15. Afterword

Among the guests at the wedding of Pamela Vereker and Harry Kane two years later was Colonel Corcoran.

"I wonder if the story of "Eagle" will ever be told" Kane said when he found himself alone for a moment with Corcoran.

Corcoran smiled. "In a sense there is no story to tell," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"The weekend of "Eagle", Winston churchill was on his way, in secret, to the Teheran Conference. A dangerous journey, if the Germans had known about it. So it was useful to have him appearing publicly elsewhere."

"Then who was it at Meltham House?"

"His name was George Howard Foster. An actor who looked very like Churchill. He gave the performance of his life that night. I was the only person who knew he wasn't the Prime Minister."

Kane remembered Steiner at Melthem House, the fatal moment of hesitation. "So even if Steiner had fired," he said, "it would all haave been for nothing."

"Perhaps," Corcoran said. "But finally, we can only repeat what Foster said that night: "He was a fine soldier and a brave man"."

14. Finale

In Meltham House, Harry Kane was discussing the situation with Colonel Corcoran, the British officer responsible for the Prime Minister's safety.

"What were your losses?" Corcoran asked.

"Including Colonel Shafto, twenty-three dead, eight wounded. Out of forty. Three's going to be terrible trouble when this news gets out."

"If it gets out," said Corcoran. "London want it kept very quiet. They don't want to alarm people. Just think. German soldiers almost siezing the Prime Minister. And what about Preston and the British Free Corps? Englishmen in the SS. Can you imagine how that would look in the paper?"

"I see what you mean," said Kane. "But it'll be very difficult to keep people quiet."

"In wartime people can be made to do as they are told," Corcoran reminded him. "Meantime, what are you doing about Steiner and the others?"

"Garvey and his men are staying in the area and setting up roadblocks. And the Prime Minister is very heavily guarded. It will stay that way until Steiner is caught."

In the E-boat Koeing read the radio message: "The Eagle is blown".

"It's possible some of them might get away," h said to his crew. "We'll go in as arranged."

Molly had guided Steiner, Devlin and Neumann to a ruined cottage at the edge of a wood. At seven fifteen Devlin and Steiner went to spy out the land. They quickly saw Garvey and his men with two jeeps forming a roadblock.

"Not so good," said Devlin.

"You don't need to go by the road," Steiner said. "You can walk through the marsh to the beach."

"With Ritter's leg?"

"Ritter once walked a hundred kilometres through snow, a bullet in his foot. You'll make it."

"You're not going with us?"

"I think you know where I must go."

Devlin sighed. "Why? You won't get anywhere near Churchill, he'll be so heavily guarded."

"This game we both play," Steiner said. "In the end, do you control the game or does the game possess you? Can you stop if you want to?"

"I don't know," Devlin whispered.

"But I do. Now we must join the others. Say nothing to Ritter. He could prove difficult."

Back at the ruined cottage, Steiner joined Neumann while Molly came outside to Devlin.

"I'm worried about you, my girl," Devlin said.

"You could be in serious trouble from tonight."

She was strangely unconcerned. "Nobody saw me get you out of the church. Nobody can prove I did."

"I haven't thanked you for that," he said.

"It doesn't matter. I didn't do it for you. I did it for me. I love you. That doesn't mean I like what you are or what you've done. I got you out tonight because I couldn't have lived with myself if I'd stood by and let you die."

At twenty past eight the Americans were still there. "I'd better draw away their attention while you slip past," Steiner said. "I'll drive through that road block - wearing your raincoat if you'll let me have it, Devlin."

"Damn you, Steiner, go to hell your own way," Devlin said wearily, taking off his raincoat. "You'll find a silenced gun in the pocket."

"Thank you." Steiner fastened the raincoat to hide his German uniform. "So we say goodbye here." He held out his hand. "May you find what you are searching for, my friend."

"I already have, and lost it," Devlin said.

They pushed the car to where the track started to slope down towards the road.

"Do we go now?" asked Ritter Neumann.

"You, not me," said Steiner. "I'll keep the Americans occupied while you get across. I'll catch up with you later."

"No, Kurt. I can't let you do this."

Steiner said, "Lieutenant Neumann, you've never disobeyed an order of mine. I'm certainly not going to let you start now."

Ritter tried to stand straight. "As the Colonel wishes," he said formall. But as Steiner got into the car Ritter said softly, "Colonel?"

"Yes?"

"An honour to serve with you, sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Go now, please. Go now, please. And good luck."

As the others watched, Steiner took the brake off and let the car roll down the track. Once on the road, he started the enging and turned on the headlights.

When Garvey waved a red lamp at him, Steiner slowed right down. "Sorry," Garvey said, "but you'll have to identify yourself." He shone a torch on Steiner's face. Steiner fired just to the side of Garvey, and raced away.

"That was Steiner!" Garvey cried. "After him!"

Devlin said, "Right, let'move." He and Molly helped Ritter over the wall, and they started across the road.

Vereker's old car had no chance against the jeeps. As Garvey drew close, he started to fire. Steiner bent low as bullets hammered through the car and broke the steeing wheel. Out of control, the car crashed through a fence and rolled down a slope. Steiner opened the door and threw himself out. He slipped away through the darkness as the car went into the flooded waters of the marsh below.

Garvey reached the water just as the car sank. He started to take off his jacket, but Krukowski grabbed him. "Don't even think of it. The mud's deep enough to swallow a man whole."

"I suppose you're right," Garvey said slowly, and went back to the jeep to radio in.

"What a way for such a man to go," Corcoran said when a corporal brought the news.

Kane felt a strange sense of personal loss. He said to the corporal, "Tell Garvey to stay where he is, then send a truck to pull the car out. I want Steiner's body. And tell Sergeant Thomas he can cut down the number of guards now."

At the edge of the beach Devlin said, "Will you go now, Molly, while you still can?"

For a long moment she looked at him. Then Devlin pulled her into his arms. Her hands went to his neck, she kissed him with a burning, hungry passion. He pushed her away. "Go now, girl, and God go with you."

She turned and ran into the night.

Devlin took the S-phone out of the bag. "Eagle to Wanderer. Come in, please."

In the E-boat his voice sounded quite clearly. Koenig answered, "Eagle, this is Wanderer. What is you situation?"

"Two still in the nest," Devlin said. "Can you come immediately?"

"We're on our way. Over and out."

Devlin and Neumann went through the wirefence and started across the beach. Ritter, every step painful, leaned heavily on Devlin's shoulder, but he never paused. The sands stretched before them, and then they were walking on a centimetre or two of water.

They went on, the water growing depper. It was above their kneew when Ritter groaned suddenly and half fell. "It's no good, Devlin. I can't go on. I've never know such pain." Devlin raised the S-phone again. "Wanderer, this is Eagle. We are waiting for you four hundred metres off shore. Signalling now." From his bag he took a shining signal-ball and held it up.

The tide was rising fast. After twenty minutes the water was up to Devlin's chin.

"It's no good," Ritter whispered. "I can't feel a thing. I'm finished."

"Don't give in now," Devlin said. He started to sing loudly, one hand holding the signalling ball high, the other supporting Ritter.

It was Koenig who saw the light. Three minutes later, the E-boat slid out of the darkness, and Devlin and Ritter were helped on board.

"I am glad to see you both," Koenig smiled. "A miracle."

"The only one this night," said Devlin.

"You are certain?"

"Quite certain."

Koenig stood up. "Then we will go now."

When Rossmann reported that the Eagle was blown, Himmler showed no emotion whatever. "Take two men," he told Rossmann. "Fly to Landsvoort at once and arrest Colonel Radl."

But Max Radl was safe from Himmler. He had died of heart failure an hour earlier.

Juse before nine o'clock Corporal George Watson, a military-police messenger, stopped his motor cycle a few kilometres south of Meltham House. He took out a map and leant down to check it in the light of his headlamp.

A slight movement made him look up. A man in a raincoat said, "Hello. Lost, are you?"

"I'm trying to find Meltham House."

"Here, let me show you," Steiner said.

Watson leant down to examine the map again. The gun rose and fell across the back of his neck. He lay still and Steiner quickly searched his bag. There was only one letter. It was addressed to Colonel William Corcoran, Meltham House.

Steiner pulled Watson into the shadows and reappeared a moment later wearing the messenger's long raincoat and helmet. He took the bag with the letter, started the motor cycle and rode away.

When, at last, the recovery truck pulled Vereker's car out of the marsh, Garvey got the door open and looked inside. "Oh, my God," he said as he realised what the empty car meant. He rushed back to the jeep and seized the radio.

Sergeant Thomas was guarding the gate at Meltham House. He shone a torch on Steiner and said, "What is it?"

"Letter of Colonel corcoran," Steiner said.

Thomas nodded and opened the gate.

Steiner rode up the drive and round to the garden behind the building. In the shelter of some bushes he took off the helmet and raincoat and put on his uniform cap. He checked the Knight's Cross at his throat and moved off on foot, gun ready.

As he paused at the edge of a lawn, a curtain was pulled back and light fell across the grass. He looked up and saw the Prime Minister standing at the open glass door, smoking a cigar.

