'Of course, the only reason we've had to turn out at such a ridiculous time is because he wants us at a disadvantage,' Canaris said.
The Fuhrer likes all of us at a disadvantage, Admiral,' Rommel said. 'I'd have thought you'd have learned that long ago.'
'I wonder what he's up to?' Canaris said. '"We know he's going to confirm your appointment as Commander of Army Group B but he could have made you fly to Berlin for that.'
'Exactly,' Rommel said. 'And there are such things as telephones. No, I think it's the Normandy business.'
'But surely we can make him see sense there?' Canaris said. 'The report we've put together is really quite conclusive.'
'Yes, but unfortunately the Fuhrer favours the Pas de Calais and so does his astrologer.'
'And Uncle Heini?' Canaris suggested.
'Himmler always agrees with the Fuhrer, you know that as well as I do.' Beyond, through a break in the rain they saw Belle Ile. 'Impressive,' Rommel added.
'Yes, very Wagnerian,' Canaris said drily. 'The castle at the end of the world. The Fuhrer must like that. He and Himmler must be enjoying themselves.'
'Have you ever wondered how it came to happen, Admiral? How we came to allow such monsters to control the destinies of millions of people?' Erwin Rommel asked.
'Every day of my life,' Canaris replied.
The Mercedes turned off the road and started up to the Chateau, the motorcyclists leading the way.
Chapter FIFTEEN
It was just after six and Hauptmann Erich Kramer commanding the izth Parachute Detachment at St Aubin was having coffee in his office when he heard a vehicle drive into the farmyard. He went to the window and saw a Kubelwagen, its canvas hood up against the rain. Asa got out first followed by Schellenberg and Devlin.
Kramer recognized them instantly from the last visit and frowned. 'Now what in the hell do they want?' he said softly.
And then Kurt Steiner emerged. Having no cap he had borrowed a Luftwaffe sidecap from Flight Sergeant Leber, what was commonly referred to as a schiff. It was, as it happened, an affectation of many old-timers in the Parachute Regiment. He stood there in the rain in his blue-grey flying blouse with the yellow collar patches, jump trousers and boots. Kramer took in the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, the silver and gold eagle of the paratrooper's badge, the Kreta and Afrika Korps cuff-titles. He recognized him, of course; a legend to everyone in the Parachute Regiment.
'Oh, my God,' he murmured, reached for his cap and opened the door, buttoning his blouse. 'Colonel Steiner - sir.' He got his heels together and saluted, ignoring the others. 'I can't tell you what an honour this is.'
'A pleasure. Captain Kramer, isn't it?' Steiner took in Kramer's cuff-titles, the ribbon for the Winter War. 'So, we are old comrades, it would seem?'
'Yes, Colonel.'
Several paratroopers had emerged from their canteen curious about the arrivals. At the sight of Steiner they all jumped to attention. 'At ease, lads,' he called and said to Kramer, 'What strength have you here?'
'Thirty-five only, Colonel.'
'Good,' Steiner told him. 'I'm going to need everyone including you, of course, so let's get in out of this rain and I'll explain.'
The thirty-five men of the 12th Parachute Detachment stood in four ranks in the rain in the farmyard. They wore the steel helmets peculiar to the Parachute Regiment, baggy jump smocks and most of them had Schmeisser machine pistols slung across their chests. They stood there, rigid to attention as Steiner addressed them, Schellenberg, Devlin and Asa Vaughan behind him, Kramer at one side.
Steiner hadn't bothered with niceties, only the facts. 'So there it is. The Fuhrer is to meet his death very shortly at the hands of traitorous elements of the SS. Our job is to stop them. Any questions?'
There wasn't a word, only the heavy rain drumming down and Steiner turned to Kramer. 'Get them ready, Captain.'
'Zu befehl, Hen Oberst.' Kramer saluted.
Steiner turned to the others. 'Will fifteen minutes be enough for you?'
'Then you arrive like a panzer column,' Schellenberg told him. 'Very fast indeed.'
