by Jens Kuhn
Thus, she wasn’t very surprised when he came back a few hours later, in order to take her for a walk. She had promised him yet again not to run away, sealed it with a kiss even. Then she had opened the parcel he had brought with him.
“Oh!” She exclaimed when she saw the dress. “Where did you find this?”
“Never mind. I can’t have you walk with me in that torn dress of yours, can I?”
She threw her arms around him, kissing him again. “You are so sweet, Nikolai.”
“So put it on then.” He smiled, making no move as to leave the room or even turn around. Anna giggled, then took off her dress slowly.
Half an hour later they were walking towards the center of the town, indeed looking like a pair of lovers. It was a sunny day at last, albeit not as warm as only a week before. Anna savored the fresh autumn air, while Nikolai mostly was peering at her, at least when he wasn’t smiling proudly at everyone they met.
“Where do you want to go, Anna?”
“I don’t know, we can just walk for a while, can’t we? I have not stretched my legs for so long.”
“I think you have,” he winked at her.
“You know what I mean.” She laughed, punching an elbow into his ribs.
“By the way, do you know where Wetterstrand might stay?”
“Yes, I do. But I don’t think we...”
“Oh, I don’t want to go there, Nikolai.”
He sighed. “He isn’t at home anyway, you know. They are all at a meeting this morning. That’s why I could take you out. They are all occupied, in that inn over there.”
“Oh.”
Chapter 20 - Escape
“Look, there she is!” Eric af Klint exclaimed. “Walking with that Russian boy!”
“They look like another happy couple,” Kuhlin could not resist. “Keep calm, Eric!” He added, when af Klint was about to move impatiently. “We must wait and see what happens first.”
The gunnery officer’s heart was pounding heavily. He wanted to run towards her and knock that grinning Russian out once again. Why did she look so happy with him? Was it a game? Or was it he who had been fooled all the way? Kuhlin drew him deeper into the doorway, to keep him out of sight.
Suddenly the door across the street opened and Wetterstrand emerged, walking right into Anna and Nikolai. Eric saw the priest stagger at the sight of the girl.
“You?” He shouted. “Why are you here?”
Anna looked at him coldly. “I could ask you the same. At least I am not betraying my country.”
When af Klint saw the pistol appear in Wetterstrand’s hand, he started to run. Kuhlin gasped, but, unable to stop him drew his own pistol and ran after him. Both officers knew they would never be able to get to Wetterstrand in time, and shooting at him was far too dangerous with him standing so near Miss Anna. So it was Nikolai who saved her. When he saw the pistol in Wetterstrand’s hand, he instinctively drew his sword and ran the priest through before he even could touch the trigger.
With Wetterstrand dead at his feet, Nikolai turned and saw two men in dirty coats running towards him. He pushed Anna behind his body to protect her and raised his sword again. At the same time he called to the Russian guards, who still stood in front of the inn, looking bewildered.
“Anna!” Eric af Klint shouted. She looked at him uncomprehendingly at first, but then she recognized his face. She started to move, but Nikolai caught her wrist with his left hand, shoving her back behind him. Kuhlin had his pistol up now, aiming at one of the approaching guards. He pulled the trigger, the shot went off and the Russian fell. The other one still ran towards them, but af Klint had gotten his pistol out as well and fired, hitting him in the head.
Nikolai still stood with his back to Anna, sword ready for the two Swedish officers, who came at him with their fishermen’s knifes. He slashed out at af Klint who was first, but missed as the gunner ducked under his arm, hitting him in the belly with his left fist. Gasping, Nikolai bent double, trying to keep his sword up to meet Kuhlin. Anna suddenly realized that the restraining grip around her wrist was gone. Still, she stood dazed, could not move at all. She saw Nikolai thrust out with his sword at Kuhlin, who backed away. But the Russian did not think of af Klint who was coming at him from the right, knife ready in his hand.
“Eric, please don’t,” Anna yelped. Looking at her quickly, Eric complied, hitting Nikolai with the back of the knife on the head instead. The boy dropped his sword and fell.
“Run, Anna!” Eric shouted, gripping her by the wrist and dragging her with him. Then they ran as fast as they could and as long as their strained lungs would let them. Finally safe, at least comparatively, in a backyard near the docks, they sat down on the ground, gasping for air. Eric held Anna closely, his face against her head, inhaling her lovely scent. When they had regained their strength, Anna looked into his eyes and smiled.
“Darling, you smell like a barrel of rotten herring.”
Eric laughed. “But you will kiss me anyway.” He lowered his mouth towards her parting lips.
They stayed in the backyard until dark just to be safe. Kuhlin was sure that there would be search parties out, looking for them. Anna did not agree at all, but had difficulties to convince the lieutenant. In fact, she was almost certain that Nikolai would tell his superiors a completely different story.
“You see, lieutenant, he loves me. Even though he will be devastated that I have fled with you, he knows that if we are found, we would probably be killed. And whatever he feels right now, he does not want me killed. So he’ll probably tell them that Wetterstrand attacked the guards and that he ran him through, tripping over in the process and hitting his head on a rock. He’d not even tell them I ever left the room I was held prisoner in.”
