The Longboats
Chapter 19

Fiete and Oswald met in the center of their lines where their two armies linked up to form the main battle line. Each one was curious as to what the Norse King would either give to the Greeks or take away. Would he keep the prisoners to use on rebuilding their land or would he let them go? Both sat sipping tea and staring at the radio with their aids around them awaiting the messages from the Norse King.

“I got a message to hold position until further orders.” Oswald said as he sipped his tea and watched the radio operator.

“I did too,” Fiete said. “So....we just wait.”

Gerhold and Major John Welsh were behind their lines waiting in the center of the command post, watching the radios, waiting for the Norse Kings message.

“Major Welsh? I have a question.” Gerhold asked in his rough German accent. “What the hell happened to the Romans? They just seemed to have fallen off the edge of the world.”

Major Welsh chuckled then looked at Gerhold with a smile.

“We pushed them off Dunkirk so they made a run back to England. When they arrived there were nearly ten thousand Englishmen waiting for them. Most were slaughtered but some were taken prisoner I heard and put to work in the fields and mines.”

“So they are no threat to us anymore?” Gerhard asked as he sipped his tea.

“Apparently not. I haven’t been back to survey the situation but from my sources, no. They are no longer a threat.”

“Good. I don’t want to have to watch my back when and if this thing is over.”

The Skipper and I went to the train station to catch the next train towards the front but found it was not there. Mac was on the platform yelling commands to dozens of workers stacking up boxes of supplies to be loaded as soon as it arrived.

“Mac!” The Skipper yelled as we approached through the crowded station.

“Skipper!” He smiled and pushed his way towards us. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We need to get to the front and accept the Greeks surrender. Where’s the damn train?” I asked.

“It’s late. Just got word they had to stop for water and coal so it’s going to be late. Besides. When it gets here we have to load all this gear for the front or our troops won’t eat.”

“Well how are we supposed to get to the front?” The Skipper asked.

“We could fly!” I said with a smile. “Gives me an excuse to get back in the air.”

“Oh HELL no!” The Skipper said as he looked at me as if I were crazy. "I can fly..by myself! Getting in that with seater with you would give me a heart attack."

“Why not use one of my latest trucks. Fresh off the assembly line.” He waved his hand to the road behind the crowd.

We moved among the busy workers to the edge of the platform and there sat five trucks with canvas covers over the beds ’making them look like covered wagons. They looked like a cross between an old nineteen-fifty Chevy and a model ‘T’.

“Who designed these things anyway? They look like something from a Bugs Bunny cartoon!” The Skipper laughed.

“Oh!” Mac laughed loudly. “That would be Greg.” He continued to laugh as we looked at them.

“Well. How are they? I mean, will they work better than they look?” I asked.

“Oh yeah!” Mac said as he led us to them. “They are standard transmission, four speed and great on gas too.” He opened the driver’s door and jumped in to start it.

“Well. It sounds good.” I said as the Skipper opened the hood to look at the engine.

“It’s a straight six?” He said as he looked at Mac.

“Yeah. Much easier and quicker to make. Not as much power as a slant six but it’ll get you where you want to go.” Mac got out and moved to the front, pointing out several items he said he modified in the engineering of it.

“Mac. You never cease to amaze me.” The Skipper said with a smile.

“Well, Gunny. Hope in!”

“So you’re driving?” I asked.

“Yep. I want one of these things too, Mac. Can you do that?”

“Sure Skipper. I’ll let Greg know. Any color in particular?”

“You mean you have other colors? Not just Marine Corps green?” He asked with a smile and Mac just smiled back.

“In that case I want a bright red one.” He looked at the hood of the truck. “With yellow trim.”

“Marine Corps colors I see.” Mac smiled. “Will do, Skipper. And you guys have a safe trip. You’ll have to watch the roads. They are not in the best of shape these days.”

“Thanks, Mac. See you when we get back.” I told him and jumped into the passenger’s side and we were off.

Sigrun and Ralf sat on top of the hill near the artillery that over looked the entire area for miles. They could see the ocean to their right and their trenches in front that stretched further than one could see to the left.

