BIGGLES SEES IT THROUGH

by Captain W. E. Johns

IV. A GRIM ULTIMATUM (Pages 61 – 74)

“Biggles’s first thought was of the papers in his pocket. He remembered Colonel Raymond’s words, ‘At all costs they must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy’. Yet even then he hesitated to destroy them, for once burnt there were gone for ever, and with the professor dead, the vital information they contained could never be recovered”. Biggles thinks quickly where he can hide the papers. In the crash the manifold exhaust had snapped off and being hot had melted into the ice. “It was obvious that in a few seconds the manifold would disappear from sight altogether; but as it grew cold the water would quickly freeze again and entomb it”. Biggles tears a piece of loose fabric from the wing and wraps the papers up in it and then throws the manifold aside and sinks the papers in the water-filled cavity under the weight of his automatic pistol, which he knows will soon be taken from him. He then marks the spot by taking a line on landmarks on either bank. Biggles and his comrades then surrender to the advancing Russians. It would be useless to fight them. The five Russian bombers all land. Everyone is searched by the parachutists and then there is a fairly long delay while the wreck of the Blenheim is searched. The prisoners are separated and then flown east for twenty minutes to a temporary aircraft base with canvas hangers. There is an imposing fort or citadel built nearby and the prisoners are taken there, where they are marched before von Stalhein. He tells Biggles that he had had the foresight to send a man on ahead to fetch the bombers. Von Stalhein demands the papers. Biggles says he hasn’t got them. He says he has hidden them where they will never be found and only he, not his comrades, know the hiding place. “Von Stalhein toyed with his monocle for a moment. He fitted a cigarette into a long holder, lit it, and sent a cloud of grey smoke curling towards the ceiling. ‘You know, Bigglesworth, in the past you’ve had a lot of luck,’ he said reflectively. ‘Now don’t try to do me out of what little credit my efforts have brought me,’ protested Biggles. ‘But luck,’ continued von Stalhein imperturbably, ‘can’t last for ever, and I think you’ve about come to the end of it. You’ve given me more trouble that the rest of the British Intelligence Service put together, and I find you irritating. Still, there are qualities about you that I, who try to be efficient, admire, and for that reason I’m going to give you a chance’”. Biggles is told that if he hands over the papers he will be treated as an ordinary prisoner of war. If he refuses, he will be shot. Biggles says that he has papers that show their commissions in the Finnish Air Force, they are on the table, and by International Law they can claim the privileges of prisoners of war. Von Stalhein just burns their papers. Von Stalhein tells Biggles he will give him until eight o’clock in the morning to remember where he put the papers. If he hasn’t recovered his memory by then, his companions will be shot. “Since they don’t know where the papers are there is really no point in my keeping them here”. Biggles will be put in a room overlooking the courtyard so he can watch. Von Stalhein asks where the rest of Biggles men are as there are only four prisoners. Biggles explains that there was only four of them. When he carried out the hold up, the rest of the rifles were sticks. “Very clever,” sneers von Stalhein, “But not clever enough”. The four prisoners are taken away and placed in a room with a heavily barred window, overlooking the courtyard. Biggles tells his comrades “It looks as if we’re in a jam”. Algy says getting out will be hard. It would put the tin hat on Jack Sheppard’s career as a prison-buster. (This reference to Jack Shepherd is a reference to a notorious English robber, burglar and thief who lived from 1702 to 1724, when he was hanged at Tyburn. He was famous for escaping from custody on four occasions, mainly by using knotted sheets. W.E. Johns also has Biggles refer to Jack Shepherd in Chapter 8 of Biggles & Co., after he has escaped from confinement and in Chapter 14 of Biggles Defies the Swastika, when they are captured by von Stalhein). Biggles tells everyone that obviously he is going to show von Stalhein where the papers are hidden. There is a chorus of dissent. Biggles says von Stalhein will carry out his threat and showing him will give him longer to do something and perhaps a chance to get away. The four men try to get some sleep.