The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-12
WAIT,
CHArTEE XIII


CHAPTER XIII
Al : o'clock that morning the
snox stopped falling. but = kert
drifting In little showers c<f the
roofs and other high places In
every gust cf wind. The tie ~as
almost fun: II eddied dark about
the dock piilngs and rushed with
. loud seethink under the planks.
-one hour more Kari thought.
pacing. gun On his shoulder. along
the isndward side Of the per.
A hundred PAGES north. and 100
south II I walk slowly II n
only 10 more trips out ana hack
again along the post He shiv-
cred with the cold and heard. out
TO his left. the dark sea rising
and hsttering against the rocks
At last the sky grew clear. And
one more turn. The stars read
o'clock. And then he heard the
quick trampinE Of boots from the
street side.
Who goes thercf" He rprang
forward. rifle In hand.
Corporal Of the guard
"come on up.
All weIl."
An well" They raised their
arms at each other.
A man left the detail and
marched over TO the wharf.
Good night" Karl slung his
rifle around and strapped IL to his
back. Strange how their voices
echoed in the cold air.
Good night"
He walked slowly. filled with a
strange and sudden disquiet he
could not understand. The street
was windy and still: the dark
houses on either aide looked very
cold The others were already far
ahead. How many nights he had
turned straggler from the detail
so he could meet Karen at one Of
their countless rendezvous.
He thought again of the last
note Karen had sent him-a note
OF farewell telling him she had
gone to Stockholm with her
mother.
Just ahead lay the square. broad
and Swallowed in the light OF the
stars. A little snow eddy swept
past the fountain. The church
tower lifted skyward. glistening
all silver.
At first he did not hear the
muffied voice that called out from
the dark hallway. Soldier" II
cried. Soldier"
He whipped around. reaching
for his gun. Who are your What
do you want ?" His own voice
sounded hollow TO him.
II was the doctor. standing In
the shadows. his face pale and
frightened As death Your name
10 Fischer ?" he asked.
And Karl felt an nncanny shiv-
ering take hold OF him. But he
snapped. Yes. What are you do
ing out7 What ="
As he stepped into the shadow
an arm shot forth behind him with
bewildering speed and locked
about his throat.
He cried out and felt q heavy
leather sleeve bite into his mouth.
He struggled furiousiy. but the
arm was like steel. And at that
moment. in a frenzy Of fear and
torment. ne saw the doctors gap
ing. disfigured face an he lunged
forward. the glittering blade Of a
bayonet held high.
II struck.
He turned; his head felt heavy
a. a stone. and then for the first
time he felt the pain ~ he
coughed. With q sudden plunge
the earth opened up and he started
falling sickening. and tried 10
rouse himself. reached out ..
But he did not wake.
Only Osterholm and his two
helpers. Oluf and EinAr. were left
in the farmyard. They worked
hurriedly and tensely. emptying
the boxes. stumbling heavily
through the drifts. for the most
part silently-the plan had been
developed in detail hours ago
but now and then one Of them
would say a quiet word and glance
out through the icy darkness to
the road.
A wagon stood In the court.
Osterholm laid half the shining
rifles In the straw that covered
the space behind the seat, and then
he and the two boys pitched fork
after forkfui OF dry fodder on top
Of them. Afterward they went 10
the barn for pianks TO make q