Dave Dawson with the Commandos

by Robert Sidney Bowen

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  _Vulture Nest_

  Dave Dawson stole a glance at his watch and saw that there was littlemore than an hour and a half until daylight. An hour and a half in whichto accomplish something which, if things had only gone as planned,should have been cleaned up a good two hours before! He clamped his lipstight to choke back the bitter groan that rose up in his throat, andpeered out from behind the thick clump of bushes at the scene that laybefore him.

  He was hugging the ground on the south side of a small yet billiardtable flat field. On the other side, and not two hundred yards fromwhere he lay, was a group of small buildings which marked the beginningof the outskirts of the French village of Evaux. In front of the groupof small buildings were half a dozen German Staff cars, motorcycles, acouple of armored cars, and a hundred or more Germans of all sizes andranks. Busy bee activity was in progress, too. Cars were rushing up aroad that led out of some woods, to brake scream to a halt in front ofthe buildings, where the occupants would leap out and go dashing inside.A dispatch rider would come tearing up on his motorcycle, andpractically throw himself from it in his haste to get inside with hisdispatches. And twice an Arado army cooperation plane slid down to alanding on the small flat field, and quickly taxied over to join thegeneral hubbub.

  For thirty minutes, now, Freddy and he had been hugging the ground outof sight of prying eyes and silently studying the layout before them.And their thoughts were far from happy ones. Somewhere over on the otherside of the field, in one of the buildings--and they had a pretty fairidea which one it was--Field Marshal von Staube and Luftwaffe Marshalvon Gault were receiving reports at the rate of about one every fiveminutes on the progress of the United Nations Commando raid on the LeHavre area. How that raid was making out, neither Dave nor Freddy couldtell. They could hear the distant roar of coastal batteries, the crashof exploding bombs, and the terrific thunder of ammo dumps blowing up.And every once in a while they caught the echo of savage fighting inthe air. But what had been accomplished, and what hadn't beenaccomplished, were two things beyond their knowledge at the moment.

  "Thought up any plan yet, Dave?"

  Freddy's quietly spoken question caused Dave to start a little. Hechewed on his lower lip for a moment, and then shook his head.

  "Not even close to an idea!" he grated. "At least not one that wouldgive us even a Chinaman's chance. How about you?"

  "Mind a blasted blank!" the English youth sighed. "Getting von Staubeand von Gault away from that crowd over there would be as easy asgetting Hitler out of his precious Berlin bomb shelter during an R.A.F.raid. I haven't even seen either of them poke their noses outside yet.And blast it! It'll be daylight soon."

  Dave nodded soberly, turned slightly and stared toward the east. He wasnot looking for the dawn, however. He was looking at the very firstthing he had noticed when Freddy and he had arrived at the edge of thisfield. It was the Dornier Do. Seventeen light bomber resting peacefullyon the edge of the east side of the field. There were a couple ofMesserschmitt One-Tens, and a single One-Nine, too, but Dave hardlygave them a glance. He stared longingly at the Dornier, and his poundingheart wept bitter tears.

  If only Jones had not met his Fate! If only the man had lived, and beenable to play his part in this life and death, victory and defeatstruggle. If only--But what was the use of thinking about what mighthave been? The key man was gone. The one main link to success was gone.Whether they won out or failed depended solely upon Freddy Farmer andhimself. But what could Freddy and he do now? What possible chance didthey have against such overwhelming odds? How in the world could they beexpected to perform the absolutely impossible? They were only human.They weren't miracle men who could simply snap their fingers, and,_presto_, magic was done. They--

  For an instant his eyes strayed to one of the Messerschmitt One-Tens.There was an avenue of escape for Freddy and himself. Just a couple ofguards watching over those planes over there. They could be taken careof in short order, and Freddy and he could get one of those One-Tens inthe air and be on their way back to England before the others realizedwhat was taking place. Sure they could! And they could explain to MajorBarber how they'd found Jones dead, how they had been chased all nightby Nazi soldiers, and how it would have simply been asking for certaindeath to attempt to kidnap von Staube and von Gault under suchimpossible circumstances. Darned right! They'd tell Major Barber--

  Dave clamped down hard on his whirling thoughts, and his whole body grewhot with shame. A fine soldier he was! Just about as much courage as anew born rabbit. Just a quitter. Afraid he might get hurt? Afraid hemight get killed? My, my, what a pity! Well, never mind. Just go onhome, and Major Barber would pat him sympathetically on the back, andsay not to worry, and that it was really too much to have asked of anyman. Yes, yes. Just go to sleep, my little man. And sweet dreams! Maybesome day somebody else will grab von Staube and von Gault, and theneverything will be just dandy!

