Chapter 22

So Near Yet So Far

Biggles looked at his watch. According to the information Joseph had given him, he calculated they should be close to the quarry, but he could hear no sounds of blasting or any industrial activity.

They marched on in single file, saying nothing. At last, Biggles held up his hand. "Wait here," he instructed the others. "I'm going to recce the trail ahead."

Behind him, Ginger sank down on his haunches, glad of a breather, while Algy and Becca threw themselves on the ground with relief. The march had been a stiff one, with Biggles setting a brisk pace despite the difficulty of the terrain.

Biggles moved forward, making as little sound as possible. Ahead of him, the track emerged into open country and in the distance he saw what he had been aiming for, the floor of the quarry. Taking advantage of the meagre cover afforded by the nature of the ground, he advanced on his objective.

Hidden in a dip, he surveyed the scene. Scores of prisoners were breaking rocks under the watchful gaze of armed guards. His heart sank. Not only would it be difficult to get near the prisoners because of the openness of the terrain, he saw, but there were too many guards to risk a frontal assault.

As Biggles watched, the prisoners shouldered heavy slabs and made their way across to a staircase cut in the side of the cliff. It rose steeply, the broad steps shallow and uneven. One by one the prisoners struggled to carry their burdens up the staircase. The guards urged them on with blows and curses. When one man, clearly at the end of his tether, collapsed under the heavy weight, a guard kicked him until he staggered upright again. Biggles' lips compressed in a thin line.

He scanned the haggard, unshaven faces but could not recognise the professor from the photographs he had seen before he left. As the prisoners were all dirty and unkempt, Biggles thought it possible that the man's appearance had changed so much it would need a close family member to identify him. He wormed his way back under cover and went back to his waiting companions.

"Well?" queried Ginger as Biggles appeared. "Is he there?"

Biggles shook his head. "I can't recognise him. Perhaps Becca will have better luck."

Before they moved, Biggles outlined the difficulties of getting near the quarry and instructed them on the best method of approach. When they were in position, Biggles touched Becca on the arm and pointed at the workforce.

"Can you spot your father?" he breathed in her ear.

Becca looked closely, scanning the downtrodden faces for the well-loved features. The men all looked gaunt and haunted, their spirits as broken as their bodies by the unremitting, back-breaking work. Her gaze travelled from one to another; all shared the same hopeless demeanour. She was about to give up and admit defeat when she spotted a familiar figure descending the staircase. He had lost several kilos and he stooped more than he did, but her heart leaped when she realised it was her father.

Breathlessly, she caught Biggles by the arm and pointed. "That's him!" she exclaimed quietly, but with exultation in her voice. "He's over there!"

Biggles followed the direction of her outstretched arm. "Let's get back under cover," he murmured, "and see what we can do to get him away from here."

They retreated as quietly as they had arrived. Back on the track, Ginger asked what the plan was.

Biggles pursed his lips. "I think we should make our way to the top of the staircase," he opined. "It isn't going to be possible to get him away from the quarry floor. We can't get near enough without being seen and there are too many guards."

"We'll be seen if we try to walk up there!" exclaimed Ginger.

Biggles regarded him with exasperation. "I wasn't planning on walking up in broad daylight," he responded. "We shall have to find a way round and reach the summit by some alternative route."

"Can't one of us infiltrate the work party and try to get the professor away?" asked Algy.

"I considered that," replied Biggles, "but unless we can get hold of striped clothes and a yellow star, we'd be spotted immediately. In any case, getting clear would be a risky business with those trigger happy SS men on the lookout for trouble."

"It's a pity we couldn't knock one of the guards on the head and pinch his uniform," muttered Ginger. "That would be better."

"What are you suggesting?" asked Biggles.

Ginger shrugged. "I don't know exactly. Attract his attention and get him somewhere we could ambush him."

Biggles frowned, considering the proposition, but before he could speak, Algy, who had been watching the work party, broke in.

"We may not have to worry about that," he warned, "one of the guards is headed this way."

All eyes immediately switched to the quarry. One of the armed guards had left the prisoners and was making straight for their hiding place. His sub-machine gun was held across his chest, ready for action.

The guard stopped and looked back briefly at the prisoners before scanning the comrades' hiding place. He started off again with a purposeful stride.

Ginger felt his stomach sink, feeling sure that despite their precautions they had been spotted.

"What are we going to do?" he whispered.

"It was your idea to attract him over," countered Biggles dryly. "What do you suggest?"