Time War: Onslaught Page 17

  “No, but we aren’t in the British Army, nor the American, or any other that you know.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Okay…I want you, no, expect you, to go into combat with us and trust us. I am going to tell you a secret only a handful know, and even less believe.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because secrets can destroy any of us. We need to trust in those around us, at least as much as any of us can.”

  “But you don’t even know me?”

  Corwin smiled.

  “No, and yet here we are, having already put our lives in each other’s hands.”

  “Okay, and what is this great secret? I don’t see it.”

  “Look at us, don’t things seem off to you?”

  “Well, yes, women on the front-line, advanced armour, and the way you speak, but I just figured you were foreign and so different.”

  “All that racing, and you didn’t get out of your country?”

  He shook his head. “I have seen some of the things you can do. Whatever you are, it’s beyond normal human ability. I get that. I just didn’t want to ask.”

  Corwin chuckled.

  “If I told you we had come from the future, and this war wasn’t ours at all, would you believe me?”

  Badcock shrugged. “I suppose so.”

  Corwin didn’t believe him.

  “Why?” he asked as he laughed.

  “Because why would you lie to me? I can’t prove you wrong or report you to anyone.”

  “People have all kinds of reasons to lie.”

  “Yes, but not like this. What you are telling me seems impossible, and yet I have dedicated my life to achieving the impossible. I once broke limits on a bike that everyone said couldn’t be done. Just a shame I couldn’t prove it.”

  Corwin felt that to some degree he understood their trouble in this world. He had always come across as a man who didn’t fit in, and in some ways he seemed more at home with Corwin's team than with his own people.

  “Time travellers? Can you let me in on the secret?”

  “You don’t really believe it, do you?” Corwin asked.

  “No, I believe it's possible, and it is the most reasonable explanation I have heard yet for what a bunch of crazy people you really are.”

  "You know when we got here we all agreed to not meddle, and to not let anyone in on the real story, and yet here we are. So, yeah, shoot."

  "Who wins this war?"

  Corwin took in a deep breath, working out what to say.

  "My history isn't as good as Beyett's, but then he’s not here to tell you."

  "But who won, and how?"

  "The Allies did. By this time, the Russians should have turned the Germans back, and a massive invasion force being prepared for an advance across into France. That story I do know. It is remembered as one of the greatest offensives in our history."

  "Attack into France? How, we are barely holding onto what we have, despite what the papers would have us believe. It's why we are here, isn't it? Because things are that desperate."

  Corwin nodded.

  "It wasn't supposed to go down this way."

  "What changed?"

  "We aren't the only ones who came back in time."

  "So whoever came back and helped the Nazis has almost won the war for them, can you not do the same for the Allies?"

  "I am trying," he replied wearily.

  "If you really can get to Hitler and kill him, do you think the war will end?" Badcock asked hopefully.

  But Corwin shook his head.

  "No, but it could shake things up enough to make a difference."

  "I am sorry I froze up that time when we first met. I am not cut out for war. I shouldn't even be here."

  "Neither should we."

  He rested a hand on Badcock’s shoulder.

  "When the time came, you did just fine."

  "I hope you find that Nazi arsehole, and I hope you blow his head off."

  * * *

  Corwin snapped awake. It was still dark, and he’d had barely had two hours of sleep. He was wide-awake now and picturing the last time he saw Lecia with his own eyes. He couldn't sleep any longer, so he got up and stepped out of the shelter. He could hear some loud snoring. Rane was out for count on the ground outside another shelter.

  "Makes you wish we could all sleep so easy, doesn't it?"

  Nylund was standing a few metres off to his one side. He carried on and sat down on the hood of one of the jeeps, but Nylund followed on after him.

  "I know you don't like what I am doing here, but I am in command, and that calls for tough decisions to be made. Believe me when I say I don't like it any more than you do."

  "Look at us, weaker than ever. We are strong together."

  "I agree, and we will get the team back together, you have my word, but not until this job is through. It's too important."

