G-8 #18 The Death Monsters by Robert J. Hogan

Author:Robert J. Hogan
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

AT THE moment the major had begun speaking to Leutnant Falk, G‑8 had blown a stream of smoke into the air. He was calmly engaged in watching that smoke rise while the major uttered those deadly words. He continued to stare at the smoke and to study it as though he had understood nothing. He sensed the eyes of the major and Leutnant Falk upon him. Watching every move and slight change of expression in his features. After the smoke had risen, his eyes shifted very slowly and easily back to the face of the major. The major smiled and spoke again to Falk in German. “I think we can depend upon it. This Amerikaner does not understand German. He has passed the test. I have no more questions to ask him. He is your prisoner now.”

Falk nodded and turned to G‑8. “Komme,” he said. “We go to the airdrome now.”

They walked out of the building and climbed into the car as before. The same Germans in the rear of the tonneau.

After they had gone a little way, Leutnant Falk, who was driving, asked, “Do you know what the major ordered me to do?”

“No,” answered G‑8. “I was wondering what he was saying to you in German.”

“He ordered me to take you out and shoot you at once. He said you were a spy.”

“A spy?” G‑8 said. Then he chuckled softly. “That’s a good one. I wonder what made him think I was a spy.”

“That is what you might call the joke of it,” Leutnant Falk replied. “You see it was a test.” G‑8 shook his head, “I’m afraid I don’t get it at all.”

“It’s one of our ways.” Falk explained. “Of testing a prisoner to see whether he understands German.”

G‑8 brightened. “Oh, I see. If I understood German, I would have heard him condemn me to die as a spy. And would have put up an argument. Is that it?”

“Jawohl,” said Falk. “And that would prove that you understood what the major was saying. But you conducted yourself very well. If you do understand German, I may say you are cleverest actor I’ve ever seen. No man can listen to a death warrant coming out of a clear sky without putting up some kind of an argument against it.”

“Yes,” G‑8 admitted. “I imagine that would be hard to do.” They drove on, turning east when they reached the airdrome, the car stopped before the barracks hidden at the edge of the wood. A crowd of German offiziers pushed out through the door when the car stopped in front of the barracks. “Is he here?” they asked. “Jawohl,” said Falk. “He is here. Wait. We go inside and then you shall meet him. He is a fine fellow, an Amerikaner.” He took G‑8 by the arm and pushed through the throng of German pilots. Falk took his position at the side of the table near the end where an amiable, barrel-chested Kapitan stood. He motioned G‑8 to the corner seat. “Kapitan Smith, shake hands with our Hauptmann, Herr Steiner.

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