Tomb of the Lost (49 page)

The three saluted again and Rushton returned it once again.

“
What
’
s in that canister?
”

“
Sausages Sir.
”

“
Sausages eh! Lovely.
”

“
Sir,
”
they saluted again as he left.

“
He
’
s not so bad you know,
”
Bert said to his comrades when Rushton was safely out of earshot.

“
He
’
s all right.
”

“
Have you ever met the Colonel?
”

“
Yes he
’
s all right too.
”

“
I
’
m liking the way this war
’
s turning out,
“
Bert said.

“
What do you mean?
”

“
I mean we have a good job. We go out with a blank sheet of paper and chart everything we see. Sometimes hundreds of miles from the front line. We always receive good supplies. I
’
ve promised myself that I
’
m coming out of this man
’
s war alive and that
’
s exactly what I
’
m going to do.
”
.

George Potts pointed at him.

“
Don
’
t jinx yourself. You
’
ve just tempted fate.
”

Bert shuddered.

“
Why did you say that?
”
he made the sign of the cross in front of himself
“
You
’
ve no right to say that.
”

George slapped him on the back.

“
I
’
m just fooling with you.
”

“
Well don
’
t it
’
s not funny.
”

“
I thought it was.
”

“
Well it
’
s not.
”

“
What do you think Doug?
”

“
I think you two should stop talking so much crap and help me with this.
”

They chuckled. Friends again.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Alfred Dennis stood smartly to attention in the command tent pre-warned that Major John Rushton was about to enter. Sergeant Harry Doyle of the Long Range Desert Group standing behind Alf and slightly to the right.

The tent flap sighed open and Rushton entered. He stepped neatly around his desk and stood directly in front of the Engineer. Alf clicked his heels neatly together and gave Rushton his best salute. Rushton returned the salute as equals.

“
Good morning Sergeant Dennis please take a seat,
”
Rushton smiled, his manner friendly, as he gestured to the chair behind Alf.

“
Thank you Sir,
”
But Alf waited until Rushton had sat first. He also noticed that the Major wasn
’
t armed but Doyle behind him was carrying a side arm, which warned Alf to be careful.

“
May I ask a question Sir?
”

This caught Rushton off guard.

“
Yes.
”

“
Am I
…
. We under arrest Sir?
”

Rushton studied him for amoment, then he decided honesty was the best tact.

“
Sergeant Dennis you and private Larder were found in a crashed German aeroplane with a dead German pilot one hundred and twenty five miles from where your unit was stationed and when we found you we heard an amazing story of escape and hijacking
…
.
”

“
It
’
s true Sir.
”

“
The purpose of this today is to determine the facts.
”

“
I
’
ve given you the facts Sir
…
. I know they were only brief
…
.
”

“
Sergeant Dennis,
”
Rushton raised his voice, his face flushed with anger. Doyle started to come forward but Rushton shook his head.

“
It is up to me to decide if what you tell me is the truth. For all I know you may be a deserter.
”

Alf jumped up out of his seat.

“
That
’
s not true Sir. We are not
…
.
”

Doyle came forward and grabbed Alf by the arms, restraining him.

“
Sergeant Dennis. It is my duty to remind you that we serve in the king
’
s army and that we are gentlemen. Please try to act like one. This insubordination is wholly unacceptable. If you continue to behave in this manner I shall have no alternative to place you under arrest and refer you to a higher command for trial.
”

Alf went limp in Doyle
’
s arms. The fight gone out of him now.
”

“
I
’
m sorry Sir. I
’
ve just been through a lot lately.
”

“
That
’
s no excuse. Try to act like a professional.
”

“
I
’
m sorry Sir.
”

Doyle released his grip.

“
We have all been through a lot sergeant. Doyle here has recently lost his brother. My home in Coventry was recently bombed. My wife and children barely got out alive. It was two months before I found out.
”

Alf stood humbled.

“
Now please retake your seat.
”

Alf sat.

