13th June: Vickery's fury

Freddie tried to look thoroughly serious and respectable as he came to attention. He would have loved to know what 'tree sap' meant - Harz, perhaps? - but he would readily agree to everything that Pye thought to be a convincing story.

"Hmm." He glanced across at Rottländer. He, for one, looked as though he needed to wash; he seemed to have something in his hair.

"You will go straight there, and you will come straight back, is that understood?" he said, reaching into his pocket for his day book.

"Yes sir! In as direct line as we can possibly go, sir. Promise, sir. Thank you, sir!" Pye answered, looking quite grateful about being allowed to go. To do this frequently would certainly put him of trying to go anywhere. Just having to stand infront of the captain was enough.

"Straight there n' back." He spoke glancing at his friend. He was glad no explanation was needed. The lad looked messy enough!

"Good. I am glad you understand that," Vickery said, writing a note out. He folded it and gave it to Pye. "You will return that to me when you get back, of course."

Freddie nodded, partly in agreement with the Captain's decree, but also because he thought that he had finally worked out the use of that rather strange 'will' that appeared to have nothing to do with wollen. He would have to check with Pye later.

The thought nearly made him grin again. Two days ago he had had no real friend in the camp and had spoken barely more than twenty words of English, and now he had a not only a friend, but also one he could ask about his sometimes rather puzzling language. His life had definitely taken a turn for the better.

"Go there, wash, and come back again. Yes, Sir!", he repeated, just to indicate that he had really understood the words.

"Yes, sir." He took the note. He could not read what it said, but he was convinced enough that it meant he was free to go to the river and back. That he could not keep it did mean that he could not use it another time but.. though that mistrust hurt him, he thought it was fair enough. "Return it when we's back. "Which also meant Vickery would know exactly when he returned and how long he took to be beside the river. He hid a frown and gave the captain a sharp salute.

"Thank you, sir." He spoke and turned to Rottlander signaling him that he had the note now and they could go.

Vickery couldn't help smiling. He turned to Pye's companion. "Du lernst Englisch sehr schnell, Rottländer," he said.

He returned Pye's salute. The lad understood his purpose in asking for the note to be returned. Good.

At the Captain's compliment, a happy smile played over Freddie's face.

"Danke! Ich habe gute Lehrer, Herr Hauptmann!"

He offered an eager salute, exchanged a glance with Pye and dashed out of the tent, making straight for the river.

Pye grinned at Vickery:" He'm a gut Lerner , Herr Hauptmann." Not so good at German was he? "Adieu." The last just escaped him and his cheeks coloured red. "We will be back Gestern!" Or was that,.. oh hell, he could just be going now. And he went to dash after Friedrich, not wanting to be last to get to the river.

Vickery chuckled and watched them go. If they could be induced to stay out of trouble, they could well make good Riflemen. They would just need the opportunity to grow up a little.

He turned back to his own duties, feeling suddenly a lot older than his twenty-four years. With men like that under his command, he would be surprised if he did not end up going grey in the Service.

Freddie made a beeline for the river; there was no sense stopping to talk before they were out of earshot, the tension of the morning needed to be worked off, and ultimately he simply loved running around, skipping around tents and people, hoping over logs and lines and occasionally even vaulting over a fence. Deep down he also knew that sometimes he also just loved to the the stunned expression on other peoples' faces when he buzzed by.

But perhaps Pye didn't share this liking? Ready to slow down immediately, Freddie twisted his head to glance at his friend.

Pye was right behind the other lad, having been able to pick enough speed to catch up with him, he ducked out of the way of some soldiers which had seen the pair too late. They've left them behind now, and infront a good portion of grass, gravel, mud and the like.

He reached forward when Friedrich looked back, trying to catch hold of the boy. "Got..got you i think!" He exclaimed. If he was to succeed, there would certainly be some tripping and tumbling to follow, after that.

Freddie took the tackle square in the middle and went down in an unruly tangle of limbs and laughter, but even before he hit the ground, a hand sneaked out and tried to get a hold on Pye's lapels.

Freddie wouldn't be the only one rolling in the dust if he could help it!

Pye had known there was a chance he was going to come down as well. With Rottlander's hold, that possiblity became a reality. With an oomph he landed on the ground and the pair soon went into a roll.

