5/18/07:The “City”-West Germany-1135 hours (11:35 A.M.)

Dana immediately responded, “Oh thank God, we’re in need of medical assistance. Over.”

“I got that, who am I speaking to? Over.”

“Um,” Dana didn’t know if she should just give the man her name, what if he was the enemy. “Um, Fairbanks.”

“Okay Fairbanks, I’m gonna need your location, so I can send you medical assistance.”

Dana didn’t reply. “Ma’am? Are you still there?”

“Um, who am I talking to? Over.”

“My name is Harold, I’m a radio commissioner. I need your location. Over.”

“I The truth is, I’m lost and don’t know where the hell I am, all I know is that I’m in Germany. I’m responsible lives of four other people and myself. One of them is sick with a stomach virus and we’re practically dieing of starvation.” Dana began to cry, “Over.”

“Okay ma’am, just calm down. I’ll find out where you are. What part of Germany are you in?”

“West.”

“Okay. What are your surroundings? Are you by a lake or a rock formations or anything you want me to know in particular? Over.”

“Um, we’re in a town.” Harold waited a few minutes and was about to speak when Dana said, “The town was blown up. Over.”

Harold practically jumped when he heard this. “Ma’am, by any chance, are you a U.S. soldier? Over.”

“Yes. Over.”

“And, by any chance, was your base blown up about two weeks ago? Over.”

“Yes. Over.”

Harold smiled, he would be a hero and he’d be saving his fellow Americans. His name would be printed in the newspaper, he would go down in history. “Ma’am I know exactly where you are. I’m a radio commissioner for the U.S. army and I’m also a pilot. I’m on my way to your location right now, I’ll be flying over head, just give me a signal and I’ll land my plane so you and the other people you’re with can board. Over and out.”

Dana couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Was that it? Was two weeks of hell finally over? Would she be able to go home and see Alice‘s face, not imagine it, but see it and be able to touch it? “We’ll have a fire going. Over and out.” Dana put the radio down, turned around and said, “We’re going home!”

“No way, we’re going home, how?”

“The guy I was talking to was a pilot and he’s on his way here.”

“How long til he gets here?”

“He didn’t say. We have to keep the fire going, that’s how he’ll know it’s us.” They had been waiting for about thirty minutes when Dana said, “I’ve made a list of things I’m gonna do we I get home. You know, like a New Year’s Resolution type thing, except it’s not New Year’s. Okay, first thing on my list is to go home. Next, is to meet up with my friends. You know, maybe have a barbeque. And last, no more fooling around, I’m gonna propose to my girlfriend.”

“That’s a nice list. My list is different. I resolve to go to my bank, get out all the money I can, and go to a strip bar. Repeat for the next month or so.”

“Very original Heart Breaker.”

“Never said it wasn’t Dana.”

Gina made a loud groan. Dufy started to get up but Lion said, “No it’s okay. I’ll go check on her.” She walked over to Gina kneeled next to her. “What’s wrong?”

“Pain. Lots of pain.”

“Don’t worry Gina, we’re going home. And we’re gonna get you to a hospital so they can make you all better.”

“But how do you know that? How do you know we’ll make it home okay?”

She thought for a second before responding. “I don’t know. I’m just hoping that’s what’ll happen.” She heard a wailing sound and looked up. She saw a plane fly by and turn around. She heard Dana’s excited voice yelling, “He’s here! He’s here.”

TBC

Posted By:Stripes