Snuffy yawns and stretches. It's been a long night, I need to hit the sack. All the weird stuff happens at night anyhow so might as well sleep during the day.
Snuffy goes back into the cathedral and crawls into his bunk.
If Snuffy is going back to bed, then Christel will follow suit.
Snuffy is tired enough that he's not going to walk around to the back entrance so goes through the front door.
Andrew stays behind to see how much of a fuzz Snuffy is going to raise. Maybe he can use that to slip in without someone accusing him of spying for 'his German pals'...
"You there? What are you doing out?! And in your PJs!" the main points at William, not raising his weapon
"Jenkins! Go get the Sarg'!" Jenkins runs into the cathedral leaving 2 MPs to confront Snuffy.
Snuffy sits down on the steps of the church waiting to get yelled at by a Sarge, which is a common occurrence in his life.
"Hey buddies, get any chocolate bars left? I lost mine," Snuffy asks the MPs.
Using Snuffy's distraction, Christel slips past the MPs and into her bunk.
I didn't think of actually hiding but of staying far enough behind - since that doesn't seem to be possible (and since Andrew hides about as well as a German tank on a city market) he approaches the gate, staggering a bit and pressing his hand against his head.
Sorry pals, 'twas my fault...I thought it was a bright idea to get a bit...well something to drink othe then water...I thought it was better not to be alone out there so I brought the private...seems we both can't handle much right now...please let us get into the shadows before y'start yelling at us, would you?
Result: 4 - nor raise but a (close) pass...
Snuffy stretches and yawns as he listens to the Hauser's tale, "Yep, couldn't let the fly boy sarge wonder around by himself so I had to go along to make sure he didn't get into trouble."
"Keep an Eye on them Jenkins" the more talkative of the MPs says to his comrade as he steps away to meet the Sergeant Cools. You can hear him talk on your behalf.
"It seems these 2 snuck out in the night for a good time. I'm sure they have been through a lot over the last few months sarg'. I'm sure we can be lenient"
There is a pause before Cools responds in a gruff voice.
"Very well. Remind them there's a war on and send them back to their bunks!"
The man returns to you, and begins to bark abuse in a raised tone
"Sergeant Cools sees you as the wastes of times that you are! This is no time for getting your jollies! This is war time! Now get back to your bunks and don't let us catch you again, or we'll find something to charge you for!"
Snuffy gives the MPs a tired wave as walks into the cathedral. 'He then heads for his cot for some well deserved ZZZZZZZs.
You all sleep well into the afternoon and when you awake there is a cold meal waiting for you by your bed-side. You are still tired but the rumbeling of your stomic convinces you to at least eat before you take any more sleep.
After a meal, Christel begins considering a means of egress and ingress without alerting the MPs.
We will have to be more careful tonight -apart from you of course, Christel, you managed quite well what we didn't - they won't buy that story a second time and whatever they will charge us with, they will slap last night right on top of it.
After the cold breakfast Christel goes to clean herself up as well as she can in the Cathedral's facilities.
When she returns she runs into a GI who's mid conversation with one of his squadmates. When he sees Christel he turns to her displaying a large bandage covering his right ear.
"Hey Madam. There are a few of us going out for a drink this evening. Care to join us?" he says
"Perhaps," she replies, noncommittally. "Could I bring some friends?"
The injured man scratches his head for a second before replying
"I don't see why not"
Hey buddy, I could use some fresh air and a drink. Mind if I tag along?
"Yea it's not really my call" the GI replies, "one of the MPs generally sneaks us out, but I'm sure he'll be cool!"
Sure coud use something to take the sting of this camp...would love to join you.
"I'll say it to the man. Sure it won't be a problem"
The injured man's friend chimes in. He looks like he's still on active duty, weapon slung, cloths covered in a layer of dirt.
"Going out for drinks? Don't you know there's a war going on!"
"You know I'll be back with you soon. Probibly tomorrow!" The wounded GI says defensivly "You can't blame me for wanting to have a drink with some decient foke while I can"
"Yea well I wouldn't go anywhere without my weapon if I were you. The line is spread thin at points and Jerry can just walk through."
As they walk, Christel addresses her new friends. At first, her conversation is light and involves discussion of local progress on the front and the weather. Then, she turns serious. "Have you gentlemen seen anything out of the ordinary, lately?"
The two men look at eachother, a confused look comes over their faces.
"What do you mean 'out of the ordinary' mam?" the healthy one responds
"Strange things, such as ghostly figures."
"Strange things, such as ghostly figures."
The two men look at eachother again and this time there is a look of recognition on their faces. The healthy one puts his hand on his friend's shoulder and says
"It's OK mam. My friend here is a trained killing machine. No ghostys can hurt you while he's around!
"Alright I have to get to it" the healthy soldier say, leaving his friend with a wicked grin. A grin that says 'I just set you up with the crazy girl'
"Right, and I'll see you guys tonight. Say at my bunk at twenty hundred?"
In the mean time steers bunk has been cleared off by orderlies and a new patient is carefully guided over to it. The soldier is clearly of native american origin and seems to have been hit by shrapnel.
Hey Buddy! Welcome to the haunted ward. I'm Snuffy Smith, soldier extraordinaire. We're sneaking out tonight for drinks and to see what trouble we can find if you want to go with us. Snuffy proceeds to talk to the new patient a few more minutes. Do you have any Hershey bars by any chance? I gave all mine away.
The newcomer seems to be taken aback by Snuffy's enthusiastic greeting, his dark features trying (and failing) to conceal a look of puzzlement. Clearly, he is unused to such lively banter. "What? Oh, uh, no Hershey bars, sorry."
Adjusting himself into a more comfortable sitting position on the cot, he winces slightly from his wounds, wrapped neatly under long swathes of clean bandages. He looks at the group, his gaze resting on Christel the longest. "Drinks? Count me in." Provided that this was, in fact, not some sort of prank. "I really could use some whiskey..."
Do you have any Idea where they keep our stuff, the Germans might be to close for comfort and I don't feel like wrestling one for his Luger if it comes to it
Asking about people with friends who were previously released Andrew comes to realise that Sergeant Cools has a small office space in the back of the Cathedral, behind the altar. He keeps all the equipment in a sizable closet off the office.
Snuffy changes into his fatigues, put on his heavy army overcoat concealing the Lugar and heads out with the group when they leave.
When the time comes, Danny is obviously eager to get out as he throws on his fatigues, despite his occasional wincing from the pain of his injuries. Afterwards, he slowly edges his way to the friendly Snuffy, elbowing him to get the other man's attrention. Something had been turning over in his mind. "Hey Snuffy," Danny kept his voice low. "What was that you were saying about haunted before. Is that some crap story someone came up with, or...?"