mind
wandered to images she held dear. Vistas of the majestic White Mountains in her
native New Hampshire were always a source of inspiration and comfort. Ragged
ridges and tranquil valleys filled with thin mists rising from gurgling brooks
were precious memories that soothed her soul. If she tried hard enough she
could still smell the clean aroma of spruce and fir trees as the winds swept
their canopies. She had walked the familiar trails among the towering peaks,
with the pungent scent of sweetfern crushed beneath her feet. It would
accompany her for miles. She had loved the forest and the feeling of peace and
contentment that had filled her heart whenever she walked beneath the arched
pathways. It was a sanctuary she had often visited in her youth.
How far away that source of solitude was now! Memories of
the mountains and forests had given her the strength to combat the atrocities
taking place around her. They had been an oasis of calm in the midst of
pestilence and calamity. She found it easy to escape to a time and place of
peace and love and beauty. As the years dragged past, Lisa, and most of her
companions, had already accepted the fact that they might die in the prison
camp. It was a logical, realistic conclusion considering the conditions they
had to endure and, in many ways, it made the situation easier to tolerate. All
that had changed now. The prospect of eventual deliverance from the camp was a
distinct possibility. Their return to civil society, free of war, had been an
impossible dream twenty-four hours ago.
Jonathon recognized the inmate sitting with her back against
a post near the pond. Her auburn hair was shining in the sun. There was a
plaintive far-away - look in her sunken eyes. He was touched by the tragedy
they reflected. He slung the Thompson over his shoulder and approached Lisa
Carter.
“I see that you’ve had a chance to put on clean clothes. Is
there anything I can do to help you?” he asked in a reassuring voice.
Lisa hesitated a moment. She remembered how he had tried to
comfort her. “It is nice to feel clean.”
“Have you had a chance to eat something, Miss Carter?”
“Yes, it was a luxury to satisfy our hunger. Thank you for
freeing the camp. We were beyond hoping for a miracle, then out of the darkness
you appear in answer to all of our prayers. For that, we all owe you a debt of
gratitude.”
“You and your companions have been an inspiration to me and
my men. I can’t imagine how difficult your lives have been, and regret that we
could not come sooner. We plan to defend the camp until more help arrives. In
the meantime, you and your companions should take advantage of this period of
adjustment. Eat and rest all that you can. If you need medical attention, the
nurses at the barn infirmary have been supplied with most any medication you
might need. Be sure to ask them for the vitamin supplements. They’ll help your
body adjust quicker to the changes in diet.”
“There isn’t any medicine that can remove my shame,” Lisa
cried with trembling lips. Her frail body once again was wracked with protest.
She avoided looking at him and held her head in her thin, bony fingers, the
ugly memories returned with increased fury.
His heart went out to the lady. Jonathon searched for the right
words to comfort her and felt helpless: “Let your friends help you, Miss
Carter.”
“I’ve been looking all over for you, Lisa,” exclaimed a
gentle voice. Jonathon turned to see Madame June kneel beside Lisa, cradling
her in her arms. “I’ll take care of her, Lieutenant. She’s had a bad time.”
“I’m relieved that you’re here, Madame,” replied Jonathon,
recognizing the elder matron of the camp.
“Normally our Lisa remains on the sidelines, but is always
available to help. She’s a loner of sorts. When the new commandant of the camp
began the unspeakable practice of using the women to satisfy his desires, Lisa
was the first to defy and protest against what was taking
wandered to images she held dear. Vistas of the majestic White Mountains in her
native New Hampshire were always a source of inspiration and comfort. Ragged
ridges and tranquil valleys filled with thin mists rising from gurgling brooks
were precious memories that soothed her soul. If she tried hard enough she
could still smell the clean aroma of spruce and fir trees as the winds swept
their canopies. She had walked the familiar trails among the towering peaks,
with the pungent scent of sweetfern crushed beneath her feet. It would
accompany her for miles. She had loved the forest and the feeling of peace and
contentment that had filled her heart whenever she walked beneath the arched
pathways. It was a sanctuary she had often visited in her youth.
How far away that source of solitude was now! Memories of
the mountains and forests had given her the strength to combat the atrocities
taking place around her. They had been an oasis of calm in the midst of
pestilence and calamity. She found it easy to escape to a time and place of
peace and love and beauty. As the years dragged past, Lisa, and most of her
companions, had already accepted the fact that they might die in the prison
camp. It was a logical, realistic conclusion considering the conditions they
had to endure and, in many ways, it made the situation easier to tolerate. All
that had changed now. The prospect of eventual deliverance from the camp was a
distinct possibility. Their return to civil society, free of war, had been an
impossible dream twenty-four hours ago.
Jonathon recognized the inmate sitting with her back against
a post near the pond. Her auburn hair was shining in the sun. There was a
plaintive far-away - look in her sunken eyes. He was touched by the tragedy
they reflected. He slung the Thompson over his shoulder and approached Lisa
Carter.
“I see that you’ve had a chance to put on clean clothes. Is
there anything I can do to help you?” he asked in a reassuring voice.
Lisa hesitated a moment. She remembered how he had tried to
comfort her. “It is nice to feel clean.”
“Have you had a chance to eat something, Miss Carter?”
“Yes, it was a luxury to satisfy our hunger. Thank you for
freeing the camp. We were beyond hoping for a miracle, then out of the darkness
you appear in answer to all of our prayers. For that, we all owe you a debt of
gratitude.”
“You and your companions have been an inspiration to me and
my men. I can’t imagine how difficult your lives have been, and regret that we
could not come sooner. We plan to defend the camp until more help arrives. In
the meantime, you and your companions should take advantage of this period of
adjustment. Eat and rest all that you can. If you need medical attention, the
nurses at the barn infirmary have been supplied with most any medication you
might need. Be sure to ask them for the vitamin supplements. They’ll help your
body adjust quicker to the changes in diet.”
“There isn’t any medicine that can remove my shame,” Lisa
cried with trembling lips. Her frail body once again was wracked with protest.
She avoided looking at him and held her head in her thin, bony fingers, the
ugly memories returned with increased fury.
His heart went out to the lady. Jonathon searched for the right
words to comfort her and felt helpless: “Let your friends help you, Miss
Carter.”
“I’ve been looking all over for you, Lisa,” exclaimed a
gentle voice. Jonathon turned to see Madame June kneel beside Lisa, cradling
her in her arms. “I’ll take care of her, Lieutenant. She’s had a bad time.”
“I’m relieved that you’re here, Madame,” replied Jonathon,
recognizing the elder matron of the camp.
“Normally our Lisa remains on the sidelines, but is always
available to help. She’s a loner of sorts. When the new commandant of the camp
began the unspeakable practice of using the women to satisfy his desires, Lisa
was the first to defy and protest against what was taking
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