Necrocide (18 page)

“For us it was a number of days, I would not bore you with the processes but the tissues must become acclimatised to a number of chemical stimulants. I would suggest that the soldier's numbers will not have increased as yet. Von Hummel must firstly be able to learn the required techniques.”

“This buys us a little more time to prepare, good.” Bauer said thinking ahead.

“Do you think Von Hummel knows what he is doing?” Hawkins asked. It was a good question that Leballieur could not know the answer to.

“I believe that there is a chance that he is quite unaware of his surroundings, his own mortality. He has become a slave to the machine.” The scientist was no stranger to conjecture.

“This is possible.” Bauer added. “When I used the machine, I felt no compunction to leave the body of the creature I inhabited until I was torn away by its death. If Von Hummel is still aware of his actions, then not only is he clearly deranged he might also be negotiated with. It is something we must consider.”

“Negotiate?” Genevieve jumped in. “Only a fool would stand before one of those things and give it a chance to blow your head off. To kill them we have already seen that striking first, striking hard is the only way.” Genevieve was adamant that diplomacy was lunacy, experience had clearly dictated that these beings were unthinking yet relentless in their quest for blood.

“I believe a tactic of frontal assault would prove very detrimental to your health. In the town centre, there are several thousand bodies of men who have already tried that method.” Leballieur's tone grew serious. “In my opinion, you must get in without detection and somehow make your way to the laboratories. There is a central chamber where the machine is situated...here.” Leballieur pointed out a round room on the map. “As I have mentioned previously, if one should detect your presence then Von Hummel will unleash hell upon you. You must somehow draw the soldiers away from the laboratories and buy enough time for you to access the complex.”

“We don't have the manpower for such a feat. We have to assume that Von Hummel is not an idiot, he will surely detect such an obvious ploy.” Hawkins remarked drawing a reply from Bauer.

“John, Von Hummel is an intellect; he is neither a strategist nor a soldier. He has a fundamental weakness in that his forces cannot respond to a changing situation; they rely on his input only. He may be well guarded but his position is weak when facing guerrilla tactics. The crucial aspect is the secret passage. If it has been undetected, it is a back door into the heart of the complex and his undoing.” Hawkins nodded and felt comforted by the Colonel's confidence.

“We can sneak in there and put a bullet in Von Hummel's head before he even knows we are there.” Genevieve said most eloquently.

“Indeed.” Bauer chuckled.

“So how can we draw the soldier's attention away from the labs? In order to get to the 'machine room', we would, if this map is anything to go by, walk across half the tunnels in the bunker to get there. You can guarantee that Von Hummel will have some kind of personal guard.” Hawkins asked knowing that anyone who triggered the 'distraction' would be in serious peril.

“More importantly, is there an easier way to kill these bastards than using magazines of bullets?” Hawkins continued remembering his sobering experiences of engaging them hand to hand. Leballieur put his thinking cap on.

“The soldiers are technically dead already. They do not breathe in a conventional way. Their blood is replaced with an oxygen rich chemical compound that is far more efficient than our haemoglobin. The nutrition they take in does not get digested in the normal way. It slowly disperses energy and invigorates their 'blood' at the same time. The operating efficiency of these soldiers diminishes quickly when their food supply is cut short. Unfortunately, in the bunker there is enough nutrition to last several months. It was believe it or not, quite easy to manufacture. Clearly a siege would not work. Bodily harm will of course be detrimental to their fighting performance but as they do not feel pain, they will continue with their mission until fluid loss begins to take its toll. Even with half its body missing, the soldiers still operate quite well and would be still a deadly foe. A toxic dose however, a nerve agent of some kind would diminish their capacity significantly as it would you or I.”

Bauer sighed and leaned back to the wall stretching his long legs out.

“It is unlikely that we could indeed find the materials for, deploy and survive a chemical assault. It is a shame however as the bunker is not only their fortress but also their weakness. Escape from such an attack would be unlikely.”

“Chemical assault?” Hawkins inquired, this was news to him.

“Unfortunately, the use of cyanide gas is something my German comrades have explored in recent times.” Bauer looked grim.

