BIGGLES
DEFIES THE SWASTIKA
by Captain W.
E. Johns
III. ACROSS
THE FRONTIER (Pages
36 – 50)
Biggles is recognised immediately and
bluffs it out (in German). “So there you are,” he said cheerfully. “I was hoping you’d come along. I’m dreadfully sorry for what happened this
morning, but I was in the dickens of a mess – and in a hurry. I should have been at the aerodrome the
moment our troops arrived, but the fool woman at my hotel forgot to wake
me. You were all busy, so rather than
worry you I tried to get to the aerodrome by myself. As you saw, I borrowed a bicycle. Then, after the accident, knowing that you’d
have no difficulty in getting another machine, I borrowed yours and dashed
along here. I would have seen to it that
you got it back, of course”. With some
help from Kristen, the German accepts the explanation but not with very good
grace: He says Biggles had no right to
take his machine. “I admit that,” agreed
Biggles readily. “But don’t make a fuss
about it, there’s a good fellow, or it may lead to trouble for all of us”. Biggles agrees to return the motor bike by
leaving it at the garage of the Nordic Hotel.
Returning to the bike, Biggles comes up with the idea of trying to get
over the frontier to Sweden, which is still a neutral country. He sets off on the motor bike. Germans are everywhere and it is obvious that
far more Germans have landed than he had first supposed. The Nazi armlet and swastika pennants allow
him to go anywhere “indeed, on more than one occasion Nazi troops held up the
traffic to let him pass”. Before he
reaches the border, Biggles hides the motor bike in a deep ditch and covers it
over with rubbish, leaving his armlet under the saddle. Queuing at the border, Biggles tells the
immigration officials that he is British and he persuades them to take him to
the British Consul, who will vouch for him and take responsibility for
him. Two Swedish policemen take him to
Rodas, where he meets the British Vice-Consulate and is able to tell his story
in private. The Vice-Consulate gets
Colonel Raymond on the telephone and Biggles explains what has happened. Raymond wants Biggles to go back to Norway. “Fate or fortune has put an astounding
opportunity your way ….. we should learn every move …..”. Biggles is
reluctant to go back. Raymond says “I
can’t order you to go. But,
frankly, you’re not the man I take you to be if you let this golden opportunity
slip”. Biggles is talked into going
back. Raymond says he will make arrangements to get in touch with Biggles to
allow him to report. Biggles has one
request. “If you could get Lacey and
Hebblethwaite somewhere handy, somewhere where I could reach them in emergency,
I’d be grateful. As you know, we always
work as a team, and I need a little moral support, anyway”. Raymond agrees, saying he has already
recalled them from France. Biggles tells
the Vice-Consulate to tell the two Swedish police officers that he refuses to
take responsibility for Biggles. Half an
hour later, Biggles is gently but firmly shown back across the frontier into
Norway again. Biggles goes to recover
the hidden motor bike and puts his armlet back on. He then drives back to the aerodrome. Here, Kristen hurries towards him and asks
him where he has been. “Only for a
ride,” answered Biggles casually, “Why?”.
“Baron von Leffers has been asking for you” is the reply. Biggles says he will report to him at once.