Chapter Two
Kirkenes Is The Most Heavily Bombed Area In Europe After Malta! (Apparently)
What did happen next was a shock to both the squad and the Germans as mayhem erupted with the staccato sound of gunfire emanating from the area near the SS troops. There were mixed reactions from the two groups; the Germans soldiers although startled at the unexpected development did not panic. As veteran combat troops of many a fire-fight they unslung their rifles without delay and dropped onto one knee facing the conflict to present smaller targets to any potential enemy.
Calhoun followed the Germans’ example reaching for a nonexistent weapon in the process, Sam threw himself flat onto the ground in panic and Alec, after a slight hesitation, ran towards the darkness of the nearest warehouse followed closely by Julian. Jessica was rooted to the spot in fear until Randi grabbed her arm and pushed and dragged her in the same direction.
The firing continued for several seconds until it became obvious that no one was actually shooting at them and the German NCO came to a decision. “Hans, Klaus, you come with me. We will go and see what is happening. Josef, you make sure they get back on their boat.” Hans and Klaus did not seem too happy at this idea as it was much safer here where no one was actually shooting at them. On the other hand, if it was discovered that they were in the vicinity of the incident and did not make an effort to support the other Germans then they could be in serious trouble; at least this was the NCO’s reasoning. “Still,” he was thinking to himself, “we could move very slowly, perhaps it will have sorted itself out by the time we get there.”
As the Germans moved away, maximising the cover of the warehouses, Calhoun looked down with some amusement at the prone figure of Sam and said, “Ye’d better get up laddie. I’m not sure but I think ye might just have scored a bulls-eye on that wee puddle of spit of yours!”
“Aah knaar, yeh’re kidding me like!” Sam groaned as he cautiously lifted his head to see what was happening around him. Slowly he levered himself up looking at the ground as he did so and quickly realised that the spittle was in fact nowhere near him and he looked up into the grinning face of Calhoun. “Yeh knaa, yeh’re a right wind up merchant Sarge!” he said with a hint of ire in his voice, getting to his feet as he did so.
“Oh it’s just a little bit of humour Sammy boy!” interjected Alec as he made his way over from the shadows.
“What is this ‘Sarge’?” asked a questioning voice heavily accented but in quite passable English. There was a deat
