Jake hanging onto the ratline with one hand watched the French coastline draw closer and closer in the night. Heading to the beckoning men he climbed the rest of the way up the line and onto the mast cross beam. After the sails were secured to the rigging the anchor was lowered and men gathered the supplies on the long boats on deck which were being lowered into the water while Jake and Wolf Heart were coaxing the horses into the channel water.

"Shhh boy I know the water is freezing but I'll be right beside you I promise," Jake said, soothingly to Night Hawk.

Once they had the animals in the water Jake and Wolf Heart joined in boats that kept close to them. When they reached the beach they quickly had the animals tethered to a couple of nearby trees before returning to help unload the boats all the while Jake glanced around. When the supplies were unloaded Captain Winters uttered a low cocooning whistle and Jake watched unsurprised as about thirty armed men appeared from various hiding places.

As Jake and Wolf Heart returned to their horses and watched as one wearing a beret with a rifle slung over his shoulder walked up to Captain Winter to shake his hand. "'Bonjour Capitaine Winters, it is good to see you again my friend,'" the man said, as they started, to saddle them up.

"'It's good to see you to Luis, and happy to see you're still alive,'" Captain Winters said.

"'It's good to be alive but who are the kids,'" Luis said, nodding toward Jake and Wolf Heart who glanced over.

Captain Winters looked at them and placing a hand on the man's shoulder started, walking him over. "'Well long story made short this is the one with the black horse is Jake I didn't catch the name of the other. But they are here to join your company for a short while,' boys this is Captain Luis formerly of the French Army," he said, as they got close.

Luis blinked at this and looked at Jake and Wolf Heart before back at Captain Winters. "'What is this some kind of joke they're just kids,'" he said, and frowning Jake looked at Wolf Heart who rolled his eyes shaking his head.

"'That's for you to decide Luis but Jake here managed to sneak aboard my boat when we knew he was coming, he even pickpocketed my wallet in a pretty good disguise,'" Captain Winters said, shrugging.

Luis looked at Winters for a moment glanced at Jake and Wolf Heart for a second before shifting back. "'Ok that sounds impressive but still you can't be serious,'" he said, waving his hand.

"'As a heart attack, and do you mind not talking about us like we're not here? And I will not tolerate any degrading remarks. Especially without a proper interdiction,'" Jake said, in French crossing his arms as they started, at him.

"'And for the record my name is Wolf Heart,'" Wolf Heart walking up to stand next to Jake.

After a couple seconds of staring Luis letting out a puff of air smiled nodding. "Ok you speak French pretty good, but you 'ave to understand my concern for your safety," he said.

"Then why don't you at least put me to the test. Your best and strongest man one on one no weapons," Jake said, and Wolf Heart glanced at him.

Luis stared at him for a second then face hard he turned and called out, "'Jacque!'"

A man near the boats turned and standing straight Jake saw he was a giant of a man with thick muscles that rippled as he walked over. When he reached them in rapid French Luis explained what was going on. When it was over Jacque looked at Jake and Wolf Heart then back at Luis before letting out a laugh that attracted the other men.

"Zese little pups thinks to join us? And this one zinks to challenge me!" he said, laughing as the rest of the men gathered some laughing when they heard this.

Smiling Jake walked forward. "Well then monsieur you shouldn't have that much trouble with me, because I must say you are quite strong," he said, as he reached the man and pressed the tips of his fingers of his hand into the man's chest a couple of times.

Still laughing as Jake returned to Wolf Heart, Jacque started, to remove his weapons and jacket for the fight people saying encouraging words toward him. "Jake are you sure about this he looks like he could crush your skull," Wolf Heart muttered, as Jake reached him.

"Wait for it," Jake muttered, back turning back to face the man crossing his arms looking bored.

People still talking Jacque raised his pan sized fists when he faltered. Then the crowd went silent as Jacque toppled back like a fallen tree lying still on the beach.

