IV.
"Albrecht… Johann Albrecht. Do you know him?"
"No," Duncan sat at the table with a mug of cocoa. "But he's an immortal."
"Is he? How do you k- Oh yeah, you know." Carter smiled and put away his notebook.
The Highlander contemplated his mug while pondering his situation. "I need to leave this place."
"Why? Now? You can't, it's daylight, you'll be shot before you can reach the forest."
"I can wait a few hours while he's in the tower, but the more time I spend here, the more I'm endangering all the operations in this camp. He already knows I'm here."
"C'mon, really? Are you sure?"
"Well, not me specifically but last night, he shot me in the forest. Now, he knows that there's an immortal in the Stalag, in this barracks… pretty much under his feet." He finished his drink and went to pack his things. "He must have already put two and two together, don't you think?"
"But why hasn't he come yet, or told anyone?" Carter smirked reading the name again. "Who is this guy anyway?"
"I don't know, Carter, I can't read his mind. At this moment, I'm like a beacon in the darkest night."
"Oh boy… you guys are so weird…"
"I'm sorry, it was not in my plans to die in front of you. For what is worth it, you saved my life last night." Duncan smiled. "I need to put some distance between us and the Stalag. He's coming soon, I can feel it."
"You can?" Carter stared at the roof of the tunnel, expecting to hear Albrecht's steps at any minute.
"It's a way of talking, he's still on the tower. All he needs is to wait till his shift is over to come and- challenge me."
"Challenge you? How? I'm sorry…I don't know how to help you… Hey, perhaps we should tell Newkirk, he's good at escaping."
"What are you going to tell him?"
"The truth… well, half of it," Carter shrugged. "Don't worry, I know Newkirk, he can help us."
Carter went upstairs and for the rest of the day, he kept an eye on the sentry tower. Once in a while, Albrecht glanced at him, or through him as though waiting for something or someone. Although Carter did not show it, he cringed every time he felt those cold eyes moving toward him. After sunset, the young sergeant heard Newkirk coming upstairs. Carter came to sit at the table, staring while the Englishman had his 5 o'clock tea.
"Blimey, the last bag of tea," Newkirk sighed, staring at the empty box. "Do you need something?"
"Good, you asked," Carter smiled and began to tell him his version of the situation.
Newkirk listened with a cigarette in one hand and his mug of tea in the other. He frowned and smirked before moving to the table. "What a barmy story is that?"
"Shh! It's true, Albrecht knows Duncan, you know, it's a spy thing. Duncan must leave now before Albrecht finds him." Carter looked over his shoulder slightly, checking that no one was at the barracks door.
"Why don't you talk with the colonel? He should know about this anyway."
"He has too much stuff in his head, don't you think? We have three missions only tonight."
"Duncan is in the tunnels, he's safe there."
"I don't know, Newkirk, I think he must leave."
"Why? I thought you liked the bloke. Did you run out of topics of conversation already?"
"Oh, no. I don't think that could happen with all the history- ah...stories he must have." Carter gasped and pressed his lips together before saying too much. "Please, Newkirk, it's a matter of life and death."
"The submarine is not coming for six hours. Or do you expect him to leave and sit on his duffle bag by the river? He has to stay here until then, it's safer for him."
Carter leaned forward, keeping his eyes on Newkirk's. "Trust me, Duncan must leave now."
Newkirk exhaled deeply, rubbing his face with his hand. "Why are you telling me this, anyway? I'm grounded, remember?"
"Because I have to leave with the boys in one hour. You're good at sneaking out, c'mon. Being grounded never stopped you from going to town for a drink… Why are you playing by the rules all of a sudden?"
"I am already in a bad place with the gov'nor. I can't leave the radio unattended."
Carter straightened up, his lips tensed as he prepared his last argument. "What the hell is wrong with you? Olsen can watch the radio. You have orders to take Duncan to the submarine at midnight, what if it's now instead of five hours later?"
Newkirk was so quiet that Carter feared he had hurt his feelings. Newkirk was mad at him and he was going to refuse to help him. If he did, Carter would have no more arguments, he would have to do the job himself. The safety of their operations depended on that.