He and Asa got in the Kubelwagen. Devlin, the black hat slanted over one ear, the trenchcoat he'd stolen from the Army and Navy Club already soaked, said to Steiner, 'In a way, we've been here before.'
'I know, and the same old question. Are we playing the game or is the game playing us?'
'Let's hope we have better luck than we did last time, Colonel.' Devlin smiled, got in the back of the Kubelwagen and Asa drove away.
At the Chateau de Belle Ile, Rommel, Canaris and Major Ritter went up the steps to the main entrance. One of the two SS guards opened the door and they went inside. There seemed to be guards everywhere. Rommel said to Canaris as he unbuttoned his coat, 'It looks rather like some weekend SS convention, the kind they used to have in Bavaria in the old days.'
Berger came down the stairs and advanced to meet them. 'Herr Admiral _ Herr Field Marshal, a great pleasure. SturmbannFuhrer Berger, in charge of security.'
'Major.' Rommel nodded.
'The Fuhrer is waiting in the dining hall. He has requested that no one bears arms in his presence.'
Rommel and Ritter took their pistols from their holsters. 'I trust we're not late?' the Field Marshal said.
'Actually, you are early by two minutes.' Berger gave him the good-humoured smile of one soldier to another. 'May I show you the way?'
He opened the great oak door and they followed him in. The long dining table was laid for four people only. The Fuhrer was standing by the stone fireplace looking down into the burning logs. He turned and faced them.
'Ah, there you are.'
Rommel said, 'I trust you are well, my Fuhrer?'
Hitler nodded to Canaris. 'Herr Admiral.' His eyes flickered to Ritter who stood rigidly to attention clutching a briefcase. 'And who have we here?'
'My personal aide, Major Carl Ritter, my Fuhrer. He has further details on the Normandy situation that we have already discussed,' Rommel said.
'More reports?' Hitler suggested. 'If you must, I suppose.' He turned to Berger. 'Have another place laid at the table and see what's keeping the ReichsFuhrer.'
As Berger moved to the door it opened and Himmler entered. He wore the black dress uniform and his face was pale, a faint edge of excitement to him that he found difficult to conceal. 'I apologize, my Fuhrer, a phone call from Berlin as I was about to leave my room.' He nodded. 'Herr Admiral - Field Marshal.'
'And the Field Marshal's aide, Major Ritter.' Hitler rubbed his hands together. 'I really feel extraordinarily hungry. You know, gentlemen, perhaps one should do this more often. The early breakfast, I mean. It leaves so much of the day for matters of importance. But come. Sit.'
He himself took the head of the table. Rommel and Canaris on his right, Himmler and Ritter on the left. 'So,' he said. 'Let's begin. Food before business.'
He picked up the small silver bell at his right hand and rang it.
It was no more than ten minutes later that the Kubelwagen arrived at the main gate. Schellenberg leaned out, the sergeant who came forward took in his uniform and saluted.
'The Fuhrer is expecting us,' Schellenberg told him.
The sergeant looked uncertain. 'I've orders to admit no one, General.'
'Don't be stupid, man,' Schellenberg said. 'That hardly applies to me.' He nodded to Asa. 'Drive on, HauptsturmFuhrer.'
They drove into the inner courtyard and stopped. Devlin said, 'You know what the Spaniards call the instant when the bullfighter goes in for the kill and doesn't know whether he'll live or die? The moment of truth.'
'Not now, Mr Devlin,' Schellenberg said. 'Let's just keep going,' and he marched up the wide steps and reached for the handle of the front door.
Hitler was enjoying himself, working his way through a plate of toast and fruit. 'One thing about the French, they really do make rather excellent bread,' he said and reached for another slice.
The door opened and an SS sergeant-major entered. It was Himmler who spoke to him. 'I thought I made it clear we were not to be disturbed for any reason.'
'Yes, Reichsfuhrer, but General Schellenberg is here with a HauptsturmFuhrer and some civilian. Says it is imperative he sees the Fuhrer.'
