WORRALS ON THE WAR-PATH
by Captain W. E. Johns
XIV. FRECKS TAKES CHARGE (Pages 141 –
149)
When Frecks saw Worrals take off, she
realised perfectly well why. However,
what Worrals didn't realise was she nearly hit the sheep she had with her and
missed a disaster by inches. As von
Brandisch leaves, Frecks hears him say “I'll make an end of this. The only thing to do is to make a systematic
search of the whole plateau, if it means examining every rock, to find out
where these weasels hide”. Louis offers
to shoot von Brandisch, but Frecks fears villagers will be shot in
reprisal. Frecks asks Louis about the
other entrance to the cave and is told there is one in the side of the gorge
but it is dangerous to use. Frecks
decides to have the entrance they use blocked up in a manner that looks like a
natural landslide so the Germans don't find it.
A message is received later that von Brandisch has returned to the
causse alone. Frecks knows that Worrals
will return as soon as she can and she will find the cave blocked off. Frecks decides to wait for her in a concealed
position so she can tell her when she comes back. The other entrance to the cave is a mere slit
in the sheer face of the cliff with narrow ledges radiating diagonally
upwards. Louis shows Frecks the best way
up but although the rim of the gorge is 40 feet away, the diagonal path is
twice that. Von Brandisch is seen to be
still waiting and then a small Junkers aircraft arrives and four men get out to
meet him. Shortly afterwards the pilot
joins them and the six men then hide themselves in the surrounding boulders
evidently intending to keep watch throughout the night. Frecks asks Louis to get his men to seize the
watchers one by one before midnight.
Frecks waits alone and nothing happens.
Worrals doesn't arrive and Louis doesn't come back to report success in
capturing the men. At 11.30 pm Frecks is
really worried as Bill is due to arrive in half an hour and the German Junkers
aircraft is still there blocking their runway.
Deciding she will have to move the Junkers herself, Frecks carefully
approaches the plane. She throws a stone
at the window to see if there is any reaction from any possible person
inside. On getting no response, she
opens the cabin door and gets into the pilot's seat.