The Odin Mission

Chapter 20

Reichsamtsleiter Scheidt was shaken awake, and rolled over to find Sturmbannfuhrer Kurz leaning over him.

'What the devil is it?' he croaked.

'A message - good news!'

Scheidt sat up now, the remnants of sleep gone. He snatched the typex from Kurz and read: 'In mountains above Vagamo. Crossing planned over lake west of town when dark 30 April. More details later.'

Scheidt's face broke into a grin. 'Excellent,' he said. He looked at his watch. It was only half past four, but he knew there could be no more thought of sleep. 'Well done, Kurz,' he said. 'We've got him this time.'

Soon after, having shaved and dressed, he hurried downstairs to the conference room of Generalmajor Engelbrecht's spacious headquarters in Vinstra. Three men were standing by the map pinned to the wall - Major von Poncets, Sturmbannfuhrer Kurz and Hauptmann Zellner.

'Ah, good morning, Herr Reichsamtsleiter,' said von Poncets. 'Good to see you again.'

Scheidt nodded, then looked at Zellner. A white bandage had been strapped across his nose, his cheek had blackened, while his eye, purple last time Scheidt had seen him, had turned yellow. 'Hauptmann Zellner,' he said, 'what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in hospital?'

'I'm well enough, thank you, Herr Reichsamtsleiter,' he replied.

Scheidt stared at him with contempt. 'You have come off worst against those men no less than three times, which should have put paid to your chances of taking any further part in the operation. However, far be it from me to make such decisions.'

'We suspect the men will be wearing German uniforms,' said von Poncets. 'The Hauptmann will be of help in identifying them.'

'I suppose there's something in that. And what forces has the general given us for this?'

'There's a company of the 324th Infantry Regiment,' said von Poncets, 'and two companies from my own battalion of Gebirgsjager.' He pointed to the map. 'The 324th boys are already based at Vagamo. They moved in two days ago after the fall of Otta. They were hoping to catch any British troops retreating that way, but as it happened the Tommies hadn't used that route.'

'As you know,' put in Kurz, 'the general agreed to leave them there in case there was any sign of Odin.'

Scheidt nodded. 'Will that be enough?'

'More than enough.' Von Poncets smiled.

'I only ask because I recall that we had the same conversation some days ago, Herr Major, and it seems both

you and the Hauptmann underestimated the enemy.'

Von Poncets took out a cigarette, and tapped the end against his silver case. 'We're talking about the best part of five hundred men being available for this operation, which is far more than we either need or will use. Numbers are not the issue here. Execution is what counts.'

'Which, so far, has left much to be desired.'

Von Poncets paused to light his cigarette. 'We have been unfortunate, but this time we have firm intelligence. It is no longer a guessing game.' He drew on his cigarette, then said, 'Herr Reichsamtsleiter, with the greatest respect, let's not dwell on what has already happened. Let's concentrate on making sure we get Odin this time.'

'Quite so, Herr Oberstleutnant,' said Kurz. 'My team are, of course, on standby waiting for any further signal. They'll send through anything they receive the moment it arrives.'

'Yes, Kurz, we know that,' said Scheidt. He felt annoyed that the operation appeared to have been left to von Poncets and Zellner, of all people, men who had lost his respect. He wished General Engelbrecht would join them. It was as though no one but he truly understood the importance of capturing Odin. Turning back to the major, he said, 'So, what are your thoughts?'

Sunlight was already pouring through the window, highlighting the thousands of dust particles suspended in the air. Von Poncets exhaled again, sending a cloud of tobacco smoke swirling in front of the map.

'We have to assume,' he said, pointing airily to the mountains south of Vagamo, 'that they will be able to observe the town at the very least.'

'Is there a case, then,' said Scheidt, 'for attacking up through the mountain rather than waiting until tonight?'

'No,' said von Poncets, his tone emphatic. 'None at all. We don't know precisely where they are, and attacking uphill makes little tactical sense. Fighting in dense forest offers many hazards and leads to confusion. Experience, I think, has shown us that it would be difficult to capture Odin alive in such circumstances. No, we must wait for them to come to us.'

