Have This One on Me

Seven

‘I think he’s got us spotted,’ Girland said, raising his voice above the roar of the truck’s engine. He was driving fast down a narrow lane, bordered either side by fir trees. Following Jan’s directions, he had turned off the main road soon after passing the roadblock. Now, a helicopter was circling overhead.

‘We are within twenty kilometres of the frontier,’ Jan said and glanced at his watch. ‘We have at least nine hours ahead of us before we can make the attempt to cross. We’d better leave the truck and use the forest path.’

Girland nodded. He could imagine the pilot overhead sending back a stream of radio reports. The net was getting uncomfortably tight.

‘Tell me when.’ After another five kilometres, with the helicopter still overhead, Jan said, ‘We’re coming to it now. A little bit further... now, stop!’

The lane had become even more narrow, and the trees formed a canopy, hiding the truck from the helicopter. Girland pulled up.

As they all descended to the road, Jan said, ‘This will have to be fast, and it’s going to be rough. They must be after us by now. Follow me.’

He slid down the bank and into the forest. Each of the three men carried an automatic rifle and a rucksack. Blanca had Girland’s automatic and a sack of canned food. Mala struggled with the blankets... it was as much as she could manage. They had left Worthington’s suitcase in the truck.

Girland kept dropping behind to help Mala, urging her on. He could hear Worthington panting as he forced himself to keep up with Jan’s pace.

During the next quarter of an hour they covered a lot of ground, then they came suddenly on a small, fast moving river.

‘We’ll use this... they are certain to have dogs with them,’ Jan said and slid down the bank into the water which came up to his knees. He started downstream, wading forward while the others followed him.

Girland had his arm around Mala and was forcing her along. Worthington began to fall behind. Jan didn’t look back. He kept on, knowing time was running out for them.

Very faintly they could hear the barking of dogs. Worthington, gasping, his face white with exhaustion, made an effort and began to catch up with Girland who was having trouble with Mala. She was clinging to him and she would have fallen if he hadn’t supported her.

After struggling through the water for a nightmare ten minutes, Jan headed for the bank again and grabbing hold of a tree branch, he hauled himself out on to the bank. He leaned down and helped Blanca out, then Girland passed Mala to him and turned to help Worthington.

They stood on the top of the bank, the trees forming a dense umbrella above them while they listened. They could hear the barking of dogs, but still in the distance. They could also hear the drone of the helicopter as it circled overhead, vainly trying to find them.

‘Not much further,’ Jan said, ‘then we can rest. Come on!’

He started down a narrow path, then abruptly turned off and plunged through undergrowth. They struggled after him, and after walking for a kilometre or so. Jan waved them to halt.

‘There’s an airshaft to this mine quite close.’ he said. ‘It wants some finding. Wait here,’ and he moved off into the forest.

Mala dropped to the ground. She felt as if she could never move another step. Worthington too was exhausted and leaned against a tree.

After a five-minute wait, Jan returned.

‘I’ve found it... let’s move.’

Girland helped Mala to her feet and the party moved off, following Jan. They came upon a mass of tangled undergrowth to the side of the path. Jan forced his way through, holding back the dead branches and the brambles so the girls could follow him. They finally came upon a large hole in the ground.

‘This is it. It’s not deep,’ Jan said, ‘and it leads into the mine. I’ll go first.’ He sat on the edge of the hole, his feet dangling into darkness. ‘I’ll be at the bottom to catch you as you come,’ and he slid out of sight.

A few minutes later, they were all standing in an inky black tunnel that dripped water. Girland lit a candle and they looked around. Mala shivered and put her hand on Girland’s arm for comfort.

Lighting another candle, Jan said briskly, ‘Follow me and watch your heads.’

Crouching, he started off down the tunnel.

It seemed to Mala they walked for hours then suddenly they came into a vast cave, and Jan thankfully put down his rifle.

‘Here we are. We should be safe here for a day or so, then we will make the crossing. It would be too risky to try tonight. Do you agree?’

‘I guess so,’ Girland said. ‘But how do we get out of here?’

