The Valhalla Exchange - Jack Higgins [81]
'Easy, General. Easy does it,' Jack Howard was saying.
Canning crouched against the wall, totally exhausted, in real physical pain. Hesser and Birr leaned over him. The German forced the neck of a flask between his teeth. It was brandy.
Canning didn't think anything could ever have tasted quite that good in his life before.
He realized that he was still clutching the Thompson and held it up to Howard. 'I lost your sergeant.'
'Hoover?' Howard said. 'You mean he's dead?'
'As a mackerel. Took two heavy-chopper rounds straight in the throat.' Finebaum squatted beside Canning. 'Anyone got a cigarette? Mine are all wet.'
Hesser gave him one and a light. Howard exploded, 'God dammit, Finebaum, is that all you can say? That's Harry out there.'
'What the hell you expect me to do, recite the prayers for the dead or something?'
Howard walked away along the tunnel. Canning said, 'You saved my skin out there, Finebaum. I won't forget that.'
'You did okay, General. You did as you was told. That's lesson number one in this game.'
'Game?' Canning said. 'Is that how you see it?'
Finebaum inhaled deeply and took his time in replying. 'I don't know about that, General, but I'll tell you one thing. Sometimes at night, I wake up frightened - scared half to death, and you know why?'
'No.'
'Because I'm afraid it'll soon be over.'
For the first time since Canning had known him, he didn't sound as if he was trying to make a joke.
14
Ritter and Claire de Beauville did not exchange a single word during the drive down to the village. When Hoffer finally braked to a halt in front of the Golden Eagle, Claire made no attempt to get out; simply sat there, mute, staring into space, snowflakes clinging to her eyelashes.
'We will go in now, Madame,' Ritter said gently as Hoffer opened the door for them.
He took her hand to help her down and she started to shake. He put an arm about her shoulder. 'Quickly, Erich - inside.'
Hoffer ran ahead to get the door open. Ritter took her up the steps into the bar. Meyer was tending the fire. A look of astonishment appeared on his face when he saw Claire. 'Madame de Beauville - are you all right?'
She was shaking uncontrollably now. Ritter said, 'Where is Herr Strasser?'
'In my office, Sturmbannfuhrer.'
'I'll take her there now. You get Dr Gaillard. I think she's going to need him. Go with him, Erich.'
They both went out quickly. Claire leaned heavily against Ritter and he held her close, afraid that she might fall. He walked her across to the fire and eased her into the large armchair beside it. Then he went to the bar, poured brandy into a glass and returned.
'Come on, just a little. You'll feel better, I promise you.'
She moaned softly, but drank, and then she seemed to choke a little, her fingers tightening on his shoulder as she stared past him.
Strasser said, 'What happened? What went wrong?'
Ritter turned to look at him. 'She is not well, as you can see.'
'This is not your department, so kindly keep out of it,' Strasser told him coldly.
Ritter hesitated then got to his feet and moved a few paces away. Strasser said, 'You were discovered?'
'Yes.'
'Then how do you come to be here?'
'General Canning threw me out.'
Strasser stood there, confronting her, hands clasped behind his back, a slight frown on his face. He nodded slowly. 'Exactly the sort of stupidity he would indulge in.'
'What happens now?'
'To you? A matter of supreme indifference to me, Madame.'
He started to turn away and she caught his sleeve, shaking again now, tears in her eyes. 'Please, Herr Bormann, Etienne - my husband. You promised.'
'Strasser,' he said. 'The name is Strasser, Madame, and in regard to your husband, I promised nothing. I said I would do what I could.'
'But Colonel Rattenhuber -'
'- is dead,' Strasser said. 'And I can't be responsible for the empty promises of a dead man.'
There was horror and incredulity on her face now. 'But I did everything I was asked