"Anybody else got a problem with us?" Jake asked, openly as they slowly looked at him.

A couple of days later Wolf Heart walked out of the cave into the forest the group had camped in on the banks of the Seine. "Morning Jake," he said, looking up into a tree where Jake was hanging upside down doing sit ups as he walked down to the river the rub water on his face.

"Morning," Jake said, before reaching up to grip the branch to flip off it to land crouched on the ground below.

Standing straight he walked to join Wolf Heart at the river to crouch down and splash water on his face. "How did you do it?" Wolf Heart asked, crouching down next to him.

Jake looked at him. "You know just climbed up to a strong enough branch…," he started, a frown on his face.

"No, no, the other thing what you did on the beach," Wolf Heart said, interrupting him.

Jake looked at him for a moment before chuckling looking away. "Silly people I never understood their first reaction is to excess all sorts of violence to achieve their goals," he said, shaking his head.

"What are you saying? I could have done what you did?" Wolf Heart said, in wonderment.

"I'm saying a butterfly could have done it if it just knew where to place its wings. It true that this could make a difference in a fight," Jake said, tapping his well-defined bicep.

"But never forget that the most important tool you will ever have in any fight will always be found right here," he said, tapping Wolf Heart right between the eyes before they both turned as the rest of the men came out of the cave.

Narrowing his eyes Jake set his mouth as he eyed the leader. "So what's happening Luis?" he asked, standing straight.

"I'm going to send some men into ze city to check zings out, and see about German movements…" he started.

"We're going to, and before you say anything remember what happened on the beach?" Jake said, and the men shifted uneasily some looking a Jacque.

"Now think about what I could do when I really start throwing punches," Jake said, at this Luis sighed before pulling out an automatic pistol and held it out to Jake handle first.

"Do you know 'ow to use a gun?" he asked.

Jake glanced at it then up at Luis. "I don't like or need guns," he said.

This drew chuckles from the men. "'Ze little pup doesn't like guns probably doesn't know a 'ammer from ze trigger,'" Jacque said.

At this Jake snatched the gun from Luis and in seconds had it in pieces then put back together. "I said, I didn't like them, not that I didn't know how to use them," Jake said, holding the gun out to Luis.

"'Probably couldn't 'it ze broad side of a barn,'"

In a flash Jake righted the gun in his hand spun around facing the river and fired. Across the river a pine cone fell into it.

As he turned around Jacque muttered, "'Probably a lucky shot,'" turning back Jake fired three shots and three cones fell into the river.

"I hit what I am at, now does anybody else have anything else to say?" he asked, facing them again holding out the pistol.

A couple of hours later Jake and Wolf Heart walked down the street of Paris walking eagerly beside Luis and Jacque. "'Oh Pappa thank you for letting us come with you,'" Jake said, eagerly with the look of a devoted son as they walked through the narrow streets.

Though his face was smiling Jake's eyes were hard as he glanced around at the Nazi flags flying from the buildings and the soldiers marching in the streets. What better way to make sure there is no resistance, by intimidating them enough that the fight goes out of them. Or at least partly, Jake thought as they came to a stop outside a building.

At the door Luis turned to him. "'We have to meet some people here, here is some money, get some food and such but we meet at Notre Dame in a couple of hours,'" he said, handing the money and Jake nodded before he and Wolf Heart walked off.

"It's almost like this place is under martial law," Wolf Heart muttered.

"'I thought I told you we speak French from here we on out, and in a lot of ways it is,'" he muttering eyeing more solders march by their feet sounding like a passing tank.

"'You have to remember we are in enemy territory, and they will not hesitate to kill us,'" Jake muttered, as they walked under a series of archways and on the other side Wolf Heart lightly gasped.

"'Try not to look like a tourist,'" Jake muttered, glancing around see if anybody was looking at them.

"'it's just… beautiful,'" Wolf Heart muttered.