'So the difficulty,' said Scheidt, 'is laying the trap without the enemy spotting it first.'

'Exactly,' said von Poncets, 'which is why a large number of troops is not necessarily the key.'

'So have you had thoughts about this?' asked Scheidt.

'Yes. Of course, I need to confer with the general and also with Hauptmann Frick in Vagamo, but I suggest we use this route - here.' He pointed to a road that ran west of Sjoa, linked with another that ran roughly north-south until it joined the valley road several miles west of Vagamo. 'They can approach by truck and debouch in the valley out of sight of the town or of anyone in the mountains, for that matter. We won't have reconnaissance pictures for a few hours yet, I'm afraid, but a request has been made. Assuming there's good cover, I see no reason why this movement should be seen at all.'

'And what about the troops in Vagamo?'

'It's important the enemy believe it's still strongly held, so I propose we leave most of the company there.'

'Isn't that rather a waste of these men?'

'I don't think so, but don't worry, Herr Reichsamtsleiter, we shall show the plans to the general. And in any case, we may receive another signal.'

They did, just after ten o'clock that morning. 'Still above Vagamo. Crossing tonight at midnight 6 kms west of town after fork in road'.' Scheldt's spirits rose, and he was invigorated by the activity at Engelbrecht's headquarters. Outside, soldiers arrived in trucks, awaiting the order to pull out. Just before midday, a Luftwaffe despatch rider hurried into the building and deposited the morning's reconnaissance photographs. Poring over them in the briefing room with von Poncets and Engelbrecht's divisional staff, Scheidt had shared the mounting excitement when the pictures showed, as von Poncets had suggested they would, that the proposed approach for the ambush was indeed densely forested.

A brief conference followed, attended by company and platoon commanders of both von Poncets' battalion but also from the 324th Infantry who had been called back to Vinstra for the briefing. The mood in the room was buoyant, a haze of cigarette smoke rising to the rafters, the officers laughing and joking. And why wouldn't they be? thought Scheidt. Flush with victory, ahead lay another operation that would end successfully. Through the windows, the sun continued to shine. The greatcoats and jackets had gone; summer was on its way. This time, thought Scheidt. It had to be.

When the general arrived, the assembled officers stood up, scraping chairs across the wooden floor. He strode in, movements crisp, back erect, then casually waved at them to sit down, as though this was not a time to stand on ceremony. Then he, too, was seated, his head smooth and gleaming, the red and gold tabs of his general's collar and thick red stripe down either side of his breeches standing out vividly in the room of field grey. Scheidt was struck by his effortless air of authority.

Von Poncets stood to explain his plan, first pointing out key features each officer should memorize. They would be leaving directly after the briefing and would disembark from their trucks three kilometres south of the junction. They would then make their way to lying- up positions. Scouts would be sent forward to reconnoitre their ambush positions, and to mark where they would place spotlights. The men would move into these positions at 2300 hours.

Hauptmann Dostler of the 324th Infantry stood up. One platoon was to drive along the opposite bank of the lake. A potential problem was that the area to the west of Vagamo was well cultivated and the road could easily be seen from the mountains opposite. They were thus to drive beyond the crossing-point, after which the road was hidden by forest. They would then leave the trucks and head back through the trees, close to the crossing-point where they would set up another spotlight. The remaining three platoons would remain in Vagamo to give the impression that the town was still heavily occupied.

At this point, Scheidt raised his hand. 'Surely, Herr Hauptmann,' he said, 'the town will be heavily occupied if there are three whole platoons there?'

'Not particularly,' said Dostler. 'We've been fighting up through the Gudbrandsdalen and all our units are now under strength. There will be about sixty men.'

The general cut in. 'Which is more than enough, Herr Reichsamtsleiter. Don't forget there will be vehicles, artillery pieces and other equipment in the town as well. Let's get on with the briefing.'

