"Patience Darius," von Till chided. "You're not thinking. We can use the extra hands to load our supplies on board the submarine." He gazed down at Pitt and smiled. "Because of your wound, Major, you're excused. The rest of your men can begin by carrying the equipment you see on the dock into the forward hatch."

"We don't work for butchers." Pitt spoke softly and evenly.

"Very well, if you insist." Von Till beamed at Darius. "Shoot away his left ear. With your next bullet, take off his nose. After that his—"

"Stow it, you sadistic old hun." The words fairly spat from Woodson's lips. "We'll load your goddamned pigboat."

They had no choice. Pitt had no choice. He could only sit by helplessly and watch as Spencer and Hersong began attacking a small mountain of wooden crates on the dock and passing them to Knight and Thomas on the sub. Woodson vanished into the hatch; only his arms, rising occasionally above the deck to receive a crate, revealed his whereabouts.

The burning sensation returned to Pitt's leg in earnest now. If he hadn't known better, he'd have sworn that a microscopic little man was running back and forth through his wound with a flamethrower. One or twice he nearly blacked out; each time he fought desperately to hold on until the engulfing waves of darkness subsided. On sheer willpower alone he kept his voice on a conversational tone.

"You only answered the when half of my question, von Till."

"Does the method of your demise really matter that much to you?"

"Like I said. I hate surprises."

Von Till studied Pitt in cold speculation, then he shrugged. "I suppose it does no harm to hide the inevitable." He paused to check his watch again. "You and your men will be shot. A bit barbaric and ruthless, I grant, but I prefer to think of it as a rather humane death, especially when compared to being buried alive."

Pitt thought for a moment. "The loading of supplies and equipment, those men removing the guns from the wrecked Albatros, it all spells getaway. You're folding your tent, von Till, and stealing off into the night. Then after you've left, one minute, five minutes, maybe even half an hour, explosive charges will detonate and seal the cavern under tons of rock, entombing the six of us and erasing all evidence of your underwater smuggling operation."

Von Till looked at Pitt in puzzled suspicion. "Go on, Major. I find your assumptions extremely fascinating."