Tomb of the Lost (56 page)

“
No you shouldn
’
t. It was behaviour unbefitting an officer particularly one of your rank. Which reminds me, if memory serves me doesn
’
t Colonel outrank Major?
”

“
Yes Herr Doctor but that just goes to show you the arrogance of the SS.
”

“
You should remind the Major that you are superior to him.
”

“
I
’
ve wanted to but we must remember that he is acting under direct orders of Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler. I guess therefore that he believes this gives him power over the Wehrmacht.
”

“
I will speak to him and remind him of our mission here which I
’
m pleased to say is almost complete and I do thank you for your input.
”

The Doctor allowed himself a smile. The first time Koenig had seen him smile since they
’
d met.

“
I cannot wait to present the treasure to the Fuhrer. It will be a momentous occasion. I trust you
’
ll be there.
”

“
I sincerely hope so Herr Doctor.
”

Wurtz was heading towards the car.

“
Give me a moment with him. My driver will pick you up.
”

Koenig got out of the Mercedes and held the door for the Major.

“
The Doctor wishes to speak to you in private.
”

Wurtz slid into the seat alongside Von Brest. Koenig shut the door and stood quietly smoking a cigarette.

“
The mission has gone well Major.
”

Wurtz nodded still watching Koenig.

“
Though I have had some concerns about your behaviour.
”

Wurtz turned to look at the Doctor who stared back, his eyes icy cold.

“
That was nothing,
”
Wurtz defended himself looking out at where the landslip had fallen, now cleared.

“
As I was to understand it Colonel Koenig
’
s mission was to provide the work force to recover the artefact. Yours was to protect the mission.
”

“
Which I have done.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Then tell me why you question me.
”

“
Because you murdered two Wehrmacht in that town and after the gunfight you were going to execute the young British soldier.
”

“
Both were enemies of the Fuhrer.
”

“
But not related to our mission which I
’
m glad to say was not jeopardised by your actions.
”

Both men fell silent for a minute or two. The driver not listening, just staring ahead. Finally the Doctor turned to look at Wurtz.

“
Well?
”

“
My methods may seem a little primitive to you but my actions were, I believe, in the interests of the third Reich.
”

“
But not in my interests. The Fuhrer has given us a great quest. We personally can gain much from it.
”

“
Like I said my methods may seem primitive but out here I am the police, judge, jury and executioner all in one.
”

Von Brest raised a finger to him.

“
You are here and under my orders Major. Don
’
t ever forget that.
”

The Doctor tapped his driver
’
s shoulder for him to move off. They stopped alongside Koenig who opened the door and got in the passenger seat.

“
Is that understood?
”

“
Yes Herr Doctor,
”
Wurtz said, but inside he was seething.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

GABES, TUNISIA, APRIL 1943

The full moon reflected off the glassy surface of the Mediterranean sea. The water was calm. It looked to be almost still viewed from five miles distant.

Alf, Johnny, Rushton, Doyle and the men of the long range desert group had crossed through the Fatnassa hills during the evening and now it was near midnight as they surveyed the Axis controlled port of Gabes. Rushton and Doyle were using binoculars. The trucks and Jeeps were parked all along the mountain road. For the last hour
’
s driving they had run without lights. Not wishing to give their position away to any watching Germans. Rushton had been looking through the binoculars for the last fifteen minutes solidly. Now he lowered them and passed them to Alf. Alf raised them to his eyes and peered through them. It was difficult to focus in the dark and Alf fiddled with the range finder until he got them as clear as he could. He took in the boats moored to the dock. The jetty was littered with cargo, some abandoned. He could see signs of frenzied activity. A motor boat was just coming in to dock.

Gabes was a major supply depot for the Axis powers linking Tunisia with Sicily and the Italian mainland.

Alf scanned the whole dock again. There was an area in darkness behind some motor boats. As Alf moved the binoculars something caught his eye and he moved back. Something was causing the water to ripple some yards from the dark. He squinted in the view finders and then in the poor light he saw the short mast.

“
There
’
s a U-boat down there Major.
”

He handed the glasses to Rushton.

“
Where?
”

“
Can you see the group of three motor boats?
”
They look a bit like M.T.B
’
s.
”

Rushton was frantically adjusting the focus back for his eyesight whilst talking to himself.

“
Three motor boats that look like M.T.B
’
s,
”
suddenly it became clear
“
Yes. Yes. Yes. I see the three motor boats
…
.
”

“
The U-boat is directly behind them.
”

Rushton fiddled about with the viewfinder. Alf was impatient with him.

