The gun that had fired the shot!
They couldn’t see his eyes. The light reflecting off his spectacles. Slowly he lowered the gun but kept it ready. Slowly he limped towards them. Koenig and Wurtz were still breathing hard.
“Dismissed,” Koenig said to his men, looking at them out of the corner of his eye. Instantly they shuffled away. Wurtz jerked a thumb at his men. Now the two of them faced the Doctor. He came up to them coughing into his hand. He put the Luger into his white jacket pocket.
“It is no wonder gentlemen that your men have little or no discipline when they see their commanding officers brawling as if they were in a bar fight.”
“This wasn’t a fight Herr Doctor. Just a friendly bit of rivalry. Isn’t that so Colonel?” Wurtz said clapping an arm around Koenig’s shoulder.
“Yes Herr Meyer. Just friendly rivalry,” Koenig replied.
He wanted nothing more than to push Wurtz arm away and punch him. But he knew when to play the diplomatic game.
“Is that so?”
“It’s like I said Herr Doctor. We, the Colonel and I were betting which of us could shovel more. The men were timing us and counting, they sir, the men they got a bit carried away. At the end of the time it was a draw and the men suggested we wrestle. The loser being the first one thrown to the ground.”
“Do you take me for a fool? Some kind of imbecile perhaps?”
“No Herr Doctor.”
“I have never heard such rubbish in all my life.”
Koenig was staring at the ground. Wurtz was not used to being spoken to like this. But even he, the ruthless killer, couldn’t outstare Von Brest.
The Doctor seemed to radiate pure evil.
“By rights I should place you both on a charge for your conduct. For you Colonel a word in General Von Brockhorst’s ear. You Major would have to wait until Berlin and the Reichsfuhrer.”
Wurtz could think of nothing worse.
“However seeing as I appear to need both your co-operation I find myself having to accept your explanations but anymore of this tomfoolery and I will place you both on a charge.”
Wurtz was about to protest then he remembered that the police in Berlin were probably still looking for him, or at least his wife’s killer. ‘Poor Elsa. I didn’t mean it to go that far’
“Is that gap sufficient for the trucks now?”
“Yes Herr Doctor.”
“Then perhaps you’ll be good enough to get your men back into those lorries and get us moving.”
With that Von Brest turned and limped back to the Mercedes saloon. Koenig picked up his jacket and put it on. Wurtz picked his up and threw it over his left arm. He extended his right hand to Koenig for a handshake.
“No hard feelings.”
Koenig looked down at the hand for a moment and then brushed past Wurtz and headed for the Mercedes. He was going to get into the front with the driver when the back door opened.
“Get in,” Von Brest ordered.
Koenig did as he was told.
“Close the door.”
The Doctor looked out at Wurtz who was shouting as usual at his men.
“What really happened Colonel?”
Koenig was reluctant to say anything. He didn’t like Wurtz or trust the Doctor so he remained quiet. Von Brest put a hand on Koenig’s knee. Koenig stared down at it.
“I don’t like the Major any more than you do. Unfortunately I had no choice in who was assigned to me. I would appreciate if you could quickly tell me what happened.”
Koenig had no choice but to tell.
“As you know the men were clearing a landslip. The major made a direct challenge to me.”
“What challenge?”
“Oh it was nothing really. Petty. Just him trying to out do the Wehrmacht. I shouldn’t have responded but I did.”
“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
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.