Part 5 (1/2)

'Oh, sorry, I was looking for my coat. Big blue thing.'

Before he could reply, Benny had yanked the rifle from his hand and pulled him in front of her, s.h.i.+elding herself from the rest of the troops. It all happened too fast for the other Germans. Just as they were realizing what was going on, Benny had fired above their heads. But not that far above.

They fell to the ground for protective cover, pulling their guns up. Benny leapt for the armoured car.

The Doctor was stepping carefully across the beach when he heard the crackling of gunfire. It mustn't distract him. There was heavy lifting machinery down here, and something huge had been dragged from the sea. Whatever it was had been covered by a large black tarpaulin. The handful of troops on the beach were scrambling up the narrow path to a.s.sist their comrades.

The Doctor rapidly moved towards the tarpaulin. It covered an object the size of a tank, or small shuttlecraft. The Doctor poked at it experimentally with his umbrella. There was a satisfying clank. Whatever it was, it was made of thick metal. The Doctor moved forwards cautiously and lifted the sheeting. A grenade detonated above him with a soft crump.

Thankfully, as Benny had hoped, there was no one inside the German vehicle. She slammed shut the hatch, bolting it, and slid over to the driver's seat. It was dark and reeked of sweat.

The only light came from a couple of slits at the front.

Through those, Benny could see troops running towards her.

As they reached her, she discovered how to start the engine. The armoured car roared into life, lurching forward, and the troops scattered. Just as Benny was working out how to change the gears, a rifle bullet richocheted off the roof.

She had better start thinking about tactics. There were three groups of n.a.z.is, one to the left, two to the right. The unarmed men had fallen back, but weren't heading for the beach. The Germans were as disorganized as she was. It didn't really matter, though: she realized that she'd effectively boxed herself in. She just needed to buy a little time for the Doctor. Who knows, she might even have supplied his getaway car. A grenade bounced off the roof, clattering past her sight. She pulled hard left on the steering wheel, and the car swerved out of the way. There was an explosion to her side and a shower of soft mud, but the axle held.

d.a.m.n. One of the groups was falling back, heading for its original position. They'd soon be back at the clifftop, and they were bound to see the Doctor if they got that far. Benny steered the vehicle towards them, its primitive suspension almost throwing her from her seat. Military vehicles throughout history had never been built for comfort. The other two groups were now behind her, out of view, and she was getting too close to the cliff edge for comfort. She mustn't let her mind wander. d.a.m.n!

The Doctor peered into the murk under the tarpaulin. He wrinkled his nose as the smell of salt, rotting leather and charcoal wafted out. He ran his finger along a metal panel which had blackened and warped in intense heat. His brow furrowed.

'Do you know what it is?'

The Doctor shrugged. 'It's the most advanced piece of hardware this planet has seen. It's years ahead of its time.

Whoever has this will almost certainly win the war.'

Puzzled, the Doctor looked over his shoulder to see who had asked the question. A powerfully built German officer held a pistol to his head. There was no one else on the beach. The man was wearing the neat black uniform of the Schutzstaffel. The pistol was a standard SS-issue Mauser.

The Doctor recognized the German officer as Standartenfuhrer Joachim Wolff, the Butcher of Mallesan.

The Doctor hadn't heard him arrive.

'Keep silent.'

The Doctor closed his mouth.

'Drop the umbrella.'

It fell to the wet sand.

'Keep your hands on your head.'

The Doctor raised his hat mournfully.

4 Death and its Ramifications

It was a situation that required quick thinking. The Doctor lowered his hat and smiled disarmingly at the German officer.

'You look like the sort of man who would like a Kola Nut.

Would you? I have a bag of them in my pocket.'

'I've already eaten.'

At least he was listening. The Doctor decided to change tack and indicated the wreckage. 'I know all about that.'

'So you say,' the German replied calmly.

'And you are Joachim Wolff.'

'You have me at a disadvantage.' Wolff chuckled, but he didn't lower the gun. The Doctor stared down the barrel, nervously licking his lips.

'I'm the Doctor. Now you'll want to question me, won't you? Interrogate me? Grill me? Give me the works?'

suggested the Doctor hopefully.

'No.'

'I could be useful.'

Wolff began to squeeze the trigger.

'Er... before you shoot,' the Doctor gabbled, 'I think you ought to know that you'll actually miss me pointing the gun there. You'd never live that down, would you, not hitting me at such close range?' His voice was suddenly calm. 'Aim eight inches more to the left.'