The Uvalde Raider by Ben English (great books for teens TXT) 📕

like form in German. The two men had many of the same interests: flying, hunting, literature and most importantly, an abiding faith in a Higher Power above. In this a deep, lifelong friendship was being born. From others at the base hospital, Max learned that his American counterpart was a well-regarded pilot himself who had flown numerous B-17 bombing missions over Germany. Max wondered if Ezekiel Templar saw the same irony in that as he did.

Several weeks later Major Templar was standing in the headquarters of his commanding officer, Colonel George Hapshell. They had already gone over a litany of subjects having to do with day-to-day operations at the base, as well as needed decisions about personnel and some swapping of the latest rumors. Now the two men were reaching the juncture of their meeting that had been forefront in both minds: What could they, or would they, be able to do for their former Luftwaffe enemy who had likely saved four American lives in the risking his own.

"I want to do the right thing by him, Zeke" said the colonel, pouring himself and Ezekiel a cup of hot black coffee. He handed a steaming mug to the major, who sipped lightly at the contents. "What he did at that crash scene is all over the Allied Sector."

Hapshell motioned Templar over to an overstuffed leather chair and seated himself in an identical facing twin. "If he was one of my men" he continued, "I'd put him in for some sort of commendation like the Soldier’s Medal."

"I think he already has plenty of medals, Colonel" observed Ezekiel.

"Yeah, the Knight’s Cross with Silver Oak Leaves," mused Hapshell. "I’d have to work hard to beat that, wouldn't I?" The colonel paused, leaning forward and looking intently at Ezekiel. "You've gotten to know him well, Zeke, what do you think? What can we do for this man?"

Ezekiel looked straight back at Hapshell and said, "Give him a job."

"A job?" asked the colonel, half incredulously. "What kind of job do you have in mind, Zeke?”

"Well sir, we both know the Germans possessed some very technologically advanced weapons, and they conducted numerous experiments and studies into the feasibility of others. We already know something about the V1s and V2s, as well as those Messerschmitt jet and rocket fighters we came into contact with late in the war. But what we don’t know would likely fill volumes and could be used against us by somebody else in the future.”

A troubled countenance settled on the colonel’s features. "You’re right about that, Zeke. It's a big concern for most everyone in the upper echelons of command. Evidently the Soviets have been running ops to snap up German scientists, and whatever plans and equipment having to do with that technology. I would suspect we’re doing the same thing."

Ezekiel Templar shifted his weight in the oversized chair and leaned forward. "Sir, I really think that Max Grephardt could help out substantially in that regard."

“Hmmmm?” the colonel questioned, caught about half off guard.

“Think about it, sir. He could open doors and reach people in ways we never could. Not more than a year ago his photograph was on the cover of all sorts of German magazines, lionized as a true son of their Fatherland and the only one of five brothers having survived. He was a hero, their hero, who fought for them with everything he possessed. They will remember that.”

Hapshell placed his righthand fingers on his chin in thought, rubbing it slightly as he considered the idea. "I understand what you’re saying, Zeke and agree with the potential of it. But the big question is, will he?" reasoned the colonel. "That's an awful lot to ask of a man. He might even see it as betraying his own country.”

"Or maybe saving it," rejoined Ezekiel. "Colonel, Max Grephardt and I have had some serious conversations on this subject. He and many others like him have long considered communism as the biggest threat to their homeland, and they still do. That is why they fought so hard against the Soviets, and why everyone who could came west when the Third Reich collapsed."

"You feel that strongly about him, Zeke?” queried Hapshell. “Because if I go along, we could both end up as some politician’s whipping boy over this."

"Yes sir, I do. Max Grephardt is an intelligent, brave and resourceful man. More so, he is a patriot. Not only for his country but for the entire human race. He proved that the moment he ran through those flames to get to our people.”

Ezekiel could see he had Hapshell thinking, considering both sides of a fairly big decision. The Texan bulled ahead, pushing his point.

“Sir, the way I see it is this. If the German people, who were so well educated and so steeped in Western civilization could be so badly misled so quickly, then the very same thing could happen in our own country. We are not immune to what occurred here. All it would take is the right crisis, the right faction and the right fiend to take control. It’s the oldest and most dangerous political con game known, give us your freedom and we will give you order and safety.

“In many ways there was very little difference between Hitler and Stalin. Both had the same goals, told the same lies and used the same ruthless tactics to achieve those goals. In the end, that’s probably why they hated each other so much. Grephardt believes firmly that Stalin will now try to swallow this entire continent whole, if we just stand aside and let it happen."

Ezekiel Templar paused and studied the half empty cup in his hand, choosing his words. "What’s more, Colonel, I tend to agree with him. If we don’t take action and do something now, we’ll be over here in another twenty-five more years, fighting in another world war."

He stopped