“Zyklon-B?” Leballieur asked solemnly. Bauer looked amazed that the scientist was aware of the compound.

“Yes, it would have the desired effect but I highly doubt that there would be any in the Caen base.”

“Indeed, I hear that you save that pleasure for the Jews.” Leballieur remarked bitterly. Bauer looked up in surprise but also great shame.

“A great many horrors have been committed in the name of my people, I for one do not condone them, and in fact I abhor them. Let us do our utmost to prevent another and not dwell on the past.” Bauer was clearly upset by Leballieur's home truths.

“Is it not better to take the knowledge we have learned and use it? Get out of this town and communicate with your command, tell them about what's happened here and prepare them for what's to come. Like you said, we don't have the ability to take them down in numbers.” Hawkins was getting nervous about what was being asked of him. Genevieve sat crossed legged on the cold floor.

“No, we must act now Hawkins. Our path is clear; we have already seen the Germans have failed. The entrance to the bunker is clearly well protected. We must use stealth. In the resistance, we achieved a great many victories through the use of our brains not our guns.”

Hawkins looked over to Genevieve; she had shamed him with her courage.

“Then let me be the one who stirs up a diversion, I was never one for sneaking around anyway.” Hawkins announced with bold abandon.

“No, we stick together. Our friend Leballieur and his little team of soldier's will do that job quite nicely.” Bauer dictated much to the behest of the French scientist.

“OK, we will go along with your plan but we will not stand toe to toe with those monsters. I have a guilty conscience to appease but my boys here do not deserve to perish at their hands.”

Bauer nodded with acceptance, he did not for one minute expect Leballieur's child soldiers to go into battle and face certain death.

“None of you will battle the soldier's; however, it will be a long night.”

CHAPTER 23

When darkness fell it the blackest of nights. Heavy cloud cover darkened the skies and Bauer’s makeshift squad of misfits ventured out of the house and into the deserted streets of Caen. Their mission was to find and collect anything that could be reasonably used as an explosive or indeed anything that would even make an impressive noise. Lightly armed and taking no chances, each of the familiar three companions were accompanied by one of Leballieur's little soldier's and their agile command of moving around the town undetected was apparent. They had quickly adapted to the conditions and learned the routes the cold soldiers used to patrol the town.

There were rich pickings to be had along the main thoroughfares where the mutilated bodies of German soldier's still lay, not yet harvested by Von Hummel's army or perhaps discarded as simply too damaged. Grenades were plucked from dead men's hands and the scavenging crew quickly saw to it that any dormant vehicles were stripped of gasoline canisters and tanks siphoned. There was the odd close call with a roving patrol but even the enhanced visual acuity of the cold soldiers was not enough to detect the shadowy figures of the humans as they picked their way through mounds of rubble and debris. Hawkins delighted in finding a mortar with half a box of rounds in a bomb crater, it was just the job for some long range chaos and that is exactly what they planned to rain down upon the unsuspecting cold soldiers the following morning.

After a couple of hours and several trips back to the safe house, a small stockpile of arms and munitions were piled high in the corner of the room and Bauer got to work devising detonation devices as the others shared a cold meal before taking to their beds.

In the living room which was like a scout camp on the final day of the jamboree, the weariness had taken its toll and one by one, Leballieur's friends took it in turn to sit in the window and stared blearily eyed out into the road keeping guard over those who risked their lives the following day. Hawkins rolled himself into a shivering ball underneath the most meagre of sheets as the house was exposed to the night air through a gaping hole in its roof. Next to him, Genevieve lay facing him, her eyes always appearing to be open, and her mind in meditation.

“Can't you sleep?” Hawkins whispered. Genevieve rolled her head a little.

“I am fine, get some rest.” She said brushing off his attentions. Hawkins had something to say and it seemed the appropriate time.

“Look, tomorrow maybe the last time we ever see each other. I just wanted to say that I was sorry about what happened before. It shouldn’t have happened; I think I took advantage of you.” Hawkins whispered secretly as he brought his face closer to the girl's.

“No, think no more on it. You are a good man.” Genevieve replied, not giving anything away about how the affair had made her feel which was perhaps what Hawkins needed to hear.

