Alpha Threat by Ron Smoak Page A

this is all about.   You have the bridge, Hientz.”   Adler took a quick assessment of the area around the small dock.   Now, this is what I call the middle of nowhere, he thought.   Here they were in some forgotten cove on the coast of South America.   It seemed as though they were ten thousand miles from nowhere.   Actually, the captain was not far off target.  
    “Aye, sir,” replied Hientz as he motioned to several crewmen who were already on the deck below to tie the boat to the small pier.   Captain Adler stepped down from the conning tower and down on the deck.   He lifted his cap and ran the fingers of one hand through his greasy hair.   Somehow he thought that might make him more presentable to the three men striding toward him.  
      “Heil Hitler!” barked Leutnant Trox, stepping forward smartly with a crisp raised right hand and arm.  
    “Heil Hitler,” responded Adler, clearly not as enthused as Trox.    Adler’s salute was no more than a wave of his hand.  
    “I have some cargo for you,” pressed Adler.   “I want to get this done quickly so I can get back to sea.”   A small cove like this did not give Adler a feeling of confidence.   To get trapped in here by the enemy meant death for them all.  
    “You are U-1055, I presume?” asked Trox.  
    Adler answered matter-of-factly, “Yes.”   He looked over at the large 1055 painted on the conning tower.   Dumbass, he thought.
    “Have your men unload the cargo and place the crates on the dock.   I will check them personally and they will be rechecked by the Gestapo.   Then my men will load them into the trucks.   In the meantime, you are ordered not to leave the docks, sir.”   Trox shifted his eyes toward Grimme.   Adler got the message.   Goddamned Gestapo, Adler thought.  
    “Very well,” said Adler.   He turned to Hientz, who was still on the bridge.   “Hientz, get a detail to begin the unloading of the cargo.   Use as many men as you need.   I want to be out of here within an hour.”  
    “Aye, sir,” replied Hientz as he ducked down to relay the order below.  
    “Captain Adler, please let me introduce myself,” a smiling Grimme said, stepping forward.   “I presume you had an uneventful trip?”   Grimme pulled off his right glove and offered Adler his hand.   Grimme caught the body odor of the U-boat captain.    He crinkled his nose, reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief, pressing it to his nose.  
    Adler looked at the other two officers and cautiously shook Grimme’s hand.   Grimme’s hand was cold and damp.   Adler winced and quickly let go the handshake.  
    “The trip was long and rough,” stated Adler with little emotion.   He clearly did not like his situation and wanted to leave as soon as possible.  
    Captain Adler noticed several large trucks coming out of the jungle, pulling up to the dock.   He watched as several dozen soldiers emerged from the back of the trucks and ran down the dock toward them.  
    Grimme continued, “Captain, this is Major Bayer, our base commander here.”   Bayer stepped forward and offered Adler a limp, unimpressive handshake.  
    “We are very glad you were able to complete your mission, Captain Adler.   You did follow your orders implicitly?   The crew knows nothing?” asked Major Bayer.    
    “Yes; only the first officer and navigator,” said Adler, still eyeing both men intently but acutely aware of all of the soldiers rushing their way.  
    “Very good, Captain,” snapped Bayer, also shifting his eyes over to Grimme as if to get a validation that all was okay.  
    “My good captain,” started Grimme, “what news have you brought us from home?”  
    Adler looked squarely into Grimme’s eyes and wondered if the question was some kind of a trap or was Grimme that stupid.   He looked around to ensure no one was within earshot.  
    “You may not have heard the war is nearly over.   We are losing.   Is that the news