ShadowShot : L'enfant Guerrier Read online

  SHADOWSHOT

  L'ENFANT GUERRIER

  T. M. Deans

  Copyright © 2014 T. M. Deans

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1500708364

  ISBN 13: 9781500708368

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2014913900

  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

  North Charleston, South Carolina

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  My many thanks to my best friend and saddle pal Henry for his support.

  To my lovely Cynthia

  To Nikos

  To Claudia

  To Lieu

  And to all those who read my first draft and insisted that it should be made into a book.

  CHAPTERS

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue Johno

  1 The American General

  2 The Colonel

  3 Gerard

  4 Life With Frank

  5 The Mercks

  6 The Ambush

  7 The Night Raid

  8 Angeline

  9 My New Career

  10 Whatever it Takes

  11 Mother

  12 Hans

  13 The Psychiatrist and the Doctor

  14 The Psychiatrist Calls Back

  15 The Dutchman

  16 The Frenchman Goes Down

  17 Time to get to Cover

  18 Three Bad Dreams

  19 The Trail Ride

  20 A New Chapter in my Life

  21 Rescue in Australia

  22 First Time After a Long Time.

  23 Love on the Beach

  24 Sophia Memories

  25 Misha

  26 George Calls Sophia.

  27 Reminiscing with Cognac.

  28 The Caribbean

  29 Sophia’s Sea

  30 Misha Visits Jack

  31 Death in Mexico

  32 The Money Rat

  33 Tahiti

  34 George from the Grave.

  35 Love Lost

  36 The Pilot

  37 A Visit to an Old Friend.

  38 Monique Bouchard

  39 Algerians

  40 Cape Town

  41 The Seaplane Ride

  42 On the Beach in the Jungle

  43 Four Bad Men in the Jungle

  44 The Old Man

  45 The Village Shoot Out

  46 On the River

  47 Mr. Muanda’s Town

  48 Help from the Old Lady in the Hotel

  49 The Meeting of Jack and Lana with the Muanda’s

  50 Lana Needs to Leave

  51 The Photograph

  52 Lana’s Flight

  53 The Flight to France

  54 At Last We Are in France

  55 The Château

  About the Author

  Some names places and dates have been changed or deleted to protect the guilty.

  For in war at one point everyone becomes guilty.

  JOHNO

  There was no gunfire for the moment, so he ran as fast as he could. He was almost there and was just about to jump down when he was slammed by something hard in the back. It knocked him off the top level. He landed on his head and was unconscious.

  1

  THE AMERICAN GENERAL

  1943

  Gen. Allison sat at his desk in the War Department of the United States. He had overall command of the American related resistance actions in the European theater. For the second time he read a report, with special interest. The report was labeled Top Secret.

  He was good as an intelligence officer. He was given this command because of his intimate knowledge of Europe, having spent his childhood and teens traipsing around there. His father was a ranking diplomat who had, at different times been assigned and reassigned all over Europe. The general was well educated graduating from West Point. Considering his experience as a child, his time in combat during World War I and his age in years he was the perfect man for this very important job. The information within is pertinent to the war effort, and it struck a personal cord as well. He waited for his colonel to bring him the latest briefing on this same report. His eyes fell to the pages again.

  The boy was born in Paris in 1935 to Madame Duval. Before she met his father, she and her mother had been living in France for some time. Born in the United States, she was taken to England and enrolled in a proper boarding school.

  During World War I her mother had worked tirelessly with the allies to help defeat the Germans. She worked as a spy first with the English and French, then with the Americans, after they declared war on Germany and landed in France. She did not like to talk about it. She would only say that she had seen horrors that no one should have to witness. Whatever her work was, it would sometimes keep her away from England and her daughter for months at a time.

  After the war, Mademoiselle and her mother moved to Paris. She grew up to be a very attractive socialite with no lack of suitors. Besides being blessed with good looks, both women were intelligent, charming, knowledgeable, and well versed in Parisian life. They resided between Paris and a modest villa in the South of France. One evening in Paris there was to be a large annual masquerade party. That night she met the father to be of her son. He was dressed as an Arab prince and by the end of the evening she knew she was in love.

  In time, Mademoiselle was married to her gentleman whose name was Edmond Duval. He was from a very old French family. After about one year, Madam Duval became pregnant. They were happy for several years, dividing their time between Paris and the South of France.

  When France declared war on Germany, with the reluctant acceptance from Madam, Edmond immediately joined the army. He insisted on the front lines helping to defend the Maginot line. Sadly as with many other French, English and Belgium soldiers, he never returned. It was said he died defending his country with valor.

  Madam Duval and her mother were both shattered by the loss of Edmond, and the defeat of France was almost more than they could bear. Not only was it too late to leave for the States, but too late even to get to England. However, they did not want to go, as they were determined to stay in France. With the help of her mother’s associates from the first war, they would work in the resistance in Paris, and do everything they could to purge the Germans from the soil of France. They felt that the United States would eventually get into the war just as they had done in World War I.

