Have This One on Me

Six

Worthington pulled his worn jacket closer around him and shivered. He was sitting on a flat stone, his back against a rock, looking down into the mist-covered valley far below. He had been sitting there since four o’clock and it was nearly half-past six. It had been a damp, cold watch, and he longed for the sun to come up and warm his aching bones. Resentfully, he thought it was typical of Girland to have given him the dawn watch. How he disliked this tall, handsome, cocky man! He knew Girland was without nerves, and he knew women would automatically react to him. He had seen the way Mala had looked at him. She seemed to think he was some kind of god.

He took his depleted pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He had only five left. He hesitated, the n unable, to resist the urge, he lit one.

He glanced over his shoulder at the dark cabin. There was no movement. They were all sleeping. He stared up at the lightening sky, across the treetops and once again down into the mist-covered valley. He felt a tug of fear at his heart. They would send troops. They would search every inch of the hills. Sooner or later, they would find them.

Worthington flinched at the thought of what would happen to him His hand touched the butt of his gun snug in its holster, then he remembered Girland had taken away the bullets. He couldn’t even shoot himself, if the soldiers surrounded them.

He sucked in smoke and slowly exhaled He shifted on the cold rock, trying to make himself comfortable, then he stiffened as he heard a droning sound some distance away.

Outlined against the cloudless sky, he saw a helicopter, flying above the tree tops, down in the valley. He started to his feet, his heart thumping. More sound filled the sky and, looking to his left, he saw yet another helicopter.

He ran towards the cabin as the door swung open and Girland, followed by Jan, appeared.

‘Get under cover!’ Girland snapped. ‘Quick!’

Worthington bolted into the cabin.

Girland and Jan stood under a tree, close to the cabin. They spotted one of the helicopters that was moving directly towards them.

‘They’re pulling out all the stops,’ Girland said.

‘They won’t see us,’ Jan returned quietly. ‘The trees cover the cabin. We’ll have to stay under cover while the sweep is on. They’re likely to spot any movement.’

The sound of the helicopter’s engine grew louder. Both men remained motionless, leaning against the trunk of the tree. The helicopter passed directly overhead, flying high and then the sound of its engine began to die away.

They looked at each other.

‘They certainly think you’re important’ Jan said. ‘Let’s have some coffee.’

Keeping under the trees, they made their way back to the cabin. The two girls were out of their bunks and looking tense. Worthington stood by the fire, holding cold, shaking hands towards the blaze.

‘They won’t spot us,’ Jan said soothingly. ‘Coffee ready?’

‘In a minute,’ Blanca said. She was very calm, but Mala was frightened. She crossed to Girland.

‘Do you think we’ll get away?’ she asked in a low, unsteady voice.

Girland patted her arm.

‘Sure. We will now have to move at night and hide up during the day, that’s all there is to it.’ He looked into her blue eyes. ‘You have nothing to be scared about so long as I’m with you.’

She hesitated, then smiled.

‘I know... you really think we will get out?’

‘Sure. It’ll be tricky but it can be done.’ He resisted the temptation to put his arm around her seeing Worthington was watching them. She examined his hard, confident face, then she joined Blanca who was preparing the breakfast.

Catching Worthington’s smouldering glare, Girland winked at him before going to the cabin door where Jan was staring through the branches of the trees up at the sky.

‘There are three helicopters now,’ Jan said.

‘We’ll have to move at night. If they are staging an operation this size, they will also have a lot of ground troops.’

Jan thought, then he said quietly, ‘They can’t know which direction we took. They’ll make a big circle around the farm and then close in.’ He was looking worried.

Both men stiffened as they heard the approaching beat of the helicopter engines. This time the helicopter was flying at tree-top level. They caught a glimpse of it through the trees. It was circling a patch of forest some fifty kilometres from them.

‘We’d better put the fire out,’ Girland said. ‘It’s not giving off much smoke but as they’re flying this low, they could spot it.’

They moved back into the living-room of the cabin. The girls had heated two tins of sausages and the coffee was made. Jan damped down the fire, spreading the logs before joining the others at the table. The atmosphere was tense. They could hear the helicopter coming closer.

