Tomb of the Lost (42 page)

“
No. No one has noticed us yet.
”

“
Would you say we
’
re out of range of that MG42? The one in the tower.
”

“
Maybe but only just.
”

“
Johnny I need you to grab the propeller and pull it down as hard as you can.
”

Johnny was about to rush off.

“
But only when I say so.
”

“
Right.
”

“
Keep your eye on what
’
s going on over there.
”

“
O.K.
”

Alf climbed into the cockpit and began flicking switches remembering everything the Indian had told him. The instruments were slightly different but the basics were similar. He put his feet on the pedals to get their feel. Johnny was waiting patiently for Alf to give the signal. Alf suddenly put his thumb up and Johnny pulled down with all his might. The propeller rotated once and the engine turned over, then silence. To Johnny
’
s nerves the noise was deafening but the sound barely made it across the desert.

Kahler had just put the last of the oil drums back when he glanced at the plane. He saw the pilot trying to start it. Then he snapped back. The football was still in the same place where he sent Larder to get it. He stopped and searched the faces inside the compound looking for the young Englishman. He couldn
’
t see him. Kahler was staring at the pilot trying to start the plane.

Suddenly the door to Schwann
’
s office opened and Schwann shouted
“
Attention!
”
as Von Brockhorst stepped out onto the wooden balcony behind him. They both stopped at the top of the stairs.

“
Well everything seems satisfactory Captain. I know
…
.
”

Von Brockhorst stopped talking when he heard the Fiesler
’
s engine splutter into life. Schwann was watching Kahler who was sprinting for the watch tower.

“
What is that man doing?
”
Von Brockhorst asked as Kahler reached the ladder and rapidly began climbing it shouting at the top of his voice. Kahler reached the platform, elbowed the guard out of the way and swung the barrel of the MG42 in the direction of the plane and opened fire. The first burst of bullets raced across the desert floor. The second kicked up around Johnny
’
s legs. He ran around and climbed inside the plane.

“
Bloody hell Alf that was close.
”

Von Brockhorst couldn
’
t believe his eyes.

“
Why the hell is that idiot shooting at my pilot?
”

At the first sound of the gunfire the British P.O.W.
’
s had dived for the dirt.

“
Stay down all of you!
”
Schwann ordered between Kahler
’
s firing. Suddenly the MG42 jammed. Schwann was about to shout at Kahler when the plane began to move forward. Von Brockhorst was still staring at Kahler.

“
I demand to know why that man is shooting at my pilot.
”

Schwann saw the body of Kleber laying on the ground.

“
I think sir that may be your pilot.
”

Von Brockhorst
’
s eyes widened. Suddenly he jumped into action.

“
Stop them!
”
he shouted
“
They
’
re stealing my plane.
”

“
After them,
”
Schwann ordered every German in earshot. Some armed, some not. They ran as ordered but the attempt would be futile. The aeroplane was already bouncing along the desert floor gaining speed.

Kleber was coming round. He sat up holding his chin and turned his head towards the sound of his aeroplane. It was moving away from him. Then he realised what had happened.

“
The bastard!
”
he said out loud.

Then the Storch turned and was lumbering back towards him. He got to his feet and waited. Alf had straightened the plane up and now pushed forward on the throttle. Johnny beside him was punching the air in delight. Alf looked out of the window and saw what looked like the whole of the German army descending upon them trying to cut them off. On foot!

“
Johnny we
’
re not out of this yet.
”

Kahler was too busy trying to free the jammed machine gun. Suddenly it freed and he opened fire without looking. Several Germans were hit in the back and killed, others writhed in agony. Horrified Kahler stopped firing.

“
Hold your fire! Hold your fire!
”
Schwann shouted.

Some of the British started to cheer when they saw but Burroughs shut them up. Schwann ran down the stairs. He crossed quickly to Wilf and yanked him to his feet and put his Luger to the side of Burroughs head. Beyond the running Germans Johnny could see it.

“
Alf.
”

Alf looked across. He could see it was Burroughs. He eased back on the throttle and then committed himself.

“
Sorry Wilf,
”
he said and pushed the throttle all the way forward.

Schwann angrily withdrew his pistol and fired it into the air.

“
They saw and they didn
’
t care,
”
he said.

“
Why would they. They take off I
’
m dead. They stop, we
’
re all dead.
”

“
Who are they?
”

Wilf smiled.

“
Never mind, a roll call will reveal them. They will not get away.
”

“
My dear Captain I fear that they already have,
”
Burroughs pointed at the aeroplane as it left the ground.

As they had increased speed on the ground Alf had realised that the pilot was standing directly in his way.

“
What is he doing.
”

Johnny had just found a loaded handgun in a pouch.

“
Want me to shoot him Alf?
”

Alf shook his head.

“
He
’
ll move.
”

Kleber did.

