"He also made mention of how the small girls would be sent to Germany to sire more Aryan men."
"They are going to breed them? Did he say when the girls would be sent?"
"No. But from the excitement in his voice, it would be soon."
"Boys, you have done very well. We must act quickly." Kirilli snapped the whip forcing the mare to pick up the pace. They would have to strike tomorrow night.
* * *
"Where is he?" bellowed Nikoli. "Kirilli should have already returned. He cares nothing for the Romanovs."
"That isn't true," retorted Sasha harshly. "He and the boys went to town before Yakov had finished his briefing. We need each other for the ultimate plan to succeed. Now relax. The men will return soon."
"Men? They are still boys in my eyes. A few hunting missions and you and your kind think you understand everything, when in fact, you know nothing. When this is over..."
"What will you do when this is over, Nikoli? What?" were the words pouring out of Kirilli's mouth as he strode into his study. "When are you going to understand, as Sasha reminded you, we are in this together? Now, if you are finished, I will tell you what we know and how I think we should proceed."
Nikoli's outburst could have come from his deep hatred for the Boirarskys or it could have been of concern for the girls and Svetlana. Kirilli was prepared to overlook his bad manners once again.
* * *
Major Ernst smiled largely as he admired the naked woman lying on the cold steel table before him. She had said nothing since her capture. She was like a stone that he was determined to break. "My dear Fraulein, excuse me, Frau, it would be in your best interests to tell me everything you know. Remember, we still have the little ones next door. If you choose not to talk, I'm sure my guards can coax them into sharing information and other things."
The other two guards in the room laughed with the major's remarks.
Svetlana was not afraid of this man of the Third Reich. After all, he was just a man. She could not take any action for fear harm would come to the children. She would endure anything this man and his comrades could inflict on her. She would wait for her moment to take them, but now was not the time. Her eyes followed the major as he moved to the end of the table. He gestured to a guard. She heard him approach from the right, and felt the air move as his hand rapidly moved to her face. The slap was hard and left a red welt.
"Frau, is there anything you would like to say?" She made no movements. The guard struck her again. These men could learn much from Nikoli. Again, nothing. "Well, if you don't wish to speak right now, then maybe I can entice your body to make other sounds." She saw his hands move down and heard the sound of a belt buckle unfastening. The time was 3:00am.
Stephan wasn't as lucky. The guards had drawn straws and Sergeant Mauser would start the interrogation. Stephan was stripped naked and tied to a wooden chair bolted to the floor. Sergeant Mauser inspected his body. "Gentlemen, it appears we have a soldier in our midst. Look at the scars covering his body. And how did you receive those injuries, my friend? Did you fall off your horse and get trampled?" The other guards burst out in laughter. The wounds he had received that night at Bochnia were still healing.
"Since it appears you are more than capable of inflicting damage to other parts of your body, I believe we shall start with your face." The sergeant struck his face hard, not once or twice, but three times with his gloved right fist. The first two blows were easily absorbed, but the third one made contact with the right incisor Dmitri had damaged that day. He could feel it getting looser.
* * *
Kirilli laid out the reconnaissance information he and the boys had procured. Nikoli had removed his leather notebook and was applying new ink when a point of interest was addressed. Kirilli laid out a basic plan for freeing the captives. Nikoli was quiet as he digested all of the information and studied his notes. He put down the notebook, stood up, and congratulated Kirilli on the excellent report.
"Kirilli, you may make a good soldier someday." His words were true and straight. There wasn't the usual sarcasm in his voice. "I believe it is time we used what we have cultivated over the last four months. Ambushing General Von DerGraff will pale next to this venture. Timing is of the utmost essence. Based on the excellent reconnaissance reports, I would like to elaborate on how we should proceed."
Kirilli nodded and yielded the floor to him.
"It is apparent the guards at the front of the police station are changed out every two hours. The guard in the alley is changed less often. I guess they believe it is not an important duty to require a more constant change. None the less, here is what I propose." He slowly and methodically read the notes he had made:
Phase I
1. Yakov and Taras will approach the guard in the alley appearing drunk.
2. Kirilli and I will flank the alley with a few converted guards.
3. Yakov will steal the key.
4. The guard will be disposed of.
Phase II
1. Sasha, Darya, Roman, Sergei and Zoya will be escorted under our guards to the front of the police station.
2. They will do what the women do best and gain the confidence of the guards.
3. The converts will move to their old comrades and gain their confidence.
4. The women will strike first, the converted guards second. All are to be killed.
Phase III
1. Sergei and Roman will enter the building and dispose of any guards at the desk
2. Kirilli and I will dispose of any in the back of the building.
3. Sergei and Roman will take our guards and start clearing the upper floors.
4. Kirilli, Yakov, Taras and I will move to the basement and free the women.
5. No German will be left alive.
Phase IV
1. Kirilli and Nikoli will stay behind and be captured.
2. The plan for meeting Himmler will be explained to Eckhardt.
"Kirilli, based on the information you have supplied, the amount of traffic in town and the changing of the guards, we shall strike at 3:00am. Any questions?" No one said a word. The smiles coming from their faces told him the plan was very well laid out. "Good, let us get some rest; we will be leaving at 10:00 tonight."
