Chapter 20
Shocks For Algy
Walking along the road with Becca Algy almost forgot about their mission. The sun was pleasantly warm and there was no traffic to speak of. He found Becca a delightful companion and the miles passed easily. There were worse ways of spending time, he mused, than walking in the country in good weather with a pretty girl at his side.
Biggles strode on ahead with Ginger obediently trying to keep up. Algy smiled. The lad had not grown very tall and he was struggling to match Biggles' stride.
When Becca asked him what he found so funny he explained about how they had met Ginger and how he had come to be a part of their lives.
"He is not your younger brother?" she asked him curiously.
Algy's smile broadened. "I don't have a younger brother," he told her. "I'm the youngest son. My father has an heir and a spare."
Becca looked puzzled because the expression was new to her and she repeated it, questioningly. Seeing her confusion, Algy explained that his elder brother would inherit the earldom. That led on to a comparison of British and German titles and in no time at all, Algy realised that Biggles was out of sight.
"We'd better get a move on," he observed. "We don't want to lose touch!"
Becca nodded and they put on a spurt. When Biggles and Ginger came into view once more, Algy and Becca resumed their conversation, glancing up from time to time to make sure they did not lose sight of their leaders again.
Inevitably, as the road wound round the contours, Biggles and Ginger disappeared from view from time to time, and Algy was relieved to see them reappear each time the road straightened out.
This continued for some time and Algy was beginning to wonder how long it would be before they reached their destination. He could see that Becca was beginning to tire. At last, as they rounded a slight bend, Algy saw in the distance that Biggles had stopped at the side of the road. There was no sign of their destination and there seemed to be no reason for Biggles to halt in that spot. Algy frowned, gazing at his cousin. As soon as he saw he had Algy's attention, Biggles turned on his heel and plunged off the road into the undergrowth, closely followed by Ginger, and the penny dropped.
"There must be a shortcut," Algy told Becca. "I can't see it from here, but Biggles must have been waiting to make sure we didn't walk past."
Becca sighed wearily. Algy squeezed her arm reassuringly. "It can't be far now," he encouraged her.
Becca smiled at him. "You are always so positive," she observed. "Are all Englishmen like you?"
Algy smiled. "Not all of them, no."
They continued towards the place where Biggles had left the road. There was a faint track, but if he had not known it was there, Algy realised he would have missed it. They were just about to leave the road when he heard a car coming. Smothering a curse at the ill luck which brought a vehicle along at that precise moment, when they had had the road to themselves for the last hour or so, he stopped at the kerbside.
"We'd better wait until this car goes past," he told Becca, "I don't suppose they'll pay any attention to us, but if they do, striking off across country might make them suspicious."
He glanced along the road. The car rounded the bend and drove towards them. It was a large, black limousine like the one they had seen von Stalhein using. Algy felt his mouth go dry. It would be the most rotten luck if Erich should happen to drive past now, he told himself. His muscles tensed as the car drew nearer.
It pulled out as if to pass them and then slowed to a halt. The windows were dark so it was impossible to see who was inside. Algy could feel his heart beating faster. Beside him, Becca was shaking.
The window wound down. The driver was alone in the vehicle. Algy looked at him closely. He was a stranger, but that did not mean there was no danger. The car most probably belonged to an official. If they were asked for their papers or the reason for their journey, the next few moments could be quite tricky, he realised. He felt acutely aware of the weight of the revolver he had stowed in his pocket. He would have a hard time explaining that away if he were searched. Casually he put his hand in his pocket and grasped the butt.
The driver leaned forward and fumbled in the glove compartment. Algy watched warily, ready for anything. After a few moments, the man drew out a sheet of paper and glanced at it.
Algy swallowed, his eyes on the driver, his nerves taut. He could not see what was on the paper, but if von Stalhein had circulated pictures of Biggles and himself, he knew the driver could be confirming that he had caught one of the wanted foreigners.
After what seemed like an age, the driver looked up and asked in German if he was on the right road for Mauthausen. He named a location near the camp.
Becca was gripping Algy's arm so tightly it was painful. With an effort, she pulled herself together and answered in the same language, giving the man directions to the town, but adding that she was on holiday in the area and could not be more precise.
The driver smiled, glancing from her to Algy, and wished them both a happy stay. He thanked them, wound up his window and drove off. Algy let out his breath in a long sigh and took his hand out of his pocket. Becca buried her head in her hands and sobbed. Algy put his arm around her shoulders.
"It's alright," he reassured her. "He's gone and there's no harm done. Let's get after Biggles; he'll be wondering what on earth has happened to us. I hope he hasn't got too far ahead."
Shakily Becca nodded. As soon as he was sure the car was out of sight and there was nobody watching, Algy helped her descend the bank. They picked up the track and made the best speed they could over the uneven ground.
Rounding a clump of bushes, they came across Biggles and Ginger, waiting together.
"Am I glad to see you!" exclaimed Algy with feeling.
"What did that car want?" asked Ginger. "I thought you were going to be whisked off by von Stalhein and we'd never see you again!"
"You're not the only one," Algy told him fervently. "Those were the worst few moments of my life, but he only wanted to ask directions."
"We'd better get cracking," observed Biggles. "We've wasted enough time. We don't want to be caught out in the middle of nowhere in darkness and we still have a fair distance to cover. It isn't going to be easy making good time on this uneven ground."
They turned their backs on the road and began to follow the narrow track towards the quarry.
