Page 44 of Clive Cussler The Iron Storm
The man’s suspicion faded and he beckoned Bell to follow him to the big washroom. When they’d finished up, the man escorted the American detective back to his room and made certain the door was locked behind him with a firm rattle of its handle.
Bell was chagrined. He’d barely begun his investigation and yethe’d been caught flat-footed by some guy on nature’s call. He felt like a rank amateur. And worse, he knew nothing more about Karl Rath or what exactly he was doing. The size of this place, the number of guerrillas he guessed the man had under him, and the fact they had a large classroom did not equal a small band of partisans interested in ending the war.
His first guess about smuggling could still be true, but again the number of men stationed here would indicate some other goal. Bell wished Archie or James Dashwood or even old man Van Dorn himself were around to spitball ideas and theories. In detective work, it was too tempting to listen to your opinions echo in your head when it came to a favorite hypothesis. Working with a tried-and-tested team was essential. He hoped to have the time to springboard some things past Liam Holmes. The man had a good head on his shoulders, but he doubted they’d get a chance to talk.
Lying down on his cot once again, Bell heard a guard’s footsteps approach their little building and come to a stop just outside the door. The man had been quiet, but not overly so, and Bell didn’t know if his presence was a warning or just a precaution.
Yes, nothing was quite what it seemed.
24
According to his internal clock,it was three in the morning when Karl Rath sent two men into the room where Bell and the others were asleep to wake them. The men singled out Bell and Holmes and indicated the others were to remain behind. Bell didn’t know if the remaining Brits realized they were prisoners and bargaining chips.
They were led to the washroom and then taken to the far side of the big building, where Rath waited with a couple of his goons plus a sad-faced kid in his early twenties who looked like he was processing the worst news imaginable.
Magdalena was there with a carafe of ersatz coffee, which she poured into tin mugs for Bell and Holmes. There was thick cream, but no sugar, which would have helped mask the taste of roasted acorn. She handed Bell a paper sack. Inside were two objects wrapped in wax paper.
“Sandwiches for your flight,” she said without looking up.
“Merci,” he said softly.
“I hear one of my men found you outside your room last night,” Rath said darkly.
“I needed the bathroom,” Bell said, the picture of innocence. “Is that a problem?”
“I…” Rath didn’t want to admit he’d locked them in their room, so there was really nothing further that he could say. He let the matter drop. “Are you two ready to fly? We leave in a few minutes. It has been timed so you will arrive over the railyard just after the sun comes up.”
“Your cot is vastly superior to the ones in the castle,” Holmes replied. “First morning my back hasn’t ached since the crash.”
Rath pointed to the grim-faced man. He was worrying at the collar of his jacket like how some people work a rosary. “This is Georgi. He knows the way to the railyard and will fly with you.”
“Isaac Bell,” he said and held out a hand.
Georgi didn’t stop fingering his coat until Rath prompted him with a thumb to the ribs. He shook Bell’s hand. His was slick with cold sweat.
“Liam Holmes.” He looked at his wet palm after shaking Georgi’s hand. “You okay, mate? You’re a little green about the gills.”
Rath quickly said, “This will be his first time in an airplane. Also his English is not so good.”
“Ah, right. Tell him he has nothing to worry about. I’ve already had my allotment of crashes this week.”
Rath looked at him queerly.
“It’s a joke, mate,” Holmes said. “Just tell him he’s in good hands.”
“I do have a question,” Bell said. “Once we’re through attacking the train yard and return here, we can’t exactly land their stolen bomber back at the German’s airfield.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I will show you. The airfield is ten kilometers from here. There is a big open field only two kilometers away, where you have enough room to land the plane. We pass it on our way. Once you are down, set the plane on fire. I will have men waiting to take you back here.”
Bell nodded. “Sounds reasonable.”
“Good. Then it is time. Come with me.”
Rath led the party outside to their truck. Bell and Holmes went in back with the two goons. Georgi helped crank the Mercedes to life and rode in the cab with Rath. The streets were even more quiet than when they’d arrived in town. They didn’t pass the old town section again, but left heading south. Bell kept his eye to the small rip in the canvas despite the warning scowl on the goons’ faces. In case things didn’t work out upon their return, he wanted to know the way back to Rath’s lair.
A few minutes later, Rath brought the truck to a stop. The town had ended abruptly a mile back and around them was nothing but open land ready to be planted in a few weeks’ time. “Will this be to your liking?” Rath asked from the cab.
Bell and Holmes surveilled the area by opening the rear flap of the truck’s canvas top.
