Brave Hearts and Bayonets by Jones Sebastian

Author:Jones, Sebastian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Raven Publications
Published: 2017-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

1 March 1941

Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland. 10.14am

The destroyers were underway. Klaus braced his feet against the deck and waited for the familiar writhing in his stomach. It did not come. A slight sensation of nausea, no worse than after eating too much, was the only token effort his body gave to his usual violent seasickness. Klaus started to relax. The tablets Barry had acquired for him were certainly effective, even if they did leave him a little drowsy. He would have to ensure he did not take them for several hours before they landed at Lofoten.

Barry appeared on deck. He was prowling, Klaus recognised the movement when he saw it. He had seen it enough in experienced military men. It was a stalking action that hinted at the coiled spring beneath the calm façade. He was already primed for action, ready at any moment to go on the attack. It was not quite the full tension of a man already in battle, but a step beyond the relaxed demeanour of a man waiting at base for further orders. Somewhere between those states lay this ‘prowling’ stage, where a man was like a wandering tiger in the jungle, alert but calm, ready to pounce but in no rush to attack.

Klaus wondered if he prowled. He wasn’t sure. It was such an unconscious thing that he doubted many men who did it realised what they were doing.

Barry looked up and caught his eye.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Good,” Klaus nodded.

“I wanted to have a word,” Barry came closer. “I was told to brief you about this mission at my discretion. I am satisfied you are trustworthy and you are certainly a good shot, so I think it is time I explained what is going to occur. Prepared to come below?”

Klaus nodded again, and then followed Barry down the hatchway. They went to the personnel quarters and to a smaller cabin beside them which had been set aside as a briefing room. There were maps upon the table in the room.

“I can only tell you as much as I know,” Barry explained. “The Major tasked me with briefing you. He saw we had become acquainted and you worked well with my small team. None of the Top Brass are very keen on your presence here. They know you are something to do with the secret service and don’t like the idea of a spy in our midst.”

“I am a translator,” Klaus shrugged.

Barry just grinned at him.

“Someone important pulled strings to get you here. There are enough men within our commando units who have a working knowledge of German to enable us to supply our own translators. And I am guessing you don’t speak Norwegian?”

Klaus frowned.

“Precisely. That’s the sort of translator we really need, but anyway, I am not here to worry you into telling me something about who you work for,” Barry pointed at the maps on the table. “The Major thinks you will be less of a liability to us if you understand what is going on, and you are now unofficially attached to my unit for the duration.

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