The Merry Men

Porridge with a Spoonful of Hatred

They arrived in Cracow that night. Their eyes heavy with sleep and bodies plagued by fatigue, Robin kindly put their mission on hold for one night only, allowing them to recover from the intense travelling.

Together they checked into a middle standard hotel. The floors were carpeted in a rich sea deep blue, creating the illusion of an ocean floor but the effect was ruined by the tarnished stained carpet. The walls were white washed but were adorned with beautiful paintings, which Benjamin noted had not yet been accosted by the Nazis like so many other treasures in Europe. The reception of the hotel boasted two beautiful oak desks, which were serviced by two equally beautiful women.

Benjamin's own room, which he shared with Oliver, did not regrettably have any beautiful women behind desks or in paintings on the wall. Their paintings were more docile, they were of landscapes and animals, including a large ferocious looking wolf. What the room did have though, were two large queen sized beds and a minute en suite. The bed covers were the same sea blue as the floor, but they were not yet tarnished by stains.

He fell asleep easily despite Oliver's high pitched snoring. It seemed as though only seconds had passed, from when his head hit the fluffy white pillow at ten o'clock at night and his eyes opening at nine too a beautiful sunny Polish morning. He enjoyed the serene morning before Oliver's snores started again, forcing him to get out of bed and leave the humerus noise.

He trundled downstairs after a quick shower, keen to fill his empty growling stomach in the hotel's breakfast room.

Small and large oak tables, similar to those in reception, furnished the hotels breakfast room accompanied by large oak straight back chairs. The walls within the breakfast room were the same as all the others in the hotel, whitewashed and adorned with beautiful paintings. Pretty young Polish girls waited on the tables, dressed in black maid like uniforms with a small white apron tied on the front. He ordered a cup of apple juice and two bowls of porridge before he made his over to the others table, tucked away in the far left corner of the room, away from everyone else.

When he approached they, (Robin, Rupert and Alex), grew quiet. Immediately Benjamin recognised they had been talking about him, but he acted nonchalant as if this type of behaviour always happened too him.

"Good morning gentlemen," he said in perfect polish with a large grin, taking a seat next to Alex who gave him an unsavoury look.

"Good morning Benjamin," Rupert said civilly with his brow furrowed, which gave him the impression that whatever they had talked about Rupert was not in agreement. Perhaps he didn't have just two comrades after all...

"Did you sleep well Rupert?" Benjamin enquired as the waitress appeared with his breakfast. The porridge had been put in two blue porcelain bowls, accompanied by a plate with pots of jams, sugars and syrups. He took a large gulp of apple juice as he waited for Rupert to answer.

"Very thanks,"he replied, sending a dark look Robin's way for some reason. “I wonder if you'd heard of Reinhard Heydrich?”

“Rupert no!” Robin exclaimed suddenly, a little loudly perhaps for some people turned around and point blank stared. “Sorry,” Robin said waving his hands in apology, eager for them to become invisible again before carrying on. “Rupert that's our business not his!”

“This man saved Sylvia's life-”

“-Well I,” Benjamin began but Rupert cut him off.

“You welcomed him into this group Alfred,” Rupert said menacingly, while Alex stayed quiet no longer eager to attack him any more.

“I may have done,” Robin replied childishly, crossing his arms and looking away so he didn't to meet Rupert's eyes.

“Then you tell him,” Rupert stated, flashing Benjamin a triumphant grin.