  Her son, whose name was Johno, was now almost 6 years old. It was decided the safest place would be the South of France. He would be left in the care of a trusted young woman and her man. The woman had helped to take care of the boy every summer when the Duval family had stayed at their villa in the South of France.

  The American general reading the report paused at his desk for a moment. He looked up from the pages and remembered his days as a boy in Europe. He leaned back in his chair breathing once deeply. He wondered where his colonel was and stretched his arms. He turned to the next page in the report, labeled “FOR HIS EYES ONLY”.

  The couple who cared for the boy were Marie Claude and Peppy. Both of them were an intricate and vital part of the boy’s life and the war effort in France. Marie Claude was a beautiful vivacious young woman in her 30s, who taught English and studied nursing. Exceptionally tall for a French woman, she had a slender athletic build and was often described as voluptuous. Short black hair, large expressive eyes, and a beguiling smile, added to her allure. Peppy was tall, half-French half-Spanish with a dark complexion, jet-black hair, and sharp features. Solid muscle and bone without an ounce of fat, he was not a man to take lightly.

  Both he and Marie Claude loved the boy. They had known Johno’s family before he was born. Perhaps the fact that they were unable to have children of their own brough
t them even closer to the boy. It was ironic that Madam Duval and her mother had unknowingly left the boy in the care of two people already in the resistance. Peppy and Marie Claude did not know that the boy’s mother and grandmother were also in the resistance in Paris. Of course neither of them would know about the other. It was not something you talked about. There were too many turncoats, too many quislings, and a big price to pay if you were found out.

  The last line on the page read INFORMATION FOR THIS REPORT THUS FAR COMPILED FOLLOWING DUVAL FAMILY DEBRIEFING BY BRITISH INTELLIGENCE. The general put the report down and began attending to other matters. He stood up and walked to the window, looking on the crisp blue morning. He pondered how it could be so tranquil here, while half a world away under the same sun and sky all hell had broken loose. He turned back to his desk, mildly irritated by his colonel’s tardiness. But his colonel was a good soldier. Whatever his reasons were for being late, they would be good.

  2

  THE COLONEL

  Colonel Pisani was a third-generation Italian, with a military background. His father and grandfather had all served in the military with distinction and honor. The Colonel, like the General, was a West Point graduate. He was known for his brilliant mind and he spoke several languages fluently. He was a superb intelligence officer and had an uncanny way of predicting events before they occurred. Not surprisingly, General Allison wanted the Colonel on his staff, or to be more accurate to be his right-hand man.

  The Colonel had risen quickly in the peacetime army. When the United States declared war on Germany and the General was given his command, he promoted the colonel immediately. The colonel wasn’t quite sure at first about not being overseas where the fighting was. After all, he had a long family history to keep up. His father had only attained the rank of major. Having made Colonel was something to be proud of. Many soldiers were coming home in body bags, or worse not at all. Maybe it was not such a bad thing serving in the states. He knew that he was making a difference saving lives helping to end the war. Anyway, he thought when the invasion came, he would probably be sent to England at least.

  When he walked into the general’s office, he was armed with what he knew Allison would be looking for. He had the latest report on the boy Johno, his mother, and grandmother. The General barked in his usual gruff tone.

  “Okay what do you have for me?”

  “The Colonel responded, “It looks like all three of them made it to England. It was rough going, and unfortunately there was a firefight just as they were shoving off from Portugal. The boy took a bullet in the back and fell from a jetty. He landed on his head and cracked his skull.”

  The General was alarmed, “Jesus is he going to make it?”

  “He is in a British military hospital. Luckily the boy is out of danger from the bullet wound. However, he had a bad knock on the head and was in a coma for awhile. He is out of it now, but does not seem to have any memory of what happened. He still recognizes his mother and grandmother, although he is amnesic about his life in the resistance.”

  “And how are they?” the General questioned.

  “Other than being concerned for the boy they are fine. The mother and grandmother have been debriefed by British intelligence,” the colonel responded.

  “Well, Colonel, I’d rather see him in American hands but I guess it was their operation that got them out. Just as soon as the boy is able to be moved, get him into an American hospital. Next I want all three of them back here in the states.”

  Thinking out loud the Colonel said, “They’ve lost everything they own. They only have the clothes on their backs.”

  The General thought to himself for a moment. The family originally came from an old American family. They certainly have done their part in this war. The sacrifices that Madam Duval and her mother had made to be able to pass information from Paris were vital to the war effort. He advised the Colonel to find a way to justify a “grantor of subsistence” for them. The General wanted to get them established when they get back to the U.S. “I want them helped. And assuming that the boy pulls through, I want our doctors to see him. I think that we should do whatever is possible to help him forget what he has experienced - hypnotherapy, medication, whatever it takes.”

