They passed a settlement called Brude. 'How far now?' he asked Anna.
'About forty kilometres, I think.'
'Aircraft!' yelled Sykes from the back. 'Bloody hell, and there're lots of them!'
Tanner groaned, and leant out of the window. They were only specks on the horizon, but he could see two distinct formations, one higher than the other. The valley had narrowed again, and with it the stretch of pasture off the road. A hundred yards ahead the road curved and beside it the forest reached the road's edge.
'Can we make the curve of the road?' A thought, but said aloud. Leaning out of the window, he saw the lower formation swooping downwards towards them.
'Now!' he said. They were close enough to the bend. 'Sir, get the truck to the side of the road, and let's get out! Out, everyone, quick, and into the trees!' He leapt from the cab, hurried round to the back and, with Sykes, grabbed Chevannes' legs, hoisted him on to his shoulder and sprinted to the trees. He had barely stepped away from the road when the first line of bullets spat a line behind him. Laying Chevannes roughly on the ground, he crouched behind a tree, aircraft roaring overhead, seemingly only just above the canopy. Bullets hurtled through the branches and along the road. A line pinged across the truck. A moment later there was a loud boom and the vehicle was engulfed in flames, the canvas cover and wooden rear crackling loudly.
It was over in moments, the six aircraft thundering onwards. A miracle: no one had been hurt, although as Tanner lifted Chevannes to his feet, the Frenchman groaned with pain.
Twenty miles, thought Tanner, give or take. They could walk it, but would the enemy catch up before they reached safety? He rubbed his eyes, rubbed his cheeks, wished he had a cigarette.
They made another stretcher, this time for Chevannes, and on they went. For a while no one spoke and all that could be heard was the tramp of boots. They had come so far.. . Tanner cursed.
'Come on, boys,' he said at length. 'Let's lift our heads. We're nearly there. We can bloody do this. Just a few hours' hard march, that's all, and we've done that plenty of times.'
'Sarge!' said Sykes, suddenly. 'Look!'
They followed his outstretched finger and there, a few hundred yards ahead, they saw the unmistakable sign of a roadblock. Hastily, Tanner brought his binoculars to his eyes.
British troops.
'They're ours, lads!' he said. 'They're bloody well ours!' And he began to run towards them.
The roadblock was manned by a small detachment of Royal Navy Marines, whose commander stepped forward as Tanner stood gasping, his hands on his knees.
Immediately he straightened and saluted. 'Sergeant Tanner, sir, of the King's Own Yorkshire Rangers, and Lieutenant Nielssen of His Majesty the King's Guard.'
'Lieutenant Lindsay,' the Marines officer replied. 'Where in God's name have you come from?'
At Lieutenant Lindsay's command post - a roughly built sangar made from stones and branches among the pines - Tanner gave a brief account of their journey from the Balberkamp, and stressed the importance of getting the professor away as quickly as possible.
Lieutenant Lindsay, a thin-faced Scotsman of about thirty, stroked his moustache thoughtfully as he listened, then said, 'We have a dilemma, though, Sergeant. Although the port is only eighteen miles up the track, it would be suicide to attempt the journey now. You know what it's like - you've suffered two close calls yourself. A mile behind us, though, there's a small village and a four- hundred-and-eighty-yard tunnel. To be honest, that tunnel's the main reason we're here. Most of our forces arealready at Andalsnes, but what's left are in the tunnel. We're the last outpost here. We've been ordered to cover them should Jerry push on through.'
'How many are up there, sir?' Tanner asked. 'Rather more than one company of Green Howards,plus various other loose strands, so to speak,' Lindsay told him. 'The aim is to hold off the enemy here, then slip away tonight. The chaps in the tunnel are going by train - it's in there, ready and waiting to go - and we've got seven trucks hidden here. There are ships coming for us tonight - assuming they haven't been sunk.' He paused. 'I'm sorry, it's pretty grim, I'm afraid.'
Tanner took off his helmet and turned to Nielssen. 'What do you think, sir?'
'We should wait until this evening. If we are caught out in the open we could be in big trouble.'
Tanner nodded, then walked a few steps away.
'Sarge?' It was Sykes. 'What are you thinking?'
