by David Khara
“Thanks to you,” Reinke railed.
“With such deduction skills, you could end up as a Reich minister,” Karl-Heinz chuckled. He was gratified to hear his officers laughing along with him.
“I swear...”
“...that I never give a second warning,” Dietz sighed. He put down his binoculars. Turning toward Reinke, he thrust his dagger into the officer’s sternum. The man gave Karl-Heinz a look of disbelief before falling to his knees, a trickle of blood at the corner of his lips. Reinke let go of his cap. It dropped to the ground, landing on a blanket of leaves.
Karl-Heinz picked up his binoculars again and resumed his observation without paying any attention to the dying officer.
“How sad. If only you had been more patient, you could have seen your band of terrorists get captured.”
He stopped talking when he saw a liaison officer come running toward him.
“They’re about to leave through the roof,” the officer told him. “Three men have a good shooting angle.”
“Permission to open fire. Wound them, but don’t kill anyone until I decide otherwise.”
“On your orders, Colonel!”
The messenger ran off to relay the orders. Karl-Heinz stuck two fingers between his lips and, turning toward the SS officers at his right, let out a deafening whistle. He signaled to them to join the other officers. Karl-Heinz leaned over Reinke’s body, pulled out his dagger, and put it back inside his boot without even wiping it off. Then he joined his men.
As he arrived at the shooters’ post, the first bullets were already being fired.
~ ~ ~
Safely crouched behind a tree, Janusz was shifting his focus from the barn and the house to the woods and back again. The eerie calm was not a good sign. And so a huge wave a relief swept over him when he spotted Eytan and Vassili leaving the barn, by way of the roof. Together, the two men jumped to the ground and started running toward the Bear.
The crack of gunshots shook him to the core. He got a grip immediately and began shooting back, showering the trees on the other side of the farm with bullets. He couldn’t determine the exact location of his opponents, so he kept up a steady fire, praying that he would be able to protect his vulnerable friends. His prayers didn’t work. Eytan keeled over, blood gushing from his thigh and hip. His head crashed to the ground. Vassili grabbed him by his collar and dragged him as quickly as possible. But the Siberian swiveled on his heels when a bullet hit him in the shoulder. With a beastly growl, he tightened his grip on Eytan and continued to pull him forward.
Giving up on the bolt-action rifle in favor of his German machine gun, the Bear sprang out of the forest and let the ammunition rip. He spewed curses as he fired.
~ ~ ~
Janusz’s desperate initiative bought Vassili some time. He was able to haul Eytan to their commander. He retreated into the forest, dragging the boy with him.
The firing picked up again.
The Siberian let go of the unconscious boy.
“I’m going to carry him,” he shouted to Janusz.
No response.
He turned back toward the farm. The Bear hadn’t withdrawn with them. He was on his knees, with one hand on the ground. Vassili headed back toward him. As he helped his comrade up, dozens—hundreds—of bullets began whizzing through the air, hitting the trees and the earth all around them. Clumps of dirt were flying in every direction. Amid the chaos, the Red Army deserter heard a throaty cry.
“We’ve got you covered. Bring him back!”
Vassili placed an arm around Janusz’s chest and dragged him toward the forest. After a few halting steps, he spied Karol, Piotr, and Pawel frantically emptying round after round. Marek and Colonel Wladowski were there, as well. A little farther away, the powerful Stefan Starlin was hoisting Eytan—still knocked-out—over his shoulders.
“Retreat!” Karol roared as he drew back.
Vassili and Janusz sank deep into the woods, surrounded by Wladowski, Marek, and Starlin. The loud blasts lost their intensity the farther they went. Pawel and Piotr remained behind to keep up the protective barrage.
“Withdraw! Now!” the professor yelled at the two remaining shooters.
It was too late.
The boxer tumbled backward like a flicked domino. Seeing his fallen friend, Pawel stopped shooting. He leaned down to grab Piotr’s leg but wasn’t able to complete the act. A bullet struck him in the middle of the chest.
