Wilhelm released the man with a slight shove and stormed off, resuming his search for the Americans. As Wilhelm navigated through the tight quarters of Jaipur’s alleys, a Reichswehr agent gasped for air as he approached the unit’s leader.
“What is it?” Wilhelm asked.
“They’re gone, sir. They just vanished into thin air,” the soldier said.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Wilhelm said.
“I know, sir, but they obviously know their way around this area, because they were right in front of us and then disappeared without a trace. We searched everywhere.”
Another soldier hustled over to Reinhard and whispered in his ear.
Reinhard put his hand on Wilhelm’s back. “Sir, let’s forget about Halliburton for now. At least we have the treasure back.”
“Someone found it?” Wilhelm asked.
Reinhard nodded. “One of our men located the crates tucked away in the back corner of a storage room downstairs where the truck was located.”
“I’m still upset about losing those American agents, but this treasure is what we really came for. Lead the way. I want to verify this for myself.”
“Of course,” Reinhard said. “That’s understandable. Follow me.”
Wilhelm shoved his hands into his pockets and fingered the letter for Reinhard. If anyone deserved to know the truth about what was going on back home, Reinhard did—and he’d soon be able to get back to his family once the Reichswehr unit transported all the treasure to Germany. And even though Wilhelm felt like he was never going to get a more opportune time to share the news, he hesitated. He needed to keep Reinhard focused until they could get the vast fortune out of India without further incident.
Upon return to Sandeep’s house, Wilhelm fought his way to the front of the pack and charged inside. He ordered his men to open one of the crates so he could verify the contents and proceed with making plans to transport the treasure.
“Come on,” Wilhelm said to the two soldiers working on opening the crate. “You need to work faster. We don’t have much time left if this is what I think it is.”
One of the soldiers wedged the bent claw into a tight space between the lid and the top of the box. With a snap of his wrists, the bar ripped nails out of the top and sprang it open.
Wilhelm leaned over the edge and peered inside, his eyes widening as he stared into the crate.
Chapter 25
RICHARD SCANNED THE AREA through his binoculars. After a moment, he returned his focus to the Sandeep’s house, just outside the small courtyard leading to the back where he’d parked his truck. Sandeep and Rajiv watched quietly as Wilhelm paced around with a scowl on his face.
“What’s going on?” David asked.
“Wilhelm is irritated about something,” Richard said, as he handed the binoculars to David. “See for yourself.”
After a few seconds, David nodded as he continued to watch. “Something’s got him riled up, that’s for sure.”
“What’s he doing now?” Richard asked.
David cursed under his breath. “They found the crates, and they’re about to open them.”
“And?”
“One of Wilhelm’s goons is prying one open right now.” A pause. “They’re looking inside and . . .”
“And what?”
“The crate is filled with rocks and sand.”
A wry grin crept across Richard’s face. “I want to see Wilhelm’s expression.”
David handed over the binoculars. “You said you moved the treasure, but I didn’t know you emptied them from the crates.”
Richard watched Wilhelm as he flailed his arms and screamed at everyone in his presence. Fists clenched, he shook them at the sky.
Satisfied with Wilhelm’s tirade, Richard put down the binoculars and turned to David. “I thought you would’ve known what I meant.”
“The least you could’ve done was let me know where you put the treasure. We’re partners here, remember?”
“Slight miscommunication on my part,” Richard said. “I was in a hurry to see if my idea about transporting the treasure back into the fort was actually a viable one. I apologize for not telling you earlier. It’s just that I was a little too focused on the next thing we needed to do.”
“So, where is all the treasure?”
“I dumped it into a massive trough at Sandeep’s neighbor’s house. They had a cow outside, and I figured it would be the last place anyone would look.”
“Until the cow eats all the gold and jewels. Then what?”
“I covered it up well. The cow and its owner will have no idea what is hidden beneath the hay.”
David cocked his head to the side and pursed his lips. “And how long did you plan to leave the treasure there?”
“Not long. In fact, I think now is about the time we need to go retrieve it.”
“With what?”
“I’ll show you.”
They waited until they were sure the Reichswehr troops had dispersed, creating a safer opportunity to return to the hiding spot. Richard led David to the house and ripped a burlap sack off a large object in the corner of the courtyard.
“Where did you get this cart from?” David asked.
“I borrowed it from Sandeep.”
“Did you ask him?”
“There wasn’t time. Besides, we’ve paid him enough already that he can buy a hundred carts if he wants to.”
David sighed. “This is asking for trouble, you know. We need to remain as discreet as possible while on these assignments. Stealing people’s possessions isn’t exactly the best way to operate.”
“I’m borrowing it,” Richard said. “I’m going to return it.”
“Never mind. Let’s just get out of here before someone sees us.”
The city had grown considerably quieter as the festive mood that swept over Jaipur drifted away as most families retreated inside for the night. Several people shuffled along the alley just off the courtyard, but no one seemed to mind or even notice Richard and David scooping out a fortune from a feeding trough.
