Levenson-Jones own excitement had made him break out into a cold sweat. “Nat, I won’t insult you by asking if you’ve been under any pressure or strain recently. But how on earth has this thing not been found before?”
“LJ, there are hundreds of wrecks throughout the English Channel and especially around these islands, with more being discovered every year. But this one; was never meant to be discovered. It’s hidden deep within the very granite of Jersey, and the water in the area where I was diving is, to say the least, lethal. No one ever dives in this particular area because of the rocks and the extreme tidal movements. We had the most horrendous storm last night, and this morning it was like a millpond. So I dropped anchor, and went in, couldn’t resist it. Of course, under normal conditions you wouldn’t be able to get close enough without being smashed to a million pieces on the rocks.”
“So how did you find this underground harbour then?”
“Oh, it was purely by accident really. You see I’d taken a sounding of the area some weeks ago. As you know, I got the bug for marine archaeology a few years back, and when I checked again this morning. Well, what I saw was a wide, deep furrow in the seabed that had somehow been concealed before. You know me, inquisitive to the last. When I got down there, I noticed two things; firstly that there was a strong current flowing back out to sea and secondly that the water was much colder than usual. All I had to do was swim against the flow, towards the shore, and eventually came to the rock face that had taken the full brunt of the storm during the night. There had been a lot of movement, and some incredible rockslides, but my torch beam picked out a small gap near the base of the rocks. This was where the water was coming through and where I entered the tunnel that eventually led me to the cavern. LJ, it’s incredible, really incredible!”
“Is she still afloat? What condition is she in?”
“Only just. The control room is completely flooded, right up to the conning tower hatchway. But, I’d say that’s the only area that is, due entirely to the fact that the forward and aft watertight doors had been sealed. And she’s taken quite a beating. But the strangest thing is? On the outside there is considerable damage, but the inside tells a very different story, with everything calm, and from what I could see, in its place.”
“What about the crew, any skeletal remains, old son?”
“There were only two skeletons that I came across. One poor soul who had been impaled where he stood on the conning tower deck by a piece of twisted support rail. It had gone right through his back and out of the front of his chest. The other was in the control room, I’m pretty sure that this was the Commander. I found a watertight silver briefcase laying at his side.”
“Did it have the Kriegsmarine insignia etched on it up in the top right corner?”
“Yes it did, but it also had this red leaping devil across the centre of the lid.”
“The insignia tells us that it’s a standard issue case. But that leaping red devil that’s the bit that intrigues me. Very odd that, Nat. Were there any numbers on the conning tower or briefcase?”
“No, none on either that I could see.”
“Um, that really is odd. If there are no numbers then what have we got here?”
In Jersey, Cunningham was already thumbing through the diary. “LJ, wait a minute, I’m just having a look back through the pages. Yes here we are at the very front of the U-boat diary there’s a reference number. It would appear that our sub, was commissioned U-683. How on earth did I miss that before, anyway it’s the only numerical reference to it.”
“Okay, so we now know her identification number or we think we do. Nat, do you mind holding for just one moment while I tap into the central archive database, this will tell us about our submarine and what she got up to back then.”
Cunningham waited patiently while LJ tapped away at his keyboard. “This is already becoming more and more curious, my old friend.” LJ said.
“What is?”
“Well according to the information that I’ve got in front of me — U683 was officially reported missing twice. The details are sketchy to say the least, and to make things even more confusing; there are two official Kriegsmarine reports. One, which states that she went down in the North Atlantic on the 20th February 1945 just Southwest of Ireland. The other that she was sunk in the English Channel near to Lands End on the 12th March 1945. Her last known position though was recorded at co-ordinates, 49.52N, 05.52W. It looks like she was depth charged by the British Frigate HMS Loch Ruthwen, and the sloop Wild Goose. Ah, but look here, the frigate captain entered in his ship’s log that the attack that they had made was more than likely against another wreck. Here it is, yes, U-247 was charted sunk in almost the same position previously. There looks to have been much speculation about this one, Nat. And I’d say that it was highly unlikely in light of what you have just told me, as to whether U-683 actually ever did go down with all hands lost. As the forty-nine crewmembers were never recovered.”
“Sounds like they were trying to create a deception, if you ask me. Is that it?”
“Just about, she was laid down on 23rd December 1942, at Howaldtswerke, Hamburg and commissioned, on 30th May 1944. Look up the details of the Korvetenkapitan’s in the diary, will you, what’s his name?”
Nathan turned to the U-boat Commander’s details, “It states in the diary that the Korvetenkapitan’s was Otto Sternberg. Why?”
“Um, it looks as if we have a mystery on our hands, and becoming more and more intriguing by the minute. The only recorded commander of U-683 was Kapitanleutnant or Lieutenant Commander Gunter Keller. This information also clearly states that this sub only ever took part in one patrol, other than a training exercise just after she was commissioned. Which means that Sternberg and possibly the crew were specially selected for that last mission, which leaves only one question. What the hell were the Nazis up to on Jersey on May 8th 1945, VE day?”
“I really don’t know. Except that there are two letters. One makes reference to the cargo that they were carrying and addressed to Otto Sternberg. It was opened but still in its envelope.”
“Really, who were they from?”
“Grossadmiral Karl Donitz, and Heinrich Himmler, and the cargo was something called the Spear of Destiny.”
Levenson-Jones stood up quickly and took a hard pull on his cigar. “Nathan old son, I think you’d better hop on a plane this afternoon and come and see me.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Um, well look here. Don’t bother with the scheduled stuff, get yourself and that aluminium case up to the St. Helier Aero-club, and charter a helicopter and pilot. Book it to Ferran & Cardini and tell the company to phone this number for immediate payment. As long as the weather is good, you should arrive in London mid afternoon. I’ll have a car waiting for you at the heli-pad to bring you directly to my office here in Docklands, Oh, and Nat, don’t breathe a word of this to anyone, not anyone.”
“Understood, so it’s just like old times, then. It’ll be good to see you after all these years, and perhaps you’ll allow me to buy you that dinner I owe you this evening?”
“I’ll be looking forward to it old son,” said LJ, and replaced the receiver. Checking his watch, LJ saw that he was thirty-five minutes late for the Partners’ meeting.
Nathan put the receiver back on its cradle and immediately picked it up again. Yes, there was a helicopter available for charter that afternoon. He made the booking in the name of Ferran & Cardini International; the young lady at the other end of the phone placed him on hold while she called London to confirm the payment. This done he sat back in his chair, thinking about the mystery that he’d uncovered. There was plenty of time to pack an overnight bag and to freshen himself up with a shower and shave.