After a deep sigh, the Englishman emptied his mug, put down his cigarette and stretched. "All right, I will, but when the guv'nor asks for me, you'd better have a bloody good explanation for my absence.
"I'll think about that later, don't worry." Carter looked at him with a smile of relief.
Newkirk came to the radio station all dressed in black. He still did not look quite convinced of Carter's plan but neither of them was talking about it. As long as he took Duncan away from the tunnels everything seemed okay with Carter.
"Have you thought what you're going to tell the gov'nor yet?" Newkirk put on his beanie hat and looked into their makeup kit for dark grease.
"I'll tell him the truth, I guess. Duncan had to leave sooner than expected. You know… a-"
"A spy thing, sure," Newkirk rolled his eyes.
Steps at the entrance made them turn their heads. It was Duncan, dressed in a long black coat and carrying his bag. Carter greeted him with a smile but Newkirk just smirked and turned back to his mirror.
"What's with the coat?" He said, finishing with the last of his camouflage. "Are we expecting some rain too?"
Duncan leaned on the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you go against Colonel Hogan's orders. This situation was completely unexpected."
"No problem. Just tell those chaps in London to go easy with the last-minute missions, and while you're at it, tell them that we've run out of tea." He closed the kit and went to the shelves where they kept the maps.
"What do you need a map for? I thought you knew that area backwards and forwards," said Carter.
"Backwards and forwards town wise. I need the quickest route to the dock."
Duncan moved closer to see the map that Newkirk had just spread over the table. "Is that a cemetery?"
"The old one, yes. It's abandoned now." Newkirk put the map back in its place. "You're not planning sightseeing tonight, are you?"
"Oh, no, I just like maps," Duncan smiled.
"Very well, then. Are you ready?"
"Just lead the way," Duncan lifted his bag and turned to the sergeant. "Carter? Do you have any questions about the putty explosives?"
"Oh, it's okay. I got this. I'll use them well, I promise," he said, mustering a shaky smile. "Be careful out there, you two, okay? And Duncan, you're really awesome."
Duncan smiled widely and pulled him close for a big hug. "You're all awesome, Carter, thank you for everything."
Newkirk raised his eyebrows. "What's this? The mutual admiration hour? Let's get out of here." He took his flashlight and walked to the darkened corridor.
"The exit is up there," Newkirk pointed with the light at an opening a few feet over their heads. "We have to climb… it's nothing to it if you were in a circus... I'll show you how." He tucked his flashlight under his belt and climbed the wall, as he had done it numerous times before. He took a deep breath of fresh air, scrutinizing their surroundings for anything suspicious. Then, he knelt and stretched his arm. "Give me your hand, I'll help you out."
"Just catch the bag and move aside." Duncan grinned tossing the sack over before climbing fast and smoothly. "You're right, just like in the circus," he brushed the leaves off his coat.
"That's what I said," Newkirk scratched his head and turned around. "The docks are that way, it's a bit far, that's why we don't use this exit too often. Follow me, please."
"Ah, Newkirk. You don't have to come with me. I can find the way from here."
"Oh, sure. The colonel will be thrilled to know that I took you for a walk through one of our abandoned tunnels, which by the way, I'm not supposed to be using, and left you alone in the forest, several hours before rendezvous. He thinks I'm going barmy already but this will look bloody perfect in my record."
"Wait, why does he think you're going crazy?" He chuckled.
"It's a long story… Too bad it's enemy territory and we can't walk and talk," Newkirk grinned.
"Fair enough." Duncan took one last glance at the darkness and moved forward.
Walking and not talking was rule number one in the survival manual and Newkirk was good at it. He couldn't deny that he was curious about his walking companion, though. This man looked like he had a bunch of secrets that travelled beyond his spy job. On the other hand, Duncan seemed to ask too many questions that Newkirk was not ready to answer, so walking and not talking was not that bad after all.
They passed by the forest, a couple of secondary roads, and a narrow path. Newkirk turned to get back into the undergrowth when Duncan stopped. He looked around with a frown on his face. That was enough to alert Newkirk, who clenched his pistol ready to shoot. "Duncan? What is it, mate?"
"Nothing," the Scotsman blinked as though coming back from somewhere else. "Is this the way to the cemetery?"