‘The exit leads right to the frontier,’ Jan said and blew out his candle. ‘Keep yours alight... one is enough.’

Thankfully they sat down on the dry sandy floor of the cave.

‘Suppose we have something to eat?’ Jan said.

Blanca began to unstrap one of her rucksacks. Girland found a can opener and opened the can of sausages Blanca gave him.

While they were beginning to eat, the pilot of the searching helicopter was radioing back to Smernoff.

Malik was pacing around the room. A radio engineer had rigged up a small loudspeaker so both he and Smernoff could follow the hunt.

The pilot reported that the truck had stopped in a forest on Map reference 15. Checking his map, Smernoff alerted the nearest patrol.

While waiting for their report, Smernoff leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. His face was lined with fatigue. He had been without sleep for thirty-six hours and even his iron constitution was beginning to feel the strain Malik came over to the table and stared down at the map. ‘They are within ten kilometres of the frontier,’ he said. ‘Yes.’ Smernoff flicked ash on to the floor. ‘Suk has moved additional troops there. The whole frontier is alert.’ He looked up at Malik. ‘You want them alive. This gives them a chance to get across. Remember, my friend, it is your order to capture them alive. This means the guards, even if they see them, can’t shoot at them. So...’

Malik frowned.

‘They have important information.’

Smernoff shrugged.

‘They could get across. They now have automatic weapons. What do you expect our men to do if they are shot at? I told you... to try to capture Girland alive is impossible. If you think you can take such a risk, then at least, you give me a genuine excuse should I fail to catch them.’

‘They must not get across,’ Malik said.

‘That is different. Then I have your permission to cancel your order to take them alive?’

Malik hesitated. He knew Kovski would engineer his disgrace if he let these people slip through his fingers. He also knew Kovski wanted the information the girl and Worthington had.

‘Yes, cancel it,’ he said finally. ‘They must not get across the frontier.’

‘So now we are quite sure of stopping them,’ Smernoff said. ‘Suk has fifty of the best riflemen at his disposal... each equipped with telescopic sights. They are already in position. They cover the whole length of the frontier where these people have to cross. Have a cigarette.’ He put his pack of Benson & Hedges on the table. Then picking up the microphone, he began to talk. ‘Dead or alive,’ he kept repeating. ‘Previous instructions cancelled. Repeat: dead or alive.’

As Malik lit the cigarette, he said, ‘I’m going out there. I’ll take a radio truck and keep in touch with you. Suk is a fool. I don’t trust him.’

‘Please yourself,’ Smernoff said. ‘They will probably have them before you get there.’

Malik stared at him and then went out into the warm sunshine. He got in the passenger’s seat of the radio truck and told the Sergeant to take him fast to section 15 on his map.

The Sergeant studied the map, nodded and started the engine.

‘How long will it take?’ Malik demanded.

‘Two hours. Comrade... the roads are dangerous and narrow.’

‘I will give you an hour and a half... then, if you are late, you will lose your rank.’

The Sergeant shrugged.

‘I would prefer to lose my rank than my life Comrade.’

Malik smiled. It was not often that he smiled, but he appreciated frankness

‘Very well... drive as fast as is safe.’

Lieutenant Jan Stursa came out of the forest to where Suk was waiting in a jeep parked off the road.

Stursa was a young, ardent Communist with a growing reputation for ruthless efficiency. Slightly built, fair, thin-lipped, he was a man to inspire confidence. He stopped before Suk and saluted smartly.

‘Well?’ Suk snarled.

He was worried. He knew Malik could have him dismissed. The search had been going on too long now. He couldn’t bear to think what failure might mean to him.

‘They are somewhere in the forest. Comrade Suk,’ Stursa said. ‘They can’t escape. A battalion of men and dogs have encircled the forest. Now, we are preparing to close in. Within an hour we must have them.’

‘Why are you so sure they are here?’ Suk demanded.

‘They left the truck thirty-five minutes ago. The dogs have picked up their scent but lost it at the river. So we know they entered the forest. My men were already in position beyond the river so they couldn’t have gone that way. They haven’t come back here. So they must still be there, hiding somewhere.’

