Part 20 (1/2)
Everybody aiting, waiting Waiting for what, they did not know Or if they did they kept it to theradually into the hospital wards Some of it was true, and a lot of it was false But all of it rasped nerves and cut deep into the tortured minds of men
And then, on the third day, it happened!
The news flew fro over the entire hospital Belgiuiven up! The whole left side of the British Ar down out of Holland! On the south the French and the British have been split by a Gerht across France to Abbeville on the Channel coast The entire British Army, and part of the French, is surrounded on three sides There is only one door of escape left open That door is Dunkirk!
The instant they heard the news Dave and Freddy rushed to the office of the medical captain They found there a very worried and very harassedup on the telephone when they burst in He saw them, started to wave them outside, but suddenly checked the motion
”Come in, you two,” he called to them ”How do you feel?”
”Swell,” Dave said
”Very fit, sir,” Freddy said
The medical officer nodded and then stared at theers on the top of his desk
”You've heard the news?” he suddenly asked
They nodded, and waited
”It puts us in a tight corner,” the officer said ”And it puts ht corner I've just received orders from GHQ to evacuate this hospital at once There are over five hundred wounded men here, and only a dozen ambulances We're to evacuate to the Base Hospital at St
Omer NowYou chaps told me the truth, eh? You _do_ feel fit?”
”Gee, yes!” Dave exclai we could do to help We feel swell, honest”
”That's right, sir,” Freddy nodded ”And there _is_ so we can do?”
”There is,” the h aet these wounded ht, in fact I'll tell you the truth, boys At the speed the Geriven up, they'll be here in Lille, tonight!”
”Gee!” Dave breathed softly ”Right here in this place, tonight?”
The uns?” he said gravely ”They are not ot to work fast, boys Every man we have to leave here will become a German prisoner of war I wouldn't ask you, except that the situation is desperate By rights, you two should go along with the wounded, instead of driving theency, and every one who can, _must_ help”
”We're ready, sir,” Freddy said quietly ”What are your orders?”
A sratitude flickered across the officer's face
”Get into your regular clothes, first,” he said with a smile ”Then report to Lieutenant Baker in the a And, thank you, boys We'll rinned, then turned on their heels and raced back to the ward for their clothes The wounded soldiers suspected that so was up, and a hundred questions were hurled at them They didn't bother to answer any of them They simply piled into their clothes and hurried outside and around to the parking lot by the south wing
”Gee, Freddy!” Dave panted as they raced along side by side ”I was afraid I was going to stay in that hospital for the rest of the war, and not get another chance to do anything”
”A bit worried, myself,” Freddy said ”I was afraid that we'd done our job, and that it was all over as far as ere concerned But, I have a feeling, Dave, that perhaps it's really just beginning for us”
And Freddy Farmer never spoke a truer word in his life, as they were both soon to realize!