OUT OF THE RUBBLE - 31
Copyright 2004 by Carl Mason
All rights reserved. Other than downloading one copy for strictly personal enjoyment, no part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, except for reviews, without the written permission of the author. Comments on the story are appreciated and may be addressed to the author at carl5de@netscape.net.
This story contains descriptions of sexual contact between a young adult male and young male teenagers. Nevertheless, "Out of the Rubble" is neither a strictly "suck and fuck" exercise nor is it a story that focuses on the "love of adults for the young"...often without sex or with the mere suggestion of sex. If you are looking for these types of erotic fiction, there are fine examples of each on Nifty. Something slightly different is required here.
However based on real events and places, "Out of the Rubble" is strictly fictional. Any resemblance to actual events, or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Further, this is homoerotic fiction designed for the personal enjoyment of legal, hopefully mature, adults. If you are not of legal age to read such material, if those in power and/or those whom you trust treat it as illegal, or if it would create unresolvable moral dilemmas in your life, please leave. Finally, remember that maturity generally demands that anything other than safe sex is sheer insanity!
Thank you, Ed C., for your devoted help on this section of the story!
PART 31
(Revisiting the End of Part 30)
As he rose to depart, Kurt cleared his throat. "One more thing, Andy. There are plenty of chances for likes to do things with likes, and that's fine. What's wrong with the football guys having a beer together or the goof-offs sponsoring an "Entertainment Night"? After major house events, however, it seems to me that we should emphasize being together more than breaking off into separate little 'parties'. We simply can't let DAS HAUS become divided again along gay-straight lines!" "I couldn't agree with you more, friend," Andy exclaimed. "Believe that you can count on my full support in the future." Both friends jostled each other and pounded a shoulder affectionately as Kurt left the room.
(Continuing Our Story: News of Death and Life)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tieferwald am Main (NBN) 8. April 1948 It was announced today by St. Peter's Hospital in Tieferwald that Frau Gertrude Goettingen, the widow of Herr Professor Doktor Emil Goettingen, noted scholar and author, died peacefully in her sleep at age 79. Frau Goettingen was respected throughout Bavaria for her support of democratic causes. She is survived by two grandsons, Manfred and Stefan Goettingen of Tieferwald. A full obituary will be found in the Obit section. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sam, you absolutely must go with your boys on the survival training exercise. After all," Baron Rolf continued, "it's the last big trip that you will have with them for awhile - and they have a right to your attention and your love. Even if you don't count Ehrhard and Kurt - and I think you must - you have a dozen youngsters who depend on you for what little stability they have in their lives. Believe that I understand, and accept, your moral obligation to Manfred and Stefan. Give me the legal power to deal with this matter and then GO!" Sam knew that he had little choice but to accept the advice of a good friend and trusted colleague.
Sam had no sooner begun to adjust to the news of Frau Goettingen's death and the necessity of temporarily leaving a moral obligation in another's hands than a messenger arrived from the Base. He had received an Army radio-gram from the States. The Officer-in-Charge of the Communications Center had insisted that it be transcribed and delivered to him immediately.
The news was breathtaking! ANDREAS HAD BEEN MADE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN BY A SPECIAL ACT OF CONGRESS! "It almost never happens,' his father has said, "but, by God, it HAD happened!" The bill had been jointly sponsored by the Massachusetts delegation. An overwhelming array of supporting documents had been presented from governmental, military, and civilian figures in both Europe and the United States. There had been only two negative votes - and they were cast by legislators who still hated the Germans from the FIRST World War. Andy's U.S. documents would be available in Stuttgart.
The new American was in shock. Sam, of course, was still focused on the fact that Andy could now come with him to America. Not yet aware that every upside has a downside - that there was much he would leave behind - Andy had additional concerns. "You mean, Sam, that I can come to Boston and Cape Cod and Maine whenever I want to?" "Yep, as long as you have transportation," Sam allowed. "And I can come back here whenever I want to?" "Same answer, Love." "And your family's history and your country's history - the places you showed me in Boston - are MY history, as much as the history of my people in Slovakia?" "Yes." "And I can work to make both my new country and Germany better places for people to live?" "That's right." A glimmer of understanding came into the boy's eyes and he fell into Sam's arms and hugged him as if he would never let go. (In all important ways, he never did.)
(Survival in a Land of Woods and Streams)
Sam, Ehrhardt, and the full contingent of boys from DAS HAUS stood shivering in a forest clearing after hiking for approximately two miles (3.22 km) from where the Army truck had deposited them some 25 miles (40.2 km) from the city. The April day was unbelievably raw; the skies were gray and threatening; patches of snow still lay on the ground. As befitted Ehrhardt's insistence that the "wilderness" aspect of the exercise be emphasized over the military, all of the men were clad in civvies (civilian dress). Despite being dressed warmly, everyone was uncomfortable in the early spring cold and gloom.
Chuck, a sturdy redheaded guy, probably in his late 20s and, apparently, the head honcho, moved into the center of the group. "Ok, girls, I think we're going to see some snow flurries before long. If you don't want to spend a real cold night, I think you'd better be setting up your shelters, making some fires, and starting supper."
Confusion reigned. "But, sir..." Horst protested. "No 'sir,' Carrot Top! It's just 'Chuck'. Now what did you want to say?" "Carrot Top?" Horst muttered to himself. "He should talk! Ok, Chuck, it's just that we don't have any shelters. All we have is what we're wearing plus a couple of changes of clothes, our bedrolls...and, maybe, a few flashlights and hatchets."