‘Well, get on with it!’ Suk snapped. ‘Find them!’

Stursa saluted, then turning, he started back into the forest. He waved to a waiting N.C.O. who began blowing a whistle. Other distant N.C.O.s hearing the whistle also began to blow their whistles. Then almost shoulder to shoulder, the circle of troops began to move forward.

As Suk watched the beginning of the operation, the N.C.O. in charge of the radio passed the microphone to him. Smernoff told him that Malik was on his way to the scene. Sweating and uneasy, Suk cursed to himself.

‘He is wasting his time,’ he said into the microphone. ‘In less than an hour we will have them... they are surrounded.’

‘I told him that,’ Smernoff said. ‘He doesn’t believe it. It would be a good thing for you. Comrade Suk, if you did have them by the time he arrives.’

The warning wasn’t lost on Suk He left the radio truck and walked into the forest. Standing on a slight hill, he watched the troops, urged on by Stursa and his N.C.O.’s disappear into the interior.

The forest now became alive with the sound of men moving forward warily. Stursa soon realised that the operation was going to take much longer than an hour. The constant messages coming through the walkie-talkie, alerting him of the progress of his men on the far side of the forest, told him how slow the progress was going to be. There was so much undergrowth, so much cover and every metre of the ground had to be checked. Knowing the fugitives were armed, the young soldiers became more and more nervous as the search proceeded.

The N.C.O.’s following behind, cursed them on, confident that they were safe from the first blast of fire should the fugitives appear suddenly from the undergrowth.

Seventy minutes of tenseness dragged by, then Stursa’s men reached the river. They paused while Stursa looked across the river at the opposite bank. In a few minutes, he told himself, he should be seeing his troops advancing from the far side of the forest He could hear them as they came, trampling through the undergrowth. There was no point in crossing the river. Any moment now there must be a cry and a shot to tell him the fugitives had been flushed from their hiding place.

Unable to contain his impatience and uneasiness, Suk had gone into the forest and now joined Stursa.

‘What are you waiting for?’ he demanded furiously. ‘Are you afraid of getting your feet wet?’

‘The ring is closed,’ Stursa said. His expression was tense and there were sweat beads on his upper lip.

‘Closed?’ Suk’s voice shot up. ‘Then where are your prisoners?’

Even as he spoke, he could see the line of advancing troops coming through the trees on the far side of the river.

‘Where are they?’ he screamed, livid with rage. Then seeing on Stursa’s face the admission of defeat, he began to shake his fists at the young Lieutenant. ‘You imbecile! I’ll have you before the Tribunal!’

Stursa remained stiffly at attention. This was a bitter moment for him. He had been so sure of success.

As Suk continued to scream curses at him, a cold, flat voice said, ‘You sound agitated. Comrade Suk.’

Words died on Suk’s lips. Blood drained out of his face. He turned to find Malik standing a few yards from him, his green eyes like glass, his face like stone.

‘Comrade Malik.’ Suk recovered himself and tried to bluster. ‘This fool assured me they were in the forest. We have employed nearly five hundred men. Nothing... they are not here!’

Malik motioned him to silence. He walked over to Stursa.

‘Why did you think they were here, Lieutenant?’ he asked quietly.

Steadying his voice, Stursa explained.

‘The dogs picked up their scent from the truck. They lost it about here,’ he said. ‘This must prove they entered the forest. They took to the water and the dogs could not follow them. Every metre of the forest has been searched. Somehow — I can’t explain it — they have managed to evade the ring I threw around them.’

Malik studied Stursa for a long, searching moment, then he nodded He liked the look of this young man.

‘Could they have found a boat?’

‘I have blocked the river at both ends,’ Stursa told him.

‘They could not pass my men by boat. The river is completely sealed.’

‘So?’ Malik lit a cigarette. ‘You are sure they came into the forest?’

‘Yes, Comrade Malik.’

‘Yet they have vanished. They are not ghosts. If they are not hiding in the trees, if they are not hiding in the river, if they are not hiding in the forest, then they must be underground. Is there anywhere in this forest they could go underground... a pothole... a cave?’

