Codename Eagle Read Free Page B

one.”
    “By ten minutes,” Gilbert chipped in.
    “And the fact is,” Eddie continued, “the dog always barks when there are strangers around. That’s what he’s here for. But don’t worry, he’s on a chain.”
    “A long chain,” Gilbert said.
    The German officer ignored the attempt to lighten the mood as he looked from one twin to the other. They really were identical. Above average height, broad-shouldered and muscular, with dark, curly hair and square faces.
    “You live alone here?” the officer asked.
    “Just us and our barking dog,” Eddie said, still smiling.
    “And the horse,” his brother added.
    “Oh, yes,” Eddie said. “And the horse. He helps us shift the logs.”
    “And he’s a lot more use to me than you are,” the older twin laughed, thumping his younger brother on the arm.
    “Look, can we get on?” the man who had driven the lorry said impatiently. “I must get back to Lavelanet. I have to work in the morning and I start early.”
    “We’ll go over the details and you can leave,” the officer told him. “Is the target still at the address you’ve given us?”
    The Frenchman nodded. “He’s been living there for six months or more.”
    “And there’s no indication that he suspects he’s being watched?”
    “None. I’ve been careful.”
    “I’ll take a look tomorrow.”
    “You want me to show you the way?”
    The officer shook his head. “We have maps of the town and the area.” He turned to the twins. “But I’d like one of you to go back to the plateau with two of my men. They need to fix the best place for our plane to land for the pick-up.”
    “Don’t bother with that,” the older Frenchman said. “The best place is exactly where you landed. That’s why I chose it.”
    “We’ll make sure of that for ourselves,” the officer said. “In daylight. And we’ll take the target the day after tomorrow, early morning.” He stood up. “So unless you are unclear on anything, my men and I would like to get some rest.”
    The Frenchman took a long drag at his cigarette and then stubbed it out. “There is one thing.”
    “Yes?”
    “Why all this urgency? Why not let the real gendarmes arrest him? He’d be in your hands soon enough, anyway. They’d hold him here for a while and then shift him up to the Occupied Zone, or even to Germany. Not that the twins and I are complaining, of course; we’re happy to do our bit.”
    “Yes, I can see that,” the German replied. “And as far as your question is concerned, all you need to know is that he’s important to us – extremely important. And we want him. Now. Does that satisfy you?”
    “Oh, perfectly, sir,” the Frenchman said, his smile of earlier returning. “Perfectly.”

THREE
Day Two
    J osette Mazet did not look happy. Her dark eyes were narrowed and her lips were clamped tight. She was fighting to stop herself from flying into one of her famous rages and was just about managing to keep her mouth shut. Just about.
    Her father, Henri, sat behind his desk, one finger rhythmically stroking his bushy moustache as he considered what Paul had just told him.
    Paul looked at Henri, waiting for his response, while Didier leaned against the closed door. It was important that no one outside the office heard what was being discussed, even though the thunderous noise from the looms down on the factory floor would make any words spoken in the room inaudible to anyone in the corridor. But it was best and safest to be certain.
    Henri sighed and then nodded to Paul. “Of course, I’ll start making enquiries. It may take a little while, but I’m sure we can get you across the mountains before too long. And we’ll be sure to make a better job of it this time.”
    “Thank you, Henri,” Paul said. “You know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
    Josette could no longer stay silent. “Oh, that’s kind of you,” she said angrily. “Why didn’t you say something before? Or even last night when