Behind Mt. Baldy

by Christopher Cummings

  “I wish I had a secret lover,” Stephen said.

  His friends scoffed and laughed. Inspector Sharpe eyed him speculatively. “How old are you Stephen?”

  Stephen went red and took off his glasses to polish them. “Er, fifteen sir. Old enough.”

  “Hmmm. Technically yes, legally no. Let’s get on with this story. Before dawn on 6th April 1941 the KSS struck. Special Action Teams attacked the Palace, Army HQ, Police HQ, the Radio Station, government offices and the countries only airport. Iron Claw murder squads began killing selected important people in their homes.”

  As Roger listened to this he felt a chill of horror. “What disgusting animals!” he cried.

  Inspector Sharpe nodded grimly and read on. “At first light German paratroops were dropped in to assist the KSS. This was part of a simultaneous attack by two German Army Groups on Yugoslavia, Kosaria and Greece.” He turned the book to show photos of aircraft with black crosses on them; and of parachutes scattered across the sky.

  Stephen pointed to one of the aircraft. “I’ve got a model of one of those,” Stephen said, “That’s a JU 52, the transport plane with three motors.”

  DS Crowe turned and growled. “I wish you kids would shut up. We’ll be here all night otherwise.”

  The boys fell silent, all secretly afraid of the tough looking man. Inspector Sharpe resumed reading.

  “By treachery the KSS managed to penetrate the palace, but the Royal Guard fought bravely. There was desperate fighting in and around the palace which went on for over an hour. The Germans then landed glider-borne troops in the nearby park and these tipped the balance in favour of the attackers. The King, Queen and baby Crown Prince were trapped in the East Wing of the palace, which was on fire.”

  “At that critical moment help arrived. As soon as the first German attackers had been identified the British Ambassador had called for assistance from the British forces that had moved into Greece. The commander of the British 1st Armoured Brigade, the formation which was the corps covering force, at once ordered the nearest squadron of the 4th Hussars to the area. At 8am a troop of armoured cars led by 2nd Lieutenant Ponsonby-Smythe, arrived in the capital after driving from the border.”

  Graham couldn’t help himself. He broke into an exaggerated imitation of an English officer. “By Jove! Ponsonby! In the nick of time too!”

  “Jolly good show!” Peter replied. “Stout chap Ponsonby.”

  Even DS Crowe laughed. Stephen added. “It reminds me of the joke about Ponsonby and the Burmese Princess.”

  “That will do!” Inspector Sharpe said severely.

  Stephen grinned. “Oh sir! We know all the jokes about when The Regiment was in India.”

  “I don’t doubt. But this story is in Kosaria, so let me get on with it. The British armoured cars were led to the palace by a captain of the Royal Guard. The King, Queen and Crown Prince were bundled in and driven to safety. The survivors of the Royal Guard then fought their way clear.”

  “Only then was it realized that the baby Princess Karena and her nurse were not with the group. A counter-attack was launched by the Royal Guard but failed with heavy loss of life.” He paused and looked at the boys. “You have probably guessed who the captain was. It was Boris Krapinski. He also led the counter-attack to try to rescue the princess but was badly wounded. He was carried to safety in one of the British armoured cars.”

  There was a moment’s silence. Roger felt somehow that he had been honoured to have touched such a brave and loyal man, even if only in death. He felt an unaccustomed constriction in the throat.

  Inspector Sharpe resumed, “The British armoured cars, with the Royal Family, plus survivors of the Royal Guard and remnants of other loyal army units fought their way out of the capital and withdraw to Greece, only just ahead of a German Panzer Division which had smashed its way in from Bulgaria. In Greece the royal family were driven to Athens, then evacuated by sea to Egypt on the British cruiser HMS Orion and the Australian cruiser HMAS Perth.”

  Graham spoke up. “My Grandad was on Perth sir. He was a lieutenant then.”

  “Was he eh? Did he survive the war? Perth was sunk by the Japanese in Sunda Strait only a few months later.”

  Graham nodded. “Yes sir. He was transferred to a corvette and fought around New Guinea. He lives in Mareeba now.”

