During
an army exercise...
PACK-BACK
FRAMES AND DUFFLEBAGS:
We covered about twenty miles before dawn - when my captors decided
to take a rest and some food. For me it was a relief to have the adhesive
tape off my face - and we were in a field far from any houses - so
they weren't exactly taking a risk.
My arms were totally numb and I advised them (not mentioning my special
knowledge of circulation loss) that the rope which fixed my arms to
the metal backpack frame should come off, "At least for a while"...?
They agreed and I was duly undone - a process achieved without them
taking off the back pack! As I gradually regained the use of my arms
they showed me a duffel bag which could easily and quickly be pulled
over my head and roped at the waist if I made any "silly move".
Food ready, we sat down to eat - me with hands free but metal frame
attaching me to a tree. I couldn't stand up let alone go anywhere
- so I ate.
They amused themselves while we rested, describing how two duffel
bags with one over my head to waist and the other from feet to waist
- the two could then be laced together. I tentatively suggested that
such a sack might draw attention to itself if it wriggled about. They
considered the problem logically and decided that if the sack was
being dragged along over bumpy ground the wriggling wouldn't be noticed
- and if they dragged the sack along the bottom of a ditch through
fields, no one would be there to notice ... and if they dragged it
along a ditch with water in it ... I wouldn't be wriggling for long
... because I'd start to co-operate. I began to suspect they would
pass their Initiative Test.
SLEEPING
BAG
... They reached a decision - to (A) demonstrate their ability to
stay in control, and (B) take a look around the village without having
to keep an eye on me. An army sleeping bag and a few tent-pegs later,
they were free to take as long as it took to explore the village and
"have a couple of drinks when it's Opening Time". I was
left under a hedge with nothing for company but an occasional rabbit
and my thoughts.
At that point in my life, with ten years of Houdini interest behind
me, I was experiencing the situation on a level completely unsuspected
by my two captors - but I did begin to wonder if something I may have
said around the Physical Training Instructors might have resulted
in me being targeted as victim in this particular exercise.
WRAPPED
AND ROPED
... The following half hour is burned into my memory. I was assisted
into a kneeling position still inside the waterproof sleeping bag
and 'invited' to straighten my arms down my side and reach for my
ankles. In this position I was expertly roped so I would remain kneeling.
From experience I knew that in that position the next however many
hours were going to be excruciatingly uncomfortable - if not dangerous.
As if reading my mind one of the two oppressors reassured me "Don't
worry, Stewart, we've decided two hours top whack before you're delivered
and signed for. We'll make sure they let you out immediately, rather
than keep you there so they can show you to their friends, won't we
Bob?"
"Well, we'll try Charlie, but you know what these army types
are like. Not like those nice polite Brylcream Boys in the RAF."
There was little time to dwell on this prospect because surprising
things were happening: Two metal-framed rucksacks, still lumpy with
their contents, were being lashed along either side of my body. During
this complicated process it was helpfully explained to me that this
was, in essence, a camouflage exercise. The shape of the eventual
package must not even hint at it's 'top secret' contents. The third
rucksack frame was fitted around my head and shoulders in such a way
that any head movement would be inside the frame. Found objects were
gathered from the woods, anything to mask the internal shape.
From one of the rucksacks a plentiful supply of rope appeared - and
so the covering of the package began.
Now,
I'm good at wrapping awkward shaped packages, but these two lads really
got into the spirit of the thing. With three waterproof poncho/groundsheets
and unlimited rope to play with they took their time to prepare what
I'm sure must have looked like a very plausible piece of heavy equipment.
I had absolutely no way of knowing.
The rolling from side to side to get the thick covering on every side
and roped to keep it (and me) firmly in place, actually helped to
postpone the inevitable cramping that I knew the kneeling position
would produce. Luckily, I was younger then and fit - but I was very
nervous that there would not be enough air inside the waterproof covering
which was rapidly becoming more securely roped. But, they'd thought
it through - and, speaking loudly into the dense covering, reassured
me that air was available through two carefully concealed openings
- which, they then demonstrated could be closed at will from outside.
They confidently stated that they expected me to play along.
Another
factor was how the lifting and shifting would intensify pressure on
my already aching (and sticky) body. A running commentary from outside
kept me informed that a lifting pole which they'd somehow found was
now ready to be tested.
Surprisingly,
they'd calculated well. My suspended weight didn't too much increase
the lateral pressure. I swayed a lot - but they soon let me know they
were 'just testing'. I had fears of vomiting into the gag - and the
situation is not one I would, in the light of experience, recommend
- but I was in no position to argue and was preoccupied, steeling
myself to survive the rest of the journey - plus the embarrassment
of arrival at 'the depot' which would inevitably be enjoyed by many.
An RAF man captive and humiliated in a Royal Engineers army depot
- and there was no hope that news of the ordeal would not get back
to my home Base before I did.
The
story continues
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