pass sentence?”
Mollie, her head lowered, said, “My act was selfish, but my goal was never to harm other Americans, but to keep my family alive. After the first attack on us, well, I wanted to quit, but I knew the Russians would kill my family.”
“Mark, I understand you have something to say to Mollie.”
“Not long ago, Lewis, May, and myself escaped from the Edwards gulag. I was imprisoned the longest and once knew your family. A while back, after these partisans attacked a staff car on the freeway, killed some officers, and then downed a few choppers during the same attack, the Russians shot over a thousand prisoners in retaliation. Your family died in those shootings. You've been used and your family is long dead.”
“That can't be.” Mollie said.
“I swear to you it is the truth and I saw the executions myself, all of us did.”
“No! They promised to keep them alive and feed them better than anyone else.”
Willy said, “Top, bring me a rope.”
CHAPTER 8
T he bullet had only grazed the Colonel's shoulder, but he didn't move, knowing any movement would instantly bring another shot. He was unsure how long he'd have to wait, but suspected an hour would be long enough. I hope I do not bleed to death before I can safely move, he thought as he looked at the grasses near his nose. Off in the distance, birds were chirping.
Alvang and the sniper sat in chairs, high in a tower and watched the Colonel. After half an hour with no movement, then the Lieutenant Colonel said, “The Senior Sergeant will have a quart of vodka for you today when your duty ends. I am very pleased with your shooting skills this morning, Corporal, and I will mention your name in my message to Moscow about how you downed an escapee. Come, let us leave the tower so the regular guard can continue his duties.”
At the end of an hour, the Colonel crawled slowly into the woods. Once in the trees, he quickly moved south, where he suspected the partisans were hiding. As he moved, he ripped his shirt and made a crude bandage for his injury. He was weak from hunger; he'd not been fed while a guest of Lieutenant Colonel Alvang, and blood loss. However, he knew his only chance of survival was to connect with the partisans. Due to his condition, he stumbled through the woods like a drunk, bouncing off trees and falling over rocks.
After covering almost a mile, he had to rest, so he crawled under a huge pine and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, hearing Russian spoken, his heart began to pound hard in
“That's so terrible.”
“Just remember, it could be you instead of her. If I'd not turned the directional finder on again, you'd be facing death. I feel horrible that I didn't believe you, but it was hard to accept at the time.”
“Trust me, I can see your side of things, but I'd never put your life in jeopardy for any reason on this earth, none. I was heart broken that you didn't defend me, but looking back now, I can say I understand. I was actually caught red-handed.”
Pulling her close, John said, “I'll never assume anything about you in the future and I'm very sorry I let you down. I should have trusted you and defended you, but I was so angry.” He kissed her cheek and trembled when he realized just how close he'd come to losing her.
“Baby, I looked guilty and even at the time, I could see why you'd not believe me. I really could. I'm just glad it all worked out well in the end.”
“At dawn tomorrow, Mollie hangs, so it won't work out well for her.”
“Let's try to sleep, because we'll be moving at first light. Mollie made her bed when she agreed to help the Russians, now she'll have eternity to sleep in it.”
An hour before dawn, all were awake and a very frightened Mollie stood in front of Willy. Willy read the charges and said, “Since you admitted spying for the Russians to both Tom and John, to protect your family, is there anything you want to add before I pass sentence?”
Mollie, her head lowered, said, “My act was selfish, but my goal was never to harm other Americans, but to keep my family alive. After the first attack on us, well, I wanted to quit, but I knew the Russians would kill my family.”
“Mark, I understand you have something to say to Mollie.”
“Not long ago, Lewis, May, and myself escaped from the Edwards gulag. I was imprisoned the longest and once knew your family. A while back, after these partisans attacked a staff car on the freeway, killed some officers, and then downed a few choppers during the same attack, the Russians shot over a thousand prisoners in retaliation. Your family died in those shootings. You've been used and your family is long dead.”
“That can't be.” Mollie said.
“I swear to you it is the truth and I saw the executions myself, all of us did.”
“No! They promised to keep them alive and feed them better than anyone else.”
Willy said, “Top, bring me a rope.”
CHAPTER 8
T he bullet had only grazed the Colonel's shoulder, but he didn't move, knowing any movement would instantly bring another shot. He was unsure how long he'd have to wait, but suspected an hour would be long enough. I hope I do not bleed to death before I can safely move, he thought as he looked at the grasses near his nose. Off in the distance, birds were chirping.
Alvang and the sniper sat in chairs, high in a tower and watched the Colonel. After half an hour with no movement, then the Lieutenant Colonel said, “The Senior Sergeant will have a quart of vodka for you today when your duty ends. I am very pleased with your shooting skills this morning, Corporal, and I will mention your name in my message to Moscow about how you downed an escapee. Come, let us leave the tower so the regular guard can continue his duties.”
At the end of an hour, the Colonel crawled slowly into the woods. Once in the trees, he quickly moved south, where he suspected the partisans were hiding. As he moved, he ripped his shirt and made a crude bandage for his injury. He was weak from hunger; he'd not been fed while a guest of Lieutenant Colonel Alvang, and blood loss. However, he knew his only chance of survival was to connect with the partisans. Due to his condition, he stumbled through the woods like a drunk, bouncing off trees and falling over rocks.
After covering almost a mile, he had to rest, so he crawled under a huge pine and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, hearing Russian spoken, his heart began to pound hard in
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