“Oh, you are a brave soul,” Viktor responded.
Adie signaled Viktor that they needed to talk.
“You will excuse us, Colonel,” Viktor said.
The colonel gave a nod, and Viktor joined Adie on the other side of the chamber.
“What is it?” Viktor asked in a low tone.
“You said there are a lot of nerves in the shoulder. That shrapnel looks deep. The pain will be severe. Shouldn’t we use morphine?”
Viktor frowned and took on a serious tone. “We only have a dozen syrettes left…. Yes, this will be very painful, but you and I have seen much worse and may again, very soon.”
“But Viktor, look at all the Americans have done to help us in this war...and didn’t we get some of those syrettes from the American airdrop? Why can’t we say ‘thank you’ in this way, just this one time?”
Viktor’s expression eased as he reflected. “Yes, yes...okay—just this once. Now listen to me. I have cleaned and sterilized a pair of regular pliers. I’m afraid they’re your best option. Just remember, bite down on the metal as tightly as you can, and yank straight up.” He cautioned her again. “Straight up and hard.” He turned and left the room.
Adie returned and prepared the colonel for the extraction. “If you will lie down on your stomach, I’ll cut your uniform back a little more and clean the wound.”
Viktor returned with the morphine.
“We are going to give you some morphine to dull the pain,” Adie said.
“No,” Colonel Bogie protested. “I don’t want to take your morphine. You may need it later.”
Viktor displayed a rare respectful smile, looked intently at Adie, and said, “You translate my words—my words exactly.”
Adie agreed.
“Now Colonel, this nice young lady has fought hard for the honor of making this gesture of thanks for all the American sacrifices during this war. Tell me, you’re not going to disappoint her?”
Colonel Bogie considered for a moment, clenched his eyes shut, and said, “Oh, for Pete’s sake, how can I say no to that!”
They all laughed, and Viktor administered the drug.
# # # Thirty Minutes Later > > >
“I think he’s ready,” Viktor said.
“Oh, yeah,” Colonel Bogie affirmed, feeling no pain.
Viktor placed one hand between the colonel’s shoulder blades and the other on his upper left arm, slowly increasing downward pressure.
Adie opened the jaws of the pliers, moved in close, and carefully clamped down on the protruding fragment. After a brief glance at her mentor, she took a deep breath and pulled straight up with all her might.
The colonel gave out a loud groan and laid motionless.
Adie passed the pliers and piece of metal to Viktor. To her relief, the resistance was less than expected.
“Good work,” Viktor said. “But he’s starting to bleed now. Let’s get some pressure on that.”
# # # The Next Morning > > >
Adie got up early after a sleepless night, eager to check on her patient.
When she walked into the main chamber, Colonel Bogie was sitting up, alert and revived, his arm in a sling. Aside from the heavy stubble on his face, he looked every bit the American pilot—tightly cropped hair, sturdy frame, and strong jaw line. “And a cheery good morning to you, Miss Adie,” he said, doing his best to mask the pain.
Adie’s sweet smile reflected an obvious appreciation for his kind attention. “Good morning, Colonel,” she replied in a caring tone. “You look much better this morning. How do you feel?”
“Peachy,” he said with enthusiasm.
“Peachy?” she echoed, confused.
“Yeah, peachy. You know...fine.”
“Oh, I understand. That’s good!”
“I really appreciate what you two did. Ya know, I didn’t even feel the stitches.”
“Well, I’m afraid we haven’t done that just yet. The fragment went deep, and we need to leave it open for a few days to heal. We don’t want it to become infected.”
Colonel Bogie raised his eyebrows. “Ah…, good idea.”
“Why don’t I have a look?” She carefully removed the blood-soaked dressing to reveal a deep gash. “I see the bleeding has slowed, but we need to keep up the pressure. When I put on the new dressing, I’m going to place your arm sling over it to hold it in place. I think it would help if you let the weight of your arm pull down on the sling. That will hold the bandage tight and help slow the bleeding some.”
“Makes sense,” the colonel said, impressed with her logic.
