Devils with Wings: Silk Drop (43 page)

The nurse stood at Paul’s shoulder.

“He really does need some rest Oberleutnant, as do the others. The two of you are entertaining the entire ward.”

Paul stood up. “Anything you need Max?”

“It’s bed bath time sir, what more could I want?” he whispered.

They both laughed and Paul made his exit. On the way out he had a quick chat with the other occupants on the ward, a Luftwaffe pilot shot down over Rethymnon, four Gebirgsjager and a Fallschirmjager from Erich’s company, then left.

The nurse came over to Max, “He looked really sad.”

“It’s a long story, a long story. But when I get out of here I’ll fix him up. Now, bed bath time?” he said with a beaming smile.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Paul stepped out of the hospital entrance to be greeted by his fellow company commanders,
Helmut, who immediately punched him playfully in the shoulder, Erich and Manfred.

“Have you heard?” exclaimed Helmut.

“Heard what?” replied Paul trying to calm the excited Helmut down.

“Were shipping out in two days,” informed Erich.

“We fly to Athens, then trucks and trains we’ve been told,” added the thin faced Manfred. Although tough and wiry and only just above five foot nine, he was very slim. When stood next to his fellow officers he looked thin, but next to the gargantuan Feldwebel Grun, he looked positively beanpole like.

“Some of the guys came from Germany the same way, it was a bloody nightmare,” informed Helmut

“Yeah, the roads are pretty bad,” agreed Erich.

“But do you know the best bit?” Helmut whispered.

Their heads automatically moved closer together, four Fallschirmjager officers in a huddle.

“After we refit, we’re going to Russia.”

***