Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty Two

Dieter only slept for a few hours in the Frankfurt hotel and got up at two o'clock in the morning.Now he was alone, and Stephanie was at the house on Du Bois Avenue with the British secret service "helicopter."This morning, the "helicopter" was going to the leader of the Bollinger organization, and Dieter had to follow him.He knew that the "helicopter" was to be found from Michel Claret's house, and he decided to send a surveillance team there before dawn. He started early, drove to Saint-Cécile, through moonlit vineyards, and finally parked his limousine in front of the castle.He went first to the photo studio in the basement. There was no one in the darkroom, but the photos he had developed hung there like clothes on a clothesline.Dieter took the photo off the rope and studied it carefully, recalling how she had saved her husband from a hail of bullets.He tried to find that iron will in the carefree expression of the beautiful swimsuit girl, but there was no sign of it.Undoubtedly, that will was tempered in the war.

He pocketed the negative and picked up the original photo, which had to be secretly returned to Helicopter.He found an envelope and a blank sheet of paper, thought about it, and wrote: He put the note and photo in an envelope, sealed it and wrote "Ms. Remus" on the front.He's going to find time to send it out. He passed the cells and looked through the peephole at Marie, the girl who had suddenly appeared at the house on Dubois Avenue yesterday to bring food to Miss Remus's "guest."Lying on the bloodstained sheets, she stared at the wall with her eyes wide open in horror, groaning like a broken machine that hadn't been turned off yet.

Dieter interrogated Marie last night.She gave no useful information.She repeatedly said that she didn't know anyone from the Resistance, only Miss Remus.Dieter was inclined to believe her and had Sergeant Becker execute her just in case.However, she did not change her confession, which also convinced Dieter that her disappearance would not arouse the vigilance of the resistance organization, and then suspected that Miss Remas on Du Bois Avenue had been impersonated. The tortured body in front of him made him feel depressed for a moment.He still remembered how this girl appeared in the aisle pushing a bicycle yesterday, it was really a picture full of health and vitality.She was a jovial girl, though a little silly.A simple mistake brought her life to a horrific end.Of course, she deserved it, because she helped the terrorists.But in the end, it was a terrible thing to think about.

He pushed these thoughts out of his mind and walked up the stairs.On the ground floor, the night operators busied themselves at their respective switching desks.The upper floor used to be unimaginably luxurious and large bedrooms, but now they have been converted into offices of the Gestapo. Dieter hadn't seen Weber since his fiasco in the cathedral, so he must be hiding somewhere to lick his wounds.However, he had already talked to Weber's deputy and asked to send four Gestapo officers in plain clothes to arrive here at three o'clock in the morning to prepare for the surveillance mission that day. Dieter also ordered Lieutenant Hesse to be there.Now, he parted the blackout curtains and looked out.The moonlight illuminated the parking lot, and he saw Hans walking across the yard, but saw no one else.

He went to Weber's office and was surprised to find him there, alone behind his desk, pretending to read papers by a green-shaded lamp. "Where is the man I want?" Dieter said. Weber stood up. "You pointed a gun at me yesterday," he said. "What the hell do you mean by threatening an officer?" Dieter hadn't expected him to do this.Could it be that he, Weber, had made a fool of himself and turned out so aggressively, couldn't he really not understand that he had made a terrible mistake? "It's all your own fault, you idiot," Dieter said exasperatedly, "I don't want that man arrested."

"If you do this, you will be tried by a military court." Dieter wanted to taunt him, but he stopped just in time.True, he realized that he had only done what was necessary to salvage the situation; but it was not impossible in the bureaucratic Third Reich for an officer to be brought before a court for his motives.His heart sank, but he had to feign confidence. "Then sue me, I can prove my innocence in court." "You actually shot!" Dieter couldn't help but said, "I guess you haven't seen this kind of scene a few times in your entire military career."

Weber's face was flushed. He had never been in a battle. "Guns should be used against the enemy, not your fellow officers." "I fired a shot into the air. I'm sorry if it frightened you. But you were sabotaging a top-notch counterintelligence operation, don't you think a court-martial should take that into account? Whose orders are you executing? Quite It was you who were acting undisciplined." "I have arrested a spy for a British terrorist group." "What the hell is he arresting for? He's only alone, and they've got a lot of them, and if he's released, he'll bring us someone else—maybe a whole bunch of them. And you won't obey orders Acting hastily, almost ruined this good opportunity. You are lucky, I saved you, otherwise it will be a big mistake."