“
I
’
m trying to help you. I am not your executioner sergeant. No. You will hang yourself unless you tell me what I need to know.
”

“
Where shall I begin Sir?
”

“
In the beginning.
”

’
Where shall I start,
”
Alf was asking himself
“
Does he want to know about my parents, grandparents? They were just ordinary people. My father served in the navy but he died when I was small. Ordinary lives. Nothing much to tell.
’
Alf decided to tell Rushton about himself.
’
If he wants to know the rest he
’
ll ask.
’

“
Before the war I was a carpenter. None of my family before, had been. I was just naturally talented. Then of course like many I was called up for national service, did my basic training. Then I was enlisted into the Royal Engineers because of my skills. I first saw action in North Africa as part of the eighth army. My unit was sent to Matmata here in Tunisia to repair a heavily damaged road. You see, a column of Valentine tanks had left the road because of its condition and driven through a Wadi when it had started raining. It rained hard through October and the tanks had become bogged down. My unit and I were sent in to repair the road and aid the stricken tanks if possible. We arrived in the town and almost instantly found two dead German infantrymen with their throats cut shoved down a well. We quizzed a local who told us that a group of British had passed through and found the two Germans. We were told they wore uniforms with S.A.S on them. I assume that it was members of your team,
”
Alf said smiling.

Rushton stared back coldly.

“
I
’
m afraid I couldn
’
t possibly comment. Do go on.
”

The cold hostility shook Alf.

‘
What the hell does he want from me? Aren
’
t we fighting for the same side?
’

“
Well shortly after the S.A.S left a convoy of Germans came through the town. The two were caught and murdered by their own side. Like I said we arrived and discovered them. Then unbelievably that very afternoon we were fired upon by two American fighters and took some casualties.
”

“
How bad?
”

“
Some wounded. A few killed. I lost a very close friend.
”

Rushton gave Alf a moment.

“
Could I have some water please Sir.
”

“
Of course. Doyle if you would oblige.
”

Doyle left and was back shortly with the drink. Alf took a swig. His throat becoming parched.

“
Then our reserves arrived. There were a group from the 4
^th
Indian army led by a Major Basil Shaw. They had been sent to clear mines.
”

Alf took another sip of water.

“
It wasn
’
t long before the German
’
s returned Sir. There was a large explosion out of town. I sent a truck to investigate. Well it was the Germans Sir. There followed a gun fight and we lost many men. Mostly the Indians. Shaw was killed, private Larder, who is a marksman, was hit by a Panzerschreck. I myself was hit by a sniper.
”

Alf began to unbutton his shirt to show the wound. Though Rushton had already briefly once seen the injury he allowed Alf to show it again.

“
I see,
”
he said
“
So you were hit from the front.
”

“
Yes,
”
Alf swivelled on his chair and pulled his shirt off his shoulders. The scar at the back was four times the size of the one at the front.

“
It was a sniper. Private Larder killed him before he was hit. I was lucky Sir. The bullet narrowly missed my lung.
”

“
And you say Private Larder was hit by a Panzerschrek. It
’
s a wonder he wasn
’
t killed.
”

“
It exploded by a wall next to his head. The scarring he has is from mortar and brick shards. He is very lucky to be alive Sir.
”

“
Yes I can
’
t deny that you
’
ve both been through a lot. Please continue.
”

“
The Germans rounded us all up. There was a Colonel of army and a Major of SS. The Major was going to hang Larder despite our protests. Then suddenly, miraculously, more Germans arrived. Tanks this time, and a saloon car and incredibly out stepped Field Marshall Erwin Rommel Sir.
”

Rushton, who had been leaning back in his chair looking up at the ceiling, trying to picture the scene now suddenly sprang forward as his chair came down on all four legs.

“
Field Marshall Rommel?
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
The supreme commander of the German forces North Africa division.
”

“
The very one.
”

Rushton nodded while jutting out his chin.

“
Impressive. What did he do or say?
”

“
Naturally he took control instantly. He declared us all prisoners of war. If it wasn
’
t for him I
’
m sure the SS Major would have killed us all.
”

“
So you are saying you were saved by the Field Marshall.
”

“
Yes Sir I strongly believe that.
”

“
Incredible soldier. Remarkable man.
”

Alf finished the water.

“
More?
”

“
Yes please.
”

Doyle took the empty flask. Now Alf and Rushton were alone.

“
So then you were detained?
”

“
Yes German field hospital no4.
”

“
I know of it.
”

“
We were held there until we escaped.
”

“
First tell me about the camp and hospital, its strengths, weaknesses, just about everything you can think of, anything you feel will help me in my job. Perhaps later you
’
d be kind enough to tell me about your escape.
”