‘Whatever it is, I don’t want it,’ I said bluntly. After all I’d been through I’d decided to hate anything in uniform, despite owing Dieter one for putting in a good word for me during my imprisonment.
Undeterred, he removed a slip of paper from his pocket and held it out. ‘Take it,’ he said. ‘Go on, don’t be shy.’
I shrank back into the shadows of the hallway. He shrugged, sighed and folded it up again. ‘Your loss. Hey, I thought you were interested in aircraft.’
‘So what if I am?’
‘Well, I remembered our last conversation. I felt awful about saying how great my sixteenth birthday had been – how my father took me up for the first time. I wanted to make amends. So I talked it over with Anna, and she thought it was a great idea.’
‘Whatever it is, I’m not interested. Anyway, how dare you and she talk about me behind my back?’ I complained. ‘Mind your own damn business.’ I was angry enough to want to kick them both in the shins.
Dieter just laughed it off. I suppose most Germans had got used to being exposed to our venom. After all, it’s not as if we’d invited them to invade our country. But it turned out he wasn’t going to give up on me that easily. I suppose he believed that a lasting relationship with Anna might be dependent on winning me over, or at least reaching a truce. Over my dead body!
‘Well,’ he said wryly, ‘I just wondered if you’d like to see my new Heinkel. It was delivered today.’ He waved the paper in the air. ‘This, here, is a pass to get you into the base. My Staffel Kapitän took some persuading.’
Trust the devil, I thought. Trust him to place temptation before me. Of course I wanted to look over his new seaplane. Who wouldn’t? But could I really clamber over an enemy aircraft in broad daylight? People might see. People might think I really had sold my soul to Herr Hitler. ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ I replied.
‘A pity,’ he said, looking genuinely disappointed. ‘I went to a lot of trouble.’
An uncomfortable silence followed.
‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘how’s that shoulder of yours? Anna said you’d hurt yourself.’
It felt like someone had just kicked my legs from beneath me. What had Anna told him? What could I say? I stuttered, fearing I was digging a mighty big hole for myself. Mother came to the rescue. ‘Still sore,’ she said, flashing me an eye. ‘He’ll not be riding his bike again for a while. I’d warned him about not holding onto the handlebars. I said he was an accident waiting to happen.’
‘Ah,’ he replied, grinning as if he’d done exactly the same thing when he was my age. I said nothing.
To my relief, Anna appeared, clattering down the stairs, her cheeks flushed, her hair tied tightly back in a bun. Her lips bore a thin smear of Mother’s red lipstick, the skin around her eyebrows slightly pink from where tweezers had plucked wayward hairs. I spotted that beneath her overcoat she was wearing her best dress, the navy-blue one dotted with tiny silver flowers. Seeing her dressed like that made me even angrier. In truth, I was slightly taken aback by how beautiful she looked, strangely all grown up, more a woman than a girl, than my sister.
She flitted quickly past me and made for the door.
‘I thought we’d walk to the café,’ said Dieter.
She nodded enthusiastically. Mother straightened her collar and smoothed down the lapels of her coat. ‘Just make sure you’re back by ten o’clock, young lady,’ she said.
Anna turned to Dieter and grinned. ‘Did you get it?’ she asked excitedly.
‘Yes.’ He waved the slip of paper in the air. She reached out to grab it but he kept it from her. ‘But it seems your brother isn’t interested. I wasted my time and a good few favours.’
‘What?’ She turned to me and gaped. ‘Not interested? Rubbish. He rarely talks about anything else.’
‘I just couldn’t accept it,’ I said. Everyone peered at me as if expecting further explanation. ‘But thanks anyway.’
‘Give that pass to me,’ she said, thrusting out her hand. Obligingly, this time Dieter gave it to her.
‘Happy birthday, Finn.’ She pressed it into my hand, closing my reluctant fingers about it and squeezing them tightly, scrunching the paper. ‘I so wanted to give you something special,’ she added. ‘After all, it’s not every day that you turn sixteen.’ She smiled sweetly at me, a curious excitement burning in her eyes.
Dieter sensed I was having second thoughts because just at the right moment he added some icing to the cake. ‘Look, we can go for a spin if you want,’ he said. ‘Just around the fjord a couple of times. I have to test her out, anyway. Would you like that, Finn?’