"How is he?" Kane asked when Corcoran came out of the Prime Minister's room.

"Fine. A last cigar and then he's going to bed."

"He mightn't sleep too well if he heard my news, so I'll keep it till morning," Kane said. "They got the car out of the marsh and it was empty. Which means Steiner may well have got away."

Sergeant Thomas came in. "You wanted me, Major?"

"Yes. When they got the car out, Steiner was missing. We're taking no chances and doubling the guard. Nothing to report from the gate?"

"Not a thing, except that military policeman with a letter for Colonel Corcoran."

Corcoran stared at him. "That's the first I've heard of it. When was this?"

"Maybe ten minutes ago, sir."

"Oh, my God!" Kane said. "He's here!" He turned, gun already in his hand, and ran for the Prime Minister's door.

Slowly, Steiner approached the window. A slight noise and the Prime Minister turned and looked at him.

He removed the cigar from his mouth and said, "Colonel Kurt Steiner, I assume?"

"Mr Churchill." Steiner hesitated. "I regret this, but I must do my duty, sir."

"Then what are you waiting for?" the Prime Minister said calmly.

Steiner raised the gun. The door crashed open and Kane fell through, firing wildly. His first bullet his Steiner in the shoulder. The second caught him in the heart, killing him instantly.

Corcoran entered a moment later. Steiner lay in the pool of light from the open window, the gun still in his hand.

"Strange," the Prime Minister said. "At the last moment, he hesitated. I wonder why?"

"Perhaps that was his American half speaking, sir," Kane said.

The Prime Minister and the final word. "He was a fine soldier and a brave man. See to him, Major."

13. Defeat

The village was still about two kilometres away when Steiner heard the firing. "Faster," he told Klugl, who was driving. "Something's wrong. And be ready to use that machine-gun," he added to Werner Briegel. He tried to reach the others with the field telephone. There was no reply.

From the top of the hill, through field-glasses, Steiner saw the whole situation: the mill with Mallory's men nearby; Americans behind the Post Office (where Altmann, Dinter and Berg were); and Ritter by the bridge, trapped by the machine-gun in Shafto's two remaining jeeps.

He tried to telephone again. This time, in the mill, Riedl heard him. "It's the colonel," he cried to Brandt, "come to save us." He opened the door above the water-wheel and looked out.

There was a heavy burst of firing from outside. Still holding the field-phone, Riedl fell head first onto the turning water-wheel. When it came round again, Riedl had gone.

Steiner did not see Riedl die: he had swung his field-glasses round to Hawks Wood. There he could just see Sergeant Hustler and his men still trying to reach the church.

"It seems we're about to fight, boys," Steiner said. He took off his jump jacket and put on his German Airforce cap. Werner and Klugl did the same. Then Steiner said, "Right, boys. Straight through that wood, across the footbridge to those jeeps, then on to Lieutenant Neumann. You can make it, Klugl, if you go fast enough. And don't stop firing, Werner, not for anything."

They raced down to Hawks Wood, rounded a bend, and there were Hustler and his men. Werner started to fire. One wheel bounced over a body and then they were through, leaving Sergeant Hustler and seven of his men dead or dying.

Klugl kept on going straight across the narrow footbridge and shot up the bank on to the road. The two gunners in the jeep behind Joanna Grey's wall swung their machine-gun, too late. Werner fired a burst that killed them both.

But the men in the second jeepp were already firing as Klugl turned back towards the bridge. He gave a sudden cry and fell forward. The jeep went out of control, smashed into the end of the bridge, then slowly turned on to its side.

Werner bent over Klugl. "He's dead, Colonel."

He started to stand. Steiner held him down.

"Pull yourself together, boy. Get a machine-gun set up and keep them busy down there."

As Werner busied himself with the gun, Ritter Neumann came out from behind the bridge. "All right, Lieutenant," Steiner asked. "What did you have in mind?"

"It'll be dark in an hour," Ritter said. "If we can hold on that long, then slip away in two or threes, we could still get to the boat if Koenig arrives as arranged. It gives us some chance."

"The only one," Steiner said. "But not here. We must regroup. You get Altmann and his boys from the Post Office and I'll try to contact Brandt in the mill." But Brandt was cut off: the field-phone had fallen with Riedl into the water.

When Neumann came back from the Post Office with Altmann, Dinter and Berg, Steiner said, "I want you to run for the church. You're in charge, Ritter. I'll keep the Americans busy with the machine-gun, then I'll follow. Now get going, all of you."

As Steiner started to fire, Ritter ran across the bridge, followed by the others. There was one very short stretch of road to cross. Ritter said, "The safest way is to go all together. When I say the word, run."

A moment later they rushed across the road, jumped the fence and dropped to safety the other side. Only one American saw them - too late, but he fired at the fence anyway.

On the other side, Berg fell and Dinter turned to help him. They stood up to die together as bullets hammered into them over the fence. Werner turned with a cry. Altmann seized him and pushed him after Ritter towards the church.

Sheltering in Joanna Grey's garden, Shafto was horrified by the news from Hustler's section. In half an hour he had lost twenty-one men.

He glanced up just as Joanna Grey looked out from behind a bedroom curtain. She drew back instantly, but Shafto had seen her. "My God, Krukowski," he said, "that woman's still inside. Come on!" And he ran towards the front door.

Joanna Grey ran back up to the secret room, locked herself in and tried to reach Radl on the radio. Downstairs she heard Shafto searching the house. He was very close now. "She's got to be here somewhere," she heard him say.

Another voice called, "Colonel, this dog was locked in the cellar. He's racing up to you now."

Her gun ready in her hand, Joanna Grey continued to radio. Below, Patch ran past Shafto into the study. Shafto followed the dog and saw him scratching at a corner. He quickly found the tiny keyhole. "She's here, Krukowski!" he called joyfully, wildly. "I've got her!"

As his head rose above floor level, Joanna Grey shot him between the eyes. He fell back down into the study. Krukowski aimed his gun round the corner and let off a continuous burst of fifteen shots. The dog cried, there was the sound of a body falling, then silence.

Devlin raced down to the village, stopping at the bridge, where Steiner was still firing the machine-gun. Silently, Steiner stood up, fired a last burst and jumped on to the motor cycle. Devlin crossed the bridge and went straight up the hill as Kane came round the corner in the White Scout Car.

In the mill all was quiet. "I don't like it," said Brandt. "What's that?" he added as they heard the White Scout Car racing towards them.

Seconds later Garvey turned and smashed straight through the mill doors. Kane stood in the back, already firing an anti-aircraft machine-gun up through the wooden floor above. The huge bullets tore the floorboards to pieces. Kane heard cries of pain, but kept on firing.

A bloodstained hand showed at a hole in the floor. It was very quiet. Garvey took a gun and went upstairs. He came down almost immediately. "That's it, Major."

Harry Kane was pale but completely calm as he said, "Now for the church."

Molly came in sight of the church in time to see a jeep drive slowly up showing a white handkerchief. As Kane and Garvey got out. the church door opened and Steiner came out with Vereker and Devlin.

"Kane, where's Pamela?" demanded Vereker. "Is she all right?"

"She's fine, Father," Kane said. "She's resting at Meltham House."

Vereker turned to Steiner. "She fixed you beautifully, didn't she? Without her you might have succeeded."

Steiner said calmly, "I thought we failed because Sergeant Sturm died to save two children." He turned to Kane. "What can I do for you?"

"Surrender. There's no point in further useless bloodshed. The men you left in the mill are all dead. So is Mrs Grey. The Prime Minister is safe at Meltham House. It's all over."

Steiner thought of his companions, dead and alive, and nodded, his face pale. "Honorable terms?"

"No terms!" Vereker shouted. "These men came here in British uniform. The only punishment for that is death."

"Well, Father," Steiner said, "your God is an angry God indeed." He saw the look Kane's face and smiled. "Don't worry, Major, it's not your fault. Just the rules of the game. You'd better take the villagers if there's to be more fighting."

"You'll let the villagers go?" Kane asked.

Steiner looked amused. "Why, did you think we'd murder the entire village? The brutal Germans?" He turned. "Send them out, Altmann."

The villagers came out, Betty Wilde last. Ritter Neumann supported her husband.

"He'll be all right, Mrs Wilde," Ritter said.

"I'm sorry about what happened in there."

"It's all right," she said. "It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry I said what I did." She turned to Steiner. "And thank you for Graham and Susan."

"Graham's a brave boy," Steiner said. "He jumped straight in. That takes courage, and courage is something that never goes out of fashion."

As the villagers, including Vereker, hurried down the hill, the white Scout Car appeared, its anti-aircraft gun aimed at the church door.

Steiner nodded. "So, Major, the final act. Let battle begin." He and Devlin went back inside.

Watching from the hill above the church, Molly saw a dozen Americans slip into the church-yard from the back and work their way round to the front. Garvey, their leader, carried a rope. He threw this over a stone sticking out from the lower roof, and climbed up. The others followed. They positioned themselves by the upper windows. Filled with a sudden determination, Molly jumped on to her horse and headed for the priest's house.