“Can I ask why?” Hawkins continued, much to the annoyance of Genevieve who closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. The extended silence brought about a big sigh from the Brit and he rolled over with frustration. As he fell asleep, Hawkins body lurched from side to side as he recalled the perilous car chase in Bayeux. The haunted faces of the cold soldiers were etched into his psyche and he saw them over and over in his dreams.

*

Hawkins awoke suddenly in a cold sweat, the room was still dark and as he looked around, he saw Genevieve's body squirming under her blanket and Bauer propped up against the wall opposite snoring serenely. He had been dreaming of the cold soldiers and envisaging the encounters of the coming day. He saw George Granger's face in the confusion, blackened and charred. He saw his friend walk with the other dead, an organic machine of death, relentless and indefatigable. It was enough to jolt him from a deep sleep and be relieved that the reality of the new day was mildly more tolerable than his perverse dream.

Hawkins rolled over to see Genevieve's bright white eyes staring at him. Hawkins smiled, embarrassed a little by his fitful sleep.

“Don't you ever sleep?” Hawkins whispered.

“There is plenty of time for that when I am dead.” Genevieve replied, her lighter tone coming as a surprise to the cynical Brit.

“There are so many things in life I haven’t done yet. I don't want it to be over.” Hawkins whispered, allowing his vulnerability to spill out a little.

“You are full of regret; it will mean nothing when you are gone. You think too much.” Genevieve replied cryptically.

“How did you get to be so strong?” Hawkins inquired; he had not failed to be impressed by Genevieve's strength at such a tender age.

“In this world, you must not hesitate to take the things you want.” She replied, her eyes intriguing Hawkins as much as her words. Genevieve took a deep breath and rolled over to face away from the Brit, the outline of her svelte body just about determinable in the darkness. Hawkins lay there for a few moments questioning himself.
Was that a proposition? Was Genevieve testing his character? Was she attempting to find out if he was half the man she hoped he would be or was she testing his self restraint and his standing as a gentleman?
Hawkins sighed as his mind raced. There was nobody else awake in the room, even the young lookout had succumbed to a seated slumber.

Reaching out, Hawkins traced the outline of Genevieve’s hips and bottom with his hand hovering over her form almost close enough to feel the warmth of her body. Did he dare touch her and if so would he be callously spurned again or invited into her comforting breast. Hawkins shuffled closer to her and moulded his body next to hers and with an element of relief; she returned the gesture, planting her backside into the contours of his eager body. Hawkins nuzzled his face into the nape of her neck. Her long curly hair smelled of the smoke and destruction from the burning houses but her skin was as soft as silk, it was such a contradiction of experiences much like the multi-faceted character that was Genevieve herself. Hawkins ran his hand under Genevieve’s sheet and lifted her dark blood red dress, running his hand across her hot thighs he felt close to her at last as she relaxed under his careful touches and allowed him to roam freely and explore her body. Genevieve did not reciprocate Hawkins bold gestures, she laid back and allowed the Brit to be in charge, Hawkins saw this as a favourable sign, at last he was in control and Genevieve appeared to be enjoying the experience. Hawkins shuffled closer still and through careful and silent manoeuvres, entered Genevieve who accepted him with little fuss. Unlike the previous occasion in the farmhouse, Hawkins was deliberate in his actions, he did not want to rush, fumble or make a fool of himself. He was aware that they were not alone and he strained to keep himself in check even as the pleasure heightened into an excruciating euphoria. Genevieve once again remained in control of herself and although she offered little resistance, she did not go overboard to accommodate her lover. If the Brit wanted her, he would have to work hard for his gains. Hawkins filled her with his seed and as he experienced the unique sensation of joining with his partner, this time he did not feel the terrible guilt of the first encounter. Genevieve had not been straight forward, at times she had been downright unpleasant, selfish and unnecessarily aloof. She had always remained alluring, however. Hawkins accepted from the start that he was infatuated by her elegance and her power to influence him. By taking her again, he felt a little of that power draining away, he had succeeded in breaking her barriers, in time perhaps, he would operate on an equal footing and it would be she that would come running to him for comfort.