Opening Moves

Schwartz and Uhlmann returned to the foyer and spoke briefly with the night manager, who could see no reason not to tell two American officers which room contained the General.

The two strode purposefully up the stairs and arrived at the floor where the General peacefully slumbered, or at least had peacefully slumbered before a one-armed Austrian had started filling the sky with noisy magnesium light. An extremely loud US Army officer then shouted the neighbourhood awake and the cacophony was completed when the tank’s engine burst into life.

A door with two alert sentries marked the threshold of success and they strode towards it, both wondering how it could have been so easy.

The two sentries stiffened, ready to challenge.

Schwartz and Uhlmann tensed, ready to bluster once more.

A door opened and out stepped a bleary-eyed Staff Colonel. Both Uhlmann and Schwartz stopped dead. Neither had ever seen an army officer in pyjamas with rank markings before. If the situation had not been so serious, it would have been comical, especially as they both noticed the night mask pushed up on the forehead and red satin slippers that completed the apparition before them.

Schwartz took an educated guess based on recent scuttlebutt, and got it right.

“Colonel Rhodes, we need a word now.”

Rhodes, obviously recently awakened from a deep sleep, tried to kick start his brain and mouth.

Schwartz continued on his mission to harangue the entire security detail.

“You two,” he shouted in such a way as to make both men start, “Stay alert, move apart, and let no one approach that door. Are your orders clear?”

Both men snapped out an affirmative response, and stepped apart, weapons held more aggressively, bright, alert and consciously not wishing to get on the bad side of the vicious looking Major.

Schwartz almost swept up Rhodes and the three disappeared into the staff colonel’s room before he could muster an objection or work out he was being railroaded.

Once inside his room, Schwartz took a different approach.

“Rhodes, this officer and I need to see the General right now. You will take us to him immediately.”

Recovering his wits finally, the man blustered.

“Not a hope Major. If you have a problem out there”, he gestured loosely at the heavily curtained window,” Sort it and give me your report in the morning. I will see the old man gets it.”

His gaze flicked to the Captain standing behind Schwartz and Rhodes saw danger in his eyes.

“Hold on, who are you two? Identify yourselves before I call the detail.”

Schwartz and Uhlmann exchanged glances. Rolf had not understood the language but the change in tone told him all he needed to know.

The sudden pressure of a carbine muzzle in his chest told Rhodes that he was underdressed for his present predicament. He stole a look at his holster hanging with his uniform.

“For my part,” Schultz softly confided, “I am an American combat infantry officer from the 317th Regiment, 80th Infantry. However, this gentleman is a German officer who has travelled a long way, a hazardous way I might add, in order to give the General vital information about what is about to happen in Europe, possibly this very night.”

Schwartz spoke quickly in German.

“Pass me his holster and sidearm Rolf.”

Uhlmann grabbed it and dropped it on the bed alongside where Schwartz was standing. The pretty pearl handle and polished chrome told both of them that this gun was all for show. It was not the gun of a man who expected to go in harm’s way.

That view was quickly confirmed as both men could not help but notice the growing wet stain, spreading swiftly across the legs of the Rhodes’s pyjamas.

“We are not going to harm you for fuck’s sake!” Pointing the barrel away from the apparently terrified man, Schwartz gestured with his free hand at Uhlmann.

“I vouch for this man, and I have risked much bringing him here. If you will give me your word that you will take us before the General, then I will give you your pistol and set aside my carbine.”

Rhodes switched incredulously from face to face, processing the information but failing to come to terms with it all.

“We do not have much time Rhodes. The enemy is coming and the message has to go out!”

As both men waited for a response they heard the unmistakable sound of a round being chambered.

“Nice and easy with the weapon there Major. On the bed with it… now.”

The carbine was cast onto the bed and both Schwartz and Uhlmann automatically started to raise their hands.

“Keep your hands where I can see them and turn around. Clarence, arm yourself.”

Uhlmann had no idea who the man in US army shirt, tie and uniform trousers stood in the doorway to the adjoining bedroom was, although the four shiny stars on his collar lapels suggested much, whereas Schwartz was only too aware of the identity of the man coolly looking down the sights of his automatic.