The Devil's Blessing Read Online Free

stopping by, and that his visit would be as abrupt as his appearance.
    It was proving to be an undue stress, as the men had become accustomed to their days of menial work. There was a certain structure in their days that was due, in part, to the way Ingersleben had the men carry on the hours. The men may have come from different corners of Germany with backgrounds as varied as the seasons, but they did have one thing in common: they all hated Unteroffizier Ingersleben and his cold, matter-of-fact, ways.
    But now, with Oberfeldwebel Peter Haas at their camp, many men, including Otto, were beginning to rethink the notion that their commander was the worst man on earth. Haas deserved the title more.
    Just as Otto was about to lose his mind in pretending to clean the same three pots for another two hours, they were given respite, as the Oberfeldwebel and Unteroffizier adjourned to Ingersleben’s tent for a break from looking and judging other men. As soon as the two men closed the tent flap behind him, nearly all the men fell to the ground in exhaustion.
    One little grenade and two big problems would be gone , Otto thought. He hated those two men. Not so much for the men they were, but because of the man they were turning him into.

    ❧

    “And this is the best course of action?” Ingersleben asked. “There really is no other way?”
    Haas gave him an exasperated look. “What do you think? What else can we do?”
    Ingersleben nodded. “Okay. But just tell me the plan again, one more time.”
    “You know the plan!” Haas said, nearly shouting. “We’ve been over it.”
    “Please,” Ingersleben said, “humor me. For my sake.”
    Haas gave him a stern look, as if to say no, and that's the end of it . But then, Ingersleben said, “If I am to risk my life, and those of my men, I just need to hear it again. Please.” The last word came out more as a demand than a plea.
    It seemed that Haas appreciated Ingersleben’s soft demand, and relented.
    “We will inform the men that we are secretly going to the Western Front. And there, we will surrender to British and American forces.”
    “And the prisoners?”
    “We will execute them. All off them.”
    Ingersleben nodded. He seemed to agree. “I think you're right. I do believe your plan will work, but let’s look at it a bit closer.”
    Haas motioned for Ingersleben to continue.
    “First,” he said, “the men are going to enjoy killing the Russians. That’s a certainty!” They shared a silent chuckle. “One thing I do question is: how many of the men are willing to go on ahead with this plan? We are talking about treason, after all. Some will think it a test, and others might outright deny it. Many of these men’s friends have died in battle for the Fatherland and many won’t be ready to surrender. Many, if not most, are ready to die for the German people and the thought of becoming like one of them,” he said, pointing to the direction of the Russian prisoners outside, “is a fate worse than death. My fear, Herr Oberfeldwebel, is that we won’t live for a moment after of our announcement of the plan.”
    “And you see,” Haas said, “that is where you are wrong. The men will listen to me and my command. When they hear these words coming from me, they’ll agree.” He crossed his arms and smugly nodded his head. “You’ll see.”
    The only thing Ingersleben could see was a cocky man. The only other man so self-assured that he had ever met was the man he met every morning in the mirror.
    “Very well,” Ingersleben said. “When do you propose we do this?”
    “Today.”
    “Today!” Ingersleben was ready for the horror of war to end as much as the next man, but even he wasn’t in such a rush.
    “Of course. Why not?” Haas said. “The longer we wait, the tighter the noose becomes. We have one advantage, and that’s time. Let’s not waste it. It’s either my plan or the plan of the generals. It’s your choice.”
    “Very well,” Ingersleben