1967 - Have This One on Me Read online

  Away in the distance they could see the narrow lane, like a white ribbon in the moonlight, that led to the farm house.

  Coming up the lane were cars, looking like toys from that distance ... ten of them, strung out and moving fast.

  ‘Here they come!’ Girland said and yanked Mala to her feet. ‘Come on, baby!’

  Galvanised by the tone of his voice Mala started after the others. Stumbling, sweating and panting, the small party struggled upwards until they reached a plateau where they had an uninterrupted view of the farm far below. They could see lights showing at every window and ant-like figures moving around the farm and the outbuildings.

  ‘The pepper’s finished,’ Girland said.

  ‘It’ll be enough,’ Jan returned. ‘This next bit is rough. Let’s take it easy ... it leads to the hut.’

  He began to force his way through the undergrowth, off the path, and the others followed. If Girland hadn’t constantly helped Mala, she would never have made the climb.

  Worthington, sulking and still furious, didn’t look back although he knew Mala was in difficulties. Finally, after an exhausting half hour’s climb they came to a log cabin, set on a plateau, overhung with trees. It was practically invisible until they came right on it.

  ‘This is it,’ Jan said and unlocked the cabin door. ‘It’s not much, but it will be safe.’

  Blanca took a torch from her rucksack and lit the way in.

  The big room was damp and smelt musty. There was a table, a few stools and four bunks on the walls.

  While Jan was lighting the candles. Mala, scarcely able to drag one foot after the other, headed for one of the bunks.

  ‘Don’t lie in that!’ Blanca said sharply. ‘There could be a snake in there!’

  Mala lost her fatigue so quickly as she sprang back that Girland burst out laughing.

  ‘Okay, baby, I’ll look,’ he said and taking the torch, he examined the bunk, turning the mattress cautiously. ‘Not a snake ... a spider or two, but no snakes.’

  Mala shuddered and sat on a stool. Worthington stood by the door, still holding his suitcase, his thin face tight with fatigue, his eyes hostile and suspicious.

  Girland unpacked the rucksacks and got the blankets while Jan started a fire in the small grate. Blanca joined Girland and found coffee, a tin of powdered milk, mugs and a saucepan.

  Ten minutes later, they were all sitting around the table, sipping strong, scalding coffee and trying to relax.

  By now the fire had caught hold and the dry logs were spitting and blazing, sending a cheerful glow around the dimly—lit room. Girland passed his pack of Pall Mall around the table.

  Mala took one gratefully. Both Jan and Blanca shook their heads. Worthington hesitated, then shoved the pack back to Girland. He lit his own cigarette. The warmth and the coffee acted as an antidote to their aching muscles.

  Jan took a map from his pocket and spread it on the table.

  This is the way we have to go,’ he said, ‘If we could go by road and in a car, it would be half a day’s journey, but the way we have to go, will be tough.’

  He traced the j o u r n e y with a thick finger. To Mala, watching, it seemed his finger went on forever across the map before it finally stopped at the Czech-Austrian frontier.

  ‘We cross here, if we have any luck,’ Jan went on. He paused and tilted back his chair. ‘I’ll tell you what the frontier is like. First, you have the watchtowers, equipped with men, a machine gun, signal rockets, searchlights and a radio telephone. These men have an uninterrupted view as all trees, shrubs and other obstructions have been cleared for seventy metres. The ground approaching the towers has been made into a seed bed and is raked every day so that footprints can clearly be seen. Beyond this seedbed is a barbed wire fence, wired with alarm signals. Then there is a strip of ground sown with anti-personnel mines. Then there is a second fence which is electrified. All this sounds like an impossible barrier ... it is, but there is one place where we can get through ... by using an airshaft in a disused copper mine. Not so long ago, I took a friend through and he got into Austria, but there was no alert out for him as there is for us. This is going to be a very dangerous, tricky operation, but I think ... given a lot of luck it is possible.’

  Girland studied the map. Finally, he looked at Jan.

  ‘When do we start?’

