Capítulo 34: Ch-33: Herr Kommandant
The group was gathered around a rough wooden table, its surface cluttered with maps and documents. Katarzyna stood at the head, her face grim as she began to outline their mission.
"Ze Nazis, zay haff intensified zere efforts to crush ze resistance in Krakow," she began, her voice steady but filled with underlying rage. "Zere commander, Oberstleutnant Dietrich, ees leading ze charge. His methods, zay are beyond cruel. His troops, zay barge into villages, killing, raping, and destroying everyzing in zere path, all under ze guise of rooting out traitors."
She paused, her eyes scanning the group. "Many resist, but not everyvun can vithstand ze pressure. Some break, hoping to save zere loved vuns, only to meet ze same fate regardless. Zose captured are tortured and killed in ze most horrific vayz. Dietrich makes examples of resistance members by flaying zem alive and pinning zem to vooden Nazi symbols, ze swastika."
Ethan listened in silence, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the details. James, on the other hand, could barely contain his fury. His fists clenched and unclenched, his face a mask of barely suppressed rage. Jacqueline placed a comforting hand on his arm, her own expression hardening with resolve.
Katarzyna continued,"Ve haff received a tip from an insider, a trusted source, da? In two days, Dietrich vill be at a farmhouse near Piekary, ze perfect opportunity to take him down, but he vill be heavily guarded. Ze Nazis vill stop at nothing to protect zere precious commander. Ve must be careful, plan carefully. Ve can't afford to fail."
She looked at each of them, her gaze lingering. "Zis mission, eet ees indeed dangerous, almost suicidal, da? You don't haff to take eet if you don't vant to, I vill understand. But remember, ve are fighting for our country, our freedom, our very lives. Dietrich, he ees a monster, a beast who must be stopped. If ve don't take zis chance, who vill? You, you are brave, capable, I know you can do eet. But ze choice, eet ees yours, always yours."
James's nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, his anger barely contained. "I'll do it," he said, his voice booming. He took another breath, calming himself slightly. "I'll do it."
Katarzyna nodded. "Alright."
James turned to Jacqueline, his eyes filled with concern. "Jacky, you don't have to come. This is gonna be bloody dangerous. But I can't let monsters like him go unchecked."
Jacqueline's eyes flashed with determination. "I'm not backing out now, James. I wanted to be here, to help. People need us."
James sighed, his expression softening slightly. "You're brave, Jacky." Then he turned to Ethan, looking at his masked face.
But before James could say anything, Ethan stepped forward. "This is the perfect opportunity to start my revenge, of course, I'm in."
Katarzyna nodded, her expression resolute. "Zen eet ees settled. Ve will finalize ze plan, gather our gear, and prepare for ze mission. Ve move out at dawn, vhen ze darkness still lingers, and ze Nazis least expect eet."
The room fell silent, each member lost in their thoughts as the gravity of the mission sank in. Ethan looked at the maps, his mind racing with tactics and contingencies.
James stared into the distance, his anger giving way to a cold, focused determination. Jacqueline remained at his side, her resolve unwavering.
The next morning, they prepared in silence, the weight of their mission hanging over them. Katarzyna distributed forged documents and briefed them on the safe routes they would take. "Ve'll be travellin' thru a netvork of hidden paths and safehouses, da? Use zese documents if you're stopped, and rememba ze passwords, ja? Ve must be careful, ze Nazis are everyvhere, and zay vill not hesitate to shoot. Keep ze documents safe, and ze passwords in your head, not on paper, or zay vill find zem. Ve'll move quietly, like ghosts, and hope to reach our destination alive, Boże pomóż nam (God help us)."
[Some village near Krakow]
(A/N: All the upcoming conversation is in German unless prompted otherwise.)
---
The rain hammered down relentlessly, thunderbolts firing off in the sky as if Zeus and Indra were locked in a fierce competition about who could throw more. Amidst this storm, a calm man in a long trench-coat strode purposefully, surrounded by six soldiers. His destination was a dilapidated house a few meters away, its weather-beaten facade barely standing against the elements.