Suddenly it swooshed by the cabin, sending a violent gust of wind that ruffled Mala’s hair and made her stifle a scream.

Worthington turned a sickly grey. He put down the sausage he had just speared with his knife.

Girland glanced at Jan and Blanca. Neither of them showed any panic. He put his hand on Mala’s and gave it a reassuring pat.

‘Think they’ve spotted us?’ Blanca asked her husband.

‘No... not at the speed they were going.’ Jan looked at the fire that was smouldering. ‘There’s not enough smoke for them to see.’ He cut into another sausage. ‘Looks as if they are covering the ground by a pattern. Probably they won’t be back this way.’

Worthington pushed aside his plate.

‘That’s what you say!’ His voice was husky with fear. ‘How do you know? We must get out of here... we’re in a trap!’

Girland helped himself to another sausage.

‘These aren’t bad,’ he said, ignoring Worthington. ‘They’d be better with a touch of chili sauce.’

Worthington jumped to his feet.

‘Didn’t you hear what I said? We are in a trap!’

‘I wouldn’t have thought so.’ Girland said mildly. ‘These choppers have a psychological effect... they are meant to scare us.’ The other three were staring at Worthington as he stood, shaking and frightened. ‘Suppose you and I take a look around? We’ll go down by the lower plateau. From there we can get a picture of the set-up.’ He finished his sausage and his coffee, then got to his feet. ‘You others stay under cover. Come on, pal. Let’s take a look.’

Worthington hesitated, then as Jan got calmly to his feet and began to collect the empty coffee mugs, seeing Blanca looking away indifferently and Mala staring at him, her dismay at his behaviour plainly showing, he forced himself to follow Girland out of the cabin.

As they moved into the early morning sunshine, they heard the helicopter returning. Worthington was about to dart back into the cabin, but stopped as Girland continued on under the shade of the trees. Shaking, Worthington followed him. The helicopter droned by some three kilometres away.

‘He wouldn’t still be patrolling if he had spotted us,’ Girland said. ‘Come on, keep just behind me,’ and he started down the long steep descent to the second plateau. As they slid down the path, they saw, from time to time, the other helicopters circling far away to their right and their left. It took them some ten minutes to reach the second plateau that gave them an uninterrupted view of the farm house far below them.

Even Girland was a little startled to see the mass of Army trucks parked in the narrow lane and the activity that was going on around the farm house. He squatted down on his heels, his back against a tree and motioned Worthington to join him. ‘They’ve certainly called out the troops,’ he said.

Worthington looked with horror at the activity below. Even from this distance, he could see the soldiers were all armed with automatic weapons. He felt sweat start out on his face.

‘I told you... we’re in a trap,’ he said feverishly. ‘We’re mad to remain in the cabin. We’ll be surrounded.’

Girland began to feel sorry for this weak, frightened man.

‘Have you any suggestions what we should do?’ he asked quietly. ‘Here, have a cigarette. Let’s think about it.’

Worthington hesitated, then took the cigarette. His hands were shaking so violently, Girland had to light it for him.

‘We must get out!’ Worthington said. He took a drag on the cigarette, desperately trying to control his rising panic.

‘Yes, but those boys up there would spot us. It’s too big a risk to move in daylight.’

‘Then we must leave as soon as it is dark! We must! Even then we may be leaving it too late!’

They both heard the approaching beat of the helicopter’s engine. It was coming fast. Girland grabbed hold of Worthington and dragged him behind the tree, forcing him flat. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees as the helicopter roared overhead. Dry leaves and sand swirled up in the air from the suction of the propellers.

They lay still side by side, then Worthington said shakily, ‘You think I am a coward, don’t you? Well, I am. I admit it. It’s something I can’t do anything about. I would never have become an agent if I thought it would end like this. I needed the money. It seemed so easy. My pupils talked. I have the knack of knowing what is important and what isn’t. I was well paid for the information I gave Dorey. I’ve saved the money. It’s in Geneva.’ He drew in a shuddering breath. ‘I don’t think now I’ll ever spend it. We’re trapped.’

