CHAPTER FOURTEEN
INTERRUPTED PERFORMANCE
They spent a good part of the next day sleeping, although they stillhad plenty of time to talk over their plans. They found it moredifficult than ever to sit in front of the cave doing nothing when theyknew so many things must be going on elsewhere. They wondered if thelocal tenor would succeed with his scheme of wrecking the dynamo. Theyasked each other a dozen times if old Tomaso would really be able tosteal that Gestapo colonel’s uniform. Max even spent some timepractising his German, trying to get a note of authority and commandinto it.
“If I can just try to be as tough and nasty and mean as possible,” hesaid, “then I may begin to sound a little bit like a Gestapo colonel.”
“Well, you’ll be talking to German soldiers,” Scotti put in, “and youought to find it easy to act nasty to them.”
The lieutenant was much better now, and he could talk almost normally.There was a throbbing pain in his head regularly, and his broken legwas uncomfortable, but the thing that bothered him most was hisinability to take any active part in the proceedings.
“You don’t let me do anything, Dick,” he protested. “It’s you whofigured out every plan so far, as well as carrying them through. Ineedn’t have come along on this trip at all.”
But Dick was relieved to be able to have the advice and counsel of hislieutenant in his complicated plans. Each one of them was a longgamble, and he knew it. He wanted the benefit of every bit of advice hecould get. And it was Lieutenant Scotti who figured out the method Maxwas later to use in diverting the attention of the guards at the dam sothat Slade could get in to place his dynamite.
That action was planned for that night—the fifth night of their staybehind the enemy lines. At dawn of the sixth night the dam wasscheduled to be blown up, and they wanted to get their dynamite inplace twenty-four hours ahead of time. Slade had figured that he couldplace the dynamite, run a wire down the pipe so that it extended aboutone inch from a hatch opening. Then, on the last night, he could hookup another length of wire to that, lead it away to his detonator, andset it off.
But they did not know that the Germans had decided there were Americansin the neighborhood. The decoding experts had not been able to deciphercompletely the radio messages which Tony had sent, but they had gottenenough of a hint to know that they were reports on German troop andsupply movements through Maletta. And they felt sure that military menwere making those reports.
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_“I Didn’t Need to Come Along,” the Lieutenant Said_]
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Dick Donnelly went off to town alone shortly after dark that evening.He was going to find out about the sabotage at the power plant and pickup the German uniform from Tomaso—that was all. Then he planned toreturn to the cave, where Max would put on the uniform, and they wouldall set out for the dam together.
There was nothing to worry him unduly as he circled over the fields andcame up toward the villa on the north hill. He saw many trucks and carson the road, but this was nothing new during the last few days. Just ashe left the little dead-end side street and walked up the hill to meetTomaso at the clump of trees, a car roared to a stop at the end of thestreet and German soldiers poured out of it, heading straight up thehill.
Dick ran forward quickly to the trees, and there he found Tomaso,nervous and agitated.
“It’s terrible,” the old man said. “You’ll be caught!”
“What’s terrible?” Dick asked. “What has happened?”
“I just learned—overheard the officers talking,” Tomaso said. “Theyfeel sure Americans are hiding somewhere in Maletta. They’ve surroundedthe town and are going to search it thoroughly. They’ve got a ringaround the town now, and it will close in more and more tightly assoldiers go through every house, every building.”
“Oh—those soldiers who went up the hill over there—” Dick muttered.“They’re part of the ring around the town.”
“Yes, I heard them say men must circle up behind the villa, and thenwalk down so closely that not a person could slip through the ring.They’ll be here any minute. We cannot stay here.”
“No, come on down toward the villa,” Dick said. “We can talk as we go.You have the uniform there?”
“Yes, shall I try to put it back now so we won’t be caught with it?”
“No, I’ll take it,” Dick said. “I may be able to get away with it yet.What about the power plant?”
“The plan succeeded,” Tomaso said. “The dynamo is wrecked, thewater-gates shut, and specialists have been summoned from the north.But I hear they cannot arrive with new parts for at least three days.”
“Good,” Dick said.
“Not good,” Tomaso said. “Of what use is all this if now you are to becaught?”
They were approaching the wing of the villa now, and hid in its shadow.
“I may not be caught,” Dick said. “And even if I am, the others willcarry through somehow. Has the guard been increased at the dam?”
“No, because they believe the damage was caused by a German workman,”Tomaso said. “No Italians were there. So the German was judged carelessand the Gestapo colonel had him brought down here at once. He orderedhim shot. So the guard is not increased. Only a corporal is in chargeat night. There are nine sentries under him.”
They stopped and listened. Up above on the hill they heard the tramp ofmen’s feet, the calling of orders in German.
“Come on,” Dick said. “We might as well make them take as long aspossible to find me. Where can we go?”
“I—I was going to the opera,” Tomaso said. “I don’t know now if Ishould go.”
“Of course,” Dick said. “You must not be found with me if I am caught.But wait—where is the opera house?”
