by Mark Spaid
“What about the Soviet Union, might they attack us?”
“Perhaps but I doubt it. They’ll like the non-aggression pact. It’ll give them a feeling of safety.” Goering sat up at the mention of the pact.
“How do you know about the pact?”
“Ribbentrop and Molotov will begin negotiations very soon to have it in place before the invasion of Poland.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m starting to believe you.”
“I hope so, sir, but there’s more.”
“Go ahead.”
“Germany’s working on several new weapons…secret weapons will be vital to the success of the war. It’s possible to make an atomic bomb that can level a huge city and leave nothing. Germany has the brainpower to build one and the resources. You must complete and test one and have them ready so when you invade the Soviet Union, you’ll have the hammer on them. After you surround Leningrad, Moscow and Stalingrad, you give them a choice to surrender and if they don’t, you level the city and everyone in it. Stalin will have fled by then and order will break down among the Russian military. You can occupy the cities that surrender and accept the Soviet Union’s surrender. All of Europe will be yours. After that it’s only a matter of time before you use your advantage to defeat the United States.” Goering sat smiling.
“And, what am I supposed to do with this information?”
“Convince the Fuehrer to go into full war production and keep him from invading Russia.”
“Right now, I’m not held in the highest regard by the Fuehrer.”
“You can change that with the invasion of Poland. The Luftwaffe will dominate the skies and help bring Poland to its knees. France will also win you accolades. At that point you’ll have your greatest influence. Get him to invade England. Whatever it takes, keep him out of Russia until the new weapons are perfected.” Goering went deep into thought for ten minutes and said nothing. Matthews looked at his men and they wondered if Goering would call security and have them taken away and shot. Finally, after an agonizing wait Goering turned to them.
“I agree with you that attacking Russia would be disastrous. England must fall first. I’ll talk with the Fuehrer and after France, I agree that I’ll have the greatest influence.”
“You believe us then?” Matthews asked.
“Strange as it sounds, yes, I do.”
“For The Greater Reich,” Matthews said as he gave the Nazi salute followed by his three fellow officers.
“For The Greater Reich,” Goring said but without enthusiasm. It was no secret that Goering had one ever present goal and that was to elevate the status and power of Hermann Goering. Goebbels was enthralled and mesmerized by Hitler but Goering saw him as a petty corporal who’d risen to power based on his ability to sway people; in small numbers like the early party days in Munich and now talking to thousands at Nuremberg or millions on the radio.
“You should probably disappear now, for your own safety,” Goering said and Matthews nodded. They all went into the hall and Goering escorted them to the door.
“Heil Hitler,” Matthews said with the salute.
“Heil Hitler,” Goering returned and this time with enthusiasm since there were people around watching and listening. Matthews and his men left and quickly moved away from the Berghof. They looked back and saw no one coming after them so Goering must’ve believed their story.
“I think we’ve fulfilled our mission,” Westkoff said.
“We have, now, we must find our way back to the portal,” Matthews said.
“Since it’ll take years for any of these things to take place back here, how long will it take in the future?” Brown asked.
“I’m not the scientist but I’d say in the future it’ll already have happened when we get back.”
“How will the people in 2020 understand what’s happened to them?” Westkoff asked.
“Who knows if they will,” Matthews replied as they headed for the portal.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Did you feel that?” Jozette asked as she sat up and looked around.
“I did,” Belinda said then she had a blank look on her face. “Where am I?”
“Yeah, where are we?” Andy asked then Jozette grabbed his arm.
“I’m scared,” Melanie said as she looked around at people, she either didn’t know or barely knew.
“Check your packet,” Paulita said. Melanie looked at Paulita trying to remember then she read her packet. The first page had names and pictures. Melanie read about her sister and Paulita as well as the other girls. It seemed to allay some of her fears and she looked at the photo of Paulita and sighed relief.
“I’m okay now, Paulita,” Melanie said.
“We’re fine, Mellie,” Mallory said.
“Yeah, I know all of you,” Darcy said.
“Jess, are you okay?” Dixie asked.
“Yes, I’m okay but it’s kind of scary.”
“Oh, no! Where’s Zara?” Darcy said as she scanned all around the truck looking for her sister.
“Something must’ve happened in the timeline change,” Justin said.
“Mom, Zara’s gone,” Darcy said but Lexi wasn’t paying much attention. She was sitting with a look of blanched terror on her face. Jozette looked over and saw why Lexi was speechless and sitting there in terror. Will was gone.
“Listen everyone,” Dave said and they all looked at him. “It appears that the time travelers have succeeded in doing something; who knows what. Will and Zara are not with us now. Maybe we can find them if we can get out of this jam we’re in at the moment. As I look around, I know all of you and your names. Does anyone have a lack of memory?” The all shook their heads no. Belinda’s reaction had been premature. Jozette helped her through the packet and Belinda’s memory came back. Jozette held her for a few minutes until Belinda settled down and said she was okay.
“We need to find a way out of this,” Tatiana said.
“Yes, but how?” Andy asked.
