‘Certainly, sir.’ Law sat down behind his desk and began again to watch Green intently.
Monash adjusted his seat so that he was looking directly at Green. ‘You have no doubt guessed that I have another task for you, Robert,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s similar to some of the jobs I gave you during our last campaign, but different too, and it’s in France.’
Green nodded. He regarded Monash carefully. Past experience with the General had taught him to expect the unexpected.
‘However, before I give you any more details,’ Monash continued, ‘you have the choice to accept, or reject the task. If you accept it, this briefing will continue in detail. If you reject it, the briefing will end and you will be posted to a battalion of your choice.’ Monash smiled grimly, ‘You won’t be returned to the School of Musketry. Anyhow, before I ask you for a decision, I have to tell you this task is dangerous and there is every chance you won’t return.’ He raised a hand and gestured vaguely. ‘Yes, I know, it’s not much of a choice, a bit like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded pistol, what?’
Green smiled politely at Monash’s attempted humour.
‘I’m sorry I had you sent you to the school,’ Monash said contritely.
Green was shocked and tried to mask his surprise. Why would Monash do such a thing? It made no sense.
Monash noticed his expression. ‘You must have underestimated the power of senior officers, Robert. It would have been inappropriate for me to advise you of my action, but I wanted to have you where I could get to you when I needed to. I never thought that our next scheme together would be anything like this one though.’
Green shrugged. ‘The School wasn’t such a bad life, you know,’ he said defensively.
Monash frowned and wondered if perhaps he had misjudged his man after all, and that Green was about to refuse him.
‘But if I’m honest,’ Green continued, ‘I’d have to say I was bored silly there. Tell me about the job, sir.’
Monash smiled. ‘Thank you, Robert,’ he said warmly, ‘I hoped you’d agree. Things are a bit complicated, as you will now find out. Some people would say that I have no business getting involved, that at this stage, whatever is happening in France is none of my business. My position is, as it has always been, I just want to defeat the enemy, and if that means at times I adopt unusual methods, well, so be it. You will have to take a care Robert, for not all of those who will oppose your mission will be wearing German uniforms.’
Green smiled grimly. ‘Nothing much has changed then, sir,’ he said. Monash’s struggles in pursuing many of his policies and to gain the promotion he needed to see his thoughts turn to deeds were well known. He was, Green mused, one of those men you either loved, or hated. He had to admit that at times he had been squarely in the haters’ camp, but never for long.
Monash finished his tea in a gulp and turned to Law. ‘Ah, that was bloody good, thanks,’ he said with obvious satisfaction. ‘Now, Law, it’s over to you for the detail.’
Law stood up. ‘Thank you, sir,’ he said, and then he turned to Green. ‘You asked earlier where I fitted into all of this and I think I will begin with a small explanation of my role. Aside from my duties with General Monash, from time to time, I am required to carry out other intelligence work for people further up the chain of command.’
Green frowned. ‘You mean you’re a spy,’ he said.
‘Not really,’ Law replied, ‘but my work often brings me in contact with people who are. And that is what has happened on this occasion. I’ll tell you a little more of that later. First, I want you to look at this map.’
Green and Monash joined Law at his desk and pored over a map which Law had spread across the desk top. ‘This is a section of the Somme in northern France,’ Law explained for Green’s benefit. ‘In particular, I want you to note the town of Pozieres.’ Law placed a fore finger on the map where the town was depicted. ‘These lines show current British and German front lines,’ he continued. ‘Note that the Germans control the town and the ridgeline above it.’
‘How current is this information?’ Monash asked.
‘Correct as of 6:00 p.m. yesterday, sir,’ Law replied.
Green was impressed. Law certainly seemed to be well informed.
‘Now I want you to look at this area,’ Law indicated the area directly north of the German front line. This is the Courcelette area,’ his hands moved broadly over the map, ‘and this is the town of the same name, all German controlled of course. So far, the fields thereabouts have been pretty much untouched by the war, whereas on the Pozieres side of the ridge, just about everything has been churned up by shell fire.’
Green studied the map. The area Law indicated was crisscrossed with tracks and hedgerows. He assumed the land in between was farmland.
Law produced a rather grainy photograph and laid it on top of the map. Green glanced at the photo; it was a portrait of a German officer.
‘Meet Colonel Walter Nicolai of the Imperial German Army. He’s a rather important chap, for if he isn’t the head of the German secret service otherwise known as the Abteilung IIIb, he’s bloody close to it. In addition to this, the Colonel is a particularly powerful figure in German domestic politics.’ Law paused and looked intently at Green. ‘My masters,’ he inclined his head toward Monash, ‘my other masters, would very much like to permanently remove Colonel Nicolai from both of his fields of influence. They believe such an action would greatly inconvenience the enemy, and possibly even shorten the war.’
Green stepped away from the desk. ‘So you want me to kill this bloke?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ Law replied flatly.
‘Hmm,’ Green continued carefully, ‘I don’t understand why you need me. Surely there are hundreds of men in France who could do the job.’
‘That’s true,’ Law admitted. ‘The problem is that British command takes a dim view of what they see as political assassinations. Bit rich really, when one considers the thousands of casualties they are responsible for, but apparently selecting one particular highly placed chap for death just isn’t on. In short, so far as the British Army is concerned, they will not co-operate with this mission in any way.’
‘Remember what I said, Robert,’ Monash added, ‘that not all the enemy wears a German uniform.’
‘But don’t worry too much at this stage,’ Law interjected. ‘We have a plan that should avoid any unpleasantness from that particular area.’
Green frowned. ‘And I hope a plan to find the German colonel, too. Talk about looking for a needle in a haystack!’
Law sipped the remains of his tea. ‘Yes, we have thought of that. We have people very close to Nicolai and they are watching his every move. It seems that in the next few weeks, the good Colonel has business in Courcelette.’
‘The town inside German controlled area?’ Green asked.
‘That’s right,’ Law replied. ‘Our people will let us know exactly where and when we can expect him. That, however, is a bridge we can cross later, when you are on the ground at Pozieres.’
‘We have arranged for you to be attached to the 3rd Brigade,’ Monash explained. ‘They’re somewhere close to Pozieres now. The Brigade is commanded by Brigadier Sinclair-Maclagan. He’s British, seconded to the AIF. You may have come across him last year?’
Green shook his head.
‘No? Pity, but in any case, he will be expecting you at his headquarters. He’s a good man, looks after his brigade well. However, the Brigadier is not privy to our plans. So far as he is concerned, you have been sent to the front to observe their techniques and procedures, particularly regarding the