Chapter 15
There had been no movement by the Germans all night, and neither was there as the morning wore on.
Tanner's mood was not good. Not good at all. Nor was it improved by Chevannes, who had joined him and Sykes at the lookout only to pace about, clicking his fingers and grimacing. Trying to ignore him, Tanner watched another German army truck trundle down the valley. An aeroplane droned above.
Chevannes lifted his binoculars and Sykes cried out, 'Sir, no! With respect, sir.'
Chevannes stared at him, then slowly lowered them.
'For God's sake,' muttered Tanner.
'The sun, sir,' added Sykes. 'It could reflect in the lens.'
'Yes, of course,' said Chevannes. 'You are quite right, Corporal.' He pursed his lips, then said, 'Perhaps we should go over the mountains.'
It was something Tanner had thought about as well. Yet behind them there was a range of snow-covered peaks, as much as six thousand feet high. From the map - and Anna had confirmed this - it appeared to be a snow- covered and largely barren wilderness, with no roads and a number of difficult mountain lakes they would be forced to navigate round. Perhaps they could cross them successfully and reach the valley beyond, but there was no knowing how long it might take. 'Sir, I think we should sit tight and hold our nerve,' Tanner said. 'Jerry hasn't taken Sulheim's truck. It's still there. If we trek across the mountains we'll lose more than another day.'
Chevannes was gazing out towards the farm, biting his lip. Then, without another word, he left them and returned to the
'A real decisive one there,' said Sykes, once the lieutenant was out of earshot.
'Oh, I don't know, Stan,' said Tanner. 'He was pretty decisive yesterday when he ordered us to stay here. His problem is that he digs his heels in when he shouldn't and not when he should. I've seen his type before. Bloody brilliant officers in peacetime. They can run further than anyone else, they're a damn good shot, they know all the drill, carry out exercises to the letter. They always look spick and span. But when the fighting starts, they're all over the place because the one thing they can't do is lead men in battle. Real fighting isn't like practise fighting. It doesn't follow the training manual. And golden boys, like Xavier bloody Chevannes, find out they're not quite so bloody marvellous as they thought.'
'And they don't like being shown up by NCOs, hey, Sarge?'
'Well, what I am supposed to do? Sit back and let him make disastrous decisions?'
'No, I didn't mean that, Sarge. But it's why he hates you. That's clear enough.'
'Yes,' said Tanner, spitting grit out of his mouth. 'Believe me, Stan, the feeling's mutual.'
The hours rolled by slowly. At around four, the German troops left the farm, yet there was no movement from the church.
'What are they playing at, Sarge?'
'I've been trying to work that one out all day.'
'I mean, we've seen patrols go up into the mountains but they've made no attempt to search the forest.'
'It's strange,' agreed Tanner. 'But I've been thinking about that. I suppose they must be trying to save casualties, but I also think they believe it'll be easier to take Sandvold alive in the open than in dense forest. They're waiting for us to come to them.'
'Yes,' said Sykes, nodding. 'You're right, Sarge.'
'They're assuming we're still somewhere in this valley,' Tanner went on. 'After all, we were seen by a number of Norwegians, and although they've had recce aircraft out in force, they haven't spotted any sign of us crossing the mountains. I suppose they think we'll have to show ourselves soon and are waiting to pounce on us when we do.'
'They've been a bit bloody obvious about it.'
'I suppose they think we won't have seen the men in the church. It's obvious they don't know where we are, just somewhere in the j0ra valley. But put yourselves in their shoes. With every hour that passes with no sign of us, doubt will be creeping into their minds. My hunch is they'll think we'll come down tonight when it's dark.'
'And if we don't?'
'Hopefully they'll give up and bugger off.'
'And if they don't?'
'Don't know, Stan. We think of something else.'
Shortly after six, three trucks of troops pulled into Uksum Farm. The men jumped out and made a show of searching the entire settlement at Alstad once more. A little under three hours later, they loaded up again and, with much revving of engines, drove away in the direction of Lillehammer.
Chevannes appeared at the lookout shortly after.
'So they are leaving,' he said, triumph on his face. 'We set off as soon as it is dark.'
'It's a trap, sir,' said Tanner. 'They've still got men in the church.'
Chevannes' expression changed. 'Are you sure, Sergeant?'
'Yes.' Tanner observed him. The only consolation, he thought, for the enforced frustrating delay was the obvious discomfort it was causing the Frenchman. 'As I said earlier, sir, we need to keep our nerve.'
Chevannes snorted, then sharply turned away.
Not long after, Anna joined them at the lookout. 'I've come in my role as chief medical officer,' she said.
'Is that what you are, Miss?' said Tanner, grinning.
'Yes, and I want to know whether either of you has had any sleep.' 'I have, Miss,' said Sykes. 'Took forty winks earlier this afternoon.'
'Sergeant?'
'Not today,' admitted Tanner.
'Then you must get some,' she told him. 'We need you fresh and alert.'
'Is that an order?'
'It is.' Anna smiled.
'And how about you, Miss?' asked Tanner. 'The lads are minding their manners, I hope?'
'They've been most courteous.'
'What - that lot?' said Sykes. 'I don't believe it.'
'Well,' she said, 'they swear often, but they always apologize afterwards.'
'It's because they're Yorkshiremen, Miss,' said Sykes. 'Me and the sarge are from the south, but those lads are northerners. They're born with filthy mouths. Can't help themselves.'
'I don't mind.' She laughed, then stood up to leave. 'Now remember, Sergeant,' she said, 'sleep. It's very important.'
She was right, Tanner realized, and once she had gone, he lay back, his pack as a pillow, and closed his eyes.
He was asleep in moments, despite the discomfort of his surroundings, and by dawn, he felt refreshed; despite hunger, his head was clear. He watched the sun rise over the mountains on the far side of the valley, casting a golden light over the snow and dazzling him.
It was a little after three when he suddenly saw troop movements at the farm. There were eight men, and soon after he heard the rumble of an engine starting up.
Immediately bringing the binoculars to his eyes, he peered at the farm and watched the troops disappear behind a shed. Soon after, a small truck he had not noticed the day before, emerged and turned right on to the road, heading south.
Tanner reported this to Chevannes. 'It could still be a trap, though, sir.'
'What about the soldiers in the church?'
'That might have been them. But I couldn't say for certain.'
Chevannes nodded. 'We'll wait here a while longer.'
At nearly half past four, Tanner spotted Sulheim emerge from the farmhouse. Constantly glancing around him, he hurried out of the yard, across the river and pastures towards the trees.
