• Robert de Lacy
• Rupert Delatz
• Ian Hawke
• Wolf Ulrich

 
 

London/Prague

December 1941 to July 1942

I was relaxing after a comparatively sparse dinner, when I heard a knock at the front door. A little surprised as I wasn't expecting anyone, I stepped out of the drawing room and crossed to the front door to see who was calling. I opened it to find John Graham standing on the doorstep, the mid-December snow melting slowly on the shoulders of his greatcoat, and a briefcase in his hand.

"Well, am I allowed in?" he asked, grinning broadly. I stepped back and opened the door for him, and he came in. He stood on the threshold for a few seconds, stamping his feet to get rid of the slush, and then took off his coat and hung it over the newel post of the main staircase.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked, curious.

"I thought I'd come over and deliver this personally," he answered, and pulled an envelope out of the left pocket of his uniform jacket, "Merry Christmas, Robert."

As he handed it to me, I recognised it as a set of new orders. Puzzled, I led him to the drawing room, poured us both a tumbler of Scotch and then turned my attention to the envelope. Cautiously I opened it and pulled out the papers contained therein.

"Czechoslovakia?" I asked, looking at the top line.

"I assume your Czech is fluent..." he replied, his expression almost mischievous.

"It can be - translation spells are a wonderful thing, as is the ability to borrow someone's thoughts. Gray, is this some kind of joke? These are Intelligence orders and last time I looked I was commanding the Engineers."

"Read it, Robert. You have no idea how many favours I had to call in to get those for you."

Still puzzled, I carried on scanning the document, and quickly discovered that what I was looking at was a secondment from the Royal Engineers to the Intelligence Corps, effective immediately.

"Fine, so I've been reassigned," I said, a little impatiently, "what the Hell is this all about?"

"Elements of our command have finally sanctioned backing a Czech-organised assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich. The Czechs have requested the services of a mage, and I made sure your name was at the top of the list of recommendations...that is, of course, assuming you are still interested?"

"Oh yes, I'm interested," I replied. Walters had died within days of our triggering Heydrich's mental trap, and memories of a July funeral for a young man who should have lived far longer came unbidden to my mind.

"I thought so. Sometimes the Light finds strange ways of working."

He balanced the briefcase on his knees, opened it, and brought out a thick file of papers. He handed it across to me, and I could see that it was an Intelligence Corps dossier. Heydrich's name was on the front, along with his current posting. Reichsprotektor of Bohemia-Moravia. I opened the file and started scanning through the papers and photographs collected inside. As I did so, I felt my anger building at what the man had done, both before and after his appointment to the position in September. While I had heard rumours of what was happening in Czechoslovakia, I had no idea that it was so bad, and the atrocities he was sanctioning there were just the icing on a long and bloody career.

"The man is a monster..." I commented, about half an hour later, "although I have often wondered how the SS could do what they do and still consider themselves human."

"As have I," commented Gray, quietly.

"So what happens now?"

"You will be working for a man named Moravec, President Benes's intelligence chief. The Czechs are running this show...they just need a little magical help to make it work. After all, it seems likely that Heydrich is a mage himself, as well you know. This isn't going to be easy, and I hope against hope that it doesn't backfire."

"Is it likely to?"

"It depends on how vengeful Himmler gets if you succeed. We have heard rumours that he is beginning to think Heydrich is a little too ambitious, so he might not pursue the matter if his protégé is killed. But there again, the SS may go completely over the top in a desire for revenge, and we both know what they are capable of it they decide on that course of action."

"I understand."

"This is delicate, Robert, and you aren't a natural covert operative - you've always struck me more as a knight in shining armour. I just hope to Hell you can pull this off."

"I will do my best, Gray," I replied.

"Don't let that...how did you put it? overdeveloped sense of vengeance?...get the better of you."

"As I said, I will do my best."

"One of my men will take you to meet Moravec tomorrow. After that, then we can start preparing you for the mission."

"Preparing me for the mission," I asked, a little suspiciously.

"You need toughening up, my friend," he replied, grinning, "three years in a mage's uniform has made you soft. A trip to Scotland for a little gentle commando training is definitely in order." With that he downed his drink and stood up. "I should be getting back. Collins will fetch you in the morning. Get a good night's sleep, Robert. It might be the last one you get for a while."

I also stood, and fetched his coat, before showing him to the door. "Thanks, Gray," I said, as I opened it for him.

"Just be careful," he replied, smiling but his voice serious, before he stepped out into the snow.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Colonel de Lacy," said the young man who turned up at nine the following morning. He looked to be in his early twenties, with black hair and blue eyes, and was wearing an Intelligence Corps uniform under his great coat, although I could see a mage's flash on his breast pocket.

"Yes."

"Captain Aldous Collins, sir" he said, saluting, "Colonel Graham asked me to collect you this morning."

"Fine," I replied, "let me just order my carriage..."

"That won't be necessary. We can teleport to our destination from here."

"I'll get my coat," I said, and went to do so. A few moments later, I rejoined Collins. "Ready when you are. Shall we step outside?"

We left the house, which I locked behind me, and then Collins quickly and efficiently cast a teleport. We arrived outside long row of Georgian houses, I guessed in the area around Lancaster Gate by their appearance, and my companion led me up the steps to one of them. He knocked, and seconds later the door was opened, Collins was recognised, and we were ushered inside. We were led up to an office on the first floor, where a balding, middle aged man was seated behind the desk. He looked up from the papers he was working on, and I saw a shocked expression on his face as he saw us...or more specifically me. Then he started speaking to Collins in a tirade of what I assumed to be Czech, of which about the only word I could make out was Heydrich.

I quickly brought up a translation spell as Collins was answering. "This is the mage who has been assigned to you for the mission. If you insist, then we can try to get the appointment changed, although Colonel de Lacy comes highly recommended, but then another person will know what's happening here."

"There appears to be some problem," I commented, "might I know what it is?"

"Who are you?" asked the man in accented English, looking directly at me, his expression stony.

"Robert de Lacy, Colonel, Royal Engineers," I replied, trying to work out what was wrong, "and you?"

He stared at me for a couple of seconds, before finally answering. "Lt. Colonel Frantisek Moravec."

"Colonel. Something has obviously given you cause for concern."

"Why did they choose you for this?" he asked, ignoring my question.

"In a round about way, I requested the duty about a year and a half ago," I answered.

"What we are planning hadn't been conceived then. You're lying."

"Colonel Moravec," I replied, trying to sound patient but surprised at his reaction, "I had a run in with Heydrich in July 1940 which I barely survived. I welcome the opportunity to return the favour. However, you seem unwilling to accept my help, so if you would prefer me to leave..."

"How have you come across him?" he demanded, his tone incredulous, "have you been serving in Europe?"

"No, I have been based in over here. However, about eighteen months ago I was attacked outside the MoD and very nearly died, and as far as I have been able to work out the person who tried to kill me was Heydrich."

"In England?"

"In England," I answered, "now will you tell me what the problem is?"

He paused for a moment, obviously trying to remember something, and then looked at me. "Wait, I do know who you are. You have been in charge of the defences here, haven't you?"

"Correct," I confirmed.

"And they are willing to spare you for this?"

"As I said, I requested the duty."

"You know what we intend to do."

"Yes," I answered, getting a little tired of the third degree, "and if I might ask, does Captain Collins here, or had we better discuss this in private?"

"I have been helping Colonel Moravec with plans to insert sabotage and terrorist groups into the Protectorate," replied Collins.

"My apologies," I replied, "I was unaware of that."

"I understand," he answered, smiling, "in answer to your original question, Colonel Moravec is concerned at your appearance. It startled him somewhat when we came in."

I looked back at the Czech, to see if he was willing to be a little more specific.

"What is your connection with Heydrich?" he asked, finally.

"There is none, I assure you."

"The resemblance is a coincidence?"

"As far as I know," I replied, "and if it is a problem, then it can be rectified."

"That might be advisable. Looking like you do, you won't exactly be inconspicuous, and it would be shame for you to get hurt in some misunderstanding."

I shrugged. There was plenty of time to deal with that later. "So, Colonel," I said, finally, "what exactly is the plan? And how do I fit in...assuming you'll have me."

The mission briefing took most of the morning and into the afternoon, and once Moravec had got used to the idea of me being in his office and involved he was persuaded that I could be of use. The actual assassination, it appeared, was just one part of a larger scale overall operation to get agents into the Protectorate to cause trouble and, as far as I could tell, ultimately lay the ground work for an uprising against the Nazis. It seemed as if the exile government under Benes had had enough.

