Braasing the Bladunkers [Jonas]

[Niamh Dunlevy]

The Pavee laughed at Joe's comment on not being the same, but not cruelly. She was merely trying to help lighten the mood - there was a heaviness lying beneath the strange camaraderie between the two men. "Yeah, I know how t'at's like. I couldn'th sthop t'inkin' like t'at when I firsth joined up wit' t'e army, Corporal. Odd way 'ow life spins, isn'th it?"

Joe then went on to speak of how he thought he would never talk to a German again. Niamh raised her eyebrows, wondering what the American meant, but decided to not to voice her questions. Instead, she listened as he went on about how terrible the war was, nodding silently. Up until now, the Dunlevys had been lucky - only a few of their large family had fallen. The Corporal's next comment sent a shiver down her spine, and then, she suddenly looked surprised.

Adelheid. As in, Adelheid Bevan - at least, that's what her friend Stephen called the little girl. Wasn't Sergeant Bargett looking for Adelheid, who happened to be a German orphan? It couldn't be a coincidence...could it? If it was, then that was just eerie - it was like fate was slowly stringing them all together, through nothing more then a little girl....

Niamh suddenly snapped out of her train of thought, looking down at the crude drawing Joe was holding. The girl drew that for him? That was sweet of her. As untidy and wrinkled as the drawing was, the three figures still looked happy. Niamh wondered if the girl and Joe had been friends, but then decided it was most likely. It couldn't hurt to add then, that Sergeant Bargett was looking for her.

"Excuse me, sirs," said Niamh, keeping her voice low because of the other prisoners' stares, "but a man 'appens tho be lookin' for 'er. He's an American, a Sergeanth, sirs. He asked me tho do a lil' diggin', because t'e kid's been missin' since late May. Misther Merhoff, sir, 'ow do ya know liththle Adelheid? T'e Sergeanth an' a friend o' mine are worried somet'ing's happened to her, an' I promised tho 'elp 'em."

[Jonas Merhoff]

"It was something like that yes…her name was Adelheid…she spoke about meeting soldiers…Mac and Stephen…and…yeah, she was small with black hair…why do you know her?" Jonas lost his grip on the world and his eyes entered an unbreakable gaze at the American's lips. He wasn't completely sure what had happened to Addie after the incident, because after it happened he had been assigned on an important mission to Rocherath. And now he had ended up here in this miserable prison cell. How did a small girl have the power to the connect so many people and change them without even realizing it?

"She drew this, it’s of her, me and a friend Daniel Brennan, she sent it to me before she disappeared…" The Corporal waved the picture in front of him almost like he was taunting him. Jonas's eyes narrowed to make the final connection. That was her drawing alright, he had seen her handwriting and drawings in a diary she kept very close to her. Not enough to read it, but enough to recognize it at the very least. So what was going on here? Was it mere coincidence, fate, or something bigger?

Now the woman was speaking up, apparently concerned about the girl too. "Excuse me, sirs, said Niamh, keeping her voice low because of the other prisoners' stares, but a man 'appens tho be lookin' for 'er. He's an American, a Sergeanth, sirs. He asked me tho do a lil' diggin', because t'e kid's been missin' since late May. Misther Merhoff, sir, 'ow do ya know liththle Adelheid? T'e Sergeanth an' a friend o' mine are worried somet'ing's happened to her, an' I promised tho 'elp 'em." Jonas nodded his head now and thought for a second. He eyes gazed down at his scarred hand and then back up to the two odd people in front of him.

"I found her being beaten by a few Hitler Youth boys somewhere in France. I took her to a Doctor in the area and then let her stay with me. It was while she was recovering I learned she was some sort of orphan who had ran away from the Allies after they mistreated her." Jonas glanced to the other wall. "She basically changed my outlook on life you know? And that basically changed me. I was grateful to have met her, but then Erhard Strumfelder got involved. His reputation precedes him and I was suspicious at his arrival. He arrested me for 'treason' and I thought Addie was dead. I redeemed myself and eventually found out she was in fact alive and did my best to help her. Then Rocherath came. And now this. I don't know where she is anymore. " Jonas stopped. That was all they needed to know.

[Cpl. Joe Claude]

Niamh spoke; Joe looked over at her, ”Yes, odd.” he muttered, nodding as she spoke about life being odd. Joe’s attention now, was on the German, waiting for his reaction to the drawing. The man seemed to be staring at the Jew’s lips, Joe watched, awaiting an answer. Found beaten? Oh, god the poor girl! Who would beat up such a poor, defenceless human being? Hitler Youth boys by the sounds of things, actually, the Germans would have the skill and heart of stone to do that…

So, Jonas had just slipped a bit of information…Hitler Youth boys, he would have to go straight to Pattinson and tell him, the bastard Hitler was using boys…unbelievable. Joe quickly took out a notebook and pen, scribbling something down and then glanced back at Jonas as he continued his story.