Chastened, Scheidt said no more, and after Kurz and Zellner had briefed the room about Odin and the accompanying fugitives, Engelbrecht stood up and addressed them. 'I can't stress enough, gentlemen,' he said, 'how important it is to capture Odin alive. The fear, of course, is that they will shoot him before you can get to him, which is why it is essential that none of you makes a move until they are almost in the boats. They will have travelled through the darkness and their eyes will be used to it. That, gentlemen, is where the lights come in. Caught in the beams, these fugitives will be momentarily blinded. That is the time to strike. The men must be killed and Odin left standing. Major von Poncets will brief you further, but remember: do not give away your positions until after the signal.' He eyed the officers in turn. 'Understand? Good.' He clapped his hands together. 'Right, gentlemen, off you go. And good luck.'

More scraping of chairs, and the men were on their way out. Scheidt followed them, watching them get into the trucks and other vehicles waiting in the streets outside. The sun still bore down between large white summery clouds; the snow had now gone from the valley. Scheidt put his hand on the balustrade outside the house and found it warm. A bark of orders, and engines rumbled into life.

Kurz paused beside him and offered a hand, which Scheidt took.

'Exciting, isn't it?' He grinned. 'If only we'd had this kind of intelligence and preparation five days ago.'

Scheidt smiled thinly.

'See you later,' added Kurz. 'With Odin, of course.' He waved, then trotted down the steps and along the road to von Poncets' waiting Kiibelwagen.

Scheidt took out a cigarette. Exciting? He supposed so, although he did not share Kurz's obvious relish; he would save that until Odin was sitting before him. He struck a match, brought the cigarette to his lips and realized his hands were shaking. 'It's out of my control now,' he muttered, then sighed. Ahead lay long hours of waiting.

Sergeant Tanner was no less apprehensive as he watched the hours tick by. He had left Sykes alone on a ridge overlooking the road from the south with instructions to return only if he spotted any German troops, and had then waited on the lower slopes observing the town before he returned to the seter around seven that morning.

Chevannes had accepted his story without question. Even when he explained that he had left Sykes on guard above the bridge, the lieutenant had merely nodded. 'Did you have a chance to see whether there were enough oars this time?' he had asked.

'Yes, sir - there are.'

'Good.' Chevannes had ordered him to organize lookouts on the knoll and dismissed him.

Tanner had spent most of the morning there himself, and was still there, keeping watch with Lieutenant Larsen, when at around three a staff car arrived from the direction of Otta. He followed it as it drove to the centre of the town and stopped opposite the church. Four men got out. There was no further movement of vehicles until after four when two trucks headed west along the far shore of the lake. A couple of miles later, they disappeared. Tanner was puzzled, yet relieved to see troop movement at last from the town. He counted the remaining vehicles: five troop-carrying trucks, five medium guns, two further lorries and two staff cars.

Shortly after, Hepworth arrived with Anna in tow. Tanner was glad to see her. It was now nearly half past four and he wished Sykes would reappear. The distraction would be good.

'Have you come to relieve me, Hepworth?' asked Larsen.

'Yes, sir,' said Hepworth.

'Cleaned your rifle, Hep?' asked Tanner, then grinned at Anna.

'Yes, Sarge.'

'Checked your kit?'

'Yes, Sarge.'

'Here,' said Larsen, handing Hepworth his binoculars. 'Look after them.' He got up, patted his sides, then picked up his rucksack and said, 'Let's hope the town stays as quiet as this, Sergeant.'

'Here's hoping, sir,' Tanner replied, then turned back to Hepworth. 'Get the far side of the knoll, Hep,' he said. 'Make sure you've cover behind you, that you're clear of direct sunlight, then try to work out where those troops are.'

With Hepworth gone he and Anna were alone. 'Everything all right at the seter?’ he asked.

'The resting has done the professor good.'

'Is he up and about?'

'He's shaved off his beard in the stream.'

'He's not going to need the stretcher then?'

'No. And he's been eating too.'

Tanner continued to peer through his binoculars. Anna sat behind him on a loose rock. A cool breeze drifted over the knoll but it was warm, even there. A few small patches of snow remained, but otherwise tufty grey grass now sprouted between the pines and birches.

