Battle Ghost
By Ray Drayton
“A marvellous read. Ray Drayton has excelled himself producing a book containing action, history and romance.
His descriptive writing made me want to sit in the vineyard sharing a glass of red wine with the characters.
A very well researched book that was difficult to put down.”
Synopsis:
Summer 1943.
Italy under German occupation.
“Kommt Schon!!” The order in harsh German shatters the silence. The cold grey eyes of a German Major stare directly at Captain Mark Anders.
A discarded shovel remains on the ground.
“Come on, pick it up Captain.” This time the German officer repeats the order in precise English.
“Officers are not required to partake in menial work, Major. You are aware of requirements for prisoners of war, just as I am.” The New Zealander doesn’t move.
The air is heavy with an angry expectant silence. A short distance away several Allied prisoners pause in their work, watching the terse scene unfold before them. A large Alsatian dog instinctively strains on the guards’ leash, barking furiously, adding to the tension.
The Major produces a Luger pistol and cocks the weapon centimetres from the Captain’s face. “ Pick up the shovel Captain, otherwise it will be used to dig your grave.” The weapon in the Major’s hand is rock steady as is the look of determination in his eyes. A gloved index finger curls around the trigger…
This is ‘Vercelli PG106’ – one of 25 POW work camps in Italy’s Piedmont region. The PO river valley borders the Swiss Alps to the north. Every man knows if they can escape and cross the mountains into Switzerland, they are free. The penalty should they fail is certain death…
Florella and her two companions had escaped a planned German ambush by forsaking a mountain road and going into the forest. They spend the night in a field of haystacks to sleep before ascending high into the mountains. The Italian partisan leader wakes in the dead of night to the realization how the Germans knew of their plans. There is a traitor in their midst. The logical suspect is Isabella who had trained as a radio operator prior to joining the partisans. Isabella’s sleeping space beside Gina is empty. Florella reaches for her Beretta pistol, crawls out of the haystack and walks to another haystack where she knows the radio transmitter is hidden. A warm draft of air drifts across her face before disappearing into the darkness. Florella eases the safety catch on the silenced Beretta when the sound of a morse code key transmitting is audible within the haystack. She hesitates, does she wait until Isabella is finished or kill her now before too much information is disclosed to the enemy?
Suddenly the decision is made for Florella…
Ever since Florella had shown Oliver Anders the sunset over her vineyard high in the Valtellina, he had watched the phenomenon at every opportunity.
For some inexplicable reason, tonight of all nights is important.
Oliver and Margot stand together watching the sun sink below the ridgeline of the mountains. Both are aware of a powerful electric vibrancy filling the ethers surrounding them.
“He is here.” Margot announces breathlessly.
Italy under German occupation.
“Kommt Schon!!” The order in harsh German shatters the silence. The cold grey eyes of a German Major stare directly at Captain Mark Anders.
A discarded shovel remains on the ground.
“Come on, pick it up Captain.” This time the German officer repeats the order in precise English.
“Officers are not required to partake in menial work, Major. You are aware of requirements for prisoners of war, just as I am.” The New Zealander doesn’t move.
The air is heavy with an angry expectant silence. A short distance away several Allied prisoners pause in their work, watching the terse scene unfold before them. A large Alsatian dog instinctively strains on the guards’ leash, barking furiously, adding to the tension.
The Major produces a Luger pistol and cocks the weapon centimetres from the Captain’s face. “ Pick up the shovel Captain, otherwise it will be used to dig your grave.” The weapon in the Major’s hand is rock steady as is the look of determination in his eyes. A gloved index finger curls around the trigger…
This is ‘Vercelli PG106’ – one of 25 POW work camps in Italy’s Piedmont region. The PO river valley borders the Swiss Alps to the north. Every man knows if they can escape and cross the mountains into Switzerland, they are free. The penalty should they fail is certain death…
Florella and her two companions had escaped a planned German ambush by forsaking a mountain road and going into the forest. They spend the night in a field of haystacks to sleep before ascending high into the mountains. The Italian partisan leader wakes in the dead of night to the realization how the Germans knew of their plans. There is a traitor in their midst. The logical suspect is Isabella who had trained as a radio operator prior to joining the partisans. Isabella’s sleeping space beside Gina is empty. Florella reaches for her Beretta pistol, crawls out of the haystack and walks to another haystack where she knows the radio transmitter is hidden. A warm draft of air drifts across her face before disappearing into the darkness. Florella eases the safety catch on the silenced Beretta when the sound of a morse code key transmitting is audible within the haystack. She hesitates, does she wait until Isabella is finished or kill her now before too much information is disclosed to the enemy?
Suddenly the decision is made for Florella…
Ever since Florella had shown Oliver Anders the sunset over her vineyard high in the Valtellina, he had watched the phenomenon at every opportunity.
For some inexplicable reason, tonight of all nights is important.
Oliver and Margot stand together watching the sun sink below the ridgeline of the mountains. Both are aware of a powerful electric vibrancy filling the ethers surrounding them.
“He is here.” Margot announces breathlessly.