"Yeah," Dieter continued, "and there's no food! What are we going to do?" Even some of the middle teens took up the cry. "Yeah, and no one told me to bring any matches!" Ernst sputtered. "How do we start a fire...rub Dieter and Wolfgang together?" "Stuff that!" a maturing Wolfgang muttered. Sam and Ehrhardt exchanged quick grins, for they had undergone rigorous survival training in the U.S. Army and the Waffen-SS.
"Ok," Chuck continued," before we get to work, I'm going to assign five teams. (In fact, Chuck had a "little" input from Sam and his Staff before the trip.) They'll work together for the entire four-day program. The first name I call is that of your advisor. In order to get their work done, advisors will sleep in a separate compound, but they'll give you a lot of help. The second name is that of the team leader; then the team members. Remember which team you're on! I don't like to repeat myself! RED Team: Chuck, Andreas, Jaeger, Wolfgang; WHITE Team: Tom, Ulrich, Bruno, Dieter; BLUE Team: Pat, Kurt, Horst. (You guys are one man short, so I'm assigning Kilroy to BLUE Team. "Who in hell is 'Kilroy'?" Horst asked, but he was shushed immediately.) BLACK Team: Ehrhardt, Konrad, Georg, Hans; and GOLD team: Sam, Franz, Heinrich, Ernst.
"Ok, do you see those snow flakes? Work with your advisors; work with your team leaders; work with each other! Get those damned shelters built - or there's going to be some cold tushies around here come morning!"
As the various teams broke away, Bruno sidled up to Ulrich and whispered, "Nothing to worry about, mein Fuehrer." (He chuckled at his own little joke.) "I've sprayed myself with a full can of that crap Sam found at the PX - and I've got two more in my backpack." "Way to go, Bru-no!" Ulrich chortled and administered the obligatory blow to the upper arm. Bruno grinned, secure in the knowledge that he was "one of the boys." Standing just a couple of paces away, Dieter just grinned like the proverbial chessy cat! "Come on, guys! Let's get with it!" their adviser called. "On the way, Tom!" Ulrich called and led the charge towards young soldier who had found an interesting ledge of rock about four feet (1.2m) high and running along the ground for ten feet (3m) or so. "What's good about this, Dieter?" their adviser asked. "Well," the youngster replied, "I guess it could save us a lot of work. There's no snow to move. We could balance some poles up against the top of the ledge, maybe lash them together with some vines, and chink them with grass and/or bark to keep out the cold. Same thing on the ends, except we could leave one end panel loose to serve as a door. A heavy layer of grass for a mattress..." "Good thinking, man! Where'd you get that idea?" Tom asked. "Well, it gets mighty cold up in Obersilesian [Upper Silesia - now part of Poland], and my dad and I used to like to go winter hunting. 'Course I was little and my dad had to..." Dieter suddenly stopped, his face and body seeming to crumple. Ulrich quickly moved over and drew the boy into his body. After a minute, he asked, "Ok, Little Brother?" "Yeah, Big Brother. Let's do it!" Bruno and Tom swatted him on the butt as the WHITE Team moved off to gather materials.
As he saw that all five shelters were fast approaching completion, Chuck nodded to his advisers. Immediately, each one called for a volunteer to find a protected fire site - not TOO close to the shelter - build a fire, and light it. Bruno swaggered up and accepted the flint and steel set from Tom, commenting that any Slovenian-German could build a fire on a glacier! (As we know, Bruno was an expellee from what is now the independent country of Slovenia, at that time the northernmost republic within the Yugoslav federation.) Indeed, his was the first fire to be blazing merrily, lifting the spirits of the boys from all five teams. When the boys' bedrolls had been installed in their shelters, their advisers gathered them around their separate fires for what went for supper. "I'm really sorry, guys," Tom said, "but I just didn't bring much food along." He laid out some cheese, a little bread, and some dried fruit on a board. "What I've got we can share." Moments later, each boy looked dubiously at "supper" that lay in the palm of his hand - with some room left over. Ulrich went to divide his between Bruno and Dieter. "Team Leader!" Tom spoke sharply, "WHITE Team needs your strength if they are to win the competition. Eat!" When the boys refused his few morsels, Ulrich consumed them...in, perhaps, two gulps, maybe three. In response to two whistles, Tom said, "Ok, guys, we're wanted over at the main campfire. Put our fire out, and let's move!"
"Good afternoon, gentlemen, "Chuck greeted them by a large campfire whose heat warmed them all. "There's not a lot of light left so let's make the most of what we have. Welcome to the first Wilderness Survival Exercise of DAS HAUS. When you go home after only three more days, I can promise you that your chances of making it under the worst possible conditions are going to be very, very good. It's going to be three days of intense competition - and I can only say, 'Let the best team win!'" Muted shouts of "RED!" "BLACK!" "WHITE!" "GOLD!" and "BLUE!" broke out. "Well, hey, you don't have to whisper! Let's hear it!" Little invitation was needed for team names to be roaring back and forth against the darkening trees in the background. Now, we already have some points! For the best shelter - 10 points...to the WHITE Team! And for the first fire - 10 points...again to the WHITE Team! Congratulations!" Bedlam broke out. As the other teams muttered among themselves, Ulrich danced around the fire, carrying Dieter under one arm and Bruno under the other. When he reached the spot where they had been sitting, he dumped them in a pile on the ground and lay, panting. Sniffing very suspiciously, Dieter carefully checked Bruno out. His nose having apparently assured him that all was well, he immediately began wrestling with his fellow champion.
