Tomb of the Lost (54 page)

Billy Wilkins popped his head up from out under the bonnet.

“
It
’
s damp Sir.
”

“
Damp.
”

“
Yes the leads are damp. It
’
s this damp desert air, especially first thing in the morning. The electrics, well, they just don
’
t like it Major. We
’
ve got a loose wire here or a damp connection or something. It could be the coil or the conductors
…
.
”

Rushton put up a hand to stop him. Wilkins was well known for running into details, giving lectures when one wasn
’
t necessary. He was also the best mechanic anyone had ever met.

“
Spare me the details. Can you fix it?
”

Wilkins
’
enthusiasm as always was infectious.

“
I hope so sir. I
’
m certainly going to try. In no time at all we
’
ll have old Vera here running. You mark my word sir.
”

Johnny looked at Alf.

“
Vera?
”

“
Yes Vera,
”
Boyle butted in.

“
You named your Jeep Vera?
”

“
Yes Vera. After Vera Lynn
…
.What
’
s so funny?
”

“
Bet Vera Lynn
’
s impressed. Giving her name to an old rust bucket.
”

“
This is a very good Jeep. We always name our Jeeps.
”

“
But Vera Lynn is a beautiful woman.
”

Boyle was offended.

“
Look mate we name our Jeeps after women all right! It
’
s the only thing that keeps us going.
”

“
All right you two that
’
s enough!
”

Boyle glared at Alf.

“
And I don
’
t take orders from you either.
”

Something snapped in Alf. It was not often it happened and when it did it surprised even him. Sometimes a man just couldn
’
t take anymore. This time though he really saw red.

“
I am an officer of the King
’
s army!
”
he bellowed
“
Who the hell do you think you
’
re talking to! Stand up and salute me man when you address me.
”

Boyle jumped nervously to his feet. He was not used to being spoken to like this. Even Rushton didn
’
t speak to his men like that.

“
I don
’
t care what you men do out here but I will not tolerate insubordination. Do I make myself clear?
”

“
Yes Sir,
”
Boyle replied
“
I will be reporting this to Major Rushton.
”

“
So will I,
”
Alf simmered
“
Now get out of my sight.
”

Boyle scarpered, anxious to get away. Aware that his mates, some of them had witnessed the incident. He would go rushing straight to his C.O. about it. He was furious.

’
These engineers have no right to give me orders
’

Johnny whistled in surprise. Alf felt himself shaking with anger. He clenched his fists by his sides to control it. He was also aware that members of the L.R.D.G. were watching him.

Fifteen minutes later Johnny spotted Rushton heading towards them.

“
Alf.
”

Alf turned and saw.

“
Oh!
”

Alf and Johnny saluted. Rushton didn
’
t bother to return it. This warned Alf that he was probably on very thin ice.

“
Lieutenant Dennis let
’
s you and I take a stroll.
”

“
Of course Sir.
”

They left footprints in the damp sand as they walked. The rain had stopped for now but the black clouds on the horizon threatened more.

“
Cigarette,
”
Rushton offered.

“
Thank you.
”

They stopped long enough to light them, cupping their hands over the flame in turn. Alf inhaled the first draught and it caught his throat and he coughed at the strong tobacco.

“
These are a high tar,
”
Rushton said flipping over the carton with his fingers so he could read the label himself.

“
They do take some getting used to.
”

Alf nodded and coughed again. His eyes were watering. Rushton patted him on the back. Then suddenly the friendliness was gone. Alf noticed the change instantly.

“
Lieutenant my men are a good bunch.
”

Alf
’
s voice sounded strange from the coughing. Finally he was able to clear his throat.

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
Better?
”

The friendliness was back. Alf nodded, clearing his throat once more.

“
Thank you.
”

“
Yes as I was saying. My men are a good lot. They work very hard out here, in all conditions, cold, heat, wet, and they never complain. Never ask for anything. Always going without. Sometimes spending weeks away from civilisation, missing out on the basic luxuries others may have. Having to sleep rough, in the backs of lorries or just under the stars
…
.
”

Alf opened his mouth to speak. Most soldiers out here had to live like that sometimes.

“…
.Never receiving mail, news from home of loved ones. The last time Boyle received any news was to tell him that both his parents had been killed when their house collapsed on top of them following a Luftwaffe strike.
”

Alf rolled his eyes heavenwards.

“
That
’
s terrible news Major.
”

“
He hasn
’
t got much to go home to has he.
”

Alf felt terrible now, that he
’
d lost his rag with Boyle.