They took ten minutes to complete the task. Richard reminded David to tighten his pagribefore they embarked on their perilous journey. After taking turns inspecting one another, David was satisfied they didn’t look overly suspicious. He eased behind the handles, volunteering to pull their loot first. As they trudged forward, Richard walked alongside and smoothed out the sack used to hide the jewels and coins. He checked for any areas where the corner was turned up and could reveal the contents of their precious cargo.
“This is absolutely ludicrous,” David said.
“What other options do we have?” Richard asked. “We can’t very well hide out here forever.”
“That would be preferable to this.”
“I know this plan is risky, but it’s worth it,” Richard said. “The moment Germany is able to build a strong military force, the world becomes unstable again.”
“You don’t need to tell me that,” David said. “I’m still dealing with the consequences of the war that just ended, all thanks to the Germans and their ambitious military.”
“The world we’re living in is changing rapidly,” Richard said. “Who knows what another war would look like with all the new machines and other weaponry? But I predict that it will only become dangerous for both those on the frontlines and those at home. That’s why this mission is so important.”
“We’re only delaying the inevitable,” David said.
“Were you always this positive?”
A faint smile appeared on David’s lips as he glanced over his shoulder at Richard. “I was once idealistic and optimistic like you.”
“What happened?”
“You’ll find out when you’ve been at this job long enough.”
After a few minutes of walking along in silence, Richard looked down at his leg when he felt something tugging at it. He stopped and stooped to pick up Smita.
“What are you doing out here?” Richar
d asked.
David sighed and shook his head. “Not that monkey again. He’s been more trouble than he’s worth.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Richard said, looking at Smita. “He’s got a bee in his bonnet tonight.”
Smita flashed his trademark grin and wriggled free before perching on Richard’s shoulder.
“Shall we continue?” Richard asked, extending his hand forward.
David didn’t say a word as he yanked on the handles and resumed their course. They plodded along for another five minutes before entering the market square, which was mostly shuttered but still had a few evening vendors selling their goods. As they neared the produce section, Richard heard someone yelling behind them. Instead of stopping, David forged ahead, acting as if he either didn’t care or didn’t hear. Richard, however, glanced over his shoulder and noticed a constable sprinting toward them.
“I think we have some company,” Richard said.
“Better think of something quick because we can’t outrun anyone while lugging this cart around,” David said. “And I’m not about to leave it in the street.”
“That might not be the worst thing we could do.”
“Don’t even think about it,” David snapped.
Richard scanned the street and noticed a familiar face from the Reichswehr unit leaning against a wall that served as the main entrance to the market. Behind them, the constable waved his arms as he ran, remaining on a collision course with the two American operatives.
“If you’ve got any ideas,” David said, “now would be a good time to share them.”
“I’m thinking,” Richard growled, frustrated that he had been unable to engineer an escape plan that allowed them to keep all their goals intact.
Chapter 26
THE CONSTABLE PUT HIS HANDS on his knees and struggled to catch his breath as Richard and David finally heeded the officer’s calls. Richard eyed the portly man closely as he stood upright. His belly drooped over his belt a couple inches, and his cheeks appeared flushed. If the Reichswehr agent wasn’t positioned where he was, Richard believed he and David could outrun the man with ease, even while pulling the cart.
“The English language isn’t that hard to understand,” the constable said as he narrowed his eyes, the focus of which shifted back and forth between the faces of his two suspects.
Richard cocked his head and pointed at his ear. Mouth agape, he furrowed his brow and gazed at the man. Smita remained perched on Richard’s left shoulder.
“You’ll have to excuse my friend,” David said, mustering up his best British accent as he followed Richard’s lead. “He has very poor hearing and relies upon me to instruct him on what to do. I was so focused on getting to our destination that I didn’t hear your calling for us.”
The constable placed his hands on his hips. “And where might you be headed, pulling a cart like that at this time of night?”
“I’m making my final delivery, sir,” David said.
The constable gestured toward David’s clothing. “Why are you dressed like that? It’s clear you’re from England.”
“Just trying to fit in.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to disguise yourselves.”
“What on Earth for?” David asked. “That’d be a foolish thing to do with those rebellious Americans running wild around the city.”
“Who told you about that?” the constable demanded.
“Everyone is talking about them, especially since a bounty has been placed on their heads. I’m surprised someone hasn’t already turned them in.”
The constable eyed David closely. “What do you have under that blanket?”
“Our delivery,” David said.
Richard took his eyes off the conversation for a moment as Smita jumped down to hustle over to a nearby cart brimming with oranges.
“Mind if I take a look?” the constable asked as he grabbed the corner of the cover.
“I’d rather you didn’t,” David said. “I doubt you want to get bitten by a cobra.”