Approaching footsteps echoed in the main passage. The unit commander entered the chamber. “And how is our guest this morning?” he called out in a loud, gregarious voice. “Better, I hope.”
Adie translated.
“Fine, sir,” Colonel Bogie said. “And to whom do I owe the pleasure?”
Commander Bursik stepped forward and took the colonel’s hand. “Andrej Bursik, partisan commander, at your service.”
To which, the colonel responded, “Nathan D. Bogie, Colonel, US Army-Air Force.”
“Well, my friend, we are happy that you dropped in. Are they treating you well?”
“Couldn’t ask for better.”
The commander yelled across the chamber to the cook. “Leona, how’s the food coming?”
“Almost ready,” she yelled back.
Turning back to the colonel, he said, “You look a little pale, my friend, but very good, considering.”
“Yes, I did lose a little blood, but thanks to your fine medical staff,” he said, indicating Adie, “I’m on the mend.”
Adie helped Colonel Bogie to the makeshift dining table, and the cook brought the food.
“My sentries gave me a full report. They say your plane exploded. I understand you were the pilot.”
“Yes, we took flack coming off the target; lost all the instruments. Then a small fire started in the back. When we couldn’t control it, I gave the order to bail out, but I think I waited too long. I only saw two other chutes.”
Commander Bursik nodded his agreement. “My sentries confirm three, including yours. How many on your crew?”
“Ten...ten fine men,” the colonel said with a pained expression.
“A terrible loss,” the commander said, dreading the next question.
“Any word on the other two?” the colonel asked.
“I’m afraid I must add to your sadness, my friend—we found them both. One died from shrapnel wounds, like yours; the other hit a tree in the high winds and broke his neck. We buried them on the mountain.”
Colonel Bogie looked at the floor, dejected. “So I was the only survivor,” he said, eyes watering. “I’ll never forgive myself.”
Commander Bursik, feeling his pain, said, “This is war, my friend. What do you Americans say? ‘War is hell.’ Well, war is hell. The most horrible things happen. No one plans them. No one is perfect. We just do the best we can. The rest we leave with God.”
“It should have been me,” the colonel said, full of remorse.
“But it wasn’t you. You must believe that God spared you for a reason. Eat now. You will need your strength. We have prepared a room for you down the tunnel. Adie will show you later. We have placed your men’s side arms, clothing, and personal things there.”
“They weren’t buried in their uniforms?”
“No, my friend; clothing is too valuable and difficult to come by. We didn’t bury the German patrol in their uniforms either. When winter comes, you will understand.”
“I do understand.”
“You are not angry?”
“No, sir...you did what you thought was right. But if it doesn’t cause a problem, I would like to decide who gets their things.”
“Of course...of course. Now perhaps after you eat, Adie will take you outside for some sun and a little of our fresh mountain air.”
# # # Fifteen Minutes Later > > >
Adie sat next to Colo
nel Bogie on a fallen tree not far from the cave entrance. “So where is your base?” she asked.
Colonel Bogie smiled. “Now Miss Adie, I’m really not supposed to discuss things like that with foreign nationals, but since you’re a fellow New Yorker, if you promise to keep everything to yourself….”
She gave a quick nod. “Oh, yes, I will.”
“Then, I’m from Guilia Air Field, in southern Italy. I’m a squadron commander there.”
“Oh, how interesting,” Adie said, relishing the colonel’s confidence. “Where did you go on your mission?”
“Well, there was a panzer factory not too far north of here. I say ‘was’ because it no longer exists. We plastered it.”
“Then your crew did not die in vain. You must be proud of them.”
“Yes, very...I just wish I could have saved them.”
Sensing his discomfort, Adie changed the subject. “And how many children do you have?”
“I have two boys, twelve and fourteen, and of course, Rachel. She’s seventeen.”
“Oh, she’s a year older than me.”
“And she’s very much like you—thoughtful and kind, with a sweet personality.”
Adie blushed and turned away.