Stursa shifted uneasily.

‘I don’t know Comrade Malik.’

A young N.C.O., listening to all this, came forward and stiffened to attention.

‘Permission to speak Comrade Lieutenant,’ he said.

‘What is it Sergeant?’ Malik asked.

‘There is an air shaft not far from here, leading to a disused copper mine. I used to play in the mine when I was a boy,’ the Sergeant said, staring above Malik’s head, his face dripping with the sweat of embarrassment.

‘Can you take us to this air shaft?’ Malik asked.

‘I think so Comrade. It is some years since I was there but I think I can find it.’

Malik turned to Suk.

‘Tell Smernoff what is happening. You need not come with us.’ Turning his back on Suk, he signalled to Stursa to follow him. ‘Lead the way Sergeant.’

The sergeant started off along the river bank with Malik and Stursa following him.

Suk watched them go, knowing his small reign of power was now over.

Girland sat with his back against the slope of the cave with Jan by his side. The two girls and Worthington were sleeping. In the light of the candle, Jan was drawing a map of the mine in the hard sand.

‘This is a bad place to get lost in,’ he said. ‘This tunnel to your right leads down to the mine and it is full of water. This tunnel to your left eventually leads to an exit that comes out into the middle of the minefield, guarding the frontier. At least, by using this route, we by-pass the seedbed and the first alarm fence. The mines are buried about ten centimetres deep. They have vibration fuses. It takes a lot of vibration to set them off. My friend started the crossing at eight o’clock. It was dark. It took him four hours, moving centimetre by centimetre on his stomach. He must have passed over several mines, but by moving so slowly and gently, he survived.’ Jan looked up and rubbed his stubbly jaw. ‘We are five. This makes the operation five times more difficult and five times more dangerous. Two of us must go the first night, two the second and then the final one. I go with my wife. I leave it to you if you are the last or Worthington is. I should have thought Worthington should be the last. You could control the girl if she panics. Worthington couldn’t.’

Girland nodded.

‘There is a fence... a double electrified fence, but there is also an underground stream flowing under the fences so the ground is soft. It is possible, by lying completely flat on this sodden ground to get under the bottom wire. The ground sinks under your weight. If you touch the bottom wire, you will, of course, be electrocuted.’

Girland grimaced.

‘It sounds marvellous, and how about the watch towers?’

‘The nearest one to where we cross is a hundred metres. That is to your right. To your left there is another tower three hundred metres away. The revolving searchlights from the two towers don’t quite meet, and it is through this narrow lane of shadow that we will have to move.’ Jan shrugged and lit a cigarette from the candle flame. ‘I told you we could get through only if we have lots of luck... we’ll need lots of luck.’

‘Yes.’ Girland studied the map of the mine and then began to rub it out, smoothing the sand with the flat of his hand.

‘Even when we are across the frontier, the guards in the towers, if they spot us, will fire at us as long as we are within range. There is no question of standing up and running for it. You will have to crawl for at least six hundred metres to where there is enough cover to stand up and run.’

‘Heck!’ Girland exclaimed. ‘It sounds quite an operation.’

‘It can be done. I’ve seen it done.’

‘If one of us makes a mistake, then we’re all finished. The crossing will be spotted.’ Girland looked thoughtfully at Jan. ‘I must go first Jan. I have a Top Secret document that must get back to Paris. I’m sorry, but this document is so explosive, I must get it back.’

‘No document, however explosive, is more important than my wife’s life,’ Jan said, his fleshy face hardening. ‘No... we have brought you here... we go first.’

‘If you touch off a mine, then I don’t get this document out,’ Girland said. ‘I assure you it is more important than your wife. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.’

‘My wife and I go first,’ Jan said. ‘I’m sorry too. I know where to cross... you don’t. If we don’t go first, none of us goes!’

‘Suppose we toss for it?’ Girland suggested, always willing to back his luck.

‘I don’t toss for my wife’s life,’ Jan said coldly. ‘We go first or none of us goes!’