  "Dave! What in the world's the matter with you? Your face is as red as abeet! Don't you feel all right?"

  Freddy Farmer's anxious words snapped Dave out of his bitter reverie. Hestopped looking at the Messerschmitts and met his pal's gaze.

  "Just learning how a guy can get to hate himself," he said evenly. "Butskip it. I don't want to talk about it. Freddy?"

  "Yes, Dave?"

  The Yank-born air ace hesitated and stared for a moment over toward theother side of the field.

  "When a fellow can't figure out a plan," he presently said slowly, "theonly thing to do is to wade in swinging with both hands, and hope thatsome kind of a plan will pop up. You agree with that?"

  "Quite," the English youth said evenly. "Fact is, I was just going tosay that I think it's a bit too late, now, to bother about thinking up aplan. I think we should simply go on over there, and--well, trust toluck, I guess, that we'll meet up with a bit of luck. Maybe it's silly,and stupid, and--"

  Freddy paused and shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

  "It is all of that," Dave said, and absently wiped beads of sweat fromhis forehead. "But that's how it is. Me, I'm sick of playing Indians andcowboys, crawling around in the dark, and getting no place. I'm forbarging right into the business. And if we get caught on the wrong endof a gun, then--then that'll be that."

  "Let's stroll around the west side of the field," Freddy said, andstarted to get up onto his feet. "A chance those guards by the planesmight get a bit curious, you know. I've noticed that none of the othershave gone near them."

  "Strictly for Staff use, is my guess," Dave grunted as he got up too."Just in case something pops around here, von Staube and von Gault aremaking sure they'll get out fast. Makes Nazi generals sore as thedickens to get killed, you know. Can't strut any more, or order womenand children hostages shot, or have any kind of fun. They--Jeepers! Holysmokes! That's an idea!"

  "What?" Freddy demanded. "Shooting women and children hostages, and--"

  "No, heck no!" Dave shot at him as they moved along toward the west sideof the field. "Just had a sudden idea. But I've got to mull over it alittle before it would make sense. And speaking of sense, good sense--"

  "Is there a place for that sort of thing, now?" Freddy asked in a bittervoice.

  "Darned right there is!" Dave said. "Let's use our heads before we losethem. Beginning with now, pal, we don't know a word of the Englishlanguage. We talk strictly German from here in. Right?"

  "Absolutely!" Freddy gasped. "Stupid of us, of course. Right you are,_mein Herr_! German it shall be."

  The two air aces lapsed into thoughtful silence, and walked along theedge of the small field, and around the west side toward the cluster ofHeadquarters buildings. With every step he took Dave's heart was up inhis throat, and pounding furiously. They were beginning to meet Germansoldiers and officers now, and he was filled with the gnawing fear thatthey would be stopped and challenged. After all, even the boastful,cocksure Nazis don't allow everybody to wander about an H.Q. location.

  It so happened, though, that they wer
e not challenged once. Those theymet either believed they had a perfect right to be strolling along, orelse they were too busy with their own thoughts to notice them. Anyway,they were able to keep right on going, and eventually were part of agroup of Germans gathered in front of the center building in thecluster. They stood close together and listened intently to the flow ofexcited conversation. And what they heard brought happiness to theiraching hearts, and made them thrill with pride clear down to the solesof their boots. Obviously the United Nations Commando attack was goingvery badly for the Nazis. Practically all of Le Havre was in Commandohands. Nazi fortifications there, U-boat repair docks, and stores ofNazi military equipment had been blown sky high. And the Commandos werespreading out to the north, south, and east like the unleashed waters ofa flood tide. In addition Nazi air strength had been more or lessbottled up and securely corked. Those cursed American bombers! FlyingFortresses, they were called. Nothing seemed able to shoot them out ofthe air! And their bombs? Something terrible!

  It went on and on like that. And Dave and Freddy had all they could doto force grave, worried looks to their faces, when instead they wantedto dance and shout with joy. But though the group of Nazis were worried,and plenty, over the way things were going, they still had that blinddog-like faith in their high ranking officers. From a score of lips Daveand Freddy heard statements that the enemy gains were only temporary atthe most. That von Staube and von Gault were simply biding their time,and would strike their counter blows soon. Yes, von Staube had called uppowerful reenforcements. They were now on the way to the zone of battle.And von Gault was massing powerful air squadrons, all types. _Ja, ja!_Germany's swine enemies were fools to believe that _Der Fuehrer_ hadsent most of Germany's air power to the Russian front. The cursedUnited Nations forces would soon realize that, as German bombs blew themclear out into the Channel. But of course! Ah! Look! Here comes anothercourier plane. It is probably good news this time! Yes! See how fast helands! He must have good news this time, and be eager to report it.