As for Collins's part in this, it turned out that he was a key player in the overall operation, not just the assassination. He was a specialist in long range scanning and teleports, and in addition he seemed to know Czechoslovakia like the back of his hand - apparently he had Czech ancestry on his mother's side and had visited the country frequently before the war. As such, he was the main means of communication with the men on the ground in the Protectorate.

Both he and Moravec made a point of stressing that as far as the rest of the insurgents were concerned, the mission I was joining was no different from the others. No mention of our real purpose was to be made. He was also at pains to tell me that the whole endeavour was a Czech run show, and that my involvement would be purely unofficial. Once I left Moravec's office I was effectively no longer a Colonel in the Royal Engineers. I was just a member of the Czech armed forces.

"Well, will I do?" I asked, finally. It was mid-afternoon and we had been talking for several hours. In reply, Moravec nodded.

"I think so," he said, "perhaps we should introduce you to the other members of the team. Captain Collins, if you would take us back to the Colonel's lodgings so that he can collect what personal items he is going to need for the next couple of months..."

"Certainly, sir," said Collins, "I suggest we adjourn down the back stairs?"

"If I might ask," I said, quietly, "what is all this about?"

"I thought Colonel Graham told you that you would be going for some special training..." Collins replied.

"Yes..." I said, cautiously.

"Having informed you about the mission, it seems wisest to proceed at the first opportunity," answered Moravec. Without waiting for any argument from me, he stood and crossed to the door. "Shall we go?"

We headed down the landing, and out of an emergency door to the rear of the building, descending down the fire escape. Once we were downstairs, Collins cast a teleport and we were soon outside my own house.

"The Captain will stay with you while you pack," commented Moravec as we went inside.

"Your trust in me overwhelms me," I replied, icily.

"Colonel de Lacy," answered Collins, quietly, "you are now under the command of the Intelligence Corps. One or two of our procedures are different to what you are accustomed to, and I am afraid this is one of them."

"I guess I'll have to get used to it," I replied, shrugging. He was right, of course, but it was still a slight shock to the system. It took just a few minutes to collect what I would need, with Collins waiting quietly as I did so, and then we headed back downstairs. We found Moravec in the library, looking at my books.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he saw us.

"As I'll ever be," I replied.

"Good."

We headed outside, I locked up again, and then Collins started concentrating once more. I felt us teleport, and we appeared to one side of a snow covered parade ground. Looking around at the scenery, I got the impression that we were somewhere on the Scottish coast, and felt remarkably grateful for the heavy great coat I was wearing.

"Welcome to your home for the next couple of months," said Collins, shivering slightly against the cold, and we headed inside what looked like a barracks block, "the other two members of the team are about a month ahead of you in the training, but now you are here you will have the chance to get to know them."

He led the three of us upstairs, and finally knocked on the door of one of the rooms. It was opened by a young-looking man, maybe in his mid-twenties, with a strangely determined expression on his face. He seemed startled at seeing Moravec, and more so at seeing me - a combination of my appearance and the uniform I was wearing, I assume - and I could tell that the disguise spell needed to go up sooner, rather than later. Inside was a second man, older, more powerfully built, and just as pleased to see me as the first had been. As he saw us he addressed his superior officer in a stream of Czech, gesturing at me, and I detected a certain amount of distaste in his tone.

"De Lacy here will be the third man in your team," Moravec answered in English. "Colonel, your associates...Josef Gabcik and Jan Kubis. Gabcik will be in overall command of your mission."

"I understand," I replied. Gabcik, the older one, looked at me a little suspiciously, but Kubis, who seemed reassured by the presence of two familiar faces, crossed to me, extended his hand and smiled.

"I hope you're up to this, English," he said as I took his hand.

"So do I," I replied, matching his friendly expression.

The ice broken, I set up a translation spell and we spent a couple of hours sounding each other out and getting to know a bit about each other. As we spoke I was left with the impression that the two young Czechs were men who would give up everything to help their country. I just hoped that I could rise above vengeance and match them.

"I should be returning to London," said Moravec, eventually, "Captain, if you would do the honours..."

"I'll be back in a few minutes," Collins said, addressing me, "then we can officially get you logged in here. I won't be long."

With that the pair of them departed, leaving me with Gabcik and Kubis. Of the two, the younger man certainly seemed more comfortable having me around than the older one did.

True to his word, Collins returned within ten minutes and I followed him out of the room and down to the administration block. "Well, what do you think?" he asked as we walked.

"About what?"

"The mission in general."

"It should be possible to make this work," I replied.

"And Kubis and Gabcik?"

"As long as they are willing to accept me as myself, rather than as a shade of their bogeyman which was the initial impression I got from both Gabcik and Moravec, then it should work out okay."

He nodded. "They will get used to you, I think. Is there anything else you need to know before you go?"

"How to speak Czech might help," I replied, smiling.

"Of course," he answered apologetically, and once I was officially registered as a student at the training centre and had been given the Czech issue uniform and items I would need there, he spent the rest of the evening magically solving that little problem.

*  *  *  *  *  *

The base in Scotland appeared to be a commando training centre that had temporarily been reassigned to the purpose of training some of the remnants of the Czech army in the techniques they would need as agents in enemy territory. Once the other trainees were used to an Englishman among them, I got on alright, and spent the next couple of months enjoying the "little gentle commando training" Gray seemed to think I needed. After I had got through the initial couple of weeks of pain, I actually found that I could cope with the regime quite well: my main difficulty being to change from the mind-set of a defensive mage, to that of an offensive commando. In the end, however, I came through with flying colours, which was personally satisfying if nothing else, and two months speaking nothing but the language of the country I was going to be visiting improved my confidence on that score, also.

Gabcik and Kubis, who had been a month or so ahead of me in the programme, left with Collins in mid-January, and then, about a month later, I got back to my rooms to find the intelligence mage waiting for me.

"I hope you think you're ready for this," he commented, and I felt a privacy spell go up, "you are the last person who will be dropped in this batch, and Moravec and Benes are beginning to want some action."

"I think so, assuming the officers in charge here are willing to let me go."

"I've spoken with them. They are satisfied with your performance, and have passed you as fit to graduate."

"Then I suppose it's time I went to face the music," I replied, "any word from Kubis or Gabcik?"

"They're settled. They have cover identities, and they are waiting for you. They haven't been able to closely observe the target, though, as he is heavily guarded most of the time. I have also tried to scan from here, but I can't keep it up for any length of time. My speciality is hit and run tactics, not long term surveillance."

"Any idea what my cover is?"

"Initially, you are going to be an assistant at a store owned by one of the Czech network. I hope that doesn't offend your noble sensibilities..."

"Not in the least," I replied. After all, it wasn't as if I was Duke of Worcester or anything. Andrew had inherited that from me in 1938, "how am I avoiding being drafted off to work in the Reich?".

"You've been suffering from a bad back, and anyway, you are a little on the old side. I assume you can make yourself look like this..."

He handed me some Czech papers, showing a photo of a man with short, greying hair, who looked to be in his late forties. I concentrated for a short while on the disguise, and when I looked in the mirror I was satisfied. "Will that do?"

"Admirably. Now, we just need to go and pick you up some suitable clothing, and then it will be time to send you on your way," he replied. Then he paused, as if he had just remembered something: "...oh, and by the way, Colonel Graham asked me to give you this."

He reached into a pocket and brought out an envelope, addressed to me in Gray's familiar hand. I cracked it open, and looked at the message inside.

"Good luck, my friend, and remember...don't lose yourself to the Darkness."

I smiled, then I put the letter into my Engineers' uniform jacket, which was still hanging in the wardrobe, packed up that and the few other possessions I had brought with me, and then turned to Collins. "Ready when you are."

He teleported us back to London, to another house in the same general area as the one where I had initially met Moravec, and there I was left at the tender mercy of one of the mission's supply officers. Half an hour later, I was dressed in my newly issued Czech clothing and had packed everything else I had been issued into my rucksack. Then I rejoined Collins, and after a quick, supervised detour home to drop off what I would not be needing, he started to concentrate on sending a scanning spell across to Prague. After a couple of minutes he smiled. "All clear. Good luck, Colonel," he said, and with that I felt myself being transported.

I arrived in the lounge of what looked like a moderately well to do family. I looked about me, and saw that there were three other people present. Sitting on one of the chairs was a man who looked like a school teacher, near him, on the couch was a man I recognised as Alfred Bartos - the ranking officer in the field for the whole insertion program - and standing over to one side I could see Kubis.

"I see the transport is up to scratch, English," the latter commented, as he saw me, "and the new appearance is definitely an improvement."

"Thankfully, to the first, and probably to the second," I replied, smiling, "you know, it strikes me that you could probably think of something safer to call me. The papers say Karel Pika."

"I will remember when it is necessary," he answered, and the determined look passed across his face once more.