It was cold and half dark inside the church. There were seven left now: Devlin and Steiner, Neumann, Werner Briegel, Becker and Altmann, and Preston. There was also, unknown to any of them, Arthur Seymour. Forgotten in the villagers' rush to get out, he still lay beside sturm, feet and hands tied. Now he was trying to sit up. His mad eyes were fixed on Preston.

The organ sounded. From high above, Hans Altmann called, "A work by Bach, suited to our situation: For the Dying." His voice echoed through the church as the music swelled: Ah how cheating, how deceiving, are our days soon ended.....

One of the upper windows smashed. A shot knocked Altmann to the floor of the church. Werner fired and an American fell headfirst throuth the window. At the same moment more windows crashed in and heavy firing poured down into the church. Werner fell without a cry.

Devlin crossed the church to join Steiner. "It's a bloodbath. Ritter's been his in the legs, too. We don't stand a chance."

They crept back to where Ritter lay bandaging his leg. "Are you all right?" steiner asked.

"I'll be fine, Colonel," Ritter smiled. But he was clearly in great pain.

The Americans were fill firing from above. Steiner nodded towards the door that Pamela Vereker had locked. "Try to shoot through that door," he said to Becker. Becker fired at the lock, then kicked at the door. It swung open.

All firing stopped and Garvey called from high above, "Had enough yet, Colonel?"

Preston ran out into the open. "I have."

Becker ran out after him and brought his gun crashing down on Preston's head. As Preston fell, a single shot rang out and Becker fell dead.

"Let's get into that side-room," Steiner said to Devlin. "It'll give us some shelter."

There was a slight sound. Straining his eyes through the darkness, Devlin saw Molly standing by the broken door. He crept across to her and was back in a moment. "Come on!" he said to Steiner.

"The little darling's got a way out for us."

They slipped through the shadows, supporting Ritter between them. Molly waited by the secret entrance. Once inside, she closed it and led the way through the tunnel to Vereker's house.

"Now what?" Devlin said. "We'll not get far with Ritter like this."

"Father Vereker's car is in the yard," Molly said. "The keys are in it and we can push it till we're out of hearing."

They were fifty metres away when the shooting began again. Only then did Steiner start the engine and drive away towards the coast.

As the secret door closed, Arthur Seymour stood up, hands and feet free. He walked noiselessly through the church, holding the rope with which Preston had tied his feet.

It was very dark now, the only light coming from a few candles. Seymour checked that Preston was still breathing, picked him up and threw him over one shoulder. Then he turned and walked straight up to the front of the church.

On the roof Garvey was worried by the silence. He couldn't see a thing inside the church. He took a chance and shone his torch down - and gave a cry of horror. "I don't know what's happening," he told Kane over the field-phone, "but you'd better get in there."

A moment later, a burst from a machine-gun smashed the lock on the main door. Kane and a dozen soldiers moved in fast, ready for action. But there was no Steiner, no Devlin. Only Arthur Seymour, kneeling in the candle-light, staring up into the horribly swollen face of Harvey Preston, hanging by his neck from the central arch.

12. The American Attack

While the doctor treated Pamela Vereker's gunshot wound, Major Harry Kane and Colonel Shafto considered the astonishing news she had brought.

"We're not waiting days for the War Office to decide whether her story's true," said Shafto, his face pale with excitement. "I'm going to deal with these Germans myself, here and now."

Kane disagreed, but he saw that arguing would be useless. "Okay, sir," he said. "What do we do?"

Shafto looked at his watch. "Four fifteen. Mr Churchill should already be on his way to Studley Constable. You'd better stop him. Bring him here instead. He'll be quite safe here."

When Kane had gone, Shafto sent for Captain Mallory, the officer next in rank to Kane. "I want you ready to move out with forty men and eight jeeps, five minutes from now," he ordered. Left alone, he poured himself a glass of whisky. His day had come, he knew. The next twenty-four hours would win him his place in the history books: the man who saved Churchill.

He went outside to the waiting men and briefly told them where they were going, and why. "One thing I can promise," he ended, "handle this right and by tomorrow your name will be famous throughout America. Now, let's go."

At the first telephone pole along the road, Shafto told his driver to stoop. Drawing his gun, he shot at the top of the pole, shattering the telephone lines. "That will stop any unwanted phone calls for a while," he said. "Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go."

Half a kilometre outside Studley Constable Shafto stopped to give orders. "Captain Mallory, you take three jeeps and fifteen men. Circle round the village till you come to the water-mill. Sergeant Hustler, you take a dozen men on foot throuth the wood to the church. The remaining men stay with me. When everyone's in position and I give the signal over the field-phone, we go in and finish this thing fast."

Sergeant Hustler said, "Begging the Colonel's pardon, but shouldn't we test the ground first? They say these German parachutists are no fools."

"Hustler," Shafto said coldly, "don't ever question an order of mine again." He eyed the men one by one. "Are the rest of you afraid, too?"

"Of course not, sir," Mallory answered.

"Good," said Shafto. "Because I'm going in there now on my own with a white flag."

"You're going to ask them to surrender, sir?"

"Of course not, Captain. While I talk, the rest of you will be getting into position. You've got exactly ten minutes from the moment I enter the village. So let's get going."

Devlin was eating a sandwich by the fire when the door opened and Molly came in.

"So there you are," he said cheerfully. "I was just coming to look for you."

"You devil!" she said. "You used me." She threw herself at him, reaching for his face. "I know all about it. His name isn't Carter, It's Steiner. They're Germans come to get Mr Churchill. And you're with them."

Gently he pushed her away from him. "Molly, I wasn't using you," he said. "You weren't means to be part of this, my love. You just happened."

"You traitor!"

Wearily, he said, "Molly, I'm Irish. That means I'm as different from you as a German is from a Frenchman. I'm a foreigner."

There was uncertainty in her eyes now. But she repeated, "Traitor!"

"No, Molly. I am a soldier of the Irish Republican Army."

She needed to hurt him then. And she knew how to. "Well, you and your friend Steiner and finished, anyway. Pamela Vereker was with me when I found out the truth. She's gone to Meltham House to get the Americans."

He seized her by the arm. "How long ago?"

"I'd say they must be in the village by now. So there's nothing you can do except run while you have the chance."

He let go of her and said drily, "Sure and it would be the sensible thing to do. But I was never one for that."

He pulled on his cap and raincoat, put his pistol in his pocket and hung the Sten gun round his neck. Then Molly spoke, fear in her voice.

"You can't go, Liam. You won't stand a chance."

"Oh, but I must, my love. Did you think I'd run dor the hills and desert Steiner?" He kissed her and pushed her aside. At the door, he turned. "I wrote you a letter. Not much, I'm afraid, but if you're interested, it's on the shelf."

The door banged. She found the letter and opened it feverishly. It said, Molly, my own true love. I came here to do a job, not to fall in love for the first and last time in my life. By now you'll know the worst of me, but try not to think it. To leave you is punishment enough. Let it end there. Liam.

Tears in her eyes, she put the letter in her pocket and went outside. She got on her horse and headed as fast as she could towards the village.

Brandt, Neumann and Altmann sat on the edge of the bridge near joanna Grey's cottage.

"It Colonel Steiner doesn't come soon," said Neumann, "we'd better get ready to fight. And we fight only as German soldiers, remember? It seems the time has come to drop the pretence."

The three men took off their jump jackets, showing the German flying shirts beneath. They removed their red caps and put on German Airforce side-caps instead.

Neumann tried again to reach Steiner on the field telephone. There was no reply.

At that moment Shafto arrived alone in his jeep, from which flew a white handkerchief. He got out and stood looking Ritter over. He saw the two Iron Crosses and other honours for distinguished service, and knew that this fresh-faced young man was a hardened fighter.

"So, no more pretence, Lieutenant? Where's Steiner? Tell him Colonel Robert Shafto, in command Twenty-first Special Raiding Force, wishes to speak with him."

"I'm in charge here, Colonel. You must deal with me."

"Okay," Shafto said. "I know how many men you have. If I bring my boys in, you won't last ten minutes. Why not be practical and surrender?"

"Sorry," Ritter said. "That's a word my English teacher never taught me."

"I'll give you ten minutes," Shafto warned. "Then we come in."

"And I'll give you two, Colonel. To get out of here before my men open fire."

"Okay, son, you asked for it." Shafto got back into the jeep and drove away.

Joanna Grey watched them go from her bedroom window. Then she went into the study, opened a secret door, went through and lock it behind her. She went upstairs to the secret room in the roof and sat down at the radio. She put her gun ready on the table. Strange, she wasn't in the least afraid when the shooting started outside.

The leading jeep in Shafto's section had four men in it. The two at the back were standing up working a machine-gun. As they passed the garden next to Joanna Grey's, Dinter and Berg stood up. Dinter supported a machine-gun, which Berg fired, killing the two American gunners instantly. The jeep went off the road and rolled over, finishing upside down in the stream.

