THE LOST VIKING SAGA

The atmosphere inside the bunker one hour later was celebratory. Colonel Brundige moved around the room shaking hands and doling out hearty congratulations. William stood quietly talking to Olaf, the two of them very intent on their conversation, pausing only occasionally to acknowledge one well-wisher or another. Shortly, the Colonel called for everyone’s attention, requesting that they take their seats. Only after the noise and clamor of people seating themselves died down, did Brundige commence speaking.

“There is much joy and excitement over what was exhibited today. A new hope is being fanned into flame, now that we have seen an idea actually be made manifest through the actions of our Norse friends here. First of all, I want to thank you, Olaf. Without your sharp mind and crafty strategy none of this would have seen its birth. You have indeed proved to be a valuable and welcomed ally. Even more amazing is that we are ahead of schedule and there is still a week to spare before we must bid you God speed and pray for your safe return. How we will use that time to your advantage I will discuss with you later in private, but for now, we rejoice. Our confidence in this plan has been validated.”

Colonel Brundige stepped back smartly, nodding to William. The bespectacled, clever man walked forward and looked out over his protégés. He removed his glasses, and taking a cloth from his back pocket, he dabbed at his eyes. Finished, he held the glasses to the light before placing them back upon his face.

“The Colonel has already expressed more clearly than I can how we all feel about what has happened here since you have arrived. I humbly bow to each of you as I never thought you would be able to achieve what you did today. It escalates my belief, and that of many others here, that your task is divinely ordained. The opportunity is before us to turn the tide of this war and eliminate a great blight from this world. But we must never become overconfident. Overconfidence breeds indifference and complacency, both of which are a warrior’s truest enemies. Do not flag in your vigilance, my friends.”

William returned to his seat and was replaced by Warrant Officer MacGrieve. MacGrieve led the assembled throng in a rousing cheer, after which he dismissed the men for their evening meal. Olaf remained in the room with Ebbn, Kalf, and David. They joined Colonel Brundige, Major Penbrooke, and William at a table that had been set up at the front of the room. As each man took his seat, a group of British soldiers entered the room bearing trays of food and pitchers of water. They laid out the fare upon the table and quickly exited, leaving the men alone.

“I hope you don’t mind, terribly, Olaf, but I thought we would dine in here together as we review our observations of the exercise,” explained Brundige.

“Not at all, Colonel. I must admit that I am rather hungry. I appreciate not having to wait until later,” Olaf paused for a moment then continued. “If you do not mind my asking, what has become of John? I have looked for him throughout the day and was surprised to not find him present at any stage of the proceedings.”

“He was recalled back to Oxford shortly before the exercise ended to attend to some of his duties as a professor. Don’t worry, old chap, I can’t imagine that he won’t make every effort to bid your farewell before you leave on the mission. I have a feeling we couldn’t keep him away if we tried. I am under the impression that he has grown quite fond of you.”

“And I of him. He is the first one when we arrived who could help me make sense of what was happening to us. There is a bond of friendship between us that cannot be broken.”

“I understand,” Brundige shifted in his seat to address William. “William, I will give you the lead now. I have to make a phone call to the PM in London who quite urgently wants a report. I will return as soon as I can.”

The Colonel rose from the table and left the room. William pulled a notebook from one of his pockets and began to page through it until he came to the place he was looking for.

“I haven’t much to say in all honesty. You far exceeded my expectations today. I am still trying to ascertain how you set your men into motion. From my vantage point they all appeared to move at the same time. After that I found it extremely difficult to keep track of them all. Everything that followed was a blur of activity of which I was only able to capture brief snatches of as I tried to keep up. How did you ever coordinate their movements so fluidly?”

Olaf smiled. “If you do not mind over much, I will save that explanation for when we return. Suffice it to say that it was carefully planned and communicated far before your test was devised. I have been putting it into motion since we first learned of the objective and began studying the drawings of the opera house. The skills you have ingrained in us only served to help us bring it to a successful conclusion more efficiently. For this, we are deeply indebted to you.”

“I taught you nothing that you didn’t already have the capacity to teach yourself, Olaf.”

“You humble yourself over much, William. You are indeed a formidable warrior with the heart of a Norseman. Our success is only as certain as those who equip us. Without you, we could not have moved with the competence we did.”

“Well then, I will endeavor to patiently await your return so that I might learn from you. Your strategy was unanticipated on my part whatever it might have been.”

Thus, the debriefing transformed into simply a meal among friends instead of a meeting laden with information they already knew. They ate heartily and warmly swapped stories with each other. William spoke of his family, his background, and the events that led to his development of the techniques he was implementing not only with them but with other elements within the British military. Olaf spoke of his home, his conversion from the pagan gods, and of his ship and his many journeys aboard her deck. So freely did they speak that even David and Major Penbrooke, whose Christian name was Albert, felt impelled to share stories of their lives and what had brought them to the point at which they were in life. It was a relaxed and uplifting time together that contrasted sharply to the day’s prior activities. They were so caught up in each other’s stories they scarcely noticed when Colonel Brundige reentered the room.

The Colonel’s face was set in a grave expression, worry lines creasing his forehead.

“I am afraid I have some distressing developments to share, gentlemen.”

“What is wrong, Colonel? Is the mission in jeopardy?” asked Major Penbrooke.

“No, Major. The mission is still on target for the same time and place. However, old Winston has put a bit of a screw into things.”

“Who is this Winston? Do you need my assistance in pacifying him?” asked Ebbn boldly.

“By all means no!” exclaimed Brundige. “He is the leader of our people. So excited was he with my report of your success that he wants to push our luck even further.”

“What do you mean, Colonel?” inquired William.

“Well, I am at a loss of no other way to explain it so I will keep it simple. Our leader, Winston Churchill has been advised by other elements within our military that your mission is the perfect time to move forward a plan they have been developing since the Nazis first expelled us from France. He still wants you to bring Hitler back here, but he also now desires that you to take it a step beyond and substitute an imposter in his place.”

“Sir, is that even possible?” blurted out David.

“I am told it is. Apparently, the Secret Intelligence Service has been working on a plan since Dunkirk. It involves swapping a doppelganger Hitler under our control for the real Fuhrer. They have an operative that has been training and even has secretly entered Germany, appearing in public two or three times in the recent months. I am told he even effectively fooled Hermann Goering at a party in Oslo. Winston Churchill believes that your operation in Paris is the perfect time to precipitate the swap. Our doppelganger will be arriving from London tomorrow. You now need to include sneaking him in with you and leaving him in the proper Adolph’s place as part of your strategy, Olaf. I am truly sorry to spring this on you so late in the game.”

“I see not why this should change anything, Colonel. I am just as confident now as I ever have been. An additional objective to complete changes very little in how we do what we go to do. I accept your Winston’s proposal. You may communicate to him that I will do whatever is necessary to see that it is done.”

“You never cease to impress me, Olaf,” said Brundige warmly. “If for some reason your completion of this mission opens up a way for you to return to your home, I will sorely miss you.”

“Thank you for your kindness. Now, if you all do not mind, I am tired and would like to go to bed. I look forward to seeing your imposter tomorrow, Colonel.”

The men stood. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they went their separate ways, the Norsemen to a well-deserved rest, and Colonel Brundige to his seemingly never ending responsibilities.