Read Online They Used Dark Forces by Dennis Wheatley - Free Book Online Page B

that scene as he had last seen it and after a moment Khurrem replied, ‘It must be so. They cannot be prisoners of war. One of them is cleaning a shotgun.’
    â€˜
Donnerwetter!
’ the doctor exclaimed, coming quickly to his feet and laying his pistol on the desk. Then, after making a few swift passes at Khurrem, to bring her out of her trance, he said to Gregory:
    â€˜Mr. Sallust, I owe you an apology. Your accent and performance as an officer are so impeccable that my daughter was completely convinced that you were a German. I, too, am fallible in such matters until I have had an opportunity to make use of my special arts and believed you to be one. It seemed so improbable that the Allies would trust a German with such animportant mission, we naturally jumped to the conclusion that the Gestapo had become aware that we had sent information about Peenemünde out of the country, and had planned to plant you on us. May the Lord be thanked that neither you nor Mr. Sabinov resisted when I held you up, for I certainly should have shot you if you had. I fear, though, that by having caused you to believe yourselves trapped I must have given both of you a most unpleasant quarter of an hour. Please accept my sincere regrets at having subjected you to such an ordeal.’
    An ordeal it had most certainly been, for Gregory had rarely been inflicted with blacker thoughts about his probable future than during those minutes while Khurrem had been taking their weapons from himself and Kuporovitch. Even while the doctor was making his apology his prisoners could scarcely realise that their fears had been groundless, but now they both felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
    As the realisation of the true situation came home to Gregory, he felt that he must be losing his grip to have allowed himself to be scared needlessly almost out of his wits twice within a few hours. Yet on consideration he decided that in both cases he had had ample grounds for his fears.
    Coming to his feet, he said with a faint smile, ‘Your mistake was understandable,
Herr Doktor
. When I’m posing as a German officer I always endeavour to live in that role and I’ve had quite a lot of practice at it. Thank God, though, that your methods of finding out the truth about people are so unorthodox and painless. I have often heard of thought transference, but never expected to witness such an extraordinary demonstration of that gift.’
    Malacou shook his head. ‘It is not a gift. Anyone can develop such powers, but, of course, training a medium like Khurrem here to look into other people’s minds is a long and arduous business. Direct thought transference is a much simpler matter. It was by telepathy that I told Khurrem when I was ready to receive you here tonight, and by it I can transmit orders to my servant. Be silent now for one moment.’
    While they remained still he closed his eyes, but only for a few seconds. Then he resumed, ‘I am fortunate in having acellar here containing many fine wines. To cement our friendship we will drink a bottle of one of the great 1920 hocks. I have just ordered my servant to bring it.’
    After a moment Gregory asked, ‘Am I right in supposing that you could assist us in our mission by using your occult powers?’
    Malacou nodded. ‘Yes; and without such help I think it almost certain that you would fail. The security precautions at Peenemünde are quite exceptional. Since Khurrem learned about these rockets from Herman Hauff she has cautiously sounded out every one of her acquaintances in Grimmen, Greifswald and Wolgast, hoping to secure further information, but in every case she has drawn a blank. It is, too, her impression that they know nothing, other than the fact that the number of men working at Peenemünde has greatly increased in recent months.’
    â€˜There is no lead that you can give us, then; apart from Herr Hauff?’
    â€˜None. And with him you must