could see bullet holes in the door. Incredibly nothing else inside the cab had been hit. Loose MG42 bullets were rolling around on the floor.
“Tim are you badly hurt?”
Tim was ripping bits of his shirt off to make a tourniquet. He was in the process of tying it just above his elbow using his good arm and his teeth. He grunted with the pain.
“I don’t think so. It passed straight through. It sure does bloody hurt. ARRGGHH!” he cursed as the truck hit a series of bumps in the road.
“Sorry. Sorry. Bloody hell your arm looks bad mate.”
Tim wiped the sweat off his face with his good arm.
“Listen I think I can still fire the gun but you may have to load it for me.”
Johnny looked in the mirror. The remaining motorbike was no where to be seen. He began slowing down again.
“I can’t see him. He’s not there anymore.”
Tim leaned his head out of the window.
“Yes he is. I can see his shadow behind us.”
Next time Johnny looked the motorcycle was back in his mirror. He was about to look away when panic set in.
“Shit Tim. His passenger is gone.”
They both glanced at each other.
“He’s in the back of the truck,” Johnny said.
Johnny could see the German in the mirror. He had climbed out of the back of the lorry and was now creeping along its side. He had a pistol in his hand.
“Here he comes Tim.”
Johnny weaved the truck across the road working at the steering wheel, pulling it this way and that trying to throw him off. The German held on tight. Tim was frantically trying to load his Sten one handed. He dropped the new clip on the floor.
“Damn!”
He dived down for it hurting his arm in the process. He could just about feel it with his fingertips. Then he was able to turn it into his grasp and pick it up. He jammed the Sten between his knees and loaded the clip. The motorcycle was keeping a safe distance. Now it surged forward again to try to add confusion.
“Tim we’re going to have to swap places. I can’t shake him off. If you can drive I’ll deal with him.”
Despite his pain Tim nodded.
Johnny stood up, his foot pressed firmly on the accelerator, both hands gripping the steering wheel. Tim slid over and under Johnny. The truck slowed for a moment while they exchanged places. The German moved towards them in the lull.. Tim stomped on the throttle and the Bedford roared on. They rounded a bend and in the distance they could see Matmata and safety. Alf and the others waiting for them.
Johnny opened the passenger door, climbed out and grabbed the Sten off the seat. He got a secure footing between the cab and the body and the moment the German appeared at the back of the cab he fired but missed. The German threw himself away, slipped, and nearly fell, holding on one handed. Tim afraid to weave the Bedford about now in case Johnny was thrown. Suddenly the Germans pistol nosed its way around the corner. Johnny saw it and ducked. The shot smashed the glass behind the driver. The shattered glass raining down on Tim. The German chose his moment and without warning lunged forward and jumped the small gap and landed by the drivers door. Tim saw him coming in the mirror but was unable to do anything about it. The German grabbed his arm and pulled it. The Bedford slewed around in a wide arc, left the road, turned one hundred and eighty degrees and jumping and jarring over the rough terrain bounced back onto the road. They were now heading back the way they’d come. The motorcycle also turned in pursuit. The German aimed his pistol at Tim and pulled the trigger just as the truck hit a pothole. The shot fired harmlessly into the air. Tim let go of the steering wheel and grabbed the pistol arm banging it down against the door until the German dropped the gun. The back wheels went over it.
“Give it up! Give it up!” Tim was yelling.
Johnny climbed back down into the cab.
“Tim duck!”
Tim did as he was told. Johnny couldn’t get a clean shot. Then Tim pulled the door handle and kicked the door. It opened and swung out over thin air. The German’s legs flailing as he tried to hang on. The motorcycle raced forward to try to assist just as Johnny leaned behind Tim and fired the Sten.