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The Finns moved into action instantly. The other two half-tracks took up position on either side of Sorsa, the machine-gun crews made themselves ready for action, the rest of the men jumped to the ground and fanned out.

There was silence for a moment after the engines were cut. Ritter raised his field-glasses and looked to where there was movement on the wall.

'What is it? What's happening?' Strasser demanded.

'Interesting,' Ritter said softly. 'I see American helmets up there together with German ones. Perhaps the Third World War has started?'

On the wall, Canning, Birr, Hesser and Howard grouped together in the shelter of the west guardroom turret and peered out.

'Now what?' Birr said. He carried a Schmeisser in one hand, and Canning a Walther pistol.

'We'll stir things up a bit, just to show them we mean business.' Canning moved to where Schneider crouched beside the machine-gun crew who had positioned their weapons to point out through an embrasure beside one of the castle's eighteenth-century cannon. 'I want you to fire a long burst into the ground about ten yards in front of the lead half-track,' he said in German.

Schneider turned in alarm and looked to Hesser. 'Herr Oberst, what do I do?'

'As General Canning commands,' Hesser said. 'We are under his orders now.'

Schneider patted the lead gunner on the shoulder. He was another reservist, a man named Strang, who like most of them had never in his life fired a shot in anger. He hesitated, sweat on his face, and Finebaum slung his M1, pushed him out of the way and grabbed for the handles.

'Maybe you got qualms, Uncle, but not me.'

He squeezed off a long burst, swinging the barrel so that snow and gravel spurted in a darting line right across the front of the halftracks.

Ritter turned, arms flung wide. 'No return fire. It's a warning only.'

Hoover whispered to Howard, 'Did you see that? Those guys didn't even move.'

Finebaum got up and turned. 'They're hot stuff, Harry, believe me. I tell you, this thing could get very interesting.'

Ritter jumped down from the field car and Sorsa moved to meet him. 'Do we go in?'

'No, first we talk. They'll want to talk, I think.' He turned to Strasser. 'You agree?'

'Yes, I think so. Hesser will already be beginning to have second thoughts. Let's give him a chance to change his mind.'

'Good,' Ritter said, and called to Hoffer, 'Over here, Erich. We'll go for a little walk, you and I.'

'Zu befehl, Sturmbannfuhrer,' Hoffer replied crisply.

'I, too, could do with some exercise, I think,' Strasser said. 'If you've no objection, Major Ritter?'

'As you like.'

Strasser turned to Earl Jackson. 'You stay back out of the way. Borrow a parka and get the hood up. I don't want them to see you, you understand?'

Jackson frowned, but did as he was told, moving back to one of the half-tracks.

Sorsa said, 'What if they open fire?'

'Then you'll have to take command, won't you?' Ritter said and started forward.

Their feet crunched in the snow. Ritter took out his case, selected a cigarette and offered one to Strasser.

'No thank you. I never use them. You are surprised, I think, that I felt the need for exercise?'

'Perhaps. On the other hand I could say that it shows confidence in my judgement.'

'Or a belief in my own destiny, have you considered that?'

'A point of view, I suppose. If it's of any comfort, good luck to you.'

On the wall, Canning said, 'By God, he's a cool one, the devil in black out there. Obviously in need of conversation.'

'What do we do, General?' Hesser asked.

'Why, accommodate him, of course. You, me and Captain Howard here. Not you Justin. You stay up here in command, just in case some trigger-happy jerk in one of the half-tracks decides to open up.' He smiled savagely, giving every appearance of thoroughly enjoying himself. 'All right, gentlemen. Let's see what they have to say.'

Ritter, Strasser and Erich Hoffer paused at their side of the drawbridge and waited. After a while, the small judas in the main gate opened and Canning