Darkest Hour

have barely got over the bridge by the time we're finished. I'm presuming you'll be turning left down the road that runs alongside the river?'

'I'll make sure we do. In which case, all right, Sergeant. Go now.'

'You sure, sir?'

'Not a hundred per cent, no.' He held out his hand and Tanner took it. 'Good luck. Hopefully, I'll see you in a short while. Otherwise your absence will take some explaining.' He headed back to the rest of the platoon, waiting patiently for him in a nearby clearing.

Tanner clapped Sykes on the back. 'Right, Stan, get your section together and we'll be off.'

Sykes switched on his filtered torch, called over his men and brought them into a semi-circle. Tanner looked into their ghostly faces: McAllister, Hepworth, Bell and Kershaw - good men, who had all served with him and Sykes in Norway - and the new lads: Ellis, Chambers, Verity, Rhodes and Denning.

'What's this, Sarge?' said McAllister. 'Why aren't we going with the others?'

'We're going to get some transport,' said Tanner. He saw Hepworth's face fall. 'Don't worry, Hep, this'll be a cinch and it'll make our lives a lot easier. Not only that, it means our chances of getting out of this fix will be much higher too. So cheer up.'

'No more walking, then?' said Hepworth.

'No, all things being well.'

'In that case, Sarge . . .'

'Hold on, Hep,' said McAllister, 'we've still got to get it. This is about those Jerries Tinker and the Corp saw, isn't it, Sarge?'

'Yes,' said Tanner. 'A Jerry unit's moved into the village and, more specifically, into the farm. Now there are four vehicles parked up on the side of the road outside. Three look like those Opels we nabbed in Norway. The other's a bit different but it can't be that hard to start. We don't even need to go into the farm itself. We'll head across the fields, then into the orchard and come out at the road by the wall of the farm. I'll creep out and check the coast's clear. Then, Mac, you run forward with Ellis and set up the Bren on the other side of the road facing the archway into the yard. Stan, what have you still got in your bag of tricks? I'm wondering whether we can knock down that archway and block those other Jerry vehicles inside.'

'Not sure, Sarge. Might be tricky to get it in the right place. Could probably manage a trip-wire of some kind. Why don't we just throw some grenades at the vehicles?'

'Possibly. We'll see when we get there.'

'And what if there are guards or troops in the trucks?'

'If there are guards, we'll kill them silently. If there are troops, we'll just have to spray them with the Bren - Mac, make sure you don't fire near the engines. We need the trucks to work, all right?'

McAllister nodded.

'Right,' Tanner continued. 'Who remembers how to drive those Opels?'

'Think so, Sarge,' said Bell.

'I can,' added Kershaw.

'Good,' said Tanner. 'Kay - you take the last truck. Dusty - you go with him and give him cover.' Kershaw and Rhodes nodded. 'I'll take the smaller one with you, Hep. Stan, you're in the one next to the arch with Verity and, 'Tinker, you grab the first with Denning - all right, Dasher?'

'Yes, Sarge,' said Denning.

'Punter,' Tanner continued, turning to Chambers, 'you cover the corp. You'll all need a reamer.' He delved into his haversack and pulled out a set of five, standard issue with a Bren, but which Tanner kept for use on his rifle and as a spare should it be needed. The largest was too big, he remembered, but the rest were fine. He took four from the ring that held them together and handed them out.

'All right, listen. It's going to be dark and speed'll be everything. Remember, you'll be driving on the right, not the left. On the dashboard beside the steering-wheel is the ignition - there's a small metal plate underneath it. If there's no key, put the reamer into the ignition, then bend it upwards slightly to hold it in place. When you do this a red light should come on in the centre of the ignition button. Push the button to start the engine. Left foot clutch, top left for first on the gearstick. Handbrake is an ordinary ratchet lever to the right of the gearstick. Got that?'

The men nodded.

'Good, then let's go. There's a half-moon, but keep close.'

As they reached the orchard, Tanner raised his hand for them to halt. He was relieved to see them all safely there. 'Follow me to the wall,' he whispered. Half crouching, they made their way through the apple trees, then along the wall, Tanner wincing at every chink and audible footfall. At the road, he raised his hand again and stopped. At least the breeze had strengthened, dampening the noise and carrying any sound north-easterly away from the farm. Above, the moon shone palely through the cloud.

'Everyone ready?'

The men nodded silently.

'Good. Stan, cover me, will you?' He drew out his sword bayonet and, keeping to the softer grassy verge between the farm wall and the road, stepped forward towards the first truck. Reaching it, he glanced around and then peered into the cab, breathing a small sigh of relief that it was, as he had thought, an Opel. Slowly, he moved to the end of the truck and, seeing the tailgate was down, peered in. Empty. Good.

Suddenly he heard a cough just ahead and someone spoke. He squatted behind the front wing of the next truck. Two men were talking by the archway. Guards. He heard the strike of a match, then another and another. Struggling to light a beadie in this breeze. Pausing, he wondered what to do. One of the men laughed - lit at last! They spoke some more, then stepped out onto the road. Tanner dropped to his knees and bent his head to look under the truck. Yes, a guard was