Tomb of the Lost (33 page)

“
What the bloody hell was that?
”
Wilf spoke next to his friend.

Alf was studying the smoke. He didn
’
t answer.

“
One of those planes from earlier?
”

Alf shook his head.

“
No they are long gone.
”

He continued watching it for a minute.

“
Johnny,
”
he called finally.

Larder came forward.

“
Yes sir.
”

“
Take someone with you, take that truck and find out what that was.
”

“
Yes sir,
”
Johnny replied excitedly.

“
Larder!
”

Johnny stopped. Alf smiled at him.

“
Be careful private.
”

“
Yes sergeant.
”

Johnny grabbed his friend from the pub that night, Tim, and together they crossed over to the Bedford. Burroughs tossed him a pair of binoculars which he caught mid air. They climbed into the truck, Johnny started it and they waved as they drove away. Alf and Burroughs watched them go.

“
He really is a good lad Alf.
”

Alf patted his friend around the shoulder.

“
He
’
s the best Wilf.
”

They turned at the sound of engines from behind. More British trucks arriving and one jeep. An officer climbed out. He was English, a Major, but wearing the uniform of the 4
^th
Indian army.

The engineers saluted. The salute was returned.

“
Who
’
s in charge here?
”

“
That would be me sir Captain William Rogers of the royal engineers.
”

“
I am Major Basil Shaw. We are here to help you with the removal and relocation of enemy mines and assist with some tanks that need recovery. You and your men are to place yourselves under my command. Any questions?
”

“
None sir.
”

“
Very well,
”
Shaw said looking around
“
Is this all the men you have?
”

“
Yes sir apart from two I
’
ve sent to investigate an explosion over there,
”
Rogers said pointing to the drifting smoke
“
I also have a man dead.
”

“
What happened to him?
”

“
Would you believe an American pilot.
”

“
An American.
”

“
Two P40
’
s strafed us. Two of my men were hit in the legs. One died. The other needs a hospital but there
’
s no hope out here. We
’
ll have to hope he
’
ll pull through.
”

Major Shaw nodded.

“
Very well. We
’
ll do everything we can for him,
”
he stopped
“
What
’
s that over there?
”

“
Two dead Germans. We found them.
”

An Indian sergeant arrived. All the Indians were wearing turbans.

“
Shall I let the men disembark Major?
”

“
No sergeant Singh. We
’
ll move out as soon as the rest of Captain
…
.?
”

“
Rogers sir.
”

“
As soon as Captain Rogers men are back. Do you have a medical orderly?
”

“
Unfortunately he
’
s the one over there with his legs shot up.
”

“
Sergeant Singh find medic Sanjay, ask him to tend to the injured engineer, ask him sergeant to report to me personally the mans condition. Remind him that there is no possibility of getting to a hospital.
”

Rogers saluted.

“
Thank you for what you
’
ve done sir.
”

“
Sanjay
’
s skills are very accomplished. You need not worry about your man. Now Captain, sergeant, perhaps we could consult our maps.
”

“
Of course sir.
”

“
Race you,
”
Johnny laughed as he and Tim ran up the slope of a large dune. They had driven the road towards where they had seen the smoke earlier. Then they had left the road and parked the truck behind a dune to hide. Now they were scrambling up the sand pulling at each others shirts to be the first one to reach the top. Tim got there first and threw himself down. Johnny was about to charge past when Tim grabbed him and pulled him down.

“
Keep down Johnny,
”
Tim spoke quietly
“
Look they
’
re about a mile away I
’
d guess,
”
Tim put the binoculars up to his face
“
Just as I feared they
’
re Germans!
”

Johnny could make out people moving and trucks parked. There were some black objects in the road which he assumed was what had caused the smoke.

Tim handed Johnny the binoculars.

“
I
’
d say if they are headed our way then we
’
re in trouble.
”

Through the enhanced view Johnny could see wreckage in the road. Four men were sweeping metal detectors from side to side. A car, trucks and motorcycles. There didn
’
t appear to be any armour such as tanks. The motorcycle side cars were equipped with MG42
’
s. Apart from that he couldn
’
t see any other weapons.

As he watched he saw the four mine detectors finish their work and begin making their way back. One of them stopped and spoke to one of the cars occupants. Then he saw the car move forward. He moved the binoculars around and caught sight of the motorcycles saddling up. He put the binoculars down.

“
Shit! Shit! We gotta get fucking moving!
”

Tim put the field glasses to his eyes now.

“
Holy Christ. Johnny. Run! Run!
”

They only took a minute to run back down to the truck, both of them falling over in their haste to get away. Tim climbed up and jumped into the passenger seat, his Sten cradled across his lap. Johnny put his on the floor near his feet as he climbed into the driving seat. He slammed his door shut and his fingers scrabbled for the ignition key.

