‘HERR BRANDT?’ A breathless voice was calling for him outside. Wessel. He’d sent him down to the dam with orders to alert them to any change in the army’s plans. And to keep him out of the way.
‘In here,’ he called out, and the boy duly appeared framed in the kitchen’s doorway.
‘They’re going to blow it up,’ he said, as if Christmas had unexpectedly come around for a second time.
‘Who says and when?’
‘The army Leutnant.’ Wessel paused for breath; he must have run the whole way.
‘Half an hour; quicker if the Russians come.’
‘We leave in two minutes. Go and get your pack.’
Wessel hesitated, as if about to ask a question.
‘Immediately, Wessel. This isn’t an exercise.’
Wessel ran out, shouting to the others. Brandt put his own rucksack on and followed him. As he crossed the yard he passed the Ukrainians lying in a row beside the barn, covered with tarpaulin. There wasn’t time to do anything more for them. He took the key to the bunker from his pocket and inserted in the lock. It needed all his strength to turn it but eventually the bunker door squealed open. Brandt swallowed and stepped in. Frightened faces surrounded him. He nodded to Hubert.
‘The Russians will be here soon – the dam will be blown in half an hour. If you want to avoid them, best to be on the other side. Or you can stay here, if you want,’ he said to the men. ‘The door’s open. Wait until we’ve gone.’
Hubert looked at him blankly. Brandt reached inside his pocket and handed him Jäger’s pistol.
‘Weber may still be around. Shoot first if he comes in. Look after Monika and tell Agneta I mean to have that cup of coffee with her when all of this is over.’
Outside, he pushed the door so it would seem as though it were closed, then trotted towards the front gate. The boys were gathered with their packs and weapons. Brandt counted them – one missing. Wessel.
He turned to see Wessel sprinting towards them.
‘Right, gentlemen. We are ordered to the other side of the dam. We’ll see Zugführer Weber there, no doubt.’
He saw Wessel’s sly glance towards the bunker, his mouth half open. He caught his gaze and held it.
‘Wessel.’
‘Herr Brandt?’
‘There will be plenty of Russians to kill today. But not if you’re on this side of the reservoir.’