‘I wouldn’t bet on it,’ Girland said cheerfully. ‘Those puppets down there are only kids. We’ll get out. We just have to be careful.’

‘I have a feeling that I’m not going to get out,’ Worthington said. ‘There’s something I want you to do for me.’

‘You’ll get out,’ Girland said, restraining his impatience with an effort. This man bored him.

‘I’ve left all my money to Mala,’ Worthington said. ‘If anything does happen to me, will you tell her? It is all arranged. She has only to go to the Credit Suisse Banque at Geneva, prove who she is and then they will give the money to her... it is a lot... sixty thousand dollars. It’s all for her.’

A little startled, Girland looked at him.

‘Tell her yourself,’ he said. ‘Why not?’

‘Oh no. She might refuse it,’ Worthington said miserably. ‘You see, she doesn’t love me. I mean nothing to her. It would embarrass her, but when I am dead, she will be glad to have the money... then she needn’t thank me for it.’

Girland shrugged.

‘Don’t be so pessimistic. You’ll survive.’

Worthington was now watching the activity going on below. He saw army trucks, loaded with soldiers, driving away to the north.

‘I know this district,’ he said. ‘They are surrounding us. In a couple of hours we will be in a trap. Now’s the time to go.’

‘On foot?’ Girland’s question was slightly mocking. ‘How far do you imagine we can get in a couple of hours?’

‘What are we going to do then?’ Worthington asked in despair.

‘We’ll find a way.’ Girland was watching one of the helicopters. It was coming in to land. He watched it disappear behind a line of trees, some twenty kilometres down in the valley from where they were. ‘You say you know the district. Did you see where the chopper landed? Do you know how to get there?’

‘Yes... there’s a big field behind those trees. Why?’

‘Let’s get back,’ Girland said and got to his feet. He began to climb to the upper plateau.

Smernoff was enjoying himself. The time was seven minutes to seven and the sun was putting some warmth in him. He had been up all night, but he was used to little sleep.

When he hunted, he didn’t expect to sleep.

Captain Kuhlan had got his men into position by six o’clock as he had been ordered. Smernoff was surprised that his almost impossible order had been carried out so efficiently. He was now certain his quarries were surrounded. A ring of troops had been made within a thirty-kilometre radius of the farm house. He knew it was not possible for them to have walked this distance before the troops had completed their circle. It was now a matter of time before he caught them.

He had a large breakfast of four eggs, bacon; bread and three cups of coffee. He had bullied Suk. He had praised Kuhlan. Now he was making his way across the dew-soaked grass to where a helicopter was standing. The machine had come to refuel and Smernoff decided he would take a ride.

Smernoff believed in surveying the territory where he hunted. He liked riding in a helicopter. He could tell the pilot to pause and he could lean out of the window and study the ground. A helicopter was the perfect machine for a hunt.

Lieutenant Budovec, the pilot, was waiting patiently by the helicopter. He was short, stocky with dark curly hair, not more than twenty-three years of age, and desperately anxious to impress such an important passenger. He stiffened to attention when Smernoff came over the wet grass, passing two big petrol tankers there to refuel the helicopters.

Smernoff had arranged the refuelling station. He knew the search would be long and tedious. To fly back to the military base near Prague to refuel was ridiculous. There must be no delay in this intensive search.

‘Well?’ he said, pausing before Budovec. ‘What news?’

‘Nothing so far Comrade.’ Budovec said. He had a map in his hand. ‘I have covered this section. Now I intend to cover this one.’ His gloved finger traced a small circle on the big scale map.

‘I would have thought they would have taken to the hills. You saw nothing suspicious up there?’

‘No... it is difficult country... there are so many trees.’

Smernoff saw Budovec was doubtful.

‘But did you see anything at all suspicious?’ There was a rasp in his voice.

‘Not suspicious Comrade. There might have been a little smoke up on this hill.’ Budovec pointed to the map. ‘I circled the spot twice, but decided I had imagined it.’

Smernoff grinned.

‘Let us go and look at what you imagined. The slightest clue is important.’

He climbed into the helicopter and settled himself in the passenger’s seat. Budovec joined him in the pilot’s seat. Smernoff slung the strap of a pair of powerful field glasses round his thick neck.