  “Good. Well that is the Royal Family safe, except for the Princess Karena. She was never seen again. As part of the coup the KSS sent a Special Action Team to the Cathedral to seize the Thigh Bone of St Joris. They shot down the ceremonial guard of five officers who always guarded it, as well as two priests and a dozen people who were at morning Mass.”

  “However, as the KSS were leaving the Cathedral they were counter-attacked by a squad of Royal Guards. There was a savage hand-to-hand battle on the steps and the Thigh Bone of Joris has never been seen from that day to this.”

  “The bloody Thigh Bone of St Joris!” Peter groaned. “That has to be what these mongrels are looking for.”

  “Could be,” the Inspector agreed. “Anyway, Yugoslavia- it doesn’t exist anymore remember-Kosaria and Greece all come under German control. The Archduke Paul was installed as ruler of Kosaria but the Germans never allowed him to crown himself King. In reality he was just a ‘puppet’. He was extremely unpopular and the KSS were widely hated for their brutal methods. Resistance to the Germans soon developed. This was led by the Kosarian Kommunist Party under the leadership of Comrade Chairman Slobodan Turderov.”

  “Turderov!” Stephen snickered.

  Inspector Sharpe frowned at him then read on. “By 1943 the Kommunist Partisans had set up an army of resistance and an intelligence network throughout the country. They began a guerrilla war against the KSS and Germans. By early 1944 the Partisans controlled nearly all the western mountains and the Germans could only move freely on the heavily guarded main routes.”

  “Most Kosarians did not like the Kommunists but supported them because they led the resistance. The Partisans carried out ambushes, raids and sabotage. They also murdered people who did not agree with their politics, including leaders who were loyal to the King.”

  “As the war began to go against the Germans Paul began losing support. People secretly changed sides, or slipped into hiding. In October 1944 the Russian Red Army, communists of course in those days, drove the Germans out of Romania and Bulgaria. The Germans began withdrawing their forces from Greece and Kosaria so they would not be cut-off.”

  “When the Russian advance reached the Kosarian border the remaining Germans withdrew very rapidly. With them went Prince Paul, his remaining KSS supporters:- and the Kosarian Crown Jewels.”

  “Jewels!” Stephen cried.

  Inspector Sharpe paused and raised an eyebrow. “During the retreat the Crown Jewels were lost. The convoy was ambushed in the Vulture’s Pass. Treachery was involved because the ambushers knew exactly which vehicle, out of hundreds, was the one carrying the jewels. The trap was sprung in such a way as to isolate it. The ambushers wore Partisan badges and uniforms but the Communists have always claimed it was not their men who did it. They say that is a lie to cover the identity of the people who really stole the crown jewels.”

  The boys exchanged glances. Roger spoke their thoughts. “Crown Jewels!”

  “The Communists claim it was all just a deception and that the KSS actually had the jewels in other vehicles and got away with them. So it may not be the Crown Jewels,” Inspector Sharpe commented. He went on: “Kosaria then fell under the control of the Russians who set up a communist government, led by Turderov.”

  Peter interrupted. “I hope there aren’t any communists involved in this. I don’t like them after what they did to Grandpa and Omma.”

  “Well there are. Kosaria has a Communist government.”

  “I thought all the Communist governments fell a few years ago?” Graham said.

  “They did. All except for Kosaria. In Europe that is. Kosaria is the last Communist state in Europe.” In
spector Sharpe explained.

  “I hope I don’t meet any,” Peter said.

  “You very well may if I see you again. One of the officers from their embassy is joining me tomorrow,” replied the Inspector. “The Kosarians are very worried about what’s going on up here.”

  Roger sat up. “Why’s that sir? Do they want the treasure?” he asked.

  The Inspector hesitated then replied, “You lads don’t follow the news do you. The Deputy Premier of Kosaria, their Number Two man, is on a state visit to Australia. He’s in Cairns tonight and will be visiting Mareeba and Dimbulah tomorrow; and Atherton and Herberton the day after. Knowing that the Archduke Paul’s thugs are here, and murdering people, has the people at the Kosarian Embassy very worried.”

  Roger frowned. “Why is he here sir?” he asked.

  “Usual things, trade and good relations I suppose. Remember there are a lot of Kosarian migrants living on the Tablelands.”

