Tomb of the Lost

Chapter TWENTY FIVE



Corporal Ralf Klum of the Wehrmacht braked his motor cycle sidecar gently for the last one hundred yards of the descent. The brakes squealed slightly. The road had ruts in it caused by the afternoon’s downpour. Loose stones were piled at the bottom of where the rain had washed. His front wheel had already skidded twice on the way down. He stopped at the fork in the road unsure as to which way they should turn. The mountainside rose steeply both left and right of him. Ahead of him was an old crumbling stone wall and a sheer drop. Another motor cycle skidded to a halt alongside. This new rider lifted up his goggles leaving large clean circles around his eyes. The rest of his face was dirty. He leaned over and spat to rid himself of the constant grit in his mouth. He quickly took his flask from his belt and raised it to his lips. He swallowed the cool water, then took another mouthful and spat this out as well. He screwed the cap back on as he saw the first of the trucks appear in his mirror. He waited until he could see two more then looked at Klum and jerked his thumb left.

“This way.”

The two motorcycles turned onto the mountain road abreast of each other. Klum noticed an ammunition box laying discarded at the side of the road which he thought was strange. Even more strange was that it looked to be British. There weren’t supposed to be British forces this close to Gabes. He quickly forgot about it as he saw the first of the trucks turn to follow the motorcycles. Klum had no idea as to what was in the second truck of the convoy but he knew it must be of immense value. Everything had been kept hushed up. He knew that something had taken place out in the desert. He had seen a glimpse of something large excavated from the sand. The SS had kept everything discreet and the ordinary Wehrmacht had been kept away. Klum had been ordered to give a message to the Colonel but the SS guards had moved him on after finding Koenig but not before he’d seen it. It was made of stone and looked to be some sort of altar or something. He hadn’t seen it for long enough, but it was a large rectangular stone block . All he could think of was it looked like an altar from a church.

‘Or one of those, what were they called, those things from Egypt a ’Carsophagus’ or something like that. Well whatever it was, it was in the second truck’

The first was filled with SS. The Wehrmacht occupied the last truck which was at the back of the convoy. The very impressive though now absolutely filthy Mercedes saloon carrying the bespectacled Doctor in the white suit was somewhere in the middle.

‘I’d love to know what it is’ Klum was thinking ‘Could it be treasure? He asked himself remembering his childhood days of playing pirates. Or could it be some sort of secret weapon. Yes that must be it. Why else would they need so many SS.

’Better not be too interested,” Klum told himself “Don’t want to upset the SS. Those bastards are touchy enough as it is. Klum involuntarily shuddered. He, like most men in this war, had heard of the methods of the SS. Even though they were on the same side the Wehrmacht secretly hated the SS.

’But I’d love to know what is in the back of that truck’

Ahead the two motorcyclists could see the road was partially blocked. It was a landslip. Rocks and earth loosened by the Afternoon’s rain must have tumbled down the mountainside. The road wasn’t completely blocked but the trucks would struggle to get through. Klum and his colleague edged through and stopped on the other side of the blockage. The first of the trucks approached slowly but it was the Mercedes saloon that rushed past them. The passenger doors were open before the driver had even stopped the car. Otto Wurtz jumped out first. Koenig got out the other side. Wurtz stopped the trucks. The doctor climbed out of the vehicle.

“I think the trucks should just be able to squeeze by Herr Doctor,” Koenig said smiling nervously.

Doctor Von Brest stood next to Wurtz and looked down the one thousand foot drop. Wurtz kicked a few loose stones over the cliff. They soon disappeared out of sight. The doctor gauged the gap left in the road. The trucks would be perilously close to the edge. Calmly he took his glasses off and polished them .

“I’m not prepared to risk the artefact Herr Colonel. Your men will have to clear a path.”

Koenig had already guessed this was what the Doctor would say. Though he had expected it he felt himself getting impatient.

“With all respect Herr Doctor the risk to the trucks would be minimal. I will personally oversee their path through. My men would be willing to go first if that’s….”

“Out of the question! Clear the way,“ Von Brest cut him off.

“Herr Doctor it may take some time. Often clearing these spills can bring more down. Like I said my men will be more than happy to go first.”

“I don’t give two hoots about your men Colonel. What I do care about is what is in the back of that truck. Now unless you want to report to the Fuhrer personally about what happened to his….” Von Brest chose his next word carefully “….His project, then I suggest you get shovelling. That goes for you as well Wurtz.”

“Yes of course Herr Doctor. The Colonel meant no offence. My men would be delighted to help your men Colonel Koenig. Just show them what you want them to do,” Wurtz said with a sickly smile.

Von Brest was still scowling at Koenig.

“Yes Doctor I’ll see to it at once. I didn’t mean to anger you.”

Von Brest removed his white hat and got back into the Mercedes without another word. Koenig felt his temper rising.