‘Can you remember exactly where you imagined this smoke to be?’

Budovec nodded as he started the engine.

‘Yes, Comrade. I remember very well.’

The helicopter took off in a cloud of dust and began its short journey across the valley towards the distant hills.

‘I have an idea,’ Girland said. He was sitting on the table, facing the other four. ‘It could possibly work out. The helicopters are landing in a field about twenty kilometres from here in the valley. If we could get down there, we might grab one of the machines. I can handle a chopper. There might be a chance that we could cross the frontier, but even if we don’t we can get within easy reach of the frontier... what do you think?’

‘Of course,’ Jan said, excited. ‘Twenty kilometres... it would take us about two hours... it’s all downhill. Yes, let’s try.’

‘There are swarms of soldiers... I’ve seen them,’ Worthington protested. ‘The forest is alive with them.’

Girland took from his pocket the six cartridges which he rolled across the table to Worthington.

‘Okay, so there are swarms of soldiers. If we have to, we must fight our way out.’

Worthington stared at him, then, aware Mala was watching him, he began to load his gun with an unsteady hand.

Blanca said, ‘The helicopters will be guarded. Do you really think it’s possible?’

‘We can but take a look,’ Girland said. ‘Two of us have guns. It’s worth a try.’

‘Listen!’ Mala said.

They now became aware of the approaching drone of a helicopter. They remained motionless, listening. The noise became louder and louder and more menacing. The air, stirred by the propellers, came into the cabin. The two maps, spread out on the table, took off and flapped against the opposite wall.

The helicopter paused. It seemed to them that it was hovering directly overhead. Everyone in the cabin was tense: Worthington, grey-faced. Mala rigid with fear, the Brauns and Girland like stone people. Dust and small stones swirled around, outside the cabin. They could hear the branches of the trees swaying and bending to the suction of the propellers.

Smernoff, leaning out of the window of the helicopter, saw the cabin.

‘Lower,’ he said.

‘It is too dangerous. Comrade,’ Budovec returned. ‘The trees...’

‘A little to your right.’

Budovec steered the machine as directed.

Smernoff now could see the cabin clearly through the branches of the trees. His lips parted in a savage smile.

‘I think we have them.’ He reached for the radio-telephone receiver and gave Suk, waiting anxiously at the farm house, directions. Then, nodding to Budovec, he settled back in his seat. Budovec lifted the helicopter and began a wide circling movement around the hill.

‘I’ll swear that’s where they are hiding,’ Smernoff said. ‘My congratulations Lieutenant. You have the eyes of a hawk.’

As the helicopter lifted and drifted away, Girland said, ‘They’ve spotted us! We have to move!’

‘I told you... I’ve kept telling you,’ Worthington exclaimed hysterically. ‘We’re in a trap!’

Girland smiled at him.

‘It’s possible, but the trap hasn’t been sprung. Let’s go!’

Within minutes they were ready to leave.

‘We’ll head down the hill towards the landing ground,’ Girland said. ‘It’ll take them a couple of hours to get up here. I’ll go first, Jan, you keep close to me, then the girls, then Worthington. Let’s move!’

Keeping under the shelter of the trees, conscious of the helicopter circling above, Girland started down the narrow path that led to the second plateau. He moved steadily, remembering Mala. He could have moved much faster, but he knew she wouldn’t be able to keep up. The drone of the helicopter’s engines above them was a constant reminder that they had to keep under cover.

The helicopter was still circling above them as they reached the lower plateau.

‘Wait... keep under the trees,’ Girland said and moved forward cautiously. He looked down at the distant farm house. Army trucks were coming up the lane, leading to the hill. As he watched, the trucks stopped unable to go further, and troops holding automatic weapons spilled out. Moving fast, urged on by their officers, they began to climb the hill. Girland attempted to estimate their number. He decided there were well over a hundred of them.

He beckoned to Jan.

‘Here they come. We may have to fight our way through them, but no noise. Feel like it?’

Jan nodded. His big fleshy face was grim and his eyes excited.

‘Why not?’