  Stephen spoke next. “What happened to the Archduke Paul and the KSS at the end of the war sir?” he asked.

  “They appear to have fled with the Germans. Their organization rapidly fell apart as the rats left the sinking ship. Paul was last seen in Zagreb in April 1945 but then vanished. It was rumoured that he escaped to South America in a German U-Boat which sailed from Trieste on 2nd May 1945. Other KSS men have definitely been seen living in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.”

  Stephen grinned. “The ‘Boys from Brazil’,” he said. “We’ve seen all the movies sir.”

  Roger nodded. “Paraguay certainly fits. Two of the four we met had Paraguayan passports,” he added.

  Graham looked puzzled. “Why are there a lot of Kosarian migrants here sir?” he asked.

  “Remember what I said about Krapinski a couple of days ago? Thousands fled the country during World War Two. A lot of their army retreated to join ours in Greece. There was a British Empire army there which included the 6th Australian Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division.”

  “And Ponsonby,” Stephen added. They all laughed.

  “Yes, and Ponsonby. Our forces were outnumbered about 12 to one. The Germans had four Panzer Divisions against one British Armoured brigade. That’s stiff odds, even for Ponsonby. And they had two Austrian Mountain Divisions; and Greece is mostly mountains. We didn’t have a chance, so it was a fighting withdrawal back to the sea, then evacuation by the British Navy back to Crete and Egypt.”

  “A Kosarian Brigade was reconstituted which served with the British 8th Army in the North African desert and then in Italy. As a result many got to know Australian and New Zealand soldiers. After the war it was not safe for them to return to a Kosaria run by Communists who were busy executing any royalists they could lay hands on. So they became refugees and migrated to Australia. It’s just coincidence many of them settled here on the Atherton Tablelands. I suppose they liked the place.”

  “What about King Peter sir?” Roger queried.

  “The Royal Family lived in Egypt until the end of the war, then went to live in England. Over the years there were a number of attempts made on their lives. This culminated in the murder of the King and Queen while they were walking in Regents Park five years ago. You might remember it. They were killed by agents using poison-tipped umbrellas.”

  Peter let out a little gasp. “Oh I remember that!” he cried.

  “So do I!” Stephen said.

  Inspector Sharpe read on. “It was assumed that the Communists carried out the murders but it has never been proven and they deny any involvement. The Crown Prince, who would be Peter V if he is ever crowned, went into hiding and has not been seen in public since.”

  “And Kosaria is still communist?” Peter asked.

  “Yes. Ever since 1945. There has never been an election and Slobodan Turderov has ruled as a dictator since then, supported by the Communist Party and a large Secret Police, the KOSPUSS. He’s 89 now and in ill-health.”

  DS Crowe then explained. “Remember that the whole commo system has fallen on its arse. The Russian armies have gone home; former Soviet satellite states like Czechoslovakia and Hungary now have democratic governments; Germany has been re-united; the USSR has fallen apart and so has Yugoslavia. You must have seen on TV that terrible series of sordid little wars they had in Bosnia and so on.”

  They had. These were discussed for a minute or two. Then Inspector Sharpe went on, “Kosaria is apparently in trouble. Their economy is in a mess, there are food shortages and a lot of unemployment. There have even been riots demanding freedom and democracy. These have been brutally put down by the KOSPAR, the Kosarian Partisans, that is the communist army. The communists are managing to keep control by fear and by force but apparently the place is a powder keg ready for civil war and revolution. The speculation is that when Turdorov dies, from old age if nothing else, then the place will erupt in revolution.”

  Roger tried to imagine this. He didn’t pay much attention to the news and now felt quite ignorant and ill-informed.

  Graham then asked, “Do I get this right sir. There are two rival princes: Peter and Paul; one hiding in Paraguay and the other hiding God knows where, plus the Communist government in Kosaria?”

  “That’s about the size of it.”

  Graham nodded and looked serious. “So maybe, if Krapinski was a captain in the Royal Guard then the KSS may not be looking for the Thigh Bone of St Joris or a treasure, but for a person- a Crown Prince, one they would probably like to kill.”

  “By Jove!” the Inspector cried, sitting up. “You could have something there. If the Archduke Paul’s men, the KSS, are here; perhaps the Crown Prince’s men are here too? Perhaps their organization also still exists?”