He turned it.

Nothing!

He tried again in two, then three quick successions.

Still nothing.

Tim was frantically looking out of the window expecting to see the whole German army descending on them at any moment.

“
It won
’
t fucking start!, Johnny was desperate.

Tim looked at his friend. Their eyes met. No words were necessary. They were possibly living the last few minutes of their lives. Tim looked in the door mirror at their tracks left in the sand. He knew that when that car rounded the bend at the bottom of the dune the tracks would be seen and the game up. The Germans would surely investigate!

Johnny looked at his friend again, frantically turning the key. Suddenly the engine roared into life. Johnny closed his eyes and blew out his breath. He crunched the gears in to reverse and backed the Bedford a short distance, then he crunched it into first and drove off. Finding firmer ground he got the Bedford into third and hit the tarmac road at thirty miles an hour just in front of the Mercedes which had to swerve to avoid being hit and came to an abrupt stop.

Wurtz leaped out of the car and stared angrily at the tailboard as it sped away. He turned and shouted at the Mercedes driver.

“
What the hell was that?
”

“
It was British sir.
”

Wurtz wasted no time. He put his fingers in the corners of his mouth and whistled waving the lead truck and motorcycles forward. The truck screeched to a halt and Wehrmacht soldiers jumped down onto the road.

“
After them!
”
he roared.

Soldiers jumped into the motorcycle sidecars and they roared away, the passengers loading the MG42
’
s.

It didn
’
t take them long to catch the truck. Johnny gave out a yelp of surprise when he checked the door mirror and saw the first of the motorcycles catching them.

“
Oh God! Motorbikes!
”
he yelled.

Tim looked into his mirror. He could see two his side. Realising it would take too long to wind down his window he smashed it with his gun instead. He leaned out and sent a burst at the lead motorcycle hitting it many times, catching its riders unawares. The lead rider backed off. He looked down. Miraculously he wasn
’
t hurt and his bike not badly damaged. He closed in on the truck again. Tim leaned out and sent another burst which missed the bikes. The trigger clicked, the magazine empty. The lead rider saw Tim dart back inside the window. He made his move, opened up his throttle and drew alongside just as Tim leaned out with Johnny
’
s gun. The MG42 jammed as Tim emptied Johnny
’
s Sten into the lead riders chest. He was thrown backwards off the bike in a spray of blood and guts. The passenger let go of the MG42 and tried to grab the handlebars. The bike was wobbling uncontrollably and he fell between it and the sidecar as it cart wheeled over and over. He went under the back wheels of the Bedford and it minced him instantly into a pulp.

“
Got one of them!
”
Tim shouted with glee.

Johnny punched the air with joy

“
Felt him go under the wheels,
”
he said looking into the mirror at the red mash left behind.

The two remaining motorcycle sidecars were now flanking the Bedford
’
s tail. Johnny could see in his mirrors both machine gunners ready. So far the Germans hadn
’
t fired a shot.

Now they did.

A wicked burst from an MG42 ricocheted off the trucks sides, the bullets tearing through canvas looking for victims. Johnny couldn
’
t understand why they weren
’
t shooting out his tyres. Suddenly Johnny jammed on the brakes. The two motorcycles rocketed past and Johnny swerved into the one on his side crushing it. Tim wasn
’
t so lucky. The one on his side fired off a volley and he ducked but not before he was hit in the arm. Blood splashed the inside of the door and ran down the outside. He let out a howl of pain. Johnny looked across at his companion. He could see bullet holes in the door. Incredibly nothing else inside the cab had been hit. Loose MG42 bullets were rolling around on the floor.

“
Tim are you badly hurt?
”

Tim was ripping bits of his shirt off to make a tourniquet. He was in the process of tying it just above his elbow using his good arm and his teeth. He grunted with the pain.

“
I don
’
t think so. It passed straight through. It sure does bloody hurt. ARRGGHH!
”
he cursed as the truck hit a series of bumps in the road.

“
Sorry. Sorry. Bloody hell your arm looks bad mate.
”

Tim wiped the sweat off his face with his good arm.

“
Listen I think I can still fire the gun but you may have to load it for me.
”

Johnny looked in the mirror. The remaining motorbike was no where to be seen. He began slowing down again.

“
I can
’
t see him. He
’
s not there anymore.
”

Tim leaned his head out of the window.

“
Yes he is. I can see his shadow behind us.
”

Next time Johnny looked the motorcycle was back in his mirror. He was about to look away when panic set in.

“
Shit Tim. His passenger is gone.
”

They both glanced at each other.

“
He
’
s in the back of the truck,
”
Johnny said.

Johnny could see the German in the mirror. He had climbed out of the back of the lorry and was now creeping along its side. He had a pistol in his hand.