The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan

Author:Stephen P. Kiernan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The Field Marshal chose just that moment to call for the Kommandant, who stared at the baguette in each of his hands as if they were grenades, then pressed them against the chest of the guard with a gruff order. The young man took the loaves with wide eyes, as if he were being chastised, while the Kommandant hurried to present himself at the Field Marshal’s elbow, announcing his arrival with a clack of boot heels.

The Field Marshal was explaining something in soft tones, his hands relaxed while he pointed here and there, as if it were a casual conversation rather than preparations for savagery. The aide with binoculars at the ready stood by his side as tense as a violin string, and another remained a single step behind, holding one of Emma’s baguettes. The Kommandant listened intently, his back taut like a drawn bow, eyes darting wherever the Field Marshal gestured, leaning closer so as not to miss a word.

“Come,” Thalheim said, speaking from the side of his mouth. “See how strong we are.”

Emma found that it took an effort to look away from the Field Marshal, wondering when he would eat her bread, and whether he would taste the straw. For the moment he continued to gesture up and down the beach.

“Don’t mind them,” Thalheim said. “They are discuss gun sighting, and the need to finish building of observation platform. Come observe, and despair.”

Emma followed him to the side of the tent nearest the bluff and the slate-gray water below. It teemed from the rainfall, a billion eyes winking. The captain lit a cigarette, then spoke in low tones, a billow of smoke appearing with his words.

“See the iron barriers, there in the shallows? They have artillery shells attached to their tips, which we removed from the armories of your defeated army. Anything that touches them will be explode. The waters conceal at present, but likewise one hundred meters past low tide, we have driven logs into the sand with mines at their tips. Also railroad ties cut in half, rough end up, to rip the hull of any craft lucky enough to miss mines. We expect few if any ships to reach shore.”

He pointed while he spoke, in unconscious imitation of the Field Marshal, continuing as coolly as if he were reciting the alphabet. Emma glanced at the Kommandant, who hovered at the Field Marshal’s elbow, nodding every few seconds. The Field Marshal noticed the aide with a baguette, which he took without interrupting his speech. Rather, he continued lecturing, but instead of using his hand to gesture, the Field Marshal pointed with the long loaf of bread. Emma found it comical, that her life was at stake and the bread was serving as a pointer.

“Down there observe a section of the Atlantic Wall,” Thalheim continued in her ear. “If anyone through miracles should survive our obstacles, the wall stops them. This barrier spans from Norway to Spain, four years of work thanks to our highest commander’s brilliant vision.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.