Traitors' Gate by Dennis Wheatley Read Free Book Online Page A

would take a bit of weight off the Russians. Keeping them in the war is the thing that matters above all else; and, apart from sending them arms, we are doing nothing. Absolutely nothing! We are just calmly waiting for 1943. By then it may be too late, whereas some audacious move now could be the premium which would insure us against an eventual stale-mate, or something far worse.’
    ‘Nothing short of a full-scale landing in France or Norway would force the Germans to withdraw troops from the Russian front; and I’m certain that a major operation of that kind is not possible.’
    Gregory shrugged. ‘To reject it is being penny wise and pound foolish. The withdrawal of ten or twelve divisions from the Russian front this summer might change the whole course of history. I don’t think you would say that I’m normally a pessimist. But, if the Russians pack up before we can get into Europe, I don’t believe we’ll ever defeat Hitler.’
    For a moment Sir Pellinore remained silent. Then he said, ‘If ten or twelve divisions would do the trick, there is onepossibility by which it might be brought about.’
    ‘How?’ Gregory asked, suddenly sitting forward.
    ‘The Nazis are stretched to the limit already; so they’d have to recall that number if one of the countries they are holding down blew up behind them.’
    ‘Surely there is very little chance of that. After being crushed between the German and Russian millstones, the poor old Poles can’t have much kick left in them. And, since the Czechs assassinated Heydrich in May, I gather they are liable to be shot if they so much as lift a finger.’
    ‘I wasn’t thinking of the occupied countries. Germany’s official allies were the birds I had in mind. Italy and Finland are no good—both too deeply involved. But there are Hungary and Rumania. They were dragged in against their wills, and such contributions as they have made to Hitler’s war have been prised out of ’em by blackmail. Hungary is the best bet. I know a lot of Hungarians. They all loathe the Germans’ guts. I’d bet a monkey to a rotten apple that they have some sort of league pledged to break away from Hitler as soon as they see a chance.’
    ‘Even if you are right, I can’t imagine that while things are going so well for Germany they would risk his wrath by ratting on him.’
    ‘I don’t know so much,’ Sir Pellinore replied thoughtfully. ‘After the last war the Allies treated Hungary pretty savagely. Under the Treaty of Trianon they gave more than half her territories away. Since then she’s got most of them back. In March ‘39, when Hitler cut Czechoslovakia into three bits, he annexed Bohemia, made Slovakia a vassal state and let the Hungarians reoccupy Ruthenia. Then, in the summer of ‘40, the Axis made the Rumanians return Transylvania. But the Hungarians must fear that if the Allies win they’ll be made to give these territories up again. For a promise that they should retain them and, perhaps, get back some of the other lands of which they were robbed in 1920, I believe they might consider ratting on the Nazis now.’
    For a long moment Gregory did not reply. Then he said: ‘On every front, except in the air over Europe, the Germans and the Japs are getting the best of us. In battle after battle the Allies are being driven back. To my mind it is imperative that somehow, somewhere, we should launch a new thrust at the enemy within the next few months. If we don’t, it may betoo late, and we’ll lose the war altogether. So, if you think there is even a sporting chance that we could persuade the Hungarians to stick a knife in Hitler’s back, you had better arrange for me to go to Budapest.’

4
Seconded for Special Service
    It was not often that Sir Pellinore started anything unintentionally; but he knew he had started something now, and he was far from happy about it. His only son had been killed in the First World War and it was Gregory who, as a very young subaltern, had