The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-09-28

"Yes, think I can trust you all
right" John was silent for a Sec
ond or two. Make him think
that you're one of his lot. "Heil
Hitler: say it under your breath
when you're fiddling round his
room, so that you can turn it off
into a joke if necessary. If you
can bring him to book, Alfred,
you're a made man."
"Sir."
And now you must get back"
said John briefly. 'And don't
forget this, Alfred"-as he stood
there John put a hand on the
boys shoulder-"you're embark
ing on a dangerous and difficult
job. Mr.. Letter is nothing more
than a common criminal. ''Pll
explain as much as Lean to Mrs.
Maturin. Good luck, my boy"
''Thank you, SIR" and Alfred
had gone.
The manager of the Point Hotel
spoke respectfully to Fergus Lei
ter.
eyes, he's a good boy, sir, is AL
fred. Very handy with his fingers
and as honest as the day. He ask
ed me if he might unpack for you.
s'WeIl, thanks very much. I'll
remember" said Fergus pleasant
ly. ooh, about the phone in my
room, how does it work? Is it on
the main or do I connect up
through the hotel?"
''The hall porter does it, sir"
"Does he, blast him" But Fer
gus did not say the words aloud.
The thing was to have ones mind
absolutely clear and not make
false move. Thursday, the fiji
teenth was to be the day of the
big raid on Swansea. Before then
he would have everything tapped,
and he might even know little
more in what direction the boy
Alfred's sympathies lay.
Fergus Letter got up and walk
ed to the window. About three
miles out to sea those planes
would pass on their way to Swan
sea. No shutters to his windows,
but that would not matter, as
Odette had shutters to hers, and
very useful they had been during
the past few months.
Come in" He turned at
knock
cts only me, sir, wondering if
could do anything to help" AL
fred, staring round the room, was
standing with his hands together.
"Oh, thanks very much. You've
done a great deal for me already"
Fergus spoke cordially. 'How did
you know I hated unpacking?"
81 sort of felt it, sir"
did you, indeed? Do you Of
ten feel things of that kind?"
Fergus thought he might as
well find out what he could about
this youth. Never neglect an op-
portunity-how that had been
drummed into him during his
Heidelberg University days. What
attention to detail the Germans
had, and in what good stead it
had stood them. Look at them
now, for instance; he glanced
across the room at the Daily Tele-
graph map printed neatly on the
wall. All, the boy was staring
at it. Not only staring, he was
tiptoeing across the room to look
at it more closely.
Awful, isn't it?" Fergus spoke
easily. They've overrun the
whole continent, blast their eyes,"
eyes, sir. I saw the map when
I came to unpack for you. I saw
it first thing"
did you? Yes, always carry
it round in the car with me,
drawing pins and all. Yes, it's an
awful thing" Fergus, lighting a
cigarette Doesn't it make you
sick to think of that little brute
dominating all those millions of
helpless people? Horrible"
eyes, SIR
"You don't seem to think so,"
said Fergus with a smile.
ooh, yes, do, sir" said Alfred,
suddenly swinging round his hon
est eyes very wide open. "But
there's another side to it, sir, and
you being gentleman won't mis-
understand me. But that Hitler,
he is at least man! Fancy having
a man like that to look up to and
follow. II we had man like Hit
Ter
Alfred stopped speaking.
'Wel1?"
IT could die for him, sir" said
Alfred earnestly. ooh, know I
ought not to speak to you like
this, but you won't hold it against
me, know"
mo. I'm Interested I like fo