"The dock is nearby, Dietrich. It won't take long to reach it."
We walked in silence for several minutes before Luther finally spoke.
"Since you don't speak Greek, what other languages do you know?"
"French, English, Latin, Italian, several Arabic dialects, decent Spanish and basic Russian."
Luther's eyes widened slightly. "Remarkable, Dietrich. I'm sure we'll be able to find a common one with the captain given such an impressive list.
The Athene was a nondescript shipping vessel, one of hundreds fishing in the south Aegean region for generations. It smelt of fish and of diesel, but there was a faint odor about the vessel which I was unable to place, something from long ago reviving a distant memory. When I was unable to identify it, I placed it aside to focus on the captain.
The captain was tall and thin and had a dark, swarthy appearance, caused no doubt from the constant exposure to the sun. With his black, greasy hair tied messily at the nape of his neck, I couldn't stop myself from thinking how much he looked like a pirate. A few of his crew members were lounging around, looking at me suspiciously. They were obviously familiar with Luther and paid him little attention.
Luther spoke Greek to the captain for several minutes, occasionally indicating me. They laughed frequently and finally shook hands, indicating the deal had been finalized.
"Hauptmann Dietrich, Nikos Donis is the captain of the Athene. He speaks Italian so there should be no communication problems between the two of you," Luther explained, switching over to Italian.
"Donis is very familiar with the waters where you are heading. I have already given him a brief overview of your mission."
"Captain Donis," I said and shook hands with him. It took every ounce of my strength not to wipe off my hand afterwards on my trousers. His hands were soft and sweaty, not at all like a fisherman's hands should be like.
"Hauptmann Dietrich. It is an honor to be of service to you and the Third Reich," he said with a bow. "Now if you please, I will take you on a brief inspection of the Athene to ensure you of her capability. We can discuss what you need afterwards."
Although the Athene appeared to be in disrepair and in dire need of a coat of paint, the boat was solidly built and well maintained. It was obvious the fishing boat was rarely used for its intended purpose.
There was some fishing gear about, but not enough viable to provide a minimum living for those manning her. It contained excellent Rolls Royce engines, more powerful than what would be needed to support fishing. No, the Athene was used for smuggling and her real story lay in what I was not shown.
"The Athene will suit our needs, Captain," I confirmed. "We now need to discuss the details and begin planning. The mission's time frame is critical."
Donis quickly became all business. "Of course, of course," he said, waving his arm in a mock salute. "We can step into my cabin to maintain secrets and discuss the details."
The three of us crowded into the cabin and sat around a grimy table. The captain pulled out a bottle of ouzo and glasses and poured each of us a generous measure.
"Prost!" Donis said a little too loudly and a little too friendly as he clinked our glasses and downed his immediately. I took a small taste and was surprised to find the liquor to be excellent.
The smell I had noticed above deck was stronger here. I couldn't quite place it, but it was something familiar. It stirred a distant memory inside of me, something from the desert . . .
Donis interrupted my thoughts. "You've hired my boat and crew, Hauptmann Dietrich. Now is the time to tell me what you've hired them to do." Donis' eyes had narrowed and they contained a hard glint.
I pulled out a sea chart and showed him the destination. "You are to take me and my men here, to the coast of Libya. I will lead a smaller group ashore to obtain a British national. Once we have secured him, we will return to the Athene and return to Rhodes immediately."
"Obtain?" Donis asked with a snort. "You mean kidnap, don't you?" He proceeded to give a strong laugh. "So who are you kidnapping?"
I glared at Donis. I needed someone who could execute, not someone who was going to pass judgement on the job that he had been hired to do.
"He must be someone important, or probably, related to someone important. I frankly don't care who he is," Donis hastened to assure me. "I only ask because I will not be able to do business with the aggrieved party or operate in those waters again due to my involvement. I am a businessman, after all, and I need to think of my future." He laughed again, but the laugh did not reach his eyes.
"Dietrich's mission is to kidnap a young boy," Luther offered, effectively washing his hands of any involvement. I glared at him icily for providing too much information so early to Donis.
"Out to kidnap a child, eh? What has the world come to? Strange time to live."
"As you said, it is of no concern of yours, Captain," I informed him, looking him directly in the eye.
Donis immediately backed off, holding his hands out as if to placate me.
"True. It means nothing to mean as long as I am paid at the end of the day. "The Nazi higher ups must have big plans for the boy," he added casually, still fishing for information. I could see the greed rise in his eyes, calculating how much the boy would be worth if he negotiated his return separately.
"But, what you Nazis do is your business as long as I may continue to do mine," Donis said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Your assessment is wise, Captain," I emphasized. "I will be responsible for the boy while he is on board and will remain with him at all times. I will need a small cabin for him, and him alone, as I wish for him to remain isolated during the journey. He will not interfere with your operation under my protection."
