The Steel Wave - Jeff Shaara [52]
“You are dismissed, Colonel. Thank you.”
Rommel saw the seal, OB West, waited for the officer to leave, and said, “It seems that von Rundstedt is up early this morning. So, what do you think? Am I being relieved? Perhaps they have had enough of my nagging.” He glanced at Speidel. “Or perhaps they feel I am being a defeatist again.”
He opened the envelope, unable to avoid an annoying stir in his stomach, and read, his eyes growing wide.
“I may have underestimated our intelligence agents. It has been discovered that American general George Patton has established his headquarters in Kent, England, in command of the Allied First Army. It seems that our agents have confirmed beyond all doubt that the enemy is planning to launch his offensive at the Pas-de-Calais, with Patton in command.” He read the dispatch again and handed it to Ruge. “This is most impressive, but it fits with my own expectations. Calais is the closest point across the English Channel, providing the enemy with the shortest straight line into the heart of Germany. And Patton is the best man for the assignment.”
He watched as Ruge read, then as Ruge passed the paper to Speidel.
“This is good news, Erwin.”
“Indeed it is. Patton is a formidable enemy, but he is predictable. He will come at us hard and he will not be deterred from making large-scale frontal assaults. That will play into our hands. Von Rundstedt wants us to play a chess game with the enemy, maneuver and outmaneuver. Patton should not only make that possible, it might be the best strategy to defeat him.”
Rommel stood, moved to the window, felt the old energy returning, punched one fist into an open palm, stared into sunshine. He flexed his ribs—no pain—the sun warming his face. The view of the river was magnificent, a glistening pathway, leading the ever-present barges to the seaside fortifications, where his men were working still. Could it be? he thought. Could this still work? He had too many reasons to doubt Hitler’s instincts, had no confidence in von Rundstedt’s leadership, no faith that Geyr and the rest of them would perform as he needed them to perform. And yet…
He thought of Dr. Strölin. Yes, I love my country, and yes, I know what Hitler has done to it. If there is to be any peace for Germany, we must make that peace with the West. And the only way the British and the Americans will stop and listen to us, the only way they will be compelled to offer us a just end to this war, is if we bloody them, show them we can still win.
He could feel it swelling inside of him, a glorious feeling he had not enjoyed in a very long time: hope. He brought his thoughts back into the office and turned toward the others.
“Yes, this is very good. Now we know who and we know where, and we may plan our movements and deploy our defensive strengths accordingly. My greatest enemy now is time. If the enemy will just allow me sufficient weeks to strengthen, even complete the fortifications, we shall await them on the beaches at Calais and throw them back into the sea.”
* * *
9. PATTON
* * *
NEAR DOVER, ENGLAND
APRIL 23, 1944
He stared at the rows of tents, new white canvas spread out across an open field. To one side, another field intersected, the open ground divided by a thin row of trees. He walked that way, sucked hard on the cigar, spit out the smoke, saw a half dozen black tanks, a scattering of trucks and other vehicles. The men followed close behind him, one man speaking up now, too eager.
“General Montgomery was just here, sir. So very sorry you missed him. He ladled on the praise, if I do say so. We’re mighty proud of our work here.”
Patton didn’t look at the man, couldn’t remember his name, major something. Idiot. “You’re proud of this?”
“Oh, quite, sir. We’ve given Jerry a tough banger to chew on, that’s for certain. They can’t observe any of this and not be convinced.”
Patton heard the familiar whine of airplane engines, a formation of four British Spitfires,