case, we may receive another signal.'
They did, just after ten o'clock that morning. 'Still above Vagamo. Crossing tonight at midnight 6 kms west of town after fork in road'.' Scheldt's spirits rose, and he was invigorated by the activity at Engelbrecht's headquarters. Outside, soldiers arrived in trucks, awaiting the order to pull out. Just before midday, a Luftwaffe despatch rider hurried into the building and deposited the morning's reconnaissance photographs. Poring over them in the briefing room with von Poncets and Engelbrecht's divisional staff, Scheidt had shared the mounting excitement when the pictures showed, as von Poncets had suggested they would, that the proposed approach for the ambush was indeed densely forested.
A brief conference followed, attended by company and platoon commanders of both von Poncets' battalion but also from the 324th Infantry who had been called back to Vinstra for the briefing. The mood in the room was buoyant, a haze of cigarette smoke rising to the rafters, the officers laughing and joking. And why wouldn't they be? thought Scheidt. Flush with victory, ahead lay another operation that would end successfully. Through the windows, the sun continued to shine. The greatcoats and jackets had gone; summer was on its way. This time, thought Scheidt. It had to be.
When the general arrived, the assembled officers stood up, scraping chairs across the wooden floor. He strode in, movements crisp, back erect, then casually waved at them to sit down, as though this was not a time to stand on ceremony. Then he, too, was seated, his head smooth and gleaming, the red and gold tabs of his general's collar and thick red stripe down either side of his breeches standing out vividly in the room of field grey. Scheidt was struck by his effortless air of authority.
Von Poncets stood to explain his plan, first pointing out key features each officer should memorize. They would be leaving directly after the briefing and would disembark from their trucks three kilometres south of the junction. They would then make their way to lying- up positions. Scouts would be sent forward to reconnoitre their ambush positions, and to mark where they would place spotlights. The men would move into these positions at 2300 hours.
Hauptmann Dostler of the 324th Infantry stood up. One platoon was to drive along the opposite bank of the lake. A potential problem was that the area to the west of Vagamo was well cultivated and the road could easily be seen from the mountains opposite. They were thus to drive beyond the crossing-point, after which the road was hidden by forest. They would then leave the trucks and head back through the trees, close to the crossing-point where they would set up another spotlight. The remaining three platoons would remain in Vagamo to give the impression that the town was still heavily occupied.
At this point, Scheidt raised his hand. 'Surely, Herr Hauptmann,' he said, 'the town will be heavily occupied if there are three whole platoons there?'
'Not particularly,' said Dostler. 'We've been fighting up through the Gudbrandsdalen and all our units are now under strength. There will be about sixty men.'
The general cut in. 'Which is more than enough, Herr Reichsamtsleiter. Don't forget there will be vehicles, artillery pieces and other equipment in the town as well. Let's get on with the briefing.'
Chastened, Scheidt said no more, and after Kurz and Zellner had briefed the room about Odin and the accompanying fugitives, Engelbrecht stood up and addressed them. 'I can't stress enough, gentlemen,' he said, 'how important it is to capture Odin alive. The fear, of course, is that they will shoot him before you can get to him, which is why it is essential that none of you makes a move until they are almost in the boats. They will have travelled through the darkness and their eyes will be used to it. That, gentlemen, is where the lights come in. Caught in the beams, these fugitives will be momentarily blinded. That is the time to strike. The men must be killed and Odin left standing. Major von Poncets will brief you further, but remember: do not give away your positions until after the signal.' He eyed the officers in turn. 'Understand? Good.' He clapped his hands together. 'Right, gentlemen, off you go. And good luck.'
More scraping of chairs, and the men were on their way out. Scheidt followed them, watching them get into the trucks and other vehicles waiting in the streets outside. The sun still bore down between large white summery clouds; the snow had now gone from the valley. Scheidt put his hand on the balustrade outside the house and found it warm. A bark of orders, and engines rumbled into life.
Kurz paused beside him and offered a hand, which Scheidt took.
'Exciting, isn't it?' He grinned. 'If only we'd had this kind of intelligence and preparation five days ago.'
Scheidt smiled thinly.
'See you later,' added Kurz. 'With Odin, of course.' He waved, then trotted down the steps and along the road to von Poncets' waiting Kiibelwagen.
Scheidt took out a cigarette. Exciting? He supposed so, although he did not share Kurz's obvious relish; he would save that until Odin was sitting before him. He struck a match, brought the cigarette to his lips and realized his hands were shaking. 'It's out of my control now,' he muttered, then sighed. Ahead lay long hours of waiting.
Sergeant Tanner was no less apprehensive as he watched the hours tick by. He had left Sykes alone on a ridge overlooking the road from the south with instructions to return only if he spotted any German troops, and had then waited on the lower slopes observing the town before he returned to the seter around seven that morning.
Chevannes had accepted his story without question. Even when he explained that he had left Sykes on guard above the bridge, the lieutenant had merely nodded. 'Did you have a chance to see whether there were enough oars this time?' he had asked.
'Yes, sir - there are.'
'Good.' Chevannes had ordered him to organize lookouts on the knoll and dismissed him.
Tanner had spent most of the morning there himself, and was still there, keeping watch with Lieutenant Larsen, when at around three a staff car arrived from the direction of Otta. He followed it as it drove to the centre of the town and stopped opposite the church. Four men got out. There was no further movement of vehicles until after four when two trucks headed west along the far shore of the lake. A couple of miles later, they disappeared. Tanner was puzzled, yet relieved to see troop movement at last from the town. He counted the remaining vehicles: five troop-carrying trucks, five medium guns, two further lorries and two staff cars.
Shortly after, Hepworth arrived with Anna in tow. Tanner was glad to see her. It was now nearly half past four and he wished Sykes would reappear. The distraction would be good.
'Have you come to relieve me, Hepworth?' asked Larsen.
'Yes, sir,' said Hepworth.
'Cleaned your rifle, Hep?' asked Tanner, then grinned at Anna.
'Yes, Sarge.'
'Checked your kit?'
'Yes, Sarge.'
'Here,' said Larsen, handing Hepworth his binoculars. 'Look after them.' He got up, patted his sides, then picked up his rucksack and said, 'Let's hope the town stays as quiet as this, Sergeant.'
'Here's hoping, sir,' Tanner replied, then turned back to Hepworth. 'Get the far side of the knoll, Hep,' he said. 'Make sure you've cover behind you, that you're clear of direct sunlight, then try to work out where those troops are.'
With Hepworth gone he and Anna were alone. 'Everything all right at the seter?’ he asked.
'The resting has done the professor good.'
'Is he up and about?'
'He's shaved off his beard in the stream.'
'He's not going to need the stretcher then?'
'No. And he's been eating too.'