“
Have you seen it yet?
”

“
No.
”

“
Look at the three moored together
…
.
”

“
Yes I
’
ve got them
…
.
”

“
Look at the middle one. There are ropes trailing from its stern. See how taut they are.
”

“
Wait
…
.Middle boat
…
.Ah yes now I can see the ropes. I
’
ve got it. I can see the submarine now. I can just make it out. Wait! Now there
’
s someone stood in the turret.
“

“
For a major supply depot it sure is quiet,
”
Alf said.

Rushton lowered the binoculars.

“
The Germans have already evacuated this area. The main bulk of their forces have moved North. To the south are thirty corps, ten corps and the Indians there,
”
Rushton pointed on a roughly drawn map. They are going to bring armour in tomorrow at dawn,
”
Rushton brought the rest of his men together,
“
We have new orders,
”
he began. Rushton had known of them before they had left their base camp a week ago.

The men gathered round. They had all changed to black clothing, black wooly hats and their faces streaked with black. Johnny and Alf looked at their faces. They had both been kept in the dark and Alf was annoyed. He kept quiet for now as Rushton continued.

“
This is the port of Gabes,
”
Rushton spoke
“
The Germans have been using this as a major supply port since the war began. They have all but abandoned it by moving North through the plains and this pass. These boats you see now are the last to leave. The allies have been unable to do anything about this base. That
’
s how strong it
’
s been
…
.
”
he stopped as they all heard a diesel engine start.

One of the boats.

“…
.Until now,
”
he continued looking down at the port with its warehouses, its deserted landing strip nearby. Sand beaches stretching away both North and South.

“
Our mission is to enter the town and mop up any resistance left.
”

His men began to get excited at the prospect of action last. They began murmuring amongst themselves. Alf and Johnny felt it too.

“
Their only escape is by sea now. If we can get to their boats and take them we have the port.
”

The men wanted to cheer but knew they couldn
’
t. Even at this distance the Germans may hear.

“
We will take our vehicles down to this spot here,
”
Rushton showed them on the map,
“
Which is there,
”
he pointed to the West of Gabes.

“
What strength of resistance can we expect Sir?
”
Doyle asked.

“
There are sentry posts scattered all around the dock. These appear to be unmanned. Nevertheless Doyle I want you and your group to take these one by one. As you take them move on to the next. The strength of the enemy is not known, unable to guess at numbers. Their strongest firepower will undoubtedly be the boats. We need to take them. The submarine we will probably be unable to take. We don
’
t know if the crew are on board. We can assume that at least some of them will be. Whether it will be enough to sail her, I don
’
t know. Be warned men if she is able to fire off torpedoes, well you can only imagine the devastation that could cause. The only good thing is they are unlikely to fire with those boats directly in front of them. They are too close. To fire directly into them would undoubtedly damage the sub severely. The warehouses nearest to the sub were known to contain fuel. How much has been successfully evacuated is anyone
’
s guess. No doubt the Germans have charges placed on that fuel. We must, if we can, try to stop them from detonating it.
”

“
What about those other ships Sir?
”

“
Those are merchant vessels carrying supplies and are not armed. Their crews are also merchant sailors, probably Italians or North Africans and will probably not fight back. If you encounter them take no chances, there maybe zealots amongst them and this is a war. Put yourselves first as always.
”

“
If they try to escape Sir?
”

“
Leave them! Concentrate on the Germans only. The merchant ships are certainly not ready to sail as we speak and will not be able to get away quickly. When push comes to shove they may well change sides and work for our lot. Who knows with foreign sailors. They will no doubt work for whichever side they think will profit them most.
”

“
So they
’
re one step above pirates,
”
Johnny said.

“
Mercenaries,
”
Rushton replied.

Johnny looked down at the harbour. He could imagine it in peace time. When warships were replaced by fishing boats.

“
You will also come across civilians, townspeople. They have been under German occupation for three years. The locals don
’
t really care who occupies them. They would gain from both sides and unlike in parts of Europe they have not suffered at the hands of Rommel
’
s army. Some may try to help you, some may not. Mostly they should stay impartial and will probably stand by and do nothing. Certainly most will be in their homes but if you encounter them be on your guard. Lieutenant Dennis
…
.
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
I want you to take a small detachment and disable those boats. As many as you can. Once Doyle has taken the first of the guard posts you move with him and get to those boats. Disable their engines for now but not to a point of where you can
’
t repair them. We may need them ourselves. Sergeant Larder I want you to take five men and get into that fuel depot. The rest of you with me will sweep through the town and take the German headquarters. This should be pretty much deserted. From there we will signal the advance to General
’
s Tuker and Horrocks. Any questions?
”