'I'm thinking a handful of Marines won't stop a concerted effort by the Germans.'
'We've still got a few explosives. Could always put them to good use.'
'You're right.' He turned back to Nielssen and Lindsay. 'Sir,' he said to Nielssen, 'why don't you go with the professor, Chevannes and Derigaux, and take cover in the tunnel?' Then, to Lieutenant Lindsay, he said, 'If we can help here, sir, we'll stay with you. We've got some explosive left we could use.'
Lieutenant Lindsay smiled. 'Yes, I'm sure you could, Sergeant. I'm afraid demolitions aren't really my line.'
'And if you don't mind me asking, sir, what ammo have you got left? We're almost out.'
'Enough. We've got a two-inch mortar, one Lewis gun and two Brens, plus an assortment of rifles and a fair amount of ammo for those. There is an ammunition train as well in the tunnel, though, so you can get some more if you need it.'
At this news Tanner's spirits rose. He thought quickly. 'With your permission, sir, I'd like to take one of the trucks to the tunnel, leave Lieutenant Nielssen and the professor, then load up with a few supplies.'
'Good idea,' said the captain. 'I'll get a couple of my men to help you.'
The tunnel had been blasted through the steep valley side. It was dark and narrow, the air close; there was a strong musty smell of urine and soot. Although most of the waiting troops were already on the train, a number were milling about at the tunnel's entrance. They were clearly exhausted, faces and uniforms filthy. Tanner asked a Green Howards corporal if there was an RAP.
'Aye,' he replied, pointing into the tunnel. 'On the train in the tunnel. Just follow the screams.'
They found the RAP and woke a medical orderly who was asleep on the carriage steps. 'All right,' said the medic, yawning, 'bring him in.' Tanner and Derigaux hoisted Chevannes aboard. The stench of medicines and putrid flesh was overwhelming.
'What are you bringing me?' said a doctor, his overalls covered with blood.
'A smashed cheek,' said Tanner.
'All right, put him there,' said the doctor, pointing to a space in the corridor.
At long last, thought Tanner, as he helped lay down the lieutenant.
The dank and fetid air of the tunnel was a relief after the RAP carriage. They pushed on alongside the dimly lit train until they found the adjutant of the Green Howards. After a brief explanation, the Norwegians' names had been added to his list.
'You take the train when it leaves,' Tanner told them.
'Thank you, Sergeant,' said Nielssen, 'for everything.'
'What about you?' asked Anna.
'We're going to help the Marines,' he replied. 'We've got to make sure that that train can get you to the port.'
'But you'll be able to escape in time?'
'I hope so, yes. We'll find you at Andalsnes.'
She looked up at him, biting her lip. 'Good luck, Jack.' She kissed him, then stepped up on to the train.
He walked back slowly towards the others.
'Cheer up, Sarge,' said Sykes. 'At least you've still got us.'
'Yes, give us a kiss, Sarge,' said McAllister.
'I'll give you a bloody sore gob, if you're not careful, Mac.'
The ammunition train was further towards the tunnel entrance, and although the quartermaster in charge seemed reluctant to let them on board, when Tanner produced Lieutenant Lindsay's note of authorization, he relented. Twenty minutes later, they were back at the waiting truck, clutching a wooden crate of gelignite, another of grenades, four tins of safety fuse and another of detonators. Their pouches were stuffe
d with clips of .303 rounds.
'You took your bloody time,' muttered the Marines' driver. 'Come on, load up and let's get the hell out of here.'
In the back of the truck, Sykes said, 'He's a bit jumpy, isn't he?' No sooner had he said that than half a dozen Stukas appeared over the valley and dived down behind them, sirens screaming.
'That's why, Stan,' said Tanner. 'Bastards are trying to block the tunnel. Better pray they don't succeed.'
'Better pray Jerry doesn't catch up with us on the ground neither,' said McAllister.
Sykes grinned. 'If he does he'll have a hell of a headache after getting through this lot.' He delved into his bag. 'Anyway, I've got something for you.' He produced a dozen packets of cigarettes.
'Stan, you genius, where did you get those?' asked Tanner.
'Saw a box of 'em on the ammo train and half-inched a load.'