Right at the last moment. Or so Alf thought. Kleber actually rolled out of the way, came up onto his feet, ran after the plane and grabbed onto the wheel struts and was now hanging on for dear life as the plane gained height. Kleber slipped once, regained his hand hold, climbed up and opened the passenger door on a surprised Johnny Larder. Johnny recovered quickly to lash out but missed. Kleber tried to grab him as Johnny brought the hand holding the gun around. Kleber was the quicker of the two, however, and he slammed the door on Johnny
’
s arm. The gun flew from Johnny
’
s hand and it clattered across the cockpit floor and under Alf
’
s feet. The small aeroplane was barely a hundred feet from the ground and Alf dipped its wings to try to eject the unwanted passenger. Kleber was having none of it. After all this was his plane. He wasn
’
t about to give it up without a fight. The next time the door opened he grabbed Johnny and tried to pull him out. Johnny panicked and grabbed hold of Alf who had just managed to get hold of the gun. Alf levelled it at Kleber
’
s head who instantly stopped what he was doing. He hung on with all his strength. He looked down at the ground, certain death whichever way you looked at it. He was tempted to jump. To be in control of his demise and not someone else. Then kleber looked into Alf
’
s eyes.

“
Do it Alf! Do it! Kill him!
”

Johnny couldn
’
t understand what the old
’
un was waiting for.

Kleber started to laugh. Alf was glancing from the German to where he was going.

“
What
’
s so funny? Alf Ask him.
”

Alf spoke in poor German, slowly he lowered the gun. Johnny couldn
’
t believe his eyes.

“
What are you doing?
”

“
Johnny pull him in.
”

“
What?
”

“
Help him. Quick before he falls.
”

Johnny just stared open mouthed.

“
Larder I gave you an order.
”

Johnny sprung into action. He grabbed Kleber and started to haul him in. Johnny had to move back to get him inside. The two men lay on the floor of the plane panting. Alf passed the gun back to Johnny.

“
Keep this on him.
”

Kleber shook his head and said something to Alf. The Englishman understood only the words
“
Not necessary.
”

“
Just cover him with the gun. You don
’
t have to put it in his face just keep it in his general direction.
”

Larder did as he was told. Kleber motioned that he wished to sit in the passenger seat. Alf agreed, explaining that if the German tried anything Larder would shoot him dead. Kleber nodded that he understand. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered them. Both Englishmen declined so he shrugged and put them away. They flew in silence for a few minutes. Then Johnny asked.

“
Ask him what was so funny back there!
”

Alf spoke to Kleber while continuing to look ahead. The German words making him sound so funny as usual.

“
He says he was laughing at the absurdity of him acting the hero and jumping onto his plane. So far he has seen no action of any kind in this war and now this, trying to stop someone from stealing his plane. He just thought it was funny.
”

Johnny nodded to Kleber who spoke to Alf again.

“
He wants to know why I didn
’
t shoot him. When I had the chance with him hanging on helplessly as he was.
”

“
What did you tell him?
”

“
That it would be murder. That I wasn
’
t a murderer and couldn
’
t kill him in cold blood.
”

Then Alf said something else in German. Kleber looked at him for a moment. Then suddenly he burst out laughing and then Alf joined him. Johnny was grinning like people who watch other people laugh without understanding the joke.

“
What did you say Alf?
”

Alf tried to stop laughing but tittered between words.

“
I asked him if he thought the General would be cross.
”

They all laughed together. Alf had tears in his eyes.

Von Brockhorst watched the small aeroplane as it got smaller and smaller in the sky. Finally he could see it no more. He looked around the camp. The captured British watched silently but he could see that they were restless. They wanted to leap and shout. The Germans stood by in embarrassed silence like guilty school children standing before their headmaster. Von Brockhorst looked up at the tower. Kahler was looming over the sentry. He was more worried about the trouble he was in than the fact that he
’
d just shot some of his countrymen in the back. Finally Von Brockhorst looked at Schwann who was standing nervously to one side. Schwann stared back. He was sure that the next words the General spoke would be to order his execution. The General just coldly stared at him. The younger man tried to read what was behind the eyes. What thoughts were going through that brilliant brain, but he couldn
’
t, there was no emotion there at all. Von Brockhorst opened his mouth to speak but closed it again instantly as Schwann panicked and began blurting out an explanation.

“
Herr General we
’
ll do everything in our power to see that these men are punished. They
’
ll not get far
…
.
”
he continued feeling his courage build now that he had spoken to the General
“…
.I
’
ll have their corpses brought to you by sundown. With your permission I
’
ll personally lead a team to find them. They will not make a mockery of General Hans Von Brockhorst.
”

Schwann clicked his heels and delivered the best salute of his military life.

Von Brockhorst just glared at him. Finally he said.

“
Have you finished?
”