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The uniform itched on his skin, but Ranter dared not take it off. The decorated uniform was somehow the new lifeline for him, Javier, Denge, and Kenny. The pistol remained holstered to the belt, and inside, Ranter prayed he would never have to use it. The skull on his left breast horrified him. Did this guy kill people? He realized that was a dumb question to ask period, but what actions warranted the skull medal? After he looked at his friends, worn and in no better condition, still drudging East toward the setting sun. Westward, to hopefully allies in France. But there was no way to tell whether they were two miles or thirty. Which would make an eternity five times longer. Given they walked for two straight hours on a dirt road. Probably meant six miles covered already.
"Should we rest here?" Javier asked.
Kenny shook his head, "No. We have to keep going. If we rest, it's gonna take us forever to reach France, such as it is."
Ranter felt around in his breast pocket, then pulled out a folded paper, with varied dull colors. It was opened, "Ha ha! A map."
"Well, how do we even know we'll be in France? This map doesn't tell us where we are. And for some reason, we don't have our phones."
Dendge countered, "It wouldn't work. No satellite, no Wi-fi. Heck, not even a place to charge the things."
Ranter added, "Plus, you guys being apple lovers, those things would have run out of power hours ago." He finished with a chuckle.

It was nearing midnight, and it was to the point that they could no longer deceive themselves to thinking they could see. Javier broke the silence, "So if we move about fifteen feet off the road, we should be safe from any passing traffic."
The woods were thin, which made the quick trip easier. They kept a listening ear for anything that would compromise their location. Ranter was the first to doze off. But not before he removed his uniform, Thank God! and folded it to hang on above branches. The gun was kept close and Kenny kept his hand on it. Considering he was the only one who went shooting out of all of them. Ranter still felt paranoia within these woods, as if spies elusive as spirits, wandered through and would come upon them. Another fear arose that they might never make it to France. He took his life for granted, and now he was banished. Removed to a state where nearly all his privileges were removed, and rights as well. The history lessons flashed through his mind about the slow ascent to power of the National Socialist Party. The oaths and declarations of the state, namely Hitler himself to remove all fundamental rights. Rights to press, right to speech, right to criticize... and the right to lawful court. Another fear which paralyzed him all the more was what happened if they made it to France. They were sent to some place that might have been coincidence with their discussion the prior night. Or were the two related. Ranter knew he was desperate to think that if somehow they had a conversation about the US, in 'present day' they might be sent back. But fatigue overwhelmed him. And he fell deep asleep.

Shaking woke him. It was Kenny, Who now donned the uniform. Ranter rubbed his eyes with muddy dirt-caked hands. "What happened?"
Kenny let go, and Ranter fell hard the short distance Kenny lifted him, "Nothing. It's just that we should just get up as early as possible, ya know?" Ranter looked behind Kenny to see Javier and Dendge making their way to the road. Ranter reluctantly got up and started walking with Kenny to the road. It suddenly hit Ranter.
"Why are you wearing the uniform?" he asked.
"Nevermind why, just how he got it on." Javier joked.
Ranter was confused, "But you don't speak German. How are you going to get away with it?"
Kenny let out a sly grin, "I speak more than you. Don't worry. My accent's better too."
Ranter decided to accept that, "Okay, but brush your shoulders. You got dust on the shirt."
Javier and Dendge turned around and waited while Kenny stood to shake his shoulders. He muttered, "Where did that come from?" then sniffed. His eyebrow rose, "It doesn't smell like dust."
Dendge laughed, "Well what does dust smell like?"
Kenny sniffed again, "It's not that. It has a smell, it's like..."
Something white flew in front of Ranter's eye and he shook his head to shoe it away. He saw it floating from the air his head moved. Another white speck fell, and more.
"Ash." Kenny finished. And they all came to the same realization. Ranter started to freak out. "Oh, no. It's... it's..."
Javier put his hand out, "Okay, calm down little dude..."
Ranter panicked more, "No, don't you get it? The ash, it's not a wildfire, it's- Oh, god. Please, no!" He fell on his rear, and started to cry. Kenny knelt down.
"Hey listen, dude. You need to calm down. There's nothing we can do to get rid of it, okay?"
Ranter nodded, and the white ash kept falling. The smell was different than wood or paper. It was like burnt meat on the grill. Right there and then, Ranter decided to go vegan. He got up, and they trodded on.

A small town approached as they walked and it wasn't even midday. The ash fall was long gone, and they all managed to get most of the terrible stuff off their clothes, and hair. Getting rid of the smell would be a different matter. They walked to the side of the road and Kenny whispered, "Okay, so you guys stay here. I'm gonna go down and check the place out. If there's a car I can hotwire, I'll bring it up here. I'll try to get some sort of a truck, or Volkwagen for four. Got it?"
Javier asked, "What if this is a French town?"
Kenny looked over the town, then back to the group. "I can't really make out any writing at this distance, so I'll just check. If it is, I'll return in a few minutes. If it's German, you guys should wait awhile."
Ranter started, "Your skills might be a help especially in these old cars, no electrical alarm, and the wires are kinda plain and-."
"Ranter!" Kenny interrupted.
"Right. Sorry. Good luck."
They all watched as Kenny made his way down. His bright skin reflected some sun back to them, and they, for a moment, couldn't tell if it was Kenny walking through the roads, dodging cars, antique yet new.
"Worried?" Dendge asked.
Javier tiled his head, "Not really, I mean, he's got it-."
"I was talking to Ranter," Dendge interrupted.
"Oh."
"I'm alright." Ranter answered. I guess it is worse for me, 'cuz you guys can like walk all the way and I'm slowing you down."
Dendge shook his head, "Nah, you helped us out of that run-in with the officer."
Ranter shuddered, "That guy still creeps me out. I'm just glad an actual car is an option now."
Javier mimicked in a female computer generated voice, "Complete with the Fürher's latest modifications, including headlamps that shine the swastika, a Hitler bust as a hood ornament, and the Aryan's latest songs ranging from 'Death to America' to 'Hitler: White is the New Black'."
Ranter almost burst out laughing, and he had to gripe through clenched teeth, "Shut up!" in a loud whisper.

Many minutes past to what Ranter could have sworn was an hour. A black beetle drove up and a uniformed man inside stepped out.
"Kenny!"
He whispered, "Don't ask questions. Just get in and hide. Bend over so no one sees you in the windows."
They made their way in to the car, the luxurious inside made them wary to touch anything. Javier and Ranter sat in the back, bent over to each other, while Dendge sat in the front.
"GTA: Führer style. Pissing off the Aryans with Jews in the streetrace."
Ranter nearly burst out laughing again. "Oh, my Gosh. Will you shut up?"
They were thrown back as the car accelerated over smoother asphalt road, onto France, to hopeful freeedom.