“In the next block—to the right,” Tomaso replied.
“Can we get there without crossing in front of the villa?” Dick asked.
“Yes, around in back,” the old man said, grabbing his arm, “but we musthurry.”
He led Dick behind the rear wing to the western side, cut behind asmall house not far from the villa, brushed aside a dog who started tobark at the next house, and then stopped at a narrow street. Betweentwo houses Dick could see what must be the opera house, a largebuilding with numerous lights in it, and people already going in thefront doors.
Dick hid the German uniform under his loose peasant’s coat and spokequietly to Tomaso.
“Take me to the stage door,” he said. “Tell your tenor friend, the manwho wrecked the power plant so cleverly, who I am. Then leave me. Ihave an idea.”
They walked quickly across the street and along the side of the operahouse to a side door near the rear. A man leaned against the doorjamband looked up at them curiously.
“Arturo, quick,” the old man said. “Ask no questions. Find Enrico atonce. Bring him here.”
The man’s eyes opened wide, then he darted inside. He reappeared in afew seconds with a young man who limped slightly. The young man hadbegun to apply make-up to his face. He beckoned them inside.
“Enrico, this is the American,” Tomaso said. “This is Ricardo Donnelli.”
The young man looked at Dick in admiration but said nothing.
“The Germans have surrounded the town, and are searching for him,”Tomaso said. “Help him. Do what he asks.”
“Anything,” Enrico said. “You go now, Tomaso.”
The old man stopped at the door long enough to say, “Not a word ofthis,” to the doorkeeper, who nodded his head in vigorous assent. Thenhe disappeared.
Dick spoke quickly in Italian to the young singer.
“I’ve got only one chance to escape detection,” he said. “Let me playyour role tonight. In the clown costume of _Pagliacci_ they’ll neverrecognize me. They’ll just think I’m the regular tenor.”
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p; “Not if you sing as you used to,” Enrico smiled. “You must be sure tosing very badly. Then you will sound like me.”
“Perhaps the audience will know the difference,” Dick said, “but I’llhave to take a chance on that. Even if they do, maybe they will saynothing.”
“They will say nothing,” Enrico assured him. “They will know you arethe American for whom the Germans search, and they will want to helpyou.”
“What about those among you who work with the Germans?” Dick asked.“There are still some quislings, I believe.”
“Yes, but they dare not come to public gatherings like this,” Enricosaid. “They are afraid of the rest of the townspeople.”
“All right then?” Dick asked.
“All right,” Enrico replied. “Come to my dressing room now. The othersin the company must be told. They can be trusted, all of them. I shalltell them while you get into costume and make-up. Then I shall join theorchestra in the pit and play a drum inconspicuously.”
In a few minutes Dick was putting the clown costume over his clothes.The floppy suit was so roomy that he was able to tie the Gestapouniform around his waist beneath it. Then he smeared over his face theheavy dead-white make-up of the clown. When it dried, he put on hiswig, and then the round red spots which covered the clown’s face. Helooked at himself in the cracked mirror.
“A mother couldn’t recognize her own son in this get-up,” he laughed.“I may be able to get away with this.”
He heard a tap on his door and called “Come in,” in Italian. A man inthe costume of Tonio, with the fake hump on his back, entered the roomand smiled.
“We all know,” he said. “We shall help, no matter what happens. You aresafe. And we shall never forget the great honor of having sung with—”then he decided he should never even mention the name, lest the Gestapohear—“with the world’s greatest tenor.”
“Thanks,” Dick said, with a smile. “I hope I won’t get any of you intotrouble.”
While Tonio sang the prologue, Dick wondered what the men at the cavewould be thinking. They expected him back there by this time. And whatabout Tony, still maintaining his lonely vigil in that old bell tower?He would have seen the Germans encircling the town, going through everyhouse. It would be some little time before the searching parties wouldreach the opera house. It would be best if they came in while theperformance was going on, and while Dick was on the stage.
Then someone called him, and he stood in the wings waiting for his cue.He looked about. The sets were old and dirty, as Tomaso had said. Thestage was not very large. And the orchestra in the pit was about halfas large as it used to be, Dick knew. But the men played as if theyloved it, and the singers sang with fire and sincerity, even if theirvoices did not have the best quality in the world. He felt a thrill—athrill he had not known for a long time—go through him as he heard themusic and got himself ready to step on a stage once more and sing.
When he finally was there, singing, he knew that his voice was rusty,not up to its best by any means. But perhaps it was just as well. If hewere in good voice, the Germans might make inquiries about him.
At the end of the first act there was a burst of applause that shookthe old opera house, even though it was less than half filled. Betweenthe acts, after taking his many bows, Dick was nervous. The audienceobviously knew that he was not Enrico, the regular tenor. It was a bigcrowd to be in on something that was supposed to be so secret, but itwas a chance he had had to take in view of developments. He keptlistening for the approach of the searching German troops, hoping theywould not come until the performance started again.