'And Chevannes?' said Tanner at length.

'He's been quiet. Barks orders occasionally, but that's all.'

'As long as he doesn't get in my way, I'm not bothered,' said Tanner. 'He's done enough damage.'

'It's since the professor spoke up on your behalf. That undermined his authority. He doesn't want to say anything now that might lead to another clash.'

'Hm,' said Tanner. 'I'll still need to watch him tonight.'

They were silent for a while, then Anna said, 'Jack, do you think it'll be all right? The crossing? We were lucky last time. I wonder whether we will be again.'

'We'll be fine.'

'Good God,' she said, exasperation in her voice. 'Don't you ever get frightened? How can you be so calm all the time?'

'It's just a front,' he said. 'But we will be fine, I promise.' It was a promise he knew he was in no position to make. Where the hell was Sykes? Over the years, he had learnt to trust his intuition but with Sykes missing he was beginning to wonder if it had let him down. He looked back at the town. Nothing stirred. How many troops were down there? It was hard to say. Fifty? Eighty? More? So long as the enemy weren't expecting them there, and so long as no more troops arrived in the meantime, all would be well. But there was no Plan B. It was the town or nothing. He trained his binoculars on the trucks parked next to the church, and in them he saw their chance for freedom. Whatever happened, they had to take one. It was as simple as that.

'Trust me,' he said. 'It'll be fine.'

By six o'clock, Tanner was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain his outward sangfroid, although he knew that to betray his mounting anxiety would be a grave mistake. Having returned to the seter, he now busied himself cleaning his rifle and the Spandau once more, and hoping the others did not notice his near-constant checking of his watch.

At around twenty past six, his corporal finally appeared.

'Well?' said Tanner, hurrying to him.

Sykes grinned. 'They're there. A company, maybe two, of mountain troops.'

'Ha!' said Tanner, laughing. 'We were bloody right, Stan!'

'You were right, Sarge.' 'Good work, Stan. Bloody good work. And you weren't seen?'

'No. Zellner's with them, though. And they've got searchlights - small ones, but lights all the same. Brought accumulator packs and everything.'

Tanner grinned. 'Perfect. And you were right all along,' he whispered. 'There is a spy.'

'I've got the nose for it, Sarge. I tell you what, you watch my back and I'll watch yours. Cos together, I reckon, we make a good team, you and me.'

Tanner slapped the side of the corporal's arm. 'You've done well. I owe you.'

The final hours were interminable. At half past nine, accompanied by Chevannes and Larsen, Tanner left the knoll for the last time. The town was as quiet as ever, the troops, it seemed, billeted in the town's houses and the trucks still parked next to the church.

'It looks calm,' muttered Chevannes. 'And you've seen nothing, Sergeant, to make you think they're up to anything?'

'No, sir. Apart from the truck and staff car earlier, there's been no movement.'

'I saw nothing, either,' said Larsen, 'and the crossing is nearly six kilometres away. No one from the town will hear or see us rowing across from that distance.'

'Jerry doesn't seem to have bothered pushing further west, sir.'

'Apart from the truck you saw earlier, Sergeant.'

Tanner shrugged. 'Probably just reconnaissance.'

Chevannes nodded. 'Bon.'

They walked in silence back to the seter, where the rest of the men were waiting outside, wearing German tunics, field caps and black-leather webbing. Tanner followed quickly, rolling his jerkin and battle blouse into the bottom of his pack. He had already transferred most of his explosives into his haversack and gas-mask bag. Having wedged his tin helmet into his pack, he placed the last two packs of Nobel's 808 on top.

When they were ready, Chevannes looked at his watch. 'Three minutes past ten,' he said. 'Let's go.'

Tanner, heart pounding, glanced at Sykes. 'Actually, sir, I'd like to say something.'

A flash of irritation crossed Chevannes' face. 'What, Sergeant? Be quick about it.'

'I don't think we should cross the lake after all.'

Chevannes and the Norwegians looked equally aghast. 'What?' said Chevannes, angry now.