Girland studied the hard, fleshy face. There was no compromise in Jan’s expression. Girland didn’t blame him. He would have done the same if he had been married to a woman like Blanca.

‘Okay, you win... so you go first.’

‘Yes,’ Jan said. ‘Now I’ll get some sleep. We go tomorrow night. Then you and the girl the following night... then Worthington.’

Worthington awake, had been listening to the whispered conversation. He started up, threatening the two men with his gun. ‘No! I heard what you were saying. I’m not crossing on my own! Do you hear? I won’t do it!’

Girland looked at him with resigned boredom.

‘What a pest you are,’ he said. ‘Put that gun down and for God’s sake, go to sleep!’

‘No! You will go first. I will go with you,’ Worthington said. ‘I must get out. Mala can come after us. These small time farmers...’

‘Shut up... listen!’ Girland said sharply. The snap in his voice stilled Worthington.

They remained motionless. Very faintly, coming down the long tunnel, they could hear voices.

Snatching up an automatic rifle, Girland left the cave and began moving fast and silently up the tunnel to the air shaft. As he approached the shaft, he heard voices distinctly.

It was at this moment that Malik, Stursa and the Sergeant had reached the hole, leading down into the mine.

‘This is it. Comrade,’ the Sergeant said.

‘Where does it lead to?’ Malik asked.

‘There is a long tunnel, then a cave.’ the Sergeant told him. ‘From the cave there are two other tunnels. I don’t know where they lead to.’

‘Are there other exits?’ Malik asked, his voice coming clearly to Girland as he squatted in the tunnel. Malik was speaking German.

‘I don’t know. When I was a small boy...’

‘Never mind about your boyhood,’ Stursa snapped. ‘I will go down and find out.’

‘Wait,’ Malik said. ‘If they are down there, you should not go. One of them is highly dangerous. No... we don’t go down. We will drop a tear gas bomb down there and then your men, with gas masks, can go down and see what there is to see.’

‘We have no tear gas bombs,’ Stursa said impatiently. ‘I am going down.’ He had three hand grenades hanging from his belt. He unhooked one. ‘This is my operation. Comrade Malik. I give orders here.’

Listening to this, Girland turned and sped back down the tunnel. He reached the cave.

‘Quick. They are coming down,’ he said. Already the two girls were awake and getting to their feet. ‘Get up the tunnel to the frontier!’

Turning, he ran back up the tunnel while Jan, grabbing up two of the rucksacks, herded the girls towards the left hand tunnel.

Left on his own, Worthington hesitated. Ever since he had left his home, he had felt he had no future. Now, suddenly, he had a compulsive urge finally to prove to himself that he wasn’t the weakling he knew they all thought he was. He followed Girland back up the tunnel.

Hearing him Girland paused and waved him back.

‘I can handle this. Follow the others!’

‘No! I can help you!’ Worthington said desperately. He could just make out Girland’s silhouette from the light coming down the air shaft.

‘Get the hell out of here!’ Girland snapped and then started off to the tunnel again.

Worthington hesitated. He was terrified, but now he was like a man biting down on an aching tooth. He had to prove to himself that he was as good a man as Girland. If he didn’t he knew he had no hope with Mala, and she was his only desire for survival. He gave Girland a moment or so to reach the air shaft, then he slowly walked up the tunnel, sweat dripping down his face, his hand gripping his gun so tightly a cramp set up in his arm.

Stursa came into the tunnel with a rush, skidded, landed on his back then scrambled to his feet.

Girland was in the dark shadows, leaning against the wall of the tunnel. Stursa didn’t see him but he did see the crouching outline of Worthington as he came slowly and cautiously towards him. Worthington saw him, jerked up his gun and fired. The bang of the gun was like a clap of thunder in the confined space. As Stursa fell, he managed to throw the grenade. It hit Worthington on the chest, then dropped to the floor of the tunnel. Worthington fell flat on it, not knowing what it was, only desperate to get undercover. The grenade exploded. Girland felt wet stickiness hit his face. Some of the roof of the tunnel came down, showering him with sand and stones.