"Yeah, and the bridge is next to it… The colonel and Carter must be there now. We'd rather go the other way." He pointed at the path in front of them. "The dock is crossing the forest."
"How far is it?"
"The dock? Twenty minutes."
"The cemetery," Duncan insisted.
"Five minutes, but-"
"We'll get there in two. Run!"
"What? Wait!" Newkirk did not have time to think or reason. He was supposed to stay with Duncan and now he was just running after him. Did someone ever say there was not such a thing as an easy mission?
His first impulse was to yell at the Highlander, drag his attention and try to make him go back to his senses. Of course, that could also attract the patrols, and make everything worse. Without much to choose from, Newkirk did not stop running until they were in front of the cemetery gates.
Duncan checked the massive lock and chain and sighed. "We'll have to climb." He tossed his duffel bag first.
"Ah, no…" Newkirk panted. "Why climb when I can open the door?" He would demand an explanation later, now it was the time to be a little adventurous. He took the lock pick he kept on his beanie hat and did the job fast and easy. "After you, gov'nor."
Duncan crossed the gate and closed it behind them. "Now, we can talk."
"Good idea, let's chat. Why the running? Why are we here? Why did you urge Carter to get you out of camp so abruptly? And-"
"Newkirk, there's no time for Q&A's… in a moment someone is coming to challenge me. It's okay, you're safe here."
"Who's coming to do what? And how's this bloody graveyard a safe place, anyway?"
"This bloody graveyard is holy ground. We don't fight on holy ground, that's against the rules."
"Fight? Rules? Who's we? Duncan, is there something you want to tell me?"
The Scotsman was about to respond when he reacted to an invisible noise and turned around to face the gates. "He's here."
"Now what?" Newkirk sighed, looking in the same direction as Duncan. There was a massive silhouette of a uniformed man standing there. Newkirk tilted his head with a frown. "To be completely honest, I was expecting something more dramatic like a werewolf or a vampire." He took his pistol, ready to shoot.
"Save your bullets, Newkirk. You may need them later." Duncan did not move.
"Is that the Englander? How did you get out of the stalag? I knew there was something peculiar… This will earn me a better rank."
"Is that the new sentry?" Newkirk squinted and then he grinned. "Albrecht, innit? Hello, lovely night for a walk."
"You haven't told him about us, have you?" He smiled, talking to Duncan. Then, he moved forward but did not touch the gates. "I suppose we're going to do this properly? Are you coming out?"
"Are you going to shoot me again?"
"That's always a risk."
Duncan turned his back on him, reaching inside his long coat and signed for Newkirk to join him. "Listen," he whispered. "You'll be safe here. No matter what happens or what you see, don't come out. Okay?"
"What are you gonna do? You can't go with him, I'll shoot him." Newkirk kept his voice down too.
Duncan pulled him to his side. "Listen carefully. The challenge has been made, no one must interfere." He spoke fast and softly. "Stay here, you'll be safe."
"Safe how? How about you? Do you have a pistol?" Newkirk's eyes opened wide as Duncan took out a sword from the inside of his coat. "What kind of challenge is this? Swordfight? Are you going barmy? He has a rifle!"
"Stop it and pay attention. I'm coming back, but in case that I lose… you'll stay here and use your pistol. Shoot at him and don't stop until he dies. Then, run away as fast as you can, do not stay here. Okay?"
"Why? If I shoot to kill he ain't coming back." Newkirk took a quick glance at the man out there, pacing from side to side. He was not just big, he also looked mean. Duncan did not answer Newkirk's question, he stared at him quietly before straightening up. "Are you serious? He can't come back, can he? Duncan?"
There was no more to say, the Scotsman walked to the gate. He took a purposeful breath and did not look back when he stepped outside. There was an exchange of glances and a hailing, all in a polite but reserved manner. "I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan Macleod."
"The Highlander?" Albrecht raised his eyebrows. "Heinrich talked to me about you. It will be a pleasure to take the legend's head." Having said that, he took his sword out of his coat.
That was not what Newkirk expected, but at least, they were now in the same condition. A swordfight, not even in his wildest tales he could have come up with something like that. "The Gov'nor's never going to believe this." He moved to the gates, keeping them closed.
