The Unlikely Allies (34 page)

“Ah yes, Lieutenant Stahl. I don’t think Mr. Hadley has been quite as gentle with him.”

“I don’t know how Hadley knows all these things. How did he know about Major Ritter being relieved and sent to a combat unit?”

“He has his ways, I guess. He’s like a fox. I’d hate to try to lie to him.”

“What does he ask you at all these sessions you have, Derek?” Mallory picked up her tea and sipped it. “I can’t imagine.”

“No detail is too small for Mr. Hadley.” He smiled ruefully. “I’ve told him my life story. Everything I can think of. It’s like I said. I don’t think he knows what to do with me.”

She leaned forward, and her eyes were bright with hope. “It will be a good ending, just like in the love stories. We’ll get married and live happily ever after.”

He laughed. “You make me believe that when I look into
your face and see your eyes and all the goodness and hope that’s there.”

After a time, they were interrupted by Hadley, who strolled into the room. “Ah, here you are,” he said. “May I join you?”

“Of course, Mr. Hadley.”

“Why don’t you call me James. I’ve asked you to do that before.”

Derek gave him a mischievous glance. “I’m trying to be on my best behavior. I want to impress you.”

Hadley took a seat. “Well, I have a bit of news for you. I know you’ve been nervous about your future, especially you, Derek.”

“What is it?” Mallory asked. “Is it good news, James?”

“Well, I think it is, but you’ll have to decide. You, of course, Miss Winslow, are free to go. Do you think you’ll go back to Africa?”

“I can’t make any decisions until I find out about Derek.”

“Well, then. You have two options, Derek. We can’t just turn you loose to roam around. I believe you’ve told the truth, and I’ve managed to convince my superiors of that. So here is what I’m authorized to give you. One option is you can go to a prisoner-of-war camp. It’s not too bad, I assure you. That would be for the duration of the war.”

“What’s the other choice?”

“I suppose you know what I do.”

“You’re in intelligence,” Derek said, studying the man carefully.

“That’s correct, and I’ve been given a new assignment. And I must confess I’m not sure how to handle it.”

“What sort of assignment?” he asked.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss the details. Suffice it to say,” Hadley said slowly but with a strange light in his eyes, “I will need someone to help me. Someone who knows the ways of the German mind. Better still, someone who knows the ways of the German
military
mind. It is a secret assignment, and I must tell you at once that it involves considerable risk.”

Derek glanced at Mallory, then looked back toward Hadley. “Are you telling me you want me to become an agent in British intelligence?”

“That is what I would like to see you do, Derek. I’ve become convinced that you could be a great help to us in this matter and in other matters to follow. You speak several languages. You’ve been around the German military organization all of your life. I would like very much for you to work with me on this.”

Derek regarded the smaller man for a moment, then turned to face Mallory. “What do you think, Mallory?”

“You must do it, Derek. All of Europe needs people like you to help stop Hitler before he does any more damage.” She turned to Hadley and said, “And if he has to go, I have the feeling he will be going underground.”

“That’s exactly right, and in dangerous territory.”

“Then he will have to have a contact, won’t he?”

“Yes, he will.” James Hadley cocked an eyebrow. “May I take it that you’re volunteering?”

“Yes. That’s what I want to do.”

“That would be excellent from our point of view. Well, I’ll leave you two to talk it over.”

“You already have our answer,” Derek said.

“Good.” Hadley got up and shook hands with Derek. “I’ll go prepare the way. My superiors will be very happy to hear this. But you are going to be two very, very busy people.”

Hadley got to the door, then turned. “Oh, by the way, you won’t need this gentleman anymore. Dickens, you are relieved.”

The guard got up, smiled broadly at Derek and Mallory, and left the room.

“You were right, Mallory,” Derek said. “We’re going to have a happy ending.” He took her hand in his own and kissed it. “Now you will have to marry me so we can live happily ever after.”

“Oh, Derek, it’s going to be wonderful!”

“The war won’t be so wonderful. It’s going to be very difficult.”

“But after the war, it will be. We could settle in America. Or maybe we should go back to Norway. Maybe—”

Mallory did not finish, for Derek had risen and pulled her into an embrace. He looked down at her as she fit closely within his arms. “We won’t talk about all the
maybe
s. For now we’re together.”

“Yes. We’ll be together no matter what happens.” She pulled his head down and kissed him. “I’m starving. Let’s go eat some of this terrible English food.”

The two left the room holding hands, then Derek put his arm around her and held her tight. “You were right. God is good, and we’ll always be together.”

GILBERT MORRIS spent ten years as a pastor before becoming Professor of English at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas and earning a Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas. A prolific writer, he has had over 25 scholarly articles and 200 poems published in various periodicals and over the past years has had more than 200 novels published. His family includes three grown children. He and his wife live in Gulf Shores, Alabama.