“Don’t try to be cheeky with me. I’ve been watching this cart, and I’ve yet to see any movement.”
David took a step back and looked wide-eyed at the cart. “It’s your funeral, mate.”
The constable sneered as he prepared to expose what David and Richard had hidden in the rickshaw. But just as the officer looked down, an orange smacked him on the side of his face. He whipped his head in the direction where the fruit came from.
“What the—” he said as he noticed Smita perched atop a mountain of stacked oranges and grinning between screeches.
Smita picked up another orange and hurled it at the constable. Five oranges later, a moment of sudden annoyance simmered over into a roiling rage.The officer darted toward the animal, swearing and promising a dreadful future.
Richard nodded knowingly at David as they seized their opportunity to escape. After dragging the cart behind one of the nearby produce stands, they crouched low and watched from around the corner as Smita screeched with delight and danced around the market to avoid capture. Following about a minute of teasing, Smita ran down the street in the same direction from which they’d come with the officer in pursuit.
“Let’s go,” David said.
Richard grabbed the rickshaw’s handles before glancing toward the market entrance. The Reichswehr agent was gone.
“Looks like we’ve got a clear path,” Richard said.
They hustled along the road, exiting the area as they ventured down a nearly empty street. A few turns later, they were on the road leading to the Thomas Cook & Son’s stables near the base of the fort’s entry ramp.
Richard and David guided the treasure to safety, stashing their cart behind several bales of hay stacked up behind the barn used to house a variety of the tourist company’s pack animals. With the gates locked and no employees present, David convinced Richard to wait until morning to load the jewels on the animals.
“I know we could both use a few hours of sleep,” David said.
Richard didn’t argue. He took his pagri and created a makeshift pillow out of it. Several minutes later, he and David were fast asleep on the ground out of plain sight.
* * *
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, a rooster crowing startled Richard awake. He pushed himself off the ground and squinted at the sun’s first rays streaming over the mountains. David moaned as he twisted from his side to his back.
“Keep quiet,” Richard whispered as he placed his hand on David’s leg. “Someone is here.”
David shot straight up and rubbed his eyes.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Richard said. “Ready to finish this mission?”
“I’ll do anything for a good night of sleep.”
“How about try not to look like you just spent the night on the ground,” Richard whispered, gesturing toward David’s shirt. “At least brush the dirt off yourself.”
David glanced down at his attire and complied with Richard’s suggestion. “Now how do I look? Presentable?”
Richard put his finger to his lips. “Stay here while I go coerce that man to let us groom the elephants.” He tied his pagri and smoothed out some of the wrinkles in his shirt before stepping out from behind the bales.
The door to the stables had been flung wide open. Inside, a man worked his brush methodically down an elephant’s hide. He scowled once he noticed Richard walking toward the barn.
“That’s quite an animal you’ve got there,” Richard said.
“Who are you? And how’d you get inside?” the man asked.
Richard shrugged. “The gate was open, so I thought I’d come inside and ask if I could do something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“And what’s that?”
“Groom an elephant.”
The man chuckled. “You need to find new goals. I’d gladly give up this awful job in a heartbeat.”
“Would you?” Richard asked, his eyes widening with excitement. “I mean, could I
groom this elephant?”
“What about four of them?” the man asked, nodding toward the other animals still secured in their pens.
“What if I gave you ten pounds to let me and a friend groom these beautiful beasts?”
The man furrowed his brow. “What’s the catch?”
“There is no catch,” Richard said. “We pay you ten pounds to let us do your job. Just let us take over while you take a short walk. And when you come back? Voila! Your job will be finished.”
The man offered his hand. “I’m William Saxby, and that sounds like a deal to me.”
Richard shook it and then slipped William the cash. He smiled before turning toward the main gate.
“See you in half an hour, William,” Richard said.
Once William exited the ground, Richard called for David. He emerged from behind the bales of hay, lugging the rickshaw.
“You made that look rather easy,” David said. “It’s like you have experience with this sort of thing.”
Richard winked. “Let’s just say I’ve got a knack at convincing people to let me do what I want. And enticing him with money didn’t hurt either.”
David parked the cart inside the stables, and the two men went to work in tandem. They brushed down each elephant then placed the ornate saddle blankets over the animals’ back once finished. They dumped a portion of the treasure into the side pouches, making sure the weight was distributed evenly. Then they moved efficiently, completing the task just as William returned.
“I’m impressed,” William said as he inspected the elephants. “Are you interested in a job? I’m sure Thomas Cook & Son would be more than willing to pay you to do this rather than you paying me.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps on these beautiful creatures, and I just wanted to spend some time with one of them up close,” Richard said. “But if you don’t mind, I can watch them for you when they reach the entrance to the fort.”
William shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s one thing to let you groom the elephants in the stable, but up there. . .”
“I’ll pay you another ten pounds,” Richard said.
“Sure,” William said as he held out his hand. “We can make that happen.”
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