# # #
“A few days later, Col. Bogie’s wound had healed sufficiently for stitches,” Ari said. “Commander Bursik encouraged him to build up his stamina if he had any hopes of returning to his unit. So the colonel began to accompany Adie on her visits to the sentry posts—short distances at first—but before long the walks were quite strenuous.”
“So was he supposed to walk out of Czechoslovakia alone?” Merrick asked.
“Not exactly…. There were a few resistance fighters, mainly French, who acted as messengers, carrying news of the war between France and Eastern Europe. On their way back to France, sometimes they served as guides and a way out for downed airmen. The commander was expecting a man to arrive sometime in September; thus the interest in improving the colonel’s condition.”
“But what of Adie? The whole time we were watching those sequences, I was thinking how she had no news of her family, no idea that her parents were killed.”
“Yes—and a good point. After staying a few months at home with his family, Pesche returned to Hungary to tell the Behrs about Adie, as promised. But when he arrived, the ghetto was empty. The Nazis had deported the entire population to Auschwitz.”
Merrick cringed.
“Yeah, and as if that wasn’t enough, the details of the reprisal executions were still fresh in the minds of the townspeople. So Pesche carried the information up to Adie, arriving the first week in September, a few days after the colonel’s stitches came out.”
CHAPTER 20
> > >
Adie and Colonel Bogie stood opposite Pesche just inside the cave entrance as Adie pressed for news of her family.
Pesche’s expression was grave.
“What is it?” Adie asked. “You’re scaring me.”
Pesche stood silent for a moment and then began. “I have walked many miles thinking of what words to say. I don’t know how.” He frowned, looking at the cave floor and then back at Adie. “I will tell you what I—”
“No Pesche...in English, so the colonel can hear.”
Pesche nodded and continued in broken English. “Few days before you leave ghetto, Jewish partisans attack Gestapo train, east of Kopasvar. They free all Jews...kill Gestapo guards. Nazis in Kopasvar get news next day—very mad. Your parents arrest same day. Commandant very angry about train; decide to strike at Jews in ghetto. Next day he take everyone from jail and shoot. Your parents,” Pesche said, distraught, “your parents they shoot, too.”
Adie recoiled in shock. “My brothers! What about my brothers!” She was frantic—eyes wide open, struggling with reality.
Deeply tormented, Pesche responded. “Nazis take everyone to Auschwitz.” He broke eye contact.
Adie was paralyzed, blood draining from her head. Colonel Bogie, who had been watching her closely, moved forward to support her as she passed out. Pain shot through his shoulder. “Oh, for crying-out-loud!” he groaned, looking at Pesche. “Give me a hand, will you?”
Pesche lunged forward to assist.
“Where can we take her?” the colonel yelled to the cook.
“Our room,” the cook shouted, rushing to lend a hand.
They carried Adie the short distance down the passage to a small alcove and laid her on her cot. Colonel Bogie made her as comfortable as possible and took a seat on a nearby rock.
Pesche’s face was full of grief. “I did—not so good—wrong words.”
Colonel Bogie stood and patted Pesche on the back. “That’s okay, old boy. There’s just no good way to say such things. I couldn’t have done better. Sometimes it’s just best to get it right out.”
Pesche seemed to appreciate the colonel’s calming tone, and after some coaxing, he left with the cook for something to eat. As they departed, Commander Bursik walked in.
“What is this?” he said, in English only slightly better than Pesche’s.
“She fainted,” the colonel said.
“Fainted? Why?”
“Bad news, I’m afraid. The Nazis killed her parents, and her brothers have been taken to a prison camp...Auschwitz.”
The commander shook his head. “Not good…. Bad place...many Jews die there. Partisans say bad smells come from smokestacks. Jews go in—none come out.”
“We’ve heard similar stories,” Colonel Bogie confirmed. “One can only imagine what goes on in places like that. I think we had better win this war, and soon.”
“On this, we agree,” the commander said and changed the subject. “You want food? Cook is ready.”
“No, thanks. Thought I’d stay here for a while. She’ll need someone to talk to.”
“Ah, yes…. I will leave you.” He tipped his hat and stepped out.
