And so it was.
They came around four times more, sometimes far away, sometimes not so far, but there where smiles starting to appear round the boat as we rode and switched each one out. They'd hoped to catch us on the surface, the bastards. We are a U-Boat!
When Hans gave us the final all clear, we were in 90 metres of water and plenty more under the keel.
Officers to the Wardroom, for a debriefing on the whole debacle that was Operation Oberon.
"We paddled in on the surf as planned, " Bruno started.
The light was winking at us from a beach with a rocky outcrop, we could still see the silhouette of the Swordfish showing a dim green from the bridge"
That was our signal to go.
"So I took Dieter and Gerhardt with me when we beached and left the rest of the men in the dinghy ready to push off at a moments notice.
This guy in a long green coat, and a wide hat obscuring his face came towards me and Dieter. He had that briefcase, and was holding it out to me which was strange, since I thought we were taking him with us. He started looking nervously behind him to right and left. That's when I noticed some movement or shadows amongst the rocks, Seaman Dieter shouted a warning, just as this man threw himself to one side.
I don't know who they where, Sir. Maybe British agents, or their collaborators most likely, bloody poor shots anyway, since they had us as sitting ducks.
I returned fire, with the clip I had and saved a couple for our friend 'Frederick' who produced a Browning 9 mil from his coat pocket. I can't say I hit any of the others as we retreated to the dinghy, but two of them broke out from the rocks and put a couple of holes in Gerhardt. Dieter charged them both with his oar, and the rest of the crew got Gerhardt back in, and rowed like hell.
If it wasn't for that flak you put down, we'd never have made it back."
"Well done, Bruno."
"What about the boys, especially Gerhardt and Dieter, Sir? They should be put up for a medal."
"So they will, Bruno, but I feel sure it will not be in recognition of this adventure, which probably will never be recognised as having ever existed. Their reward will be in heaven, no that's far too optimistic in Dieter's case, instead they shall have rum for themselves and their mates."
"But we don't have any rum on board, Kap?"
"Ask the Doc. Now what about this briefcase...?"
And we stared at this sandy sodden, and bloodstained leather satchel locked with two seals on the table before us all....
LS
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