The Valhalla Exchange - Jack Higgins [66]
There was a long period of silence, or so it seemed - a slight creaking and then, quite unexpectedly, the cupboard door opened and light flooded in.
Ritter was standing there. He didn't bother to draw his pistol, simply smiled and said, 'Dr Gaillard, I believe? Your patient seems to be reviving.'
Gaillard hesitated, then brushed past him and went into the other room where he found Strasser and Meyer bending over the boy, who was moaning feverishly.
Meyer turned in appeal to Ritter, his concern wholly for his son now. 'When you first arrived, Sturmbannfuhrer, we didn't know what to think, the doctor and I. And there was the boy to consider.'
'Yes, I can see that,' Ritter said. 'How bad is he?'
'Not good,' Gaillard said. 'A badly broken leg - high fever. He needs constant attention, that's why I stayed. But I can't have you lot in here. You'll have to go.'
Ritter glanced at Strasser, who nodded slightly. Gaillard was ignoring them, sponging the boy's forehead. 'So, you didn't manage to get into the castle it would seem.'
'We will, Doctor, we will,' Ritter said. 'I'll have to put a sentry in here, of course, but we'll leave you to it for now.'
He nodded to Meyer, who went out. Gaillard said, 'All right, if you must, I suppose.' He glanced up, saw Strasser for the first time. His mouth opened wide, there was a look of astonishment on his face. 'Good God, I know you.'
'I don't think so,' Strasser said. 'My name is Strasser of the Prisoner of War Administration Department in Berlin, as the major here will confirm.'
Gaillard turned to Ritter, who smiled. 'We'll leave you to your patient, Doctor,' and he ushered Strasser outside and closed the door.
'Bormann,' Gaillard whispered. 'When was it we were introduced? Munich, 1935? Reichsleiter Martin Bormann. I'd stake my life on it.'
And at the same moment in the bunker in Berlin, Martin Bormann and General Wilhelm Burgdorf, Hitler's army adjutant, waited in the central passage outside the Fuhrer's personal suite. As the man who had delivered the poison with which Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel had been obliged to kill himself after the July 20th plot, it might have been thought that Burgdorf would have been used to such situations, but just now he looked terrified and was sweating profusely.
At 3.30 there was a pistol shot. Martin Bormann rushed into the Fuhrer's suite, followed by his valet, Heinz Linge and Colonel Otto Gunsche, his SS adjutant. The room reeked of the cyanide which Eva Hitler had used to take her life. The Fuhrer sprawled beside her, his face shattered.
Dr Stumpfegger, the Fuhrer's personal doctor, and Linge, the valet, carried the body up to the Chancellery garden, wrapped in a grey blanket. Martin Bormann came next, carrying Eva Hitler.
A curious incident then took place, for the Fuhrer's chauffeur, Erich Kempka, was reminded of the fact that in life Bormann had been Eva Hitler's greatest enemy. He stepped forward and took her body from the Reichsleiter for it did not seem right to him to leave her in his charge.
The bodies were placed in a shallow pit and fifty gallons of petrol poured over them and set on fire. As the flames cascaded into the sky, those present stood at attention, arms extended in a final party salute.
The Russians, at that point in time, were perhaps 150 yards away from the bunker.
12
Ritter sat at the desk in Meyer's office, going over the print of the ground plan of Schloss Arlberg yet again. Hoffer stood by the door, waiting quietly. Ritter put down his pencil and sat back.
Hoffer said, 'Can it be done?'
'I don't see why not,' Ritter said. 'All it requires is good discipline and a little nerve and I think our Finns aren't noticeably lacking in either.'
The door opened and Strasser entered. 'Jackson is back.'
'Ah, yes,' Ritter said. 'You sent him to Arnheim. May one ask why?'
'First tell me of your plan