”Fucking bastard.” Joe spat as Jonas mentioned Strumfelder’s name once more. ”So, the girl is somewhere in the heart of Germany, ah shit…” he glanced over at Niamh, and then back at his watch. He held the watch up to his ear, listening to the ticking…suddenly the ticking stopped. ”Broken.” he muttered as he stared helplessly at it.

”Looks like you are going to have to tell your Sergeant, Niamh, that his friend is lost, if Strumfelder has anything to do with this which it looks like he does, then I would say it’s a no hoper of finding the girl alive…I mean, I would have been killed right there and then in the torture room by Strumfelder if that other German doctor hadn’t stopped him, Strumfelder is a cruel, evil man…not to be messed with. Am I right?” he looked over at Jonas now, raising an eyebrow.

[Niamh Dunlevy]

It seemed as if the girl's fate had been sealed. Apparently, the evil creature that was "Erhard Strumfelder" had the little girl in his custody. The Volunteer could see how fondly the German officer spoke of the child, and she felt her heart sink at Joe's reply. But one could help for the best, couldn't they?

"Well, sirs," said Niamh, "we can only hope 'e'll thake mercy, buth from whath ye have thold me, ith does sound unlikely. Nonet'eless, Sergeanth Bargetth will wanth tho hear abouth t'is. T'anks, boys, fer informin' me o' t'is new developmenth."

For a moment, Niamh considered heading back up to the kitchens, knowing that the other women would probably begin worrying by now. Those that took their time down in the cells were usually in trouble; flirting with court-martialled soldiers was not unheard of. Besides, Section Leader fell was real whip-cracker, and liked to have everyone in their place. Even if one person - just one - wasn't there, then Fell would become the last person one would want to explain oneself to. However, she could not help but pause; something didn't feel quite right.

But she just shrugged it off, and began walking towards the entrance. She had opened the door and was on the other side, closing the door behind her to give Joe some privacy. However, her head quickly popped back in, followed by her body, and Niamh walked back down the row of cells.

"Almosth forgoth t'e thrays," the Pavee said, half to herself and half to the other soldiers. As cautiously as she could, she removed the trays from the cells, throwing a few glares here and there to keep the Germans back. Niamh took a minute to pause before Jonas's cell, checking to see if the tray was still there, and noticed that it wasn't. Looking over her shoulder, she frowned, realizing it was still in front of the stab-happy German's cell.

"Meh, I'll geth ith in a minuthe," Niamh muttered. Looking at Joe, and then at Jonas, Niamh then asked, "So, before I go, y'say m'people misthreated 'er? Y'mind elaborathin', sir?"

[Jonas Merhoff]

Jonas stared blankly as the conversation progressed, there wasn't much to add in as the two spoke. He simply nodded as he knew the conversation was coming to an end and finally it indeed did when the Irish woman began to leave to collect the trays. The Corporal mentioned something about Strumfelder being a sick bastard and Jonas smirked and nodded as his eyes glanced downward to his hands. A bastard indeed. Hellbent on getting what he wanted. No one taught him how to share in kindergarden. Then again, perhaps he was raised in the generation Hitler began to plague. No, he must have been older than that.

"Meh, I'll geth ith in a minuthe. So, before I go, y'say m'people misthreated 'er? Y'mind elaborathin', sir?" Jonas looked over now to the Irish woman who he had thought was already gone. He liked her, but not enough to expose every dirty little secret he knew. He had possibly exposed too much, but could always cover it up with a few cleverly placed words, the Geneva convention, and the fact there was a mad man loose killing little girls. One might expect Jonas to win in court. The Nazi court was different.

"She was beaten by some kids who thought she was some French girl who had wandered out past her curfew. She suffered a concussion, but recovered over the next few weeks. Strumfelder might have roughed her up a bit too, but she should be alright for the time being." That was enough for her to tell her friend. Sergeant Mac Bargett or whatever...wait a second. He recalled that name from somewhere. The bible! Now he remembered, in a long and drawn out game of cat and mouse the religious fanatic had bested him in the last second and tossed him a bible. Jonas had a mutual respect for the man these days even though beating and old man isn't the hardest thing to do, but at the time he treated the moment with harsh words and hatred. He had burned the bible a few days after he recovered.

So now his old "foe" was desperate for information on Adelheid. Hopefully, he would be able to bring down Strumfelder, possibly in public, which Jonas would never truly be able to do. The war criminal would have his fall some day. And hopefully some day soon. Running into a young orphan was possibly a fatal mistake he would soon regret. "If you would excuse me, It is getting late for me. It was nice meeting both of you." Jonas grinned and nodded his head at the two before turning to return to his simple cot. He truly meant it too.

[Daniel Brennan]

Mod-Post

CP:
Niamh: 12CP

Joe: 8CP

Jonas: None, but those were some very good posts (I was following this thread).


~Dan