Vassili didn’t have to be told. Pawel and Piotr were gone. Taking a bullet himself wouldn’t have been as bad as this. All of a sudden, fighting seemed absolutely absurd. The price was unacceptable. And a thought flashed in his mind. What if their only chance of finding freedom was in death?
Chapter 41
Fort Wayne, present day
Trailed by the Ford, the Audi was racing along the few miles separating the motel from downtown Fort Wayne. The team was taking comfort in the prospect of bringing their escapade to an end. It was also giving them fresh energy.
Eli, in fact, was showing no signs of fatigue, even though he had spent many hours driving halfway across the country. The endurance of this man with the rugged face was impressive. A tenacious spirit certainly seemed to be a character trait shared by Eytan’s closest friends. Avi was driving the second vehicle so that Eytan could get some needed rest. The team felt revived, but the Kidon agent had done more than his fair share of the work.
“I think I’m starting to hate this Audi,” Jackie said. “This is the second time I’ve been on a road trip with Eytan, and the itinerary is always the same: traveling across a continent, tossing explosives here and there, and getting a backache from spending too much time in a car.”
“I totally agree, sweetie, but Avi and Eli have covered quite a few more miles than we have,” Jeremy said. “How do you manage to have the energy for this?” he asked, turning to Eli.
“I don’t have a choice. It’s a requirement of our profession. But compared with some of the other unpleasant tasks that Eytan and I have had to deal with, driving isn’t so bad.”
“Have you been working together for a long time?” Jackie asked.
“That’s a loaded question.”
Eli began recounting his story, from the death of his mother to his rise to keeper of the archives at Mossad, from his first meeting with Eytan to their partnership as trackers of war criminals. Jackie and Jeremy—who had believed that nothing could be as shocking as Eytan’s incredible confessions—listened in awe as Eli summarized his own extraordinary experiences. His was a life of sacrifice and solitude, which had all the elements of a Shakespearian tragedy but was described as a thrilling adventure. He touched on his failed marriage, weakened by the constant traveling and risk-taking. He also talked about his daughter, Rose, who lived in Boston with her little boy. Now that he was a grandfather, he was seriously thinking about retiring and moving to America.
By the time downtown Fort Wayne loomed on the horizon, the couple had learned that Eli Karman, Frank Meyer, Avi Lafner, and Eytan Morgenstern were a family—in spirit if not in blood. And they were more alike than they appeared to be. They weren’t all that easy to get to know, but anyone who managed to peel back the layers would find that they all had big hearts. At the same time, they were forces that someone would be foolish to mess with.
And judging by the protective way Eli and Avi were treating them, Jackie and Jeremy had also realized that they were now part of this odd little family.
~ ~ ~
As arranged, they parked their two vehicles in the lot of the first big-box store they came across, which happened to be a Wal-Mart. Customers were streaming out of the store, their shopping carts full of groceries. Jeremy wondered how many of the bags were stuffed full of diabetes-friendly junk food. The Consortium was betting that the unhealthy diet of many Americans’ would persist and even worsen.
The five members of the group met in front of the store. The giant asked how they were all feeling. Their mental state would play a dec
isive role in the next few hours. He then scanned the parking lot.
“What are you looking for?” Jackie asked.
“I need a motorcycle,” Eytan replied distractedly.
“Why do you want a motorcycle?”
“It’s part of my routine. I need to go scout the area.”
“What about us?” Eli asked. “What should we do in the meantime?”
“You’ll wait for me here. I have a hunch Avi wouldn’t say no to a nice cup of coffee.”
“You’re a clever one, my friend,” the doctor said. “Coffee at a Wal-Mart. There’s a first time for everything.”
“Hey, you drink coffee from a vending machine. Remember? Get your nose out of the air. Ah, I believe I’ve found just the right bike. I’ll be back in an hour, tops. Stick with the coffee and stay away from the doughnuts while I’m gone.” Eytan gave Jeremy a wink.
“Ha, ha. Very funny. You think you can read my mind now?” Jeremy yelled back as the Kidon agent strode away.