Finally there came the bell for the second act, and Dick as Canio wenton the stage for his great aria, _Vesti la giubba_. It was in the midstof that sobbing, heartbroken song of the clown that Dick saw theGermans. They came in the front entrance of the opera house, aboutfifteen of them, led by the elegant but worried Gestapo colonel, whodid not yet know, Dick concluded, that one of his uniforms had beenstolen. Then Dick saw more soldiers in the wings, on both sides of thestage. But he kept on singing, as if nothing had happened. The Germansjust stood and listened and, when he finished the aria, joined in theapplause.
Dick bowed, and bowed again as the applause continued. But then theother singers started to go on with the performance. At that thecolonel, with some of his men, strode down the hall holding up his handfor silence.
The singers stopped, and the orchestra drifted quickly into silence.The colonel then mounted the steps leading to the stage, strutting likea peacock. An aide followed him. When he was sure he had the attentionof everyone, he uttered a few words in German to the aide, whothereupon spoke in Italian to the assemblage.
“His excellency begs your forgiveness for interrupting this beautifulperformance,” the man said in a toneless voice, “but he is compelled todo so because of spies in our fair city.”
The aide paused while the colonel spoke more words to him in German.Then he continued to tell the audience that American spies were knownto be somewhere in the town and a thorough, house-to-house search hadto be made for them. The colonel was sure, the aide said, that only afew of the Italian population would think of harboring such criminals,and that most of them would aid in running down their common enemy. Hethen asked if anyone knew of the whereabouts of any American spy.
No one raised a hand. The colonel then said it would be necessary forhis men to go through the entire theater carefully looking for theAmericans. As soon as the search was ended, the performance couldcontinue. At that, German soldiers moved down the aisles, askingeveryone for papers, for some means of identification if they had losttheir papers. Others went through the orchestra pit, the dressingrooms, the basement, and the catwalk above the stage where sets werepulled up out of sight.
The colonel waited on the stage while all this was going on. Dick andthe others stood on the stage not far from him, waiting untileverything was over. No one thought of asking the singers foridentification papers. No one paid any attention to them except thecolonel, who rather self-consciously smiled at them a couple of times.
In half an hour the search was ended, and the colonel looked a littleworried as he told his aide to say that anyone knowing of the presenceof an American should report it to headquarters at once.
As the Germans moved toward the exits, Dick motioned to the orchestraleader, who raised his baton, and took up where he had left off. In afew minutes there were no more soldiers, and the ring closing in on theAmerican spies had passed beyond them. Dick sang the rest of his rolewith a happiness and a fervor such as he had never felt. His singinginspired the other performers and the orchestra to new heights ofbeauty.
Shortly before the end he had an idea.
He knew all these people in the opera house could be trusted now. So hewould take this opportunity to tell them of the impending destructionof the dam. Following the music of the orchestra but making up newwords as he went along, he thanked them all for their help, assuredthem they would soon be liberated by the American Army. He told themwhen the dam would be blown up, told them to leave the town before thattime, filtering out into the hills as unobtrusively as possible.
At the end of the passage in which he told them these things, one ofthe other singers sang his part and also invented words for the music.He said that the Americans could count on full cooperation of thepeople of Maletta, who would return from the hills to welcome theconquering American Army.
Soon the opera ended, and the applause was deafening. After many bows,Dick left the stage and hurried to his dressing room. There he foundEnrico, and soon Tomaso came. He hardly listened to their praise of hisvoice, of his cleverness in using the opera to tell the townspeople ofthe plans ahead. But, when he had removed the make-up and costume, heshook Enrico by the hand heartily.
“You have been a tremendous help,” he said, “in more ways than one.First the dam, then this. The whole American Army will thank you,Enrico, believe me!”
Then he and Tomaso were gone. They left the
side door of the operahouse, cut back of the villa, and then Dick went up on the roof andinto the tower with Tony. There he told the whole story to the youngradioman, who had been fearful that something must have gone wrong.
“Why couldn’t I have heard you?” he asked. “I’m missing everythingimprisoned up in this tower—most of the war, and now your singing!”
“Well, I’m going to sit down for a few minutes,” Dick said. “We can’tcarry through our plan to go to the dam tonight. It’s too late for meto get back to the cave, get Max into his uniform, carry the dynamiteto the dam and place it. It will just have to be done tomorrow night.So I’ll stay here until our one o’clock broadcast to headquarters andhelp you with it.”
“No you won’t,” Tony said. “You’ve had one narrow escape tonight. Afterthis broadcast, they’ll have their mobile units out trying to find us.They may throw another dragnet around the city, because that ColonelKlage will be just about crazy. I’ll handle this one alone. You get onback to the cave and let those boys up there stop biting their nailsfor fear something’s gone wrong. I don’t care if you are my sergeantand I’m only a corporal. You get out of here—right now!”
Dick grinned and shook his head. “All right, all right,” he said. “Iguess you’re right at that. You know what to tell them in your report.Good luck! I’ll see you sometime tomorrow night.”
Dick Donnelly of the Paratroops Page 14