Major Richmond did not waste any time in moving the rest of the group towards the town. He wanted to be in the boat before the gunfire brought the attention of other units in the area.
Colonel Kiesl came out of the house and received a salute from the men. They were impressed by his bravery and his fighting skills. Some of the Engineers had not seen this type of action: this was up close and personal. Real soldiers were made from these situations. The colonel did not bask in his bravery, but instead ordered two pairs of Austrian mounted scouts to check on the outskirts of the village. He knew time was of the essence.
The enemy’s horses were taken with them to load onto the boat. It was a steam ferry of good size. The supplies were swiftly loaded on board and the wounded taken to the spare cabins. There was an air of excitement and nervousness around the town. Lady Luck was on their side and several of the Austrians had worked on boats before and had reasonable knowledge of the engine room. Two of the railway crew who had survived the Northern riders’ attack were with the group. They expressed their wish to help get the boat fired up and ready for use. Their knowledge of steam power was an asset.
Major Richmond congratulated the colonel, captain and the sergeant for a sterling attack. They had taken the town with only minor injuries. The speed and surprise of the attack had prevailed.
The officers went to visit the prisoners.
They were being guarded by a small detachment of men. Inside the barn, the group of drone soldiers gathered, speaking some sort of Russian dialect. All of these men looked ill. They were still human in appearance, but all carried some sort of ailment.
The major asked the prisoners if anyone would come forward and speak to him. He knew it was a long shot, but any information could be valuable. An older drone soldier approached him and said a few words. His English was not bad. He muttered something about medicine. He tried to explain that the wounded would need some extra medicine or they would “change”.
The major did not understand.
Whilst they were there one of the wounded drone soldiers passed away. Then, after a pause, the dead man started to twitch. The sergeant thought it could just be something to do with his body, like a chicken that moves even after its head has been cut off.
The dead drone soldier then sat up, his eyes wide open and teeth bared. It was now obvious: dead drone soldiers became flesh-eaters. This army had a double use.
A scream was heard from outside. The major ordered the flesh-eater to be shot immediately. The other drone soldiers had backed away from the now mobile flesh-eater. Captain Hayward took out his revolver, shot it through the head then followed the major outside.
Several soldiers were rushing towards the house from where they had fought for control over the village. They burst in to find two flesh-eaters fighting with a British Engineer. He had been bitten on the arm and leg. The major took out his revolver and shot both creatures. The order was given to double check that each dead drone soldier was either shot in the head or decapitated.
The injured man was helped to steady himself. The bites were deep and he needed medical assistance from the army doctor.
The remaining drone soldiers looked on at the major. It was the first time he had seen sadness in their faces. They were not right; something was affecting them and death only brought them back to life. After a short while they sat back down. The major deduced that some were more affected than others. There was a difference in intelligence between them. Some were more aggressive than others. He wanted to learn more, but it was not the time to find out.
They shut the barn doors and doubled the guards. Everyone was doing things in haste. Steam was being built up in the engine room of the boat. Soldiers had been sent down there to help shovel coal. Supplies were being found in the town. They had been lucky; due to the evacuation of the area some stores and buildings had been left totally full. They took what they could.
Corporal Heinz arrived, bringing news of movement in the woods to the east of the town. He was not a hundred per cent certain if it was the enemy, but decided he needed to alert the group.
Major Richmond, upon hearing of this, ordered the boarding of the boat. Most of the supplies and items were now loaded. The last horse was taken aboard and the gangway was deserted. The engine room was hot and stuffy with coal dust filling the air. The men down there were working very hard to get the steam boat moving. The train crew were a great help and the Austrians who had worked on steam boats before were indispensable.
The boat left the harbour at a steady speed. One of the Austrian doctors was in charge of steering this vessel. He had captained a boat before, although he admitted he was not totally up to speed with a large steam boat.
He explained that his father had been in the navy and had wanted his son to follow. He father was Prussian and this had been a problem since the hostilities grew between Prussia and the Austro–Hungarian Empire.
As the town began to get smaller on the horizon they saw long-limbs coming to the water’s edge. There were around a hundred or more in number, so the group were very relieved to have got out when they did. The long-limbs stood up on their hind legs and sniffed the air. Then some gravelly-throated bellows followed. It was a deep and vibrating sound that carried for a good distance and was most likely alerting anything in the area to their find.
A British Engineer drew his rifle and wrapped his strap around his arm. He took a steady aim and was about to squeeze the trigger when a hard voice recommended him not to do so. It was the sergeant. He pointed out that the gunshot might bring in more and that every bullet needed to be saved for now. The soldier nodded and lowered his weapon.
The boat was of a good size, allowing much more space than previously enjoyed in the trains. The nurses were hard at work looking after the wounded and making up beds where possible. The Austrian and British set about mounting a Gatling gun to the rear of the ship and a small field cannon to the front. They had taken grain bags to use as cover around the windows and heavy weapons.