Stupid question. I peered again at the pass. It bore all the stamps and signatures of the Luftwaffe and Third Reich, and the emblems of oppression and tyranny – the swastika and the eagle. My hand began to tremble. Anna grabbed hold of my shoulders and peered into my face, our noses inches apart. ‘Just imagine it, Finn,’ she said, ‘soaring through the clouds, looking down upon our beautiful country. You’ll be able to see everything from up there. Everything!’
Our stares met and she winked at me. I understood at once. Everything, she’d said, and that included whatever the Germans were up to in the restricted area. A bird’s-eye view courtesy of the Luftwaffe – well, that had to be a gift from the gods. I might be able to see for myself what Jack had drawn on his maps. ‘Thanks.’ I gave her a polar-bear hug.
Delighted at my change of heart, Dieter clapped his hands. I guess he figured his efforts would be worth a lingering kiss from Anna’s pouting lips. As she danced out of the door, he turned to follow but then hesitated. ‘How about next Saturday, Finn? In the afternoon. Shall we say one o’clock? Bring a friend if you like.’
‘I’ll be there,’ I replied. I immediately thought of Loki. He’d not want to miss this.
‘Good. Come to the main gate and show that pass to the sentry. Get him to telephone the Officers’ Mess and ask for me. I’ll come and escort you. Don’t be late.’
Locking arms, they struck out down the path. Mother closed the door, turned and leaned against it. ‘This is all getting far too dangerous,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘If—’
I interrupted her. ‘Don’t think about it. It’ll be fine. Really!’
She smiled thinly, weakly, unconvincingly.
In truth it didn’t really feel like my birthday. With so much happening, including our imminent escape to neutral Sweden, birthdays just didn’t seem important.
‘Here, Finn, these are for you. I wanted to give them to you this morning but I could only pick them up this afternoon.’ Mother reached inside the understairs cupboard and produced a pair of skis tightly wrapped in brown parcel paper and string. I could see they were second hand but they were definitely ten times better than my old ones. I gave her a hug. She felt oddly frail in my arms. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘They’re terrific. Can’t wait to try them out.’
I didn’t know how on earth she’d managed to afford them. I suspected she’d paid for them by pawning her beloved pearl necklace. Father had given it to her. Although I was thrilled with my gift, I also felt guilty for accepting it.
‘Is Loki coming round tonight?’ she asked.
‘Yes. Mr Larson’s still angry with him though. Even took his belt off to him and gave him ten of the best. We thought we were doing the right thing,’ I said. ‘Surely destroying one of Fritz’s patrol boats was a victory for us, however small.’
‘You should have thought of the consequences, Finn. Others will suffer. The Germans will make us pay dearly for what you did.’
‘We only finished what Mr Naerog set out to do,’ I protested.
Mother ran her fingers through my hair. ‘I know.’
An hour later a fist hammered on the front door. Loki arrived, the bulge beneath his anorak betraying the fact he’d brought me a present. We went upstairs to my room. Oslo greeted him by dragging the quilt from my bed and shaking the life from it.
‘That dog’s deranged,’ Loki said.
‘How’s your shoulder?’
‘Fine. The stitches are due out in a couple of weeks. Doctor says I’ll be right as rain. I think he suspected a bullet had been responsible, but he didn’t ask any awkward questions. I think he may have been the same doctor who dealt with Jack.’
Loki settled rather gingerly onto a spare chair. ‘My arse still feels like it’s on fire,’ he grumbled. ‘Still got the marks from Father’s belt.’ He picked up my busted model of a Sopwith Camel and examined it briefly. ‘Still, happy birthday, Finn.’ He handed me a small bag.
‘Thanks!’ I opened it. Inside was a harness for Oslo.
‘Blimey! Here, Oslo, look what Loki’s brought us.’
‘I figured you’re going to need it,’ he added.
‘Need it?’
‘Yes. Haven’t you heard? The Germans are actually allowing the skijoring races to go ahead. Saw it in the paper. With Heimar’s dogs dead and the great man himself locked up, I reckon it’s up to you to follow on the tradition.’
‘You what?’
