68 
High-Ranking Defection
The HMS Dauntless anchored off Salonika on the eastern coast of Greece in midafternoon.
Charles had heard nothing more since the strange communication from Churchill. When night fell, however, he kept his uniform on, halfway expecting a summons.
Around ten o’clock he set aside the book he was reading and lay down on his bunk. Soon he dozed off.
A knock came on the door. Charles roused himself and stood to answer it. The hour was one-thirty.
“Commander Rutherford,” said a stranger standing before him in the corridor. “I am Colonel Rawley. I have orders to take you ashore. I believe you have been apprised.”
“Yes, Colonel,” replied Charles. “Just give me a minute to dash some water on my face, make sure I am thoroughly awake, and get my coat and hat.”
Minutes later they were leaving the silent, sleeping ship, climbing down the rope ladder in darkness to a small waiting transport vessel of some forty feet. Once aboard they headed across the calm black surface toward the harbor. Besides the skipper of the small boat only one or two others were present. No one spoke.
An hour later, Charles stood waiting with the colonel in silence under the dim shadow of a bridge over the Vardar.
Ahead out of the darkness, three men approached.
“Commander Rutherford,” said one of the newcomers, “I am General Payne. The army and navy are cooperating on this matter. I have orders here for you from the First Lord of the Admiralty.”
Charles nodded.
“I have been instructed,” the general went on, “to turn over to you, shall we say, our new friend here. You are to take him back to the Dauntless, keep him secure and out of sight, and return to England immediately. Mr. Churchill will be waiting at Scapa to take charge of the matter personally. All is explained in your orders.”
“I understand,” said Charles.
“I have been told you speak German?”
“Well enough,” answered Charles. “Not exactly fluently.”
“It will be sufficient to communicate with your ward, as it were. I also have orders here signed by Mr. Churchill for Captain Wilberforce.”
“Very good, sir.”
General Payne handed him the two sealed envelopes. They saluted and shook hands. The general and his assistant turned and disappeared in the night. Colonel Rawley now led Charles and the newcomer away. The man was dressed in civilian clothes but bore the demeanor—which the thin light accentuated occasionally in his eyes—of a military officer, probably of high rank.
They reached the Dauntless a little after three-twenty. Rawley saw them safely on board, then disappeared back down the rope ladder. Charles was left alone for the first time with the man whom he judged to be a German officer. He led him along the deck, then down into the ship, careful to avoid the night crew, and to his small lodgings, where quarters had been prepared in a connecting officer’s cabin.
Once safely inside, speaking in German, Charles offered the man something to eat or drink. His guest replied, however, that it had been a long day and all he wanted to do was sleep. Charles showed him briefly around his quarters, then left him.
Once alone Charles sat down on his bed and opened one of the envelopes he had been given under the bridge.
Commander Charles Rutherford, he read,
This will introduce you to Colonel Klaus Spengler, assistant to Generaloberst von Bülow of the German high command. He has come over to our side. The information he possesses could bring this war to a close before summer. He will be in your care to get to Britain as quickly as possible. Keep him in the private quarters next to yours. He is to be seen by no one, not even Captain Wilberforce. Security leaks have already been a problem. I told you when you sailed that you were one of the few men I knew I could trust implicitly. I am more glad than ever that I persuaded you to take up your commission. Little did I know what a significant responsibility I would find myself placing in your hands. I will see you at first opportunity once you are safely back in British waters.