"Ok, men, now for a few things that you may find a bit harder to take," Chuck continued. First, there is no more food in camp, and there won't be for three more days." Groans, moans, and shouts immediately filled the air. Sam actually feared that Chuck was close to having a mutiny on his hands. "Whoa! Whoa! I didn't say that right!" Chuck yelled. "There's PLENTY of food... all around Camp! All you have to do is learn how to identify it, find it, catch it, and cook it!" An underlying rumble could still be heard (perhaps, "felt" is a better word)...a sound akin to that of a volcano getting ready to erupt! "Three more things tonight: Point #1: If you don't want to eat, there's plenty of drinking water. Right over that low ridge (to which Chuck pointed in the fading light) there's a nice stream with good cold, pure water. By the way, what does that tell you about where you can relieve yourselves?" Admitting that he had already checked the stream out, Ernst pointed to a copse of trees that lay some distance from the Camp, well to the left and, presumably, downstream. "Good!" Chuck exclaimed. "You'll find a couple of field shovels over there. Use them!" "How about toilet paper?" Jaeger asked timidly. Chuck took a few steps outside the circle, picked up a handful of large leaves, and held them up. "Nature's finest," he boasted. Unfortunately, the look on Jaeger's face suggested that he wasn't completely convinced. "Just be sure to take them with you," Chuck laughed. "It doesn't take long for the area around the trees to become a bit bare."
"Point #2: Listen for my whistles. One whistle means 'Pay attention!' Two whistles mean 'Gather here at the main campfire.' Three whistles repeated several times - the most important signal of all - means that there's trouble. Try to stay together, but check out what's going on." "What kind of trouble?" Wolfgang asked a bit nervously. "Well, someone might be hurt," Chuck allowed. "Oh, yes, before I forget it, be a bit careful if you are out and around at night. I don't think there are many wolves left, but there have been reports of bears in this area." Every eye in Camp focused upon Bruno. His confidence magnificently reinforced by his fire-making victory, he simply looked back at his tormentors and said, "WOOF!" The gang broke up.
"Point #3: It may be the first night and everybody may be tired and hungry, but we gotta have a LITTLE FUN! Tom, bring that guitar out here and let's have some music!" When he wasn't barking "suggestions," Tom had a wonderful singing voice and a winning personality...and could he ever play the guitar! Before long, the German teens were singing songs known so well to American kids. Not every German lad may have understood every word, but you would never have known it from the way they belted out that old "Red River Valley:" "From this valley they say you are going; We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile; For they say you are taking the sunshine; Which has brightened our pathway awhile." After about six songs, Chuck called a halt and suggested that a German contribution was needed to end the evening. "How about one of you guys telling us a bedtime story," he asked. Every eye focused on Hans who, of course, could not resist the invitation.
"You have heard that I come from Transylvania." As the American advisers gathered around Sam and Andy to get a simultaneous translation, he began. "I come here tonight to tell you a true tale of blood and of horrible death. If you feel fangs at your throat, take heart. Death will be quick...if painful." Hans went on for a good twenty minutes. Buckets of blood were spilled, ten or twelve throats were ripped out, vampires and werewolves roamed the land, debauching young maidens and males alike...with young males at slightly greater risk. He ended by calling Andy over to stand by his side and then departed his wide-eyed audience after saying, "I only ask that you be careful tonight, for Transylvanians and those from the deep forests of Slovakia are able to sense a presence. Something is watching us from the darkness...something evil. Good night. Sleep well." Hans and Andy left the campfire circle arm-in-arm. As the others struggled towards their shelters in the cold darkness, they were treated to the chilling howls of the wolf that seemed to echo from every direction. Ah-woo-ooo-oooo-ooooo...
Despite himself, Ulrich shivered. Hell, that stuff was worse than what he had been fed in the Hitler Youth! Turning to his Team, he exclaimed, "Nice work, guys!" "We're ahead in the competition. Let's stay there!" Enthusiastic "yeahs" - and chattering teeth - met his comment. "Ok, guys, it's going to be real cold tonight. Bruno, get in there and work the three bedrolls together. We'll be warmer if we can use each other's body heat." (Pause) As Bruno backed out of the shelter, he continued, "Ok, we sleep stripped. Anybody have problems with that? Only hearing teeth, he continued, "We have one flashlight. I'm going to hook it here by the gate. See? If you need it during the night, be sure to put it back in the same place. Strip out here. When you get into your part of the bedroll, hang your clothes up on broken branches on the poles. We need to let our things dry in case we have to use something more than once. Any problems? (Chattering) Ok, Bruno, you're first." Already stripped, Bruno was into the far end of the shelter in a flash. Dieter handed him his clothes. Ulrich stripped off those pieces of clothing that Dieter hadn't already removed. Dieter just stood there, burying his face in his hero's chest. Ulrich was amazed at how much taller he was. "Ok, Big D, you're next. Get in and I'll hand you your clothes." Ulrich than quickly stripped, got into the bedroll, hung his clothes on branch stubs, and pulled the gate tightly into place. 'Not bad,' he thought. The Team Leader added, "You need to stay warm. There is nothing wrong with sleeping close to the next guy. Everybody does it when it's this cold. Good night, guys!" As he turned over and felt Dieter back into him, mumbled "Good nights" and "You're a great guy, Ulrich!" echoed back to him. He felt good...very, very good.