“I may have a way,” Tatiana said as she was on her hands and knees looking at the floor of the trailer.
“What?” Dave asked.
“This flooring is loose. It’s an old truck. Look at the gaps between these boards and a couple of them are rotten and splintering.”
“Here,” Little Wolf said and held up two steel bars he found in a corner and they both began prying up boards. In a few minutes there were two holes about three feet square. Tatiana and Little Wolf stood up.
“I wonder if we can chop a hole through here?” Tatiana said as she examined the boards on the front wall of the trailer.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” Jozette asked.
“Yes, but we’re running out of time and ideas and we have to act fast. They must be coming to the place where they intend to get rid of us and probably soon,” Little Wolf said.
“What’re we going to do?” Ariel asked.
“We’re going to get them to stop the truck,” Tatiana said as she was gouging the end wall of the truck and finally broke through. “There’s a small hole; they can’t see it yet. Listen everyone. We need to break through this hole, make it larger and get their attention. Once they see us you’ll need to lay down and out of the line of fire; against this wall. When they stop the truck, they’ll both get out and as they do, Little Wolf and I’ll be waiting for them behind the wheels.”
“What about the car that’s following us?” Ariel asked.
“Little Wolf and I will drive the truck away. If they drive alongside us then we’ll shoot them,” Tatiana said.
“How, you don’t have guns,” Andy said.
“We’ll take care of that,” Little Wolf answered
“What if something goes wrong and you can’t overpower them?” Ariel asked.
“Then we’ll likely fail and we’ll all die but were going to die anyway if we don’t do something,” Tatiana said.
“Your timing will have to be perfect,” Jozette said.
“Well, no
one is suggesting it’s going to be easy, Mom,” Little Wolf remarked.
“No, I suppose not,” Jozette said.
“Alright, get in position and be ready,” Tatiana said. They all laid down with Justin on top of Gabby and Andy with Beth. Tatiana pried opened the hole to about a foot wide and a foot high. The driver and passenger couldn’t see them routinely since there was no inside rearview mirror because of the trailer. Tatiana began pounding on the wall of the trailer and the driver felt the vibration, heard it and they looked back and saw Tatiana staring at them and smiling. The truck slowed quickly and neared stopping as Little Wolf and Tatana readied to jump through the holes. When it stopped, they jumped through the openings they’d made. Ariel scrambled behind Tatiana and followed her. There was no time for Tatiana to tell Ariel to go back. Both men pulled guns and headed for the back. Little Wolf tripped his as he went by and quickly clubbed him on the head and grabbed his gun. Tatiana tackled her guy but he fought back and he was no little guy. The gun fell on the ground and Ariel picked it up. Tatiana was losing the fight to a big man so Ariel shot him in the head.
“Quick get in the truck, “Little Wolf said and Tatiana pushed Ariel in the middle of the cab and got behind the wheel. She pulled away and got up speed as fast as she could. The car had just pulled up behind as Tatiana was gathering momentum. Two men had gotten out and were chasing the truck on foot. Little Wolf opened the window and shot the one in his side and chest and he was dead. The one on the driver’s side was getting closer. Little Wolf opened the door of the truck and climbed on the back of the cab. When the guy came within view, he shot him in the head.
“That’s two less,” Little Wolf said as she sat down again. Ariel looked at him in disbelief.
“Thanks for saving my life,” Tatiana said to Ariel.
“You’re welcome but you’ve saved mine more times than I can remember.”
“Maybe I’ll have a chance again some time.”
“I killed a man,” Ariel said.
“He was bad,” Tatiana said.
“Does that make it okay?” Ariel asked.
“It does for me,” Tatiana said as she was intent on their pursuers
“They’re coming up beside us,” Little Wolf said.
“Good, that’ll make it easy.” The car, now with two men was trying to get past the semi and get a shot at Tatiana. If they killed the driver the truck would probably crash and they could easily kill everyone inside. They were driving on a stretch of road that had steep embankments on both sides…about two hundred feet actually so, Tatiana was being very careful with a top-heavy vehicle and very little experience driving a tractor-trailer.
“They’re right, there, Miss Tatiana,” Little Wolf said. A shot rang out and bounced off the outside mirror. Tatiana held the wheel steady. Little Wolf climbed on the back of the truck but they began shooting at him and he was grazed slightly on the temple. He went back inside.
“I’m glad he’s not a better shot.”
“Are you okay?” Ariel asked.
“I’m fine, just a flesh wound.”
“They’re still coming,” Tatiana said as the car was now even with the cab. “Hang on,” she said as she slowly moved the cab to the left and clipped the car. The weight of a semi to a small car is like a shotput to a marble. Given the principle of momentum the car bounced off the truck but the truck didn’t move. The driver lost control and plummeted over the side of the hill and crashed below. Tatiana slowed down to about ten miles an hour and took a deep breath. It was an isolated stretch of Indiana highway with no traffic at all late at night, in fact, it was about five-thirty in the morning and the sun was just starting to rise.