Swinging the machine-gun round to the second jeep, Berg fired again. One man was killed before the jeep rushed round the corner to safety. Then Dinter and Berg exited quickly through the back gate and made their way to the Post Office.

Shafto, who was watching from a rise in the woods, ground his teeth with rage. There was heavy firing from the other side of the village. He took the field telephone from Sergeant Krukowski and called, "Mallory, what in hell's going on up there?"

"They've got a strong point in the mill. They've knocked out a jeep. I've lost four men."

"Then lose some more," Shafto shouted. "Get in there, Mallory. Burn them out if necessary."Krukowski thought, "That's seven lost in five minutes. What does he think he's playing at?"

Shafto tried the third section. "Where are you, hustler? I expected to see you at the church by now."

"It's been difficult, Colonel. Very muddy."

"Well, get a move on." He handed the phone back to Krukowski. "You can't rely on anyone.!" he said bitterly.

Otto Brandt had Walther, Meyer and Riedl with him in the mill. They had a machine-gun set up by the first floor window.

From behind fences the Americans were shooting continuously, to no effect because of the mill's thick stone walls. Suddenly Brandt said, "Everyone stop firing. I'm not sure I believe what's happening. But get ready."

A moment later Mallory and eight men leapt out of their shelter and ran towards the mill, firing as they ran.

"What do they think they're doing?" Brandt said.

He fired at mallory, killing him instantly. Three more Americans fell as the Germans all fired at once. The survivors hastily retreated.

In the quiet that followed, Brandt said, "I make that eight. It's crazy. I mean, why are they in such a hurry? All they have to do is wait."

As soon as Kane arrived back at Meltham House with the Prime Minister's party, Sergeant Garvey brought him a radio message from Krukowski.

"He asked for you personally, Major. It's a mess down there, he says. Dead men all over the place. He kept saying the Colonel was acting like a madman."

Dear God, Kane thought, he's gone riding straight in like the hero in a fairy tale. "We'll have to get down there," he said to Garvey. "We'll take the White Scout Car and three jeeps, with twenty men. That leaves twenty-five to guard Mr Churchill: it should be enough."

11. The Eagle Is Blown

At three that afternoon Molly tied her horse behind the church and went in by a back entrance. Inside she found Pamela Vereker polishing. "Hello, Molly," Pamela said. "Come to help?"
"Yes," said molly. "It's my turn to clean the church." And she joined Pamela at her work.


It was every quiet in the village. Ritter Neumann had divided the Germans into three groups, linked to each other by field telephone.
One group, including Sergeant Sturm and Walter Brandt, were practising shooting in the field near the old mill. The mill had not been in use for thirty years, and usually the huge water wheel stood still. But the stream was flooded after days of heavy rain. During the night the rushing water had caused the rusty lock on the wheel to break. Now the wheel was turning again.
Steiner was sitting in the jeep watching Brandt. Vereker was watching, too, from a footbridge higher up the stream. With him were the innkeeper's two children, Graham and Susan Wilde. Graham, who was eleven years old, was watching the shooting with great interest.
But Susan, who was only five, was playing with her doll. She sat right at the edge of the footbridge, holding the handrail and dipping the doll's legs into the rushing water.
Suddenly the rail broke. Susan fell into the water and was swept under the bridge. Graham jumped in after her, seized the tail of her coat and held on tight. His feet were searching for the bottom -- but there was no bottom . He cried out in fear as the current swept them towards, the mill pool - and the danger of the water wheel.
The Germans all heard Graham's cry. Sergeant Sturm reached the water first. He threw himself in and swam towards the children. Brandt was behind him, waist-deep in the water. Sturm seized Graham by the arm. For a moment the boy's head dipped under the water and he let go of the girl. Sturm swung him round to Brandt, then swam after Susan.
He caught hold of her and tried to stand. But he went riight under the water. When he came to the surface he felt the current pulling him irresistibly towards the water-wheel.
He turned and saw that the boy was safe, and that Brandt was back in the water. With all his remaining strength, Sturm threw the child through the air to Brandt. A moment later, the current swept him under the wheel.

The children's parents had heard the boy's cry. They came running across from the pub to find the children safe. Brandt pushed Susan into Mrs Wilde's arms and ran back to search for Sturm. When Sturm floated to the surface, Brandt went in and brought him to the bank. There
Vereker and Steiner came up at that moment, followed by Preston and his group.
"Is he all right?" Vereker asked.
Brandt tore open the front of Sturm's jacket and felt for the heart. After a moment he looked up at Steiner and said in fair English, "I am sorry, sir, hea is dead."
The silence was broken by Graham Wilde saying, "Look at his uniform, Dad. Is it polish?"
Brandt, in his haste, had made a terrible mistake. Beneath Sturm's open jacket appeared the full German uniform Himmler had insisted on.
The Germans closed round in a circle. Steiner called Ritter Neumann over the field telephone.
"Eagle one to Eagle two," Neumann replied.
"The Eagle is blown," Steiner said. "Meet me at the bridge now."
Betty Wilde asked, "What is it, George? I don't understand."
"They're Germans," Wilde answered. He turned to Steiner. "But what do you want? It doesn't make sense. There's nothing for you here."
"You poor fool," Preston said. "Don't you know who's staying at Studley Grange tonight? Mr Lord-God-Almighty, Winston Churchill himself."
Wilde stared in astonishment, then laughed.
"You must be mad. I never heard such nonsense."
"What Lieutenant Preston says in true," said Steiner. He turned to Betty Wilde. "Mrs Wilde, you may take your children home now. When they have changed their clothes, the three of you are to go up to the church. Preston, send one of your men with Mrs Wilde. You go with Dinter and Berg to the post office. All telephone calls to the village come through the exchange there. If there are any calls, just say that whoever's wanted isn't in. Try to make thing sound normal."
Preston led Mrs Wilde and the children away. The other men in his section followed. Steiner turned to Brandt. "Take Father Vereker and Mr Wilde in the jeep to the church and keep them there. Take Sturm too. Becker and Jansen can go with you. I'll be there in a few minutes."
He hurried across to join Ritter Neumann, who had just reached the bridge with his section.
"Not so good," said Ritter. "What happens now?"
"We take over the village, prevent all communication with outside. I want you to take the truck and go through the village house by house. Everyone is to be in the church within twenty minutes."
"And afterwards?"
"A road block at each end of the village. Anyone who comes in stays."
"Shall I tell Mrs Grey?"
"No. I don't want anyone to know she's on our side until it's absolutely necessary." He smiled.
"A tight situation, Ritter."
"We've known them before, Herr Colonel."

Molly and Pamela had finished cleaning the church and Pamela already had the door open when the jeep drew up outside. She watched her brother and Wilde get out, with Brandt close behink them. Becker and janson followed, carrying Sturm's body. Suddenly Pamela realised that Brandt was pointing his gun at Wilde and her brother.
Unseen, she went back to Molly. "Something's wrong," she said. "Quick. In here."
She opened the door of a side room. They slipped inside and Pamela locked the door. A moment later they heard Vereker's voice.
"All right, now what?"
"You wait for the Colonel," Brandt said. "You can fill in time by saying some prayers for Sturm."
Then the girls heard Steiner come in. "Ah, Father Vereker," he said, "and Mr Wilde. I trust Sergeant Brandt has treated you well."
"Who are you?" Verker asked. "Carter can hardly be your real name."
"No, it's Steiner. Kurt Steiner."
"And Mr Churchill is really going to be at Studley Grange tonight?" Vereker said. "And you intend to kill him?"
"Only if we have to. I'd much prefer to keep him alive."
"And now the planning's gone slightly wrong?"
"Because one of my men gave his life to save two children of the village. Or perhaps you don't wish to know that? Does it destroy your idea that all German soldiers are beasts and murderers? But to answer your question. Yes, the plan has gone a little wrong. But plans can be changed: the prize can still be ours. Now I must leave you. I have things to do." He raised his voice. "Brandt, stay here till Preston comes, then report to me in the village."
As he went out, Vereker walked slowly over to where Sturm lay, knelt down, and in a firm voice began to say the prayers for the dead.

"So now we know," Pamela Vereker said. "Come on, let's get out of here."
She crossed the room and touched a hidden lock. A section of wall swung back to show the entrance to the secret tunnel. Molly was staring in amazement. "Quick," said Pamela impatiently. She closed the door behind them and led the way along the tunnel to the priest's house. Only there did she see that Molly was crying bitterly.
"Molly, what is it?"
"Liam Devlin," Molly said. "He's one of them. He must be. I saw them at his place. He used me. All the time he was using me."
"Molly, I'm truly sorry," Pamela said. "But now we must think what to do. how can we get away from the village?"
"Mrs Grey has a car," Molly said slowly.
"Of couse. If I can get to her without being seen. I'll drive straight to the Americans at Meltham House. How about you? You'll come with me?"
"No. You try that way. I'll get my horse and try another," said Molly.
As she went out to her horse, the tears fell hot and painful. "Oh, Liam, you devil," she thought. "I hope they hang you."