'I don't think we should cross the lake,' Tanner repeated. 'I think we should go through the town.'

'Have you gone mad, Tanner?' said Chevannes.

'No, sir.' Say this right, he told himself. Don't muck it up now. 'I'm sorry, sir. It's just that there are only about fifty or so men in the town. They're not expecting us. We can climb down to a spot above the bridge and watch for an hour or so. I reckon we can take out the guards quietly enough, then march up to those trucks. You speak good German, sir, and so do the lieutenants here. At night, when all is quiet, they wouldn't suspect a thing.' He could see some of his men nodding now.

'Except that every German soldier for a hundred miles seems to know about us.'

'I'm sorry, sir. I hadn't considered it before, but as we were walking back from the knoll...' Chevannes was rubbing his chin. Good. Indecision again. 'The thing is, sir,' Tanner continued, 'it's the far side of the lake that's bothering me. We're going to have to climb up and over the mountain, which will take time. I don't suppose we'll be followed again, but those trucks are just sitting there. This time tomorrow we could be in Andalsnes.'

Chevannes bit his bottom lip and glanced at Larsen and Nielssen.

'I think there's something in what Tanner says, sir,' said Nielssen. 'I've had a look down on the town today and I'm certain they're not expecting us. I think it's a risk worth taking.'

'I'm not so sure,' Larsen said. 'We know the coast is clear at the crossing. Going through the town seems to me too big a risk.'

'We need M/T straight away,' said Tanner. 'The crossing will hold us up. For all we know our boys might be about to evacuate. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced we should head straight down the hill and go through the town. In any case, they wouldn't think we'd have the nerve. That's precisely why we should do it. Fortune favours the brave, sir.'

'I could walk ahead,' said Anna. 'See whether the coast is clear.'

'That's not a good idea,' said Larsen. 'There's bound to be a curfew.'

'I think we should do it, Henrik,' Nielssen said to Larsen.

'Me too,' said Tanner. 'Come on, sir,' he said to

Chevannes. 'We can do this. Those trucks are just sitting there. It'll be dark, we're wearing German uniforms - it'll work, I know it will.' Come on, Chevannes.

'Let me think—' said the Frenchman.

'No,' said Larsen. 'We should stick to the original plan.'

Now, Tanner thought. 'Why, sir?' he said, stepping towards Larsen. 'Do you know something we don't?'

'What do you mean?' Larsen's eyes darted briefly, almost imperceptibly, to either side of him. But Tanner saw.

'Exactly that, sir. Are you hiding something from us?'

Larsen shifted his feet. 'No - of course not. Whatever do you mean, Tanner?'

'What the hell are you talking about, Sergeant?' Chevannes frowned.

'I'm just wondering, sir, if he can explain why the best part of two hundred German mountain troops are lying in wait for us in the trees beside the crossing-point.'

'What?' Chevannes was incredulous. So were the others, but Larsen simply stood where he was, the colour draining from his face.

'No!' said Nielssen, shock and anger in his voice. 'No, Henrik! Say it is not true!'

'I—I do not know what you are talking about.'

The professor stumbled forward and tugged at Larsen's arm. 'Henrik?'

'Lieutenant?' It was Chevannes' turn, utter incomprehension on his face.

'You - you are wrong,' stammered Larsen, 'I know nothing about it. You are lying, Sergeant. How dare you?' 'The only one lying is you,' said Tanner. 'Someone has betrayed us. Those Stukas didn't come from nowhere. Neither did those trucks on the pass. But this confirms it.'

'It was a set-up,' mumbled Larsen.

'Yes,' said Tanner. 'We'd suspected it for a while, but when those Jerries turned up this afternoon we knew for certain. The only thing I didn't know was who.'

'Men!' called out Chevannes. 'Hold him!' But Larsen already had his pistol in his hand. He grabbed Sandvold and pulled him towards him, the gun thrust towards the professor's stomach.

'You traitor!' said Anna, tears in her eyes. 'How could you?'

'Get back! Get back, all of you!' said Larsen, dragging Sandvold towards the seter.

