Love Beyond Fury

AHe will die! I know it. I know it." Yanna raised her hands to her cheeks. No fear--sorrow--doubt or joy could reach her. Her spirit withered, she shuddered from the thought that the spark of his life might die away. Driven with love the girl got up and dashed across the vast underground room to where Wilhelm lay and sank to her knees.

"Oh love, what have they done to you." Her heart sank with panic. She gathered him in her arms and kissed his face and hands so tenderly where switches had cut his flesh. "Look at me!" she cried. "Please, William! Open your eyes!" The girl pleaded. "Come my loved one, do not yet go to Him who gave us life. I need you! I love you!" she sobbed. There was magic in her arms when she held him and called him by every endearing name. "Together," she whispered stroking his damp blond hair, "together in this frenzied ocean called Life. Out of nowhere you came. You are here......you are mine," whispered the sad girl ever so softly. With hot tears down her cheeks, Yanna was confused---glad---frightened. She raised her head. "Oh God, his life is hanging by a thread, please make it strong." And when death caught at his throat and threatened oblivion, she held him closer that her breath did for two.

With curses springing to his lips, Ted rushed back in. He glanced around, knelt and took William’s hands to warm them in his own big palms. He put his hand on William’s chest and heedless of Yanna’s emotions, he stretched his hand across William’s forehead, down across his cheeks and for a second seemed to pause there. He abruptly took Yanna’s arms away from the young man and put her aside where she huddled on the stone floor and tried to muffle her sobbing.

Jim the British MP, with a firm and noble soul and a face too strong to be handsome, yet manly and very pleasant, trained in decency and honor, stood stern and aloof. In silence, he had listened to her speak and observed her actions of love. He curled his fingers under his holster and loosened his gun. His lips were mute but duty rebelled. He edged closer, his fingers curling around the trigger.

Terror held the girl when she raised her head and through the mists of her eyes, she looked at the gun pointing its cold dark muzzle toward William. Jim held it there. In that moment, he had decided to do what is right and take him as his prisoner.

Yanna turned to her Uncle Ted who for a moment was at a loss fighting with himself at the turn of events. Suddenly with a jerk, he drew back as though something hit him.

"No....No....Jim! For God’s sake....No!" His voice was loud and his heart beat wildly. "Away with it!" The flame in his chest put steel in his arms. "No Jim. Put---that---gun down! No!" and he fell upon his friend.

But the desire for vengeance was like madness in Jim’s blood. He had forgotten everything except his sense of duty to destroy the German. Dead or alive.

"Sto-o-o-p!" screamed Yanna and with an instinctive move, she flung herself across the floor and over William. She opened her eyes and saw shadows looming high. "Are you so cold blooded? Leave us.....leave us die alone." Yanna struggled to hold William closer. "He’s helpless, can’t you see?" She felt she would scream then suddenly, she felt faint.

As her words vibrated in their ears not another sound was heard from the two men. With a clang the gun fell to the cold floor and Jim Lord Burke, the British Military Policeman, who had been disciplined to be exact, knew he would not use it. With a frown, he bent down to pick up his gun and his form seemed to tower before his daring deed. He impulsively lifted the weight of the now thin young man up across his stalwart shoulders. He staggered but only for a moment. Then, Jim swung out in his familiar long firm strides and with a level gaze signaled Ted to lead the way.

Yanna was being helped by her Uncle. She turned back to look at the Military Policeman, then she tried to break loose. "Where are you going?" she cried. "Put him down," and quickly a large hand clamped gently over her mouth, leading her despite her efforts to run loose. Defenseless, Yanna stumbled on with echoes throbbing in her ears and Jim the MP followed carrying her life upon his shoulders.

The group went through corridors and up another flight of stone steps. Yanna wanted to go home, she wanted her family who were so far away but, the groan of the long war caught at her throat. The girl staggered with exhaustion and was ready to fall when her Uncle Ted supported her and she let herself be led on. "It’s strange -- this moldy smell," she breathed deeply and felt like she was standing amidst the Tombs of the Past. The girl raised her head, her pulse beat faster and she shook her arm free. "Let me help with his wounds!" she struggled in vain when Uncle Ted took a firmer grip of her arm. "Have you no hearts," she said softly.