Schneider followed Rauch back to the staff car, motioned to the truck drivers and ducked into the back seat. As the car pulled away the trucks followed in single file. They drove past the makeshift guard shack and turned left onto the road headed towards the mountains.
“You are clear as to where to go?’ asked the major.
“Yes, sir. We are to go to regimental headquarters and pick up twenty-four men,” answered Schneider.
“And after that?” quizzed the major.
Schneider squirmed. “I’m sorry, sir. My orders are secret and cannot be discussed with anyone, including you, sir,” answered Schneider apologetically. “I’m very sorry, sir. I can only direct your driver as we reach our waypoints.”
Rauch huffed, “I see, Oberleutnant,” clearly upset. “Well, you do what you must.”
What a crock, Rauch thought. Here he was sent on a trip with a mindless oberleutnant on a mission that was so secret that he was not to be informed. He had a good mind to stop this stupidity right now and turn the convoy around. What the hell was going on? Yet if this was an important mission, he would hate to see what would happen to him if he disobeyed the orders. He had seen other officers shot for much less. This damned army. Here we are with one foot in the grave with the Allies storming into Germany, the Russians streaming in and he is ordered to ride around in the night with an oberleutnant and move a handful of troops around. All the while the line of trucks ambled down the dark, winding road and it was getting darker and colder.
Major Rauch was full of questions, but he did not want this oberleutnant to know he was not fully aware of what was going on. Not a chance! He must sit there, listen to Schneider direct the driver and take it.
After about twenty minutes of no conversation, Schneider leaned forward toward the driver.
“About one kilometer ahead, we turn right and proceed down the road with the fences on each side.”
“Yes, sir!” responded the driver.
The car and the six trucks pulled down a narrow road lined with huge oaks that opened into a large field covered with dozens of tents. Rauch noticed guards just off of the road eyeing them as they sped past, not even slowing. Before them was a veritable tent city of German troops.
Schneider ordered the driver to stop about 100 meters down the road in an open area that was a staging ground for the troops bivouacked here. Rauch could see the fires around the tents and the outdoor cooking area setup beside the two large mess tents. The car pulled up in front of the headquarters building, a small frame farmhouse with two guards out front, and stopped.
“I will see to this, sir,” Schneider said quickly, correctly realizing that the major was already in no mood to have to do anything more than what he had to. Schneider got out of the car and motioned for the trucks to form a ring around the area pointing back out the way that they had come. He reached into his pocket for orders as he marched stiffly into the headquarters building. Rauch opened the car door and stepped out to stretch. He watched Schneider walk into the house. He noticed their arrival was being totally ignored by the soldiers milling around smoking. I guess not much impresses these guys, he thought. In some ways it must be nice being a grunt. Just do what you are told and that’s that. Rauch slowly shook his head letting his mind wander when he saw Schneider bolt from the house with a young leutnant.
“Over here,” guided the leutnant. “I have your men all ready.”
“Excellent! The trucks are ready. Put four men in each truck. Have them ready to go in two minutes.” Schneider felt important giving orders and watching men jump. The young leutnant ducked into a tent near the lead truck and began barking out orders to those inside. Schneider smiled inwardly as he heard what sounded like a tornado running through the tent and watched the sides of the tent vibrate with movement. Whatever the hell was going on in there, he did not want to be involved. In less than one minute, the first of twenty-four soldiers with their gear began piling out of the tents and split up, four to a truck.
The entire process was all over in less than two minutes. The men were rousted, loaded and ready to go.
Oberleutnant Schneider checked each truck, ensuring there were four men per truck, and strutted over to Rauch, who was now amazed at the efficiency of the young man.
“All of the men are loaded and ready to go, sir,” as he snapped to attention directly in front of Rauch.
“Very well,” said Rauch, who was clearly impressed but was not going to let this young officer know it. “Let’s go. It’s getting colder.” They exchanged salutes and Rauch pulled his collar up and stepped back into the car.
Schneider ran around the car, got in and they were off with all six trucks following as darkness overtook them.
CHAPTER THREE
It was definitely getting colder as the sun set. Rauch noticed the road snaked through a forest. They had not passed a house or other building for miles. He also noticed the road was rising, climbing into the mountains west of the headquarters. Where the hell were they going? There is nothing out here… nothing. What kind of a wild goose chase was he involved in? The questions just poured over him. And that just made him madder and madder. He clenched his teeth and looked out at the near total darkness.
After about forty kilometers, Rauch was jolted awake as the car turned off of the road onto a narrower one. He had fallen asleep. This new road looked like an old logging path. He cleared his eyes. It was pitch dark outside.
“We will travel this road for thirty-five kilometers,” stated Schneider to the driver, relishing the power he had over an SS major. “Keep your present speed and make sure the trucks are following.”
“We have been traveling for two hours, Schneider. How much longer do we have?” asked Rauch, now not only half awake but clearly upset. Schneider saw this and tried to explain.
“Sir, we are very close now. We should be at our destination in just a few more hours.”
Rauch could not hold it in anymore. His anger was beginning to spill.
“Are we to drive all night? Where the hell are you taking me? Just why in hell do we have to go out to the middle of nowhere for whatever we are supposed to do?” he snapped angrily.
“I am very sorry, sir,” Schneider said trying to not show any fear although he was beginning to get upset with a major screaming at him. “But I am just following orders, sir.” Schneider glanced over at the major and thought that it might be better if he just told him where they were going. It would violate his orders but who would know? They would be there in another few hours anyway. He pursed his lips and considered his position. Follow orders which would be worthless in a couple of hours or soothe a pissed-off major that he has to be with for a while. How the hell did he get into this mess? He made his decision. What use was there to hold back now?
“Sir, we are to lead these six trucks to a secret location to pick up valuable cargo. I do not know what the cargo is. All I know is that it takes six trucks and twenty-four men to handle the loading. I don’t even know where we are supposed to take the cargo. That will all be in our next set of orders to be given to us with the cargo.”
“I see… ” murmured Rauch. “So I am not the only one in the dark about this,” he said, letting down his guard slightly. “This secret location you call it, what is its function?”
“I do not know, sir,” Schneider answered sheepishly. After all this he felt he should know more so that he could impress the major with the information. But he really had no idea. “My orders merely state that I accompany you and supply six trucks and men to pick up cargo. Beyond that I am clueless.”