Eytan headed toward a large red and white power cruiser. He fiddled with the bike before straddling it and revving the engine. Embarrassed, Jeremy looked away as the giant took off.
“I guess after taking out two special forces units, instigating a shootout in the middle of Manhattan, and destroying part of a Baltimore building, stealing a bike is a minor offense,” Jackie said.
“I don’t know much about the law,” Avi replied, “I only believe in two things: medicine and Charlie Parker.”
“Bird? You like jazz too?” Jeremy asked.
“I worship jazz,” the doctor corrected.
And on that note, the group headed into the supercenter.
The foursome found a table in the food-concession area. Jeremy picked up his jazz-centric conversation with Avi. Jackie, who had never shared her husband’s passion, turned to Eli. He was interested in how she had met Jeremy and, by extension, Eytan. She was becoming fond of this man, and without hesitation she opened up, recounting her issues with her abusive father, as well as her time spent with the intelligence service. She couldn’t help thinking how differently she would have turned out if Eli, so patient and attentive, had raised her instead of her father. The time flew by as Eli and Jackie shared more and more about themselves. Avi and Jeremy, meanwhile, hadn’t exhausted their treasure trove of jazz knowledge. Before they knew it, the hours had slipped by, and they saw Eytan making his way toward them.
“If I were to depict serenity, I would paint the four of you exactly as you are right now,” the giant said with a smile.
“Then pull up a chair and join us. You’re allowed to take a little break,” Jackie said.
“I’d love to, but we’ve got a job to finish.”
Frowning, they left their safe haven and followed Eytan out the door and around to the back of the building. The stolen motorcycle was parked near a delivery bay. Eytan walked up to it and opened the top compartment. He pulled out a map of the region and unfolded it over the seat of the cycle.
“Okay, I’ve found a wide-open stretch a good distance from Bennington’s base,” he said. “There’s not a single home within a mile radius and no hills that would allow Tim Terry to take up an elevated position. We’ll probably come into contact with the others, but Terry will be watching from a distance. He’s our main threat. Frank’s little present, though, gives us a big advantage.”
“According to Frank, the effects of his device are radical but limited,” Avi said. “We can only use it once.”
“I’ll make sure our enemies are grouped around me,” the Kidon agent said.
“Unfortunately, that’s what has to be done,” Avi said. “Once you give me the green light, I’ll start counting down from thirty. That way, we’ll have enough time to get back to the Ford. The car will be a sort of Faraday cage, protecting us or at least lessening the effects. Afterward, it’ll be dysfunctional.”
“You sound like you’re not all that positive about this,” Jackie said. “It doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.”
“I’d be lying if I said there’s no risk. We’re not dealing with an ordinary machine. And Frank doesn’t use it for the same purpose that we need it today. As for you, Eytan, after the explosion, your earpiece will be useless, so we’ll no longer be able to communicate. By the way, I don’t know the exact effect it’ll have on your metabolism.”
“What’s your best guess?”
“I’m hoping your unique physical condition will allow you to withstand the shock better than the soldiers. But it’s possible that the waves will cause your body to overheat. If that happens, you’ll have to administer an emergency dose of serum.”
Jeremy took a pack of cigarettes out of a pocket of his jacket. He lit one, inhaled, and passed it to Eytan after seeing his outstretched hand.
“ I understand.” The Kidon agent exhaled a cloud of blue-gray smoke.
“Jeremy, hand me a smoke too,” Eli said. “And Avi, you be quiet. Right now I need one.”
“Anyway, if something bad happens, I’ll help you,” Jackie told Eytan. “Considering the distance between us, I’ll be able to reach you in less than sixty seconds. Assuming you get out with no problem, I’ll stay back to protect the boys in case Bennington has sent out troops to lock down the perimeter.”
“And I’ll be covering with a sniper rifle as soon as the device is triggered,” Eli said.
“Your priority will be to locate Terry and take him out,” Eytan ordered. “He’ll most likely be focused on me, which will give you a clear advantage.”