"'It's the Louvre Art Museum it used to be the old royal palace, if this wasn't a war zone I'd take the opportunity to view DeVinci's great work,'" Jake said, glancing around the buildings.

"'And that?'" Wolf Heart asked, in an undertone and sighing Jake glanced over.

"'The Constantine Arch been around since 312 AD and you can just see the Eiffel Tower from here,'" Jake said, and Wolf Heart glanced over.

"'First time to the city boys?'"

At this Wolf Heart jumped and Jake glanced behind them. Two men stood there dressed in suits one with round glasses smiled at them. But what drew Jake's attention was the white arm bands with The Star of David on them and patches on their chests.

"'Yes our Pappa has a farm out in the country and we finally managed to convince him to take us with him,'" Jake said, telling the cover story.

The men smiled nodding. "'It's always good to see the wonder on the faces of new comers to our fine city. It always brightened my days. Which is rare these days…'" the one with the glasses said, their faces falling.

Jake let the silence go out then the men smiled again. "'Well we hope that you enjoy your visit,'' the man said, before they walked off.

"'Why do they have to wear those?'" Wolf Heart asked, watching them walk away.

"'Have you ever read Mein Kampf?'" Jake asked, hollowly under his breath.

"'No,'"

"'Good and don't it's a lousy book,'"

"'Then why did you read it?'"

"'Simple 'know thy enemy', and Mein Kampf is at the heart of Nazism. It's pretty much a lousy excuse for Hitler to express his political view and call Germany to arms against the Jewish people before their conspiracy to control the world leaders,'" Jake said, and Wolf Heart looked at him.

"'You can't be serious, why would Germany believe that,'" he said, astounded.

"'At the end of The Great War Germany was virtually destroyed not only in losses but with the Treaty of Versailles. With having to pay reparations their economy was sent to hell in a hand basket and with territory lost their moral had never been lower.

Then came Hitler and the Nazi party saying that Germany was the greatest nation in the world, that all should bow before them. But more than that he gave them someone to blame for the state their country was in,'" Jake said, and Wolf Heart gapped at him.

He was about to say something when shouting interrupted them. Looking back they saw a German officer and two soldiers flanking him was shouting at the men who had spoken to them, in German. Catching some of what he was saying Jake's eyes narrowed then widened in horror as the man without the glasses was forced to his knees.

"'Look away!'" Jake snapped and turning himself and Wolf Heart away and a second later a gunshot sounded.

After a moment Jake slowly turned back and law the limp body on the ground a pool of blood leaking from the holes in its head. At the body's side the other man cried as the German's smugly walked away while on lookers had stopped to watch.

"'Wh… why did he do that? What did that man do?'" Wolf Heart demanded.

"'He didn't do anything. And that man did that simply because he can. Now let's get out of here,'" Jake said, taking Wolf Heart by the upper arm and led him away.

"'But why?'" Wolf Heart asked, again when they were down a deserted street

"'Because he was Jewish and that,'" Jake said, pointing over Wolf Hearts shoulder.

Turning to look he saw a poster depicting the Aryan Race. "'The Aryan Race, Hitler's and the Nazi's idea of the perfect master race. Which why they will not hesitate to kill us on the spot if they knew,'" Jake said.

"'Knew what?'" Wolf Heart asked, and looking at him Jake stepped closer.

"'Knew that we are of mixed blood, because to them that is the ultimate betrayal. We are worse than the Jews to them and our crime is being born,'" Jake said, and turning Wolf Heart met his hard eyes.

"And now you know why I didn't want you to come," he muttered, under his breath.

A couple of hours later the two of them were walking toward the train station after being hassled by a Nazi soldier while they had ate. "'That was too close,'" Wolf Heart muttered, looking over his shoulder.

"'And you think with our ID Cards and me reciting six psalms he would have been convinced. And anyone saying that France hasn't changed that much is trying to convince themselves more than others,'" Jake said, as they neared the station.