"The cabin can be arranged," he readily agreed, not really caring. He poured himself a second drink, intent on the details.
"I want to be perfectly clear with you, Captain Donis. I and my men will do whatever is necessary to bring the boy safely to Rhodes." My voice was eerily calm as I looked him directly in the eye. "Do I make myself understood?"
Donis stared at me, challenging my authority before he finally backed down. "Yes, Hauptmann Dietrich. You have made yourself very clear."
"Good. Including myself, there will be a total of seven men plus light equipment and inflatable rafts. A few will remain on board the Athene during the mission in case she is challenged by an outsider." Both of us understood the real reason: The remaining men would prevent the Athene from leaving in case the situation became desperate.
I spread out the maps and charts across the small table.
"What is the travel time?" I asked.
Donis scratched his chin, thinking. "It will take about sixteen hours, depending on the tides. The forecast is for good weather the next week so there should be no problems."
"How close will you be able to anchor near the beach without drawing suspicion? I need to estimate the time to paddle from the boat to beach."
He continued rubbing his chin. "It should take you about fifteen minutes. I wouldn't dare move the Athene any closer to shore or it would raise suspicions."
I mentally calculated the time. "It is critical for us to be in position on the rocks at 16:00. We will allow eighteen hours for the journey, thirty minutes to arrive on the beach, thirty minutes to obtain him and thirty minutes to return. A total of nineteen and a half hours.
"We will depart tomorrow at 21:30, Captain Donis. The time includes an allowance for unforeseen delays.
I gathered up my documents and downed my remaining ouzo. "I and my men will return tomorrow at 21:00. Please have everything ready for the Athene to depart as we discussed."
We rose to leave when Donis called out.
"Hey, Luther!"
Donis reached into a drawer. He took out a package the size of a large bar of soap covered with brown paper and twine. Donis casually tossed the package to Luther who immediately pocketed it. At first I thought it was money, but the sizing was wrong. No, it was something else, probably part of what Donis smuggled.
"A small token of my gratitude for the referral."
"Of course." Luther responded with a broad grin. "Anytime. Always a pleasure doing business with you, Captain."
My mind was focused as we left the dock area. My plan was now in place. As much as I hated to admit it, I believed the Athene and Donis would work well. I would now review my plan with Hahn and brief my men on it.
There was one issue I needed to settle beforehand.
"Hauptmann Luther," I said formally. "I am the one assigned to lead this mission. Telling the captain the details of the mission before departing was a major breech confidentiality. Don't interfere again unless I request for your assistance."
Luther frowned at my chastising. "As you wish, Dietrich, but it doesn't really matter."
"Odd choice of words, Luther, for someone who has a vested interest in the mission's success."
"Someone with your background can't possibly believe von Graff's cockamamie plan will have any impact on the war. We both know the war is lost."
I stopped dead in my tracks. Luther was taking an extreme risk in confiding his true beliefs to me, an unfamiliar officer.
"Dietrich, even if you manage to return, do you honestly believe the Tommies will exchange Schilling for the boy? No. It is a feeble attempt by von Graff to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He's trying to justify his comfortable existence here on Rhodes and to allow himself more time to strip the area of whatever riches it has remaining."
Luther shook his head in disbelief. "What's so pathetic is how he whole-heartily believes in his foolish plan. I myself prefer to wait out the war in this paradise until the Allies finally get around to retaking Rhodes. Then with any luck, I'll be sent to a nice, quiet POW camp in Canada."
It suddenly occurred to me why Luther wasn't being sent in my place. He spoke Greek, was familiar with the area and had the required expertise. And then it dawned upon me: I and my men were being sent on a suicide mission. Von Graff did not want to risk losing Luther so he had requested a substitute to do the dirty deed instead.
"Tell me, Luther, why aren't you leading this mission? You have the qualifications." I couldn't stop myself from asking him.
He laughed and took out his cigarettes and lit one up, not bothering to offer me one.
"Because, Dietrich." He blew a plume a smoke at me while still laughing. "You are considered expendable to the Third Reich while I am not."
I immediately felt my pride and arrogance rise to the surface. While I agreed the mission was preposterous and that Germany would never receive Schilling as part of an exchange, I would do my utmost to ensure its success while still protecting the boy. There was nothing I enjoyed more than a challenge, an opportunity to demonstrate what I capable of accomplishing.
"Really?" I asked coolly, as I took out my own pack of cigarettes. I slowly shook one and took my time lighting it. "I promise you, Luther, I will successfully return with the boy within four days and with all of my men. What happens after our return is beyond my control. I will have completed my part successfully. You and von Graff can do what you want to justify your postings and obtaining your riches."
With that and a grin, I left.