Deadly Alliance by A. L. Sowards

Author:A. L. Sowards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2015-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A Sacrifice

There was no one on the other end of the radio that night, which wasn’t surprising. They hoped the British Navy in the Adriatic or Mediterranean would pick up their signal, but it would take time for the message to be passed on and decoded.

Peter waited until everyone was asleep, then crept outside and prayed more fervently than he had ever prayed before. He knew what he needed to do, but he didn’t want to do it. Twenty minutes into the prayer, the irony hit him. If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. The Savior’s words from Gethsemane crossed Peter’s mind, and he knew what he had to do wasn’t difficult, not in comparison.

The problem was, Peter knew too much about Nazi executions. They didn’t crucify people but were fond of several other brutal techniques: slow, torturous hangings by piano wire or meat hook, making death agonizing, undignified, and horrifying. Peter ended his prayer with a strange request. He prayed that if he was to be hanged, it would be with rope rather than piano wire or a meat hook and that when it happened, his neck would snap quickly.

Peter went back inside. By the light of the dying fire, he scribbled a final entry in his letter to Genevieve:

Beau Canari,

I don’t think I’ll be making it back to you after all. I’m sorry. Please know it wasn’t for lack of love. I’ll be gone soon, but I’ll always be yours.

Love,

Peter

He folded and tucked the papers in his Book of Mormon and left it on his blanket, where his friends would find it. If they survived, they could eventually deliver it to Genevieve. Then Peter grabbed the radio. Krzysztof was asleep, but when Peter touched his shoulder he sat upright immediately.

“Quiet,” Peter cautioned him. “I need your help.”

Krzysztof nodded and followed Peter outside. It was a cold night with a stiff wind, and it was dark because the moon had already set.

When he thought they were far enough away from the village, Peter held the radio out to Krzysztof. “I need to speak with the commander at the nearest German garrison.”

Krzysztof crossed his arms, refusing to take the radio. “Why?”

“To arrange terms.”

“Who’s surrendering? The Fascists?” Krzysztof asked suspiciously.

“No, just me.”

Krzysztof took a step back. “I won’t help you do that, sir.”

“If you don’t, in two days’ time, the village that’s hosting us will be shelled by German artillery.”

“Why would they waste their artillery on an obscure village?”

“To make an example,” Peter said. “The Germans know they’re harboring Americans.”

“So you think by giving yourself up, you can spare the village.”

“Yeah.” Peter tried to keep his voice even.

Krzysztof set up the radio and tapped out the same signal over and over again, waiting for a response and making minor adjustments. Nearly an hour passed. “I’ve got someone. From a unit between here and Bihac.”

“Ask for the officer in charge.”

Krzysztof sent the request and waited. “They say ‘Major Hegel does not like his sleep disturbed in the middle of the night.

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