"'Ok now remember what I told you to look for and keep your head down,'" Jake said, before they parted.

For the next several hours Jake hung around the station drawing on the egos of the young soldiers on station. "'…so much better ever since you guys came here. No more problems from those dame Jews and such,'" Jake said, and the young soldier's chest puffed out.

"'I mean it must be important work to guard the station. You must be pretty important for them to give you such an exciting job,'" Jake said, eyeing the light in the man's eye.

"'It has its moments like when we caught that resistance fighter last week, but really all the action is down at the other station for the next couple of days,'" he said.

"'…other station,'" Jake said, doing his best not to sound to interested.

"'Yeah a big transport further into the continent is happening in the next couple of days from there, and I'm sorry but I have to get back to work. If you still what to know more about joining The Hitler Youth if you can, come back tomorrow,'" He said, as he started, to leave.

"'I'll do that,'" Jake said, smiling as he walked away.

"When hell freezes over," he muttered, under his breath when he was out of ear shot.

When he met up with Wolf Heart he asked, "'Did you get anything?"

"'Yeah I may have something but…'" he started, and Jake stopped looking at him.

"'What?" he asked, and Wolf Heart looked at him.

"'Remember that last night before we reached Trusthorpe?'" he asked, and Jake nodded.

"'Remember what you told me about the duties of a Shinobi?'"

"Their duties are to protect their clan, their family, themselves, and those who can't protect themselves. What are you getting at?'" Jake said.

"'I've just been thinking about what we've seen here, maybe we could find a way to help these people,'" he said, and at once Jake looked around.

"'Be careful where you say things like that you could get shot for it,'" Jake said, his hands going to his hips and he looked away.

"'Jake…'"

"'You don't think I don't want to help these people Wolf Heart. I want to help these people more than you know, but we'll up against something that has already conquered more than half of the continent. It's too big, we came here to do something and that's what we've got to do," Jake said.

"'But…'" Wolf Heart started, before both boys turned at a sound Notre Dame had started, to chime the hour.

"'We have to go meet the others,'" Jake said.

When they reached the cathedral with his eyes Jake glanced around making sure they weren't followed. As they entered Wolf heart paused when Jake stopped and was about to say something but was silenced from a hard look from Jake.

With a slight gesture from his head Jake motioned for Wolf heart to join him before they both knelt and crossed themselves. When they were done and climbed to their feet they walked to the nearest priest.

"'Father we're looking for Father Luke,'" Jake said, when they reached him.

Frowning he looked at them. "'And who may I ask is…" he started, when a priest came up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"'It's alright Father DuFarge, I know these boys,'" Father Luke said, and after the other priest left Father Luke led them away into side room where he flipped back a rug revealing a trap door.

Opening it revealing a blackened stairway to the catacombs. "I take it you're not going to ask for our names," Jake said, as they descended into the depths.

"ze less I know about you ze better my son and your friends are waiting for you up 'ere," he said, stopping outside the door.

Nodding to him Jake and Wolf Heart walked through and into an underground cavernous room lit my torch-light. Glancing around Jake saw the skull faces looking out at them.

"Boys over here," Luis said, waving them forward from where he was sitting on a rock with some of the other men.

"Sorry if we're late," Jake said, when they got close.

"No you're alright, we 'ave our business set 'ave you two?" Luis asked.

"Actually I have something that might interest you. In the next couple of days a big transport is going to take place further into the continent," Jake said, leaning against the wall.

"And why would zat interest me?" Luis asked, as Jake realized his shoulder was on a skull and shifted to his feet.

"It's a strong possibility it might be POWs. And if it's a train full that be at least a couple hundred of men itching for some payback to fill your ranks," Jake said, and at that Luis straightened.

"Do you 'ave confirmation?" Luis said.

"I do," and Jake and Luis looked at Wolf Heart.

"I even have the departure time," he finished and impressed Jake arched his eyebrows.

PLEASE REVIEW