“We need to check on them,” Little Wolf said.
“Yeah but I need a place to stop.”
“There’s a rest stop up ahead, we may be in luck,” Little Wolf said.
“I’ll see if I can stop this thing,” Tatiana said as she pulled in and found a spot. There were only two other trucks and one was just starting to leave for the day. It pulled out as they got out of the cab. “That’s good; the less people around us the better.”
“Let’s be on the lookout for the person in that cab,” Little Wolf said pointing to the other truck, they went around and opened the trailer. There were squinting eyes and people with sore knees, elbows, etc. They’d been rattled around a little during the chase.
“Is it over?” Justin asked with a grin as he walked up to them holding his back.
“It’s just starting,” Tatiana said. “Is everyone okay?”
“We’re fine, I think,” Andy said as he looked around at the others and they had nothing bad to report.
“What happened?” Dave asked.
“We’ll tell you later,” Little Wolf said.
“Right now, you need to get out and use the restroom facilities and get a drink of water,” Tatiana said.
“Brave, you’re hurt,” Julieta said as she jumped out and went up to her husband.
“I’m fine.”
“It’s bleeding…we heard shots. Were you hit?”
“It grazed me but we have bigger problems.”
“After you’re all done we need to gather and talk,” Tatiana said.
“I can’t go on without Will,” Lexi said as she leaned against the truck.
“Mom, I’m scared too but you have to take care of yourself. We’ll find Daddy,” Darcy said.
“Baby, come on we’ll go together,” Jozette said as she and Belinda walked Lexi to the bathroom. Once inside Lexi went to the bathroom washed her hands then standing, leaning on the sink she broke down and cried. Jozette and Belinda held her but there was no stopping her until she’d exhausted the emotion. Finally, she stood up took a deep breath and washed her face.
“I’m okay now…I’m just so scared I’ll never see Will or Zara again.”
“We know,” Belinda said.
“Maybe things can work out,” Jozette said as they walked out of the bathroom.
“Mom,” Darcy said and hugged Lexi. They embraced for a time then let go. I’m okay, now, baby.”
“Where’s Daddy?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he isn’t a part of our life in this new world.”
“But he is a part of our life.”
“I know that but right now he’s gone. Maybe we can find him. We won’t stop trying until we do, and Zara,” Lexi said.
“I love you, Mom,” Darcy said and hugged Lexi again.
“We’ll help you find your, dad,” Andy said as he patted Darcy’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Mr. Andy.”
“You’re welcome, kiddo.”
“Who are you people?” A voice said and they turned to see a man standing a few feet away. The door to the other truck was open and they knew it was the driver.
“Who are you?”
“No, I asked you first.”
“We’re sort of on the run,” Little Wolf said.
“Oh, yeah, well, they’re relentless. If they know you’re here. They’ll find you.”
“Who?”
“Who…surely you know that. The SS; they’re everywhere.”
“What do you do?” Andy asked.
“Truck driver, obviously.”
“What’re you carrying?”
“Food.”
“What kind of food?” Tatiana asked.
“Sandwiches, chips, soda…the usual. I supply café’s, hot dog stands and the like.”
“Could we buy some food from you?” Jozette asked.
“If you’ve got the money.” Dave handed the man a few twenties.
“What’re these?”
“Twenty-dollar bills, surely you’ve seen those,” Dave said.
“Oh, yeah, in antique stores but we stopped using these many years ago; before I was born.”
“What’s used now?” Andy asked.
“This,” the man said and handed Justin a bill.
“Ten marks,” Justin read.
“So, they switched fro
m dollars to marks,” Dave remarked.
“Yes, like I said many years ago.”
“Do they still take these?” Andy asked.
“No, they have no value,” the man said.
“Then we can’t pay you, sorry for your trouble,” Justin said. The man handed back the twenties to Dave.
“Mama, I’m hungry,” Gabby said.
“Me too, Mommy,” Beth added. The man looked around and saw people who looked tired, hungry and kind of at the end of their rope. Justin handed back the ten-mark bill.
“Follow me,” he said and he opened the back of his truck and climbed up on a ladder. A couple of guys climb up here.” Justin, Andy and Dave followed. “Why do you have that old money and what’re you doing?” He asked as he unlocked a wire door that held food items.
“You wouldn’t believe us if we told you,” Dave said.
“But you’re on the run?”
“Yes,” Justin said.
“Well, I hate those Nazi bastards so anything I can do to thwart the SS is alright with me.” He handed them several boxes of food and drinks. With no money you’ll get hungry so take all of this. It should hold you for a few days. Here, take these.”
“What is this?” Andy asked.
“A case of backpacks. You can put the food in there. You’ll need to abandon this truck and go overland. They can track it, in fact, I need to get going before they catch me helping you.”
“Thanks for all this,” Dave said as they climbed out of the truck.
“My pleasure…good luck.
“Here,” Dave said and handed the man a gold pocket watch.
“What’s this?”
“My grandfather gave this to me when I was ten years old. He thought I was responsible enough to take care of it.”