The Team Leader estimated that Bruno turned over once before he fell into the sleep of the dead. As a matter of face, he wasn't sure that he would wake up until it was time to return to The House! Worse, he immediately began to snore...loudly...and with a peculiar whine. It would have been easier to sleep in a sawmill! "Maybe, Bruno has hair growing in his throat," Dieter whispered. "Maybe," Ulrich sighed. It was going to be a long night. Ulrich who had been tired and ready for bed was wide-awake. "Big Brother, have you noticed how much I've grown?" Dieter whispered. Bruno snored on. "Yeah, Little Brother, I am really impressed," Ulrich answered. "But you only saw me with my clothes off for a second," Dieter persisted. "Hey, man, that was enough." "No, you couldn't have seen everything. Give me your hand and let me show you," Dieter commanded, whispering just a bit louder. Bruno snored on. Confused, wondering how in hell he could shut the kid up, Ulrich gave him a large hand. Dieter took it, brought it under the covers, and rubbed it along a newly elongated thigh. The Team Leader was thoroughly confused. Even though he was slightly embarrassed, he didn't want to lose the boy's confidence - and, besides, he wasn't doing anything all that wrong, was he? "That's not all, Big Brother!" Dieter said in a low voice. Bruno snored on...louder! Dieter took his brother's hand and moved it over to something that sure as hell WASN'T a thigh - though its length had him confused for a moment. "Good God, Dieter, is that you?" "Yeah," Dieter giggled. "Really something, isn't it?" "Yeah," his Big Brother agreed, "that's really something." "Ulrich?" "Yeah, Little Brother." "You've felt mine - and only real brothers can do that. Can I feel yours...just for a moment," he added quickly. Bruno suddenly coughed, but evidently cleared the hair out of his throat and returned to loudly sawing wood...thick cords of hardwood. Had he eaten more, Ulrich would have surely lost his supper. As it was, he felt increasingly... delirious. "Ulrich, I'm your brother, aren't I?" Dieter persisted. "Yeah, you are, Dieter. Ok, give me your hand - but only for a moment, hear?" "Yes, Ulrich." Big Brother took the boy's hand, moved it across his body, and laid it on top of a considerable mass of trembling flesh. "Oh, wow, Ulrich. You're HUGE! Oh, man, what a Big Brother I've got!" Flashes of light played on the insides of Ulrich's tightly closed eyelids. As the boy's hand began to move, he inhaled...only to find that his exhale mechanism had stuck. As Dieter's hand began to explore his scrotum, softly fingered his large balls, and then grasped his rapidly expanding cock, he was close to fainting. "Golly, Big Brother, you're...wonderful!" Doing what comes naturally, the boy's fingers began to rub his brother's shaft...up and down. "Use your whole hand," Ulrich hissed. The big blond gasped as he felt the head force its way out of his tight foreskin. "Wow," the boy exclaimed as he rubbed precum over the large bulbous head. "Wolfgang taught me that," he declared innocently. 'Damn Wolfgang all to hell!' Ulrich thought grimly. But it was too late for regrets. Within a couple of minutes, Ulrich had to tear his blankets back and catch a massive load in his hand before it could flood the shelter and, perhaps, a good part of the campsite. His head hit the roof, but it was constructed so tightly that it only shuddered. "Scheisse!" In the dim moonlight that came through a few unchinked cracks, a wide-eyed Dieter saw everything. "Wow, Ulrich, you're unbelievable," was all that he could say...over and over and over. For the life of him, Ulrich couldn't be mad at the little guy. The "little" guy? Catching his neck in the crook of his arm, he drew him close and kissed him on top of the head. "Now turn over and go to sleep!" "Yes, Big Brother," Dieter sighed and did exactly as he was ordered. In the morning, Ulrich awoke to feel Dieter's sizable hard-on pressed directly against his anus. It would have only taken one good shove! 'Sheesh,' he thought as he stood in the rising sun! 'Friede, save me!'
It was colder than a vampire's heart! Checking only to see that they were dry, the boys quickly struggled into yesterday's clothing before heading towards the copse of trees. (It must be admitted that more than one only made it to the nearest tree.) Knowing that they would hear two whistles any time now, Ulrich and Dieter managed to get Bruno on his feet and forced into his clothing. He surely wasn't awake! Two whistles blew, and the boys headed for the main campfire. On the way, Ulrich gestured for Dieter to walk with him. "You ok with last night?" Ulrich asked. "Sure," Dieter answered, "we're brothers, aren't we?" "We sure are," Ulrich agreed, "but you need to know that this is private stuff that stays between brothers. I don't share it with Kurt; you don't share it with Wolfgang...or anyone else. Got it?" "Got it, Big Brother...but I still say you're unbelievable," he added impishly. "I think you're pretty special, too," Ulrich allowed and swatted his backside as they approached the Big Campfire.