‘Think about it, Finn? Oslo’s damn quick. Quicker than any dog I know, in fact. I reckon you’ve got a great chance of winning.’
‘You’re crazy. I’ve never raced in my life,’ I said.
He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, there’s a first time for everything.’
I sat down and gazed at Oslo. Could I? Could we? Wow! But then my heart sank. ‘But we’re going to Sweden, Loki. As soon as your father’s made the arrangements through Father Amundsen.’
‘There’ll be time enough for you to race. Hey, are those new skis I can see over there?’
I nodded. He inspected them and whistled his approval. ‘See! You’ve got everything you need. What else did you get?’
‘I got this from Anna. Well, from her and Dieter.’ I handed him the pass.
‘Dieter?’ He frowned and peered at it. ‘What is it?’
‘Have a guess.’
‘Invitation to the Luftwaffe’s Christmas party?’
‘Better than that.’
‘Can’t make it out. Hey, it’s signed by the Staffel Kapitän – that’s Dieter’s squadron leader, isn’t it?’
‘Most certainly is. It’s a pass. Dieter’s just taken delivery of his new aircraft and offered to take me up for a spin.’
His eyes lit up. ‘Good grief! Are you going to go? What did your mother say?’
‘Listen,’ I said. ‘Anna has come up trumps. She wants me to take a look at the restricted area from above. See if we can figure out what Jack’s maps are all about.’
‘Crikey.’
‘It gets better,’ I said. ‘You’re coming too.’
‘What? Are you crazy? Father would never allow it. I’m already just inches from an early grave.’
It didn’t take much for me to persuade him. He got up and practised throwing darts, skewering Mr Hitler in the cheek, on the point of his nose, and dead centre in his right eye.
‘Say, shall we take another look at Jack’s maps?’ I said.
‘Grand idea, Finn. But didn’t my father tell you to get rid of them?’
‘He did,’ I admitted. ‘I know it’s incredibly risky, but after all we went through I just couldn’t do it. I’m still convinced there’s a way to get these into the right hands.’
‘I hope you’re right, but you’d better be careful with them.’ Loki threw more darts while I ferreted about under the floorboards, dragged out the briefcase and unfastened its straps. I spread the maps and photographs out on my bed.
‘I wish I knew what that question mark represented,’ I said, pointing to the mark Jack had made. ‘When we talked to him in the cave, he mentioned a battleship. Just the thought blew my mind. But, problem is, I can’t see a battleship. In fact, I can’t see anything in the water at all. Except for those marker buoys.’
Loki studied them closely. ‘Maybe Jack drew the map before the ship arrived. Perhaps the question mark is just his best guess as to where they’ll moor it.’
‘Good point,’ I said.
‘If all those marks really are gun batteries and other defences, you’d need a blinking army to overrun it.’
‘Yeah. And that’s with knowing their positions. Imagine a small group of commandos attacking in the dark and without such detailed knowledge. A suicide mission. Jack was right when he said his maps were vital. And he also said there’s not much time. I just wish I knew of another way of getting them out.’
‘Me too. Still, our reconnaissance flight may be worthwhile. I mean, if we do see anything like a battleship, then at least we can get a message radioed to London. I know it’s not much, but it would be something. So, tell me, what’s Dieter’s new plane?’
‘A Heinkel,’ I replied.
‘Should be interesting.’
‘Yes. Of course, our main problem will be persuading Dieter to fly us into the restricted area. Ideally we need some sort of innocent reason for wanting to go there.’
‘Good point.’ Loki thought long and hard. ‘Hey, we could say we used to own a mountain hut up there. And that we’d love to see if it’s still there.’
‘Worth a try, I suppose. Not sure he’ll buy it though.’
‘You’re probably right.’ He sighed heavily and suddenly looked upset.
‘What’s up?’
‘Been thinking about Freya day and night, Finn. It’s driving me nuts. I really miss her. So much, in fact, it hurts. Hurts more than my backside even.’
‘That bad?’ I said. ‘Still, at least she’s safe.’
‘Yeah.’ His face brightened. ‘Yeah, you’re right. I guess that’s worth celebrating.’
‘To be honest I’m quite envious,’ I added. ‘I’ve always wondered what England’s like.’
‘Me too, Finn.’