"My name is Johann Albrecht, Berend Heinrich was my mentor." As he began to circle the Highlander, Newkirk could reckon that he was taller than Duncan. Up there in the sentry tower, he did not seem as impressive.
"I met Berend many years ago. He was a warrior with honour." Duncan tilted his head, never losing eye contact with Albrecht. "He would never teach anybody to shoot their opponents."
"Actually, my first intention was to kill the other man, but I just couldn't help myself and shot you first." He laughed and kept walking. "I met Captain Heinrich after I died, back in the Battle of Sedan."
"1940?"
"1870."
That was not right, Newkirk clenched the bars of the gates, straining his ears. Did that man just say he had died over seventy years ago? What about Duncan? He did not even flinch.
"He took me under his wing," Albrecht completed another circle. "He showed me the arts of war. He expected me to become a general."
"Yet, you're just a sentry."
"I never wanted to be a soldier but I am when my country needs me. Sentry is better than being on the battlefield, I'm not hiding and as I said… " He stopped pacing and straightened up. "You killed my mentor."
Duncan nodded and assumed a defensive position. "There can be only one," he said, granting Albrecht the first move.
Newkirk jumped when he heard the clash of metal on metal. He had never seen swordfights, only in movies and plays. These men were fighting to the death, and he did not know why because the initial talk did not make any sense at all. Newkirk followed the strokes, realizing that if Duncan lost this battle, it could be the end for him too. "Lovely." He leaned his forehead against the bars, preparing for the worst.
Hogan was mad, beyond mad. Not only had Newkirk disobeyed his orders, but now Carter was lying for him. Perhaps the time had come to give Newkirk an ultimatum… or he should send him back to London without more explanations. This was tearing him apart, he did not want to lose one of his best men, he did not want to lose any of his men.
"What is it, Carter? Is there anything you want to say?" Hogan said, watching the road through his binoculars. He could feel the young sergeant's gaze on his back. "Are you done with the explosives yet?"
"Yeah… almost. It's going well." There was more silence, followed by a deep sigh. "Colonel, it was my fault. I asked Newkirk to help us."
"Help us, who?"
"Yes, Duncan and me. He received orders from his office and he had to leave early."
"SOE headquarters, yes you said that already but I was in my office all the time. Newkirk was in charge of the radio with orders to notify me of any call from London." He was almost sure that there had not been any call and it bugged him that his men were at ease lying to him. "This was Duncan MacLeod's idea, wasn't it? I didn't trust that guy, I'll have to check about him with London." He peeped the road again and breathed with relief. "Good. LeBeau and Kinch are here."
"Mission accomplished, sir."
"Thank you, Kinch. I need your eyes on the east flank," he handed him the binoculars. "I'll be with you in a minute." He turned to LeBeau. "The Underground received their packages?"
"Oui, mon colonel. The roads were clear and everything went smoothly."
"See? Everything is getting better already… sir," Carter gave him a shy smile and went back to work.
Hogan rolled his eyes in silence. "Carter, give LeBeau your binoculars, watch for any late walkers crossing the bridge. We don't want innocent bystanders around while we're blowing it out."
"Colonel Hogan doesn't look happy tonight." LeBeau frowned as the colonel walked away.
"That's my fault," Carter shook his head. "It's been a crazy couple of days, I tell you."
LeBeau scratched his head under the beret. "Oui, I know. We all need a vacation before this war is over."
"So Newkirk and Duncan are gone?"
"Yes, no warning. They just took off and left Carter to face the music." Hogan watched the surroundings, gun in hand. "I don't know what's going on. Newkirk and Carter had never done anything like this before."
"I'm sure that they have a good explanation, Colonel."
Hogan chuckled. "Kinch, you sound as convinced as I am. But you're right. They'd better have a good excuse for tonight or I'll make sure they don't see the sunlight in a long time."
A sudden flash and a clap of thunder disturbed the still of the night. "Is it going to rain?" Kinch stared at the sky.
"Sure, why not? Thunderstorm, that's the only thing that is missing tonight."
TBC
Battle of Sedan: fought during the Franco Prussian war from 1 to 2 September 1870.
The Battle of Sedan or Second Battle of Sedan (12–15 May 1940) took place in the Second World War during the Battle of France in 1940. (Wikipedia)
