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.
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