The Kingdom of the Air by C. T. Wells

The Kingdom of the Air by C. T. Wells

Author:C. T. Wells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: war;history;fiction;Clive cussler;adventure award
Publisher: Rhiza Press
Published: 2016-03-31T16:00:00+00:00


XX

The Cherbourg Harbour carried the reek of dead fish and the unmistakable presence of the German occupation. Wehrmacht soldiers in coal–scuttle helmets were patrolling on foot, armoured vehicles were positioned at key intersections.

Josef drove along the waterfront in a Citroën he had signed out from the motor pool. It was a fine car, the six cylinder Traction Avant with the raked grille and flowing mudguards. But after flying a 109, any other machine seemed mundane by comparison. He eased the car through a road block with a sand–bagged machine gun position manned by more German troops. The car was painted in Luftwaffe blue, and the soldiers could easily see his uniform, so he was not challenged.

Beyond the sea–wall, he could see a fleet of half a dozen fishing boats coming into the harbour with the night’s catch. There was always work when there was an army to feed.

There were two boxes on the rear seat. One contained the staffelkapitan’s mail and personal effects for the hospital visit. The other contained the staffelkapitan’s dress uniform, belt and shoes for the subsequent act of treason. He would visit Langer, then do what he needed to do for Melitta. If he could get her to Europe he could make her safe. It would make up for abandoning her when he left South Africa. He had some savings, and renting an apartment for her in Berlin was not out of the question. Or maybe even a little cottage somewhere provincial where the bombs would never fall.

Josef turned away from the harbour onto Rue du Val de Saire and parked the Citroën. The hospital had been commandeered and was now run by German personnel who tended German wounded. It was only a couple of months since the 7th Panzer Division had taken Cherbourg, but it seemed the Germans were well on their way to turning the sea–side retreat into a fortress town.

Already labourers were pouring barricades of hardened concrete that looked like tumours growing out of the historic building. On some of the fortifications in the street Josef saw anti–Nazi graffiti splashed across the fresh concrete. There was a crudely painted Croix de Lorraine; the two–barred cross that symbolised of the Free French movement. It had probably been painted by young French rebels in the night. They must have been stupid or ignorant of the severe repercussions for such a crime against the Reich.

With Langer’s box under his arm, Josef passed through the arch in the classical façade of the hospital and made his way to a nurses’ station. The box containing the uniform was still in the Citroën. He asked to see Hauptmann Langer and a young nurse stepped forward. ‘You’re from his squadron?’

‘I’m his wingman. Is he … available?’

‘He’s alive. I’ll take you there. I’m Hilde. I’m taking care of him. I’ve known Hauptmann Langer for some time. We’re both from Hanover.’ She ushered him towards the wing of the hospital where Langer was being treated.

Josef had never heard of Hilde. A family



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.