Pamela found Joanna Grey standing at her front door. As she began to explain why she needed the car, Mrs Grey drew her inside. "Calm down, Pamela," she said. "This is an incredible story." She turned to close the door. When she turned back she had a gun in her hand. She opened the door of a storeroom. "In you go."
Pamela was at a loss. "Mrs Grey, I don't understand."
"And I don't have time to explain. Let's just say we're on different sides. Now get in there. I won't hesitate to shoot if I have to."
Turning as if to go in, Pamela gave the older woman a violent push. As she fell back, Joanna Grey fired the gun. Pamela was aware of the explosion, of a burning pain on the side of her hand. But she managed to shut the door in Joanna Grey's face and fasten the bolt.
Wounded in the forehead, Pamela felt a sense of complete unreality as she left the cottage. "I must get to Harry," she said aloud. Then, as if in a dream, she found herself driving Mrs Grey's car in the direction of Meltham House.
In the Post Office, Dinter and Berg sat drinking coffee, their guns at their sides. The telephone exchange was in the back room. Harvey Preston was sitting there smoking.
Suddenly the outer door was kicked open and Arthur Seymour walked in, a heavy sack over his shoulders. He knew nothing of what had happened.
"Here, what's going on?" he demanded.
As Dinter and Berg picked up their guns, Preston appeared at the door. "My God," he said. "What animal have we here?"
"Watch your mouth, soldier," Seymour said.
"It can talk, can it?" Preston said. "All right, take him to the church."
As he turned, Seymour threw his sack at Dinter and Berg, and jumped on Preston, seizing him by the throat. Berg got to his feet and drove his gun into Seymour's stomach. Seymour cried out in pain, let go of Preston and threw himself at Berg.
The fight was brief and violent. It ended with Dinter and Berg covered in blood, and Seymour unconscious on the floor.
"Find some rope and tie that animal up," Preston told Dinter and Berg.
Steiner came in while Seymour was being tied up. "All right, Preston," he said, "I won't need you here any more. Go up to the church and take your prisoner with you. Take over from Brandt. Altmann can look after the telephone exchange."
By now Seymour was stirring. Preston kicked him hard. "Come on, animal, get moving."
In the church the terrified villagers sat guarded by Brandt, Becker and Jansen. Vereker moved amongst them, bringing what comfort he could.
When Preston arrived with Seymour, Brandt went out. Preston knocked Seymour to the ground, tied his feet together and dragged him face down through the church to lie beside Sturm's body. There were cries of horror from the villagers.
Ignoring them, Preston kicked Seymour again and again. "Leave that man alone!" cried Vereker.
"Man?" Preston laughed. "That isn't a man, it's a thing." Vereker reached down to touch Seymour and Preston drew his gun.
"What kind of man are you?" demanded Vereker as he drew slowly back.
"What kind of man?" Preston said. "That's simple." He took off his jump jacket, showing hte SS uniform underneath, with the British flag on his left arm and the words "British flag on his left arm and the words "British Free Corps".
"British Free Corps?" said Vereker, puzzled.
"Yes, you fool. I'm English, like you. Only I'm on the right side, the only side."
George Wilde walked up to Preston. "The Germans must be damned hard up: the only place they could have found you was under a stone."
Preston shot him. As Wilde fell, blood on his face, there was chaos, women screaming. Preston fired another shot in the air. "Stay where you are!"
There was a terrified silence. Betty Wilde ran to her husband. As she knelt by him, Ritter
"What's going on here?"
"Ask your friend from the SS," Vereker said.
Ritter glanced at Preston, then knelt down to examine Wilde. "Don't you touch him, you- you German devil!" Betty Wilde said.
Ritter handed her a bandage. "Bandage him with that. He'll be fine: he isn't badly hurt." To Vereker he said, "We are Parachutists, Father, and proud of our name. But this man...." He struck Preston a heavy blow on the face with his gun. The Englishman cried out and fell to the floor.
The door opened again and a very dirty Joanna Grey ran in. "Where's Colonel Steiner?" she demanded in German. "I must speak with him."
"He isn't here," said Neumann. "He's gone to see Devlin. Why?"
Quickly she told him about Pamela Vereker.
"Joanna," Vereker said, dread in his voice. "You can't be one of them?"
"Yes," she said.
"But why? I don't understand. You're British."
"British?" she shouted. "South African, damn you! How could I be British? You insult me with that name!"
There was horror and grief in Philip Vereker's eyes. "Oh, my God," she whispered.
Ritter led Joanna Grey to the door. "Back to your house fast. Contact Radl on the radio. Let him know the position."
She nodded and hurried away. Ritter went out with her, leaving Becker and Jansen on guard.
There was silence in the church. Feeling inexpressible weary, Vereker spoke to the villagers. "At times like this, there is little left but prayer. And it often helps. If you would all please kneel." In a firm and remarkably steady voice, he began to pray aloud. was hardly a mark on him - but his eyes were closed. Neumann rushed in, his gun in his hand.

10. In Studley Constable

At ten o'clock on Saturday morning Molly rode to Hobs End. She had promised to wait until Devlin called her. But she was terrified for him: if he was caught dealing in the black market it could mean a heavy prison sentence.
She was still on horseback when she saw smoke rising from the cottage chimney. She hesitated. Liam was obviously at home. But if she went in he would be angry. She started to turn away.
In the barn, watched by Preston, the men were working on their guns and the lorry. Werner Briegel was looking through fieldglasses. Suddenly he exclaimed, "We're being watched!"
In a moment Preston was at his side. "I'll get her," he said, and ran out across the yard. As he came up to Molly, she turned and looked down at him in amazement.
"All right, let's have you." Preston reached for her and she tried to back her horse away.
"You let me alone. I haven't done anything."
He seized her wrist and pulled her out of the saddle. "We'll see about that." When she struggled, he threw her over his shoulder and carried her kicking and shouting to the barn.
Devlin had been showing Steiner the beach. They were almost back at the cottage when they saw Preston with the girl on his shoulder.
"Who is she?" Steiner demanded.
"Molly Prior, the girl I told you about." Devlin ran towards Preston. "Put her down, damn you!"
"I don't take orders from you," said Preston.
"Lieutenant Preston," Steiner called in a voice like iron, "you will let the lady go."
Unwillingly, Preston set Molly down. She immediately hit him in the face. "Keep your hands to yourself," she stormed at him.
There was laughter from the barn. She turned to see smiling faces, the lorry, a machine-gun. "Liam," she said, confused, "what's going on?"
It was Steiner who spoke, smooth as silk. "Lieutenant Preston, you will apologise to this young lady at once." Preston hesitated. "At once!"
"My apologies, madam," said Preston sourly, and went inside the barn.
Steiner turned to Molly. "I can't tell you how sorry I am about what has happened."
"This is Colonel Carter, Molly," Devlin told her, "of the Polish Independent Parachute Unit."
He took her arm and led her towards her horse.
"I don't understand," she said. "Soldiers here? And that lorry - and the gun?"
"Security, Molly. They're here for a very special reason. You'll find out when they've gone, but for now it's top secret. As you love me, promise not to mention them to anybody."
"I begin to see now," she said. "You let me think you were in the black market. But I was wrong. You're still in the army, aren't you?"
"Yes," he said with some truth. "I am."
Her eyes were shining. "Oh, Liam, can you ever forgive me thinking so poorly of you?"
Devlin managed a smile. "I'll think about it. Now go home and wait until I call, no matter how long."
"I will, Liam. And I won't say a word." She kissed him, swung into the saddle and rode off.
As Devlin went into the barn, Preston said, "Now we all know what you've been up to the past few weeks. Was it nice, Devlin?"
Devlin hit Preston once, knocking him down. Then Steiner had him by the arm.
"I'll kill him!" Devlin said.
"Go up to the cottage," Steiner said calmly. "I'll handle it."
There was murder in Devlin's white face. But he went out. As Preston got up, Steiner said, "Be warned, Preston. Step out of line once more and if Devlin doesn't, I'll shoot you myself."


Two hours later Philip Vereker went down to the cellar of his house. There he opened an ancient oak cupboard, stepped inside and closed the door. He switched on his torch and felt for a hidden catch. The back of the cupboard swung open to show a long, dark tunnel.
Linking the priest's house with the church, this tunnel was built in the sixteenth century, when priests could die for practising their religion. Its secret was handed down from priest to priest Vereker found it very convenient.
At the end of the tunnel he paused in surprise. Someone was playing the organ, very well indeeded. He opened the secret door and entered the church. At the organ he saw a soldier in jump jacket.
Hans Altmann was enjoying himself. A fine instrument, a lovely church. But when he saw Vereker, he stopped playing.
"I'm sorry, Father, I couldn't help myself." His English was excellent but clearly foreign.
Vereker said, "Who are you?"
"Sergeant Emil Janowski, Father. I came here looking for you with my commanding officer. As you weren't here, he told me to wait while he tried your house."
At that moment Steiner entered and came up to them. "Father Vereker?" he said.
"That's right."
"Howard Carter, in command Independent Polish Parachute Unit." He looked round the building. "This is really beautiful."
Vereker, who loved his church, gave one of his rare smiles. "What can I do for you?"
"Put us up for the night if you will, Father. I see you have a barn in the field next door. We're on exercise, just till tomorrow morning. I'll probably give the men a few training exercises round the village. You don't think anyone will mind?"
Vereker smiled again, completely unsuspicious. "Studley Constable has been used for military exercises many times before, Colonel. We'll all be happy to help in any way we can."