The packets were torn open, matches lit and the truck filled with tobacco smoke. Tanner leant back and exhaled. 'I've missed this,' he said, then winked at Sykes. 'I'm ready for action again now.'
At the Marines' position they unloaded and reported to Lieutenant Lindsay.
'A successful trip, Sergeant?'
'Very, sir, thank you,' Tanner replied.
'Now, what had you in mind? The Luftwaffe have had another crack at that tunnel, I see. Mercifully, it's been quiet enough here, but how long that will last, God only knows.'
'We need to get a move on, sir, that's for sure. Perhaps you could show me round.'
'Of course, Sergeant. Follow me.'
It was, Tanner recognized, a naturally strong position. The sides of the valley were steep and rose sharply from the river's edge on both sides. Just behind them, a smaller river cascaded down the mountain sides to join the Lagen, while the valley road and the railway line, the latter lying above the former, had been cut away from the mountain. To the north of the railway, thick forest covered the slopes. For an attacking force, there was only one way any vehicle could pass and that was by either road or rail. Otherwise, the position could be turned only by infantry.
Tanner was reluctant to be too critical of the captain's dispositions. He could see the northern side of the valley and the Lagen, which ran wide and fast, full of melted snow. The mortar team and heavy and light machine-gun crews were dug in behind hastily built sangars, while the rest of the men had made good use of what cover there was.
The tour over, Tanner gathered his men. 'What are your thoughts, Stan?'
'Well, Sarge,' said Sykes, 'we should blow the road in a couple of places, then set up a few booby traps - wires between trees, that sort of thing. As soon as they come we want a fairly clear field of fire, but also to leave ourselves enough time to scarper if it comes to it.'
'So, how far down the track?'
Sykes shrugged. 'Six hundred yards?'
Tanner agreed. 'That should do it. Iggery, lads. Let's be quick about it.'
********
In Vinstra, Reichsamtsleiter Scheidt was having one of the worst days of his life. Woken for the second morning running in the early hours, he had received the shattering news that Odin had eluded them again. Only as the morning progressed did the extent of their failure become apparent. First, Henrik Larsen's body had been found, then reports had arrived from General Geisler's Luftwaffe headquarters that two German Opel trucks had been spotted and strafed heading northwards. Either Odin was already dead, or he had surely made it to Allied lines.
Having badgered Engelbrecht's staff all morning, he was finally granted an interview shortly after noon.
'General, about time, I—'
The general put up a hand to silence him. 'A moment, Herr Reichsamtsleiter,' he said, put a lit cigar into his mouth, stood up, walked round his desk, and led Scheidt into the briefing room.
At the map on the wall he paused, took a puff of his cigar, then pointed to the map. 'Herr Reichsamtsleiter,' he said coolly, 'this is our difficulty. There are three blown bridges here, at Dombas, and here -' He pointed to a small village a few miles further north '- at Hauge. This has considerably slowed our advance.'
'So when do you think your troops will be through?'
Engelbrecht sighed. 'Soon. They'll reach Verma around seven o'clock this evening, I should think. The Luftwaffe are harrying their positions continually and bombing Andalsnes too.'
'But what about Odin? How are we going to capture him now?'
'Odin is no longer my concern, Scheidt.'
'General, do you have any idea how important this man is? You must make another attempt to—'
Engelbrecht turned on him. 'We're not going to do anything about Odin,' he said, taking his cigar from his mouth and jabbing it at Scheidt. 'I don't give a damn about him. I'm sick of him. I'm sick of you! I've already wasted enough time and men on this, running around as you asked me when I've got a battle to manage. And what do I discover? That your intelligence is about as reliable as snow in a desert! Now let me tell you, the enemy are evacuating and it's my task to make sure that as few as possible get away. So, please, leave this headquarters. Go back to Lillehammer or Oslo or wherever you want to go, but stop bothering me.'
'You can't speak to me like that!' Scheidt retorted. He was taller than the general by a couple of inches yet somehow felt as though he was looking up at him. 'I'm going to speak to Terboven about this. I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear about your attitude.'
'Save yourself the bother, Herr Reichsamtsleiter. I've already spoken with him.'