Kuhlin grunted. He didn’t believe it. “Surely the Russian’s sense of duty will prevail in the end.”
“Perhaps in the end. But not now. He’ll buy us some time.” The affection in her voice made af Klint look at her, his eyes aglow with what only could be jealousy.
“If he is so loveable, then why did you come with us at all?” He immediately regretted that he had spoken his thought. But Anna did not even blush. Instead she put her hands around his face, speaking softly. “Because I love you more, Eric. Much more.”
Eric gasped, blushing. “You do?”
Anna nodded. “I’m sorry, I should not have said so.” She was whispering now. “I know that I am completely out of place. But it’s how I feel.”
Eric af Klint pulled her closer to him, saying nothing at first, his heart racing. “You are dazzling me again,” he said finally. She opened her mouth to say something, but he was there, silencing her with a kiss. Johan Kuhlin sighed, rolling his eyes.
As soon as it was dark enough, the three of them moved to the waterfront and found the fishing boat peacefully moored where they had left it. Kuhlin climbed down and steadied the boat against the dock, while af Klint helped Anna into it.
“Sorry about the dress.”
Anna laughed. “Never mind the dress, I am sure you will hide me below those fishing nets in a minute.” She wrinkled her nose. “The smell is even worse than your coat.”
Kuhlin chuckled. “You know it’s not a bad idea actually, hiding you under that net. It might just be a trifle suspicious with a girl in a fancy dress riding down the river in a simple fishing boat.”
Anna sighed and winked at af Klint. “I told you so.”
Sub-lieutenant Gran stood on a rock, looking over the sea towards the east. Two nights had passed since Kuhlin and af Klint had sailed into the enemy held town in their little fishing smack. Gran had not thought it to be a very good idea, but being the junior officer he had not said anything. Instead he had patiently waited here, observing and thinking of his beloved Eleonora. Not that there had been too much to observe. Once, he had seen two Russian gunboats, apparently on patrol off the estuary that marked the entrance to Turku port. He was sure that they had not seen him, tucked away in this little bay on the
northwest side of the island. He thought about his crew. At least they were enjoying it, having nothing much to do, getting fed regularly and being allowed to sleep in their tents.
Talking about the food. If they were to stay here several more days they would have to cut down on rations, or even start fishing. The gunboats carried only supplies for ten days, usually relying on supply ships. But there was no such vessel here, hadn’t been for over a week in fact and supplies were now dangerously low. Gran looked across the water one last time, before he started to walk back towards the beach. Suddenly he hesitated. Hadn’t there been a movement far away? He stepped back on the rock and looked again, concentrating now. Yes, there was definitely some movement.
“Tapper,” he called down to the beach. “Get me the lieutenant’s glass, will you?” He knew that Kuhlin had a neat little telescope which he probably got when he was in the proper navy. Usually, the inshore fleet did not supply their officers with such luxuries, but now it would come in very handy indeed.
Tapper appeared with the glass, standing next to the sub-lieutenant while he scanned the islands on the other side.
“Seems like they are coming out in style,” Gran said, “have a look for yourself.”
Tapper took the telescope and put it to his right eye. What he saw made him shudder. There were gunboats appearing between the islands. Many gunboats. They approached slowly, one after another, just like pearls on a string, Russian battle ensigns were flying at their sterns. Tapper stopped counting at thirty.
“Quite some sight,” he said, giving back the telescope to Gran.
“Indeed. Well, we’ll let them come a little closer in order to count them properly. Then I’ll leave and warn our fleet. You are to stay here, waiting for the Lieutenant. Keep your boat well hidden, Tapper.”
“Aye aye, Sir,” Tapper replied, his throat dry.
“I think you should put to sea now.” Bosun Tapper did not like this at all. In his opinion, sub-lieutenant Gran should have left long ago in order to warn the Swedish landing forces. There was no real point in counting every Russian vessel in the approaching fleet, for a fleet it was and it was powerful enough even if you did not know its exact numbers. But Gran was a thorough man, and he wanted to provide his superior with the best possible intelligence. So he had waited until the last Russian ship had emerged from the sound. 90 gunboats and galleys, not counting some smaller vessels.
“Alright,” Gran agreed finally. “You know your orders, Tapper. Good luck to you.”
“It’s you who’s needing the luck, Sir.”
Gran smiled warily and turned to walk down to his boat. As soon as he had climbed aboard, the crew bent to the sweeps, and the boat started to move out of the cove and towards the headland that would lead them into open water – and make them visible to the Russian fleet.
Gran had ordered only the aft gun to be hauled up into firing position, hoping that the forward gun would add enough ballast to set some sail as well, if the winds permitted. Which, at the moment, wasn’t the case. He stood next to the tiller and looked aft at the Russians. Surely they had seen the gunboat by now. The question only was, what they would do. A big fleet of gunboats required some complicated co-ordination in order to be an effective fighting force. That actually gave him and his men a slight chance of escape. The Russians would have to detach one or several boats to chase him as they could not just have the whole fleet move faster in pursuit. Or if they would, they would never catch them, as the fleet could not go faster as its slowest boat.