“It sure is quiet.” Sigrun said as they sipped tea sitting near a small fire.

“Yes it is. And this fire seems out of place.” He threw another small piece of wood into the fire as sparks flew into the darkening sky.

“Right. Haven’t seen a fire around her for over a year now. Damn Greek artillery would have killed us by now.” Ralf said as he looked over the land below them and the crawling darkness of night as it approached, then at the number of other fires from the troops below.

Sigrun pointed to their left below them.

“Look. You can see the Greek prisoners down there. What are they doing?”

They could see hundreds moving away from the staging point they were in, walking back towards their lines as if in slow motion.

“I guess they were let go. Our guys aren’t mowing them down with machine gun fire so it must be an orderly retreat.” Ralf said as they both sat watching them in the growing darkness.

“Message from the rear.” A runner handed a scrap of paper to Sigrun who read it silently at first.

“It says the King will be here by tomorrow and wants us to accompany him and the Skipper to accept the Formal Surrender of the Greeks.”

Ralf took a sip of his tea and nodded.

“I like this King. He doesn’t take everything away from us like others have.”

We had to drive all that day and through the night to reach the front lines and the road was full of pot holes and wash outs. I made a mental note to create more road crews to repair all roads and keep them in good shape in the future.

“How’s your ass?” The Skipper asked as we pulled onto a road that lead to the main command post.

“Numb!” I said as I shifted position again.

To our front was standing General Hendricks with a cup of tea and a smile. He looked tired and dirty but stood erect and saluted as we exited the truck. The Skipper and I saluted back then I rubbed my butt with a groan and the General laughed.

“Oh! I’m not laughing at you Gunny but that truck is....well...” He continued to laugh.

“Like a Bugs Bunny cartoon?” I asked and he nodded.

“Hay!” The Skipper yelled with a smile. “I have one of these on order so don’t laugh until you try it.”

“I have to admit. It’s a hell of a truck and takes punishment like nothing I have ever seen.” I said.

We followed him to his communications center that was now housed in several large tents with wires and antennas in every place imaginable.

“Welcome to our brain center.” He said, then pointed towards the front.

“The Greek General is that way with his troops.” He pointed. “I have guards on them twenty-four hours and some have left to go home but the majority is still here.”

“Fine, General. I want to meet with him and take his formal surrender but I want Ralf and Sigrun here before we start. Have you seen them yet?” I asked.

Just as I said that I saw both of them walking through the camp towards us.

“Sigrun! Ralf!” I yelled and went to meet them with handshakes.

“How long has it been guys?” I asked them both as they smiled and shook my hand warmly.

“WOW! I don’t even know!” Ralf said with a smile. “I always read your messages and even heard you on the radio once but it’s been months.”

“About seven months I think.” Sigrun said with a smile through his heavy, dirty beard.

“You guys look like crap! Didn’t the engineers set up a shower for you?” I asked.

“Leadership is heavy, Gunny. Didn’t have time to even get close to it.” Ralf said as he tried to brush dried mud from his sleeve.

“Well. We have to go see that Greek General and I suppose he is in worse shape than you two are.” I said as I led them away from the command center.

Nice uniform, by the way, Gunny." Sigrun said.

I heard the sound of aircraft engines so I stopped to look up. Overhead was a flight of six Albatross fighters in ‘V’ formation flying towards the front. I watched them as they flew on then took a deep breath wishing I was with them right now. The thrill of flight was unlike anything in the world for those that have done it and these bi-planes were the well-kept secret of flight. I took another deep breath and pressed onward to see the Greek General.

He was sitting on a three legged stood near a small fire sipping tea when we arrived. When he saw us, he and his staff of a dozen or so other officers stood at attention and saluted. Their uniforms were filthy and tattered but they tried to put everything in place to make as best an appearance as possible. I returned their salute and put them at ease as I moved closer and extended my hand in friendship.

“General!” He said to me with a tired smile.

“General Panagiotakis. I am pleased to finally meet you.” I said and he looked surprised that I pronounced his name correctly.

