My worst fears are realised. Ilse has been taken from me. We both knew it was coming but I believe my heart is broken. The smirk on Unterscharführer Müller’s face tells me all I need to know. Can you bear it, my darling?

Thursday, June 7th, 1945

The day has ended in tragedy. When they told us to go on deck, I shook hands with Hartmann because we believed it was the hour of our execution. Outside the stars were shining, and Hartmann and I just stood there sucking in the precious air. A spotlight illuminated the dark water ahead. There were crocodiles by the hundreds and huge insects everywhere. The submarine moved very slowly. The guards let us walk up and down the deck. After twenty minutes they told us to return below. I couldn’t believe we were going to live. Then Hartmann suddenly turned on Heider. As an upper-class Prussian of the old school, he expressed most eloquently what he thought of him. His last words were: ‘You are a disgusting coward without honour.’ Heider shot him through the forehead. I think Hartmann just couldn’t bear going back below. He was a brave man.

* * *

The modest captain’s cabin was jam-packed with luggage and equipment cases. Astride one of these, Boerman was stripping down his pride and joy, an original M60 machine gun from the Vietnam War, which he had acquired in Ho Chi Minh City after seeing Rambo.

‘Nash seemed to think I’m his boy. Who does he fucking think he is?’

In a white T-shirt and black lacy underwear, Sura was lying on top of the single bed, studying her tablet.

‘If the Hoosenbeck Cavern is as deep as they say it is, we’ll need his services.’

Boerman frowned as he ran a wire brush through the flash suppressor.

‘Nash has the thousand-yard stare – I saw it in the Legion – and I’m telling you, under pressure he’ll turn to jelly. We don’t need him or Douglas. The sooner we’re rid of them, the better.’

Engrossed in the Ford diary entries, Sura was only half listening.

‘You’ll get your fun. Until then, keep your hands to yourself.’

‘Do you really mean it, liefie?’ he cooed, reaching over to cup her taut right buttock. Its nutmeg firmness made him want to sink his teeth into it.

She shifted irritably. ‘Go back to your cabin. Goki will be wondering where you are.’

As far as Jaap was concerned, Goki could go to fucking Hell, but Sura had sworn him to be on his best behaviour.

‘Just a quickie, liefie. I swear I’m going out of my mind here.’