The meeting broke up and everyone but Kirilli, Nikoli and Sasha exited the large hall.
Kirilli broke the silence, "Nikoli, the plan will work. They will be freed and many of the intruders will die and suffer horribly for their fuehrer tomorrow."
Sasha followed up, "Svetlana will not be broken. She is a strong woman."
Nikoli looked up and whispered, "Svetlana."
Chapter 19
Attack!
The plan was daring but the risk had to be taken. The thought of the four Romanovs in the clutches of the Germans was unacceptable. Nikoli's first reaction had been outrage until Yakov finished the briefing. They had no chance of escape; there was no escape route laid out for such a contingency. It was bad luck, not bad planning or execution. It was one of those occurrences that sometimes happened in a battle. Von Clausewitz had referred to it as the fog of war, and indeed, bad luck had descended upon Svetlana and her party. His only thoughts were of freeing her and having her by his side again. He might even have to reconsider how he treated this woman. He slowly drifted off thinking about her and how she was handling her captors....
“I will tell you nothing, you bastards. You will regret the day you took a proud Romanov to prison. All of you and your men are going to suffer a fate your nightmares could never possibly contain.” Svetlana railed against her captives. Her outburst was met with more harsh treatment from Major Ernst and his goons.
“Sergeant, take her to the basement and place the children next door. I want her to hear their screams as we have our way with them. Yes, Frau, you will tell me everything I need to know and then I shall have my way with you whether you talk or not. It really doesn't matter now, does it?” His laugh was deep and evil.
The group
was led to the basement. “Sergeant, remove all of their clothes. I would hate to know they are hiding any type of weapons on their person.”
“Jawohl, Herr Major. It will be a pleasure.” The men laughed as they stripped the captives bare and threw them in the cold empty rooms. They especially had fun with Stephan.
“Look, Carl, we have a soldier amongst us. Maybe we should add some more battle scars to his collection?”
“Yes Johan, let me start.” The soldier struck Stephan across the face with the butt of his rifle releasing dark, black blood from his mouth.
Major Ernst stood over Svetlana who was naked and heavily strapped to the ice cold metal table. Her expression hadn't changed. The hate in her eyes for her captors was very evident.
“Major Ernst, are you sure you won't need any help with the woman. I believe she could handle at least three of us at one time.” The men laughed at the thought of ravishing this fine specimen.
“No, you and the others play with the young ones. I will interrogate the woman myself. But if I need help, I will surely call.”
“Now, Fraulein or Frau, how shall we start with the questioning of a simple peasant? Are you sure there is nothing you would like to tell me before we start?"
She could hear the cries and screams from next door. “NO, NO! Stop, please stop.” She realized Natashia and Dina were being violated by their captors.
“I have one thing to say; Major, it will be a pleasure killing you!” Her comment sparked a quick slap to her face. The major removed all of his clothes and slowly made his way on top of the prize his men had captured.
“It is going to be my pleasure to make you talk woman. No one can stand against the Third Reich and our supremacy.”
“You bastard! I will see to it that you never….”
* * *
"It is time, my friend," Kirilli's words were quiet yet forceful. Nikoli awoke in a pool of sweat from his deep, disturbing dream. "Of course. Are the others ready? We must move quickly. It is time to kill every one of those sons-of-bitches!" he replied as his eyes and mind started refocusing.
"Yes, Nikoli. We are waiting for you to lead this battle." It was the first time Nikoli noticed Kirilli smiling before a major encounter. When he proposed the taking of Von DerGraff, Kirilli was highly suspect with the venture. He deemed it much too ambitious. His eyes held many reservations as they headed out. And even after the successful battle, Kirilli maintained his distance from him and failed to regale in the victory.
Everyone was waiting in the massive hall. The seat where Kirilli usually sat was unoccupied. "Please take it. You will be able to address all of us much easier," came Kirilli's words.
Nikoli moved to the chair and took his seat. He had led many battles over the centuries and sat behind many desks and tables as he outlined his plans, but the chair he was now sitting in invigorated him with confidence and understanding. It was a true commander’s seat of authority, and the troops wished to be addressed.
"I have carried doubts about this joining since the first day it was mentioned. I allowed myself to be indulged with personal glory with each mission I planned and implemented. I cared not for our combined efforts, but planned each mission for the eventual glory of the Romanovs. I know now those were thoughts of vanity and selfishness. From the beginning, Kirilli, Sasha, and Svetlana, kept telling me the real threat was the Germans. I did not believe them until now. I always thought I could continue to negotiate with the Germans for food. I was wrong. The plan we formulated will decide the fate of our clans. Some of you might suggest we move to other territories. We have thought of that but to where? The Swastika covers all of Western Europe, the Balkans, Scandinavia and most of North Africa. It is also evident that they are preparing to thrust deep into the bowels of Russia. No, my friends, we shall make our stand here. It is here where the Germans will feel their first defeat from an enemy they could never prepare for. It is here we shall make our mark and stand."
