Darkest Hour

these towns.' He pointed to the map. 'St Souplet, L'Arbre de Guise and Catillon. Enemy troops are still dug in around Mauberge, but you are to bypass them.'

Simon peered through his wire-framed round glasses at the map, then busily made notes.

'And the reconnaissance battalion?' asked Timpke.

'Also avoid Mauberge,' said Geisler, 'but probe north between Cambrai and Valenciennes and be on hand should the Standartenfiihrer need you.'

Timpke nodded. 'So I'll spread out my companies.'

'Exactly,' said Geisler. 'Have a look around - get the lie of the land. See which bridges are still available, and what damage has been done. We need to know the best routes to the front. The boss wants us to move very quickly the moment we're ordered to do so.' He pulled out his pocket watch. 'It's not quite a hundred kilometres from here to Cambrai, so it would be best to move straight away. Get near to the front tonight, and the boss wants you to use your time well from the moment it's light enough tomorrow morning. Clear?'

'Perfectly, Herr Obersturmbannfuhrer.'

Within half an hour, the Totenkopf's reconnaissance battalion was on the move, heading west in company formation, motorcycles and armoured scout cars leading, followed by motorized infantry, half-tracks towing their 37mm and 50mm anti-tank guns, and the Skoda tanks of the panzer squadrons.

It was with the 1st Company that Timpke now travelled in his staff car, following in the wake of the motorcycles as they sped north-west along the French- Belgian border, the roads, for once, blissfully free of refugees. He drummed his hand against his leg, bit at a nail, then glanced back at the column of armoured cars and trucks behind, swirling clouds of dust following in their wake. I'm leading them into combat, he thought, with satisfaction. At that moment, he felt invincible.

A young couple lived at the farm with their three small children and the farmer's mother. Although they were quick to sell the Rangers some food - cheese, bread and even two pigs - it was clear that the farmer and his wife were terrified, and within an hour of the Tommies' arrival they were gathering their family and a couple of suitcases into their truck.

Seeing this, Lieutenant Peploe went over to them. The farmer, with an agitated expression, casting anxious glances at the men now crowding the yard, spoke animatedly, then put the vehicle into gear and drove out through the archway.

'Scared, is he?' said Tanner, as he joined Peploe. Above, clouds were building and a cool breeze now blew across the yard.

'They saw the Germans earlier too,' Peploe told him, 'and they've heard the sound of battle for the past two days. They're going to keep out of the way until the storm passes. He said he didn't want any Germans finding out he'd helped the British.'

'Confident, the Belgians, aren't they?'

'I did tell him we weren't going to stay, but he wasn't having any of it.'

Tanner's idea to lie low in the wood - suggested to the OC by Lieutenant Peploe - had been agreed by Captain Barclay, and the company now headed back down the road, leaving Tanner and Private Smailes in the tower to keep watch for any movement to the south.

They were relieved an hour later and, on reaching the wood, Tanner was pleased to see that sentries had been placed around the encampment and that their arrival was challenged. He gave the password, then heard his name called. He turned to see Slater, the company quartermaster sergeant, push through the bracken towards him. 'Tanner,' he said again, in a low, gravelly voice.

'What is it?'

'The CSM wants to see you.'

What about? 'Tell him I'll come and find him as soon as I've reported to Mr Peploe.'

'He said you were to come now.'

Tanner looked at the two young sentries, then at Smailes. 'All right,' he said. 'Smiler, tell Mr Peploe I'm with the CSM and I'll be back soon.' He was sure Blackstone wouldn't try anything now - not with so many witnesses to his whereabouts - but as he followed Slater, he unslung his rifle from his shoulder and carried it in his hand.

They found Blackstone sitting beneath an oak tree some way from the rest of the company. 'Ah, Jack,' he said, making no effort to get up.

'What do you want?' snapped Tanner. 'Make it quick, whatever it is.'

Blackstone smiled. 'Jack, don't be like that, please. I want us to make up. I've been too quick to antagonize you, I realize that, and I'm sorry.'

'For God's sake,' said Tanner, 'what do you want, Blackstone?'

'I want us to get along, Jack. I tried to put the past behind us when you first arrived in Manston but you wouldn't take the olive branch.'

'And why should I now, after all you've done?'

'What have I done, Jack?'

'You know damn well.'

Blackstone shook his head. 'All right, so maybe I've been a bit sharp towards you in front of the boss, but I can't have you undermining my authority, can I?'

'So who locked me in the storeroom?' He glared at Slater. 'And who took a shot at me on the bridge yesterday?'

Blackstone looked incredulous. 'You think I tried to kill you?' He laughed as Slater shook his head with equal disbelief. 'You're joking?'