  “I think it does sir,” Stephen said.

  “Do you? What makes you say that?”

  Stephen held up the captured signal. “This message we have been translating from German.”

  “Ah yes! I’d forgotten that. What does it say?”

  “We haven’t quite finished translating it yet sir. Can we finish it?”

  “Yes, do that. I need to go to the toilet anyway. We’ll have some coffee too. My word, you kids are doing more to solve this case than we are!”

  CHAPTER 20

  THE SECRET MESSAGE

  Roger sat and watched Graham and Stephen finish translating the secret message. He saw by the clock it was 11:15pm but his mind was so active he did not feel tired. This was the most exciting and interesting thing he had ever been involved in.

  Inspector Sharpe returned and sat talking to DS Crowe. Peter went downstairs to the laundry. Roger fidgeted with impatience while Graham and Stephen worked. Ten minutes dragged by before Graham cried out: “We’ve finished it sir.”

  “Good work. Read it out.”

  Graham turned and called, “OK. Hey Pete! Come up here.”

  “Yeah what?” came Peter’s voice from downstairs.

  “We’ve finished translating. Come up.”

  Peter ran up and sat next to Roger.

  “All ready?” Graham asked. “OK, this is a Radio Message Form. The title at the top says that. Then there are these ruled boxes across the top section of the page. The first box says ‘Security Class.’. Next to that is written ‘Secret’. There is then some sort of Reference Number system, KSS/SAT/9-001-673.”

  Sgt Crowe looked at it. “For filing in records probably,” he suggested.

  Graham went on: “Then it says ‘Message Handling Instructions’ and a three letter code which we don’t understand. After that comes a Date/Time Group. That is written in military style:- 170800K JUN.”

  Peter looked interested. “That is the same system we use. Why would they use that?” he asked.

  DS Crowe replied. “Probably because most countries have adopted the American system that NATO uses.”

  Roger spoke next. “So it was only sent at 8 O’clock this morning,” he pointed out.

  “Yes,” Graham agreed. “Then it says ‘From’ and ‘To’. It is from the ‘Obersturmbannf
uhrer Australie’. That is the Lieutenant Colonel Australia; to the ‘Untersturmfuhrer’ or lieutenant of detachment or Group- Abteilung- it’s hard for me to give it an exact meaning- Detachment Rainforest.”

  Roger nodded. “That is the man with the glasses,” he added.

  Graham also nodded. “Yes. Now comes the text of the message. It is actually a message within a message so I will read it all. Don’t interrupt me,” he instructed. He then read slowly and carefully while both Inspector Sharpe and DS Crowe made notes. “Paragraph One. The following message has been overheard or intercepted. It was sent by the General Staff of the Royal Army to Colonel Count Michael Von Krapnoff, Kommanadant of the Royal Guard.”

  “Paragraph Two. The intercepted message says: ‘Operation Return’ is planned for 19th June. Company Knight is to group at Concentration Place Cloud. Cloud is some sort of nickname I think. Then it says: ‘Red Eagle is still following his travel plan’.”

  “Paragraph Three. You will meet White Falcon at Legend Hill. In brackets it says: ‘This is a codename whose exact location we do not know but it is believed to be a road junction between Malanda and Yungaburra’, brackets end. It goes on to say: ‘Between two Date/Time Groups: 171800Z and 172400Z JUN. White Falcon will be in a grey Mercedes with three other people including Adjutant Stiltz. You are to guide White Falcon to Concentration Place Cloud. Message ends.”

  “Paragraph Four. KSS Detachment Rainforest is to secretly observe the meeting, then follow Von Krapnoff to locate his secret hiding place. It is most important that the Royalist HQ be found within the next 36 hours.”

  “Paragraph Five. Major Gostyxz is coming to assist you. He lands at Mareeba Airport on Tuesday at 4pm. Meet Gostyxz and have the answers or, there are four dots. Message ends.”

  There was complete silence for a moment while they all thought hard about what they had just heard. Then they broke into an excited babble of talk. Inspector Sharpe slapped his hand on the table. “Quiet! I will ask questions. You answer them. Now, does the KSS exist?”