When his men were all gathered in the old church barn, Steiner spoke to them.
"So far, so good. From now on we've got to make everythink look as natural as possible. First, cook a meal. Afterwards some field training. That's what people will expect to see. Another thing: be careful never to be heard speaking German. If people try to speak to you, pretend you don't understand, even if you've got good English. And remember, it will be dark by six. We have only to look busy till then."

9. The Eagle Has Landed

At 11.15 on Friday morning, November 5th, Devlin was lying in bed writing in a notebook. It was raining hard outside, and there was thick mist. Molly came in, carrying a tray.
"Tea - that looks good," said Devlin. He stopped writing and poured himself a cup. Molly picked up the nootbook. "What's this? Poetry? Is it yours?" she said, full of wonder. ""There is no certain knowledge of my passing, where I have walked in woodland after dark"," she read. "Why, that's beautiful, Liam."
"Of course," he said. "As you keep telling me, I'm a lovely boy."
"I know. I could eat you up." She kissed him fiercely. "I with I didn't have to go home. But I'll come round tonight and cook your supper."
"No, you won't," he said. "I shan't be here."
Her face clouded. "Business?"
He kissed her. "Now you promised not to ask questions. I'm not sure when I'll be back. Best leave it that I'll call for you. All right?"
"If you say so," she said sadly.
As he kissed her again, they heard a car approach. Molly looked out. "It's Mrs Grey. I'm off."
She kissed him hard and he followed her out of the back door, watching her run across the field. He knew this was probably the end. "Ah, well," he said softly, "the best thing for her."
He turned and let Joanna Grey in at the front door.
"I saw Molly a second ago," she said. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I know. I'm a terrible bad lot. Well, the big day. What's the news?"
"Radl himself is in Landsvoort with them now."
"And it's still on? In spite of the fog?"
Her eyes were shining. "Whatever the weather, Steiner and his men will be here at one o'clock."


But that afternoon the weather seemed determined to defeat them. As darkness fell, fog still covered most of Western Europe.
Peter Gericke, the pilot who was to fly them across, inspected the airstrip constantly. At eight o'clock the fog was as thick as ever.
"There's no wind," he told Steiner and Radl.
"That's what we need to clear this fog: wind."

In Studley Constable things were no better. Joanna Grey sat by the radio, while Devlin checked the weather as often as Gericke. At ten o'clock nothing had changed. He flashed his torch into the fog and said softly, "A good night for dirty work, that's all you can say for it."


At Landsvoort, too, Gericke was beginning to lose hope. "There's no problem this end," he said. "I could take off blind. But to drop men at the other end, I need to see their landing place, however briefly."
Just then something touched his cheek coldly.
"Wind!" he said. "We've got wind!"
There was a sudden gap in the fog. "Can you go?" Radl demanded.
"Yes. But it's got to be now."

Twenty minutes later Joanna Grey received a radio message. As she hurried downstairs, the dog ran up to her. "No, Patch, not this time," she said.
She had to drive carefully through the fog, and it took her twenty minutes to reach Hobs End.
"What's all this?" said Devlin as he let her in.
"I've just received a message from Landsvoort. The Eagle has flown."
He stared at her. "They must be crazy. The fog's like pea-soup on the beach."
"It seemed a little clearer just now."
He looked outside. "You're right. Come on. We've got work to do."


"I'd close your eyes if I were you," Gericke told Steiner cheerfully, as he started the engines. "This is going to be pretty alarming. Anyghing could happen - and probably will."
The engines roared louder and Steiner smiled. "We have every faith in you," he shouted.
The plane began moving, gathered speed and rushed blindly into the grey wall of fog. suddenly they were in the air. Gericke kept the plane going, straight into the grey wall. At last, at two hundred metres, they burst out of the fog.
Down below, Max Radl stared up into the greyness. "Great God!" he whispered. "He did it!"

It was cold on the beach. Devlin walked up and down to keep warm, holding the radio receiver. It was ten to twelve.
"They must be close now," Joanna Grey said.
As if in direct answer, the S-phone came alive and Gericke said, astonishingly clearly, "This is Eagle. Are you receiving me, Wanderer?"
"Loud and clear," replied Devlin.
"Good. We expect to arrive in six minutes."
Devlin handed the S-phone to Joanna Grey.
"Hold that while I lay out the markers." He had a dozen bicycle lamps with him. These he placed in two parallel lines twenty metres apart, switching them on as he went.
"This damn fog," said Joanna Grey as he came back. "They'll never see us. I know they won't."
It was the first time he'd seen her nervous. He put a hand on her arm. "Be still, girl."
Faintly, in the distance, these was the sound of an aeroplane.
"All ready?" Gericke asked.
"Ready!" Steiner said.
Gericke slowed right down and flew along the beach at one hundred metres. The green light flashed. Ritter Neumann jumped into the darkness, Altmann followed, then the others, Steiner last.
The door was closed and Gericke swung out to sea again. Five minutes later Devlin said clearly over the S-phone, "The Eagle has landed. All birds safe in the nest."
"Thank you, Wandered. Good luck," said Gericke. Then he passed the news on to Max Radl.

8. Love and Doubt

The next time Devlin entered the Studley Arms, Arthur Seymour looked at him dully, stood up without a word and walked out.
The same happened at church the following Sunday. Seymour showed no emotion at all when Devlin came in, but simply got to his feet and slipped out.
Devlin waited, watching Molly. After a while she turned very slowly, looked at him for a long moment, then turned away again.
Afterwards, Devlin went out quickly and waited for her outside the church. But when Molly came out with her mother she ignored him completely.
"Ah, well, now," Devlin told himself. "And who would blame her?"

It was raining heavily when he reached the cottage. But he went out again. The gates needed checking, and walking in the heavy rain was just the way to take his mind off things.
It didn't work. He couldn't get Molly out of his thoughts. "If this is what love is really like, Liam my boy," he said softly, "you've taken one hell of a long time finding out about it."
When he returned to the cottage, he smelt cooking. She was by the fire, putting on another log.
"You'll be wet through," she said.
"Half an hour in front of that fire and a couple of whiskies inside me and I'll be fine."
She handed him a glass and the bottle of whisky. "Your supper'll be ready in half an hour. All right?"
"Fine."
"What went wrong, Liam? Why did you keep out of the way?"
"I had my reasons."
She reached out hesitantly and touched his hair. He siezed her hand and kissed it. "I love you," he said. "You know that?"
She glowed, as if a lamp had been switched on inside her. "Thank God for that. At least I can go to bed now with a clear conscience."
"I'm bad for you, girl dear. There's no future in it, I warn you. There should be a notice above that bedroom door. Abandon hope all you who enter here."
"We'll see about that," she said. "I'll get your supper." And she moved across to the stove.

Later, lying in the old bed, an arm about her, he felt more content, more at peace with himself than he had done for years.
She sighed, eyes closed. "That was lovely. Can we do it again sometime?"
"Would you give a fellow time to catch his breath?"
She smiled and moved closer to him. "What's going to happen to us, Liam? When the war's over?"
"God knows."
He lay there wondering, while Molly slept. After the war was over. Which war? He'd been fighting one way or another for twelve years now. How could he tell her that? It was a nice little farm, too - and they needed a man. God, the pity of it. He held her close and the wind blew about the old house, shaking the windows.

Father Philip Vereker was the priest at Studley Constable. A tall, thin man of thirty, he had been with the army until he had lost a leg. A year later he still suffered great pain from the wound. And he still badly missed the army.
So he was proud of his younger sister Pamela, who was in the women's Air Force. She had just been posted near Studley Constable.
She was spending the weekend with her brother. On Saturday she went for a long ride on horseback. After racing across open land, she entered a wood. There was a tree across the path, which the horse jumped easily. But as it landed, a figure leapt out of the bushes. Startled, the horse stopped suddenly, and Pamela was thrown to the ground. For a moment she lay there, eyes closed. Then she became aware of voices. She opened her eyes to see a ring of soldiers surrounding her.
"You all right, miss?" asked one of them. The voice was American.
"Who are you?" she said.
"Sergeant Garvey, Twenty-first Special Raiding Force, American Army. We're at Meltham House near here for two weeks' field training."
A car arrived at that moment. "What's going on here?" demanded the driver.
"Lady got thrown from her horse, Major." Garvey replied. "Krukowski jumped out of the bushes at the wrong moment."
"Major," she thought, surprised at his youth.
She stood up. "I'm all right."
But she half fell and the Major took her arm. "I don't think you are. You'd better come and see our medical officer."
It was a nice voice. It made her feel quite breathless. She was happy to do exactly as she was told.

