Crack of Doom by Willi Heinrich Read Free Book Online Page A

haven't been told anything about that, sir. Our orders are to take you to Szomolnok and then come straight back to Kosice."
    "Half an hour more won't make any difference."
    "We've still got to get building material to the lines tonight, sir," the man objected.
    "And you'll still have time for that if you drive fast. Anyhow, those are your new orders. Ready?" Schmitt asked Menges, who had just come up.
    "All aboard, sir."
     
     
    The trucks moved northward over snow-covered roads and through half a dozen dark villages. To their left snowy slopes lifted toward a black sky; single trees flashed past, and telegraph poles, with wide fields and woods in the background. The driver turned on the windshield-wiper. "It's started to snow," said Menges, with a note of insensate satisfaction in his voice. Snow-flakes could be seen dancing in the headlights; they fell thicker and thicker. Then buildings appeared again on both sides—it was nearly midnight. "Szomolnok," announced the driver. Schmitt looked through the misted-over windows. The road was getting narrower, and led up the mountain side in a series of sharp bends. "Hope we don't get stuck," he said apprehensively.
    "Not with this bus, sir," the driver reassured him, pointing ahead with his chin; "we've almost made it."
    Kolodzi had dozed off, and woke to a shout from Schmitt. The truck had come to a stop, and the captain was just climbing out.
    Looking back down the road to see the other trucks come up, Schmitt told the driver to switch off his lights, then signed to Kolodzi to get out. "You're there," he said. "See that light down there?"
    Kolodzi got his bearings with a single look. There was a thick pine-wood rising on one side, while on the other there was a steep drop from the road to a deep valley completely surrounded by woods and mountains. Through a gap in the trees he at once saw the light Schmitt was referring to. It twinkled along the bottom of the valley, vanished in the snow storm for a few seconds, and then seemed to bob up again in a different place.
    "That must be Oviz," said Schmitt. "Well drive on along this road; you stay somewhere near till we've searched the place. When we've finished, we'll fire white Very lights—that'll be your signal. But remember to wait a good hour after that before you go down."
    Schmitt dug his hands in his pockets and remarked with a shiver: "Wild enough country to leave you to your fate in."
    "It isn't new to me, sir," Kolodzi answered. He went to the back of the truck and called his two men down.
    "I'll see you get special leave all right if you find the general," Schmitt told them.
    Kolodzi said nothing, and Vohringer spat rudely on the ground; only Herbig braced his shoulders a bit. Schmitt hesitated for a moment, then shook hands with each of them in turn, and climbed back into the truck. He put his hand out of the window, and motioned to Kolodzi to come over to him. "Don't forget these," he said quietly, looking into his face and tapping the binoculars hanging on Kolodzi's chest. The trucks moved off.
    When the rear light of the last truck had disappeared behind the trees, Kolodzi bent down for his rucksack.
    "What now?" asked Vohringer.
    Kolodzi pointed into the darkness. "Let's get off the road." They tramped off into the wood and down the steep slope. Once Kolodzi stopped and raised his head, listening. Far ahead of them, certainly on the other side of the valley, an animal was howling plaintively. "A dog," said Vohringer, unable to hide the quaver in his voice.
    Kolodzi shook his head. "Sounds more like a wolf. I remember them from the last time I was here."
    Vohringer shuddered. "Are there wolves here?"
    "Wolves and bears, but when you've got a tommy-gun you don't need to get the wind up."
    They moved on. Although it was a laborious business walking in the deep snow, they made good progress owing to the steep incline, the chief obstacle being the close-set pines. After about ten minutes they suddenly came out of the