’Who the hell does the Doctor think he’s talking to’ Then good sense prevailed. Von Brest was a party member. A personal friend of Himmler and possibly the best archaeologist in his field. It would be unwise to upset him, even from a Colonel’s point of view. Koenig felt Wurtz’ eyes on him.

’We’re both lying,’ he thought looking at what he could see of the Doctor in the back of the car, ’But I don’t know why you are Wurtz. As an SS Major you must be safe out here. But me? I’m sure the Doctor could very easily have me removed’

For the umpteenth time Koenig wished he was safe back in Berlin, in his office, in Von Brockhorst’s care. Then Wurtz surprised him. He suddenly undid his jacket, slackened off his braces, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a shovel.

“Let’s get this obstruction moved men,” he said to his SS, his eyes on the Colonel.

Koenig nodded. He was surprised that the challenge had come but wasn’t about to be outdone. As the SS leapt from their truck Koenig put his jacket aside, loosened a few shirt buttons and went for a shovel. The SS quickly threw themselves into shovelling the loose dirt aside, throwing spadefuls along the road.

“Put your backs into it lads. That’s good,” Wurtz encouraged his soldiers “Lets show these boys how to do it.”

There weren’t enough shovels to go round. Some of Koenig’s men had to wait for rocks to be unearthed and move them by hand. These they tossed over the edge and laughed and nudged at each other as the rocks raced down the slope. They began betting on whose would get furthest.

Wurtz and Koenig constantly made eye contact. After five minutes Koenig wanted to throw his spade down. His hands were blistered. Painfully sore. His lower back and shoulders ached, his muscles becoming stiff. To begin with he masked it well but eventually it began to show on his face. He was also breathing hard.

“Do you need to take a rest Colonel?” Wurtz mocked him.

In truth Koenig wished for nothing else but he sneered a dismissal at Wurtz and shovelled even harder, pain exploding in his head. It had been many years since he’d done work like this. Good honest manual labour.

Wurtz on the other hand was enjoying the physical effort. He was enjoying pitting himself against Koenig.

The soft Colonel

‘He wouldn’t last two minutes in the SS’

Suddenly he felt a blister burst on his hand. He stopped shovelling and looked at his palm. It was sticky from the fluid that leaked out of the blisters. He clenched his fist a few times. The wounds were sore. He spat on them. He didn’t know if it would help but it was worth a try. He arched his back to stretch the aching muscles. Koenig was now shovelling at a much quicker pace, he briefly stopped to goad Wurtz.

“It looks like you need a rest Major.”

Wurtz snorted and slammed his shovel into the landslip. The pain from his hands was excruciating but he ignored it. Both men now knew it was a personal competition between the two of them. They began hurling abuse at each other.

Intimidation!

Slowly the other men began to stop, moving back to allow their commander room to move.

“Come on Colonel! You can beat him!”

“Come on Colonel!”

“Colonel! Colonel! Colonel!”

Wurtz’ men now took up the shout

“Meyer! Meyer! Meyer!”

The two officers were neck and neck. Now Koenig was a shovelful ahead. Now Wurtz pulled it back. The men counting each spadeful. Then their spades collided. They had been getting closer and closer. The impact forced Wurtz to drop his load, putting Koenig ahead once more. Wurtz thrust his spade in knocking Koenig’s to one side. The Wehrmacht booed. They stopped shovelling, glaring at each other. Then in the next instant they threw their spades down and leapt at each other, grabbing bunched fists full of each other’s clothes. The men cheering them on. Wurtz drew his arm back to throw a punch.

A single shot rang out.

Both men stopped. The voices of the others faded away. Wurtz still had his fist raised. He glared into Koenig’s eyes. Koenig slowly turned. Wurtz’ eyes followed. They let go of each other and stood resignedly. Koenig’s men turned to look the same way as the others. The Doctor was halfway between them and the Mercedes. He leaned on his silver handled cane with his left hand. His right arm was raised above his head, in his right hand a Luger.

The gun that had fired the shot!

They couldn’t see his eyes. The light reflecting off his spectacles. Slowly he lowered the gun but kept it ready. Slowly he limped towards them. Koenig and Wurtz were still breathing hard.

“Dismissed,” Koenig said to his men, looking at them out of the corner of his eye. Instantly they shuffled away. Wurtz jerked a thumb at his men. Now the two of them faced the Doctor. He came up to them coughing into his hand. He put the Luger into his white jacket pocket.

“It is no wonder gentlemen that your men have little or no discipline when they see their commanding officers brawling as if they were in a bar fight.”

“This wasn’t a fight Herr Doctor. Just a friendly bit of rivalry. Isn’t that so Colonel?” Wurtz said clapping an arm around Koenig’s shoulder.

“Yes Herr Meyer. Just friendly rivalry,” Koenig replied.

He wanted nothing more than to push Wurtz arm away and punch him. But he knew when to play the diplomatic game.

“Is that so?”

