The Valhalla Exchange - Jack Higgins [59]
They got back into the vehicle, Sorsa waved the column on and they started down the hill.
It was Meyer who saw them first when they were half-way down; sheer luck that he'd gone to the landing window to close it. He took one look, then hurried to the bedroom where Gaillard was checking on the boy, who was still unconscious.
'There's an SS column coming down the hill,' Meyer said. 'Three half-tracks, two field cars. About forty men in all.'
Voss's face turned deathly pale. Gaillard said, 'You're certain?'
Meyer opened a cupboard and took out an old brass telescope. 'See for yourself.'
They all went out on to the landing and Meyer levelled the telescope on the lead halftrack. Immediately the divisional signs on the vehicle leapt into view, the SS runes, the death's head painted in white. He moved on to the field car, picking out Ritter first, then Strasser.
He frowned and Meyer said, 'What is it, Herr Doktor?'
'Nothing,' Gaillard said. 'There's a civilian with them I thought I knew for a moment, but I must be wrong. They're mountain troops judging by their uniform and the skis they carry in the half-tracks.'
He closed the telescope and handed it to Meyer. Voss plucked at his sleeve. 'What are we going to do, Herr Doktor? Those devils are capable of anything.'
'No need to panic,' Gaillard said. 'Keep calm above all things.' He turned to Meyer. 'They'll be here within the next two or three minutes. Go out and meet them.'
'And what about the Americans? Look, the tracks of the ambulance are plain in the snow. What if they ask me who made them?'
'Play it by ear, that one. Whatever happens don't tell them Voss and I are here. We'll keep out of sight for the time being. We can always clear off the back way if we have to, but I want to see how the situation develops here first, and besides, Arnie is going to need me when he wakes up.'
'As you say.' Meyer took a deep breath and started downstairs as the first vehicle braked to a halt outside. Gaillard and Voss, peering round the edge of the curtain, saw Ritter, Strasser and Earl Jackson get out of the field car.
'Strange,' Gaillard said. 'One of the SS officers has a Stars and Stripes shield sewn on to his left sleeve below the eagle. What on earth does that mean?'
'I don't know, Herr Doktor,' Voss whispered. 'Where the SS are concerned, I've always kept well out of the way. Who's the one in the leather coat speaking to Meyer now? Gestapo, perhaps!'
'I don't know,' Gaillard said. 'I still have that irritating feeling we've met somewhere before.' He eased the window open in time to hear Sorsa shout an order to Matti Gestrin in the rear half-track. 'My God,' Gaillard whispered, 'they're Finns.'
He peered down at them, suddenly fearful. Hard, tough, competent-looking men, armed to the teeth, and there was only one road up to the castle, one road down. He turned and grabbed Voss by the shirt-front.
'Right, my friend, your chance to be a hero for the first time in your miserable life. Out of the back door, through the trees and take the woodcutter's track up to the castle and run till your heart bursts. Tell Hesser the SS are coming. Now get moving!' And he shoved Voss violently along the landing towards the back stairs.
As he turned to the window again, Ritter was saying to Meyer, 'From these tracks a vehicle would seem to have passed this way during the past half-hour. A heavy vehicle. What was it?'
The direct question, and in the circumstances there was only one answer Meyer could give. 'It was an ambulance, Sturmbannfuhrer. '
'A German ambulance?' Strasser asked.
'No, Mein Herr. A British Army ambulance. There were three American soldiers in the cab. One was an officer - a captain, I think.'
'And they took that street there out of the square?' Ritter nodded. 'Which leads to?'
'Schloss Arlberg.'
'And is there any other way up or down?'
'Only on foot.'
'One more question. How many men in the garrison at Schloss Arlberg now?'
Meyer hesitated, but he was a simple man with his son to consider, and Ritter's pale face,