The officer, his uniform pristinely maintained despite the weather, gestured with a gloved hand. One of the soldiers stepped forward and rapped sharply on the door. Seconds ticked by with no response. The soldier glanced back at the officer, who nodded, prompting him to knock again, this time shouting, "Open the door! Herr Kommandant is here for an inquiry. Failure to comply will mark you as a traitor to the Reich!"
A faint click preceded the door creaking open, revealing a burly, bearded man. He peered out cautiously, his eyes flicking from the soldier to the officer standing composedly in the heavy rain.
A flash of lightning illuminated the officer's face, revealing a serene, almost friendly smile. Yet to the bearded man, it was the smile of a demon from the depths of hell.
"Will you not ask us to come in? I have a few matters to discuss, and it would be better to do it inside," the officer said in perfect German, his tone disarmingly polite.
The bearded man hesitated before stepping aside, muttering, "Please come in."
The lead soldier entered first, his muddy boots leaving dark marks on the carpet. The bearded man's eyes darted to the mess before returning to the officer, who now stood in the doorway, his trench-coat dripping water onto the floor.
"I hope you don't mind the mud and water," the officer said, meeting the man's gaze. "It's raining quite heavily."
The bearded man gave a slight nod, saying nothing.
"Good," the officer replied, signaling to a soldier to remove his trench-coat. As the soldier complied, the officer began speaking again. "As you heard from Obergefreiter Müller, I am here for an inquiry."
The trench coat was handed off, and the officer stepped further into the room, eyes locked on the bearded man. "We have credible information that someone in this village is providing aid to the traitors of the Reich."
The bearded man's expression remained stoic, his eyes unwavering.
The officer smiled, gesturing toward the dinner table surrounded by four chairs. "Let's talk more comfortably, shall we?"
The bearded man nodded, his face still a mask of impassivity.
"Good," the officer said, taking a seat and motioning for the man to do the same. "Come on, sit down, don't be shy."
As the bearded man took his seat, the officer's polite smile never wavered. The sound of rain pounding against the roof provided a steady, almost soothing rhythm to the tension inside the house. The other soldiers filed in, positioning themselves strategically around the room.
"Don't worry about them," the officer said, noticing the man's glance. "It's alright, they won't do anything without my order. Let us talk."
The officer's eyes roved around the room. "You have a lovely home," he commented. "It must be difficult to maintain in such times. I commend you for your resilience."
The bearded man remained silent, his eyes fixed on the officer.
"Do you live here alone?" the officer asked casually.
"Yes", the man replied curtly.
"Interesting," the officer mused. "I happened to notice a child's toy in the corner. I assumed you might have a child."
"No," the man said, his voice tense. "Just me."
The officer's smile didn't falter. "I see. I hope you don't mind if we check?"
The man's jaw tightened, but he remained silent. The officer nodded to his soldiers, who began searching the house.
"You know, the Reich appreciates loyal citizens," the officer continued, his tone smooth and reassuring. "People who understand the importance of order and obedience. But unfortunately, not everyone shares that sentiment. The Polish resistance, for example. A troublesome group, wouldn't you agree?"
"Ty drainu," (You bastard) the man muttered in polish under his breath.
The officer's eyes narrowed slightly. "What was that?"
"Nothing", the man replied quickly.
The officer chuckled, a sound that felt out of place in the heavy air. "You see, I have a bit of a knack for spotting liars. It's a gift, really. Helps me in my work. And right now, I feel like you're not being entirely honest with me."
The man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know what you're talking about. I am loyal to the Reich."
"Of course, of course," the officer said, waving a hand dismissively. "But you understand my position, don't you? I have to be thorough. The resistance is like a weed. If not uprooted completely, it will grow back, stronger than before."
The man's eyes flickered to the doorway where the soldiers stood, vigilant and ready. "I understand."
"Good," the officer said, leaning back in his chair. "Now, tell me. Have you seen or heard anything unusual in the village? Any strangers? Any suspicious activity?"
The man swallowed hard, his throat dry. "No, nothing unusual."
The officer sighed, as if disappointed. "That's unfortunate. You see, we received credible information that a traitor is hiding here, in this very village. Someone who is aiding the resistance. And I was hoping you could help me find them."
