Free Camp 30 by Eric Walters Page B

smiled.
    â€œYeah, with the goon.”
    â€œIt was my pleasure. Are you boys now going back to the administrative office?”
    â€œYeah. We’re gonna wait until our mother gets off work so we can walk home with her,” I said.
    â€œI am sure she’ll enjoy your company, as have I. I think I will go with you to speak to Colonel Armstrong.”
    â€œGo … to his office, you mean?” I asked, feeling confused.
    â€œYes, his office.”
    â€œBut you can’t just go up and see him there, can you?” Jack asked.
    â€œI know he is busy, so usually I make an appointment, but perhaps he has a moment to spare. He is usually very … how do you say … accommodating.”
    â€œBut his office is outside—you can’t just leave the camp,” I said, feeling more confused by the minute.
    â€œWell, yes, I can. Here, I’ll show you.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    â€œ GOOD DAY, GENTLEMEN ,” Captain Kretschmer called to the guards at the gates.
    â€œAnd a good day to you as well, Captain.”
    I’d never seen this guard before. Actually, I’d never seen any of them before. The four guards who had let us into the compound must have gone off duty and been replaced.
    â€œWould you be so good as to open the gates?” the captain said. “I wish to go and see Colonel Armstrong.”
    â€œSorry, sir, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” he replied.
    I looked at Jack. Of course he couldn’t do that. Prisoners can’t just walk up to the fence and ask to leave.
    â€œI can’t open the gates until I know the identity of those two young men with you,” the guard continued.
    â€œWhat?” I gasped, unable to believe my ears.
    â€œThese boys are the sons of Colonel Armstrong’s new assistant, Mrs. Braun,” Captain Kretschmer explained.
    â€œAre they?” the guard questioned. “When we came on duty there was no mention of them being inside the compound, and they weren’t signed in.”
    â€œWe … came to deliver the mail,” I stammered. “See?” I said, holding up my empty newspaper bag—which, of course, made no sense.
    â€œI guess Herbie was so anxious to get home to his missus and a warm meal that he forgot to mention any of this to us.”
    â€œThey came under the direction of Colonel Armstrong,” the captain added. “You could call up to headquarters for confirmation.”
    â€œNo need. If you say that’s who they are, then that’s good enough for me.”
    The second guard unlocked the gate and it started to swing open.
    I stood stock-still. “You mean … we can all go? He can just leave?” I asked, pointing at Captain Kretschmer.
    â€œâ€™Course he can. He always comes back.” The guard turned to the captain. “You will return on your word of honour?”
    â€œYou have my word as an officer and a gentleman.”
    This wasn’t real. I stumbled forward as the inner gate closed behind me and the outside gate began to open.
    â€œI should not be any more than thirty minutes,” he said to one of the guards manning the outer gate.
    â€œTake your time, Captain. We’re not going anywhere.”
    Â We all walked away from the compound—me, Jack and a prisoner!
    â€œYou seem surprised,” Captain Kretschmer said with a grin.
    â€œWell … yeah … a little,” I stammered.
    â€œJust a little?”
    â€œA lot,” Jack said. “It’s kind of crazy that they just let you walk out.”
    â€œI must admit that it struck me as strange the first time,” Captain Kretschmer agreed.
    â€œSo anybody can just go up and see the colonel any time they want?” Jack asked.
    â€œThat privilege would be limited to myself, the field marshal and some of the other high-ranking officers in the camp.”
    â€œI guess that makes sense,” I agreed.
    â€œBut there are many other reasons that