Still keeping his voice low, Girland went on, ‘It’ll have to be the two of us... Worthington is useless.’

Again Jan nodded.

‘Okay, then let’s go.’ Girland turned to the others. ‘Jan and I are going first. Give us three minutes, then come after us. If there is trouble, stop and wait. Okay?’

‘Yes,’ Blanca said.

Girland looked at Worthington.

‘No shooting... if they hear shots they’ll pinpoint us.’

Worthington, sweating, sickly white, tried to say something, but his voice had gone. He could only nod his head.

Touching Jan’s arm, Girland began to slide down the path. It was at this moment Smernoff, high above the hill, spotted Girland through his field glasses.

‘There they go!’ he exclaimed to Budovec. ‘Get lower!’ And reaching for the microphone, he relayed to Suk what he had seen. ‘Get more men up here! They are coming down. We’ve got them!’

The helicopter dipped and the trees bent under the air suction. Looking up through the branches, Girland saw the helicopter, hovering just above him. The pilot and the passenger were looking directly at him. He didn’t hesitate. His .45 automatic slid into his hand and he fired four shots at the machine. The bang of the gunfire re-echoed in the still air and went crashing down into the valley.

The helicopter swung away. Budovec, hit in the arm, turned the machine towards the landing ground, gritting his teeth, blood running into his glove.

Smernoff cursed.

‘Are you badly hurt?’ he snarled.

‘My arm.’ Budovec tried to be heroic, but the pain was making him feel faint. ‘I can land.’

‘You damn well better land!’ Smernoff shouted. ‘Get hold of yourself!’

Budovec made the effort and righted the helicopter.

‘Well, that’s that,’ Girland said ruefully as he slid the gun back into its holster. ‘If I hadn’t got rid of that fly, it would have sat on our tails all the way down. Now, they know we are up here. We must go back. They’ll expect us to come down. We’ll go up and come down from another direction.’

They turned and scrambled up the path where they met the other three coming down.

‘We must go back,’ Girland told them. ‘Follow me,’ and passing them, he continued up the path. Scrambling, panting and frightened, Worthington and the two girls followed him. Jan brought up the rear. They passed the cabin and then continued up the hill.

Then they heard the sound of an approaching helicopter.

Smernoff had already alerted Suk to send another machine up to the hill while Budovec was bringing his machine in to land.

The helicopter appeared out of the sun and swooped down on the hill. It was at this moment that the small party were crossing a bare strip of ground, heading towards the shelter of more trees. The soldier, sitting by the pilot, opened up with his automatic rifle. The bullets made puffs of dust within metres of the party. They threw themselves flat. Lying on his back, Girland looked up at the hovering helicopter. He could see the soldier shouting excitedly to the pilot. Girland aimed at the pilot’s head and gently squeezed the trigger of his gun. Killed instantly, the pilot slumped forward and the helicopter, out of control, crashed on the hill, turning over and over in a blaze of flame.

‘Come on!’ Girland exclaimed. ‘Fast now!’

They followed him up the hill.

Thick white smoke began to cascade up into the sky from where the helicopter had crashed. The slight wind took the smoke away from them. Girland suddenly stopped. The others crowded around him. He looked at Jan.

‘We could have started a forest fire, couldn’t we?’

Jan looked at the swirling smoke and nodded.

‘Yes... listen’

They could hear the roar of the flames, the crackling of burning trees and the smoke was becoming denser. They could also feel the heat of the blaze.

‘The wind’s taking it down the hill,’ Girland said. ‘If the wind changes, we could be in trouble. We’ll go down this side of the hill.’ He turned to Worthington. ‘Give Jan your gun.’

Worthington hesitated, then reluctantly handed the gun to Jan.

‘We two go first,’ Girland said to Jan. ‘Come on.’

As they started down the hill, the smoke swirled overhead. In a few minutes, Girland thought, there would be an umbrella of smoke over the hill, and they would be invisible to the probing eyes of a helicopter pilot. They need not worry about keeping to the trees. They could now take the quickest way down.

The crackling and the roaring of the flames as the flames leapt from one dry tree to another made a terrifying sound. The heat was becoming intense.

