ch. 8

--8
Ed ran to a dock. He looked back and made sure no cars were behind.
“Hey, you over there!”
Ed froze. He looked back to the voice and saw a man on the boat waving to him.
“Hey, you, come here.”
Ed didn’t move. He did speak English but… won’t a Gestapo speak it too? “No,” Ed said as he shook his head. The man sighed. “Look, look,” the man said. “I’m not your enemy, you know. Ed thought for a while. “Prove it,” he said.
The man thought for a while, then he took out something from his pocket. “D’you know what’s this?” he asked. Ed thought for a while, then he nodded. “Hop in,” the man said. Ed ran to the boat and got in.
“You’re that postman?” the man asked. “Yeah. Call me Pierre,” Ed said. “Wait,” the man said. “You’re De Gaulle?”
“No, no,” Ed said. “Codename, sir.”
“Roger’s man, are you?” the man asked. Ed didn’t answer. “Maurice sent me here to send an agent, but I never had any idea that I’ll meet you, young man!” the man said. “How do you know who I am?” Ed asked. “Oh, so you don’t know. Hm… let’s see. Perhaps I really need to introduce myself,” the man said. “No, don’t do that here,” Ed said. “Wow, stubborn, just like Maurice said. Well, let’s go,” the man said.

1000 hours
The man stopped his car in front of the building. “You’ll stay here or go with me?” he asked. “I’ll go with you,” Ed said. “At your state? Besides, isn’t it Von Werner?” the man asked. Ed nodded. The man got out of the car and opened Ed’s door.
“So you know him?” Ed asked. “Who?” the man asked. “Karl von Werner,” Ed said. “Oh, of course. He’s kind of scary, isn’t he?” the man asked. “Well, a bit,” Ed said.
Karl, wake up!
“But he can be funny sometimes,” Ed said. The man looked at Ed for a while, then he walked into the building. He walked upstairs and headed for a room.
“Back, aren’t you?”
The man looked back. “Oh, hi, boss,” the man said. “I brought him,” he said. “I see. Good one,” Maurice said. “Have some rest.”
The man walked downstairs. “Who is he, boss?” Ed asked. “An agent, of course. You’re still asking about that?” Maurice said. “No… it’s like… how come he knows me?” Ed asked. “Francois reported,” Maurice said. “And sure enough, he told you my appearances, huh…” Ed said. “Yeah,” Maurice said. “But… without a single postman…” “He bravely went to your house for the receiver’s address, and made it here,” Maurice said. Ed thought for a while.
“However,” Maurice said. “You don’t have to hold your cough.”
Ed suddenly felt weird. He coughed out loud for a few times, then he could see blood on the floor.
“But sir,” Ed said. “How come that guy showed up there, at such a situation?”
“He’s been waiting for a few days in the dock,” Maurice said. “Kind of funny, isn’t it?”
Ed thought for a while. “But however,” Maurice said. “Nice escape. Von Werner’s famous for deportation of our men,” Maurice said. “Hahaha…” Ed said with a laugh.
“You know why we forced you back?” Maurice asked. “No, sir,” Ed answered. “Actually…” Maurice said as he walked into his office. “The G section wishes to use you.”
Ed was stunned. “But seriously… can we just talk about it later…” Maurice said. “I’ll tell Ronald that your health is poor and you need some bloody treatment…” he mumbled. “Well… I need to drive you to the hospital. Let’s go.”
“No, sir. I’m fine,” Ed said. “Fine? Well, if you feel just fine,” Maurice said. “Then something must be wrong with you.”
Ed’s mouth fell open. “Let’s go. I can’t let Ronald wait too long, and besides… it’s for your own good,” Maurice said. “Hey, Nelson! Are you there?” Maurice shouted.
The man dashed upstairs. “Can you take him to the hospital for me, please?” Maurice asked. The man nodded. “Come, young man,” he said. “And wear this, okay? Make sure you don’t look so bad in public,” Maurice said as he handed his jacket.

1300 hours
The car stopped in front of a house. “Ok, here we are,” Nelson said. “I thought we’re going to a hospital?” Ed asked. “This is the bloody hospital,” Nelson said as he got out. “Get down.”
An old man got out of the house. “What is it, Buck’s man?” he asked. “One of our agent was badly tortured,” Nelson said. “We need your help.”
Ed bowed to the man. “When will you agents stop giving me trouble?” he said with a sigh. “Till Hitler’s dead, of course,” Nelson said with a grin. “Come in, then,” the man said.

The doctor put his stethoscope on Ed’s back. “Take a deep breath,” he said. Ed took a deep breath and released it a few seconds later, then he did it over and over again.
5 minutes later.
The doctor put off his stethoscope and sighed. “Hey, Admiral, you’re going to use him again?” he asked. “Yeah, seems so. Not Buck,” Nelson said. “I guess it’s Ronald.”
“And what’s your name, young man?” the doctor asked. “Edward, sir,” Ed answered. “You see, son,” the doctor said. “You’re in an awfully poor condition, you know that not?” “I know, sir,” Ed said. “And these people are saying that they’ll drop you to Germany?” the doctor said. “I guess I’m fine with it,” Ed said. “How’s he? If he’s too unhealthy for any mission…”
“He’s too unhealthy for living, bloody damn,” the doctor said as he washed his hands. “If you’re going to drop him, then there’s a possibility that he won’t be back. And what will you tell the family if that happens?” the doctor asked. “There’s o single day without an agent’s death, sir,” Nelson said.
The doctor thought for a while. “Okay, it’s seriously up to you, but…” he said. “He needs a month or two before the mission.”
Nelson nodded.
“What about 3 weeks, sir?” Ed asked. “Hey, are you bored of living?” the doctor asked. “No, no. It’s not like that, but…” “You want to fight,” the doctor said. “Besides, I won’t get back to how I’m used to be, I guess?” Ed said. “That’s bloody right, but we doctors try our best to save people, remember?” the man said. “Or, just make it like this. We see what that Ronald kid said.”
Kid?
“But still, be careful. Don’t smoke, don’t inhale fumes, and avoid swimming,” the doctor said. “Will do,” Ed said.
“Um… then,” Nelson said. “Thanks, doc. Let’s go, Ed.”
Ed followed Nelson out of the room.
“Hey, you, Admiral,” the doctor called. “Come here for a minute.”
“You go first to the car,” Nelson said as he walked back to the doctor. Ed got out of the house and slammed the door behind.
“What’s it?” Nelson asked. “So, now’s Ronald’s turn?” the doctor asked. “Yes, sir,” Nelson said. “Tell Maurice to make Ronald change his mind,” the doctor said. “His German’s bloody good, doc,” Nelson said. “That’s not the thing,” the doctor said. “So? If the other agents there be careful, that guy won’t be caught…”
“We don’t know how long this war will last, or how long he will be in Germany,” the doctor said. “While that kid…”
Nelson froze. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Even without tortures,” the doctor said. “I think he will be dead in 6 months’ time.”
Nelson was stunned. “With tortures, it can be less than 6,” the doctor said. “Are you sure about this? What if he died in action?”
Nelson thought for a while. “We can’t play with his life, after all,” Nelson said. “Tell buck for me, okay?” the doctor asked. Nelson nodded. “Will do.”