Himmler said, 'Nonsense, you have your orders!'
Hitler cut in at once. 'Schellenberg? Now I wonder what that can be about? Bring them in, Sergeant-Major.'
Schellenberg, Devlin and Asa waited in the hall by the door. The sergeant-major returned. 'The Fuhrer will see you, General, but all weapons must be left here. I have my orders. It applies to everyone.'
'Of course.' Schellenberg took his pistol from its holster, slapping it down on the table.
Asa did the same and Devlin took the Luger from his coat pocket. 'All contributions graciously given.'
The sergeant-major said, 'If you would follow me, gentlemen.' He turned and led the way across the hall.
When they went in, Hitler was still eating. Rommel and Canaris looked up curiously. Himmler was deathly pale.
Hitler said, 'Now then, Schellenberg, what brings you here?'
'I regret the intrusion, my Fuhrer, but a matter of the gravest urgency has come to my attention.'
'And how urgent would that be?' Hitler demanded.
'A question of your very life, my Fuhrer, or should I say an attempt on your life.'
'Impossible,' Himmler said.
Hitler waved him to silence and glanced at Devlin and Asa Vaughan. 'And who have we here?'
'If I may explain? The ReichsFuhrer recently gave me the task of planning the safe return to the Reich of a certain Colonel Kurt Steiner who was held prisoner in the Tower of London for a while. Herr Devlin here and HauptsturmFuhrer Vaughan succeeded triumphantly in this matter, delivered Steiner to me at a small Luftwaffe base near here a short time ago.' Hitler said to Himmler, 'I knew nothing of this.' Himmler looked quite wretched. 'It was to be a surprise, my Fuhrer.'
Hitler turned again to Schellenberg. 'This Colonel Steiner, where is he?'
'He'll be here soon. The thing is, I received an anonymous telephone call only a couple of hours ago. I regret to have to say this in the presence of the ReichsFuhrer, but whoever it was spoke of treachery, even within the ranks of the SS.'
Himmler was almost choking, 'Impossible.' 'An officer named Berger was referred to.' Hitler said, 'But SturmbannFuhrer Berger is in charge of my security here. I've just had him promoted.'
'Nevertheless, my Fuhrer, that is what I was told.'
'Which just goes to show you can't trust anyone,'
Horst Berger called and he moved out of the shadows at the end of the dining hall, an SS man on either side of him holding a machine pistol.
Steiner and Captain Kramer led the way up the hill to the Chateau in a Kubelwagen, the top down in spite of the rain. The paratroopers followed packed into two troop carriers. Steiner had a stick grenade tucked into the top of one of his jump boots and a Schmeisser ready in his lap.
'When we go, we go hard, no stopping, remember 'that,' he said.
'We're with you all the way, Colonel,' Kramer told him.
He slowed at the outer gate and the SS sergeant came forward. 'What's all this?'
Steiner raised the Schmeisser, lifted him back with a quick burst, was on his feet and swinging to cut down the other guard as Kramer took the Kubelwa-gen forward with a surge of power.
As they reached the bottom of the steps leading to the front door, more SS appeared from the guardhouse on the right. Steiner pulled the stick grenade from his boot and tossed it into the centre of them, then he leapt from the Kubelwagen and started up the steps. Behind him the paratroopers jumped from the troop carriers and stormed after him, firing across the courtyard at the SS.
'You dare to approach me like this, a gun in your hand?' Hitler said to Berger, his eyes blazing.
'I regret to have to say it, my Fuhrer, but your moment has come, you, Field Marshal Rommel here, the Admiral.' Berger shook his head. 'We can no longer afford any of you.'
Hitler said, 'You can't kill me, you young fool, it's an impossibility.'
'Really?' Berger said. 'And why would that be?'
'Because it is not my destiny to die here,' Hitler told him calmly. 'Because God is on my side,'
Somewhere in the distance was the sound of shooting. Berger half turned to glance at the door and Major Ritter leapt to his feet, threw his briefcase at him and ran for the door. 'Guards!' he shouted.
