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

present the Germans with their missing plans. He was an opportunist, and would sell everyone he knew out to the highest bidder if it benefitted him. It was people like him that would extend this war, turning friends against family until there was no trust or faith left. In a sudden instant of clarity, Evelyn realized that the man smiling so suavely at her was the epitome of everything she loathed and hated, and the very reason she had agreed to join MI6 and fight for all that was good in this new world they were living in. He symbolized the smug arrogance that had propelled ordinary men and women into this war. It was that arrogance that was the reason she was standing in this shabby little sitting room in a country village in France, instead of in her own gracious drawing room at Ainsworth Manor.

And she was suddenly furious.

“Even if I did have it, I would hardly give it to someone I don’t know in the hopes that he might be able to pass it onto someone else,” she said coldly. “If I had gone through the trouble of carrying it all the way from Antwerp, through an invasion, and over the border into France, why on earth would I part with it now?”

“Because you are in immediate danger of being captured by the SS,” he said. “I’m only concerned for you, my dear, and the package you carry. It must be preserved at all costs. Surely you can see that.”

“Surely you can see what a ridiculous conversation this is,” she retorted irritably.

Jens glanced at her and frowned.

“I think there’s been some kind of mistake,” he said, looking at Asp. “She doesn’t have this package. You said yourself that a courier would have passed it on long before now. It would be insane to carry something like that out of Belgium in the midst of an invasion.”

“Would it? Would it be better to leave it in Belgium and risk it finding its way back into German hands?” Asp countered. “Open your eyes, man. She has it. She hasn’t had the chance to pass it on to anyone. I’ll tell you what,” he said, turning his attention back to her. “I’ll give you one thousand francs in exchange for the package.”

“A thousand francs!” Jens exclaimed, shocked. “Are you mad?”

“I’m concerned that the information she carries will fall into the wrong hands,” Asp replied sharply. “I’m willing to pay to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Both men missed the flash of pure fury in blue eyes before them.

“You can keep your money,” Evelyn said, her voice deadly and quiet. “I neither need nor want it. Even if I did have the package you’re talking about, I wouldn’t take your money in exchange for it even if I had a gun held to head by Himmler himself.”

The amiable look disappeared from Asp’s face with her words and his lips thinned.

“I can assure you that if Himmler was holding a gun to your head, you wouldn’t be so quick with your words,” he snapped. “I think you do have the package, and I think you have it with you now. You would never leave it in a suitcase or in a car. It’s far too valuable. What’s to stop me from taking it from you?”

Jens blustered angrily, but Asp ignored him, his eyes on Evelyn’s face. He took a step towards her, his mouth twisted into something resembling a snarl.

“You’ve been very clever to carry it all this way, even in the teeth of the German advance into Belgium, but you won’t carry it any further. That package will not leave this room.”

The room was filled with complete silence for a charged second as Evelyn and Asp stared at each other, both filled with anger, and resolve. Jens stood rooted to the spot, his eyes wide with alarm, watching Asp in apprehension. For that one suspended second in time, no one moved.

And then Asp lunged for Evelyn.

Evelyn saw him move and, instead of backing away, stepped forward to meet him, her left hand swinging up to block the hand reaching for her. While she blocked with her left, her right hand sliced upwards towards his neck. Before he had any idea what was happening, the side of her hand slammed into his throat, crushing his esophagus, at the same time that her left hand twisted and grabbed his wrist. Within seconds, Asp was on his knees before her, his right arm twisted around behind him at an impossible angle, choking from the blow to his throat.

Before she could raise her right hand again and deliver a blow to his temple, Jens suddenly lurched into action. With a roar, he lunged towards them and Evelyn looked up, startled, as he flew towards her. Before she could stop him, he pushed her violently away from Asp, forcing her to release the hold she had on his arm. She stumbled backwards, gasping and trying to catch herself, just as a flash of steel appeared in Asp’s left hand.

Asp jumped to his feet, a revolver in his hand, and spun around to find Evelyn. He found himself facing Jens instead and snarled, raising the revolver. Jens knocked it out of his hand with a cry and the gun skidded across the floor, coming to a stop near Evelyn’s feet. She ignored it, her eyes locked on the two men. With his gun gone, Asp resorted to his hands and grabbed for Jens’ throat. The struggle that ensued was as brief as it was intense, with Jens trying to pry strong fingers away from his neck. Gasping for air, he stopped pulling at Asp’s wrists and punched him in the throat, right where Evelyn had stuck him seconds before. Asp gagged and his hands fell away from Jens’ throat as he tried to suck in air through his damaged wind pipe. Before he could recover, Jens shoved him away from him, trying to put as much distance between them