"Where's Gabcik?"

"Back at their lodgings," replied Bartos, "there were other things he needed to do today."

We settled down and talked for a while, once I had made sure we had some privacy from casual listeners, so that I could familiarise myself with the set-up. The school teacher was a man named Vanek - high on the Reichsprotektor's most wanted list for being one of the main organisers of the resistance, but currently staying one step ahead of the posse - and he and a friend named Zelenka specialised in finding lodgings and covers for unwelcome visitors of the Nazis.

On the other side was Bartos, code named Silver A, a communications expert placed by Collins just before New Year, who was very good at using the communications crystals: yellow-gold, semi-precious gemstones which, if one concentrates on them, can act as a focus for projecting telepathically. They need a strong mind, but not necessarily the Talent, to make them work. Bartos's purpose was to co-ordinate contact between the groups so that they could keep in touch with each other and with Collins, and it sounded as if he was not only in touch with the insurgents, but also with a lot of Vanek's men. It all sounded remarkably well organised - either Moravec was just very good at his job or his people were a cut above the ordinary.

As far as they were concerned, my part was going to be as lookout in situ, taking over some of the functions Collins had been handling from London. Kubis, I noticed, did not comment when this was discussed, however, I could see no reason why my purpose in the assassination group would conflict with what Vanek and the others required of me. At least until it was time to move.

Later, once Kubis had shown me back to their lodgings - a flat above the shop where I was going to be working - we clarified our part of the mission. He and Gabcik were going to do the more mundane ground work, and indeed had been since their arrival in Prague, while I was going to handle everything arcane: scanning, spying, and ultimately neutralising Heydrich when it came to the punch.

As we talked I got the impression that Kubis had picked up on what I was going to be doing far better than Gabcik had, which made me curious.

"What a mage does is usually double Dutch to a layman," I commented.

"I've always been interested," he replied, "it all seems pretty logical to me."

Interesting. Seeing the natural logic of magic was often an indication of some potential to use the power. "Have you ever been tested for the Talent?" I asked, curious.

"Never had the chance," he answered, shrugging, "it hasn't been the primary consideration here over the last few years."

"Are you willing to let me test you for it?"

"Why?" asked Gabcik, suspiciously.

"Because if Kubis has any Talent, then it may help us carry out our mission. I'm a pretty good mage, but not having to worry about everything at once would be a benefit to all of us. The more spells a mage has running at once, the more chance he has of dropping one at an inconvenient moment."

"What does it entail?" the younger man asked, sounding interested.

"A light mental scan. If you have shields it will be a good indication, and beyond that it is obvious to someone who is trained at looking whether the Talent is present."

"And are you trained to do that?" Gabcik again, his voice protective of his friend - a trait he had occasionally shown during training.

"I am. I just don't have my credentials here just at the moment," I replied, "after all, British mage accreditation on a Czech shop assistant would be a slight give-away. However, in addition, among my other duties, I do some teaching when we aren't at war. Jan, it's your decision."

"It will help us if I have?"

"I can certainly think of ways it can, given a little training. You won't be a master, but you'll be safe and you'll have some limited control of your Talent, and the idea of you blowing the Hell out of Heydrich's carriage while I make sure he can't respond appeals."

"I'm willing to let you look," he said, finally. I indicated for him to sit down, and then crossed to sit beside him. Gabcik hovered just beside my shoulder, and I got the impression that if I made a wrong move it would hurt. He had always been less willing to trust me than his companion had. Slowly I touched my hand to Jan's temple, and gently probed his mind, and was not completely surprised to bump up against some rudimentary shields. Nothing formal. More the potential for them. Very carefully, I worked my way around them, looking for the part of the mind where the Talent usually seemed to lie.

"It's there," I commented, as I found it. It wasn't strong. He would never be a master mage. but the potential was as good as that of some of the students I had come across both when I taught at Kings, and on the Testing Board. "After the war, if we actually survive the damned thing, then come and see me in England and I can get you a university place if you wish to study."

He looked a little surprised, but I got the impression that the prospect intrigued him. If we lived that long. However, I think practicality dictated his answer. "What about here and now?"

"When do you want to hit Heydrich, Gabcik?"

"By the beginning of June at the very latest," Gabcik replied, "our commander was initially talking about doing it much sooner than that, like in March, but I think it will take longer than he expected to get some idea of where and when to go about this." As he continued, I tried to work out how far I could get with Kubis in what could be as little as two months, but would hopefully stretch to five. Proper shielding, maybe some kind of magical defence, and hopefully something destructive - an explosion seemed the easiest. "From what we have seen so far," Gabcik was saying, "our target does not keep any kind of regular schedule, and we really need someone on the inside who would be willing to help us."

"Inside Hradcany, or inside his estate?"

"He has Czechs working on his estate," Jan replied, "they are more likely to be amenable. A contact in the garrison would be useful of course, if we can cultivate one. We cannot, of course, tell anyone why we want to know the information we will need."

"Understood. You sound very definite on that point."

"The impression I have got from the contacts we have made in the underground, is that they would not want anyone to do anything that would cause severe reprisals," Gabcik commented.

"And your feeling on this?"

"We were sent out here for a specific purpose. I will carry out that purpose if it is the last thing I do," he answered, his voice quiet and firm. I nodded, but I didn't answer, although I could appreciate the sentiment. However, it was a strange reaction for me. It is rare that I will pursue a course of action, regardless of the consequences to the innocent, but something about Heydrich was prompting me to break the habit of lifetime. Maybe Gray's warning in the letter was well given.

*  *  *  *  *  *

I spent the next few weeks settling in and getting to know the contacts that Jan and Josef had made over the previous month, and they continued to try and cultivate others while I started on the magical ground work. In addition, Bartos had acquired one or two useful allies in his time there, and was willing to put their information at our disposal for what he thought of as the greater good - getting his various groups working together and causing problems for the overlords. Of these, the most valuable were a watchmaker who had a lot of dealings with the garrison at Hradcany Castle, Heydrich's headquarters, and another man whose identity Vanek and Bartos kept a jealously guarded secret, but who was, as far as we could work out, actually a member of the German garrison. I never did find out who he was, but I rather hope he survived the war.

Thanks to their help we gained at least some information on how Heydrich ran his show, but not enough to make a firm plan. For instance, we could never get a proper itinerary on his movements. The only thing we became sure of quickly was that the best time to catch him would be on the road from his estate at Panenske Brezany, if we could find out in advance when he would be travelling it rather than teleporting. While his home and Hradcany were heavily guarded, on the road he was vulnerable. For some reason which I have never clearly fathomed, as to me it seemed needlessly stupid, he always rode unescorted in an open carriage. We even took time to scout out potential ambush spots, both magically and physically, and decided on the best location, in the hope that we would get our chance.

It was a singularly frustrating time, not helped by the facts that our cover with our own people - being there to help both the underground and the insurgents - kept interfering with our primary mission, and that training Jan was proving harder than I had expected. On the latter score I wondered several times whether to abandon the idea, but the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that if I was going to effectively neutralise any magic our quarry had, I needed someone else to actually target the explosion we would have ready for Heydrich if all else failed.

The weeks passed far too slowly for my liking, during which our team seemed to make no significant progress, although the instances of sabotage in the Protectorate rose dramatically over the period. I suppose the general disruptive activities Bartos's group were engaging in, with my arcane help and Josef's and Jan's physical expertise, acted as a smoke-screen for what we were planning, but it was diversion we could have done without.

During those weeks I also noticed that both Vanek and Bartos were beginning to treat the three of us slightly differently to the rest of the men Collins had sent over to the Protectorate, although we had tried not to give any indication of our real purpose there. For some reason, they seemed more nervous when we were around.

When we eventually tackled them about it, we found out that they had guessed what our real mission was, mainly as Bartos was a very acute observer and had remarked our higher than normal interest in the doings of the Reichsprotektor, and they did not like it. It didn't stop our planning, of course. Josef would not be dissuaded from our task, although whether through some personal grudge of his own against our target, or purely because he was dedicated to fighting for his country and his orders came from his President, he never would say. However, it led to a rise in tension between ourselves and Bartos and Vanek.

Then, in mid-May, we received the unwelcome word from our friend in Hradcany that Heydrich was making serious overtures to see the führer, and rumour had it that he wanted out of Prague. I was still not satisfied that Jan was up to his part in the arcane endeavours, but it was looking like we were out of time. I would just have to hope for the best.

On May 26th, definitely at the eleventh hour, we finally got the piece of information we needed: something approaching an itinerary for our target. It came in the only direct contact I ever received from the man in garrison, and somewhat naturally I was very suspicious. However, the unknown man at the other end of the crystal link gave me the correct passwords and when I pressed him could repeat some of the information we had received from him before, and I had to give at least some credence to his story. Then he told me that Heydrich would be going to see Hitler the following day. He was expected to drive into Prague in the morning, and then leave for Berlin from the Castle.