“It’s like I said Herr Doctor. We, the Colonel and I were betting which of us could shovel more. The men were timing us and counting, they sir, the men they got a bit carried away. At the end of the time it was a draw and the men suggested we wrestle. The loser being the first one thrown to the ground.”

“Do you take me for a fool? Some kind of imbecile perhaps?”

“No Herr Doctor.”

“I have never heard such rubbish in all my life.”

Koenig was staring at the ground. Wurtz was not used to being spoken to like this. But even he, the ruthless killer, couldn’t outstare Von Brest.

The Doctor seemed to radiate pure evil.

“By rights I should place you both on a charge for your conduct. For you Colonel a word in General Von Brockhorst’s ear. You Major would have to wait until Berlin and the Reichsfuhrer.”

Wurtz could think of nothing worse.

“However seeing as I appear to need both your co-operation I find myself having to accept your explanations but anymore of this tomfoolery and I will place you both on a charge.”

Wurtz was about to protest then he remembered that the police in Berlin were probably still looking for him, or at least his wife’s killer. ‘Poor Elsa. I didn’t mean it to go that far’

“Is that gap sufficient for the trucks now?”

“Yes Herr Doctor.”

“Then perhaps you’ll be good enough to get your men back into those lorries and get us moving.”

With that Von Brest turned and limped back to the Mercedes saloon. Koenig picked up his jacket and put it on. Wurtz picked his up and threw it over his left arm. He extended his right hand to Koenig for a handshake.

“No hard feelings.”

Koenig looked down at the hand for a moment and then brushed past Wurtz and headed for the Mercedes. He was going to get into the front with the driver when the back door opened.

“Get in,” Von Brest ordered.

Koenig did as he was told.

“Close the door.”

The Doctor looked out at Wurtz who was shouting as usual at his men.

“What really happened Colonel?”

Koenig was reluctant to say anything. He didn’t like Wurtz or trust the Doctor so he remained quiet. Von Brest put a hand on Koenig’s knee. Koenig stared down at it.

“I don’t like the Major any more than you do. Unfortunately I had no choice in who was assigned to me. I would appreciate if you could quickly tell me what happened.”

Koenig had no choice but to tell.

“As you know the men were clearing a landslip. The major made a direct challenge to me.”

“What challenge?”

“Oh it was nothing really. Petty. Just him trying to out do the Wehrmacht. I shouldn’t have responded but I did.”

“No you shouldn’t. It was behaviour unbefitting an officer particularly one of your rank. Which reminds me, if memory serves me doesn’t Colonel outrank Major?”

“Yes Herr Doctor but that just goes to show you the arrogance of the SS.”

“You should remind the Major that you are superior to him.”

“I’ve wanted to but we must remember that he is acting under direct orders of Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler. I guess therefore that he believes this gives him power over the Wehrmacht.”

“I will speak to him and remind him of our mission here which I’m pleased to say is almost complete and I do thank you for your input.”

The Doctor allowed himself a smile. The first time Koenig had seen him smile since they’d met.

“I cannot wait to present the treasure to the Fuhrer. It will be a momentous occasion. I trust you’ll be there.”

“I sincerely hope so Herr Doctor.”

Wurtz was heading towards the car.

“Give me a moment with him. My driver will pick you up.”

Koenig got out of the Mercedes and held the door for the Major.

“The Doctor wishes to speak to you in private.”

Wurtz slid into the seat alongside Von Brest. Koenig shut the door and stood quietly smoking a cigarette.

“The mission has gone well Major.”

Wurtz nodded still watching Koenig.

“Though I have had some concerns about your behaviour.”

Wurtz turned to look at the Doctor who stared back, his eyes icy cold.

“That was nothing,” Wurtz defended himself looking out at where the landslip had fallen, now cleared.

“As I was to understand it Colonel Koenig’s mission was to provide the work force to recover the artefact. Yours was to protect the mission.”

“Which I have done.”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me why you question me.”

“Because you murdered two Wehrmacht in that town and after the gunfight you were going to execute the young British soldier.”

“Both were enemies of the Fuhrer.”

“But not related to our mission which I’m glad to say was not jeopardised by your actions.”

Both men fell silent for a minute or two. The driver not listening, just staring ahead. Finally the Doctor turned to look at Wurtz.

“Well?”

“My methods may seem a little primitive to you but my actions were, I believe, in the interests of the third Reich.”

“But not in my interests. The Fuhrer has given us a great quest. We personally can gain much from it.”

“Like I said my methods may seem primitive but out here I am the police, judge, jury and executioner all in one.”

Von Brest raised a finger to him.

“You are here and under my orders Major. Don’t ever forget that.”

The Doctor tapped his driver’s shoulder for him to move off. They stopped alongside Koenig who opened the door and got in the passenger seat.

“Is that understood?”

“Yes Herr Doctor,” Wurtz said, but inside he was seething.