Anthony Hawke stepped back. ‘I say, Ridgeway, I hope you don’t think I’m some kind of collaborator?’

‘Good heavens no, sir – quite the contrary. I’m talking about patriots. If you care to come back this time the day after tomorrow, I’d be more than happy to explain further.’

Chapter 15

Germany, October 1945

They arrived at the Moser farm in the Rott Valley late at night, four days after escaping from Königstein.

Wolfgang Steiner was expecting them, though it had to be said with a feeling of dread: for a father-and-son reunion it was marked by a noticeable air of tension, one bordering on hostility. The first Wolfgang had heard about the events in Königstein had been a coded telephone call two days before from Nuremberg.

I have two bull calves for you. I need to deliver them as soon as possible.

His heart had sunk. He’d told Ulrich very clearly that he didn’t want him anywhere near the farm, and he especially didn’t want his son anywhere near it. He regretted having given Ulrich the address: he’d told him it was only to be used in extreme emergency: bull calves. He’d replied that he’d changed his mind and didn’t want the calves after all, thank you very much. He was sure there were other farms who’d happily take them.

I have to deliver them quickly – there is no other option.

‘Perhaps take them to Austria and then head south?’

Not possible, but don’t worry, they’ll be transported with great care.

He’d felt his chest tighten and Frau Moser had given him a quizzical look as she passed through the hall. ‘In that case, deliver them after dark.’ He’d paused, realising he needed to give more explicit instructions. He couldn’t afford to risk things going wrong. ‘There’s a small wood above the farm: wait there until nightfall. Only come down to the farm when you see a light go on in the upstairs room facing the wood.’

He’d explained to Frau Moser that two comrades of his were coming to visit and she wasn’t to worry, they’d only stay for a day or two and they’d remain in the cellar. He’d rather she didn’t get into conversation with them. They didn’t arrive that night, but the following night he’d only been waiting inside the open barn for a few minutes when two figures emerged from the pitch darkness and walked uncertainly into the farmyard. Wolfgang whistled for them to come over to the barn.

‘Are we staying in here? It’s fucking cold – I was hoping for somewhere warm, along with a bath and a decent meal.’

‘Is that the way you greet your father?’

Friedrich Steiner shrugged and mumbled some kind of apology, then asked for a cigarette.

‘I trust Frau Moser, but the less she knows the better, so we’ll talk out here. Tell me what happened.’

Friedrich began to speak, but Ulrich interrupted him.

‘The Englishman didn’t turn up at Elsa-Brändström-Platz on the Sunday and nor did he come to the fall-back point on Moselstrasse the next day. However…’ he paused to inhale deeply from the cigarette Wolfgang had given him, ‘I then heard he’d been arrested because of currency violations and was being held in the IG Farben building on Fürstenbergerstrasse. In addition, a pair of British officers – a man and a woman – had turned up there and were asking about der Fluchtweg Falke and about Friedrich.’