"Why are you helping us?" I asked, finally, "and why the direct contact after all this time?"

"In answer to the first question, the man is dangerous," came the reply, "and I would like to see him dead. In answer to the second, the direct contact is because if I passed this information to Silver A I suspect he would fail to make sure it reached you. I understand he has opposed your action since he learned about it."

"You are very well informed," I commented, quietly.

"I have to be, or I would be dead. Good luck, de Lacy," came the answer and the crystal went dark, leaving me both surprised and immensely worried at how the Hell he knew my name.

I immediately contacted the others to see what they thought, and they agreed that it might be the only chance we would get. The plan was worked out, we had talked it through many times and walked it through a couple, and if this really might be the last opportunity to put it into action then we had to take it. We considered the possibility of a trap of course, but decided that unless they had observed our preparations, or someone had said something to one of the SS patrols, we should be alright. Twelve miles of road is a lot to search, and we certainly hadn't seen or heard of it being done. Anyway, if all else failed, I could teleport us back to London and all that would be lost was a chance.

As you can imagine, therefore, the knock at the door of the apartment that night was unwelcome at best. Especially taking into account the stripped down pistols we were cleaning and the jotted down plans of what we were planning to do.

"I'll go, if you can get rid of those things," hissed Josef, urgently. While he went downstairs, I cast an invisibility spell over the weaponry and magically vaporised the papers. Jan, in the meantime, kept a watch down the stairs. Then I heard the door close, and I saw Jan visibly relax. I heard three sets of footsteps on the stairs, and shortly afterwards Josef came in with Bartos and Vanek.

"You shouldn't be here," I said to them, quietly.

"That's what I said," Josef confirmed, but neither of our visitors seemed to appreciate the sentiment.

"We have come to see if we can make you see reason," Vanek answered, his voice firm, "if you go through with this, you will bring the Nazis down on us all and the underground will effectively cease to be in the reprisals."

"I assume you've been speaking to our friend," Josef commented.

"Too damned right I have," Bartos replied, angrily.

"Heydrich is a monster," Jan replied, quietly and calmly, "and it would benefit all of us if he was no longer Reichsprotektor."

"That's likely to happen anyway," protested Bartos.

"It is not guaranteed," I said, looking at him, "and even if he were to be reassigned, it would just give him the opportunity to continue what he has been doing on a new country full of innocents. This action was sanctioned by your people in London. I am sure they were aware of what they were doing."

"Hanging us out to dry," Vanek interjected, bitterly.

"Not if we're careful and take steps to avoid that," I answered, "and I am willing to help you do that by any means available to me."

"Why, English?" he said, "this isn't your fight, and I don't believe I have ever really had a satisfactory answer out of you as to why you're here at all."

"The sponsors of this little escapade needed a mage, and I have a score to settle with Heydrich."

"And once the deed is done..." asked Bartos, his tone hostile, "I assume you will disappear and leave us to our own devices."

"Please, give me credit for a little more responsibility than that," I replied, trying to keep my patience, "I said I would help you, and I will do so."

"The best way you can help is by persuading your companions that this is crazy," he hissed.

"That is not my decision. Gabcik is in command of this mission, not me," I answered, indicating to Josef and Jan, both watching quietly. I saw Josef nod in agreement, a resolute expression on his face, and I saw Vanek turn towards him, a look of disbelief on his features.

"Why, Josef? Why are you doing this to your own people?"

"I have my orders," he replied, calmly, "and I will carry them out. Even if I die doing it."

"I suppose its one way of avoiding the fate of your fellows," said Bartos, ice in his voice. I saw Josef bristle, a look of anger on his face, but then Jan put a calming hand on his shoulder and the former relaxed slightly.

"My position is not going to change, sir," said the older of my companions, finally, "I am sorry."

"And if I order you not to do it?" Bartos pushed.

"My orders come from a higher level," he replied, adamant, "I am afraid you cannot alter them."

"Then God help us all," Vanek said, his face showing sadness and frustration, and without another word he rose, and he and Bartos headed back downstairs. Josef watched them go, then crossed to one of the chairs and sat. He looked a little tired, and I could see that he was somewhat tense.

"Are we right, doing this?" I asked, finally.

"I don't know," came Josef's reply, "but we do not have a choice. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to take a walk."

With that he turned on his heel and headed downstairs. Jan and I watched him go, and then I returned to our magical preparations.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Our chosen ambush point was cramped and uncomfortable, although that was better than the alternatives. At least this one wasn't on a straight road with no easy cover, even if I was somewhat concerned about the fact that it was in a somewhat built up area. My main concern, however, was whether or not Jan would get the explosion off correctly. I was likely to have my hands full enough neutralising Heydrich's magic without having to deal with that as well, which is why I had persevered with Jan.

We waited in silence, cloaked from without by an invisibility spell which I would unfortunately be unable to maintain once the moment came to act, because we would be splitting up and would need to be able to see each other to avoid hitting each other if the shooting started. We knew when Heydrich was due to be passing us, thanks to our nameless friend, but the minutes felt like hours. Cautiously I scanned the road from Panenske Brezany, but soon it became apparent that there had been some kind of change to his plans. Our estimates had had him arriving at our position at nine fifty. However, as ten o'clock came and went, my feeling of ill ease worsened. All I could do was scan towards his estate and see what I could without triggering any alarms set with the wards. I sat back on my haunches, leaning against one of the trees in the centre of the hairpin bend for support, and waited.

"What's wrong, English?" asked Jan, tension apparent in his voice and general body language.

"I don't know. The wards are strong, and I don't have a prayer of seeing past them," I answered, quietly. I pulled the scan back to a distance of about a quarter of a mile, and hoped that soon I would be able to see our target.

It was ten twenty before I finally saw the familiar open carriage that carried Heydrich to and from Hradcany emerge from the wards around Panenske Brezany, pulled by a pair of matched black horses. Thankfully, as usual, he was unescorted by outriders. If all went according to plan, then his unmitigated arrogance in that regard was going to be the death of him. Looking at the man himself, I was surprised and disturbed to see that he looked inordinately pleased with himself, although it seemed to tie up with the fact that he was off for a private meeting with the führer.

"Incoming," I said, quietly. The others nodded, probably as nervous as I was.

"Good luck, English," Josef said, smiling, and moved into position. Jan stayed with me, but both of us drew our pistols, just in case.

I followed Heydrich's progress cautiously, ready to teleport us closer to him if it looked as if he was going to deviate from the route, but luck seemed to be with us. His driver kept coming at a reasonable speed, and I continued to scan him, watching and keeping my companions appraised of his progress. Eventually, we could hear the sound of horses' hooves as he got ever closer. Cautiously I dropped the invisibility, as it was about to become a liability, and sent the null-field after him, gently settling it around the carriage, thereby taking out any magical shielding Heydrich had. Then I watched to see if there was any reaction, but he did not seem to have noticed.

Then he was on the road above us, and approaching the bend. I signalled to Josef, who stepped out into the road and as the carriage rounded the bend he tried to fire his pistol. To our combined horror, however, his weapon jammed, and for a moment he was stood there, in full view, completely vulnerable. Heydrich saw him, and I saw him draw his own handgun while his driver was obviously trying to decide whether to stop or to accelerate and crush Josef under the horse's hooves.

"Now," I ordered Jan, dropping the null-field, and mercifully without hesitation, my companion triggered the spell. We were rewarded by the sight of the front of the carriage erupting in a burst of flames and starting to topple - dragging with it the suddenly terrified horses, at least one of them screaming in pain. The driver was blown clear, and landed part-way across the street, his body charred and blackened, obviously killed instantly. However I was concerned that I could not see Heydrich. Had the bastard teleported out? I didn't think he could have done, but I had to allow for the possibility.

I triggered the second null-field around the burning carriage, and then I thought I spotted a movement in the wreckage. To my left I saw Jan stand up and move forwards, as if trying to see what was happening. On the street I noticed that one or two people had stopped to watch what was going on...displaying the usual human fascination with death and destruction. I just hoped that watch was all they would do, as I had no desire to catch civilians in the crossfire. I went with Jan, gun in hand, and off to one side I could see Josef, also trying to move in to see if the Butcher was dead.

Then I heard a shot from the wreckage, and Josef went down, clutching his side, and I saw a blond man emerge from the flames. He was staggering slightly, obviously hurt, but without a doubt it was Heydrich. To my surprise he dived for cover behind a part of the wreckage that wasn't burning, moving with a speed I would not have believed possible from a man who should have been seriously injured by the explosion. How the Hell was he still functioning? Let alone capable of causing trouble? That's the sort of thing I would have expected from one of my family, not a Shadow dweller.

