The Sleeping Army Awakes

Part 49 Shelling out

Once they were smartly dressed in their naval camouflage, clean and shaved, Katka inspected the brothers and reluctantly said that it was probably the best that they could do. Although Katka didn't like the fact that they were carrying guns, she had to admit that it made them look more like credible marines, even if they walked like sloppy ones.

"Now you two!" Katka chided, "You're not going to do something stupid are you?"

"What us Ma'am?" Pawel beamed innocently, looking as though ice-cream wouldn't melt on his tongue. "we are simply investigating what danger those blasts pose themselves and we will report back in time for supper."

"OK go and find out " Katka ordered. "try not to kill anything in process!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Pawel said, "By the way you look really good in that uniform!"

"Flattery will get you nowhere!" Katka said. "And come back in time to wash dishes! No dishes no supper!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Pawel and Michal said saluting and then Michal asked. "And what do we do with him Ma'am?" meaning Basil.

"Leave him here." Katka said, "The Lord Admiral wants to interrogate him."

Pawel and Michal marched out to see what the constant explosions were. It hadn't occurred to either of them to actually do the washing up before leaving. Katka looked at the pile of pans and mess tins despondently as the remnants of food congealed in the sunlight.

The two brothers didn't have far to go back down the service road to the mine, before they rounded a corner, left naval land and found a place where they had an almost panoramic view of the lower slopes.

To the right of them a yellow and black helicopter took off from inside the naval territory.

"Strumpet." Michal said. "Duck in case they see us!"

"No stand tall strumpet. You forget Michal." Pawel said rather condescendingly. "We are Naval marines now. We have right to be here. They were trespassing on Naval land. They are simply running like scared bunnies strumpet."

"I would be happier ducking!" Michal admitted.

The helicopter began to circle the area over the building site as if looking for something.