The Corporal was, of course, correct on both counts – neither Ingrid nor the U.S. Sergeant, both theoretically superior in rank, had any authority to order him about. Stalemate. I could see the Sergeant was going to move – even more – into bullying mode. I judged that it wouldn’t work on the Corporal – who obviously knew very well what was the proper chain of command. So, it was time for me to stand up and be counted. I crawled from the back of the first jeep and stood uncertainly beside it. I called out weakly to the guards: “Gentlemen, I’m the reason these officers are here. I’m the one who has caused the rioting over on the parade ground ...” I paused, giddy from standing, before completing my thought. “ ... If you don’t let these guys lock me up for my own protection, you’re going to have a lynching on your hands. I suspect the Camp Commandant will not be well pleased when he has to explain to his superiors why my body is swinging from the flagpole in the morning – when you could have saved him the trouble simply by obeying the orders of the officers now standing in front of you. So, what do you think?” Both the Sergeant and Ingrid turned, as one, and gaped at me in amazement. (Why hadn’t they thought of that?) The guards knew who I was and why I was being held in the camp – it seemed everyone did. The Corporal looked at the Sergeant. “You wanna lock this guy up? Why didn’t you say so in the first place? That’s easy – no orders required.” And, with that, I joined the Sergeant and Ingrid, the guards stood aside and we entered the building without further ado. Then the Sergeant briefly turned back and spoke to the now-confused driver of the second jeep – who was apparently in on the overall plan and had been listening to everything that had just been said: “You’re dismissed, soldier. I will see you later.” The driver of the second jeep, briefly, looked puzzled.
Yth o eun diwweyth an korporal: nyns esa awtorita vyth – na dhe Ingrid na dhe’n Serjont (kynth esens ughella yn renk dhodho) – rag ri dhodho arghadyow. Methardak. My a allsa gweles an Serjont dhe vos ha bos smatta hogen. Y’m breus vy, ny allsa henna seweni gans an Korporal – drefenn y wodhvos yn ta an gadon ewn a gommond. Ytho, prys o rag ow sevel yn-bann rag bos reknys. My a gramyas dhiworth delergh an kynsa jip ha sevel rybdho, meur ow ansurneth. My a elwis yn hwann dhe’n withysi: “’Dhus jentyl, my yw an acheson rag presens an soedhogyon omma. Yth ov an huni re gawsyas an studh ma, an freudh war blen an gerdhva ...” My a bowesas, nebes faynt drefenn ow sevel, kyns my dhe worfenna ow thybyans. “...mar nyns owgh an bolatys dhe’m gorra yn prison, rag ow gwitha, y fydh lynchyans omma ragowgh hwi. Y tesevav na via henna da gans Kommondant an Selva, myttin, pan via res dhodho a dhisplegya dh’y bennow-tus y honan pyth o an acheson rag ow horf bos ow swaysya yn-dann an welen baner – ha hwi gyllys y sawya an trobel ma der obayans sempel arghadyow an soedhogyon a’ga sav a-dheragowgh hwi lemmyn. Ytho, pyth a brederowgh hwi?” Yn kettermyn, an Serjont ha Ingrid, an dhew, a dreylyas ha mires orthymm, meur aga marth. (Prag na bredersons a henna?) Yn apert, an withysi a’m aswonnis. I a wodhya ynwedh an acheson rag ow bos synsys dhe’n selva. Godhvedhys o dhe beub oll, dell heveli. An Korporal a viras orth an Serjont. “Ty a vynn gorra an polat ma yn prison? Prag na leversysta yndella y’n kynsa le? Es yw henna – arghadow vyth yw res.” Ha, gans henna, my a junyas gans an Serjont hag Ingrid ha’n withysi sevys a- denewen ha ni a entras y’n drehevyans heb agan leverel ger arall. Ha ni ow kul yndellna, an Serjont a dreylyas pols rag kewsel dhe lywyer an nessa jip, ow tevi y ankombrynsi. (Y heveli y wodhya yn tien an kynsa towl hag ev goslowys orth oll an taklow nowydh leverys genen a-gynsow – ytho, pyth a via an towl lemmyn?) “Relevys osta, ‘souder. Y’th welvydhav diwettha.” Dres pols, yth esa dhe lywyer an nessa jip fisment sowdhenys.langbot langbot