“
No.
”

“
We
’
re the only family he has now.
”

“
There are many men with the same story to tell Major.
”

“
Do you know how old he is Lieutenant?
”

Alf shook his head.

“
No Sir.
”

“
He
’
s nineteen. Nineteen years old. And when this war is finished he has to go home to nothing and start his life all over again.
”

“
It
’
s a very hard story to bear Sir.
”

“
Like I said my men are a good bunch. They
’
re very loyal. Loyal to me. Most of them have only ever taken orders from myself or Sergeant Doyle.
”

Alf knew where this conversation was going. He also knew that though he was a Lieutenant, no, an acting Lieutenant, he was not going to get anywhere with Rushton. Probably only into trouble. Trouble he and Larder could do without.

“
I may have over-reacted Major.
”

“
May have? I
’
d say you definitely did man.
”

“
I apologise Sir. I guess I let the General
’
s orders go to my head.
”

‘
If only Boyle had behaved like that in front of Montgomery
’

Alf winced. Blood would have flowed.

“
Yes, well, I
’
m sure it won
’
t happen again Lieutenant. It really would be better for all concerned if you just try to get along while you are with us.
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
Well then no harm done. I trust this has given you something to think about.
”

Wilkins whooped with delight when he got
’
Vera
’
started. It caught Rushton and Alf
’
s attention.

“
Whatever you do mate keep her running,
”
he instructed Boyle,
“
The leads are damp but if you keep her going the power running through them should dry them out.
”

Boyle jumped into the driver
’
s seat and patted the steering wheel.

“
Well done old girl.
”

He was still smiling when Alf and Rushton walked over.

“
They got her going,
”
he said more to Alf than Rushton.

“
He needs to keep her running Sir to help dry her out.
”

“
Well done Wilkins. Sergeant Doyle assign more fuel to this Jeep please. If he
’
s going to keep her running he
’
s going to need it. As for the rest of you, you
’
d better get some rest. We have a long night ahead of us.
”

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Corporal Ralf Klum of the Wehrmacht braked his motor cycle sidecar gently for the last one hundred yards of the descent. The brakes squealed slightly. The road had ruts in it caused by the afternoon
’
s downpour. Loose stones were piled at the bottom of where the rain had washed. His front wheel had already skidded twice on the way down. He stopped at the fork in the road unsure as to which way they should turn. The mountainside rose steeply both left and right of him. Ahead of him was an old crumbling stone wall and a sheer drop. Another motor cycle skidded to a halt alongside. This new rider lifted up his goggles leaving large clean circles around his eyes. The rest of his face was dirty. He leaned over and spat to rid himself of the constant grit in his mouth. He quickly took his flask from his belt and raised it to his lips. He swallowed the cool water, then took another mouthful and spat this out as well. He screwed the cap back on as he saw the first of the trucks appear in his mirror. He waited until he could see two more then looked at Klum and jerked his thumb left.

“
This way.
”

The two motorcycles turned onto the mountain road abreast of each other. Klum noticed an ammunition box laying discarded at the side of the road which he thought was strange. Even more strange was that it looked to be British. There weren
’
t supposed to be British forces this close to Gabes. He quickly forgot about it as he saw the first of the trucks turn to follow the motorcycles. Klum had no idea as to what was in the second truck of the convoy but he knew it must be of immense value. Everything had been kept hushed up. He knew that something had taken place out in the desert. He had seen a glimpse of something large excavated from the sand. The SS had kept everything discreet and the ordinary Wehrmacht had been kept away. Klum had been ordered to give a message to the Colonel but the SS guards had moved him on after finding Koenig but not before he
’
d seen it. It was made of stone and looked to be some sort of altar or something. He hadn
’
t seen it for long enough, but it was a large rectangular stone block . All he could think of was it looked like an altar from a church.

‘
Or one of those, what were they called, those things from Egypt a
’
Carsophagus
’
or something like that. Well whatever it was, it was in the second truck
’

The first was filled with SS. The Wehrmacht occupied the last truck which was at the back of the convoy. The very impressive though now absolutely filthy Mercedes saloon carrying the bespectacled Doctor in the white suit was somewhere in the middle.

‘
I
’
d love to know what it is
’
Klum was thinking
‘
Could it be treasure? He asked himself remembering his childhood days of playing pirates. Or could it be some sort of secret weapon. Yes that must be it. Why else would they need so many SS.

’
Better not be too interested,
”
Klum told himself
“
Don
’
t want to upset the SS. Those bastards are touchy enough as it is. Klum involuntarily shuddered. He, like most men in this war, had heard of the methods of the SS. Even though they were on the same side the Wehrmacht secretly hated the SS.