"Is anybody hungry?" It was a good thing for Chuck that this wasn't a rocky area, for he would have run a strong risk of being stoned to death! "Ok, girls, if you want food, you've got to go catch it. There are plenty of fish over in the stream, so don't splash around or make a lot of noise. Your advisers have some line and emergency hooks made out of thorns, plus some sharpened poles. By the way, you don't throw these fish spears. Jab...like this!" - and he demonstrated. Needless to say, after getting some gear from their advisors, the boys ran, rather than walked, to the nearby stream.
While the boys were busy, the advisors talked for a few minutes. "Man, I'm glad that we can at least see the sun. Today's going to be a lot warmer!" Sam exclaimed. "Yeah," Chuck agreed, "yesterday would have been rough for a fully trained platoon. That's a nice bunch of kids you've got there," he added, nodding at Sam and Ehrhardt. Grinning, they naturally agreed. "They're also lucky that this is a virgin area. We've never used it before - and it's loaded with food that's just sayin', 'Come and get me!' Today, I'm going to concentrate on food...while we've got their attention," he added. "Pat, I'm going to have you take that bow and arrow of yours and find us something a little more substantial for supper. The troops aren't completely used to the regimen as yet, and I don't want to wake up to find them gnawing on us!"
Suddenly, a wet and muddy WHITE Team broke over the rise, running hard. Crowding around Tom, they were so excited that they could hardly put two words together coherently. As the other advisors circled 'round, Bruno managed to squeak, "Tom! Look!" Ulrich's big hands carried three good-sized trout, the tails of two more peeked out of Bruno and Dieter's coat pockets, but the REAL surprise was the one that was being proudly carried jointly by the two younger boys! "My God," whispered Ehrhardt, "that monster's gotta be 40 cm (15.8 in) long!" "You boys couldn't have caught that fucker on one of those barbs - and there are no spear marks!" breathed Chuck, who sounded as if he were having a "religious experience." Looking up at the lads, he asked, "How DID you catch it?" Bruno and Dieter deflated slightly. Finally, Dieter spoke up...somewhat defiantly. "Well, Ulrich spotted him in a pool and blocked the way out. Bruno and I got down on either side of the pool and chased him back and forth. I fell in," he muttered, looking at Ehrhardt a little nervously, "but I caught him when I was in there! If Bruno hadn't jumped in, though, he would have gotten away!" By this time, the other teams were arriving, all obviously having had good luck at the stream. It was a mass scene, for everyone had to get a look at the Big Brown. Finally, Ulrich sighed and put his fish in his coat pockets, squatted, hoisted Bruno and Dieter - still holding the monster trout - onto his two big shoulders, rose to his feet with the grunt of a weightlifter, and shouted at the top of his voice, "WHITE! WHITE! WHITE! WHITE!" (Fortunately, an advisor caught a picture at exactly that moment!) As Bruno and Dieter took up the call, he headed towards their campsite. The boys on the other teams looked at each other glumly and slunk off. You will guess that by this time, the advisers were laughing so hysterically that they had to lean against each other to stand up. "Ok, guys," Chuck finally gasped, "better get with your teams and teach them how to cook breakfast! And, Tom, you can tell yours - 20 points for the biggest fish! Nobody's gonna top that fucker!"
It was a busy day. Constant instruction in food topics was interspersed with field exercises and with workshop experiences in which the gang actually built traps and learned how snares worked - and how animals not needed for food had to be protected. Sam was impressed, and Ehrhardt admitted that the Army had responded to his request to downplay the military aspects of survival training "with good will and a major effort to cooperate." As a matter of fact, he made a couple of friends who he thought would make good colleagues when he became Director. While their advisor was off hunting, Pat's BLUE Team (Kurt, Horst - and Kilroy) joined the WHITES for the field exercises. At one point when they were digging up some roots for lunch, Dieter asked Horst about Kilroy, but Horst had to admit that he hadn't even seen the guy. There were plenty of signs that he was around - like a note tucked into his bedroll that read, "Kilroy was here" - but he had always just missed him. "Strange," Dieter agreed.
The roots tasted kinda good, even raw, but that couldn't be said about the rest of lunch. Ehrhardt had talked about "insects" at the group meeting. That hadn't been TOO bad, but the field exercise was grim. Before leaving camp, Tom had brought out a big can in which he had soaked a bunch of worms in water. "Why did you soak them?" Kurt had asked. Tom had looked at the BLUE Team leader and said that he needed to learn an old Army motto, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Kurt was confused, but let it go. In any case, assured that they were an excellent source of protein, all of the guys got at least a few down. Out in the field, however, it was more difficult. Overturning a big rotting log, Tom called for the youngsters to gather 'round. "Let the beetles go," he advised. "If the insect has a hard outer shell, chances are it has parasites. You have to cook them before they can be eaten safely - and we don't have time for that right now. But take a look at these little beauties." Picking up a collection of grubs, termites, and ants, he popped them into his mouth and smacked his lips with pleasure. Frankly, Bruno couldn't see what Tom was so excited about. On the other hand, when Kurt mixed them with some dandelion leaves, he said they weren't half bad. For dessert, Tom showed the boys a type of ant that collects honey in its body. Everybody agreed that they were...edible. In truth, all of the guys were rather happy when lunch was history!