Weber looked sly. "You are so eager to let go of an Allied agent that you are quite suspicious of some authority figures above." Dieter sighed and said: "Don't be stupid again. I'm not some poor Jewish shopkeeper to be intimidated by such malicious rumors that no one will believe me if you say I'm a traitor. Tell me, I want Where are the people?" "The spy must be arrested immediately." "No, he can't be arrested. If you try, I'll shoot you. Where are my men?" "I refuse to send scarce personnel to such an irresponsible task."

"Are you really going to refuse?" "right." Dieter stared at him, expecting Weber to be neither guts nor stupid. "Have you ever thought about what the Field Marshal will do to you if he finds out about this?" Wei Bo replied with a look of fear on his face, but he still didn't care. "I'm not in the army," he said. "This is the Gestapo." Unfortunately, he was right, Dieter thought dejectedly.Walter Model made a good arrangement and ordered Dieter to use people from the Gestapo instead of transferring him from the coastal combat forces that were short of fighters, but the Gestapo was not obliged to obey Dieter.

Rommel's name terrified Weber, but the power wore off after a while. Now Dieter has no other helpers besides Lieutenant Hesse.But could he and Hans handle the task of tracking the "helicopter" without assistance?It was hard, but he had no other way. He wanted to threaten again. "Are you really willing to take the consequences of this rejection, Willie? You're about to get into the worst kind of trouble." "On the contrary, I think you are in trouble." Dieter shook his head in disappointment, he had nothing more to say.He had spent too much time arguing with the idiot.He walked out.