'You have?' Scheidt was incredulous.
'Yes, and believe me, Herr Reichsamtsleiter, he's not very happy. Not very happy at all. Now get out! Go on! Get out of my sight!'
Scheidt was speechless. He turned, twisting his foot as he did so, then hobbled from the room.
Chapter 23
Sergeant Tanner and his men, under Sykes's imperturbable supervision, had blown the road and the railway line three times with fifty yards between each crater. They had also felled a series of trees and linked a web of booby traps among them so that the moment anyone tried to move the barriers one or more cartridges of Nobel's finest No. 808 desensitized gelignite would explode in their faces. In addition, they made liberal use of grenades and safety fuse, preparing a variety of trip-wires between trees further up the slopes away from the road.
Since midday, two more waves of bombers had headed over, dropping loads at either end of the tunnel, then going on to paste Andalsnes, but the tunnel had not been blocked, Lieutenant Lindsay had confirmed, and the tiny port was still open for business. A number of Junkers 88s had swept low down the valley, half-heartedly strafing the Marines' position, but no one had been injured; men dug in and spread out were a far harder target than a lone convoy on a narrow road.
There had been no sign of the enemy on the ground, which had given Tanner and his men the chance to put some finishing touches to their devil's nest of explosives and booby traps. At well-spaced intervals, they were now placing single cartridges of gelignite, some propped up on rocks, others wedged atop mounds of earth and pebbles. All, however, were visible from a number of vantage-points along the Marines' positions.
'A bloody good idea of yours, this, Sarge,' said Sykes, as he handed over his last cartridge.
'Waste not, want not, Stan. Got the box?'
Sykes handed it to him.
'I can't resist this.' Tanner grinned. He upended the wooden box in the middle of the road, then placed the last cartridge on top. 'Now, where's Hep? I need some tracer rounds. Hep?'
Hepworth hurried over from one of the other jelly- mounds - as the men had christened them - and gave him a handful. Placing them in his haversack on his hip, Tanner strode forward and, binoculars to his eyes, gazed down the valley.
Sun glinting on glass, a few miles away. 'They're coming,' he muttered, under his breath, and glanced at his watch: 19.35. His heart began to beat faster, but this time with exhilaration rather than fear. 'They're coming!' he yelled. He felt in his haversack, took out his Aldis scope, u
nravelled the cloth in which it was wrapped and screwed it on to his rifle.
Sykes hurried over to him. 'How many, Sarge?'
Tanner peered through his binoculars again. 'Eight trucks - company strength, I suppose.' He watched as the trail of vehicles drew ever closer. Then, when he judged them to be a little over four hundred yards away, he pulled back the bolt of his rifle, pushed it into place and said to Sykes, 'Right, Stan. Keep still.' Resting the rifle on Sykes's shoulder he took careful aim, inhaled gently, held his breath and squeezed the trigger.
Five rounds slammed into the leading truck, which swerved off the road, rolled down the side of the hill and crashed into the river. Tanner's men cheered. They could hear the screams of the enemy troops. Raising his binoculars once more, Tanner watched men pour out of the remaining trucks and spread out in a wide arc.
'Time to go,' said Tanner.
They ran back to the Marines' lines and watched as the enemy cautiously approached. Germans shouted as they reached the gaps in the road, then pressed on, spreading out through the trees. Soon after, as Tanner and his men wove their way through the Marines' positions, they heard a small explosion and another scream.
McAllister grinned. 'That's one trip they didn't notice.'
Crouching beside one of the Marines' Bren crews, Tanner took a bead on one of the jelly-mounds. A short distance beyond he could make out some enemy troops darting from tree to tree. 'Come on, Jerry,' he muttered, 'a bit closer.' Now. As he squeezed the trigger, the tracer round hurtled down the rifle's barrel at a little under two and a half thousand feet per second, smacked straight into the cartridge of gelignite and exploded instantly. Several men disintegrated with the blast, while others were flung through the air, limbs torn from them. A half- minute later, Tanner had detonated a second. Trees caught fire, enemy troops cried out and then, as the first Germans came into range of the Marines' Lewis and Bren guns, the chatter of small-arms rang out around the valley.
The Odin Mission Page 33