Moving fast, leaving the other three well behind, Girland and Jan slid, slithered and ran down the narrow mountain path through the forest, heading towards the valley.

Suddenly Girland pulled up and Jan nearly cannoned into him.

‘Listen!’

Faintly above the sound of the forest fire, they could hear the barking of dogs. The two men looked at each other.

‘Do you think we are moving right into them?’ Jan asked his face smoke-streaked and worried.

‘We’ve got to get down,’ Girland said. ‘Let’s get this organised. I’ll go on. You wait here for three minutes, then you come after me. Tell the others also to wait three minutes before coming after you.’

Jan nodded and Girland again started down the path. He was now very alert, his eyes searching the ground ahead of him. There was a lot of cover: big boulders, trees and patches and high grass. It was difficult to get a clear view. He continued on down, gun in hand, aware the barking of dogs was getting nearer.

He finally reached a thick clump of shrubs. He paused.

Below him was a road, beyond the road, a forest. He hesitated, then as he was about to slide down the bank to the road, he heard a half-track armoured truck coming up the road. He got behind a tree.

The half-track with four young soldiers, all carrying automatic rifles, sitting in it, chugged by. The sun reflected on their steel helmets. He waited until the half-track continued past, climbing the twisting hill road, then he slid down the bank. He ran across the road and dived down the bank into the forest. He stopped, turned and waited. He could hear another half-track coming up the road. He looked anxiously across the road and saw Jan coming down.

Jan also heard the half-track and he stopped short. Both men, either side of the road, watched the vehicle pass.

Girland climbed back up the bank.

‘Stay with the others,’ he called. ‘See them across. I’ll go on.’

Jan nodded.

Girland turned and began the sharp descent through the trees.

Jan waited for the others to join him.

The barking of the dogs grew louder.

As Budovec brought the helicopter to a bumpy landing, and then slumped over the controls, Smernoff opened the cabin door and jumped to the ground.

The three soldiers, guarding the landing ground, came forward at a run. Their young, immature faces were excited.

‘Get him out!’ Smernoff barked. ‘He’s hurt.’

Without bothering further about Budovec, Smernoff walked quickly across to where his jeep was waiting.

His stride faltered slightly when he saw Malik standing by the jeep. His dark cruel face tightened, then he joined Malik who was staring up at the hill, watching the helicopter hovering against the blue sky. There came a rattle of automatic weapon fire.

‘What do they think they’re doing?’ Malik rasped. ‘Are they firing at them?’

Furious, Smernoff looked skywards. There came a faint bang of a revolver shot. As the two men watched, the helicopter heeled out of control and smashed down into the forest. Immediately, there was an explosion, and a moment later part of the forest was in flames.

‘Girland!’ Malik snarled. ‘The fools. Didn’t I tell you with Girland you just can’t mount a straightforward operation?’ He watched the smoke come down in great dark waves, blotting out the forest. ‘Now, we have a forest fire. The wind is taking it away from them. Why haven’t you caught them before now?’

Smernoff wiped his sweating face.

‘It is just a matter of time,’ he said. ‘We’ll catch them. They are surrounded.’

‘You should have had them by now!’ Malik said in disgust. ‘Look at that blaze! How can your troops get up there now?’

‘Well, Girland and the others can’t get down either, so they will have to go down the other side of the hill,’ Smernoff said. ‘I have three hundred men there waiting for them... men and dogs. It’s just a matter of time.’

‘Give me a cigarette,’ Malik said.

‘Here... don’t you ever smoke your own?’

Malik lit the cigarette and drew the smoke into his lungs.

‘I don’t want them killed,’ he said, leaning against the jeep. ‘They must be captured alive.’

‘How can we capture a man like Girland alive?’ Smernoff demanded. ‘That isn’t possible!’

‘I want them alive,’ Malik said. ‘I will make you responsible if any of them are killed. I must have them alive. They have information we need.’

‘Why didn’t you say so before?’ Smernoff said, exasperated. He ran across to the radio truck, parked under the trees.