He met Hans in the hall and explained the situation to him.They came to the back of the castle, which used to be the servants' quarters and is now the engineering equipment area.Hans had arranged last night that they would borrow a post office van and a moped whose small engine could only be ignited with the foot pedal. Not knowing whether Weber knew about the vehicle, Dieter ordered the engineer not to lend them.I hope he doesn't.It was dawn in half an hour, and he had no time to argue with him anymore.But everything went well, Dieter and Hans put on their overalls, put their bicycles behind the van, drove off. They drove into the city of Reims, drove along the Dubois Avenue, and then parked the car at the corner. Hans got out of the car and walked back, dropping the envelope with Flick's photo into the mailbox in the twilight of dawn. Helicopter's bedroom is at the back of the house, so don't worry too much about him seeing Hans and recognizing him again. The sun was up when they reached Michel Clarette's house in the city centre.Hans parked the car a hundred meters away, then opened the manhole of a post office, pretending to be working, while watching the movement on the other side of the house.It's a busy street with lots of cars parked, so the van didn't stand out. Dieter stayed in the car, hiding himself from the outside, thinking about the quarrel with Weber.The guy was stupid, but he made a fatal point.In doing so, Dieter is taking a risk. The "helicopter" might slip away from him and disappear.In this way, Dieter lost the clue.The safe and convenient way is to torture the "helicopter".But as dangerous as it is to let him slip away, it can pay off handsomely.If all goes well, the "helicopter" is a nugget of gold.As soon as Dieter thought that victory was within easy reach, a strong impulse surged in his heart, and his pulse quickened. On the other hand, if something went wrong, Weber would take advantage of it and make a big fuss, showing off to everyone how he opposed Dieter's risky plans.But Dieter did not allow himself to be intimidated by this kind of bureaucratic right and wrong judgment. People like Weber who love to play this kind of game are the most despicable and despicable people in the world. The city gradually came alive.The first to appear were the women, and they walked all the way to the bakery across from Michel's house.The store was closed, but they stood outside patiently, chatting as they waited.Bread was rationed, but Dieter guessed there would be a shortage even then, so conscientious housewives arrived early to make sure they got their share.When the store door finally opened, they all scrambled to get in, unlike German housewives who would line up neatly. Thinking of this, Dieter felt a sense of superiority.He saw the women come out with bread, and thought he wished he had a little breakfast. Then the men at work showed up in boots and berets, all carrying their lunches in backpacks made of cheap fabric.When the kids started leaving home for school, "Helicopter" showed up, pedaling the bike that had once belonged to Mary.Dieter sat up straight.In the basket of the bicycle was a rectangular object covered with a rag, which Dieter guessed must be a portable radio. Hans poked his head out of the manhole to watch. "Helicopter" went to Michelle's door and knocked, of course, no one answered the door.He stood on the steps for a while, leaning over the window to look in, and then wandered up and down the street again, trying to find the back door of the house.Dieter knew that the house had no back door. Dieter had suggested what the "helicopters" should do next, "go down this street to a bar called Regis House, order coffee and rolls, and sit and wait." Dieter hoped that the resistance would Possibly watching Michelle's house, awaiting an emissary from London.He didn't expect anyone to be here all day, but perhaps a sympathetic neighbor agreed to keep an eye on the place. The apparent innocence of "Helicopter" reassures onlookers. Just by the way he walks, anyone can tell that he is neither the Gestapo nor the French secret police.Dieter was sure that the Resistance would notice him somehow, and would soon show up and speak to Helicopter, the man who would likely lead Dieter to the heart of the Resistance. A minute later, the "helicopter" acted on Dieter's suggestion.He rode his bicycle down the street to the bar and sat at a sidewalk table, seemingly enjoying the sunshine.He ordered a cup of coffee, a substitute, roasted grain, but he seemed to enjoy it. After about twenty minutes, he went inside and asked for a cup of coffee and a newspaper.He began to read the newspaper seriously.He looked very patient, as if he would wait all day.This is good. As the morning wore on, Dieter began to wonder if it would be useful to wait.The Bollinger Organization may have been wiped out in the massacre at Saint-Cécile and could no longer be active, leaving no one left to carry out even the most important tasks.It would be a disappointment if "Helicopter" couldn't get him to find any other terrorists.Webb would be overjoyed. It's time for the "helicopter" to order lunch in order to continue to occupy the table.A waiter came up to talk to him and brought a glass of anisette.It was a fake too, with something synthetic instead of star anise, but it still made Dieter lick his lips, he really wanted to drink a glass of wine. Another customer takes a seat at the "helicopter" table.There are a total of five tables here, and it would be more natural for this customer to choose the one farther away. Dieter felt hopeful.The newcomer was a man with long arms and legs, in his thirties, wearing a blue chambray shirt and navy canvas trousers, but Dieter had an intuition that he did not have the temperament of a laborer.He was someone else, an artist perhaps, pretending to be a proletarian.He sat back in the chair, crossed his legs, put his right ankle on his left knee, a position that suddenly seemed familiar to Dieter.Had he seen this man before? The waiter came over and the customer asked for something.For a minute nothing happened.Is the man secretly watching the "helicopter," perhaps just waiting for his drink?The waiter brought over a glass of light beer on a tray.The man took a big gulp and wiped his mouth with satisfaction.Dieter was a little discouraged, this man was just thirsty.But at the same time, he felt that he had seen this mouth-wiping gesture before. At this point, the newcomer started talking to the "helicopter". Dieter tensed up, did what he had been waiting for happen? They exchanged a few casual words, and despite the distance, Dieter could sense the newcomer's charming personality. "Helicopter" smiled and spoke vigorously.A few minutes later, the "helicopter" pointed at Michel's house, and Dieter guessed he was asking where the owner could be found.The other person shrugged his shoulders in a typical French way, and Dieter imagined him saying "I don't know", but "Helicopter" seemed to want to get to the bottom of it. The newcomer drank his beer, Dieter thought quickly, and suddenly he knew who this man was, and the discovery was so startling that he jumped out of