Kamarad

Chapter 15- Kamarad

     His only retreat from that horrid world, Spitzbart observed, was when he would mutter “Jesse, Jesse sorry old girl” and then relax and once again enter a deeper sleep. Passing in and out of consciousness, Sharp was barely aware of his surroundings. His delirium and pain merged into a strange mixture of images, including his fear when a face with a white goatee kept appearing and retreating in his vision or was it all in his mind a replay of the drama he’d recently been through?

His time in the trenches and No-mans Land somehow became mixed with the anxiety produced by that face.  He could clearly see the side of the trench with the ladder leading into the terror on the other side of the parapet. Shells burst around his hiding place and he thrashed to find a safe place to avoid the screaming pieces of shrapnel. He kept beating the bed clothing with his fists, swearing at the rats in his fever ridden mind.

Another time he wakened gagging and sputtering as he seemed to be unable to fix his gas mask in place and found he was lying twisted on the floor. Dismembered and shattered bodies reappeared and danced in a strange procession across the room.   

     A cool cloth wiped the sweat from his face and eyes and gentle hands helped him back into bed. He took the drink offered him, lay back and soon lost consciousness.

     Eventually his keeper decided he was so ill that he called a doctor and explained that his friend was a returned Canadian soldier and was suffering from some strange condition. The doctor quickly diagnosed cirrhosis and, on looking at his chamber pot, suspected kidney disease. He said “I’m afraid he isn’t long for this world”

     Spitzbart wondered what to do. Clearly this enemy of his was in deep trouble, had a wife or sweet heart and should be returned to Canada and his home. More than three months went by, Christmas came and went and Spitzbart continued to care for Sharp.

     Here Carroll paused and looking at the assembled 21sters, said   “We must never forget that like many of us, some Germans fought in this war because they were patriots and it was their duty to serve their country. They didn’t hate us. They didn’t in fact, know us. Like our boys, they were there because it was the thing to do. As a German, you were obligated to do military service. Spitzbart, I believe, was a man caught in his county’s fight against the allies. His care for Sharp can only be that given by a most honourable man. “

     “We always took care of the wounded Germans” said Tugwood, “And I know that some of our boys were operated on by the German doctors. I remember a Cpl from Owen Sound who got a piece of shrapnel in his neck. He was picked up by the Germans, most of the shrapnel removed, the wound dressed and then exchanged for a wounded German we had. We weren’t always that kind to the Germans or they to us, when our blood was up, but we all realized we were brothers on opposite sides of a stupid war no one wanted.” Others in the room nodded in agreement and then turned to Carroll, indicating he should continue.

     As you may know, Pethswitherick and I stayed in New York looking for Sharp for several months, until we were called back by Ottawa. One day, after the armistice, our boss took us out for a meal. The courier who had accompanied Sharp had left the Dominion Police office and returned to her mother’s home in Kingston. We were surprised, but pleased, to see her. She ate with us very quietly and then said “Thanks for inviting me. It was ever so kind of you Sir. I was thinking of not coming, as it brings back so many sad memories. I still feel …” and she paused to gain control of her emotions, “I still feel that I let Mr. Sharp down.”

     We all sympathized with her, Pethswitherick and I especially, because we had failed to find Sharp and knew that he was a very ill man. We had spent days going to all the hospitals and doctors we could locate in New York but no trace of him. We even just simply walked the streets looking for him, exploring back alleys, soldier’s clubs etc. We continually annoyed the coroners at the city morgues. Every time they came across a John Doe body, we examined it . Jesse Sharp was in constant touch with us. It must have driven her crazy because we couldn’t tell her we weren’t seeking him as a fugitive but as a lost agent.

Then the courier said something that I shall never forget. She said “I have to go back to New York and look for him. Until I know if he is alive or dead, this will never end.” She sank back in her chair, biting her lip and twisting her napkin in her lap.

Well as you may have read, we did find him. It wasn’t through any great detecting on Pethswitherick’s part, as he was the officer who accompanied her, but again a matter of her dogged work to find her protector.

After checking out the corpses in the morgues and not finding his body, she and Pethswitherick started visiting the doctors again. He was very sick and he or who ever was looking after him, would likely have sought medical attention at some point. New York was affected by the Spanish flu to the same degree we were and the doctors who didn’t succumb to it, were worked off their feet. Even getting them to spend time looking through their records and maybe recalling a nephritis case, was grasping at a straw. But she persevered.

What ended her quest was meeting a doctor by chance at Coney Island. Pethswitherick noticed that she was looking worn out and seemed to have constant headaches. He suggested they take a day off looking for Sharp and visit Coney Island and just relax. It took some persuading. Once a woman has her mind made up, well you know the rest. Anyway they spent most of the morning wandering around the rides and other attractions and then stopped for lunch at a hot-dog stand. While they were there a customer started to choke. A man stepped up behind him, threw his arms around his upper stomach and jerked hard on his solar plexus area. The bite of hot dog flew from his mouth and the redness faded from his face. The victim was shaken, but was reassured by the doctor who attended that after a bit of rest, he’d be fine.

Pethswitherick and the girl started to walk away and then he turned and looking back said “Look at the man with the doctor!” 

Running up to them the girl cried “Sharp! You’re alive!”

He turned and looked at her and a great smile broke over his face. She was sorry to see that he had lost more weight from his already small frame and the yellow cast to his skin had deepened. Sharp explained to the doctor, that this young lady and her escort were friends from Canada and that everything was OK.

“What happened to you?” inquired Pethswitherick?

“Remember that guy with the goatee?”

“Yes I do”

“Well, you will find this hard to believe, but he found me collapsed on the street and took me to his rooms and looked after me. Through him I met Dr Austin here and he has looked after my health to the point where I’m able to be out a bit.”

Austin looked at them and said “Bill has a way to go yet, but I think he should be able to travel in a few weeks. I know he would like to get back to Kingston and Jesse.”

Sharp smiled and said “If she’ll have me anymore”

The girl grinned and said “You wouldn’t believe how much time effort she has put into keeping your case in front of the folks in Ottawa and the 21^st Btn.  General Hughes wife has kept after everyone to make sure that you are found. Your old commander and Col Pense, have been most approachable and have said they will do everything they can to help you”

“My case?” queried Sharp.

Pethswitherick shuffled uneasily and then said, “There is no easy way to put this Mr Sharp, but you will be charged with desertion.”

Sharp grimaced and then said “I think I knew that would happen”

“After that fellows”, continued Carroll, “it was a matter of my associate bringing Sharp back to Canada. You know what happened then.”

The Armouries - Kingston

The room was silent for a while. Tugwood looked at the men in the room and their faces were more sad than he had seen in a long time. Finally, he stood up and looking around the room, said “I would like a motion to adjourn this meeting.”