The noise of the exploding grenade deafened and shocked him. For some moments he remained limply against the wall of the tunnel, then making the effort, he went over to Stursa who was bleeding and unconscious. His groping hands found the two other hand grenades and he quickly unhooked them from Stursa’s belt. Then he ran down the tunnel to where Worthington was lying. He flicked his cigarette lighter alight, peered at Worthington, grimaced and then ran back to the cave. Worthington was a jelly of blood and smashed bone, held together only by his clothes.

As Girland entered the cave Jan came down the tunnel, gun in hand.

‘Worthington’s dead.’ Girland said. ‘Get back up the tunnel!’

‘You all right?’

‘Yes. Get going!’

Jan went back and Girland heard more rock falling in the tunnel leading to the air shaft. He pulled the pin from one of the grenades, then tossed the grenade in an underhand, looping throw down the tunnel.

The explosion brought down another fall of stones. He pulled the pin from the second grenade and threw it down the tunnel.

The thunder of the explosion and the crash of falling stones told him that the tunnel was now sealed, but to be certain, he lit a candle and walked up the tunnel. The smoke, dust and falling stones made an impassable barrier. Gasping for breath, he started back, crossed the cave and ran up the tunnel where Jan was waiting.

‘What’s happening?’ Jan demanded, holding aloft a lighted candle while he stared at Girland who was smothered with dust and spotted with Worthington’s blood.

‘I’ve blocked the tunnel. It could take them some time to get through...’ He stopped short as there came a tremendous crash of falling rock and dust swirled up the tunnel, making them cough. Girland heard Mala scream as the dust swirled past her.

‘Sounds as if the cave’s gone,’ he said. ‘They might think we’re buried.’ Pushing past Jan, he went on up the tunnel to where the two girls were crouching in the darkness.

Malik drew back from the hole as the first grenade exploded. He saw dust and smoke rush out of the air shaft and the noise of the exploding grenade set his teeth on edge.

‘The fool!’ he said viciously. ‘What does he think he is doing?’

The Sergeant stood by helplessly. Malik waited, listening. Then the other two grenades exploded and he could hear the crashing of falling rocks.

He whirled around to the Sergeant.

‘Get men! Quickly!’

The Sergeant dashed away while Malik watched the dust rising out of the hole. He listened to the rumbling sound as rocks continued to fall, and he grimaced. By using his grenades. Malik reasoned, the fool had collapsed the tunnel.

But did this mean the fugitives were buried? Were there other exits from the mine. There must be... but who knew about them? Malik realised he was wasting time standing by the air shaft. He must alert Smernoff.

He started after the Sergeant, running with long strides, brushing through the undergrowth. Half-way back to the radio truck, he met the Sergeant with five, scared looking soldiers.

‘Guard the air shaft,’ Malik said, stopping. ‘Don’t go down. Stay there,’ and then he continued on his way back to the radio truck.

It took him more than t went y minutes before he was talking to Smernoff over the radio telephone. Briefly, he explained the situation.

‘Find someone who knows about the mine,’ Malik said. ‘There must be a map of it somewhere. There are certain to be other exits. Send men with gas masks. I want them down the air shaft to see what has happened. Send an ambulance!’

‘Yes, but all this will take time,’ Smernoff said calmly.

‘Hurry!’ Malik snarled and cut the connection.

It seemed to Mala they had been walking hundreds of kilometres as she staggered along the tunnel. Jan, holding a flickering candle, went first, Blanca behind him, then Mala with Girland just behind her.

Mala couldn’t believe that Worthington was dead. She was in a state of shock. If it hadn’t been for Girland’s hand on her arm, giving her assurance, she would have flopped down and wept her heart out.

Jan knew he was driving the two girls too hard, and after ten minutes of fast walking, he stopped.

‘Let’s rest for a moment,’ he said. ‘We have about four more kilometres to go.’

Gratefully, the two girls dropped to the ground.

Girland and Jan squatted on their heels. The air in the tunnel was bad, and they all had difficulty in breathing.