Then I realised that Jan hadn't seen him, and was moving towards Josef to see if there was anything that could be done for him. I saw Heydrich levelling his pistol at Jan, and sprinted for my companion. I tried to rugby tackle him, connecting as I heard the shot. Then I felt it slam into my back, knocking Jan and I to the ground with the momentum, and I thanked Providence that my defensive shield held. My back felt bruised from the impact, but nothing more.

I rolled clear of Jan and looked back at Heydrich, bringing my own weapon to bear. He was standing, now. Perhaps he had broken cover when he saw his bullet hit me in the back. After all, under normal circumstances it would have been a fatal injury. Our eyes met, and to my surprise I saw what looked like a flash of recognition in his. Far too late I realised that I had slipped within the range of the null-field and the disguise spell was down. A bloody stupid, amateurish mistake, and one which perhaps confirmed Gray's assessment of me.

"You bastard..." I saw him mouth, but it was enough. I fired, and my bullet took him just above the heart. He fell back, but as he did I heard shouting. I looked to see a squad of SS men running towards us from a side street. They must have been patrolling nearby. I realised immediately that I would not have a chance to check that our target was dead. If I didn't get us out of there now, all three of us would be for sure. As the patrol's bullets started flying in our direction, I kept low and grabbed hold of both Jan, who was stunned from his landing, and Josef, who was, at least, breathing. Without further hesitation I dropped the null-field, and then triggered a teleport back to London and comparative safety.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Are you satisfied?" asked Bartos as he arrived at my apartment at around seven-thirty that evening. He looked furious, although a look of surprise crossed his face when I led him up to the lounge and he realised that I was alone. I had left Jan and Josef with Moravec's people, before returning to Prague by myself.

"At what?" I asked, quietly, sitting back down on the couch somewhat carefully. My back still felt sore, but I hadn't bothered to heal it as an object lesson against doing something as stupid as diving in front of a .33 bullet at short range again.

"The announcement was made from Hradcany at five o'clock. Heydrich is dead: a gunshot wound to the chest and internal injuries from shrapnel from his carriage. Currently it is uncertain whether Hitler will appoint Karl Frank or Kurt Daluege to succeed him, but neither would be good for us. Either way, in retaliation the German High Command has ordered the execution of all political prisoners, and by the sound of it anyone else they don't trust at the same time. They started about two hours ago with a hundred people they just rounded up off the street, and rumour has it that the murder squads will be roaming the streets tonight after the curfew comes down at nine."

I felt myself go cold. Of the two scenarios Gray had outlined, it looked as if the second was going to come to pass. Mass reprisals to avoid a loss of face. "Oh my God."

"What did you expect, English? This was doomed to end like this from the start."

"Then I am just going to have to do what I can to help redeem the situation," I replied, calmly.

"What, like surrender? That will stop them, although I am not sure anything else will," came his cold answer, "what is any of this to you? You can just leave here whenever you want. You and your fancy magics. What are we to you? This was just a little power game of yours."

I looked straight at him, anger rising at his accusation, while in my mind I could not help thinking that he was right. "Why do you say that," I asked, still trying to stay calm.

"You said last night that you were part of this because you had a personal grievance against Heydrich," he replied, icily, "well listen, English, we all do: but most of the us weren't willing to bring the might of the SS down on the heads of our people because of it."

"I came back here once the others were safe, Bartos, as I said I would. If I was going to leave you to face this on your own, then I would have stayed in my warm, safe house in London," I replied, "the question is, what can I do to help the situation?"

"My contact says that they will spend tonight searching for anyone without proper papers," he replied, angrily, "Vanek and Zelenka are worried that our people will be discovered when they start checking this evening."

"Then the first priority is to get all the insertion teams out of here, back to England," I answered, thinking through options, "I can do that, if nothing else, and it need not be a long term measure - I am sure Collins can send them back once it's safe. Shall we go?"

He looked a little surprised, but shrugged. "If it can be done..."

"It should be possible," I answered, with a confidence that I didn't necessarily feel. Yes, theoretically it was possible, but even my strength has its limits, albeit higher ones than anyone else's I had met, and long distance teleports can be tiring. Unfortunately, I could see myself needing a Hell of a lot of them to clear everyone out, over and above any magic needed to reach the insurgents in the first place.

However, I did not voice my concerns. Instead, I put up a new disguise spell - a middle aged man with a slight limp - and then Bartos and I headed outside and walked towards the first safe house As we made our way through the streets, I could see how much the security had already been upped. Squads of SS men were everywhere, checking papers and generally causing problems. Thankfully, I could mould papers that fitted my new identity, and both Bartos and I survived the scrutiny.

We moved from safe house to safe house, in Prague and its surrounding villages, both walking and teleporting, while covering our tracks very carefully, and aided and abetted from afar by Collins we systematically evacuated our people. By nine o'clock when the curfew came down all three of us felt exhausted, but not a single one of the men Collins had inserted into the Protectorate was still on Czech soil, with the exception of Bartos and myself. The intelligence mage had urged us to return to England, also, but neither of us was willing to go. Looking back, I think it was only then that Bartos finally realised that I was serious about trying to do what I could to help. Carrying on proving it, however, was going to be a harder job.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"You should leave, English," commented Bartos two evenings later.

"Any particular reason?" I asked, a little surprised, "after all, you are the one who told me that I was sacrificing your people on the alter of my personal vendetta."

"You've proved otherwise over the last two days," he answered, slightly reluctantly.

"What's changed?"

"They have realised that a mage was involved in Heydrich's killing. All Talented persons are to register at Hradcany within twenty-four hours, and any that are found after the deadline will be summarily shot."

"A typical reaction," I sighed, "What about your people, and Vanek's? Are they safe? It's only been two days and I would expect a continued physical response from Frank and his men, as well as a crackdown on mages. While Daluege has got Heydrich's job, I am guessing that Frank is the one to be worried about. He, at least, has the ability to think."

"Getting the insertion teams out of here has made a big difference. The only people the underground still need to shelter are you and me, and thus far our covers seem to be holding."

"Then I would prefer to stay, at least for a while. After the initial reaction, I still fear the worst."

"On your head be it, English. We won't be able to protect you."

"I understand. If it gets too difficult, then I will disappear. Are they actually going to consciously search for unregistered mages?"

"I don't know, but I can find out."

"I'd appreciate it."

He started concentrating on the crystals, and I could hear him muttering to himself. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he looked back at me.

"Does the name Wilhelm von Uberhand mean anything to you?"

"Oh yes. He's Thule and has taken part in various ceremonies at Wewelsberg."

"Which means what, exactly?"

"He's probably a black mage, and pretty powerful with it. This could be interesting."

"Interesting?" he asked, incredulous, "the man is coming to Prague with the sole intention of hunting you down, English, and you think this is interesting? I suppose it appeals to your sense of sportsmanship."

"Alfred, I'll dodge von Uberhand for as long as I can before actually having to leave. Just keep me informed about where we are likely to have problems."

"We?"

"For better or for worse I am part of the underground, at least for now."

"I cannot work out if you are a very brave man, or a damned fool," he replied, shaking his head, and then he turned on his heel and left. As he did, I shook my head, beginning to be of the conclusion that I was favouring the latter. Either that, or I was just too bloody stubborn to admit that what we had done was wrong, and this was my way of assuaging my guilt.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Von Uberhand's hunt began two days later, although thankfully he had limited resources. To search for a mage takes a degree of time and dedication that is unusual and difficult to achieve. Unless you can afford to have investigative mages constantly scanning the area where you suspect your quarry is hidden, to detect any trace of his power, you have to know where he has actually used magic to get a feel for him and his style: and even then, magic is such a part of daily life that trying to differentiate between active and passive magic can be difficult.

He threw what resources he could into it, however, and soon the ever more frequent patrols around the town began to have mages as part of their contingent. I discovered this to my cost on June 4th, when I was walking back to my apartment - now disguised as a man in my sixties - and was stopped by one of the patrols. I only noticed the mage's flash on the uniform of the Captain's upper arm after I had handed over my papers, and by then I had no option but to brazen it out and hope. Unfortunately, the SS mage had other ideas, and he seemed to be concentrating intently, while a humble lieutenant took what seemed like an inordinately long time to check my ID. Then, very slowly, the officer started passing the papers back to me, but as he did I saw a look of surprise on the mage's face. I guess he hadn't expected to find anyone with his scan.

"Wait," he said, and I froze.

