"What's so special about this thingamabob anyway?" Goniff asked as he cut the last link in the fence.
"If the information we have is right, it'll mean easier startups, and increased fuel efficiency for the Germans. Supposed to be simpler too, easier to adjust and fix. That'll give them too big of an advantage out in the field." Garrison split his attention between their target building, his watch, and the fence line where he expected to see Actor and Chief as they withdrew back into cover.
"But," Goniff's voice was pitched low. "Even the Jerries aren't thick enough to keep the only set a plans for something like that 'ere. What good's it gonna do us to risk our necks for it if they can just pull out a copy and start up makin' it again somewheres else?"
"Blowing this place'll slow them down, and it'll give our engineers a chance to check the thing out."
"And if it works we use it ourselfs."
"That's the idea." There was a low rumbling sound off in the distance and he glanced up to see clouds gathering overhead and cursed silently. If the weather turned on them it would take another full day to make it to the coast for a trip back out by sub….through rain that would probably turn Casino's cold to pneumonia... Garrison checked the time again and watched as the second hand swept past the sixteen minute mark. "Come on. It looks like it's up to us."
They gathered up their supplies and moved down the fence line in the direction Actor and Chief had taken. Crouching down into the shadows they waited for a security patrol to pass and had just started on their way again when the other two men finally came into view about fifty yards away. Chief gave them the sign that the alarms were down and Garrison waved them away into the underbrush to provide cover for their exit. He and Goniff returned to their original position where they'd cut the fence. They waited for the guards to make another pass and then made a run for the research building. Goniff produced a short length of wire that he inserted at the bottom of the window and within seconds the latch was free and they were inside.
g
Garrison held his fingers over the flash light as he turned it on. The building was long and narrow. Two rows of work benches ran its length and the isle they created led straight to a glass door set in a wall at the far end. A large plate glass window took up the rest of that wall. They silently made their way to the glass door and the Warden dropped to his knees to work on the lock. Once inside the office they still had to be careful with the light, there were no shades on the door or that window. The engineer was either very enthused about manufacturing his device, or he didn't trust his workers. Either way the man obviously wanted to keep a close eye on things out on the small production line while he attended to his own work and research.
It took a long time to go through the office. Garrison carefully searched the desk first, and then turned his attention to the file cabinet that sat behind it. He found the blueprints and test results they were after, folded them up and had Goniff stuff them down the back of his shirt, but, as always, he was on the lookout for anything else that might be of interest. Goniff kept watch while the Warden worked. At the little man's warning they huddled at the base of the wall under the window and watched the beam from the guard's flashlight sweep across the back wall of the office each time the man made his rounds. The large window kept them from making use of the room lights, but it also allowed the man inspecting the room to stay on his own side of the door as he checked the space. They had to hit the floor three times to avoid being discovered but the expanded search resulted in several additions to the documents the second story man carried. After the guard's third pass Garrison headed for the large metal storage cabinet that was built into the corner of the office.
There was a padlock on the door to the cabinet that, with a small pliable piece of aluminum and the trick he'd learned from Casino, opened easily enough. He pulled the lever on the latch up and froze at the screech the door made as he tried to ease it open. The sound seemed to echo in the deserted building. At a hiss from Goniff, Garrison dropped to the floor and scrambled towards the desk, the cabinet door started to swing open with another squeal and he stuck his foot out to stop it. Holding his breath he watched the shadows in the room move, leaning away from the beam of the guard's flashlight. Craning his neck he caught sight of the pickpocket hunched down behind the door, poised to jump the guard when he came through to investigate…
The beam of light moved across the shelves and cabinets that lined the back wall of the office. It swept across the counters next as the man moved closer, then grazed the items on top of the desk and work table. The beam glanced off the cabinet's metal door, its reflected glow lighting the Warden where he lay under the desk and Goniff as he pressed into the forward corner of the room. Then it swung away, leaving them in darkness as the guard continued his inspection of the workshop and finally went back outside to complete his patrol.
Goniff's nervous giggle died in his throat at the slight squeak from the door. The Warden was still stuck. If he moved the door moved. If the door moved…. Goniff slipped out of the office and returned with a small can of machine oil he'd spotted on one of the work tables in the main room. He treated the hinges and after a moment Garrison cautiously relaxed a little and let the door move, just a fraction. Silence. He lowered his foot to the floor and it swung open noiselessly.
Goniff's first instinct was to head for the door, slip down between all a those desks and back out the window the way they'd come in. That would be the right thing, the smart thing to do. Goniff knew they wouldn't be doing that. He went back to watching for the guard while the Warden investigated the contents of the cabinet.
Garrison covered the lens of his flashlight and switched it on. He let out a low whistle that brought Goniff to his side. The reddish light that glowed between his fingers winked back at them from several models that rested on the shelves.
"This stuff goes." Garrison pulled a folded square of heavy canvass from under his belt and shook it out. "Help me load this up."
g
Garrison checked his watch as he set the charge. They were behind schedule. Once they cleared the grounds they'd have to double time it all the way back to the safe house to get Casino if they were going to make their pick up for home. He settled the device under the skirt of a lathe that sat right outside the engineer's office, checked to make sure Goniff was up near the door, and then lit the fuse and took off for the door himself.
Goniff had already slipped through the exit and sidled down the wall to the corner of the building to check for guards before they made their run for the fence. He muttered a curse under his breath and turned back to meet the Warden just coming through the door.
