Dangerous Territory

Mercy

Before we start with the last chapter of Book Three, let me say something.

Actually, I said it all here.

My video is long, full of historical facts and random ADHD tangents. I have my references in the description.

If you want to discuss Israel in the comments, I'm fine with that. I encourage discourse. However, if you call all Israelis terrorists, insult the Jewish faith, or deny Israel's right to exist as a country, that is, by definition, ANTISEMITIC.

We can agree that the Israeli government has broken international law and repercussions are long overdue, but if you come with only half of history, I will reply with the other half. That is not an attack; it is education. And if you use the actions of a government as an excuse to hate the entire population, or worse, A WHOLE RELIGION ... I will report and block you for hate speech.

We can hate the actions of ISIS, Hamas, and the Taliban, but not hate all Muslims.
We can hate the Uyghur slave labor camps in China, but not hate all Chinese.
We can hate that European colonialism led to hundreds of genocides all across the globe and the deaths of tens of millions of indigenous people, but EVEN THEN we should not hate all Christians.
And...
We can hate that the Israeli government committed war crimes, but not hate all Israelis or Jews.

Antisemitic rhetoric will not be tolerated.

That is all.

On with the story.

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Jean ran through the internment camp, walls sometimes shaking from bombs, dust cracking from the concrete above and raining down like fog in hallways as lights flickered and threatened to go out.

For a moment, he feared he might not find the corridor that led to the secret exit tunnel. The fort was a maze of stark corridors, after all. Then he saw blood on the floor.

Floch!

Jean felt a pang of loss, but he had to push on. He could mourn after he got out of here and was back with Annie. They would have a long trip to Switzerland, and he could sort out emotions then.

However, as he followed the blood trail, he came across two SS guards also inspecting the scene, including the dead body of the woman who had betrayed Carly. They looked up and saw Jean.

"Halt! You, Heer lieutenant, what are you doing in this area? Feste Göben is under SS jurisdiction. State your name, commanding officer, and purpose for being here?"

Jean pushed down his fears and stood up straighter. "Kirschstein, Jean Michael, Leutnant, formerly of Hauptmann Carl Großmann's company. I'm being transferred to Saarbrücken in two days and ... and I came here ... I came to say goodbye..." His teeth gritted. "To hell with it!"

He pulled out his pistol and fired at both men, hitting them square in the chests. Then he turned sharply down the corridor leading out to freedom. However, one of the SS guards managed to pull out his Luger, aimed, and fired all five bullets. Three missed Jean, one caught him in the side of his lower back, and one tore straight through his calf, almost tripping him. He screamed in pain but kept going, limping now.

He reached the doors and looked out. There was a crater from an artillery shell ahead of him, and beyond that was the door to the hidden exit. Ignoring the burning in his back and leg, Jean continued forward. Adrenaline pumped wildly through his veins as the sounds of the battle roared around him. He ran across the courtyard, to the door, and almost tripped on the body in the entrance. He looked down and saw the dead soldier.