Malik again looked at the hill, watching the orange-coloured flames, hearing the crackling of the burning trees, seeing the vast umbrella of smoke, and even from where he was standing, feeling the intense heat.

The wind had veered to the south-east, and now smoke was beginning to settle over the tree tops, making a curtain of thin mist.

Girland moved silently through the forest, gun in hand, his eyes probing ahead.

He could no longer hear the dogs barking. In the far distance, he could hear the sound of the fire, and the occasional sharp crackle as some dry tree was caught in the approaching flames.

He kept on, seeing the edge of the forest ahead of him and the sunlight now misty with smoke.

Then he stopped abruptly. He heard voices. He slid behind a tree, listening. A man was saying something in Czech. Satisfied that there was no one in the forest, Girland again moved forward and then saw a steep bank ahead of him that led down into a narrow road. Moving like a ghost, he approached the edge of the forest, and sheltering behind a tree trunk, he looked down on to the road.

A big, covered army truck was standing by the grass verge. Three soldiers, sweating in the heat, clutching automatic weapons, stood by the truck as their N.C.O. gave them instructions.

Girland surveyed the scene, then moved cautiously back. He saw Jan coming through the forest and he waved to him. Jan joined him.

‘There are four men down there,’ Girland said, ‘and a truck. We can grab the truck, use their uniforms and get to the frontier. What do you think?’

Jan nodded. He pulled Worthington’s gun from his hip pocket.

‘You’ll have to handle it... I can’t speak the language,’ Girland said. ‘Put the fear of God into them. They’re all young. I’ll be covering you.’

Jan nodded again and moved forward. He reached the top of the bank. Girland was right behind him.

They looked at each other, then Girland nodded.

At the top of his voice, Jan yelled, ‘Don’t move!’

The four men froze. Slowly, the N.C.O. turned his head and looked up at Jan, saw the threatening pistol and turned a whitish green.

‘Drop your weapons!’ Jan snapped.

The automatic weapons clattered to the ground.

‘Turn around! Keep your hands still!’

Mala, Blanca and Worthington now joined them. Girland slid down the bank and collected the rifles which he loaded into the truck.

Jan came down the bank and joined him.

‘Tell them to take their uniforms off,’ Girland said, stepping back to cover the four men with his gun.

Jan snapped the order. Hurriedly and with panic, the four men stripped off their uniforms and dropped them into the road.

Girland found a coil of rope in the truck. He cut it into lengths. While Jan threatened the four men, Girland tied their hands and legs. Then they lifted each man into the truck.

‘Warn them if they make a sound they will be shot,’ Girland said and then he beckoned to the two girls and Worthington to come down to the road.

Ten minutes later. Girland and Jan wearing the Czech uniforms, the two girls and Worthington sitting on the floor of the truck, both Blanca and Worthington, guns in hand, the truck moved forward, with Girland at the wheel.

Jan was wearing the N.C.O.’s uniform that scarcely fitted his broad frame. He held an automatic rifle across his thick thighs.

‘Now where do we go?’ Girland asked.

‘First to the left, up the road. Don’t drive fast.’

They could hear the helicopter droning overhead.

As they reached the turning and as Girland swung the truck down the long, narrow lane, they saw a jeep coming fast towards them, sending a cloud of dust behind it.

‘Get under cover!’ Jan shouted through the rear window.

Hurriedly the two girls and Worthington dragged a tarpaulin that was folded against the side of the truck over them and the four bound soldiers. They lay flat, the tarpaulin covering them.

There was a young, fat officer and two soldiers in the jeep. The officer waved to Girland and the jeep stopped. Girland brought the truck to a standstill.

The officer glared at him.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he demanded.

Girland had no idea what he was saying. He looked at Jan who leaned across him and made a sloppy salute.

‘Orders, Comrade Lieutenant,’ he said. ‘The divisional commander instructed me to return to headquarters.’

The Lieutenant got out of the jeep.

Girland thumbed back the safety catch of his revolver. He hid the gun down by his side, his face expressionless.

‘Who is your divisional commander?’ the Lieutenant barked.

‘Colonel Smerzh,’ Jan said placidly.

The Lieutenant stepped hurriedly back.