‘We must now cross the frontier tonight,’ Jan said. Peering at his watch in the dim light, he went on, ‘We should get to the exit in another two hours. It will be dark enough. Blanca and I go first. The frontier guards will be alert, but we can’t afford to wait. It won’t take them long to break through into the cave and then they will come after us.’

‘Are there any other exits?’ Girland asked.

‘This is the only possible exit,’ Jan told him. ‘The other one from the right hand tunnel leads under the frontier and the exit comes out in Austria, but there is water in the tunnel. You can’t get through. We have tried. It means swimming through the tunnel that is four kilometres long. The water is oily and stagnant. You can’t breathe. It is impossible.’

‘You mean the right hand tunnel leads directly into Austria?’ Girland asked, his voice sharpening.

‘Yes, but that means nothing. No one can swim in that water and stay alive. There are escaping gases. The water is frightful... oil, filth and then there are water rats. It is wasting time even to think of escaping that way.’

‘You are sure about this?’

‘Of course I’m sure,’ Jan said curtly. ‘Do you think we haven’t tried? This is a direct access to the Austrian frontier. Last year, I lost a good friend who took the risk rather than face the minefield. His body floated back.’ He grimaced. ‘Covered in oil, bloated and half eaten by rats. That way is impossible.’ He stood up. ‘We had better get moving again.’

They started off, moving more slowly, aware that the ground was rising. Every half hour, they stopped to rest for ten minutes, then they continued on again. By now Girland had his arm around Mala, supporting her. She was crying, dragging one foot after the other, scarcely conscious.

Malik had returned to the air shaft. He found the Sergeant and the five soldiers sitting on a fallen tree, anxiously staring at the hole that led to the mine, their rifles at the alert.

The dust and smoke no longer drifted from the hole and Malik went to the hole and knelt down, flashing the powerful beam of a flashlight he had brought with him from the radio truck into the mouth of the tunnel.

The air in the tunnel seemed to have cleared, but he saw no reason why he should risk his life which he valued. He stood up and beckoned to the young Sergeant.

‘Here, take this flashlight and go down,’ he said.

The Sergeant took the flashlight and without hesitation lowered himself down the air shaft, hung for a moment, then slid down into the tunnel.

Malik waited impatiently. Several minutes crawled by, then the Sergeant appeared at the bottom of the air shaft. He seemed shocked, his eyes very wide, his face white.

‘The Lieutenant is dead,’ he announced.

Malik knelt at the top of the hole.

‘Never mind about the Lieutenant,’ he snapped. ‘What’s happened to the tunnel?’

‘It is completely blocked.’

‘What is the air like down there?’

‘It is all right.’

Malik hesitated, then swinging his feet down into the hole, he joined the Sergeant.

‘There is another man down here Comrade Malik,’ the Sergeant said. ‘The grenade has killed him.’

Malik walked over to Worthington’s body, swung the beam of his flashlight on Worthington’s dead face. Then he walked a few steps to examine the blocked tunnel. Piles of rock and sand had formed a solid wall. Even as he was examining this obstruction, he could hear rocks thudding down somewhere behind the wall. He cursed under his breath. Had the fugitives been buried? he wondered. He could not afford to take chances. He must find out if there were any other exits from the mine.

Three soldiers, lying flat, hauled him up from the air shaft and then they brought up the Sergeant.

‘Stay here,’ Malik said. ‘There is an ambulance coming,’ and he strode off in the gathering dusk to the radio truck.

Back at the farmhouse, Smernoff was snarling over the telephone to an official of the Ministry of Mines whom he had traced to his two-room apartment. The official told him it was possible that there was a map of the disused mine, but this could not be found until the following morning. The Ministry was closed.

‘I want it immediately!’ Smernoff barked. ‘Do you understand? Immediately!’

‘It is impossible. Comrade,’ the official stammered.

‘Nothing is impossible! I am now returning to Prague. If the map is not waiting for me at the Ministry by the time I arrive, you will suffer!’ Smernoff yelled. ‘This is an affair of State! I want this map and I intend to have it!’ He slammed down the receiver.

In the tunnel, Jan was consulting his watch.

