Thomaston High School - Sea Breeze Yearbook (Thomaston, ME)

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sm BREEZE 15 Too stunned to move Jerry lay where he had fallen on the sandy bottom of the ravine. Dimly he heard the sentry cry out and then with terrifying elearness heard him approaching the ravine. Near- er-nearer-nearer-every footstep seemed to shake the ground like an earthquake--to drum out his death chant!! His body was bathed in cold sweat--his heart thundered like a trip-hammer--but he dared not move. Nearer, suddenly the head and shoulders of the sentry were silhouetted against the graying sky. For a moment the sentry poised there, then vanished, only to reappear. A beam of light splashed over the bottom and side of the ravine only a few yards from Jerry's feet. Gradually it crept up toward him. Only a mo- ment more and it would reveal his sprawling body. Facing the in- evitable, Jerry tensed his muscles and clutched a rock determined to ge out fighting if given the opportunity. The beam moved. nNown Jerry thought, with a grim smile on his lips, where it comeslu Crac-k-k-ll A shot suddenly rang out down the road. The beam waved crac-k-k-tt A second shot, the sentry vanished! Dazedly, not quite believing that he was safe, Jerry arose and felt his bones. Hone were broken, but all were.plenty sore! Painfully Jerry began to slowly creep down the ravine. Without any further mishaps Jerry arrived at Cherbourg and entered the city at dawn along with the French country folk head- ing for the market. Wending his way through the streets he sought the boarding house where he planned to stay while in Cherbourg. Obtaining a room, and because nothing more could be done until evening, Jerry disrobcd and flung himself upon the bed to obtain some much needed rest. Awakening at dusk he went'to the cafe where ho was to meet an agent of the underground. Jerry pushed open the doors of the cafe and went to a small table in the corner from which he surveyed the rest of the room. The air was filled with the blue smoke of cigarettes and the odor of cheap beer. Officers and Frenchmen were scattered around the room talking and laughing. One German officer in particular caught Jerry's attention. He was a brute of a man with a heavy set figure. A fat unemetional face with blond hair and pale eyes which coldly observed the scene before him. NQue est-a que vous desircz, H'sieur?N A waiter was at Jcrry's elbow. Jerry looked up. HOh, some wine. Paris Brand.n ' HParis Brand? Oui, H'sicur.U A man two tables away slowly arose and came over to Jerry's table. Looking down on Jerry he addressed him. nF1ne weather is it not, M'sieur.H Jerry stiffened. The underground sign. Looking upward he sized up the man. He was dressed in a soiled ragged uniform which was open at the throat. Shaggy and unkempt black hair tumbled down over the forhead almost to the heavy arching brows. Black glitter- ing eyes looked out on unshaven cheeks. A cigarette dangled out of one corner of the twisted mouth that leered at him in a manner that spoke of intoxication. Jerry decided to gamble. nlt is fine weather if you like it, M'sieur.U The man's leer widened. Never taking his eyes away from Jcrry's face he sat down across from him to the accompaniment of a hearty

