Crosswire Conspiracy Part 4 (2/2) By Buick McCain

(1/2), (2/2). Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

"How many Germans are you looking at killing Benoit? All of them!" The others joined us round the table. This was going to be home for all of us for the next twenty four hours. The Germans would be patrolling and searching for hours for whomever or whatever had been delivered by the Lysander. Benoit introduced his colleagues in arms and one thing dawned on me very quickly, they were all years older than me!

The only one that seemed agitated by my appearance was Brasco! Who objected to every word I said. I asked Benoit if there was somewhere we could talk privately. He indicated to the others who returned to the main crypt. After locking the door behind them it was Benoit that spoke first "You're worried about Brasco! Don't be! He hates everyone unless they are his commie friends. It's no secret that Hitler will invade Russia soon and Brasco believes that the longer we keep the Nazis busy here, the longer the Kremlin has to organise and prepare itself. He kills Germans just for the sheer pleasure it brings him!"

Benoit, Brasco and the others were all tough men, committed to getting rid of the Nazis. Their individual political views were of no concern to me as long as they didn't jeopardise the safety and security of the network but as a group they were mavericks, undisciplined and totally disorganised. In my mind I already knew what had to be done and it was going to need kid gloves to do it! The other problem that needed addressing was the breech in security, if there was one? I needed to confide in someone and at this point it seemed to be Benoit. I asked Benoit to get the others. As they reconvened, it hit me! The girl boarding the aeroplane was the same girl from the hotel in London all those months ago! What was her bloody name?

Between the resistance groups the losses had been horrific and reprisals had been brutal. My plan was simple and basic. Back to basics seemed to be the most expedient route. I also needed to let London know that I had arrived safely without compromising our position to the German detection vehicles. Benoit arranged to get a coded message to my wireless operator as soon as it was reasonably safe to do so. I tried my hardest to hide my nerve as I did my best Churchill impersonation. "Gentlemen, I am here at the request of General de Gaulle and the Free French Army.

It is my role to command, train and provide technical assistance in your fight against the occupying forces. Before I concentrate on the modus operandi of this organisation, if there are any of you, for whatever reason that disagrees with me and my appointment you are free to leave at first light."

The only real criticism during a lively couple of hours was when I put an immediate halt on all acts of sabotage and insurrection against the Germans but everyone agreed it was causing major problems to the civilian population. One fourteen year old boy had been shot for urinating into the petrol tank of a dispatch riders motor cycle and the family bakery had been razed to the ground. We needed the locals on our side and uncoordinated, random acts of vandalism against the Nazis would not help our cause. We were going to be organised, trained and selective in our targeting of the enemy.

My rationale was simple. Benoit was to be my second in command. Olivier, the fittest of the bunch was put in charge of physical training. Bertrand, veteran of the last war was now firearms instructor. Reconnaissance suited Antoine perfectly. His day job as deliveryman would be ideal cover for his more nefarious activities. I made Brasco head of security and intelligence, much to the chagrin of some of the others. But I wanted him close to me, I wanted to see how he worked and how much of the erroneous information I was going to feed him got into enemy hands because I didn't trust the bastard one inch.

Olivier had made contact with my W/Op and was back before sunrise. Much to my surprise Olivier reported little extra activity from the German security services and the wireless operator would be here later in the day. Thankfully no one had left during the night. It wasn't good practice to invite them to leave but I wanted to test the loyalty of the men. God knows what would have happened if any of them had taken off. After the others had left to return to their more mundane lives, I spent time with Benoit going over training and operations procedures. It was going to be a couple of months of hard, intense work, but Benoit agreed that many lives were at risk and the extra work would benefit everyone.

Magdelaine! Magdelaine. That was the girl's name. She was gorgeous. Benoit roused me from my restless sleep. With him was a young man, probably no more than twenty. "I'm Gladwyn, Sir. Your radio man." Two breeches of security in one sentence. Boy. Was I in the shit!

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