  The Colonel started in, “General I was thinking how the boys experience could be very valuable for…”

  The general stopped him in mid-sentence. “Colonel, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Imagine what it would be like for an eight-year-old boy trying to grow up in this country after all that he has experienced. What mother would let their children play with a child who has experienced things like that? No, I want that boy to have as normal a life as possible. If he can be helped to forget the death and misery, he will stand a much better chance. That’s my decision! Make sure you carry out my order and follow up with your progress!”

  The Colonel sharpened his posture and replied, “Yes sir! I will certainly take care of it. And Sir, there is another item that’s come to my attention regarding one of the fighters who followed the resistance leader named Peppy. He managed to make his way to England. This fighter, Gerard, was integral in the firefight and helped the boy escape from Portugal.”

  “That’s interesting Colonel. I suppose he wants to join up with General De Gaulle?” Alison inquired.

  The Colonel paused for a moment, took a breath, and replied, “No sir. Apparently, he is a young Jewish French man who lost his whole family to the Gestapo from betrayal by a French neighbor. He wants to join up with us. He claims they were betrayed in their escape to Portugal. They ran into an ambush by Gestapo at the last moment. He has seen a lot of fighting with Peppy. My source tells me he is very intelligent. With your permission, I would like to go to England and debrief him personally. Also, there’s been no word of Peppy and I would like to find out what’s happened to him.”

  “All right Colonel, you make arrangements to get over there as soon as possible, but first make sure this fighter stays put. We don’t want him returning back into France before you’ve debriefed him. Also, better to let him believe that Johno didn’t make it. Make sure the British are in line with that as well. Get with the mother and grandmother. Find out firsthand everything they know about what’s going on with the resistance in Paris. Let them know that we’re going to get them back here, and help them get settled.

  “Well done Colonel.”

  With that said, General Alison turned back to the window and, the Colonel excused himself.

  3

  GERARD

  Colonel Pisani prided himself on being able to put people at ease. When he met Gerard in England, the first thing he did was shake hands and asked if Gerard had been made comfortable. Then he thanked him for joining up with the Americans. He said he was sorry for the inconvenience of keeping Gerard detained under wraps until he arrived in England. Gerard probably didn’t realize it, but he possessed information that was very sensitive. Pisani advised Gerard that anything they talked about from now on was classified. He wanted to know everything that Gerard could tell him about his time in the resistance with Peppy. He suggested that he started with the boy’s rescue from the Germans right up to the firefight in Portugal. Then they could work backward with his time in the resistance.

  Colonel Pisani brought coffee and cigarettes to the interview. They sat across from each other in a small hotel room provided by the British. Gerard was a wiry young man with the diminished countenance of a person at war. His eyes held horrors inside and appeared seasoned for his young age. He reeked of revenge. Gerard helped himself to a cigarette. The smoke filled the air, illuminated by a small light in the ceiling. His gaze landed on Pisani as he started to speak.

  “When we learned that Johno was going to be taken to Germany, it would be our last chance to free him. It was a risky operation but there was no choice. The Germans often had roadblocks. We made one of our own. When the vehicle carrying Johno was close, we quickly set up our roadblock and had four soldiers in German uniforms mann
ing it. Johno was in the backseat with one German soldier. There was another one in the front plus the driver. Two of our men walked up on each side of the vehicle and gestured to roll down the windows. As soon as they did our four soldiers quickly killed them. Peppy, Peter and I ran down to the car and grabbed Johno. We didn’t know what his condition would be. Two of our men quickly drove away with the German vehicle and stashed it in the forest.

  “Johno and the remaining five of us immediately took off in one vehicle. Johno was a tough kid and seemed to be all right. He asked Peppy what had happened during the German ambush months before when he was captured.”

  Peppy told him. “We lost two good men and two more were wounded but they survived. I was sick that you had been captured. We wanted to make a raid on the Gestapo headquarters to spring you but learned it was not necessary. We knew they were not going to hang you, but instead had taken you north somewhere to a clinic. We never stopped trying to find you. The French plumber that you met at the clinic gave us just enough of a lead. It was actually their German intern from the clinic who made it possible for you to be rescued. It is hard to believe, but I guess not all Germans are Nazis. He put his life on the line to help. I’ll give him that for sure.”

  Johno told us he wanted to get back into the war. He wanted to fight.

  Peppy told him, “I know you do but that’s not what’s happening. We are all taking you to Portugal. We liberated your mother and found your grandmother. We are going to meet them in Portugal. From there all three of you will take a boat to England.”

  Amazed Johno asked, “Am I really going to see my mother and grandmother again?”

  Peppy replied, “Yes Johno, if everything goes well you’ll be in England within a week. We have to move fast. They are going to be looking for you. Something else you should know. Recall the German Major that you killed before your capture. His family is a very well to do industrial family, one of the most powerful families in Germany. They want your blood badly. I wouldn’t be surprised when they find out that you’ve been rescued they will have their own army chasing us as well.”