The man's hands began to tremble slightly. "I don't know anything about that."
The officer's eyes bore into him, unblinking. "You seem nervous. Are you sure there's nothing you want to tell me?"
The bearded man's throat tightened. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could utter a word, the sound of the door creaking open heralded the return of the soldiers. They emerged, dragging a woman and a child from a concealed space behind a false wall. The bearded man's previously unflappable demeanor shattered instantly.
The woman, disheveled and terrified, screamed as she was pulled into the room by her hair. Her eyes darted frantically around the small space, searching for her husband. The child, a young girl no older than six, clung to her mother, her innocent face smeared with tears and dirt.
The bearded man's hands shook violently as he stood up from his chair, his composure lost. "Leave them alone!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.
The officer's expression was one of feigned concern, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Well, well," he said, his tone smooth and cold. "It seems your family was hiding. How quaint. Now, why would that be?"
The bearded man's eyes darted between his wife and child, his face pale and etched with agony. "Please," he pleaded, his voice breaking, "leave them out of this. They know nothing. They're innocent."
The officer leaned forward, maintaining his insincere smile. "I understand your distress," he said calmly. "But you see, I have a job to do. If you want me to consider sparing them, you must provide me with valuable information."
The man's hands began to tremble slightly. "I don't know anything about that," he lied, his voice cracking. "Please, we have nothing to do with the resistance."
The officer's eyes narrowed, sensing the deceit. He motioned to one of the soldiers, who immediately grabbed the woman by the arm, pulling her and the child closer. And another two grabbed the man and made him kneel.
The officer stood, his expression cold and calculating. "I dislike being lied to," he said quietly. "Perhaps a demonstration of what happens to liars is in order."
He nodded to the soldier, who punched the woman across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground, blood spraying out of her mouth. The child screamed, trying to cling to her mother but her hair was pulled back by another soldier which made her scream even more as her hands flailed to reach her mother.
The bearded man's resolve began to crumble, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Stop, please!" he cried out, his voice desperate. "Leave them alone!"
The officer's smile returned, but it was devoid of warmth. "You can make this stop. Just tell me the truth."
The man hesitated, his mind racing. "I... I don't know where the headquarters are," he said, his voice trembling. "But I have crucial information."
The officer raised an eyebrow, waiting.
"The resistance is planning to assassinate you in two days when you stop at the farm near Piekary," the man blurted out, his voice shaking.
The officer stopped, understanding that someone from inside must've supplied this information. He then asked, "Do you know the person who supplied this information?"
The man shook his head. "No, I don't."
The officer's smile widened. "And you think I will let your family go because of this information?"
"Please, Kommandent Dietrich," the man begged, his voice breaking. "Just take me. Let them go."
The officer's smile widened, a cold glint in his eye as he responded in Polish, "Miałeś rację, jestem draniem." (You were right, I'm a bastard).
Bang! Bang!
Two shots rang out, the deafening sound blending with the roar of the storm outside. The woman and child fell to the floor, lifeless, blood pooling from the gaping wounds in their heads. The child's innocent face, once smeared with tears and dirt, now bore a grotesque mask of death.
"NOOO!"
The bearded man screamed, his voice filled with raw agony, but his cries were swallowed by the relentless thunder. He collapsed forward on the ground, his body shaking uncontrollably as he reached out for his fallen family, his hands trembling and tears streaming down his face.
The officer watched with detached amusement, his smile fading into a look of cold satisfaction. He turned to his men, his tone commanding and unyielding. "Round up the rest of the villagers," he ordered. "We'll see if anyone else has anything to say."
As the soldiers moved to carry out his orders, the officer glanced back at the bearded man, now a broken shell of a person, kneeling beside his dead family. "As for this traitor," he continued, his voice icy, "make an example out of him. Flay him alive and nail him to a wooden Swastika."
The soldiers seized the bearded man, dragging him away from the bodies of his loved ones. His screams of despair echoed through the storm, a haunting sound that lingered in the air long after he was taken. The officer turned back to the lifeless family, his expression unchanging. "This is what happens to those who defy the Reich," he murmured quietly, almost to himself. "Let it be a lesson to all."
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