The Mission

Satisfied for the moment that a troop of Germans wasn’t about to spill out of the houses, Irish loosens the tension in his body a bit.

He points to the diplomats on their way to make first contact, and asks his foxhole-mate:

"What do you make of them then? Reckon they can put a bullet through a man if it comes to it?"

How about a turncoat villager?…

Swann smiles at the attempt for small talk. Hopefully it means Irish isn't worried about his wound.

"I don't know if Gregg is good at killing villagers, he did fine with that patrol. But I've no doubt that if the good Sister feels someone needs to leave this world to speak to God, she won't hesitate to send them on the way."

"Some of the lads reckon this…"

Meaning the war, he continues:

"… will be the end of the world. We’re gonna blow ourselves to kingdom come.

Reckon she might not mind that one bit. Armageddon and all that. Book of Revelations or something, isn’t it?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about that, people been killing each other for a long time. The world is still here. I'd be more concerned with what these occult nutters from Nachtwolfe are about. That's the stuff that could end the world in a meaningful way."

"But that is the truth, sister." Dan couldn't resist being a bit of a smartass now and then.

"Yeah we could get a feel for whether we should ask about the Jerries while we talk with them. Alright, let's get going."

"That’s the thing though, ain’t it? They ain’t always had the occult stuff. Sticks and stones is all well and good. But who knows what we’ll find in some hole out here.

Or maybe they have always had it. And we’re just the next in a long line of lads sent to punch it in the nose. Spose it don’t matter one way or the other."

"Hey, sister? You feel like someone's eyes are stabbing you in the back of your neck? 'Cause I sure do." Dan even wipes a hand across the back of his neck in an attempt to banish the feeling.

"Oh, look. Here's the old man now. Alright, remember the story." Dan tries to amble along casually, his demeanor friendly.

"Hallo." Dan smiles warmly or at least he tries to and hopes the man can communicate with them.

Dan follows the man's cues but suddenly has an idea.

He didn't want to rummage in his pockets and scare the already untrusting man but who didn't like chocolate, especially in these times of scarcity.

On the off chance he might know the word he asks while miming eating, "Chocolate ...er ... Chocolat? Mhmm, yum. He didn't know the word in German.

Watching the scene from a distance, Swann's relieved to see they appear to be talking.

"Well Irish, it's too early for cigars, but at least we're not shooting."

"Aye, they’re speaking at least. But speaking what? About what? Or who?"

Irish was trying not to itch, but he hated these parts of the mission. The not knowing what was happening, nor why they’d been sent out minus an interpreter!

Dan is very aware of how the old man's eyes drift over Sabine which serves to raise his hackles a bit. It puts him on notice though despite the man's advanced age.

Relieved when the friendly old woman comes out to greet them and delighted that she speaks some form of English he smiles and greet her.

"That would be great ma'am. I'm as cold as a block of ice at the moment. I am Dan and this is Sister Sabine."

"Hell no ma'am. Uh sorry. Didn't mean to curse."

He was a coarse man, but he did try to be polite when it was called for. "We hate the Kraut's just as much as you do, so no we don't work with those bastards. Anyway, our truck broke down and we'd like to have it repaired. Know a place or maybe you have some tools you could lend us?"

Dan nears the fire and rubs his cold hands together. "That's much better. I can feel my hands now."

So not sympathetic to the Germans then, Dan thinks. Give it some time. I might probe a little about troop whereabouts and such. See what sister can draw out of them.

Sabine exchanges smiles and pleasantries with both Darius and Ihrin, following them inside, deciding to not correct Dan regarding her association with the sisterhood. In fact she plays to it slightly, tugging her headscarf up to emphasize the American’s comment. If she notes the Romanian man’s looks at her, she does not show it, and instead chooses to be as genial as she can until the discussion turns to the Germans. She was not planning to be as open as Dan is about how they feel about the Germans, but the man puts it all on the table before she can stop him. Placing a restraining hand on the soldier’s arm, she speaks to their hosts in German.

"Wir wollen hier keinen Ärger machen. Wir brauchen nur etwas Hilfe bei der Reparatur unseres LKWs. Und wenn deutsche Soldaten in der Nähe sind ... sagen Sie ihnen bitte nicht, dass Sie uns gesehen haben."