The Odin Mission

'Enough. We've got a two-inch mortar, one Lewis gun and two Brens, plus an assortment of rifles and a fair amount of ammo for those. There is an ammunition train as well in the tunnel, though, so you can get some more if you need it.'

At this news Tanner's spirits rose. He thought quickly. 'With your permission, sir, I'd like to take one of the trucks to the tunnel, leave Lieutenant Nielssen and the professor, then load up with a few supplies.'

'Good idea,' said the captain. 'I'll get a couple of my men to help you.'

The tunnel had been blasted through the steep valley side. It was dark and narrow, the air close; there was a strong musty smell of urine and soot. Although most of the waiting troops were already on the train, a number were milling about at the tunnel's entrance. They were clearly exhausted, faces and uniforms filthy. Tanner asked a Green Howards corporal if there was an RAP.

'Aye,' he replied, pointing into the tunnel. 'On the train in the tunnel. Just follow the screams.'

They found the RAP and woke a medical orderly who was asleep on the carriage steps. 'All right,' said the medic, yawning, 'bring him in.' Tanner and Derigaux hoisted Chevannes aboard. The stench of medicines and putrid flesh was overwhelming.

'What are you bringing me?' said a doctor, his overalls covered with blood.

'A smashed cheek,' said Tanner.

'All right, put him there,' said the doctor, pointing to a space in the corridor.

At long last, thought Tanner, as he helped lay down the lieutenant.

The dank and fetid air of the tunnel was a relief after the RAP carriage. They pushed on alongside the dimly lit train until they found the adjutant of the Green Howards. After a brief explanation, the Norwegians' names had been added to his list.

'You take the train when it leaves,' Tanner told them.

'Thank you, Sergeant,' said Nielssen, 'for everything.'

'What about you?' asked Anna.

'We're going to help the Marines,' he replied. 'We've got to make sure that that train can get you to the port.'

'But you'll be able to escape in time?'

'I hope so, yes. We'll find you at Andalsnes.'

She looked up at him, biting her lip. 'Good luck, Jack.' She kissed him, then stepped up on to the train.

He walked back slowly towards the others.

'Cheer up, Sarge,' said Sykes. 'At least you've still got us.'

'Yes, give us a kiss, Sarge,' said McAllister.

'I'll give you a bloody sore gob, if you're not careful, Mac.'

The ammunition train was further towards the tunnel entrance, and although the quartermaster in charge seemed reluctant to let them on board, when Tanner produced Lieutenant Lindsay's note of authorization, he relented. Twenty minutes later, they were back at the waiting truck, clutching a wooden crate of gelignite, another of grenades, four tins of safety fuse and another of detonators. Their pouches were stuffed with clips of .303 rounds.

'You took your bloody time,' muttered the Marines' driver. 'Come on, load up and let's get the hell out of here.'

In the back of the truck, Sykes said, 'He's a bit jumpy, isn't he?' No sooner had he said that than half a dozen Stukas appeared over the valley and dived down behind them, sirens screaming.

'That's why, Stan,' said Tanner. 'Bastards are trying to block the tunnel. Better pray they don't succeed.'

'Better pray Jerry doesn't catch up with us on the ground neither,' said McAllister.

Sykes grinned. 'If he does he'll have a hell of a headache after getting through this lot.' He delved into his bag. 'Anyway, I've got something for you.' He produced a dozen packets of cigarettes.

'Stan, you genius, where did you get those?' asked Tanner.

'Saw a box of 'em on the ammo train and half-inched a load.'

The packets were torn open, matches lit and the truck filled with tobacco smoke. Tanner leant back and exhaled. 'I've missed this,' he said, then winked at Sykes. 'I'm ready for action again now.'

At the Marines' position they unloaded and reported to Lieutenant Lindsay.

'A successful trip, Sergeant?'

'Very, sir, thank you,' Tanner replied.

'Now, what had you in mind? The Luftwaffe have had another crack at that tunnel, I see. Mercifully, it's been quiet enough here, but how long that will last, God only knows.'

'We need to get a move on, sir, that's for sure. Perhaps you could show me round.'

'Of course, Sergeant. Follow me.'

It was, Tanner recognized, a naturally strong position. The sides of the valley were steep and rose sharply from the river's edge on both sides. Just behind them, a smaller river cascaded down the mountain sides to join the Lagen, while the valley road and the railway line, the latter lying above the former, had been cut away from the mountain. To the north of the railway, thick forest covered the slopes. For an attacking force, there was only one way any vehicle could pass and that was by either road or rail. Otherwise, the position could be turned only by infantry.

Tanner was reluctant to be too critical of the captain's dispositions. He could see the northern side of the valley and the Lagen, which ran wide and fast, full of melted snow. The mortar team and heavy and light machine-gun crews were dug in behind hastily built sangars, while the rest of the men had made good use of what cover there was.

The tour over, Tanner gathered his men. 'What are your thoughts, Stan?'

'Well, Sarge,' said Sykes, 'we should blow the road in a couple of places, then set up a few booby traps - wires between trees, that sort of thing. As soon as they come we want a fairly clear field of fire, but also to leave ourselves enough time to scarper if it comes to it.'

'So, how far down the track?'

Sykes shrugged. 'Six hundred yards?'

Tanner agreed. 'That should do it. Iggery, lads. Let's be quick about it.'

********

In Vinstra, Reichsamtsleiter Scheidt was having one of the worst days of his life. Woken for the second morning running in the early hours, he had received the shattering news that Odin had eluded them again. Only as the morning progressed did the extent of their failure become apparent. First, Henrik Larsen's body had been found, then reports had arrived from General Geisler's Luftwaffe headquarters that two German Opel trucks had been spotted and strafed heading northwards. Either Odin was already dead, or he had surely made it to Allied lines.

Having badgered Engelbrecht's staff all morning, he was finally granted an interview shortly after noon.

'General, about time, I—'

The general put up a hand to silence him. 'A moment, Herr Reichsamtsleiter,' he said, put a lit cigar into his mouth, stood up, walked round his desk, and led Scheidt into the briefing room.

At the map on the wall he paused, took a puff of his cigar, then pointed to the map. 'Herr Reichsamtsleiter,' he said coolly, 'this is our difficulty. There are three blown bridges here, at Dombas, and here -' He pointed to a small village a few miles further north '- at Hauge. This has considerably slowed our advance.'

'So when do you think your troops will be through?'

Engelbrecht sighed. 'Soon. They'll reach Verma around seven o'clock this evening, I should think. The Luftwaffe are harrying their positions continually and bombing Andalsnes too.'

'But what about Odin? How are we going to capture him now?'

'Odin is no longer my concern, Scheidt.'

'General, do you have any idea how important this man is? You must make another attempt to—'

Engelbrecht turned on him. 'We're not going to do anything about Odin,' he said, taking his cigar from his mouth and jabbing it at Scheidt. 'I don't give a damn about him. I'm sick of him. I'm sick of you! I've already wasted enough time and men on this, running around as you asked me when I've got a battle to manage. And what do I discover? That your intelligence is about as reliable as snow in a desert! Now let me tell you, the enemy are evacuating and it's my task to make sure that as few as possible get away. So, please, leave this headquarters. Go back to Lillehammer or Oslo or wherever you want to go, but stop bothering me.'