‘I wish I was there right now. I’d join the RAF. I’d fly one of those Spitfires. Father wrote that there’s no better plane,’ I said.
‘I prefer the Hurricane – it’s faster.’ Loki grinned at me.
‘Maybe. I’d love to try them both out.’
Anna arrived home rather too late for Mother’s liking and, I learned later, with apple brandy on her breath. They had words in the kitchen – obstinate, hurtful, stinging words – but not those of a girl desperate for her freedom, or a mother keen to hold onto the reins. Rather, they were words about not getting too close, not risking everything through a tongue loosened by alcohol. I knew Anna believed that she could handle it all; that she could remain in control. Mother doubted it, and not for the first time. I knew it was best to keep out of their way, though I shuddered every time something banged and crashed. I knew Mother worried that Anna might actually fall for Dieter. Or had she already? God, how awful would that be? It couldn’t possibly happen. It mustn’t happen. Then again, Anna was adamant she wasn’t going to Sweden. She’d dug her heels in so hard I thought she might make divots in the floor.
Before turning in, I tried out Oslo’s harness for size. Just putting it on made his tail flick violently with excitement. I think he knew what it was for and he was as keen as me to have a go. And Loki was right, I thought, Oslo was quick. Strong too. I came to a decision. We were going to take part in the race. We were going to thrash the pants off every other dog in town.
Chapter Eighteen
Flying with the Enemy
THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND I caught the lunchtime bus into the centre of town, getting off close to the medieval cathedral. Loki had errands to perform, and said he’d meet me outside the seaplane base. As I headed across the town square, I spotted SS Officer Anders Jacobsen and Ned Grimmo talking to one another not far from the cathedral’s main entrance. Reaching St Olav’s statue, I hid in its shadow and peered back. Jacobsen seemed to be doing most of the talking. What on earth was that all about? I wished I could ge
t within earshot. Eventually Jacobsen waved Ned away dismissively, and they headed off their separate ways.
Puzzled, I made for the shore of the fjord. Soldiers loitered on corners, in shop doorways, in the middle of the street, everywhere. Busily accosting people left, right and centre, they demanded papers, quizzing everyone at length about God knows what. I hurried along and prayed I’d avoid their gaze. Fat chance.
‘Halt!’
Head down, I kept on going.
‘Halt! Komm her. Schnell!’
The gruff, gravelly voice rang with impatience and so, reluctantly, I stopped and turned. To my left stood a burly, moustached corporal tightly wrapped up against the cold. He eyed me suspiciously, frowned, then beckoned me towards him, pointing to the ground in front of him. ‘Komm her!’ I don’t know which was more frightening, his manner or the huge, vicious Alsatian reined in at his side. The dog’s gaze looked worryingly similar to his – deranged, yet calculating.
‘Papiere,’ he snapped. I dug in my pocket for my papers.
He studied them at length as if he couldn’t read beyond those picture books with oversized words I used to have as a child. While he did so, I inadvertently glanced down, and wished I hadn’t. My eyes met with the cold, bleak, hungry stare of the dog. Foaming dribble oozed and dripped from his jowls. I wanted to look away but knew that might prove fateful. Dogs are pack animals. In the wild they form a clear pecking order. Naturally, this brute was second in command to his master. But, question was, where did I fit in? I stared back with equal meanness. His upper lip curled and I heard a throaty ‘Grrrrr’ somewhere deep inside him. I figured Herr Dog probably detected Oslo’s scent on me, and had no intention of being demoted into third place. Without thinking, I pulled a face and snarled back. Big mistake. In fact, the kind of blunder that instantly makes you regret being born. In a flash, he lunged at me, seizing my left leg in his vice-like jaw. I barely had time to yell, ‘Get off me!’ before a shooting, agonizing pain stole my voice. The soldier seized the hound’s collar and wrestled him while I kicked and punched wildly. Then, amid the mayhem, someone arrived and hauled the dog off me. I looked up and saw it was Ned. The hound snarled angrily, straining on his leash. The beast wanted another chunk of me. Ned kicked the dog hard. It yelped and retreated. Crouching down, I rubbed my shin vigorously. Lifting my trousers, I revealed a perfect set of canine teeth marks.
Dogfight Page 21