Colonel Bogie turned his attention back to Adie as she began to stir. The dim light coming from the passage was enough for him to see tears tracking down her cheek. She remained silent, staring at the ceiling. The colonel uttered three words, “I am here,” and then fell silent.
# # #
Ari turned to Merrick, who had been engrossed in the imagery. “She wept, off and on, for the next few hours. From time to time, Col. Bogie would pat her on the shoulder but never said a word. I had the distinct impression he’d been through this before. It wasn’t until the cook brought in a tin of water and some warm vegetables that the colonel spoke up and persuaded her to eat. I think she agreed out of respect for his wishes more than anything. It was so sad to watch. Her sobbing made eating difficult. A little later, the cook came back and relieved the colonel for the evening.
“Next morning, Pesche stopped in to say goodbye and left for home. There was nothing more he could do.
“Col. Bogie attended to Adie for a good portion of the next few days, offering consolation and whatever wisdom he could. Finally, he spoke with Commander Bursik, and they decided that the best thing might be to get her back to work. So once again they assigned her to help with the colonel’s physical conditioning. On one of their hikes, they had a conversation I thought you should see.”
> > >
It was mid-day as they walked a trail some distance east of the command post. Colonel Bogie glanced up at the sun and wiped his brow. The terrain leveled for a short distance, and a fallen tree lay ahead, just off the path.
“What do you say we sit and rest a minute?” the colonel suggested, and they turned aside.
Adie sat hunched over, elbows on her knees, face buried in her hands.
“You all right?” the colonel asked.
She slowly shook her head and began to sob.
Colonel Bogie allowed her a moment, and said, “Adie, you are hurting in ways I can’t imagine...and I want more than anything to help, but there’s just nothing I can do to make this right; nothing anyone can do. What has happened to you is unimaginable. This
is a God-sized problem, and He may well be the only one who can fix it. Have you tried praying?”
She shook her head.
“Would you like me to pray for you, right now?”
Adie sat up and wiped her face on her sleeve. “You will pray for me?” she said with a half-smile.
“It would be my honor to pray for you, Miss Adie. But when I do, I want you to believe that God is listening and that He is able to heal anything we bring to Him. Can you do that for me?”
Adie gave a nod. “I’ll try….”
Colonel Bogie took her hand, and they bowed their heads. “Dear Father in heaven, You know all things; nothing escapes You. And we know that You care for each of us down here on this Earth. You care for me, and You care for my friend. Now Lord, You know what’s happened, and I know it grieves You deeply, more deeply than we will ever know. It’s just hard for us to make sense of it. So many have lost their lives in this senseless war; sadness upon sadness. Yet we know You have put each one of us here for a purpose. I have a purpose, and my friend has a purpose, and I thank You for sparing our lives to serve You, even if only for a little while longer. But it can be so hard to serve when we carry these burdens. My dear sister has taken on burdens that no one should bear, and she needs relief. I pray with all my heart that You would lift this weight from her shoulders, and leave her with peace and joy in her heart, knowing that You are in control of all things and that there is a reason for everything, both the good and the bad. Show her in very real ways just how much she is loved by You and by those around her. And more than anything, give her the ability to forgive those who have sinned against her. Free her from all bitterness, and help her to find joy in this life, for there is much joy to be found. God bless us and all of those in harm’s way. Put a hedge around us, keep us safe, and bring us safely through, Amen.”
Adie turned and buried her face in the colonel’s chest.
“There now...there now,” he said, patting her back.
He gave her a moment to recover....
“So...you feeling any better?” he asked.
“Uh-huh... Thank you. That was very kind.” She sat up. “No one has ever done that for me.”
“Well, I was happy to…. Want to move on?”
With a nod, Adie rose, and they continued up the trail.
# # #
“You know, it amazes me,” Merrick said, “that a man whose work involves killing people can be so sensitive and caring.”
Ari reflected for a moment. “I’m sure he views his work as necessary, in order to prevent a tyrant like Hitler from ruling the world. That has to ease his conscience some.”