Midnight Never Comes - Jack Higgins [57]
'What happened?'
'The Munros have just changed sides. I showed them Fergus.'
They hurried along to his own cell and von Bayern stared through the grill in astonishment as Chavasse unlocked the door.
'A miracle, my friend?'
'Something like that. I'll explain later.' As the German emerged, Chavasse gave him one of the shotguns and turned to Asta. 'Is there a gun room upstairs?'
She nodded. 'Next to the library.'
Chavasse handed the keys to von Bayern. 'I'll see what I can dig up. You release the others and we'll meet in the hall.'
He went up the cellar steps, Asta at his heels and from below, they could hear the excited babble of voices as von Bayern moved to release his nine soldiers and the two British Army drivers.
It was quiet in the passage outside the kitchen and Asta led the way quickly through to the hall. When they went into the library, a fire still burned fitfully on the hearth and she opened the far door into the gun room.
Such rooms were a common feature of old Scottish houses with estates which provided good shooting, but remembering Duncan Craig's remarks about Donner's lack of interest in hunting Chavasse didn't expect to find a great deal.
It could have been worse. Although most of the racks were empty, there were three double-barrelled shotguns, a Winchester .22 target rifle, probably kept for the rooks and an old .45 Ballard & Moore, powerful enough to stop an elephant.
Unfortunately there was only ammunition for the Winchester and the shotguns and regretfully he left the Ballard & Moore and went back through the library.
When they went into the hall, von Bayern was already there, his men standing at attention before him in a straight line, the two British soldiers on the end. He turned quickly and Chavasse handed him the three shotguns and the Winchester.
'Best I could do, I'm afraid. Have you told them what's happening?'
'As much as there was time for.'
Chavasse glanced down the line of soldiers. They looked tough and fit, but rather more intelligent than the average infantry soldier and he noticed that two of them wore glasses.
'These boys are really technicians, aren't they?' he said. 'Electronics experts.'
'And good soldiers, too. Have no fear, my friend. They know what they're getting in to.' He nodded to the senior N.C.O., a fair-haired, handsome man in his middle thirties. 'Sergeant-Major Steiner here served for five years in the French Foreign Legion Paratroops. He was at Dien-Bien-Phu.' He grinned and tossed the Winchester to Steiner who caught it expertly. 'Friend Donner may get a shock.'
One of the RASC drivers was a corporal and Chavasse moved across to him, 'What's your name, Corporal?'
'Jackson, sir, and this is Driver Benson. I don't know who you are, sir, but we're just as keen to have a go as the Jerries.'
'I'm sorry,' Chavasse said. 'But one of you will have to stay to take the Land Rover into Mallaig to notify H.Q. of what's happening.' He turned to Asta. 'You can go, too, Asta. You'll be able to tell them everything they need to know.'
She nodded, her face pale. 'What about Ruth?'
'She doesn't seem to be around so she must have gone down to Loch Dubh with Stavrou. Just forget about her. No one can help her now.'
Corporal Jackson tossed a coin, catching it neatly as Benson called. He extended his palm. Benson looked at the coin and his face dropped.
'All right, sir. I'll take the young lady into Mallaig.'
Already von Bayern and his men were moving out and Chavasse turned to Asta and groped for her hand. She looked up at him, her eyes shadowed.
'Take care, Paul.'
'Don't I always?' he said and went after the others.
There was silence in the hall when he had gone and she stood there looking suddenly very young. Benson coughed and cleared his throat. 'We'd better get going, miss.'
'Just give me a moment,' she said. 'I'd like to see them leave.'
She moved