The professor gasped. 'Stop this madness, Henrik!'

'Quiet! Now get back - or I will shoot!'

Tanner took a step towards him. 'Sir, put the gun down.'

'Get back, Sergeant!'

Tanner took another step towards him. 'Sir, put down the pistol.' He was now just three yards away.

'Sergeant! Not a step closer!'

'Tanner, don't be a damned fool!' There was panic in Chevannes' voice.

'Don't worry, sir. He won't shoot. Not the professor anyway. The Germans want Professor Sandvold alive, not dead. If all the lieutenant can offer them is a body they'll not thank him. Not after all this effort.' He took another step forward. 'It's over, sir.' Larsen's eyes flickered wildly. 'Sir,' Tanner said once more, 'put down the pistol.'

Larsen pressed its muzzle harder into Sandvold's side, then suddenly pushed him forward so that he staggered and fell. 'You were right, Sergeant,' he said, trickles of sweat running down his face, 'I wouldn't shoot the professor, but I will kill you.'

Tanner took another step forward so that he was now only a few feet away.

'Sergeant, this is your last chance,' said Larsen. His eyes were still darting from one man to another and his outstretched hand quivered.

Tanner continued to stare at him. His mind was clear; the nerves he had felt earlier were gone. Timing was everything, and although he was fairly sure no shot would be heard in the town, it was a risk he would rather avoid.

Then Nielssen stepped forward. 'Why, Henrik?' he said, and for a fraction of a second Larsen turned his head towards him.

Tanner grabbed Larsen's wrist and pushed the lieutenant's arm backwards, both quickly and hard. The pistol fell from his hand, and Tanner drove his left fist into the Norwegian's head with a punishingly hard jab. Larsen's eyes rolled back and he toppled over, unconscious.

For a moment no one spoke. Then Tanner picked up the pistol, stood over him and said, 'Treacherous bastard. And to think I liked him.'

'Have you killed him, Sergeant?' asked the professor.

'No,' he said, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. 'He'll come round in a minute.' The others gathered round the prostrate figure. Tanner felt Anna take his hand. Tears ran down her face.

'I cannot believe it,' she said. 'I just cannot believe it.'

Larsen groaned and Nielssen squatted beside him. 'Why?' he said. 'Why, Henrik?'

Larsen mumbled in Norwegian.

'What?' said Chevannes. 'What is he saying?' But Larsen continued to speak in his own language, not to Sandvold or to the others but to Nielssen.

Tanner walked back to where he had placed the Spandau, lifted it and hoisted it on to his shoulder. It was twenty past ten, and he was anxious to leave so that they could reach a position above the bridge before dark. And there was another reason: the guards changed every two hours at half past the hour and the next changeover was due at eleven thirty. Tanner reckoned eleven o'clock was the right time to deal with them - when their alertness was diminishing but well before the fresh shift arrived.

He was about to ask Chevannes what they should do with the traitor when he heard a strangled cry. He pushed through his men and saw Larsen dead on the ground. Nielssen was cleaning his short bayonet grimly on Larsen's tunic, then put it back in its sheath. 'I had no choice,' he said.

Tanner nodded. 'How did he do it?'

Nielssen rolled the dead man over and took off his pack. First he pulled out a small cloth bag, then a sheaf of papers and two metal boxes with a length of wire.

'Christ,' said Tanner. 'What the hell are they?'

Nielssen looked at them. 'I'm not certain, but from these dials, I'd suggest this one must be a transmitter of some kind. It's tiny.'

Tanner turned to Chevannes. 'Sir?'

Chevannes swallowed hard. 'I still cannot believe it, Sergeant.'

'Sir, we need to go.'

'Yes, yes, of course,' he said. 'Right, men, we will go through the town. We must now forget about this traitor. We need to clear our minds and concentrate on the task ahead; successfully getting into Vagamo, and taking one of those trucks.'

As they finally set off from the seter, Tanner did not glance back: his mind had already turned to what lay before them. Larsen's body was left where it lay: unburied on a patch of hard ground among the trees, high on an empty mountainside.