Tomb of the Lost (48 page)

Johnny lay on his back blinking his eyes. He started to sit up and was helped. Rushton stood directly in front of him.

“
Can you hear me?
”

“
Yes,
”
Johnny nodded.

“
Are you able to stand?
”

“
Yes I think so.
”

“
Help him up.
”

Hands helped Johnny to his feet.

“
It says on your dog tags that your name is Private John Larder of the Royal Engineers. Is that correct?
”

“
Yes,
”
Johnny said rubbing the back of his neck.

“
I am Major John Rushton of the Long Range Desert Group. This is Sergeant Doyle.
”

“
Sir,
”
Johnny tried to salute, swayed and almost fell.

“
That
’
s all right Private there is no need to salute. Who is the other fellow with you?
”

“
Sergeant Alfred Dennis Royal Engineers Sir.
”

“
Who is your commanding officer?
”

“
Colonel Harold Sharp Sir.
”

Johnny looked across at Alf, his eyes widened.

“
Is he going to be all right?
”

“
He
’
s fine. Just got the stuffing knocked out of him. You
’
ve had a very bad crash. The other fellow with you is dead. Can you tell me anything about him?
”

Johnny
’
s throat was dry.

“
Could I have some water please Sir.
”

A bottle was offered. Johnny took a long swig. He wiped his hand across the back of his mouth.

“
Thank you.
”

“
Private. Johnny. If I may call you that.
”

“
Of course Sir.
”

“
My name is also John. You may call me it when answering or don
’
t call me anything for the moment. You don
’
t need to answer every question with Sir,
”
Rushton smiled
“
Understood.
”

“
Yes Sir. Sorry Sir.
”

“
Now try and think clearly about what has happened. I know you
’
ve had a bump to your head.
”

“
My head hurts like hell Sir. Sorry didn
’
t mean to call you Sir.
”

“
That
’
s all right. We
’
ll get you something for your headache in a moment. Now Johnny about the other chap.
”

“
He
’
s a German,
”
Larder looked at Kleber
“
Is he dead?
”

Rushton nodded. Larder looked into Rushtons eyes.
”

Rushton shook his head.

“
No. He was dead when we found him. We are not in the habit of murdering people Private!
”

“
No of course not Sir. I meant no offence.
”

“
None taken. Now about the German.
”

“
His name is Gottfried Kleber. It was his plane. He is the pilot.
”

“
What were the two of you doing flying in a German aeroplane with a German pilot?
”

“
I think I
’
m going to be sick.
”

Johnny leaned over and vomited in the sand. He felt terrible.

“
I
’
m sorry.
”

Downing helped clean Larders face.

“
Sir I really think he needs to rest. If this could wait a while.
”

Despite Rushton
’
s burning to continue the interrogation he reluctantly agreed.

“
Very well,
”
he said desperately wanting to continue
“
Very well give him a shot to help him sleep.
”

Downing prepared a syringe.

“
Here this will help you sleep.
”

“
Johnny please answer the question.
”

“
Which one sir?
”

“
What were you doing in the plane?
”

“
That
’
s easy Sir. We stole it.
”

“
What! Stole it? Stole it from where? How?
”

Johnny
’
s eyes were starting to close. He couldn
’
t keep them open. When he tried to answer his words were slurred.

“
Damn it!
”

“
He won
’
t be of much use to you for a few hours now sir.
”

“
Damn I need answers,
”
Rushton puffed out his chest and then exhaled loudly.

“
Very well. Load and strap them in the back of a Jeep. We
’
ll move back to our base.
”

“
Aye Sir. Simmonds, Thomas, Potts, you heard the man. Let
’
s get them loaded and ready to move.
”

“
Sir. They all jumped into action. Eager to please their Major.
”

“
What about him?
”
Doyle asked jerking his thumb at Kleber.

“
Get a shovel.
”

Rushton got back into his Jeep. Doyle saluted and Rushton sped off alone. Bert waited until the Major was safely away.

“
We have to bury him sir?
”

“
Once you
’
ve done what you
’
re doing now,
”
Doyle took a cigarette out of his pocket, put it in his mouth and lit it,
“
And remove all his personal effects.
”

During the remainder of that day and through the night the convoy of vehicles of the Long Range Desert Group moved through the desert back to their base camp. Hundreds of questions were filling Rushtons mind. What he
’
d heard already, unbelievable.