"Bloody guard's comin' back again, an' he's got company!"
Garrison chewed at his lower lip a moment as he reviewed the layout of the grounds in his head. They'd have to work their way through the complex and go out the other side where there was a little more cover. They wouldn't be able to meet up with the others and it would take them longer to get back to the foundry but unless they wanted to confront the guards it was their only choice. He motioned Goniff on ahead of him and crept along the end of the building, sliding around the corner just before the guards arrived. He'd left the door to the building ajar trusting that the guards would double check inside for signs of intruders before calling for back up. Garrison stood there listening. A cautious tread on the wooden step confirmed it. At least one man was inside. A moment later there was another creak. He took a chance and shot a quick look around the corner just in time to see the back of the second guard move slowly through the door. They had a large area to search and he prayed they'd work their way from the door in the back up to the front where the office was. If they went directly up there they'd be able to hear and smell the fuse and he and Goniff would have no chance to make their get-away.
"Down along these buildings to the fence on the other side." Garrison whispered in Goniff's ear. "Get the cutters out. And move it!"
They took off in a crouching run, keeping to the shadows as they made their way away from the engineering workshop. Two guards were just making their way along the perimeter fence as they reached the deep shadow at the end of the last building. They waited, giving the men time to move out of sight. Garrison checked his watch. There was no time to wait for the patrol to make another pass, or to get a feel for how long they'd have to make it through the fence. They'd have to trust that the patrol here mirrored the one on the other side of the complex. He got his own set of wire cutters out of the lower pocket on the leg of his trousers, adjusted the straps on the backpack he wore, and sent Goniff off with a shove. When they reached the fence the little pickpocket dropped down on his haunches and started working up from the bottom while the Warden worked down from the top. When they met and clipped the last strand they rolled the link back and pushed through the fence.
The forest was still fifty yards away. Staying low to the ground next to the fence they checked for a patrol, seeing none, they took off. Just as safety seemed attainable there was a shout from behind.
"Halten Sie an! Was tun Sie dort?"
There was only one voice. His ears strained to pick up the sounds behind them. Unless there was a man standing stock still out there, there was only one man too. Garrison had dropped the wire cutters as soon as he cut the last strand that made up the fence. As they made their run for the safety of the trees he'd fished his pistol out of his shoulder holster…it was in his hand now, but he couldn't risk using it. They had a chance, but only if he could take this guy out, and only if he could do it silently.
Holding his hands out to his sides Garrison let the pistol dangle from a finger and then dropped it. He heard the guard take several cautious steps forward, at the same time he eased back a step. Craig waited for the man to move again and carefully repeated the maneuver. He let the soldier move up several more steps but this time he held his own position. The next time he heard movement he carefully took one more step back.
"Umdrehen. Langsam!"
Goniff shot a look over his shoulder and gave a wink to let the Warden know he'd do his part. Both of them pivoted around slowly to face their captor. Garrison was close; within arms reach. All Goniff had to do was provide the diversion. The little cockney took off to his left. The muzzle of the guard's rifle shifted to follow him and that gave the Warden his opening.
Garrison moved in fast, placed the flat of his left hand on the man's shoulder at the base of his neck and gave a quick shove to the side of his head with the heel of his right hand. He lowered the body to the ground and caught up the man's rifle. Goniff was at his side as he pushed back to his feet, ready in case he needed help but the guard was already dead. Before they could turn for the forest a sharp clap assaulted their eardrums. Instinct dropped both men to the ground as the fireball stretched up into the night sky. A rush of air rustled the leaves around them. A few bits and pieces of the engineering building, some of them still trailing flames, arced high over their heads to land in the forest beyond.
Goniff raised his head and shook the leaves out of his hair. "Too Bloody much black powder," the little man complained.
Garrison pushed to his feet and reached a hand down to help his second story man up. "Insurance," he replied with a smile.
They started for the forest again, and had just reached the safety of the first stand of trees when there was another shout.
"Halt! Hände hoch!"
The guards patrolled in pairs, this must be the other one. Still just one man. The two men got set and prepared to pull their maneuver on the second guard. Garrison held the stolen rifle out and dropped it, listened for movement and took a step back.
"Stillstehen. Jede Bewegung werden Sie geschossen!"
The sound of a rifle being brought to firing position underlined the guard's threat and Garrison did as ordered and froze. He'd have to let the man come to him. There was another cautious step forward and then another…but there was another sound out there too, faint, somewhere back behind the guard… He tensed as the man took another step. Suddenly there was an in rushing of air followed by a sharp retort.
Garrison whirled on the soldier, made a grab for him and brought the heel of his right hand up sharply aiming for the guard's jaw. The weight of the pack he carried threw him off balance and all he managed to do was clip the German's chin before he fell, taking Goniff down with him. Garrison was down on his back. He saw the man raise his gun and he reacted, rolling to throw himself over the cockney thief.
Enraged now, the soldier raised his rifle and fired.
g
Goniff lay pinned face down in the dirt. He heard two shots. He felt the Warden's body jerk twice as the bullets hit, then he felt the awful sensation of something hot soaking into his shirt. The weight across his back increased. Nothing moved, for a moment there was no sound at all. The little pick pocket clenched his fists, pressed his forehead into the leaves and waited for the shot that would bring an end to his life too.