"Is there some problem, good sir?" I asked, hesitantly, noting out of the corner of my eye that one of the troopers in the patrol was bringing a weapon up to bear and taking off the safety.

"Your mage registration papers. Where are they?" he barked.

"I am not sure what you mean..." I began, trying to keep in the mind set of a bemused old man while at the same time frantically working on a teleport spell. I had time for that or a shield, and I hoped that I was making the right decision.

"You reek of magic, old man," the mage hissed, "where are your papers?"

"But Mage-Captain, I do not know what you mean..." I protested, "my family have never had the Talent..."

"The order was explicit," he replied, "all mages should register on pain of death, and the deadline passed two days ago."

I mentally completed the teleport a moment too late. The mage wasn't in the mood for argument, alas, and as I felt the spell take its final form he nodded to the trooper. I triggered the spell as I heard the shot, wanting to get back to my apartment and clear it out as it had to be compromised now, but as I went I felt the bullet slam into me and staggered as I disappeared. I was horizontal by the time I arrived, and realised I was having difficulty breathing. The bullet had punctured a lung. I concentrated all my will on bringing up a spell that would relieve the damage, and after a few minutes I felt a little better. I would have to get it seen to, though, to remove the bullet and check that there wasn't too much damage around it.

Very slowly I hauled myself to my feet, using the arm of the couch as a support, and looked around the apartment, trying to decide if there was anything I was going to need, or indeed anything that would incriminate either me or those I was helping. No, it seemed safer to destroy it all. The only thing I picked up was the communications crystal by which I could contact Bartos. Then I started setting explosions around the apartment, all the while aware that I was feeling weaker and more breathless by the minute. I set them all so that they could be triggered simultaneously, and then, once I was sure that once I had set them off there would be nothing left, I settled down on a chair and concentrated on the crystal. Soon I felt the light mental contact of Bartos at the other end.

"What do you want, English?"

"Warn the others that this place has been compromised," I answered, weakly.

"What place? What's happened?"

"My apartment. They know I'm here," I answered, "one of von Uberhand's mages found me."

"Blast it!" he replied, vehemently, "I said you should have been out of here days ago."

"Consider me reprimanded," I answered, but I could tell that I was fast becoming too weak to carry on with the communication, "I'll keep the crystal. Call me if you need my assistance - assuming you can reach me. I need to get some medical help or I'll be lying bleeding to death on the floor when they arrive."

"Go. I'll warn Vanek," he answered, and the crystal went dark. Then, with what was fast becoming my last reserves of strength, I brought up a teleport that would get me to Chelsea hospital, and triggered it and the explosions on the apartment at the same time. I passed out before I could see the result of either.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"What's happening over there, sir?" asked Collins as he saw me. It was June 7th, and I had discharged myself from hospital and the ministrations of the good Doctor Evans that morning and made my way to the house where Moravec had his headquarters. The Colonel, as it happened, had not been at home, but Collins was holding the fort in his stead, "and if you don't mind me asking, how come you're back? I thought that after you brought back Kubis and Gabcik, you were planning to stay for the duration."

"I fell foul of an SS mage, and had to come back to get healed up," I replied, shrugging, "I just hope to Hell that Bartos managed to warn the right people in time. How's Josef?"

"He'll be okay: he's well on the mend now," Collins replied, to my relief, "and you. Are you planning on going back?"

"Yes, but I'll have to be damned careful. They seem pretty keen to deal with me."

"Frank was close to Heydrich, even if Daluege is probably celebrating his predecessor's demise, so I would expect him to want rid of you," came the reply, "for the record they're moving the body from Prague to Berlin tonight, for a state funeral, and according to Colonel Graham Hitler is spitting blood over this."

"Wonderful. Have you heard from Bartos?"

"He sounded very worried yesterday. Apparently the SS are moving in on Vanek's people, and while the mass reprisals still haven't really started yet, with the führer in a vengeful mood it can only be a matter of time."

"I should go back."

"You should stay hors de combat for a couple of days, sir. You look pretty rough."

"When Bartos calls, ask him if he still needs my help. If he does, then I will return to Prague and play dodge the patrols, and if not, then I should go and see Colonel Graham."

"Will do. I'm expecting a contact at around six this evening."

I decided to wait with Collins, and as the afternoon wore on we discussed what could be done to improve the situation in the Protectorate. He had sent more people into the outlying areas, and it sounded as if they would be used as military muscle to start an uprising if things went too badly. It confirmed my initial feeling from the first meeting I had had with Moravec that that had been Benes's long term plan to start with, whatever the cost to his own people, however, it was far too late to moralise about that now.

Bartos contacted Collins on schedule at six o'clock. I used a spell to amplify the crystal communication, and could hear that the Czech was worried. It sounded as if the SS men were getting frustrated at the lack of progress in the hunt for Heydrich's killers, and the disappearance of the one lead they had had, namely me, was not improving their disposition any.

"What kind of backup do you need?" Collins asked, finally.

"We need to get more people out of here - either elsewhere in Czechoslovakia, or out of the country altogether, at least for a little while. If you see the English, tell him he should come back and sort out his own mess," came the answer, and he didn't sound if he was joking.

"I've done what I could," I said, finally, using a spell to make sure he could hear me, "and it was you who wanted me out of there."

"So you have your uses, English," he said, grudgingly, a moment or two later, "nice job on the apartment by the way. How are you feeling?"

"Better. What do you need?"

"Help in co-ordinating the communications," he replied, "and help trying to calm down Vanek. He seems certain that he's going to be arrested any day now. It might be worth him disappearing for a while if no-one else."

I looked at Collins, who nodded. "It can be arranged. Where are you?"

"Outside of town at the moment. It seemed safer that way," he replied, and he gave a description of the place to Collins.

"I should be able to find that without too many problems," replied the Captain, confidently.

"See you later then, English," Bartos said, and broke the contact. After another quick visit to the Czech's quartermaster, Collins started scanning out towards Prague, and about twenty minutes later I was back in enemy territory.

The next couple of days were spent co-ordinating the remainder of the underground, and making sure that those that could be sent to a place of safety, i.e. England or elsewhere in the Protectorate, were out of Prague. I spent most of the time camping out in the country, as that way I did not need to dodge as many patrols, except when I was actually needed in the city. Von Uberhand was serious, and while he only appeared to have three or four mages under his command, he was getting what use he could out of them. It was impossible to predict which of the SS patrols that were still roaming the city would have mages with them at any given time, and that made my presence in Prague itself unwise at best.

As those two days passed, it also became more apparent that Hitler's calls for blood were beginning to outweigh what appeared to be a conscious desire on Frank's part not to push the people too far. Unfortunately for him, it was Daluege who had the power, and he seemed to be favouring mass reprisals, rather than the selective ones - on mages, the intelligentsia and everyone else who was inconvenient to the Reich - that Frank seemed to be pushing for.

Then, at about eight o'clock on the evening of the ninth, Bartos received a call from the Vanek. When he finished, he was white faced.

"Oh my God," he muttered, shocked.

"What?" I asked, walking over from my vantage point looking down onto the city.

"Frank has authorised the destruction of an entire village," he replied, shaking.

"I thought he was the reasonable one," I commented, "he has been up until now."

"That's what our friend in the garrison told Vanek. The place is called Lidice. Some of my men were staying there, and if you remember, we had to get a couple of families out before the SS got to them..."

"I remember," I replied, my expression grim, "contact Collins and tell him. I'm going to need his backup."

"To do what, exactly?" Bartos asked, suspiciously.

"To make sure that when the SS get to Lidice, there is nobody left for them to butcher."

He looked at me dumb struck. "You can do that?"

"I don't know, but I am going to have to try," I replied, firmly, "how long have we got?"

"He didn't say. However, I assume it will be soon. If you can do this, then I would suggest going quickly."

"Contact Collins. Tell him to expect my call on the crystal."

"Done."

With that, I brought the image of the village to mind, and concentrated on casting a teleport. I transferred, and arrived near the house of the Horaks family, one of the two we had evacuated the morning before I had had the run in with the SS mage and had to withdraw. We had other contacts there - as Bartos had reminded me, it had been a staging point for several of the men Collins had sent in - and I made my way to the one I believed was the best respected within the community.

Thankfully, he and his family were at home when I knocked on the door. However, it took precious minutes to convince them of my identity. The disguise I had worn a few days before had become a liability the moment I met the Mage-Captain, and therefore my appearance was somewhat different to what he remembered. It was only a personal verification from Collins, who was waiting when I tried to contact him, that convinced the family that I was who I was claiming to be.