  "And if they can't last that long? What if they get taken back to Germany far from where we can reach them?"

  "I would reach them if it meant fighting to the far side of the world. Nowhere is beyond our reach."

  "Back in our old lives that was true. But look at this. We scramble about in the dirt, barely able to travel a few klicks and having to move in fear all the time. This isn't us. We weren't made for footslogging.

  "Something has to change, I get that. And we will make it happen."

  "Good, because if it doesn't, you won't be in command for much longer."

  He turned and left before Corwin could get a look at his face and understand quite how he meant it. It sounded like both a threat and statement of fact all at once. Corwin thought to call him out on it, but he knew it was true. He was losing control of the situation. The time couldn't pass quick enough. They needed to have something to occupy their bodies, or their minds would continue to run wild with crazy thoughts.

  He slid off the vehicle and yelled out, "Everyone up! Get up now!"

  He slammed his fist down on the hood of the jeep several times as if he were beating a drum to call them to service. Porter and Harland rushed out with weapons in hand, as if expecting to have to defend themselves, but the rest slowly ambled out. Finally, they circled him. None of Celine's people had even bothered to get up.

  "Enough is enough! We aren't waiting any longer. We’re not playing their games or beating to the sound of their drum. It's time to do what we do best. Travers stumbled out, with Celine trying to help him and usher him back to bed, but he pushed her away.

  "I'm ready," he stated.

  He certainly wasn't to be argued with, and Corwin was glad to have as much support as they could get.

  "Load up. We go in five!"

  He looked around to see Badcock was already at the wheel. They hit the road even quicker than he had asked, for they had nothing to load except themselves. Rane pushed Travers’ wrecked vehicle out of the road before leaping in on the six-wheeler. Celine appeared at Corwin's side as the engine fired up.

  "Will we ever see you again?" she asked.

  "Why? Because you want us to do more of your dirty work?"

  "You have to understand. We are desperate. We risk everything every day. I am sorry about your people, but it was the enemy that did that, not us."

  It was hard to be angry with her, for she looked so desperate.

  "So, will we see you again?" she asked as she laid a hand over his.

  It was an overly friendly gesture, and he knew Lecia would have had her hand off for even thinking about it, but still it felt good. At a time when he seemed to be losing everything, the warmth of her hand was enough to settle his thoughts.

  "This isn't a one-way mission, and I have never not come back from a mission yet. You keep you and your people alive, and you'll see me again."

  She reached into the jeep and kissed him on the cheek.

  "Thank you, Corwin, for everything."

  He didn't say another word and just pointed to Badcock to take them forward. The engine rum
bled, and they lurched ahead. He didn't look back. He was already starting to feel a bond with her and sympathy for her people, and yet he didn't believe they would see one another again.

  "Do you think they can really make it out here all alone?" Badcock asked.

  "No," Corwin answered sternly.

  "They made it this far, it's a bloody miracle. I'd have left the country by now if I were them."

  "And go where? Sometimes what you have is worth fighting for, no matter the price, because it is yours."

  He then noticed that Nylund was in the back.

  "We're going to have to hit this place hard and fast," he stated.

  Corwin saw he was trying to take Beyett's place, but it wasn't convincing.

  "I wasn't planning to knock on the door and say hi," replied Corwin sarcastically.

  "So once again we are going into an operation without intelligence, plans, nothing."

  "Yep, that’s about it."

  "Has the whole world gone to shit? We just stagger from one disaster to another."

  Corwin finally turned around and looked at him eye to eye.

  "You got some better plan? Some amazing plan of how we can turn the tide?"

  He shrugged.

  "No, you haven't, so shut the fuck up!"

  Nylund looked away in shame and remained silent. They carried on through the night at not much more than a walking pace, as they traversed dirt tracks, farms, and woods, anything to stay out of sight. Finally, as the sun began to rise, a fog filled the valley. Corwin couldn't believe their luck.

