The shock came when a tall, sturdily built figure stood up from behind a desk and turned round. His face was hidden by a Balaclava helmet. Penetrating eyes stared at him as he came forward and shook hands.
`We are most glad to see you, Mr Tweed. I am Anton Norlin, although that is not my real name.'
It was exactly like meeting a commander of the British SAS. As they were shaking hands Tweed observed the large but was divided into two sections. Half-way down the long room a glass wall with a closed door cut them off from the far end. Norlin must have noted his quick glance.
`Behind the glass wall is the sophisticated communications section. That will be at your service if needed.'
`It will he needed…'
Sitting down, as Norlin poured coffee from a percolator, he saw all the men beyond the glass wall also wore Balaclavas. Norlin brought his chair round from the other side of the desk to sit close to Tweed.
`Is there anything I should know?' he enquired. `A great deal…'
Norlin listened attentively without saying a word while Tweed told him about his conviction that secret hostile vessels would be approaching the South Jutland coast, about the weird colony of bungalows – he showed Norlin the map marked with a cross – about the Minotaur patrolling off the coast. He put the Dane completely in the picture. Norlin nodded when he had finished, thought for a moment.
`Inspector Nielsen has been in touch with me. I have ready a large team of heavily armed men. They can be transported swiftly to this objective marked on the map. Either by a fleet of helicopters or by trucks.'
`I suggest the main body is moved south by truck,' Tweed urged. 'The arrival of choppers would alert the men who I am certain will be ashore waiting to receive the human cargo from those ships.'
`Trucks, then. These men waiting there – we expect them to be armed?'
`I'd assume they will be. It's rather a complex operation. Subject to the safety of your own troops, I don't give a damn how many already ashore are wiped out. But if possible I'd like to take alive for questioning all those men who are being brought ashore from the ship – or ships.'
Norlin picked up the phone, spoke rapidly in Danish.
Tweed had the impression he was issuing orders at machine-gun speed. Without having seen his face, he was already very impressed by Norlin. The Dane exuded competence, resolution. He put down the phone.
`I have just arranged for large dinghies with outboard motors to be transported aboard the trucks. Also grappling equipment – in case we have to board the ships while at sea.'
`A very sound idea,' Tweed agreed. 'The trouble is I don't know what we shall be facing.'
`So, we prepare for all contingencies…'
He picked up the phone, which had started ringing. A brief stream of Danish. Norlin replaced the receiver, stood up.
`Please come with me into the communications room. There is a message for you from a man called Philip Cardon…'
`Tweed here. Any news of Paula? Found anything, Philip?'
`Answering your first question, I'm entirely on my own at present. Newman and the others could be on their way to me now. We have a tough team searching for Paula,' he reassured Tweed. 'I can answer your second query positively. At the spot marked X there are twenty-eight bungalows well hidden behind sand dunes. Close to the coast. Only a rough estimate, but I'd say there are between fifteen and twenty thugs gathered for the party. Your favourite person is also present, ready to wave his magic wand. You can hear me clearly?'
Perfectly. All understood. Anything more?'
Cardon had been speaking at rapid-fire rate. He never had trusted radio communication.
`Yes. They have been practising with dinghies with outboards. Launching them into the sea, going out a few hundred yards, returning to the beach. That's it so far.' `Good. Very good. Keep in touch…'
Tweed swivelled round in the chair in front of the transmitter. He told Norlin what Cardon had said.
`Good job I arranged for us to take our own dinghies…'
Norlin had made his remark and they were leaving the communications room when the soldier who had slipped back into the chair took another message. He called out to Norlin in Danish.
`Tweed, you're wanted again on the phone,' Norlin told him. 'Inspector Nielsen from Copenhagen.'
`Tweed speaking.'
`I owe you an apology,' Nielsen's distinctive voice began. 'I have been compelled to inform Danish Military Intelligence…'
`Yes?'
The line crackled, went dead. The operator took over and tried time and again to bring Nielsen back on the line. Eventually he stopped, spoke to Norlin again.
`This happens, Tweed,' Norlin explained. 'Something in the atmosphere. You find you can't get through.'
`Could that happen in the middle of the operation – between here and South Jutland?' Tweed asked anxiously.
`No. It's a question of range. Copenhagen is a far greater distance away. From here to the operational area in South Jutland is no more than thirty miles, or even less. We'll have contact with this base without any trouble at all.'
`That's a relief.'
Returning to the other section of the hut, Tweed sat down while Norlin poured more coffee. He was bothered by the reference Nielsen had made to Danish Military Intelligence. He simply couldn't imagine what Nielsen had been trying to warn him about. But he took grim satisfaction from the news that Dr Wand was at the scene of the coming operation. It also confirmed that something big and important was about to take place. Those furnished but unoccupied bungalows were a new Moor's Landing. The black dog which still sat on his shoulder was the fate of Paula.
Night had fallen on the military encampment. Tweed had compelled himself to eat some of the excellent meal laid before him. It has his duty to keep up his strength.
Outside the wind had vanished. In its place a sinister fog was rolling in across that part of Denmark. Tweed got up and paced backwards and forwards. Norlin remained perfectly motionless in his chair. Iron nerves, but he hadn't got on his mind the worry which was eating up Tweed.
The glass door opened from the communications section. The operator called out urgently in Danish. Norlin jumped up as Tweed ran for the door.
`It's a Commander Wilson calling,' Norlin reported as he caught up with Tweed.
Grim-faced, Tweed picked up the phone. Why the hell hadn't he heard from Newman?
`Tweed here.' He gave the code-word. 'Any development?'
`You are a genius,' Wilson's voice boomed. 'Two targets in sight. One large, one smaller. Like a mother ship bringing in baby. Not a flicker on our normal radar, but blips as clear as the nose on my face on your Christmas present. About twenty miles off shore. Coming in on a course which, if maintained, will make their landfall north of a place called Hojer. When do I challenge – then intercept if necessary?'
`Not until they're stationary very close to the coast – if that action is practical.'
`It is. Incredible – two Marie Celestes coming home. Will keep reporting their position.'
`Thank you, Tug. This is it…'
Again Tweed was leaving the communications room when he was called back. Among the Danish the operator spoke as he vacated the chair Tweed caught the words `Robert Newman'. He grabbed the phone.
`Tweed?' Newman's voice came over clear as a bell. `Hold on. I've got someone here who'd like a word with you.'
`This is Paula. I'm OK. Absolutely OK…' Tweed nearly choked when he heard her buoyant voice. 'Tweed, are you still there?'
`Yes, I'm here. How are you? Did they..
`No, they didn't. I'll say it again. I'm OK! OK! OK! Got it? Wonderful.-to hear your voice. This lot tried to send me to bed. Would you believe it? I won't repeat over this line what I told them to do. Any news about you know what?'