Killmaster 45 - Berlin by Nick Carter

Author:Nick Carter [Carter, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: det_espionage
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

VI

Darkness covered East Berlin, and the headlights of vehicles lined up at the crossing mingled in with the bright floodlights illuminating the square. I walked along the Berlin wall and contemplated trying to scale it despite the barbed and electrified wire. I saw a couple of spots where I felt I could pick my way around the wire. That idea went up in smoke when I saw the floodlights go on as night fell. They illuminated the entire lower half of the wall. Anyone trying to scale it would be as conspicuous as a horsefly on an ice cream cone. I even walked over to where the river Spree ambled its way from East Berlin into West Berlin. It was a possibility, but a slim one. The Vopos were patrolling the sector by the wall with very large and efficient German shepherds. They also floodlighted that section of the river so anyone swimming across wouldn't have the advantage of the dark and the water.

I returned to a corner near the large square and watched the vehicles queue up, recalling how I had heard that the Russians and the East German police had gone to great lengths to halt the steady stream of fugitives fleeing the glories of the peoples' democracy. They had indeed done a thorough job, I'd found out. Getting back to Helga was rapidly becoming a major problem, one I hadn't figured on. I could come to one conclusion from what I saw. The only way out was the same way everyone else was taking, through the checkpoint and the gate. It was a short enough distance and with any luck I could run it. But first I had to find a vehicle.

The streets of East Berlin, I quickly learned, grow deserted soon after dark falls. Night life is confined to Stalinallee off to the east and even that is tame. There were few people and fewer cars except for those on their way to the checkpoint. Finally I spotted one, a small Mini-Cooper standing outside an all-night diner. It had been converted into a plumber's utility vehicle with the top rack carrying an assortment of toolbags, acetylene torches and short pieces of pipe. The one word, "Klempner," was lettered across the door. The plumber, I saw peering through the diner window, was just finishing a cup of coffee. I stayed in the shadows till he came out. He was opening the car door when I came up behind him. This had to be fast and noiseless. He tried to whirl as I clamped an arm around his neck. I applied the pressure quickly, just enough, and felt him go limp. It was a dangerous hold, fatal if the least little bit too much pressure was applied. He'd be all right and awake in fifteen minutes or so. I dragged him into a hallway and gave him a pat on the cheek.

"Sorry, pal," I murmured. "It's all in a good cause, though. You won't know it, but you'll be one of those unsung heroes.

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