  "Get us out on the roads. It’s time we cover some distance."

  They tore up a farm track and raced out onto a country lane. The engine roared when Badcock opened up at speeds no one would consider sensible, and yet nobody questioned it. They rode on through much of the day. In the middle of the afternoon they came over a hill to find the fog dispersing. Badcock brought them to a halt in order to see the view ahead.

  "What the hell is that?" Nylund asked.

  The fog was separating around an object on a mountaintop in the distance. As it began to clear, they heard the sound of a rotary engine in the sky above them. They looked up at a rough outline of a helicopter flying overhead. It was coming from the same direction that they had.

  The view cleared ahead. A lavish castle like structure was built into the mountainside close to the summit. The helicopter soared ahead and then lifted its nose and went in for an almost vertical landing.

  "What on earth is that?" Badcock asked in amazement.

  "The future," replied Corwin.

  "Haven't you seen a chopper before?" Nylund asked him.

  "No, why haven't we got one? Is that what you used in the future?"

  Corwin laughed.

  "Something like that," he replied and looked down at his map. It still had Celine's bloody fingerprint on the target. Right where the fortress was."

  "Yep, she was right."

  "That is where we are going? You can’t be serious," Badcock said.

  It was still snow-capped, and much of it looked like vertical rock and sheer drops.

  "We can't get up there."

  "Not on wheels, no."

  "Well, what else are we going to do?"

  Corwin looked down at the map. He could see it wasn't quite as steep the other side, but not by much.

  "Can you get us around here?" he asked, pointing to the other side of the mountain.

  "Well, yeah, I should think so, but it won't help. We can't get these vehicles up on that thing."

  "You just get us around, and let us worry about that."

  "I sure hope you know what you are doing," Nylund said.

  It was several hours more driving to circle wide around the mountains, and light fog continued through the day that sheltered them well. They arrived at a canyon that had thirty-metre walls either side, and soon came to a halt as they reached a dead end.

  "I told you, this won't help," said Badcock.

  But Corwin ignored him as the other vehicles pulled up around them. He climbed onto the bonnet so he could be seen and heard by all as they shut their engines off.

  "Hitler, the big bad guy, he's up there!" he said, pointing up the cliff face, "We have no way to fly, and no vehicle that will take us up there. All we have is us, our bodies. I am going up there because I want that bastard to know he is not unreachable, not at any height. Who's with me?"

  Chas jumped out of a jeep and rushed to his side. Porter looked up at the face and sighed like an old man.

  "Come on, you are going to miss a fight because you are too lazy to put a little effort in. Are you the badass you always said you were or an old woman?" Corwin asked.

  It was enough to bait him in.

  "Whatever, I'll go," he grunted.

  "Where the enemy is, I go," added Harland.

  Rane jumped out and looked up at the peak with a smile as if he welcomed the challenge.

  "When do we start?"

  "Hey, I am not going up there. Are you crazy?"

  "No, and I don't expect you to, Badcock. You, Travers, and his people will stay with the vehicles. You are how we are going to get out of here."

  Travers looked just as relieved as Badcock was. Corwin looked back at his map and pointed to an opening in a nearby forest.

  "You head here after we have gone, and stay there."

  "For how long?" Badcock asked.

  "You give us until morning."

  The light was already fading, and Badcock looked doubtful it could be done, and yet he nodded in agreement as Corwin went on.

  "If we aren't back, you go, and if you encounter any kind of trouble, you get the hell out. We can handle ourselves. You all know how to get out of this country. Remember, if you get captured, you may well be shot on sight, so don't get captured."

  Travers got out and staggered over to him. He drew out the pistol on his belt and handed it to Corwin with two magazines.

  "You'll need this more than I do."

  Corwin took it and said his thanks. It was the same issue Colt he had lost. He dropped it into his holster and turned back to the others before taking one last look at the task before them.

  "Going to be a long climb so drop anything you can."

