The Iron Storm by CW Browning (classic literature books TXT) 📕

“That’s a relief, sir.”

“Yes it is.” Bill set aside the transmission and opened the second one, lapsing into silence.

“Bad news, sir?” Wesley asked as a scowl settled onto Bill’s face.

“Not good news, no,” Bill murmured. He lowered the message and frowned at the map on the wall across the room. “German motorized columns have been spotted moving through the Ardennes.”

“What?!” Wesley exclaimed, startled. “How many?”

“An entire army by the sounds of it.” Bill got up to stride across the office to the map on the wall. “At least five Panzer divisions, and very likely more, have been confirmed.”

“How can that be? The French claim the Ardennes are impenetrable!”

“Apparently they aren’t as impenetrable as they thought,” Bill muttered grimly, staring at the map. “Get Jasper on the telephone, will you? He’ll want to know about this.”

Wesley nodded and went over to pick up the handset on the desk. While he telephoned Jasper’s office, Bill traced the line from the Ardennes forest near Sedan to Belgium with a scowl. Five Panzer divisions confirmed meant that a huge part of Hitler’s army was coming through the Ardennes, not Belgium as they presumed.

“Montclair isn’t in his office, but his assistant said he’ll be back in half an hour. Shall I have him give him a message?”

“What?” Bill looked around, distracted. “Oh. No. No, I’ll go up myself when he returns.”

Wesley spoke into the receiver and then hung up. “What does it mean, do you suppose?”

“What does it mean?” Bill snorted. “It means that the French High Command has been caught sleeping. The Germans sent a feint into Belgium, and they fell for it. Based on the attack in Holland and Belgium, they committed all our best troops to Belgium to stop them. In the meantime, it’s not the main thrust of the German army at all. The Ardennes is!”

Wesley crossed the room to join him at the map. “Are you sure?” he asked, his brows drawn together. “There can’t be a mistake?”

“Metz has independent confirmation from four different agents in the Ardennes. Add that to the aerial photos taken two days ago showing columns of forces heading into the area and I don’t think there can be any doubt.”

“We have aerial photos?” Wesley stared at him. “From two days ago? Why didn’t we divert troops to the area?”

“Because the French said it was nothing. They claimed it was a diversionary tactic,” Bill said disgustedly. “When we sent another reconnaissance flight over, the columns had disappeared. So nothing was done.”

“Oh this isn’t good.”

“No Wesley, it isn’t. While the entire BEF is tied up in Belgium, the Germans are sending Panzers through the Ardennes. Look.” He pointed to the map. “If they break through Sedan, they can cut west towards the channel and trap our troops in Belgium. See?”

“Good Lord.”

“Exactly.”

“What can be done?”

Bill shook his head grimly. “I have absolutely no idea. We must stop them from breaking through at Sedan, but I don’t know how. That’s for the High Command to figure out. Our job is to get them the intelligence. What they do with it is up to them.”

“But...that’s our entire British Expeditionary Force!” Wesley exclaimed. “That’s the bulk of our army!”

“I’m well aware of that, Wesley.” Bill turned to go over to his desk and dropped into the chair. “How long has it been since they began their offensive? Thirty hours?”

“Something like that.”

“Thirty hours into the invasion and we’re already in danger of losing France.” He rubbed his eyes and leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. “It doesn’t seem real, does it?”

“Don’t give up France yet, sir,” Wesley said encouragingly. “It’s early days yet. We can still stop them at Sedan, and then we can pull the BEF back out of Belgium. It’s not over yet, not by a long shot.”

“I hope you’re right, Wesley.” Bill lifted his head. “Thank God Churchill’s in charge now. I can’t imagine what Chamberlain would have done faced with this. It doesn’t bear thinking about, actually.”

“No, sir. I was very happy to see that he’d accepted the Prime Ministership last night. I heard the news when I was at the pub.”

Bill looked at him and his lips twisted wryly. “That’s as good a place as any to hear news like that. Did you raise a glass?”

Wesley grinned. “I did indeed, sir, as did my brother with me. Not everyone is as optimistic about this appointment, but I think everyone is relieved to see the back of Chamberlain.”

“Quite so.”

“Shall I get started on typing up those reports from last night?”

“Yes, thank you.” Bill leaned forward and picked up the next paper from the stack on his desk. Glancing up, he stopped Wesley on his way to the door. “I’m sorry you’re here on a Saturday, Wesley.”

“It’s quite all right, sir. These are crucial days. I understand.”

He left the office and Bill turned his attention back to the papers before him. It was going to be a long day, and an even longer weekend.

And he had a horrible suspicion that this was only the beginning.

Outside Maubeuge, France - 8am

Evelyn stepped into the large kitchen at the back of the house and looked around. It was a sunny room with two windows overlooking the small yard accessed through a door next to the pantry. An old scarred wooden table took up most of the room to the left of the door. Three empty coffee mugs told her that someone was up, even if there was no one to be found. Going over to the windows above the sink and counter, she looked out into the yard. It was empty. With a shrug, she turned from the window and looked at the coffee pot on the stove. She picked it up and, finding it empty, began to look for the coffee. She would make a new pot while she was waiting for someone to show up.

She was just filling the percolator with fresh water when a door slammed somewhere on the ground floor and