“Sounds good.”
“Meanwhile, Avi and I will run to the Audi parked outside the device’s range and bring it back,” Jeremy said. “Then, once all the bad guys are dead, we’ll meet up and get the hell out of there,”
“I’m impressed,” Eytan said. “I love the optimism. Well, since everyone knows what they’ve gotta do, let’s get to it! In less than fifteen minutes, I’ll be sending out the invitation.”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“The same way I always do,” the giant replied, folding the map. “As politely as possible.”
Chapter 42
Poland, spring of 1943
Spread out in the undergrowth, the SS unit was waiting for instructions from Colonel Dietz. Five minutes had passed since the gunfire had stopped and the Polish insurgents had run off. Bullets in the tree trunks, shattered windows in the farmhouse, two bodies at the edge of the woods... It was clear that a battle had taken place here. A surreal silence enveloped the area.
Karl-Heinz was the first to get up. He adjusted the shoulder strap of his rifle as he walked toward the lifeless bodies. The pack leader’s nine men followed a few steps behind.
Karl-Heinz looked at the barn just long enough to spot the open eyes of a young soldier lying with a bloody cheek against a bed of fresh straw.
“Throw Reinke’s corpse in with the bodies of his men,” the Jäger ordered as he continued walking.” And burn the whole lot up.”
Two SS officers obeyed and rushed to retrieve the remains of Bruno Reinke. Observing his officers’ diligent obedience, Karl-Heinz smiled. He prized the cohesiveness of his group. They were of one mind. What chance did a clan of amateur yokels with nothing but a pathetic sense of bravery have against his experienced unit of trained and meticulously organized professionals? Obviously none, he thought as he inspected the bodies of the men he had personally conquered.
“One to the head and one to the heart. Beautifully done, Colonel,” his aide-de-camp said.
“Not bad considering the distance and the relative state of confusion.”
“I was wondering why you chose this strategy. Why eliminate only two of them?”
“Good question,” Karl-Heinz replied. He liked being the instructor. “I was still unsure of the number of men we’d be dealing with, as well as their strength and stamina. And without such crucial information, I wasn’t going to attempt a direct approach. I needed to know more about our main target, and on that sco
re, our mission was a huge success.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m now absolutely certain of Eytan Morgenstern’s present-day appearance. He’s not only gotten much bigger, but also taken up shaving his head and eyebrows.”
“I see, but what about the others?”
“I want to chase those animals out of their hideout. After this, they’ll be on the defensive, and you never blindly pounce on a wounded beast. Let’s recap. Their leader—the Bear, I’m guessing—has been hit. Morgenstern too, along with that brute who joined him in the barn. That means their resistance will be considerably weakened when we go in for the final kill. Plus their ability to move is now restricted, and their morale, I’m sure, has suffered considerably. To really drive it home, I killed these two,” he said as he kicked the resistance fighters’ bodies. “To sum up, I’m laying the groundwork for a flawless victory. I play to win. Strategy over bravery. That’s what separates the vanquishers from the vanquished.”
~ ~ ~
Marek led the way, his tears blurring his vision. He was praying silently for his fallen comrades and asking the Lord to welcome them. As the devout clockmaker trudged on, he pictured Jesus bearing the cross to Calvary. Supported by Neville Wladowski and Vassili, whose face was getting whiter as the blood drained from his pierced shoulder, Janusz was pressing a hand against his stomach to stanch his bleeding. It took superhuman effort to complete each step. Lagging slightly behind, Stefan Starlin was carrying Eytan, who was bigger and heavier than he was.
Karol was the rear guard. He looked punch drunk.
The wounded men’s groans marked their steady trudge through the forest. They jumped at the slightest noise, expecting to be attacked at any moment. But the anticipated ambush never materialized, and they made it back to their camp.
Marek immediately scaled a tree to search for followers. Thanks to their location, it was tricky for intruders to enter and easy to detect threats. The clockmaker’s heart tightened when he remembered that this had been Pawel’s job.