his seat.He had seen this man at the Place Sainte-Cécile, at another coffee table, sitting with Flickr Clarette, just before the battle began—this was her husband, Michelle. myself. "That's right!" Dieter said triumphantly as he smashed the dashboard with his fist.His strategy appears to be correct - the "helicopter" takes him to the heart of the local resistance. But he hadn't expected such a degree of gain, he just hoped that a messenger would appear, and this messenger would bring the "helicopter" - and him - to find Michelle.Now, Dieter is in a dilemma.Michel is a rare trophy, should Dieter arrest him immediately?Or keep up with him in order to catch bigger fish? Hans closed the manhole cover, got into the van, and said, "Fixed, sir?" "right." "and then?" Dieter doesn't know what to do then - arrest Michel, or follow him? Michelle stood up, and the "helicopter" also stood up. Dieter decided to follow them. "What shall we do?" Hans said anxiously. "Get the bike off, quick!" Hans opened the rear door and lifted the moped out. The two men put the money on the coffee table and walk away.Dieter noticed that Michel was walking with a slight limp, and remembered that he had been shot in the firefight. He said to Hans, "You follow them, and I will follow you." Then he started the van's engine. Hans rode on his bicycle, kicked it a few times, and turned on the ignition. He drove slowly on the street, keeping a distance of 100 meters from his prey.Dieter followed Hans. Michel and Helicopter turned the corner and followed for a minute when Dieter saw them stop and look in the window of a shop, a pharmacy.Of course, they don't want to go in to buy medicine, this is to prevent surveillance.After Dieter drove by, they turned and retook the same road. If a car turned around and drove back, they would find out, so Dieter could no longer follow.However, he saw Hans stop behind a truck and turn back, far down the street, but the two men were still within his line of sight. Dieter circled a block and followed them again.Michel and the "helicopter" walked towards the train station, Hans still following. Dieter asked himself if the two knew they were being followed.The trick in front of the pharmacy showed they were wary, but he didn't think they were paying attention to the Post Office van, he was out of sight most of the time, but they might have spotted the moped.Dieter believed that the change of direction was a routine precaution taken by Michel, who appeared to be an experienced underground worker. Two men walked through the garden in front of the station.There were no flowers in the garden, but there were a few trees with blooming branches, not minding the war that was going on.The station is a solid classical building, with pilasters and pediments so heavy and overly decorated that it resembles the nineteenth-century merchants who built them. What would Dieter do if Michel and the "helicopter" got on a train?It would be too dangerous for him to board the same train. The Helicopter would certainly recognize him, and even Michel might recall seeing him in the Place Sainte-Cécile.No, Hans should be put on the train, with Dieter following on the way. They enter the station through one of three classical arches.Hans put down his bicycle and followed them in, and Dieter also parked and entered the station.If two people went to the ticket office, he would tell Hans to stand behind them and buy train tickets to the same destination as them. They didn't go to the ticket window.When Dieter entered the station, Hans ran down a flight of stairs and entered the tunnel connecting the various platforms under the railway line.Perhaps Michel had bought the ticket in advance, Dieter thought.That's no problem, Hans can get on without a ticket. There are steps at both ends of the tunnel leading to the platforms.Dieter followed Hans through all the platform entrances.Fearing that he would lose his target, Dieter quickened his pace when going up the stairs, and arrived at the back entrance of the station.He followed Hans, and together they took the Avenue Courcelles. Several buildings had been bombed recently, but there were cars parked along those stretches of road that had been cleared of rubble.Dieter scanned the entire street, and panic surged in his heart.A hundred meters away, Michelle and the "helicopter" jumped into a black car.Dieter and Hans simply could not catch up to them.Dieter reached for his gun, but the distance was too far for a pistol.The car drove away. It was a black Renault "Monaquitel", which is the most common car in France. Dieter couldn't make out its license plate. It hurried across the street and turned a corner. It's gone. Dieter cursed, this move is very simple, but very effective.Using an underpass, they let the stalkers drop their vehicle, while a car was waiting for them at the other end, helping them escape.None of them might have noticed the stalking from behind, and like the U-turn outside the drugstore, the underpass trick might have been just a routine precaution. Dieter looked sad, he put all his eggs in one basket, but lost the game.Weber was going to be overjoyed. "What shall we do now?" said Hans. "Back to Saint-Cecile." They went back to the van, put the bikes in, and drove to headquarters. Dieter still had a glimmer of hope. He knew when the Helicopter was using the radio and what frequency it was assigned, and with that information it might be possible to get him back.The Gestapo had a sophisticated system, developed and honed through the war, for detecting illegal broadcasts and tracing them back to their source, which is how many Allied agents were captured.The British improved their training, and the radio operators used better security precautions, always sending radio signals at different locations, never for more than fifteen minutes, but still caught a few careless ones. Do the British suspect that the "helicopter" has been found? Helicopter will now tell Michelle all about his adventures.Michel would grill him carefully about the cathedral's capture and subsequent escape.He would be particularly interested in the newcomer code-named Charenton.However, he has no reason to suspect that Miss Remus is not real.Michelle had never met her, so it wouldn't have alarmed him if Helicopter happened to mention that she was a beautiful young redhead rather than a middle-aged spinster. Little did Helicopter know that his one-time pad and silk handkerchief had been carefully copied by Stephanie, and that his frequency—marked on the dial with a yellow crayon—was also noted by Dieter. . Dieter began to think that maybe he wasn't all lost. When they returned to the castle, Dieter ran into Weber in the corridor.Webb stared at him hard and said, "You lost him, didn't you?" Jackals can always smell blood, Dieter thought. "Yes." It was against his dignity to lie to Weber. "Ha!" Webb was very proud. "You should leave this work to the experts." "Well, I will." Weber looked a little surprised, and Dieter continued, "He will send a report to London at eight o'clock tonight. This is a chance to prove your professionalism and let people see what you have. How cool. Get him out and grab him."