I Promise (Wattys 2016)

Reunited

James woke up with a start. He remembered what had happened and wondered how he had fallen asleep. Had he just passed out from blood loss, or pain.

"Jamie?" He said.

"Hm?" Jamie said. He sounded like he was in agony.

"Are you alright?" James asked.

"My arm hurts very badly, as does my leg." Jamie said. "I hope to God you were right about people finding us."

James was about to respond when he heard a sort of clicking noise. He looked up, and then felt a tearing pain in his head. He laid his head back down carefully. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Jamie asked.

"Listen." James said. The two of them grew silent.

"Do you mean that clicking noise?" Jamie asked.

"Yes!" James said. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Now there's a whistling, too." Jamie said. "Hey! Who's there?"

"Are there people there?" A British voice called.

"Thank God!" James said. He felt he could cry with relief. "Yes, yes! I'm Captain James Nicholls, and Major Jamie Stewarts is here, too!"

"Idiot! What if their German?" Jamie said.

"They sound British." James said. "This is our only chance."

"We'll send someone there in a minute!" Another British voice said.

"Thank you!" James shouted.

Sure enough, a man came a few minutes later with a knife. James couldn't help smiling. There was suddenly a shot, causing James to flinch. The man got down before giving James a reassuring look.

"Don't worry, they're just tryin' to scare ya." He said.

"Believe me, I know. I've lived among them for four years." James said. "He's holding a white flag, you morons!"

"I'm just tryin' to help these poor soldiers and horse, is all!" The soldier yelled. He tried to move the wire, but drew his hand back. "OW!"

"Don't look behind you, lad." Jamie said. The soldier turned around and Jamie sighed. "I said don't look behind you. Youth today." There was a German soldier behind the English one. He held up a pair of bolt cutters.

"I thought you might need these." He said. "For the barb-wire."

"Yeah, um...yeah, I, uh..." The English soldier faltered. "Thanks. Cheers."

The German soldier handed over cutters to the English soldier. The English soldier got ready to cut before the German one interfered. "That's a very long strand. If you cut it, it will release here, here, and here. It will only wound the poor fellows further."

"You speak good English." The English soldier said.

"I speak English well." The German soldier corrected. James chuckled. "What if we cut their heads free first? The skinnier of the two men might blind himself if he moves."

While the two of them were making plans, James sat in awe. It was hard for him to believe that two enemies were working together to free him, Jamie, and Joey. It was amazing. At least there was still some good in the world. Once the two had gotten another pair of wire-cutters, they began the work of cutting the three out. James decided not to interrupt them while they talked. He was so tired anyway. He just wanted to sleep.

Soon, all the wires had been cut and Joey stood up. James did the same, even though it pained his leg, and then helped Jamie stand up. They backed away towards the English soldier. They had had enough of Germans to last a lifetime.