  Dave and Freddy watched with the others as another Arado plane camestreaking down to a fast landing, and taxied up close at quite a bit ofthrottle. A figure leaped from the rear cockpit and went dashing inthrough the door of the center building. Dave and Freddy crowded over tothe door with the others. Unfortunately, though, it was slammed shut intheir faces. The Germans outside looked sheepishly at each other andmoved away a little. Dave and Freddy played their part in the generalscene and started to edge around to a point where they might get a quicklook in through one of the side windows of the building. After all, theydidn't know _for sure_ that von Staube and von Gault were inside. Theywere actually only assuming; taking it for granted that such was thecase.

  And so, as though by unspoken but mutual agreement, they began to edgeaway from the general throng and round to the side of the building. Butthey had barely reached the corner when suddenly a wicked-looking NaziMajor loomed up before them to bar the way. Dave's heart skipped a beat,and when he took a good look at the German his heart skipped a couple ofmore beats and started sliding down in the general direction of hisboots. The Nazi, by the insignia on his tunic, belonged to the sameregiment that Dave and Freddy were supposed to belong to. Was there anyreason why a Major shouldn't be able to recognize two of his juniorofficers? There was none, of course. And Dave felt as though he werestaring certain death right in the face.

  "What are you two doing here?" The words came out like pistol shots."Did _Herr_ Colonel send you? A message for me, perhaps? I am neededback there? I don't know you, so you must be two of those new officersthey sent us yesterday. Your names?"

  "_Ober-Leutnants_ Kloss and Mueller, Herr Major," Dave heard his voicesay. Then wildly grasping at a straw of hope, he went on, "That is true,sir. _Herr_ Colonel sent us with his compliments. He wishes that youreturn as fast as possible."

  The Nazi Major scowled and looked terribly angry, and for a long secondthe whole world seemed to stand dead still for Dave. He felt as if hewere walking along a tightrope over a yawning chasm. Only there wasn'tany tightrope there. Somebody had yanked it away, and he was simplyhovering in mid-air before he went crashing down to his doom. The verynext words that came from the Nazi Major's lips might well spell doomfor Freddy and for himself. If the Nazi asked questions they couldn'tanswer--if--

  "Very well!" The words were suddenly barked out. "I will do as theColonel wishes. You two remain here, however. Take this report and seethat it is delivered to Field Marshal von Staube the instant he is freeto see you. He knows that I am waiting. You will explain that I wasneeded at the regiment's Headquarters. Simply give him the report, andthen return to your posts as fast as possible. This is not a leave youare on, you know. Well? Did they not teach you to salute your superiorsat that officer's school? They are sending us mere _children_ thesedays!"

  The Major had jerked a sealed envelope from his tunic pocket, thrust itinto Dave's hands, and was standing there glaring at them both. With atremendous effort Dave and Freddy snapped out of it, clicked theirheels, and almost tore their arms off saluting. The Nazi grunted, glaredsome more, and then went strutting off bellowing a name. The name of hischauffeur, probably.

  For a minute longer the two boys just stood there as though their bootswere nailed to the ground. Then they turned and stared at each other,neither quite sure that he wasn't just asleep and going through a crazydream.

  "Don't ever hope for luck again!" Dave finally broke the silence. "We'veplayed out our string, Freddy. Nothing that ever happens from now oncould possibly top this. My gosh, my gosh! I'm soaking wet with my ownsweat. I thought I was going to fall into a fear faint for sure. And myhair is pure white, isn't it?"

  "Grab hold of me, Dave, and hang on hard!" Freddy said hoarsely. "I'mafraid I'll start running and keep running until I'm miles from thisspot. Good grief, what luck! All we have to do is wait a bit, and thenget invited right in there with them."

  "Sure!" Dave muttered. "And then what, pal?"

  A lot of the happiness drained right out of Freddy Farmer's face. Heslowly sucked air into his lungs, and then promptly sighed heavily.

  "Quite!" he murmured. "And then what? The beggars will no doubt haveothers in there with them. And what in the world can we do about it?"

  "I don't know, yet," Dave grunted. "But--but we've got to do something,even if it's letting them have it in cold blood, Freddy. Major Barberwants them kidnapped, but--"

  Dave finished the rest with a shrug and a gesture of his hands. FreddyFarmer made a wry face and swallowed quickly a couple of times.

  "Yes, of course!" he got out with an effort. "It's war, and war's abeastly business. Still--"

  "Me, too, pal," Dave said softly. "I hope with all my heart and soul wecan figure some way. But one thing we're pledged to as loyal Commandos,Freddy. Those two go out of the war picture today, one way--or another."

  Freddy Farmer didn't make any comment. He simply looked Dave in the eye,and nodded silently.