Nor was anyone unhappy when the troops were given some free time after lunch. When he had been on the stream that morning, Andy had been sure that he had seen an old Slovakian favorite, Flusskrebs [crayfish]. Now, with the Maine Coast trip in his background (See Part 21), there was another association. Those little 3.5 inch (8.89 cm) crustaceans looked suspiciously like lobsters...sorry! lobstuhs...without claws! They even turned bright red when dropped into boiling water! Hurriedly, he involved a drooling Sam who contributed some butter (from the staff's private supplies!) and a small tin to melt it in. Contentedly, the two young men sat against a large oak by the stream in the dappled sunshine of a beautiful early spring day. After three loads of crayfish, they were just beginning to slow down. A goodly-sized pile of red shells lay in front of them; perhaps 6-8 more of the delectable creatures remained on a board lying across their laps. Dipping the small tail that he had finally pried loose from the shell into a bit of melted butter, he fed it to his beloved Sam. Since he was Andy, he also complained, "Man, oh man, I should have had that lobster instead of the steak for my birthday dinner! If the Flusskrebs are good, but not as good as the real thing, lobster must be AWESOME!" "Ayuh," a grinning Sam agreed, "but you already said we have to go back to Maine - and now we can!"
On the way back, both Sam and Andreas noticed a tremendous stir in the main camping area. A very big something was slowly roasting over an open fire. Further, Chuck was rubbing a sauce on the something that made their nostrils tingle and their mouths water. Evidently, this was having much the same result on everyone else, for they were crowding around the fire to the point that it was in danger of being extinguished by their saliva! "Ok," Chuck yelled, "back to your camp sites and clean up. Supper's in 45 minutes!" As the boys scattered in every direction, Sam sidled up to Pat and asked him how in hell he had ever taken a wild boar. "Guess everything's fleeing west from the Soviet Zone and Czechoslovakia these days," Pat drawled. "Tell you the truth, though. This one isn't the one I bagged. Even though they feed on sweet acorns, boars are mean critters, and they have to hang cool for quite a piece before they're fit to eat. Tom radioed down to the Base and we exchanged one we had hanging for mine. I also put an arrow into the heart of the one that's on the spit," he boasted. "Wow!" Sam exclaimed and quickly headed for the GOLD Team campsite to clean up.
After scraps the night before, a few trout for breakfast, and BUGS for lunch, every camper was ravenous! (Andy claimed that his Flusskrebs appetizer had only made him hungrier!) Everyone got a thick slice of boar (that Chuck insisted on calling 'pi-g-g-g-g'), a green salad, and a good helping of cooked roots and other things that even the picky Ernst had to admit was 'pretty good'." The dessert was delicious...and disappeared in a flash. (When Kurt asked Tom what was in it, however, all he got was a dirty look. "Yeah, yeah!" Kurt muttered, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell.") All things told, the funniest sight was probably provided by the guys who got the ribs. Dieter, for instance, had the delicious red sauce used to baste the boar not only all over his face, but also over most of the rest of him. Ulrich's answer was simply to pick him up by the belt, hold him at arms length, carry him to the stream, and dump him in!
"Special treat tonight, guys!" Chuck announced when the food was gone. "We'll do KP (literally, "Kitchen Police;" the acronym usuallly refers to the activity of cleaning up the kitchen) tonight with the help of Kilroy from the BLUE Team who volunteered. Before you go, however, I want you to put all of your trash into this sack. Pat sighted a bear this morning when he was hunting, and I don't want to give him reason to prowl around here tonight looking for a handout. If, by the way, you have toothpaste, deodorant, or any illegal snacks, bring them here. There'll be some bags on the table. Place your name on one, pop your things inside, and put the bag in the box. We'll get them out of the bear's way. Sam and Ehrhardt need to talk to the boys from DAS HAUS. Take care of your business, wash up, and be back at the main campfire in 15 minutes. Go!"
Sam was happy to see many bags getting marked and turned in when the boys returned to the central campfire. (Bruno grinned as he walked by with his two cans of deodorant.) Bears were nothing to play around with! Beginning the meeting right on time, Sam told the boys that he realized they had heard that Andy and he would be leaving for America in a couple of months time. He emphasized they would be back to visit and that everyone had been working hard to ensure that DAS HAUS would continue to be a good place to live. Mentioning that Baron Rolf, an Old Boy, was heading up a "committee" to make sure it was even better, he then introduced Ehrhardt as the Director-Designate. (This was evidently news to most of the gang, for they greeted Ehrhardt with extra cheers and applause.) Ehrhardt kept to the same message: DAS HAUS would continue to be a good place to live, and everyone - Sam and Andy included - was working to make it even better.
After a short songfest, Chuck, who really knew his business and was an experienced leader of men - took over. The boys were shown how garbage was "bear-proofed." In fact, they dug deep holes for a couple of garbage sacks a good 100 yards (91.44m) from the sleeping areas. ("It wouldn't do," Chuck said, "for Brer Bear to smell those gnawed ribs, the carcass, and all that fat.") They were also shown how their articles that might attract a wandering bear had been made as inaccessible as possible. By this time, of course, it was getting quite dark, although the evening remained remarkably warm for April.
Telling the troops, that there would be a lot more instruction on "finding your way" in the morning, Pat demonstrated how the moon can give us a rough idea as to east and west at night, and how one locates the North Star or Polaris.
Tom introduced a great "Capture the Flag" game. The boys were divided into two teams, YELLOW AND GREEN, each having its own flag and ankle bands. The playing field comprised a large wooded tract divided roughly by the stream. The side and back boundaries were marked by white rags tied around trees. Chuck, Pat, and Tom would wear white shirts as judges and would be spelled by Sam and Ehrhardt.