The long-limbs followed the boat for a while, but lost interest after an hour or so. Captain Hayward watched as they broke off and disappeared into the woods. He was not sure how much they were aware of them being on the boat or whether they were just following their smell in the air.
He took out his binoculars and watched the shoreline for a short while. It was hard to relax, given the mobility of this enemy.
Private John Brown arrived behind Captain Hayward.
“Sir, I hope that’s the end of it now.”
Captain Hayward scratched his head and turned to face Private Brown.
“So do I, John, so do I.”
He turned back to watching the shoreline again. He was confident that they were moving in the right direction and that once they were in Prussia, they would surely see life return to normal. The only nagging thoughts were about this new breed of enemy; the creatures they had under their control and the motive behind this sudden war.
They travelled down the Danube at a good, honest speed. The boat was holding her own and the makeshift crew below were handling her demands well.
The water broke off the bow in a gently serene way. The broad-leaved trees were coming into their full glory as summer approached. Corporal Heinz spoke to Captain Hayward about the history of the river and its importance to the Austro–Hungarian Empire. He spoke about its trade routes and how the Romans utilised it. It also has its flooding problems, meaning major cities were built further up the river.
As he spoke about this the captain could see a twinkle of sadness in his eye. He loved his history, and that of his country.
“This does not mean your country will never be in Austrian hands again. You may have lost the battle, but there is still a war to be fought,” stated Captain Hayward.
Corporal Heinz rubbed his forehead.
“You’re right, but have you ever encountered a force like this? We don’t know anything about them. It seems they have some sort of plague that makes them want
to eat flesh, but something is driving them, an unholy force of nature.”
Both men stood there in silence. Talking about their situation was not always helpful; it highlighted the uncertainty. The Captain missed his wife and children and yearned for them, more so now than ever. In his role as leader, the men needed guidance under fire and even with this long and tiring retreat.
The moments of relaxation were followed by tension. It was hard to totally un-wind as most of the soldiers and nurses thought about what lay ahead. The Austrians had lost their country and the British wanted to return to theirs. They thought about the men who had died from their regiment during this long journey.
The day eased into evening. Major Richmond was conscious about travelling down a river at night and decided to moor the boat close to the bank. He made sure this was done before nightfall, so they had reasonable visibility to carry out the task with some confidence. The usual routine of picking guards for the night shift was handed out and was followed by a hearty meal. The cook was good at knocking up different food, even if he used the same ingredients. Some days were better than others, was the general consensus about his cooking. He would argue that he had to work with what he had and if they didn’t like it, then they could go without.
The evening was a quiet one. The anchor was pulled up at first light and the boat set on its way. They had some good maps aboard to help keep them from grounding her. The ship’s captain was very pleased with that.
The morning passed quietly as they made their way along the Danube. There were no sightings of the enemy. The weather was fine and spirits were high.
The terrain was varied; hills and farmlands were abundant and were mixed in with woods and forests. They spotted deer and other wildlife going about their business. It truly was refreshing for everyone.
Captain Hayward had slept on the floor in one of the storerooms. He felt it was only right that someone else got a chance to enjoy a decent night’s sleep in a proper bed.
A soldier brought him a cup of coffee and he sat back on a deck chair to enjoy the view. They were making good progress.
Chapter 19
By late afternoon, Melk Benedictine Abbey came into sight. It was truly spectacular. The abbey itself was on a hill, set back a little from the river with an inlet flowing by it. The walls of the abbey were huge, its architecture exquisite.
Colonel Kiesl said it was of great spiritual importance to the Austrians. The monks had been given the castle in 1089, by Leopold II. It had survived the Napoleonic Wars and unfortunately was now under threat again.
There was a feeling within the group that they wanted to go inside the monastery. It was a strange moment. There were many soldiers and nurses on the boat who believed in God and felt drawn to this abbey as if it could save their souls. There were some amongst them who did not believe in anything, but the sight of this overpowering landmark urged them to do the same.
Major Richmond had a decision to make. They had not seen any life or movement as they passed into Melk. There were neither Austrians nor enemy soldiers. He spoke with the other officers and they agreed they should get closer to see.
The major had a large group of people under his command. The estuary was narrow and would be a great risk should they be attacked. He pondered for a moment and then agreed to sail the ship to the entrance of the estuary and moor her there.
Several soldiers and nurses agreed to stay behind with the wounded and guard the ship. The rest of the British Engineers and Austrians disembarked. They travelled light. Most soldiers only took their rifles and a pouch full of bullets.
Corporal Heinz was wary of the silence and yet drawn to the abbey’s presence. They made their way through woodlands and found an old track that took them close to the water’s edge. The abbey was slowly coming closer and closer. They stopped short of its walls as houses came into view. It was the start of the town. Captain Hayward and Kiesl took two groups of twelve men and did a quick scout of the surrounding area. When it was deemed safe, the group continued.