“General Gunny! I am honored.” He bowed slightly then stood erect.

“Please, have a seat.” I offered him a chair rather than the stood he was sitting on then both of our group of officers gathered around us.

“I am here to accept the formal surrender of your army.” I said bluntly. “Do you offer your surrender?”

“Yes I do, sir. I have sent word to all my commands along the entire front to lay down their weapons and that includes the artillery, the air forces and the Navy.”

“Then why did the Greek dreadnought continue the fight?” I asked, looking into his eyes for the answer.

“That was not my doing, sir. That was a stalwart from Greece. A man that was sent by the Pope to continue the fight but I have word that he was killed in the counter attack.”

“By the Pope?” I asked. “What will he do now that you have surrendered his army?”

He sat looking at the ground for several seconds before he answered.

“I think he will gather another army, from where I do not know but I think he will continue the war against you.” His face seemed haggard.

“Why?” I simply could not understand. “The war is over. It was a war WE did not want. A war your government created against us. And now that we have won he would continue it and cause more death?”

The General nodded without looking at me.

“It pains me to say that, sir. I do not want to continue this war. All I want is to get my family and live in peace. “ He said with a deep sigh.

“I will accept your surrender, sir. And I will help you get your family out of Greece so you may live here among us in peace.”

He looked up at me with wide, tired eyes.

“You would do that?” He asked.

“Of course. We are not animals as you have been told. And we do not kill women and children OR burn their villages to the ground as your men have done. If you give me your oath to live in peace with us, you are welcomed to stay here.”

He nodded in agreement with a slight smile.

“I understand the meaning of your oath your people give. To us it would be a deadly sin to break, punishable by death.” He said.

“Now, for your troops. We have let some go home if they wish, the others may stay here to live...BUT! They will all have to give their oath to us they will live in peace among us.” I said as I looked into his eyes again looking for anything that would betray him. “This oath is punishable by death if they break it.”

“I understand. A man is only as good as his word.” He said. “How will my men be introduced into your society? Some are from France and others are from around the known world and even among my own troops we do not all speak the same language.”

“That’s simple. They will learn our language if they want to live among us. They will all get jobs, which are plentiful now days and they will earn a living. All of them will contribute something to society if they wish to live here.” I told him bluntly.

“I agree, sir. So when may we start to immigrate into your world?” He asked.

I turned to General Hendricks and the Skipper.

“How will you make this happened, gentlemen?” I asked.

“I’ve been going over plans with Ralf and I think we can make it happen within a few days, “Sigrun said from behind me.

I nodded then stood.

“Sigrun, Ralf. Get with the Skipper on this and let me know your particulars. We need to get these men off the battle filed so we can start clean up. Planting season will be on us soon and I want all this planted over.” I stood, extending my hand to the General as he slightly bowed at me, and then stood erect again.

I turned to Sigrun, Hendricks, Ralf and the Skipper, pulling them away from the Greek Generals hearing range.

“I want forces kept on this line twenty-four seven, gentlemen! I also want airfields in place and manned, twenty-four seven, understand?” I looked each one in their eyes.

“From what the General said, his boss will not stop this war and I will NOT be caught with our pants down. So a full one-hundred percent watch goes into effect as of now!”

I turned to the Skipper.

“You need to replace the second in command of the Navy and let him know to keep patrolling the seas and keep on the watch for Greek dreadnoughts.”

“Yes, sir!” The Skipper said as he stood there watching me. It was then I noticed that this was the first time he had ever called me sir!

“The rest of you get the word out and, Skipper. Get me the air wing on a line so I can brief them. Now let’s get these Greek prisoners out of here, spread them out in our towns so they don’t gather in one spot. And see what we can do to get General Panagiotakis family out of Greece and over here.”

I turned to take a deep breath as I surveyed the area around me.

“We have a lot of work to do guys. Spread the word and the work around. Let’s get moving on it.” I walked away toward the rear of the lines. I wanted to replace the airfield so I could fly an airplane back home. I didn’t think my butt could take the ride back.