Chapter Two, Part SevenDecide to quit never start smoking.
Then decide to investigate the zeppelin that appeared over the train for no reason
Also, if I heard the guy's question: "Jawohl, sie sind alle ausser Gefecht gesetzt!"
Finishing his contemplation in the wilderness between carriages two and three,
Link has a profound intimation that smoking could be harmful to his health, and vows not to commence [2]. Inserting a cigarette into his holder, he deftly lights one that he takes from his slim silver case and strolls down the carriage, thinking that he should investigate the enormous Zeppelin looming over the train and now illuminating it.
As he exits the far end of carriage four, smoke trailing behind him, he faintly hears a German voice cry out in the night [4] and decides to exercise his skills in cunning subterfuge.
"Jawohl, sie sind alle ausser Gefecht gesetzt!"
As a distinct taste of porridge comes to his mind, he throws his cigarette away, but can’t seem to help himself immediately reach for another.
Excuse myself from the Germans discussing Elk to prevent self from making even more mistakes, and tap the door four times with my walking bat stick, once in each corner, and have it magically open. If that doesn't work, which it might, you never know, ask the Germans assistance in knocking it down.
Back in the tea room,
Smith feels that perhaps there are more important things in the course of espionage than having one’s third cup of tea in quick succession, and determines that the time for action has arrived, just as “G” gets up purposefully grasping his trusty rifle. To the amazement of the gathered Germans, and to the disappointment of the slightly slower “G” in particular, Smith takes his walking
bat stick, taps the door four times with it, once in each corner, and then calmly and gently turns the doorknob.
It opens [5+1].
Beat the door with the stock of my rifle.
As he follows Smith out of the tea wagon, turning to look quizzically at the opened door and, in his mind’s eye, vigorously shake his rifle butt at it in disgust,
“G” sees Henry McGeenyton rush past into the room that “G” and Smith have just left.
Search for tea, and any more bombs. But tea first.
McGeenyton sits down at a table in a comfortable armchair, nods politely to the two Germans, and signals for a butler to come over with some tea. As he sips in his remarkably refined way [4], his thoughts turn to the question of bombs, and, in particular, whether there might not be any more on board the train somewhere. It wouldn’t do to rush one’s tea, however, so he appreciatively finishes the cup before deciding to get to his feet and return to action. A true master of espionage, he thinks to himself, plans sufficiently well to ensure that ungentlemanly rushing about is rarely required. He considers requesting a second cup.
Leave the shouting back to Wellington, seeming as he is the more convincing gentlemen (or Link if he can be hear) unt keep up der geklimbing opp die laddern.
Back in the air above the train, as
von Fersen looks back up the rope he hears the Germanicly disguised voice of his comrade Mr Link float up into the air past him [5].
"Jawohl, sie sind alle ausser Gefecht gesetzt!"
“Ah, sehr gut! Haben wir einige recht gute Tea brauen! und Biscuits! Come on up!“
The reply is shouted down by the man peering over the basket’s parapet, and as he finishes he withdraws back over, keen to get sheltered from the wind. Von Fersen hears indistinguishable conversation continue in the wicker basket, muted by the breeze and the noise of the two great machines in the night.
He carries on climbing up the rope ladder, until he reaches the basket, and clambers gracefully over the sides [3+1]. Three men turn to face him; the pilot, shoulders hunched in the effort of keeping the course steady, doesn’t turn from his vast mariner’s wheel at the fore of the basket.
Stay quiet looking... German?
As von Fersen is about to extend his hand in a polite greeting,
Wellington silently climbs up over the side and joins him in the basket.
The Germans look visibly surprised at seeing such an obviously English gentleman board their Zeppelin [2].