It was a wild, swirling game and the boys of DAS HAUS loved it! It was finally won by the YELLOW Team captained by Kurt that had two of its players strip, completely cover themselves with mud before replacing their ankle bands, search out the enemy flag, and regain their own side of the stream.
It was late when a band of weary youngsters set their traps and snares and began preparing for bed. The one truly comical event of the evening was provided by Hans. Feigning going to take a leak, he had decided to put on a howling show for, as he put it, "atmosphere." His best howl, however, ended abruptly with a wild gurgling screech. Crashing down the hillside, he rolled into his shelter, thanking all that was holy that he slept next to Ehrhardt. Ehrhardt told Sam the next morning that the youngster had pasted himself so tightly against him that he feared they couldn't be separated without surgery! Asked what had happened, Hans stuttered that he had either encountered the bear, who had stood on its hind legs and growled fiercely, or Bruno's voice had deepened, his teeth has lengthened, and he'd grown a hell of a lot more hair!
In the early light of the third day, both Heinrich and Wolfgang found that their snares had caught rabbits. Though Wolfgang was a little squeamish about the whole operation, he joined Heinrich in skinning and cleaning the animals before giving them to their advisors to be hung and cooled where they wouldn't attract predators. (The promise was that they would be available for eating the next day.) Despite their short-lived disappointment, the breakfast of trout, crayfish, and some leftover roots and bulbs satisfied.
The morning instruction provided to the various teams by their advisors was thorough, but fast-paced. For instance, there was additional work in "finding your way" (focusing on the use of map and compass and using the sun and shadows). For basic lifesaving instruction, the advisors were joined by the young head physician at the Base hospital. Proficient in German, he was able to answer many questions posed by the boys in near-colloquial language. He even found a few minutes to talk with Andy, congratulating him on his admission to Harvard College and suggesting courses that he had found especially valuable in his pre-med training at Stanford. Opening and maintaining airways, CPR, controlling bleeding, the use (and misuse) of pressure, and the treatment of shock all received some attention, as did the treatment of wounds, burns, and hypothermia. It was a vigorous morning. For a late lunch, each youngster gnawed on a piece of boar, munched on some new greens found growing in a few protected places, and thoroughly enjoyed a handful of dried fruit. In the midday sun, most of the crew stripped down to shorts plus their shoes, for they had been told that the afternoon's work would take place along the stream. Each boy also brought the towel that was on the required equipment list distributed before the trip.
"Konrad," his advisor Ehrhardt asked, "would you want to cross the stream here - and why?" (The BLACK Team had moved far downstream where the water was considerably wider than at the campsite and relatively fast moving.) "No, Herr Direktor, I would not. I don't like the look of that high bank on the other side. If the water in front of it were deep, I might have a hard time getting out." "That's a good answer, Big Guy, but I'm not Director yet," Ehrhardt replied to the giggles of the Silesian's teammates. "Ok, let's try a little further downstream." After a short hike, Ehrhardt tried again. "Like this spot?" "Jawohl, sehr geehrter Chef!" ["Yes, sir, most honored Boss!"] the irrepressible Hans answered. Ehrhardt turned, looked at him with an evil grin, and replied, "Ah-woo-ooo-oooo!" (Everyone was snickering long after he returned to camp!) "Ok, we'll cross here. What are you going to remember?" "Use your pole to maintain balance!" barked Georg. "Cross the current at a 45 degree angle so that if you slip, the current will carry your body to the desired landing spot!" contributed Hans. "Comedians, comedians! Get serious!" Ehrhardt barked. "Anything else?" "Watch out for rocks. They can be slippery!" Georg shouted. "Ok," Ehrhardt commanded. "Take it easy and let's go!" Naturally, about half way across, Georg slipped on a rock and took a magnificent (indeed, a classic) pratfall into the water. Fortunately, no damage was done - other than to Georg's dignity - and he was soon dried off and back on the trail. When the boys returned to camp to join their compatriots, they were happy again to be given a little free time. After all, the air was still warm and they were having a ball!
On the strength of yesterday's successful break, Sam and Andy decided to hike up into the back-country. Marking a trail with some small white stones that they found along the stream, they had trekked for some distance when Andy spotted an enormous granite ledge surrounded by trees. Luxuriously, they stretched out on the flat surface that had been thoroughly heated by the day's sunlight - until Andy turned and moaned, "Sam I think I'm in trouble." "What's wrong, love?" Sam asked anxiously. "The cold really got to me when team crossed some deep water, and I think I'm getting colder. My chest hurts and I feel so weak. I'm so tired and hungry. I think I need some liquid. Help me, Sam!" Now Sam knew his beloved very well indeed - especially when he was pulling his leg. And that was EXACTLY what he was doing now! After all, he'd had to GIVE that lesson on hypothermia to the GOLD Team! Besides, he could see the slight grin that lingered close to the surface of a very bad actor's lips! "Hold on, lover! Don't die on me! Let me get those damp shorts and shoes off you and get you warm!" Shortly, an absolutely glorious young body lay sprawled naked on the gray slab. 'Some days I really understand the Aztecs,' Sam thought to himself. 'Should I sacrifice him or save him? Yeah, let's SAVE him!' Quickly, Sam threw off his clothes and draped himself over Andy's supine body. "Oh, yes, Sam, that really helps," Andy moaned, clearly near death. "I need warmth! You should be the physician in the family!" "Physician, heal thyself," Sam chortled as he initiated a chain of events that could end in only one way - which, of course, it did some minutes later. Andy even received his warm liquid - though he did return the favor!
