Draft Chapter Four

Majors James Lovelow and Rex McKinley are in peril: their mission has been compromised.  While they deal with an attack from German soldiers, Oberstleutnant Stein Schmidt-Meyer arrives at Château De Vimer to interrogate Lieutenant Edward Clark.  It seems the British officer has important information.  Now read on …

As James and McKinley fight a running battle in an orchard, James recalls the mission outlines.  Lieutenant Clark is privileged to the details of the invasion on the South of France due to be launched today.  Not only that, he knows which vessel the Prime minister, Winston Churchill, will be viewing the operation from.  Allied High Command knows that Oberstleutnant Stein Schmidt-Meyer will succeed in getting to the truth.  James and McKinley have been tasked to the kill the German and rescue Clark.

How many now?

            Before his last mission, he knew he had killed at least thirty-two men in this war – all soldiers in uniform.  On that operation – when he first had the misfortune to meet and try to command the ruthless Major McKinley VC – he had added to the total when he shot a sniper and his spotter, and held a soldier as McKinley thrust a dagger up and into the man’s chest and heart.  But for all his own calm efficiency, even James had been caught up in the carnage and mayhem McKinley and his squad instigated.  Hell, he had even been forced to kill a war-dog – a brute of an Alsatian – with his bare hands.

            And here he is again. 

Doing his job.

            The professional assassin removing obstacles to his task.

            That’s what Hayward-Watts called me, wasn’t it, dear boy?  One of His Majesty’s killers for the duration?  By Appointment, the commander had added.  But then, Big C doesn’t have to bloody well live with the guilt at having just killed Dopy, does he?

            “Yes,” said Hayward-Watts.  “I believe it would be safe to say the only higher authority you need, Lovelow, is from God.”

            “I think he’s too busy,” James said.

 

 

Draft Chapter Two (and Three!)

The story so far …

Majors James Lovelow and Rex McKinley are being towed in an experimental twin-boom glider to their mission LZ. As they come into land, the Germans open fire, killing the pilots in the port section. The aircraft dives towards the ground. Now read on …

James takes over, but discovers the control column is partially jammed. With McKinley’s help they just manage to level off. The aircraft lands and smashes into an orchard, the port fuselage – transporting the rest of the squad – strikes the trunk of a tree and is demolished. The starboard section also suffers tremendous damage. Struggling free from the wreckage, James’ first concern is for the other men – McKinley’s is their equipment. Just as James discovers that the other soldiers are indeed dead and McKinley produces salvaged ammunition, German soldiers open fire on them.

“They’re coming at us from prepared positions,” says McKinley. “The bastard’s were waiting for us!”

James opens fire – causing the first wave of enemy soldiers to crouch down as they run – and believes that McKinley is thinking along the same lines as he is, but doesn’t like the implications.

“We’ve been set up, dear boy?” he says, already convinced of the answer.

“Like fish in a barrel,” says McKinley, also sending a burst of bullets in the direction of the enemy troops.

He glances across at James.

“Someone has talked,” he says. “Someone meant for us to die here.”

Tune in next week – … but wait! There’s more this week!

Oberstleutnant Stein Schmidt-Meyer, along with Hauptman Verner Koch, arrives at the Château de Vimer – currently being used as a hospital for civilians and wounded soldiers. He has been expected. Hurriedly shown into an office, he finds a British soldier. There is an attaché case amid the surgical instruments on the desk.

“Good morning,” says Schmidt-Meyer in English. “I hope you slept well. Or did you not sleep last night? Too busy with other things?”

He picks up a sharp-looking instrument and gingerly rotates in his fingers.

“Any idea?” he says. “Or should I ask the good doctor?”

The British soldier doesn’t answer.

Schmidt-Meyer places the surgical blade back on the table with the others. He adjusts its position so that it is exactly the same as he found it. He then stares at the other man.

“Well, Lieutenant Edward Clark,” he says. “I believe we are to spend some time together. And I am in a hurry.”

Who are Stein Schmidt-Meyer and Clark? What connection do they have with Lovelow and McKinley’s mission? Tune in next week for another thrilling instalment!

The Frist Chapter

I have begun writing on my next and am well into the first chapter.  What I find exciting is simply the process of invention itself – after putting in the years of work, the crafting of the story has become easier and I can concentrate on the process of making each word count and enjoy the creating.  It’s a fantastic feeling.  Oh, and the first three sentences?

 

He can’t breathe.

            And then the noise comes again.

            Being buried alive must sound like this.