Uncommon Enemy by John Reynolds Read Free Book Online Page A

tempered by the realities of the war. The rapid advance of the German army through Western Europe and the fall of France caused widespread concern. Consequently the papers made much of the rescue of the British army at the French port of Dunkirk by the flotilla of vessels that had crossed the English Channel and braved German air attacks to bring the troops back to England.
    “It was a great effort, sir,” said Stuart as he and Professor Sterling studied the Dunkirk photographs in the New Zealand Herald.
    “True,” replied the professor. “But don’t let it blind you to the fact that Dunkirk was a major defeat. Now virtually all of Europe is under the control of the German army, probably the best fighting force the world has ever seen.”
    The deteriorating situation motivated Stuart and Professor Sterling to increase their work rate, seeking to gain any insight, no matter how minor, into the German military and political mind. The fall of France shifted their focus to attempts to research and predict the type of occupation likely to be imposed on the conquered peoples of Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Norway and Denmark and whether or not this would differ from the brutality of the regime that had already been imposed on Poland.
    They had also been asked to keep a watching brief on Japan and the USA. Japan’s bellicose incursions into China contrasted sharply with the isolationist attitude that appeared to be widespread throughout America. Although President Franklin Roosevelt reflected the considerable sympathy felt for Britain in its battle with the Germany there seemed little likelihood of his country taking up arms in support of Britain and her allies.
    Professor Sterling’s privileged position with the government’s Ministry of Defence gave Stuart access to censored information showing in grim detail the reality of the war’s progress and the increasing success of the German forces on land and sea. The newspapers, magazines and cinema newsreels continued to paint a positive picture of ‘our brave boys’ but Stuart found it increasingly hard to remain positive when he read the casualty figures of men and material.
    It was a cool morning in mid-November when Professor Sterling put his head round Stuart’s door and informed him that there was a meeting scheduled for 11 o’clock with some military personnel.
    “The Prime Minister’s Department is considering increasing our funding in order to provide more information for our military intelligence sections,” he explained. “A delegation is coming to meet us and discuss the potential of our research. If they see additional possibilities they will recommend an expansion of our operation.”
    “What are our chances, sir?” asked Stuart.
    “Reasonably good I should think,” replied the professor. “We’ll need to convince them that our research can be applied directly to the nation’s war needs. I’d like you to report on your research into the Nazi occupation of Europe including anything you can find on resistance movements - sabotage, partisan fighters, that sort of thing. The way the conqueror and the conquered behave is always an excellent indication of his ultimate aims and objectives. The conquering of a nation is a lot easier than its occupation. Our visitors might be interested in working with us on ways to undermine the enemy through support for resistance movements.”
     
    “The military gentlemen have arrived, professor,” announced the departmental secretary.
    Professor Sterling and Stuart rose to greet the uniformed members of the delegation. The first to appear was a tall, grey-haired man who strode into the meeting room with outstretched hand.
    “Major Richard Thompson. Pleased to meet you. Allow me to present my team.” Turning to the two other uniformed men who had just entered the room he continued, “May I present Captain Mark Williamson and Lieutenant Hamish Beavis.”
    Stuart and Hamish both froze at the same moment,