But if the Russians detached some boats to go after him, he had a somewhat better chance of outrunning them, as they still would have to keep a formation. And even if they caught him, he might be able to fight them off. If he was lucky. He wondered if Eleonora still was at the Sottungarna base, or if she had left for the mainland on a transport at last. Even though he missed her desperately, he almost hoped she had. If there was to be a big battle, there would be misery at the base, whatever the outcome, and that was nothing he wanted her to witness.
There was something happening in the Russian lines now. The boats had been sailing in three columns abreast for a while. But now there was some movement in the middle column. Yes, three boats were leaving the formation and gathering speed.
“Firm, up lads, they are trying for us now,” he called to his crew. Gunboat Number 34 picked up yet another half a knot of speed.
“Ready at the aft gun and swivels!” Gran concentrated on the enemy boats. Unfortunately it seemed like they were gaining.
Chapter 21 - Battle
Sneaking out of Turku had been comparatively easy due to the fact that there were almost no Russian troops left. Not only had most of the gunboats disappeared, there was even an almost complete lack of soldiers ashore.
“I wonder if the landing operations have started at last,” Kuhlin speculated. “So all the troops and ships are away fighting off our poor conscripts”.
“In which case we will be too late,” af Klint added. He was sitting in the bows of the boat, Anna at his side now that they had left the city behind and were sailing well out in the estuary. “And our mission was utterly pointless”, he added. Anna turned to him, her checks beautifully colored by the chilly wind.
“Not at all, Eric. We did a nice job, getting rid of that traitor priest. And you did a nice job, getting out your favorite spy.” Her voice softened. “I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“Oh, I am sure you do know very well how to thank me.” Eric smiled at her. Was she really blushing?
It was a tedious beat against the wind. The fishing smack, while definitely a much better sailer than a gunboat, still didn’t go to windward especially well. Thus, it took them half the day to tack themselves out of the estuary and into the archipelago proper. During all this time they sighted scarcely a boat. Lieutenant Kuhlin wondered where the Russian gunboat fleet had gone. As far as he had been taken into confidence at all, the landing was to take place north of Turku. However, half of the landing forces would come from the north, while the rest came from the southwest and the Sottungarna base. As the Russians knew that it was there the Swedish gunboats were based, they would probably head southwest first, in order to take out the gunboats. Thereafter they could attack the troop transports from the rear unopposed, cutting off the landing force’s retreat. Anyway, they would have to join forces with Gran and Tapper first. If they had not seen the Russian fleet and sailed to warn the base.
When bosun Tapper saw the fishing smack, he immediately ordered Gunboat Number 14 out to meet it. Kuhlin, af Klint and Anna climbed over into the gunboat, which then took the fishing smack in tow.
“Where is Number 34?” Kuhlin asked.
“Gone off to warn the base. We saw the Russian fleet come through right here, a frightful lot of boats, Sir”.
Kuhlin nodded. “How long ago was this?”
“Three hours ago, Sir. They were all headed southwest, pulling right into the wind.”
“Very well. We will do the same, Tapper.”
“Aye, aye, Sir. Ready at the sweeps. Give way together!”
The Russian gunboats started to fire when they were three cables away. They had been gaining slowly but steadily, and Gran knew that he probably would not make it. Tapper had been right, he should not have waited so long.
“Aft gun, train on the middle one, fire at will!”
The gun roared and a spout of water rose up fifty yards in front of the leading Russian gunboat.
“Reload, keep firing.”
It was the only thing he could do, keep pulling, keep firing and hope that they would hit something vital on one of the Russian boats.
“Gunfire, Sir”. Kuhlin had heard it himself. It was far away though, could easily have been mistaken for a distant thunderstorm. But the sky was clear and with the wind from seaward, any thunderstorm would build to the east of them and not over open water.
“Sounds like three or four boats firing. Perhaps Gran is being chased. I think, we w
ill prepare the boat for action.”
“Haul out forward gun! Load and prime swivels.” While af Klint gave his orders and took his position at the big gun in the bow, Miss Anna retreated to the stern, where the canvas cover was taken down.
Bosun Tapper looked at the fishing smack that was still trailing behind the gunboat.
“Sir, what about the boat, shouldn’t we cast it off?”
Kuhlin hesitated. “No, we’ll wait. It might come in handy later.”
“Sir! Gunboats ahead!” Sub-lieutenant Gran turned around at the shout from the bows. With the three Russian boats now only 200 yards away, he had not paid too much attention to what lay ahead of them. But there they were, formed up in a fighting line abreast, blue battle ensigns flying – the colors of the Swedish inshore fleet. Gran felt new hope. They were not so many as one would have wished, but they were deployed and ready, and they might just give him a chance to escape after all.
“Thank God,” he sighed. Then the Russian round shot hit the ammunition locker next to the aft gun and Gunboat Number 34 vanished in a bright orange flash.
To the men and the woman aboard Gunboat Number 14 the explosion was only another distant rumble. But the spouting black cloud afterwards clearly told them what had happened. Kuhlin took off his hat.
“What is that?” Anna asked, a frightened look on her face.
“A boat blew up. It happens sometimes, when a gunshot hits a powder keg.”