‘It is after nine,’ he said. ‘It will be dark enough. We have only a few metres before we come to the exit.’

They were grouped together at the end of the tunnel. The opening was overgrown by shrubs and trees. The cool night air came to them, fanning their heated faces.

‘It’ll take us at least four hours to cross the minefield. You could still have time to follow us,’ Jan said. ‘I’ve told you what to expect. You must go slow... and I mean slow. If you move a metre in five minutes, you should be safe. Do you understand?’

‘Yes,’ Girland said.

‘You will watch us cross. You will see our direction. Follow that and it will bring you to the soft ground, so you can get under the wire. Be very careful going under the wire. If you touch it, you will die. You understand?’

‘Yes.’ Girland repeated.

‘All right, then we will go.’ Jan smiled at him and offered his hand. ‘Good luck.’

Girland gripped his hand.

‘And good luck to you.’

The two girls kissed. Mala was shaking with nerves. Blanca touched her hair softly.

‘Don’t be frightened. He’ll look after you. He is like my man,’ she said quietly.

Jan put his hand on Blanca’s shoulder and she left Mala and followed him to the mouth of the tunnel.

Mala shuddered and turned to Girland. He put his arm around her, holding her close to him.

‘This is going to be a terrific story to tell your grandchildren,’ he said. ‘You will bore them to tears.’

‘I don’t want grandchildren! I’m frightened,’ Mala wailed.

‘You can’t be frightened with me around,’ Girland said, and pulling her against him, his lips found hers.

Mala strained wildly against him her hands sliding down his broad back, then Girland pulled away, took her hand and led her to the entrance of the tunnel.

Jan and Blanca had got through the undergrowth, covering the exit of the tunnel. They were squatting on their heels, examining the innocent looking strip of thick grass that separated the distance to the high electrified fence.

Girland and Mala joined them.

Every two minutes two blades of light from the watchtower searchlights swept the ground. The two lights did not quite meet, leaving a narrow lane of ground unlit.

Jan said quietly, ‘That’s the way we’ll go.’ He had shed his rucksack and his rifle. He spoke to his wife in rapid Czech. They looked at each other and smiled. Then they kissed. ‘So long,’ Jan said, turning to Girland. ‘We meet again in Austria.’

The two men gripped hands, then sliding flat, Jan began to move out into the open. Blanca, white-faced, tense, managed a smile at Mala, then she began to crawl into the open behind her husband.

Girland found he was sweating. Mala put her hand in his. He could feel she was trembling. He pulled her against him, his arm going around her.

Centimetre by centimetre. Jan and Blanca moved on. Every time the blades of the searchlights revolved near them, they remained motionless, then as the lights moved away, they continued the snail-like crawl.

The tension was unbearable. Even Girland’s iron nerves were strained. Mala couldn’t bring herself to watch anymore. She clung to Girland, her face buried against his shoulder.

Girland thought: I wonder if I’ll get her across? Suppose she panics. She could do. I’ll have to take her by my side. She won’t follow me. I can’t trust her to go first. I have a problem here.

He could still see the other two as they crept with infinite care across the deadly grass. They had only covered ten metres, probably less. Girland longed for a cigarette, but he realised it would be too dangerous to strike a light.

Minutes crawled by.

‘They’re going fine.’ Girland said, holding Mala against him. ‘Relax... they still have a long way to go...’

Then something happened. Girland was never to know exactly what did happen. It was possible that Jan, dragging himself forward on his elbows, came into direct contact with a hidden mine.

There was a blinding flash and a bang. Jan’s body was Hung up in the air and fell with a sickening thump some metres away and another mine exploded.

Mala screamed

Girland held on to her, his mouth dry his heart hammering.

Blanca jumped to her feet and was running frantically towards Jan when machine guns opened up from the two watchtowers.

Girland saw her caught in a stream of bullets. She reared back and more bullets slammed into her, then she fell and another mine exploded.

The whole section of the frontier erupted into a blazing, nerve-shattering roar as machine-gun bullets churned up the ground, kicking up a curtain of dust and flying grass.

A siren began to wail, and the night became hideous with the noise of violence.