  ‘We should stay here for at least four days,’ Jan said. ‘By now the whole frontier will have been alerted. I know the Czech troops ... most of them are boys. For four days, they will be on the alert, then they will get bored and that will be the time to make the crossing.’

  ‘Is it safe to remain here for four days?’

  Jan lifted his shoulders.

  ‘I think so. We are well concealed here. My neighbours don’t know I have this cabin. I built it two years ago, knowing that sooner or later, we would have to get out. Yes, I think we can stay here safely.’

  ‘Okay,’ Girland said. ‘Let’s get organised. We three men should keep watch. Four hours each. I’ll take the first watch.’

  ‘Yes,’ Jan said, nodding. ‘I’ll relieve you. Then our friend here can relieve me.’

  Worthington nodded sullenly and moving away, began to prepare himself for bed.

  Jan and Girland exchanged glances. Girland grimaced, then, as Jan began to feed more logs onto the fire, he went out in to the darkness to begin his watch.

  * * *

  Smernoff walked over to where Malik was waiting by one of the police cars.

  ‘They’ve laid a pepper trail,’ he said in a cold, flat voice.

  ‘The dogs can’t pick up the scent. They can’t have gone far, but we have no idea in which direction they have gone.’

  Malik’s green eyes glittered. He wasn’t interested in excuses.

  ‘This is your job,’ he said, a rasp in his voice. ‘They must not cross the frontier! You can have as many men as you need. They will walk. They won’t use the roads. I don’t have to tell you this.’ He regarded Smernoff, his expression cold and aloof. ‘Find these people. I am returning to the Ministry.’ He got into the police car and told the driver to take him back to Prague.

  Smernoff watched the car drive away. He grinned. For eight years he had hunted men and women, and he had yet failed to find them. He knew Malik was worried. This amused him.

  Malik was always thinking of his reputation. He worried that one day Kovski, who hated him, would ruin him. Malik minded about being ruined. Smernoff was too tough and indifferent to worry about such mundane things. His job was to hunt people.

  If he failed, then he didn’t deserve to hold his job. It was as simple as that.

  He walked over to where Suk was waiting.

  ‘At dawn there must be at least three helicopters combing the hills. See to it! I want now to talk to Captain Kuhlan.’

  Kuhlan, a young, ardent Communist, delighted to have orders from such a man as Smernoff, came hurrying up.

  ‘Come with me,’ Smernoff said and walked to the farm house. He spread out a large scale map of the district on the table. He produced a compass and inserting the needle end into the spot on the map that showed the farmhouse, he drew a circle. Suk had joined them and was standing a little behind Smernoff, listening and watching. ‘We have two alternatives to consider,’ Smernoff said, sitting back and looking at the young Captain. ‘They will either make immediately for the frontier or they will hide up somewhere and wait until they imagine the search for them has died down. It is my opinion, they will wait. Somewhere within this circle they will hide. Tomorrow there will be aircraft searching this area. Your job is to move enough men so this circle is encircled. In this way, they will be trapped.’

  He pushed the map across the table. ‘Study the ground, then arrange for as many men as you need to make a tight circle ... I mean tight. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, Comrade Smernoff,’ Kuhlan said and began to study the map.

  Smernoff watched him, pleased with his obvious eagerness.

  Th
is young blond man was like a tracker dog hunting for a scent as he bent over the map.

  Suk said, ‘It is only a matter of time.’ His voice rang with a false confidence. ‘They can’t possibly get across the frontier.’

  Smernoff ignored him. He continued to watch Kuhlan. After five minutes of careful study Kuhlan straightened.

  ‘I’ll arrange the operation,’ he said briskly. ‘I know the district well. I know just how many men will be needed. By eight o’clock tomorrow morning they will be in position.’

  Smernoff showed his teeth in a menacing smile.

  ‘They must be in position by daybreak ... by six o’clock at the latest.’