’
German aeroplane and pilot stolen! Stolen? From where? Stolen and then shot down. No air bases for many, many miles from the crash site. My group just happening across it. Two Englishmen inside the plane. Miraculously the two that survived. Both Englishmen already severely injured. None of it makes sense
’

His head was buzzing.

He looked up at the starry sky and saw Orion
’
s belt. The Egyptian God Osiris. It was freezing in the open top Jeep despite his extra jacket and scarf around his neck. The cold wind making his eyes water was the only thing keeping him awake and it was a very tired Major John Rushton of the S.A.S who crawled into his own bed that night.

Having snatched only a few hours sleep he was awake again just after dawn. Doyle entered the tent with hot black coffee.

“
Here you go Sir.
”

“
Thanks Harry,
”
Rushton said slurping the hot liquid. They had all got used to coffee without milk or sugar. Coffee that tasted of petrol. The whole of the allied forces in North Africa were drinking it.

“
Did you sleep well?
”
Rushton asked.

“
Not really. Did you?
”

“
No.
”

Rushton poured himself a basin of clean water and began washing his face.

“
Have you checked on the two Engineers?
”

“
Both awake last time I looked.
”

Rushton reached for a towel and quickly dried his face.

“
Why the hell didn
’
t you tell me?
”

“
Sir I
’
ve only just been told that you were awake.
”

“
Well then why the hell didn
’
t you bloody wake me.
”

“
Sorry Sir I thought you should rest. I
’
ve posted guards on them so that no one talks to them.
”

Rushton simmered down at this.

“
Very well,
”
he cleared his throat
“
Very well Harry thank you. I don
’
t want anyone talking to them except me. Theoretically they are under house arrest. They could still turn out to be spies or deserters. We don
’
t know yet. I want them closely watched until I can speak to them.
”

Much as he wanted to speak to the two right away Rushton knew they had to be fed while he himself had delivery reports to deal with. He took his coffee and stepped outside his tent. It was still cold, the sky to the East bright, twilight to the West. The vehicles used the day before were being refuelled. Men holding cans of petrol to the fuel necks. He wandered across to the nearest Jeep and spoke to the maintenance men. The smell of petrol was overpowering. All of the vehicles reeked of it, from the many spills that covered the bodywork.

One man had removed, cleaned, serviced and was now replacing a Vickers
’
K
’
machine gun. These were mounted on the backs of the Jeeps, they stood above the heads of the Jeeps inhabitants and had a 360 degree turning circle, were very lightweight and good for bringing down enemy aircraft. Bren guns were mounted on the front.

Rushton had four such Jeeps at his disposal. He also had threee trucks and fifty men. He left the first of the Jeeps and quickly examined the others.

Albert Simmonds, George Potts and Dougie Thomas were recovering supplies that had been dropped by transporters the afternoon before. The sacks and canisters, most of them still attached to their parachutes, were scattered over a wide area. Once gathered there was not enough room to store anything so the majority of it stayed in its containers and was piled near the supply tent. Each had a label attached to it describing the goods inside.

“
Hey,
”
Bert said as they handled a large packet
“
This one contains sausages.
”

“
Sausages?
”
from George.

“
Sausages,
”
Bert repeated.

“
I haven
’
t had sausages for ages,
”
Dougie said licking his lips at the parcel.

“
I
’
ll bet they
’
re thick pork sausages,
”
Bert said feeling his stomach rumble.

“
Big, thick, juicy, succulent, glistening pork sausages with a hint of seasoning, sizzling in a pan, bursting out of their skins, tender
…
.
”

“
That
’
s enough you two,
”
Doug said
“
You
’
re enough to make a man sick.
”

“
Think of those poor bastards on the front line who don
’
t get food like this.
”

“
Yeah right. Glad I joined the L.R.D.G.
“

“’
Ere look out the Major
’
s coming. Better shut up and get on with it.
”

“
Good morning gentlemen,
”
Rushton said in a friendly voice.

“
Good morning Sir,
”
The three replied pretending to have just seen him. They saluted smartly. Rushton returned the salute.

“
At ease. How
’
s it going?
”

“
Not too bad Sir,
”
Bert always seemed to find himself to be the spokesman of the three,
“
Because the drop was made late afternoon and the light wasn
’
t too bad the pilots were pretty much able to target the drop zone. Our supplies weren
’
t spread too much.
”

“
Good. Well don
’
t let me keep you from your work.
”