‘Or one of those, what were they called, those things from Egypt a ’Carsophagus’ or something like that. Well whatever it was, it was in the second truck’
The first was filled with SS. The Wehrmacht occupied the last truck which was at the back of the convoy. The very impressive though now absolutely filthy Mercedes saloon carrying the bespectacled Doctor in the white suit was somewhere in the middle.
‘I’d love to know what it is’ Klum was thinking ‘Could it be treasure? He asked himself remembering his childhood days of playing pirates. Or could it be some sort of secret weapon. Yes that must be it. Why else would they need so many SS.
’Better not be too interested,” Klum told himself “Don’t want to upset the SS. Those bastards are touchy enough as it is. Klum involuntarily shuddered. He, like most men in this war, had heard of the methods of the SS. Even though they were on the same side the Wehrmacht secretly hated the SS.
’But I’d love to know what is in the back of that truck’
Ahead the two motorcyclists could see the road was partially blocked. It was a landslip. Rocks and earth loosened by the Afternoon’s rain must have tumbled down the mountainside. The road wasn’t completely blocked but the trucks would struggle to get through. Klum and his colleague edged through and stopped on the other side of the blockage. The first of the trucks approached slowly but it was the Mercedes saloon that rushed past them. The passenger doors were open before the driver had even stopped the car. Otto Wurtz jumped out first. Koenig got out the other side. Wurtz stopped the trucks. The doctor climbed out of the vehicle.
“I think the trucks should just be able to squeeze by Herr Doctor,” Koenig said smiling nervously.
Doctor Von Brest stood next to Wurtz and looked down the one thousand foot drop. Wurtz kicked a few loose stones over the cliff. They soon disappeared out of sight. The doctor gauged the gap left in the road. The trucks would be perilously close to the edge. Calmly he took his glasses off and polished them.
“I’m not prepared to risk the artefact Herr Colonel. Your men will have to clear a path.”
Koenig had already guessed this was what the Doctor would say. Though he had expected it he felt himself getting impatient.
“With all respect Herr Doctor the risk to the trucks would be minimal. I will personally oversee their path through. My men would be willing to go first if that’s….”
“Out of the question! Clear the way,“ Von Brest cut him off.
“Herr Doctor it may take some time. Often clearing these spills can bring more down. Like I said my men will be more than happy to go first.”
“I don’t give two hoots about your men Colonel. What I do care about is what is in the back of that truck. Now unless you want to report to the Fuhrer personally about what happened to his….” Von Brest chose his next word carefully “….His project, then I suggest you get shovelling. That goes for you as well Wurtz.”
“Yes of course Herr Doctor. The Colonel meant no offence. My men would be delighted to help your men Colonel Koenig. Just show them what you want them to do,” Wurtz said with a sickly smile.
Von Brest was still scowling at Koenig.
“Yes Doctor I’ll see to it at once. I didn’t mean to anger you.”
Von Brest removed his white hat and got back into the Mercedes without another word. Koenig felt his temper rising.
’Who the hell does the Doctor think he’s talking to’ Then good sense prevailed. Von Brest was a party member. A personal friend of Himmler and possibly the best archaeologist in his field. It would be unwise to upset him, even from a Colonel’s point of view. Koenig felt Wurtz’ eyes on him.
’We’re both lying,’ he thought looking at what he could see of the Doctor in the back of the car, ’But I don’t know why you are Wurtz. As an SS Major you must be safe out here. But me? I’m sure the Doctor could very easily have me removed’
For the umpteenth time Koenig wished he was safe back in Berlin, in his office, in Von Brockhorst’s care. Then Wurtz surprised him. He suddenly undid his jacket, slackened off his braces, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a shovel.
“Let’s get this obstruction moved men,” he said to his SS, his eyes on the Colonel.
Koenig nodded. He was surprised that the challenge had come but wasn’t about to be outdone. As the SS leapt from their truck Koenig put his jacket aside, loosened a few shirt buttons and went for a shovel. The SS quickly threw themselves into shovelling the loose dirt aside, throwing spadefuls along the road.
“Put your backs into it lads. That’s good,” Wurtz encouraged his soldiers “Lets show these boys how to do it.”
There weren’t enough shovels to go round. Some of Koenig’s men had to wait for rocks to be unearthed and move them by hand. These they tossed over the edge and laughed and nudged at each other as the rocks raced down the slope. They began betting on whose would get furthest.
Wurtz and Koenig constantly made eye contact. After five minutes Koenig wanted to throw his spade down. His hands were blistered. Painfully sore. His lower back and shoulders ached, his muscles becoming stiff. To begin with he masked it well but eventually it began to show on his face. He was also breathing hard.
“Do you need to take a rest Colonel?” Wurtz mocked him.
In truth Koenig wished for nothing else but he sneered a dismissal at Wurtz and shovelled even harder, pain exploding in his head. It had been many years since he’d done work like this. Good honest manual labour.
Wurtz on the other hand was enjoying the physical effort. He was enjoying pitting himself against Koenig.
The soft Colonel
‘He wouldn’t last two minutes in the SS’
Suddenly he felt a blister burst on his hand. He stopped shovelling and looked at his palm. It was sticky from the fluid that leaked out of the blisters. He clenched his fist a few times. The wounds were sore. He spat on them. He didn’t know if it would help but it was worth a try. He arched his back to stretch the aching muscles. Koenig was now shovelling at a much quicker pace, he briefly stopped to goad Wurtz.
“It looks like you need a rest Major.”
Wurtz snorted and slammed his shovel into the landslip. The pain from his hands was excruciating but he ignored it. Both men now knew it was a personal competition between the two of them. They began hurling abuse at each other.
Intimidation!
Slowly the other men began to stop, moving back to allow their commander room to move.
“Come on Colonel! You can beat him!”
“Come on Colonel!”
“Colonel! Colonel! Colonel!”
Wurtz’ men now took up the shout
“Meyer! Meyer! Meyer!”
The two officers were neck and neck. Now Koenig was a shovelful ahead. Now Wurtz pulled it back. The men counting each spadeful. Then their spades collided. They had been getting closer and closer. The impact forced Wurtz to drop his load, putting Koenig ahead once more. Wurtz thrust his spade in knocking Koenig’s to one side. The Wehrmacht booed. They stopped shovelling, glaring at each other. Then in the next instant they threw their spades down and leapt at each other, grabbing bunched fists full of each other’s clothes. The men cheering them on. Wurtz drew his arm back to throw a punch.
A single shot rang out.
Both men stopped. The voices of the others faded away. Wurtz still had his fist raised. He glared into Koenig’s eyes. Koenig slowly turned. Wurtz’ eyes followed. They let go of each other and stood resignedly. Koenig’s men turned to look the same way as the others. The Doctor was halfway between them and the Mercedes. He leaned on his silver handled cane with his left hand. His right arm was raised above his head, in his right hand a Luger.