Cheers and applause rang out from the tree line. "What the...?" Andy snarled. Heinrich and Georg stepped out onto the granite. "Tell you what," Heinrich said. "Give us this hot rock, leave, and we won't tell Chuckie." Uttering threats of eternal damnation - and a few choice German expressions - Sam and Andreas got themselves together and set off towards camp. Andy swore that he would NEVER mark another trail as long as he lived!
The boys actually found supper to be rather tasty - which worried the more perceptive among them. Naturally, they had long awaited the campfire, for they were eager to know who had won the hot contest between the five teams. To some extent they were disappointed. Announcing that the judges felt this was one of the finest groups with which they had worked in recent years, Chuck said that the final points were simply too close to call a single winner. Thus, each participant received an Army belt kit loaded with survival items, including a flint & steel set, snare wire, a signaling mirror, a wrist compass, a fish and snare line, fish hooks, a candle, a small hand lens, tablets for diarrhea and infection, water purification tablets, an assortment of bandages, condoms (for water storage!), a compound for keeping lips moist, needle and thread, and a small pocket knife. The boys were well satisfied - even though a chant of "WHITE! WHITE! WHITE! WHITE!" was heard from a determined minority.
After a very successful songfest, Sam was walking back to his campsite when Horst caught up with him. "Could we talk privately for a few minutes, Sam?" the young man asked. Realizing that was the first time he ever remembered Horst calling him 'Sam,' the Director led the way to a comfortable spot down near the stream. "What's up, Big Red?" Sam asked when they were comfortable. There was no answer, but Sam could see the tears spilling down Horst's face. He immediately moved over and held the rail-thin 15 year-old in his arms - all 6'1" (1.85m) of him. The "Sudeten Puppy" (See Part 6.) simply buried his head in Sam's chest and sobbed as if his heart were broken. Tears streaming down his own face, Sam remembered how Andy had found the then little guy close to death in the Steigerwald and brought him home...the very first addition to his menagerie. "I love you, you crazy redhead," Sam whispered into his ear. "I so wanted to go to America with you and Andy," Horst hiccupped through his tears. But Jaeger wants me to stay here, and I love him very much." Sitting up and looking into Sam's eyes, he added, "His mother and father live here in Tieferwald, you know - and they've been back together for a year. His dad even has a job. They don't hate him any more, and they really like me. They want both of us to come home and live with them." Beginning to cry again, he said, "I don't know what I'll do without you and Andy. I love you both so very much." Sam leaned down, pressed his face against the side of Big Red's, and said with firmness and with love, "I give you my Word, Horst, that we shall be friends for life, that we shall return to visit you and, God willing, you will visit us in America. Do you understand me? "Yes-s-s," the big kid sobbed - and held on to Sam as if his life depended on it. It had, though, perhaps, the major crisis had passed.
Needless to say, the last morning was somewhat anti-climactic. There was a good scene as Heinrich and Wolfgang cooked and ate their rabbits - the latter with a lot of help! There was one crisis. As Tom was chopping firewood for breakfast, his axe glanced off a concealed knot and bit deeply into his calf. Ulrich and the other boys from the WHITE Team - under the eagle eyes of Chuck and Pat - had the bleeding stopped, had treated him for infection, and had begun treating him for shock before the medics arrived.
Despite its many "good" moments, let alone those more difficult, Sam was glad to be going home. Still, his anxiety level was rising, for Sam was also just beginning to FEEL that which he had only intellectually realized for some time...namely, the many parts of himself that he would be leaving behind in Tieferwald am Main in only six or seven short weeks.
(Frau Goettingen)
You will remember that at the beginning of this episode of our story, Frau Goettingen had died immediately before the wilderness survival exercise. Arguing that the boys had a right to Sam's being with them on their last big trip together, Baron Rolf had insisted that Sam attend. He also recognized Sam's moral obligation to Frau Goettingen's grandsons, Manfred and Stefan, and had received his legal authorization to "deal with this matter."
On Sam's arrival, Baron Rolf, who had stayed in Tieferwald during the entire exercise, informed Sam that Frau Goettingen's funeral would be on the morrow and that both his and the boys' clothing was prepared. He also informed him that with General Clemens' cooperation he had purchased another Army-owned house nearby (as a matter of fact, in the same neighborhood as DAS HAUS), had outfitted it, and had already moved a small staff and six pre-teens into it. The youngest was five (one year younger than Stefan); the oldest, 11 (three years older than Manfred). There was, he stated confidently, room for another six to twelve pre-teens. As a matter of fact, the Children's Relief office at the City administrative building had been badgering him with folders of youngsters in dire need both in the city and at the Camp. Almost as an afterthought, he mentioned that Manfred and Stefan would be waiting for him in the morning to go to their grandmother's funeral.
Teetering between shock and hysteria, Sam told Rolf that he appreciated his "dealing with the matter." "I have only one question," he added. "Why did it take you nearly four days to accomplish it?" Both men looked at each other for a moment before breaking into hysterical laughter and reaching for the (good) bottle of Scotch.
(To Be Continued)