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DLR Dl'im5..L.U-5 .LG Relaxing his body as best as he was able to in his parachute harness, Jerry thought over his mission--his first assignment as an Operator of British Intelligence. Large Nazi troop concentra- tions had been reported at Chcrbourg, France on the Norman coast. Disguiscd as a French farmer Jerry was to contact the Frcnc under- ground in Cherbourg, obtain information from them concurnlngfthb Nazi concentrations and give them certain papers entrusted to him. Jerry had only forty-eight hours. A boat would be waiting for him at a little beach three miles down the coast from Cherbourgs Should he not be there at the designated time Jerry would be left, strand- ed on the continent. They had warned him at headquarters to get that information and be et the beach on time. nCome hell or high weter.H- Jerry grinned. He would get that 1nformet1on.' ' r Looking downward once more Jerry was able to discern some woods and then e small field over to his right. Yanking on his rip-cord he changed his direction until he wssfdrifting towards the field. A few seconds later he struck the ground with a sharp 3Olto A ' A Jumping up and shaking off the billowing folds of the para- chute Jerry unfestened his parachute harness and stripped off his flying suit. Gathering them up he ren to the edge of the woods a few yards distant. Finding some thick bushes Jerry hid his parachute end flying suit trusting to luck that they wouldn't be found. Then brushing off his clothes and straightening his cap, Jerry began to make his way through the woods in the direction of Cherbourg. He whistled softly to himself as he went elongv The ' first hurdle of his perilous mission had been successfully cleared. The gray light of early dawn was spreading over the land as . Jerry breasted c hill and found himself looking down on Cherbourg. Casting a weary look around Jerry caught his breath and dropped flat on his stomach. Directly below him o German sentry was lean- ing on his rifle apparently dozing in the middle of the road that he must take to enter Cherbourgt Cautiously raising his heed Jerry studied the scene below him for a minute and then made hid decision. Across the reed beneath him a small ravine ran parallel toethe road as fer as he could see in the semi-darkness. Jerry decided that his best Hbetn was to make this ravine, crawl along its bottom and wait until dawn to enter Cherbourg. v Slowly, ever so slowly he began to hitch his way over the edge and down the rocky slope. The sharp rocks tore and ripped at his hands but grltting his teeth Jerry kept on. Three feet, five feet, seven, Jerry felt as though he were moving like a snail and making as much noise as an elephant. At last after what seemed hours he made the edge of the road and lay there resting. The sentry had not moved but Jerry had the most perilousztrotch in front of him. In order to make the ravine he had to cross the read directly in beck of the sentry. - V Raising himself to a crouching position Jerry dashedosilently across the road. He was almost to the rav1ne's edge when he fail- ed to see a projecting rock. Clutching frantically at empty air for support, he completely lost his balance! Amidst the clutter of falling stones Jerry pitched forward heed first into the ravine. 1

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SEA BREEZE 14 belch. I Uv lou are my friend, M'sieurg therefore I desire to buy you e ' drink, Come, let us go to a place where we can drink it in quiet- ne,,q H un Jith thumping heert Jerry arose and followed the mon to a smell room at the back of the cafe. His mind was full of ques- tions. Suppose this wusn't an agent of the underground but of the Gcstspo? 1 VVEntoring the room and sitting down to the smell table it contained, they silently awaited the wine. After the waiter hed loft they both took out their identification papers and laid them on the table. The man spoke first. nGood. Your name is Rawlins. I see. Hine's Lenoir. Pierre Lenoir of the French Underground. we have been waiting your arrival Have fitt then gave then forw you the papers from your intelligence headquartors?u Jerry studied the men for n moment more. Yes, he certainly d the description perfectly of the agent he was to contact, answered. p nYes, I have them here.N Reaching down Jerry unzipped the sides of his heavy boots and the two envelopes that fell out to Pierre. Pierre studied nodded, und then stuffed them inside his Tunic. Then leoning drd he begun te tulk. 'A nHow much time have you loft, M'sieur?H Jerry made some rapid celculetions and answered, WAbeut twenty- eight heurs.H have HHm, that doesn't give us much tiwe.n Nnhst do you mesn?n UI mean that we heven't yet obtained the information which we been aftor.n An icy hand clutched at Jerry's hodrt. NYeu heven't get the information? But--N UYes, I know. we sent word that we would hdve it und we did have it only the Gestupe caught our men before he could get the pa- pers to us. All we knew is thot unless British Intelligence gets this infornstion within another fo rty-two hturs the British Isles is doomed to invasion. New you hhve twenty-eight hours. It will take you around three hours, burring accidents to get to the place where you ure to moot the bolt. Thst loaves about twenty-four hours from naw. In this time we must get this information. Ge beck to your lodgings end don't come out for any reason until I come to you.H Bei I-- HPleuso, you must obey me M'sieur. Should you be caught, well, the result would be disastrous for us and the millions of the Brit- ish Enpise. Do you undorst1nd?U Jerry slowly nodded his hend. uGood! New M'sieurx I would advise you to leqve.n Jerry had just stopped into the mein rorm when the crash of breaking glass rose above the other noises of the cafe. All conver- sation abruptly ceased. Jerry stopped. A young waiter had stumbled, broken the wine bottle which he had been carrying, and spilled the wine ever the sp tless Tunic of the Nazi officer, Jerry had noticed on first entering the cafe. Jerry felt Pierre come and stand bo- side him Q