The Angry Hills - Leon Uris [81]
“He makes good sense, Konrad,” Zervos said.
“We cannot for a moment arouse their suspicions by throwing out a general alarm. You know as well as I do that Morrison could hide inside Athens for fifteen years and you’d never find him. Also, if he is forced into hiding again the Stergiou list may be passed to the British by any one of a hundred people. Thus far, Morrison has refused to give it up.”
The German was annoyed with himself. Yes, he’d certainly bungle things if he tried to use five thousand troops. A sudden movement of soldiers was certain to send Morrison into hiding again and Chesney was right when he said that there was little hope of finding him inside Athens.
“All right. What do you suggest?”
“I suggest that you leave Athens immediately and try to get north of Marathon. That way you could come in from the south and avoid their route and avoid their lookouts. You can slip into the rendezvous area at dark with, say, twenty or thirty heavily armed men and await their arrival.”
Heilser again studied the map and pondered. He looked to Zervos and Zervos nodded in agreement.
“Very well. We leave Athens right away. Zervos, get the road-blocks lifted around the city and pick thirty of our best men. We meet in an hour and drive north of Marathon and wait till dark. Then we move to the cove.”
“Now you talk sense,” Chesney said.
“One more thing,” Heilser added.
“Yes?”
“You are going with us, Mr. Chesney.”
“By all means, dear fellow, by all means. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
EIGHT
SIX O’CLOCK.
Lisa was terribly shaken by the news. “I knew he was not a good man, but he was my husband,” she whispered. “Somehow, I feel that I should have helped him. Years ago, I could have helped him. He was sick—sick with ambition.”
“Don’t blame yourself, darling.”
“Manolis—dead—shot by the Germans in Averof. Will it never end, Michael? Will it never end?”
The time ticked on ruthlessly.
Six-thirty.
“You’ll love San Francisco, Lisa.”
“Hold me, Michael, hold me—I’m frightened.”
“We’ll get through, darling, we’ll get through.”
Six forty-five.
“It is beginning to turn dark outside,” Papa-Panos said. “They will be here in a few minutes.”
“Panagia, Panagia,” Lisa whispered with her eyes closed. “Panagia... Holy Mother...”
The minutes ticked on.
Seven o’clock.
Mike, taut with nerves, tried to find calm in his pipe. He checked his pistol. Lisa checked hers.
The trapdoor opened. Dr. Thackery made his way down the ladder. His flashlight picked them out in the darkness.
“Everything is ready,” he said.
“Where is Thanassis?”
“He has gone in advance.”
“Does the route look clear?”
“Almost too clear—almost too clear...”
“Papa-Panos,” Lisa said, “Would you pray with me?”
“Yes, my child.”
Seven-fifteen.
The four of them stood in utter silence. Above they could hear the creak of footsteps on the floor as the evening meal began in Gyni’s Restaurant. They could hear each other breathe....
Seven twenty-five.
The trapdoor opened.
Michalis came down the ladder. “The car is waiting,” he said.
Mike drew a deep breath and squeezed Lisa’s hand.
“God be with you,” Papa-Panos said.
“Let us be gone,” Michalis urged.
“Just a moment,” Dr. Thackery said. He handed some small capsules to Lisa and Mike.
“If anything goes wrong, you are to swallow these.”
“What is it?”
“Cyanide.”
Marathon was quiet in the moonlight There was a sandy cove and a sheer wall above it. A rocky path led down to the beach. On the rim of the wall there was a growth of tall grass and brush and beyond that a forest rising to a high hill.
The hour was eleven o’clock.
Julius Chesney and Zervos, the two fat men, were hardest hit by the grueling walk through the forest.
The officer reported to Heilser for instructions.
“Spread