Nikoli had broken out in a deep sweat as the words of contempt and hatred for the new occupiers poured out. He took a deep breath and continued. “We shall go to Krakow and recover what is ours and mine, Dina, Natashia, Stephan and my beloved wife, Svetlana. The thought of German hands on our comrades is more than my soulless body can withstand. We shall avenge the injustices being forced upon us and when, not if, when successful, we shall convince the "master race" there is not room for them in Southern Poland. Victory will be ours when the sun rises tomorrow!"
All in the room, including those who had been converted, were deeply moved with the speech. Nikoli showed a passion no one knew he possessed. Something was dramatically changing in his make-up.
"Nikoli, shall I proceed with the details of the plan?"
Nikoli was thoroughly lost in his thoughts. "What? Yes, of course Kirilli, please continue."
He laid out the plan and how timing was of the essence. He went through everyone’s role and reinforced that they would leave no survivors. They were to kill, drain, and eliminate every living German in the building. If there were others who were imprisoned, they would be released or killed. The time of the attack would commence at 3:00am.
* * *
"How goes the interrogation, Herr Major? Is the woman cooperating or is she still holding her tongue?" asked Colonel Eckhardt.
"She is still being silent but she will talk. Until that time, my men and I are putting her to good use." Major Ernst's comments were right along the party’s lines, but for some reason the colonel didn't agree with the current methods.
"Major, is that necessary?" Major Ernst was not pleased with his superior’s response.
"Colonel Eckhardt, are you questioning my methods? That is most unusual. Maybe I should file a report to General Von DerGraff or more importantly, one to the Reichsfuehrer himself and inform him you are showing favoritism to the local partisans?"
Eckhart’s mind had not been as clear or keen since he had met with that woman many months ago. The doctor had assured him there was nothing wrong and the problem should vanish over time. It was nothing to worry about. But it was clear enough to understand exactly what Major Ernst was driving at. He knew the major (who was young and ambitious) was not making idle threats. He would do everything in his power to move up the chain of command and squash anyone who would stand in his way.
"No, Major, that won't be necessary. Carry on, but remember, if they die, you will be held personally responsible for the failed interrogation." Major Ernst was not impressed with the warning from Eckhardt, but agreed for appearances sake.
"Jawohl, Herr Colonel, as you wish." He wasn't planning on killing them, but rather using all of the means at his disposal to get the truth.
* * *
Yakov and Taras would be the first to make contact. They would move down the alley as two men who had partaken too heavily in the local spirits. Taras would distract the guard while Yakov removed the key to the door; Nikoli and Kirilli would be close behind. The women would be escorted to the police station by the converted Germans as prisoners. They would gain admittance to the building and reveal their true selves. The men would move from the back of the building and the women from the front. Once the first floor had been cleared, Taras and Yakov would take the converts and clear the second and third floor. Roman, Sergei, and Dmitri would change clothes and take the place of the deceased guards. Nikoli, Kirilli, Yakov, Taras and Sasha, would descend to the basement and free their comrades.
The groups converged on the town. Those traveling by foot easily bypassed the sentries. Nikoli, Kirilli, Sasha, Darya, and Zoya rode in the carriage. Nikoli still carried the written order from Major Ernst. It would allow them to enter the town with no questions asked.
Nikoli looked at his watch. The time was 2:30am. “Kirilli, the light is on at Jacub's. We should tell him to go home. He doesn't need to be implicated with this night’s events."
"Agreed."
Kirilli steered the carriage to the back of the livery. The horse would not be unhitched t
onight.
Jacub heard the ominous footsteps approaching his door. Who could be here this late?
The men entered the dark, poorly lit office. "Jacub, you must leave now," spoke Nikoli. "You do not need to be here. Leave now." Jacub was taken back a bit. Nikoli hadn't asked him to leave but demanded he leave.
"I have work to finish for tomorrow’s...."
"Jacub, we don't care. You do not need to be here." reinforced Kirilli. Jacub noticed the fire in Kirilli's eyes.
"It is best you are not here tonight. Please Jacub, it is for your own good." What could Nikoli and Kirilli be planning? I have work to perform. If I don't finish the manifest by 9:00am, Major Ernst could easily put me on one of the work gangs, or worse, a passenger in a box car. Jacub's thoughts tore him between two masters. Nikoli could see Jacub contemplating his dilemma.
"Jacub," the sound of branches were heard breaking in the room. Nikoli was slowly letting the change start. His voice was becoming raspy. "We won't ask you to leave again." Fire started flashing in his eyes. Blood started trickling down his spinney fingers as claws replaced nails. Jacub needed no more insistence. He said not a word, grabbed his coat, turned off the light and hastily left for home. The time was 2:55am. Everyone should be in place.
* * *
"Good evening, Major. Preparing for another night of interrogations with the woman?" the small laughter from Sergeant Kruger was noted in his words.
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