After the medical officer had declared Pamela fit, the Major spent an hour showing her over the grounds of Meltham House. She enjoyed herself: Major Harry Kane was excellent company.
As they approached the house itself, and officer came out. Kane introduced them. "Colonel Shafto, allow me to present Miss Vereker."
Colonel Robert Shafto was a handsome, proud-looking man, full of restless energy.
"I was very sorry to hear of your accident, Miss Vereker," he said. "Is there anything I can do to make up for the carelessness of my men?"
"That's most kind of you," she said. "Major Kane has offered to drive me back to Studley Constable, if you can spare him."
Shafto bowed. "The least we can do. See she gets there safely, Harry."


"Were you impressed by the Colonel?" Kane asked her as they drove back.
"I'm not sure," she said. "He certainly looks very energetic."
"He's that, all right," said Kane. "Shafto is what is known in the army as a fighting soldier. All action and courage, but he doesn't use his head. And he can't take orders from anybody."


The same afternoon, Joanna Grey drove to Hobs End and found Devlin in the barn working on the motor cycle.
"I've been trying to get hold of you all week," she said. "Where have you been?"
"Around," he told her cheerfully. "Having a look at the countryside."
"So I've heard," she said angrily. "With Molly Prior. I told you to leave her alone."
"I tried. It didn't work. Anyway, what did you want? I'm busy."
"American soldiers have moved into Meltham House," she said.
"I see. Should it make any difference?"
"Not really. They're unlikely to come near here. It's a factor to be considered, that's all."
"Well," Devlin said. "let Radl know about it and there's your duty done. Now I must get on. I need this motor cycle in perfect order by this evening, to go and collect the lorry."
As Joanna Grey drove away, Molly rode up with a basket.
"I've brought you some supper."
"You're a dear. But is'll have to wait. I've got to go out tonight. A cup of tea's what I neednow, woman of the house."
She went into the cottage and put the basket on the table. Devlin's bag was at the other end. As she moved, she caught it with her arm, knocking it to the floor. Packets of banknotes fell out, and the parts of the Sten gun.
She knelt there, sunddenly icy cold. There was a step in the doorway and Devlin said quietly, "Would you put them back now, like a good girl?"
"What is it? What does it mean?"
"Nothing for little girls." Devlin put the money and the gun parts back in the bag, and closed it. Then he opened the cupboard, took out a large packet and threw it to her.
"Is the size right?"
She opened the packet. "Silk stockings," she said in delight. "Real silk. Where on earth did you get these?"
"Oh, you can get anything you want if you know where to look."
"The black market," she said, relieved. "Is that what you're mixed up in?"
He smiled. "The right colour for me."
"Liam, it's all right, isn't it?"
"And why wouldn't it be?" He kissed her quickly and went back to the motor cycle.
But it wasn't all right for Molly, he knew. For the first time he understood what he was doing to her. Her whole world was about to be turned upside down. And he would have to leave her to bear the hurt of it alone. Suddenly he hated himself.

It was after midnignt when Devlin returned from collecting the lorry. The next morning he rode over to tell Joanna Grey that they now had all the transport they would need.
"All we have to do now is wait for the next five days," he said. "And drink to our success."
Joanna Grey filled two glasses and raised hers. "God bless you, Liam, and long life."
"And you, my love."
They drank. Suddenly Devlin knew, beyond any shadow of doubt, that the whole thing was going to go as wrong as it possibly could.

7. Devlin and Molly

Devlin spent the next few days finding transport suitable for Eagle. On Sunday afternoon he rode back to the village, having bought a truck and a jeep from a garage two hundred kilometres away. He was to collect them the following week.
He approached the church just as evening prayers were begining. He was extremely wet after his long motor cycle ride through the rain. But remembering Molly, he smiled and went in.
Molly Prior was sitting with her mother, a midele-aged woman with a kind face. Devlin sat down a couple of rows behind them. When Molly turned round she simply looked at him for a second, then turned away. He realised why she didn't smile at him when he saw Arthur Seymour's mad eyes fixed to him.
After the service, Molly introduced her mother to Devlin. "We thought you might like to come and have tea with us," Molly said.
Behind them Devlin saw Arthur Seymour watching furiously. "It's very nice of you," he said, "but to be honest, I'm in no fit state."Mrs Prior reached out to touch him. "Lord bless us, boy, you're wet through. Get home and dried quickly - and come and see us another time."


Back home, Devlin lit an enormous log fire and changed into dry clothes. he was hungry, but too tired to cook. Instead, he took his bottle of whisky and a book and sat down to read by the firelight . Perhaps an hour later, the door opened. Without seeing her, he knew Molly was there.
"What kept you?" he said, without turning.
"Very clever - after I've walked over wet fields in the dark to bring you your supper. A meat and potato pie - but I suppose you've eaten."
He groaned aloud. "Don't go on. Just get it into the oven as quick as you can."
She did so, then took off her boots and raincoat.
"What are you reading?" she asked."Poetry." He handed her the book.
She looked at it in the firelight. "But I can't understand it.It's in a foreign language."
"Irish," he said. "The language of kings." He tooke the book and read to her.
"That's beautiful," she said when he stopped. She dropped down on the mat beside him, leaning against his chair, one hand touching his arm.
"Jesus, Joseph and Mary help me," said Devlin.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, girl dear, that if you don't get that pie out of the oven and on the plate this instant, I won't be responsible."She laughed. "Oh, I do like you," she said. "From the first moment I saw you I liked you." She got up and took the pie out of the oven.

After the meal they didn't talk much. She made him read more poetry to her, while she leant against him. It was far worse than he could have imagined. Not in his plan at all.
Later he walked her home. When they arrived at her gate she asked, "I was wondering. On Wednesday afternoon if you're free, I could do with some help. Some of the heavy machinery needs moving. You could have your dinner with us."
How could he refuse? "Why not?" he said.
She reached up and kissed him, with a fierce, inexperienced urgency that was incredibly moving. She leaned against him and he said gently, "You're seventeen and I'm a very old thirty-five. Have you thought about that?"
She looked up at him, eyes blind. "Oh, you're lovely," she said. "So lovely."
Devlin watched her enter her house, then started back across the fields. Suddenly Arthur Seymour stood in front of him. "I warned you," he said, "but you wouldn't listen. Now you'll have to learn the hard way."
Devlin had his shotgun with him. It wasn't loaded, but no matter. He pointed it at Seymour.
"Now you be careful," he said. "I've a licence from Sir Henry to shoot rats...."
Seymour jumped back. "I'll get you, see if I don't. And the girl, too."
He turned and ran into the night. Devlin moved on towards his cottage. He wasn't worried for himself. But Molly?
"My God," he said softly, "if Seymour harms her, I'll kill him. I'll kill him."
While Steiner and his men were training for Eagle, Radl brought Harvey Preston to join the unit. Steiner studied Preston's file, and was far from pleased with what he read.
"Do you seriously expect me to take that - that object, Max?" he demanded.
"It's the Reichsfuhrer's idea, not mine." Radl said.
"He must be mad. This operation needs a highly disciplined group of men who can move, act and think as one. That's exactly what we have, Max."
"I accept that completely."
"Then how on earth do you expect them to work with and outsider? Especially one like Preston? He doesn't even know what real soldiering is - and he's never parachuted in his life."
"True," Radl said. "But Preston has to jump only once, and in a perfect dropping area. It's surely possible to train him for that single occasion? Anyway, I'm afraid he goes - because the Reichsfuhrer thinks it's a good idea."
"Well, if I have to take him, I'll take him," said Steiner. "But by the time his training's finished, he'll wish he'd never been born."
In her small bedroom, Molly was trying to make herself attractive. Devlin was expected for dinner at any moment. As she pulled on her only pair of silk stockings, each mended many times, there was a knock at the front door. She slipped on her shoes and ran downstairs. But it was only Laker Armsby, who stood beside a tractor loaded with potatoes."Where do you want this lot, Molly?"
"In the barn, please. Here, I'll show you."
They crossed the yard, and Laker started to open one of the great barn doors. Just inside stood Arthur Seymour, cap low over the mad eyes. He seized Molly by the wrist and pulled her to him.
"Get in here. I want words with you."
Laker held Seymour's arm weakly. "Now look here, Arthur," he said. "That's no way to behave."
Seymour pushed Laker backwards into the mud, bringing a rush of blood to the old man's nose.
Molly kicked out furiously. "You let me go!"
"Oh, no. Never again, Molly." He bolted the door and took hold of her hair. "Now you be a good girl and I won't hurt you. Not if you give me what you've been giving that Irish devil."
"You smell like an old pig," she said, and bit his wrist hard. Seymour cried out in pain, loosening his hold. She turned and ran for the ladder to the upper floor.
When Devlin arrived a moment later, he saw Laker flat on his back, a bloody handkerchief to his nose. "What's going on?" he demanded.
"It's Seymour," Laker told him. "Got Molly in there, he has, and he's bolted the door."
Devlin tried his shoulder and realised at once that he was wasting his time. Then he saw the tractor. In a moment he had driven it across the yard and burst through the huge doors.
Seeing Seymour half-way up the ladder, Devlin jumped down from the tractor and kicked the ladder from under him. Seymour fell heavily to the ground.
"I'll kill you, Devlin."
He rushed in, great hands seeking to destroy. Devlin jumped to one side and Seymour's weight and speed carried him into the tractor. Devlin his him twice in the stomach, and danced away as Seymour cried out in pain.
The fight was long and violent. Seymour was far stronger, but he was half-mad. Devlin was faster and more accurate. One last blow to the chin and Seymour fell and lay on his back.
"And now will you listen to me, you devil!" said Devlin. "Touch that girl again, harm her in any way, and I'll kill you. Understand? And in future, if you are in the room and I enter, you get up and walk out."