However, that hurdle overcome, it was easier than I had expected to persuade them that the SS were likely to destroy the place within the next day or so. Apparently the security police had searched the village twice since the assassination, although I had only been aware that they had tried to arrest the Horaks and the Stribnys, and the villagers were already nervous. He agreed to assemble his people in the village square and went out to try and persuade them all to come, while Collins and I settled down to work out the best way to evacuate them.

We got word about half an hour later that he had done his best, and I went out to find the villagers while Collins homed a scanning spell in on them. I was startled when I saw that there were upwards of four hundred people waiting for me, and suddenly wondered if I hadn't bitten off more than I could chew. However, by then it was too late. I had said we would try, and try we must, and at the end of the crystal link I heard Collins echoing my sentiments. Without further ado we set to work, following the time honoured tradition of women and children first.

We had time to get them all out, just, although I was exhausted by the end, and Collins sounded worse. The first SS carriages were driving into sight as I handed the last group of men over to the Captain, which shook me. I had not believed that they would mobilise their forces so fast. It was too close. I stayed long enough to be sure that the last few men were gone, and then teleported back to the camp where Bartos was waiting anxiously.

"Is it done?" he asked, nervously.

"Yes," I replied, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, English," he said, reaching into his pocket, pulling out a hip flask and taking a drink before offering it to me.

"I just hope they don't get pissed off and try again," I replied, taking a swig of the rough, warm spirit, "and I also hope we find out in time again - or maybe get a little more warning - if they do."

"I really don't know what to make of you at times," he replied, shaking his head, "what do you intend to do now?"

"Sit back and watch the reactions," I answered, exhausted but curious, and slowly cast the spell that would enable me to scan back at the village.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"They are having another try," said Vanek, disconsolately, as I saw him on the night of the 23rd, meeting him in the restaurant where Kubis had briefly been employed, "our contact in Hradcany has said that they will hit the village of Lezaky tomorrow at dawn."

"Well at least we have slightly more warning this time," I replied, although I could not help but wonder why, "can you give me a picture of the place, as I don't believe I've been to Lezaky before? And I'll need to take someone with me, so that the villagers know I'm on your side."

"Take Ata Moravec. He has taken messages there for us, when Bartos and more of his people were hiding there."

I walked to the Moravec's house, dodging yet another SS patrol, and thankfully found the boy reading in the lounge. He agreed to come with me, and gave me a picture of our destination. We walked out of the house and down the street, but once we had found some cover, I teleported us to the village of Lezaky. Ata put me in contact with the villagers' unofficial leader, a man named Kolarik, and established my credentials, and then I sent him back to Prague, where he would be safe.

As in Lidice, I started with the women and children. I magically contacted Collins using my crystal, and as before he was quite willing to help. By midnight our refugees - numbering about one hundred and thirty - were in Britain, from whence they could be resettled later. However, as I teleported out the first group of men, I felt the slim contact with Collins break, and I was suddenly oppressed by a feeling of unbridled malevolence.

Then I heard the first shots.

"What in Hell's name?" I said, as much to myself as Kolarik. He did not answer, but he looked terrified. I crossed to the window and looked out, but I could see nothing out of the ordinary, at least initially. However, when I tried to scan to find out what was wrong, I started seeing uniformed figures, SS without a doubt, and a small group of carriages off to one side of the village, and as I tried to mentally leave the bounds of the village I bounced off one of the most powerful magical barriers I had ever come across. It was more than just a set of wards, and it felt as black as Hell, as if it had death in it. I was trapped like a rat in a hole.

Then they started hauling men into the village square, and I saw a familiar looking man dismount from a carriage and stride into the centre of them. Wilhelm von Uberhand himself.

"Mage," he said, his voice clear and cold, "if you do not surrender yourself now, we will shoot everyone who is still in this village."

To prove a point, I saw him draw a pistol, level it at one of the villagers who was firmly held by two Nazi soldiers, and shoot him through the head. I looked at Kolarik, and saw the shock I guessed was on my face reflected on his own.

"You have doomed us all by being here, English," he said, quietly.

"Not if I can help it," I replied, but to myself I had to admit that I had been expertly manoeuvred into a pretty little trap. I had expected many things from my pursuers, but killing men to magically bar a village to trap me was not one of them, and that was the only way I could think of that they could have had the power to box me in. They had played on my reaction to Lidice, and baited a trap with more innocents.

"Just in case you think I'm joking, Mage," von Uberhand said after a few moments, and I saw a group of SS soldiers line half a dozen more men up against the wall of the village hall and shoot them. Then I heard a movement behind me, and saw Kolarik making for the door, a look of determination on his face. I threw a suspension spell at him, and froze him in his tracks.

"Six more men will die for every minute you keep me waiting," came that voice again, and once more it was punctuated by gunfire.

"Alright," I called, "I'm coming out," and started moving towards the door. As I did, I threw on a disguise spell and the strongest shield I could muster, and prepared a couple of area effect explosions. While I could not, in conscience, wait and hide while a group of innocents was butchered, I was damned if I wasn't going to take some of the SS soldiers with me as I went.

"A wise decision, Mage," came the reply, and moments later I stepped out of the door, into the expected hail of bullets. So much for keeping the bruised back as an object lesson. The force of the impacts knocked me backwards, and I was thrown against the wall. Thankfully, my shield held, although I felt badly shaken and bruised. I contrived to land so that I could see my attackers approaching, and under the shield cast a disguise that would make it look as if I was bleeding from multiple impact wounds. Sure enough, they came closer, and soon a squad of about twenty of them was within yards of me. I triggered the explosion and was gratified to see that none of them were standing afterwards. Then, just to test his strength, I centred another explosion around von Uberhand, however unfortunately he was unscathed afterwards even if his immediate escort were not. Then I heard a volley of shots as his men killed more of their prisoners.

I felt a lightning bolt impact on my shield, although it was thankfully deflected by the protection, and got slowly to my feet, bringing to mind a teleport across the village. If I could get to the extent of his wards, I could get out. I visualised the upper floor of one of the houses I had visited earlier, to try and bring out the women and children, and transferred there. I was three houses from the edge of the village, but when I looked out of the window I could see a cordon of black uniformed guards. I could also see what was obviously a body lying on the road by the entrance to the village.

I started downstairs, but frighteningly quickly I heard running footsteps as a squad of soldiers rounded the corner, von Uberhand with them. I wasn't sure how he had found me so quickly, and could only assume that he had somehow tracked my teleport - or perhaps it was a function of the barrier. I threw up an invisibility, which took just seconds, and then took cover in the hallway to wait for them, in line of sight of a window I could use to watch them.

"I want him myself," I heard the man order, and he stepped towards the house, flanked by his men. I sent another explosion down on him, wishing to Hell I'd had time to prepare a null-field, and was rewarded by bodies falling. However, in the fire flash I managed to lose track of the mage. Then I heard the door open and two pairs of booted feet come in. I moved back into the lounge, thus getting out of sight of the remaining men who were still standing, and were beginning to move to surround the house, and waited for the black mage and his companion to come in to the room where I was waiting. As I did, I feverishly tried to bring up a spell that would neutralise von Uberhand's shield, and as a less arcane precaution, drew the combat knife out of the sheath at my belt.

It was his companion who came into the room first. However, I resisted the temptation to strike at him until he was joined by his commander.

"Empty, sir," he said, smartly.

"No, he is close. I can feel him," came the reply as he started looking around the room "he's in here."

Thankfully, I realised my spell was up before he had pinned down my location, and threw it at von Uberhand. He immediately detected that something was wrong, but took a moment too long to work out what it was. It was enough time for me to get close enough to him to thrust my knife into his back, at the cost of my invisible concealment. He gurgled slightly as he fell, but mercifully I managed to withdraw the blade from his back so that I could use it again. As he heard the sound of his commander falling, his companion wheeled and he saw me. However, before he could react, I threw the knife and took him in the throat. Thank you, Gray, for that little gentle commando training.

I dropped the null field, and then quickly stripped von Uberhand of his uniform. I threw a spell at him to close the wound in his back while I put the uniform on, painfully aware that the men outside might come in at any moment. Then I put up a very low key disguise on myself, just enough for a superficial resemblance between me and the dead sorcerer, and to cover the hole in the back of the jacket and its associated bloodstain.

While I wasn't altogether happy with the idea of putting on an SS uniform, especially one belonging to a black mage, it seemed the only way. Long distance magic was out, as was walking out under an invisibility, which would probably go down as soon as I hit the wards. That left sheer gall, and for once in my life, I found myself thanking Providence that I did fit the Nazi ideal, in appearance anyway: I had to account for the possibility that even the disguise would be useless once I passed through the perimeter, not knowing how it was set up, which meant that for a few seconds at least I would need to rely on them not noticing the switch.