The town was empty, but did not carry any signs of war. The odd cat roamed the streets and it felt like an early Sunday morning.
They were in awe of the abbey’s size. It was truly overpowering. They moved through the side of the town at a constant speed. They felt like mice going about their business as swiftly and quietly as possible.
The road they were on weaved itself up through the narrow streets and then took a sharp left. They cautiously made their way to the entrance. The soldiers had fanned out to be ready for anything. There were no signs of fighting, just cold, stone silence.
The wooden doors to the abbey were shut. Two of the Austrian soldiers approached them quietly. Then, with their rifles butts, banged on the wood three times. They took a few steps back and waited. All eyes were on the doors. Some felt they were holding their breath as time stood still for a moment.
Then it began to creep into life. The giant frames creaked and slowly opened up to reveal a collection of monks standing there with a large crucifix. They came forward and spoke German to the men in front of them. The soldiers then turned to the other anxious faces and beckoned everyone in.
The grandeur of the place was in contrast to the how the monks lived. Their life was simple and committed to the worship of God. The group was taken into the courtyard and met by a Father who was left in charge.
“I take it you’re the relief force, then.”
He may have been a monk, but he had a sense of humour.
Major Richmond came forward and in his broken German asked if he understood English. The man smiled and nodded his head.
“Dear Father, we have travelled from the Carpathian Mountains on a horrendous journey. The Austro–Hungarian Empire has been consumed by evil.”
The major was almost stuck for words as a sense of this whole occasion sunk in. They had witnessed things that they believed not to be possible or had ever expected to experience.
“My son, the Austro–Hungarian Empire has crumbled. We know only little of what is happening out there. We have had the odd person seek refuge with us over the past few weeks, but most depict a story of total annihilation. The townsfolk and army left a week or so ago. We were offered a chance to come with them, but we are committed to the abbey, regardless of what happens.”
He then said they would not have much time. Reports had come in of dark priests and giant men on horses riding towards Melk. With that he took them into one of the buildings. The paintings on the ceiling were powerful and daunting. Major Richmond asked if he could go and pray in the church. This pleased the Father.
“Do so now and we shall give you some food to take on your way.”
A monk then led them to the church. It was just as spectacular inside as it was outside. They all gathered in the aisles as the monk then blessed them and led them through some prayers in German.
It was a special place, somewhere to think and believe in other worlds and lives. The sermon was not too long. The Father returned and beckoned them to follow him – they had carts waiting in the courtyard. There was a good collection of vegetables and even some warm soup. The major was very grateful for this kind gesture. He asked once again if they would think about coming with them.
These invaders would not spare anyone; they were not here to take prisoners. The Father shook his head.
“The abbey has stood for a long time, with or without us. We shall face our destiny together.”
As he was saying this a younger monk came racing across the courtyard carrying a telescope. He spoke to the Father and pointed in the direction of the river. The Father spoke to him quietly and then returned to talk to the major.
“I have one favour to ask. We have recently been joined by a young lad. His family have been killed in this conflict. His name is Benedict. I would be very grateful if he could come with you on your boat.”
The major nodded his head.
With a flash, the young lad was brought forward. He was around eighteen an
d not as young as the major had thought he would be.
“He knows the Danube well, as his father use to be a merchant on this river. He can help guide you to Ulm if that is where you’re going?”
The major thanked the Father for having the foresight to help them on the river. Small gunfire could be heard in the distance and that sent a wave of panic throughout the group. The boat was not well manned now and they needed to return.
The Father said he could help them one more time, which drew a puzzled look from the major and Captain Hayward. He then led them into a building and down some long and winding steps.
“Follow these until you see an iron cross. You will be then next to the Danube.”
Everyone thanked him as they passed. Food was manhandled off the carts as there was no time to take them to the boat. The cook looked at the soup and dipped one finger in it to get a quick taste. He smiled and nodded with satisfaction, and then shook his head with regret as they had to leave it behind. Lanterns were lit as they made their way into the dark tunnel.
Benedict led the way.
Time stood still as they made their way through the dark. It was murky down there, with water knee deep in places. The odd rat could be seen watching them from their tunnels, probably hoping for some kind of food trail to be left. Just as people started to wonder about the tunnels’ destination, Benedict called out in German about the iron cross. They had reached the Danube.
The tunnel did not open directly onto the river itself. It was set a good thirty metres back and emerged from a slight bank. Colonel Kiesl went out first. He had a rifle strapped to his back and his revolver drawn. Two more British soldiers followed him out. There was an anxious wait in the tunnel whilst they checked the coast was clear. Eventually, a call came out for everyone to exit the tunnel as fast as they could. Gunfire could be heard closer now, which put everyone on edge.
They clambered out of the tunnel. The soldiers gathered on each side. They took up kneeling positions. Major Richmond spoke to everyone.
“We have little time to get to the boat. We must move quickly and keep together.”
Europe Has Fallen Page 18