It was late evening when Devlin returned to Hobs End. He found Joanna Grey waiting for him.
"It's got to stop, Liam," she said.
"What has?"
"Molly Prior. You're not here for that. You've got a job to do."
It was a shame, Devlin decided after she had left, but perhaps Joanna Grey was right. He thought of Molly for one moment, then firmly locked the door and settled down with a book and his whisky.
When, later, he heard her calling softly, he kept on reading. After a while, Molly went away.
He swore softly, black fury in his heart. He felt suddenly lonelier than he had ever felt in his life.

6. Devlin Arrives at Studley Constable

As Radl predicted, Devlin had little difficulty getting to Studley Constable. Now, as he sat in Joanna Grey's cottage watching her pour two large glasses of whisky, he marvelled that this pleasant-faced, white-haired woman could be a spy.
She raised her glass. "To Eagle," she said, her eyes shining
"To Eagle," Devlin repeated.
"Now to business." Joanna Grey put down her glass. "I've fixed you up with a job working for Sir Henry Willoughby. He's coming here to see you."
"Fine," said Devlin. "What's the job?"
"Keeper of the marshes at Hobs End. It could't be more isolated. There's a small cottage there. Part of the job is to keep down the rats and boxes. Sir Henry will provide you with a gun."
"Sounds good enough. What about transport?"
"Sir Henry will also provide a motor bike."
A horn sounded outside. "That's Sir Henry now," Mrs Grey said. "Leave the talking to me. Just act very respectful and speak only when you're spoken to. He'll like that."
"So you're Devlin," Sir Henry said when he came in.
Devlin jumped to his feet and stood there twisting and untwisting his cap in two hands. "I'd like to thank you, sir." He sounded twice as Irish as usual. "Mrs Grey's told me how much you've done for me. It's more than kind of you."
"Nonsense, man." Sir Henry spoke roughly, but looked pleased. "You did your best for the old country, didn't you? Wounded in France, eh?"
"I thought I'd settle Mr Devlin in for you," Joanna Grey said. "Take him to the cottage, show him around the marsh. You're so busy, I know."
"Would you, old girl?" Sir Henry forgot himself for a moment and slipped an arm about her waist. Then he removed it hastily and said to Devlin, "Right, Call at the Grange tomorrow afternoon for a shotgun. You can collect the motor bike at the same time."
Devlin actually bowed low as Mrs Grey showed Sir Henry out. "Sir Henry fancies you, then," he said when she came back in. "And at his age?"
"Autumn romance is not completely unheard of."
"More like winter, I should have thought. But it must be very useful."
"More than that, essential," she said. "Now bring your bag and I'll take you to Hobs End."

It was raining when they came to the marsh keeper's cottage, and the marsh was hidden in mist. Devlin looked about thoughtfully. It was a strange, mysterious place. Sea, mudflats, the mist, and the occasional cry of a bird.

Joanna Grey unlocked the door and they entered a large kitchen-living room. The floor was of stone, and there was a huge open fire-place. The furniture was of the simplest.
"I was raised in a cottage exactly like this in the North of Ireland," Devlin said.
He opened his bag, took out some clothes and books, and removed the bag's false bottom. In the secret place was a Walther P38 pistol, a silenced Sten gun in three parts and a tiny S-phone radio. There were also two thousand pounds in banknotes.
"Operating money," he said. "Now, let's see where the parachutists are to drop."
They walked through the rain to the warning "Beware of Mines". Joanna Grey threw a stone and Patch, the dog, jumped through the wire to get it.
"You're sure it's safe?" Devlin asked.
"Absolutely. There isn't a single mine here."
He looked all round him. He was very cheerful.
"You were right. It's going to work, you'll see. And what a beautiful place. The thought of leaving all this must break your heart."
"Leave?" She looked at him in amazement.
"What do you mean?"
"But surely you can't stay," he said. "Not afterwards. Surely you must see that?

She looked out across the sand as if for the last time. It had never occured to her that she would have to leave. She felt cold as the wind drove the rain in hard off the sea.

At eight that evening Max Radl was still at work. He'd not felt well recently and his doctor had been horrified at his condition.
"If you carry on like this, Herr Colonel, you will kill yourself," the doctor had threatened.
As Radl took two more pain-killers, Hofer enteded, his eyes bright with excitement.
"Message from Mrs Grey, Herr Colonel. Devlin's arrived safely. He's with her now."
Radl stood up, full of fierce joy. "Karl, this calls for drink." Filling two glasses, he raised his and said, "To Liam Devlin - and to Eagle, our English enterprise."

Next afternoon Devlin collected the moter cycle and shotgun from Studley Grange. He rode back into the village past an old mill with a water-wheel that wasn't turning. There he slowed for a young girl on horseback. She wore an old blue cap and a coat three sizes too big for her.

"Good day to you, Miss," he said cheerfully.
"God save the good work."
Her eyes widened in a kind of astonishment as she urged her horse up the hill.
Devlin stopped outside a pub, the Studley Arms, and noticed a man looking angrily out of the window at him. An enormous man of thirty or so, with a thick black beard.
"And what have I done to you, son?" Devlin asked himself. The man's gaze travelled to the girl and back again. It was enough. Devlin parked his motor cycle and went inside.
There were only three people in the room. the man with the black beard, and old man sitting by thefire, and the innkeeper.
"God bless all here," Devlin announced, amusing himself by acting the stage Irishman.
He put the shotgun in its bag on a table and the innkeeper held out his hand. "I'm George Wilde. You'll be Sir Henry's new keeper." He introduced the bearded man: "Arthur Seymour. And the old man by the fire is Laker Armsby."
"Would you gentlemen join me in a drink?" Devlin suggested.
"I wouldn't say no to that," Laker Armsby said.
Seymour banged his blass down on the table. "I buys my own." He picked up the gun. "Sir Henry's really looking after you, eh? This and the motor bike. Now I wonder why you deserve that?"
"Sure, and I can only put it down to my own good looks," Devlin said.
Madness sparked in Seymour's eyes. "Don't make fun of me, little man. Don't ever do that or I'll step on you as I'd step on a worm. And remember one thing in future: when I come in, you leave." He went out, banging the door.
"Is he always like that?" asked Devlin.
"Ever since I've known him," replied Wilde.
"There was a girl outside on horseback as I came in. Does he have a special interest there?"
"He wants her," Laker Armsby said. "But she won't have any of him."
"That's Molly Prior," Wilde said. "She's not eighteen yet, but she's been running the farm near Hobs End, with her mother, since her father died last year. Laker helps a little; and Seymour does some of the heavy work for them."
"And he thinks he owns the place, I suppose?" said Devlin. He emptied his glass and set it down with some more money. "Well, I'm off. Got work to do. But have another beer on me."

Devlin took a narrow path across the marsh towards the pine trees. Filled with a new sense of freedom, he rode along at full speed - a mad risk, for one worng move and he'd be into the marsh. But that was how he felt today.

He reached the pine trees and saw Molly Prior sitting gazing out to sea, her chin on her knees. The horse was near her.
Devlin got off the motor bike and lay down beside her. "A fine day, thanks be to God."
She turned and said calmly, "What kept you?"
Devlin looked at her in astonishment. "What kept me? Why, you little....."
And then she smiled, threw back her head and laughed. Devlin too. "By God, and I'll know you till the world's end." He lit a cigarette.
"Do you sure these things?"
"No."
"Good - they'd do you even more harm than Arthur. I'd watch it there, Molly Prior."
"Arthur?" she said. "You mean Arthur Seymour? Are you crazy?"
"No, but I think he is," Devlin replied.
"How did you know my name, anyway?" she asked.
"George Wilde told me at the pub."
"I see. And Arthur - was he there?"
"Yes. He seems to look on you as his personal property."
"Then he can go to hell," she said, suddenly fierce. "I belong to no man."
He looked up at her from where he lay, and smiled. "Your nose turns up - and when you're angry, your mouth goes down at the corners."
She reddened angrily. But when he pushed himself up on one elbow and leant over her, she went very still. He kissed her briefly on the mouth and rolled away. "Now get out before I let my man passion run away with me."
She jumped up, smiling. "They told me all Irishmen were mad. Now I believe them. I'll be at church Sunday evening. Will you?"
"Do I look as if I will?"
"Yes," she said seriously. "I think you do."
And she rode away.
"Oh, you fool, Liam," Devlin said softly.
"Won't you ever learn?" As he started up the motor bike, his face was wintry.