Once the back wound had closed, I pulled the body back a little, so his head was in the pool of blood, rather than his body, and changed its appearance so that it matched how I had looked by Kolarik's house. Then I picked up his pistol, cocked it and fired it directly at the corpse's throat in an attempt to divert investigators as to his real cause of death. It was better for them to find a dead mage who had been killed by an SS bullet, rather than one who had died of a stab wound. Then I put my knife into his hand and stood up.

Tucking my very un-German long hair under the cap, I took a deep breath and walked out of the house in which I had been hiding. I strode past the squad of SS men waiting outside, and headed in the direction in which I had seen the carriages.

"Sir..." said one of the men, falling into step with me.

"It seems the only person I can trust to finish anything is myself," I growled, in what I hoped was a reasonable impression of von Uberhand's voice, although I consciously had to think about answering in German, rather than Czech. "He's in there. Take his head, raise it on a pole in the centre of the village, and then get some of them..." indicating a group of survivors "...to throw the body in the river. Then move out."

"And Jurgens...?" he asked, presumably referring to von Uberhand's companion.

"Was stupid," I answered, firmly.

Not wanting to risk further conversation, I made a dismissive gesture, which sent the persistent officer scurrying back to his fellows. Then I headed directly for where the black mage had left his carriage. The driver was sitting, waiting, but snapped to attention when he saw me heading towards him. I strode directly to the carriage, got aboard, and ordered him to return to Prague. He seemed a little surprised at the order, but did not question it. Instead, he snapped the reins and the horses accelerated quickly to a trot. Four outriders fell in beside us, in accordance with the führer's directive regarding the security of senior personnel since Heydrich's assassination, and soon we were outside the outer wards.

I breathed a sigh of relief once we were clear of them and their malevolence was lifted from my shoulders. Not pausing to wait any longer, I cast a teleport, and headed back to Prague. It was time I finally admitted to Bartos and Vanek that this time there really was nothing more I could safely do.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"Colonel, welcome back," said Michaels as I walked into the Ministry on July 1st.

"It's good to be back," I replied, showing my Engineers' ID for the first time in over six months, and still getting used to speaking English again.

"Colonel Graham told me to ask you to go and see him when you arrived."

"Thank you," I answered and headed up to Gray's office. I knocked on the door and was admitted immediately. Graham was standing by the window, looking out over Whitehall, hands behind his back. He didn't turn as I entered, but his attitude betrayed tension.

"They want you badly," he said, quietly.

"Who?" I asked, although I already suspected that I knew the answer.

"From the top, Hitler, Himmler, and down from there. Hell, Kriegsturm would probably be on the list if he was still alive, also. And you've started a bloody armed revolt in Czechoslovakia! Along with confused rumours about either the disappearance or destruction of entire villages, an Englishman up to his neck in defending the Czech underground and various revenge attacks - both attempted and thwarted - we have received information that you have been personally targeted for execution. No holds barred. No standard rules of engagement. Just as quickly, as publicly and as messily as possible."

He turned towards me, anger on this face but his voice frighteningly calm.

"What the Hell were you doing, Robert? This was an Intelligence operation. It involved a degree of subtlety which I, perhaps foolishly, had trusted that you were capable of. How have they learned you were involved so quickly?"

"I think Heydrich recognised me. It took an extra shot to kill him...although I would have thought that he would have been dead before he could tell anyone...and they also bloody nearly got me at Lezaky."

"Ah," he replied, quietly, "would you care to explain?"

"We got word that Himmler had ordered reprisals in revenge for Heydrich's assassination. I felt honour-bound to stay and clear our tracks to protect the underground, as our actions had put them in considerable danger. As it was we heard too late for the first hundred Czechs the SS managed to round up."

"So you stayed and dealt with the problem..."

"What would you have had me do? Leave and let them all be wiped out? In all conscience, I could not have done that. They were targeting whole villages of innocent people."

Graham shook his head, the expression on his face softening slightly. "No, but I would have preferred your personal involvement in all this to remain un-remarked. Right now I think you are the only person I ever have heard of who is in line for both the Distinguished Service Order and a severe reprimand for the same mission," he answered, "you see, the fact remains that you are still a senior British officer, and it would have been better for the Nazis to continue believing that Heydrich was assassinated by Czech dissidents. They have already been making none-to-subtle announcements about British intervention."

"I wasn't in uniform, and I was disguised pretty much the whole time, except at the moment when Heydrich might have seen me," I replied, shaking my head, "I really believe that I didn't have a choice, Gray. To have done otherwise would have been condoning murder."

"And the uprising?"

"Was brewing. Benes and Moravec had been working for it, and the Nazi reprisals proved to be the trigger."

"Knowing you and what seems to make you tick, you are probably right," he said, smiling at last, "however, your sense of honour is going to get you in real trouble one day."

"It already has," I answered, "on numerous occasions. Why do you think I stayed in Prague?" I shrugged and crossed to join him by the window, "how seriously are you taking the execution threat?"

"Very. Two years ago they tried to kill you for far lesser crimes than helping take the most prominent Nazi scalp so far and rubbing the SS's collective noses in it," he answered, his tone deadly serious, "if you are willing to accept my advice, in your position I would tell Moravec what you've done, and then disappear. Just drop completely out of circulation. You are too valuable for us to lose permanently, but my superiors agree that it would be worth you staying out of it for a year or so, until this calms down a little."

"Who do the powers that be intend to put in command of the Mage Corps?"

"Blake has been handling things pretty well in your absence. He can continue to do so "

I nodded. What he was saying made sense, even if the idea of cutting and running was not particularly appealing to me. "I will have dropped out of sight by this evening," I said, finally, "and believe me, even you won't be able to find me." At that he looked a little curious, but wisely chose to say nothing. "I'll keep in touch with Andrew, though, so that if you need to contact me for any reason, get a message to him and he will pass it on."

I wondered about being more specific, but decided that it wasn't the time to tell Gray about his namesake on Shadow Earth, with whom I had made arrangements for an alternative military and civilian identity, just in case, after Heydrich's attack on me two years before. "Do you want me to tell Blake, or will you handle that?" I said after a brief pause.

"I will deal with it," he answered, "now go, and for goodness sake be careful. I've already lost a son and too many good friends in this war, and I would rather not add you to the list." He paused for a moment, a strange expression on his face, then continued, "and please remember that wherever you decide to go, the SS has a very long reach."

"I will," I said, smiling, "thanks, Gray...for everything."

With that I turned and headed out of his office and down the stairs. My aide then went out to the coaching yard, ordered my carriage to be made ready, and was outside the main entrance within five minutes. He quickly drove me back to Hyde Park, whereupon I dismissed him.

Once he was gone, I triggered a teleport to Moravec's HQ, so that I could brief him on what had happened, backed up in part by Collins. It took most of the afternoon, but by the end of it at least he appreciated that I had done what I could to protect the underground. He certainly didn't seem overly upset that his people had decided to act against their overlords, and he implied that Benes was satisfied with that.

After that was done I returned home, whereupon I packed a few things...although most of what I would require was already at my destination...and was soon ready to depart. Finally, I shuffled out the Trump Brand had given me of Andrew and gave him a call.

There was a slight delay before he answered, and when he did I could see that he was in a large tent. Outside the half open entry flap I could see the hot desert sun beating down...he had been posted to the Eighth Army with Montgomery, and was acting as the General's chief magical aide near Cairo.

"This is a surprise," he said, looking genuinely pleased to see me, "what's up?"

"I was calling to let you know that I've effectively been ordered out of town by Colonel Graham. I appear to have upset a few people."

"Nothing to do with the recent assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, I assume," he said, smiling innocently.

"Well now you come to mention it..." I replied, quietly. "I am going to head for Shadow Earth. Therefore, if you need to contact me, the cards will be the only way."

"I understand. How long are you going to be away?"

"A while. Maybe as long as a year to eighteen months. I've asked Gray to call you if he needs to get in contact with me, and if the worst comes to the worst all my papers for here are in the desk in the London house. If you get a chance you might want to sort some stuff out."

"Fine. I'll remember. Watch your back, Robert. I'd miss you if you weren't about any more."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll be in touch."

With that I broke the link, and picked up case containing the few possessions I was taking with me. If I needed anything else it would be simple enough to return and fetch it...theoretically, anyway. Then I took a last look around the hallway, stepped outside to lock up and cast the spell that would take me away from Terra Magica for a while.

I arrived in a remarkably similar house, and crossed to the window to look out towards the park. Outside I could see the occasional car passing down Park Lane, almost always on military business by the look of the passengers. I took my case upstairs and changed my uniform to one that was a little more suitable for my new residence, then, once I was ready, I walked out of the house into the early summer sun and set off in the direction of Whitehall, towards the office of another Colonel John Graham.