Colonel Berry

28. Of Causing Explosions

David spent the winery tour half‑present, his mind drifting back to the coal‑gas plan. As soon as he could pull away without causing offence, he headed down to the men's mess to learn the latest version.

Georg referred often to the map as he outlined the complexities of the operation, and he concluded with, "So as it sits now, we'll need only five cars. One for this one outside Worms and one for each of the pairs at Mannheim, Speyer, Germersheim and Karlsruhe." He tapped on each location. "We'll cut the fuses to give ample time for us to leave the area without appearing in a rush."

David nodded. "Yes, better this way. "Leave the cars in busy areas or in inconspicuous places, at least a five‑minute walk from the sites. There must be no need to rush – not to the cars, not on the drive to pick up your partner, and not while heading away from the river."

"Exactly! We'll calculate the fuse lengths by the time needed to walk to the car or to the pick-up place." Georg lifted his watch. "And each will be ignited at a time determined by its length. If we plan and execute properly, there will be nine near-simultaneous explosions, and when they blow, our cars will be five or more kilometres away from the sites."

"But still within sound range, and the fires will be visible." David pursed his lips, stroking his beard as he paused to think. "Others will likely stop to stare, so it would seem odd if you didn't. In this case, we must make an exception to the rule about not pausing or looking back."

"I think only if we see others stopped and looking." Georg shrugged. "We will be mostly on small roads with little traffic, so we may well find no need to conform to others' activities."

"Ah, but it would appear strange for you to be driving away with no apparent concern when you encounter people stopped and looking. Or others driving toward the conflagrations."

"True." Georg bobbed his head. "Best we react as any curious person would. When we hear the blasts, we'll stop and get out of the car and stand, gawking like most will. And don't withhold engaging in conversation with anyone near. Act concerned and worried."

"Like some of the things we talked about." Dolf chuckled. "Find a way to start rumours of it being bombs dropped from huge airships from France or Britain."

"I like that." David smiled at Dolf. "What were the other rumour ideas?"

"Hans thought we might start a story about all the cars we've been seeing with VI number plates in the area. Plant the idea that they could be French sympathisers from the Alsace and Lorraine, and –"

Georg interrupted. "Dolf! We must always refer to them as Elsass and Lothringen, or we'll be suspected as sympathisers ourselves."

Dolf reddened as he nodded. "To be safe, I'll stick to my story about the silent airships hiding among the clouds and dropping bombs."

The group continued their discussion, examining ideas and questions as they arose and refining the plan. When David sensed nothing new was being added, he said, "Right! We'll leave this for the moment. Turn it over in your minds and see if you can spot any flaws or improvements. We'll go through them tomorrow."

Hans asked, "Might we have Maria come again and speak with us? Both Greg and I have questions from our trip, and I'm sure her answers would benefit us all."

"Yes, of course. She had asked if she could, and I told her to wait until after we had bashed a plan into shape." He pointed to the map. "I think we have now done that."

Hans glanced at his watch. "Twenty minutes to four. Ask her if she'd like to join us for tea."

David chuckled. "She suggested I try to arrange that."