Of course Pye did not want to end up pinned to the ground. It was hard not to laugh, and Pye was certainly failing. "You oughta run faster if you think ter outrun me!"

Freddie rolled and laughed and got a hiccup, but suddenly he went stiff like a pole and stared at Pye with a horrified expression.

"Oh mein Gott, Peggy!"

Pye also froze. He stiffened looked at his side and then from pale returned to a normal, healthy colour again, chuckling faintly. "She's a'right!" He breathed in relief. "She's a'right." He spoke again then gazed at Friedrich. He was grateful though for the lad to even consider her well being, and actually care whether she was hurt or not. "She's back.. when we got your honey out.. I left her with some of me stuff and the honey. She's safe." Her little foot was tied with a string so that she could not stray far. "Your.. Lord Torrington's tent. s' where I left her. Nobody's dare touch 'er there..right?"

Freddie considered for a moment, then burst out laughing:

"No! Only if Mylord come back and find honey and a Kücken ..."

He switched into Captain Torrington's straight posture, and twisted his face into a caricature of said Captain looking surprised and faintly shocked. As Freddie had not yet perfected Captain Torrington's habit of raising only one eyebrow, he had to struggle heavily and ended up with both eyebrows near his hairline and a rather lopsided expression all over the rest of his face.

"He could think it is dinner! Or he ask her to tea becose she is a lady! We should better be finished when he come..s back!"

Rolling to his feet again, he set off to gallop down the riverbank in a decidedly dangerous fashion.

"Come! Last one must make tea!"

"Oi! You cheat!" Pye laughed. He had been very pale for the moment when he considered his chick becoming dinner, and was relieved that the only person being able to make it so would be the cook, Freddie, and he was here! That she would drink tea with Torrington? That would have made him laugh terribly. He could not put it past his chick however that she would manage to do that.

He began at a run and then just as suddenly crumpled to the ground, crying out loudly. "Ow! Ow!! Freddie, help!"

Freddie stopped and turned so abruptly that he slid several inches over the dry grass and nearly landed on his knees, then came with large leaps up the slope again.

Had Pye hit a rabbit-hole? Oh, please not! He would never forgive himself if he had caused his friend an injury with his silly bet.

Falling on his knees by the other's side, he asked, his voice shaking with worry:

"Bist Du in Ordnung? Ist es der Knöchel?"

In his concern he had switched to German again; his hand was already searching through his satchel for something to use as bandage.

Pye was lying curled up on the ground, clutching at his leg. He seemed in terrible pain really, and made it known with a very soft. "Don't know." Because he did not know what the other boy said, but was sure there were questions that he spoke of. "Come here. Please. See what it is."

He glanced towards the boy, rather glad that Frierich had not injured himself trying to stop so abruptly! Silly thing!

Gently laying his slightly shaking hands over Pye's to try and disengage them, Freddy murmured soothingly, still in German:

"It's perhaps only strained; come, let me see. We'll put something cold on it and it will be better soon."

If Pye got into more trouble with Captain Vickery ... Freddie shuddered. He didn't think he could ever look into his friend's eyes again then.

(growls at compy)

Pye obediently removed his hands, observing Friedrich as he spoke. He shifted a bit then, studied him still, quietly now as if suffering the terrible pain. Then, without warning he pulled at Friedrich to have him down on the ground, while he pushed upwards and broke off into a run.

His legs were prefectly fine, which was made certain, when he jumped over one of the large, protruding roots. Success!

Freddie was stunned for a moment; he had been totally taken in by Pye's little ruse. Then he came up roaring, promising terrible vengeance, and set off after Pye. The other wouldn't win that easily: After all Freddie had a lot of experience with running through the camp!

On the other hand: If Pye wanted to be at the river first so badly, then perhaps ... As soon as Freddie had caught up enough and there were only a few yards more to go, he dived forward in a running tackle.

Pye, having just reached the river stopped. He was about to turn about to proclaim his victory when something heavy, fast and green came in full contact with him knocking the pair right over and - being so close to the river itself - in.

"Freedd..mmph!"Splash and cough.

Freddie gleefully splashed even more water at Pye, then gave a terrible cough because he had been laughing so hard that he had forgotten to close his mouth when he had hit the water. As soon as he got some air again, he gasped:

"Keine Sorge! I left the tea outside!"