  ‘Very well Comrade Smernoff,’ Kuhlan said and he hurriedly left the room.

  chapter six

  Worthington pulled his worn jacket closer around him and shivered. He was sitting on a flat stone, his back against a rock, looking down into the mist-covered valley far below. He had been sitting there since four o’clock and it was nearly half-past six. It had been a damp, cold watch, and he longed for the sun to come up and warm his aching bones. Resentfully, he thought it was typical of Girland to have given him the dawn watch. How he disliked this tall, handsome, cocky man! He knew Girland was without nerves, and he knew women would automatically react to him. He had seen the way Mala had looked at him. She seemed to think he was some kind of god.

  He took his depleted pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

  He had only five left. He hesitated, the n unable, to resist the urge, he lit one.

  He glanced over his shoulder at the dark cabin. There was no movement. They were all sleeping. He stared up at the lightening sky, across the treetops and once again down into the mist-covered valley. He felt a tug of fear at his heart. They would send troops. They would search every inch of the hills.

  Sooner or later, they would find them.

  Worthington flinched at the thought of what would happen to him His hand touched the butt of his gun snug in its holster, then he remembered Girland had taken away the bullets. He couldn’t even shoot himself, if the soldiers surrounded them.

  He sucked in smoke and slowly exhaled He shifted on the cold rock, trying to make himself comfortable, then he stiffened as he heard a droning sound some distance away.

  Outlined against the cloudless sky, he saw a helicopter, flying above the tree tops, down in the valley. He started to his feet, his heart thumping. More sound filled the sky and, looking to his left, he saw yet another helicopter.

  He ran towards the cabin as the door swung open and Girland, followed by Jan, appeared.

  ‘Get under cover!’ Girland snapped. ‘Quick!’

  Worthington bolted into the cabin.

  Girland and Jan stood under a tree, close to the cabin. They spotted one of the helicopters that was moving directly towards them.

  ‘They’re pulling out all the stops,’ Girland said.

  ‘They won’t see us,’ Jan returned quietly. ‘The trees cover the cabin. We’ll have to stay under cover while the sweep is on. They’re likely to spot any movement.’

  The sound of the helicopter’s engine grew louder. Both men remained motionless, leaning against the trunk of the tree. The helicopter passed directly overhead, flying high and then the sound of its engine began to die away.

  They looked at each other.

  ‘They certainly think you’re important’ Jan said. ‘Let’s have some coffee.’

  Keeping under the trees, they made their way back to the cabin. The two girls were out of their bunks and looking tense.

  Worthington stood by the fire, holding cold, shaking hands towards the blaze.

  ‘They won’t spot us,’ Jan said soothingly. ‘Coffee ready?’

  ‘In a minute,’ Blanca said. She was very calm, but Mala was frightened. She crossed to Girland. ‘Do you think we’ll get away?’ she asked in a low, unsteady voice.

  Girland patted her arm.

  ‘Sure. We will now have to move at night and hide up during the day, that’s all there is to it.’ He looked into her blue eyes. ‘You have nothing to be scared about so long as I’m with you.’

  She hesitated, then smiled.

  ‘I know ... you really think we will get out?’

  ‘Sure. It’ll be tricky but it can be done.’ He resisted the temptation to put his arm around her seeing Worthington was watching them. She examined his hard, confident face, then she joined Blanca who was preparing the breakfast.

  Catching Worthington’s smouldering glare, Girland winked at him before going to the cabin door where Jan was staring through the branches of the trees up at the sky.

  ‘There are three helicopters now,’ Jan said.

  ‘We’ll have to move at night. If they are staging an operation this size, they will also have a lot of ground troops.’

  Jan thought, then he said quietly, ‘They can’t know which direction we took. They’ll make a big circle around the farm and then close in.’ He was looking worried.

  Both men stiffened as they heard the approaching beat of the helicopter engines. This time the helicopter was flying at treetop level. They caught a glimpse of it through the trees. It was circling a patch of forest some fifty kilometres from them.

  ‘We’d better put the fire out,’ Girland said. ‘It’s not giving off much smoke but as they’re flying this low, they could spot it.’

  They moved back into the living room of the cabin. The girls had heated two tins of sausages and the coffee was made.

  Jan damped down the fire, spreading the logs before joining the others at the table. The atmosphere was tense. They could hear the helicopter coming closer.

