Rhineland Inheritance by T. Davis Bunn Page B

unloaded by jostling, sweating, shouting men. In the middle section a group ran to and fro, all carrying clipboards and pens, all pointing and shouting and counting and waving frantically for attention. Farther back, yet another group sectioned big piles of clothing and supplies into much smaller piles, tied them with string, and shoved them on—all the while sweating and screaming and pointing and grabbing for more of this or that. At the very far end, a calm group passed on the little tied parcels to a seemingly endless line of waiting refugees. With each package went a few kind words in a language most of therefugees did not understand. Jake thought the entire scene looked extremely French.
    The major immediately leapt into a swearing match with the two truck drivers. The pair gave as good as they got, at least in the beginning. But gradually they were whittled down to sulking submission. When the major turned away, the drivers retreated behind stinking French cigarettes and serious scowls.
    â€œThe major regrets he can only offer us the use of these two trucks,” Servais translated, wearing a lopsided grin.
    â€œFor what?” Jake demanded.
    â€œMy friend,” Servais said around his rictus grin, “I would strongly advise you to bow and give solemn thanks.”
    Major Gilbert wheeled about and paraded down the aisle, throwing grandiose gestures at the wealth stacked up around him. Pierre hustled alongside, dragging Jake with him, and translating, “All this has been entrusted to me for those in need. Inside or outside the wire, what does it matter? I feel I can trust you to give to those whose life might depend upon the giving. This trust is a rare and precious thing, and one which should be built upon.”
    Jake protested, “What about the refugees? Don’t they need this stuff?”
    The major stopped, and replied solemnly through Pierre, “My detainees are being seen to. They are receiving clothes and food and medicine and shelter. The greatest of their needs, however, is not to be answered by what you see here. They need a home. They need freedom. They need a regime where they do not have to live in fear of the knock on their door. They need a country where the sky does not rain death.”
    Gilbert gave a magnificent shrug. “Alas, these things I cannot offer. So I feed the bodies, and hope that someone will arrive soon with a way to feed their souls.”
    ****
    Moments later, Jake and Pierre were in the jeep on theirway back to base, followed by their convoy of two borrowed trucks. “How could you do a thing like that?” Jake demanded.
    Servais was all innocence. “Like what?”
    â€œMake the major think I was playing Pied Piper to a townful of kids.”
    â€œAmazing what a desperate man is capable of,” Servais replied. “Until I hit on that, I was afraid the only way I could crack his armor was with a mortar shell.” For a change, Servais was keeping his speed down to a level that did not leave Jake gritting his teeth and hanging on for dear life. The pair of trucks grinding along behind were incapable of faster speed, loaded as heavily as they were.
    â€œOnly now it’s gone from three dozen kids to three hundred,” Jake complained. “I could throttle you.”
    â€œI would advise you not to try, my friend.”
    â€œYeah, I saw what you did to Connors’ goons. What was that?”
    In North Africa, I fought with a man from Thailand. A Frenchman by birth, but he had lived most of his life in Indochina. He taught me.”
    â€œIt’s impressive to watch.”
    â€œFor a while we weren’t sure they were going to let us fight in the war,” Pierre said. “De Gaulle was always arguing, arguing, and for the longest time all we did was sit around and try to gather news of what was happening. The waiting was terrible.”
    â€œI’ve never been any good at that either,” Jake said.