‘What are you waiting for?’ he exclaimed. ‘Get along!’

Girland, at Jan’s nod, engaged gear and the truck moved past the jeep.

‘Well... well...’ Girland grinned. ‘What was it you said?’

Jan told him.

‘Smerzh is an important man. I’ve often seen his photo in the papers. I took a chance.’

‘It worked.’

‘We have a little less than a hundred kilometres before we reach the frontier,’ Jan said. He turned around and called to Blanca. ‘You can come out now.’ He smiled encouragingly at the girls as they emerged from under the heavy tarpaulin.

Girland slightly increased the speed of the truck. He was feeling more confident. After some thirty minutes of fast driving, they came to a main road.

‘Better get under cover again,’ he called.

Reluctantly, Blanca pulled the heavy tarpaulin over them.

Once on the main road, they began to pass army trucks heading in the opposite direction towards the forest fire. Once, a fat, fiery-faced Sergeant leaned out of his jeep, and shouted at them. Girland ignored him and kept on. Watching in his driving mirror, he saw the jeep was also keeping on.

A helicopter came low and buzzed them. Jan leaned out of the window and waved. Seeing the steel helmet, the pilot waved back and veered away.

They drove for a further forty kilometers, meeting little military traffic, then rounding a sharp bend, Girland saw a road block ahead. Two half-track armoured cars were across the road. Four soldiers and an N.C.O. were standing in the middle of the road.

‘Here’s trouble,’ Girland said as he slowed the truck. ‘I leave it to you.’

Both thumbed back the safety catches on their weapons as the N.C.O., a young, heavily built man came up to the truck.

Jan spoke rapidly to him. Girland had no idea what he was saying, but whatever he said, it had the acquired effect.

The N.C.O. nodded and stepped back. He waved to the soldier sitting in one of the half-tracks who started his engine and moved the vehicle out of the way.

‘Go ahead,’ Jan said quietly.

Girland engaged gear and moved the truck past the roadblock, then he accelerated and drove the truck fast down the long, straight road.

‘I think we’re through now,’ Jan said. ‘I gave him the same story. This Colonel must be quite a man.’

But he wasn’t to know that the N.C.O. reported the movements of every vehicle that passed through the circle that Smernoff had drawn on the map.

Smernoff was sitting at the two-way radio in the farmhouse, listening in to the reports as they came in. Malik was pacing up and down, his hands clasped behind his back, his face stony and angry.

Voices kept repeating: ‘Nothing to report. Smoke making the operation difficult. The dogs are frightened by the fire.’ There was a long pause, then a voice came in, ‘Division Seven. A truck with two soldiers returning to headquarters, ordered by Colonel Smerzh.’

Smernoff stiffened. He flicked down a switch.

‘Division Seven,’ he said sharply. ‘Repeat your message. Colonel Smerzh is not directing this operation.’

There was a confused pause, then the voice said, ‘Repeat: a truck with one N.C.O. and a soldier returning to headquarters, ordered by Colonel Smerzh.’

Smernoff pulled a large scale map towards him.

‘Give me the location.’

‘Square ten... 16.’

Sensing something important was happening, Malik came to stand behind Smernoff as he studied the map.

Smernoff flicked another switch down that brought him in contact with a patrolling helicopter.

‘There’s a truck heading away from the scene of operation,’ Smernoff said. ‘Have you seen it?’

‘Yes... It’s heading towards the Austrian border,’ the pilot told him. ‘It has been checked and passed.’

Smernoff hesitated.

‘Standby,’ he said and flicked down another switch that gave him contact with various road blocks.

A voice told him, ‘A truck with two soldiers is returning to headquarters by order of Colonel Smerzh. They have passed ten minutes ago.’

Smernoff cursed. He got back to the helicopter.

‘Go after that truck! Square ten, 16 or 17,’ he shouted. ‘Don’t lose it! Keep contact and don’t fly too close.’

Malik said, ‘So they have got beyond your clever barrier, Boris. I will be sorry for you if they get over the frontier.’

‘You mean you will be sorry for yourself,’ Smernoff said, his face flushed. ‘You could never be sorry for anyone except yourself!’