  Suddenly it swooshed by the cabin, sending a violent gust of wind that ruffled Mala’s hair and made her stifle a scream.

  Worthington turned a sickly grey. He put down the sausage he had just speared with his knife.

  Girland glanced at Jan and Blanca. Neither of them showed any panic. He put his hand on Mala’s and gave it a reassuring pat.

  ‘Think they’ve spotted us?’ Blanca asked her husband.

  ‘No ... not at the speed they were going.’ Jan looked at the fire that was smouldering. ‘There’s not enough smoke for them to see.’ He cut into another sausage. ‘Looks as if they are covering the ground by a pattern. Probably they won’t be back this way.’

  Worthington pushed aside his plate.

  ‘That’s what you say!’ His voice was husky with fear. ‘How do you know? We must get out of here ... we’re in a trap!’

  Girland helped himself to another sausage.

  ‘These aren’t bad,’ he said, ignoring Worthington. ‘They’d be better with a touch of chili sauce.’

  Worthington jumped to his feet.

  ‘Didn’t you hear what I said? We are in a trap!’

  ‘I wouldn’t have thought so.’ Girland said mildly. ‘These choppers have a psychological effect ... they are meant to scare us.’ The other three were staring at Worthington as he stood, shaking and frightened. ‘Suppose you and I take a look around? We’ll go down by the lower plateau. From there we can get a picture of the set-up.’ He finished his sausage and his coffee, then got to his feet. ‘You others stay under cover. Come on, pal. Let’s take a look.’

  Worthington hesitated, then as Jan got calmly to his feet and began to collect the empty coffee mugs, seeing Blanca looking away indifferently and Mala staring at him, her dismay at his behaviour plainly showing, he forced himself to follow Girland out of the cabin.

  As they moved into the early morning sunshine, they heard the helicopter returning. Worthington was about to dart back into the cabin, but stopped as Girland continued on under the shade of the trees. Shaking, Worthington followed him. The helicopter droned by some three kilometres away.

  ‘He wouldn’t still be patrolling if he had spotted us,’ Girland said. ‘Come on, keep just behind me,’ and he started down the long steep descent to the second plateau. As they slid down the path, they saw, from time to time, the othe
r helicopters circling far away to their right and their left. It took them some ten minutes to reach the second plateau that gave them an uninterrupted view of the farm house far below them.

  Even Girland was a little startled to see the mass of Army trucks parked in the narrow lane and the activity that was going on around the farm house. He squatted down on his heels, his back against a tree and motioned Worthington to join him.

  ‘They’ve certainly called out the troops,’ he said.

  Worthington looked with horror at the activity below. Even from this distance, he could see the soldiers were all armed with automatic weapons. He felt sweat start out on his face.

  ‘I told you ... we’re in a trap,’ he said feverishly. ‘We’re mad to remain in the cabin. We’ll be surrounded.’

  Girland began to feel sorry for this weak, frightened man.

  ‘Have you any suggestions what we should do?’ he asked quietly. ‘Here, have a cigarette. Let’s think about it.’

  Worthington hesitated, then took the cigarette. His hands were shaking so violently, Girland had to light it for him.

  ‘We must get out!’ Worthington said. He took a drag on the cigarette, desperately trying to control his rising panic ‘Yes, but those boys up there would spot us. It’s too big a risk to move in daylight.’

  ‘Then we must leave as soon as it is dark! We must! Even then we may be leaving it too late!’

  They both heard the approaching beat of the helicopter’s engine. It was coming fast. Girland grabbed hold of Worthington and dragged him behind the tree, forcing him flat. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees as the helicopter roared overhead.

  Dry leaves and sand swirled up in the air from the suction of the propellers.

  They lay still side by side, then Worthington said shakily, ‘You think I am a coward, don’t you? Well, I am. I admit it. It’s something I can’t do anything about. I would never have become an agent if I thought it would end like this. I needed the money. It seemed so easy. My pupils talked. I have the knack of knowing what is important and what isn’t. I was well paid for the information I gave Dorey. I’ve saved the money. It’s in Geneva.’