  He pulled off his body armour and webbing carrying the pouches of Bren ammunition for the gun that was long gone, and took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. They had all stripped down to nothing but sidearms, all but Rane. He had slung his Vickers' machine gun onto his back and still carried his Bergen full of ammo.

  "You're not serious."

  "Where I go, she goes."

  It was clear he was attached to the gun, and Corwin wasn't going to argue.

  "All right, whatever else we need we will find as we go. Any C4 you have, pack it, and let's move!"

  CHAPTER 11

  Corwin let out a breath into the cold air. He could feel the sweat freezing on his forehead, and his muscles begin to cramp. He pushed up to the next point and barely made what he expected to, and held on with one hand. He looked down to the vast drop below. They were almost there now, but climbing without any equipment and in increasing colder temperatures. Nobody said a word as they focused on not falling to their deaths. Frasi was the only one ahead of them. He climbed as if it was as natural as walking.

  The sound of rocks coming loose caused Corwin to look down and see Nylund lose his grip and fall. He reached for him, but he was not quick enough. He fell a few metres until Rane caught him firmly. He swung out like a pendulum that pulled Rane out from the side of the mountain. He strained with everything he had to hold on. Somehow he managed it, and as Nylund swung back, he launched him upwards with a mighty throw. Nylund flew above Corwin and over the ledge, crashing down on the top. Corwin rushed up the last metre to find Nylund lying flat in shock.

  “You’re a lucky son of a bitch,” he said.

  But Nylund was still too terrified to answer. He looked truly humbled as the last of them got up over the crest. Frasi wa
s sitting on the edge on the far side. Corwin strode over and hesitated for a moment when he noticed what a sheer drop it was. A little to the left was the balconies of the fortress and the helicopter.

  “Doesn’t look like much,” said Rane.

  “If Celine was right, then it is not what’s on the outside that matters.”

  “But why build it here?” Nylund asked.

  “Impassable terrain that is unreachable by anything but a few specialist aircraft. Untouchable by air because it is built into solid rock?”

  “Maybe they just liked the view,” Chas added.

  The first morning light was already rising in the sky, and the fog had mostly cleared.

  She’s right. It is beautiful.

  But the rise of the sun and a new day caused Corwin to look down at his watch.

  “We don’t have long. He isn’t going to be here much longer, according to what we know.”

  “And our sources are always so fucking accurate.”

  Corwin ignored Harland and walked on along the peak until they were in line with the top of the landing pad.

  “Ropes would sure be nice right now,” said Nylund.

  It was a thirty-metre drop, a little more than even their superhuman bodies could endure, but Corwin jumped off the side and bounced from rock face to rock face. He slid down lose shale until finally he rolled onto the landing pad and looked back at them to do the same.

  “Smooth,” replied Chas. She and Frasi did the same but with rather more finesse and agility.

  Corwin looked around for some sign of life, but there was nothing, not even a pilot for the bizarre looking transport craft.

  “This must be the big boss’ ride.”

  “I guess so, Nylund,” replied Corwin.

  There seemed to be only one way into the building through a huge blast door. It appeared to have no visible locks, entry points, or anything at all for that matter. But as they approached, the bulky door began to open. Corwin leapt to one side out of line of sight, and the others quickly followed. They could hear two men talking in German, and as the door opened fully, they stepped out onto the landing pad. Both wore Luftwaffe uniforms and appeared to carry no weapons.

  Corwin pointed for Frasi and Chas to go forward, and they did so silently. Corwin drew out his DTM and shuffled along a little further to the door so that he was ready to take the leap. Just as the other two were about to reach their targets, he heard a panicked cry come from inside the doors to warn the two men. Chas and Frasi were close enough that they took the leap. Frasi leapt onto one of their backs and slit his throat, while Chas summersaulted forward and landed with her legs locked around the other’s neck, snapping it with ease. Corwin jumped into the opening. Another Luftwaffe uniformed man was scrambling to get his leather holster open but stumbled on the catch. He did not hesitate to fire two shots into him.