The Rat Patrol 3 - The Trojan Tank Affair (28 page)

"I am Captain Nehring," he said, saluting. His face was lined and his lips were pressed tightly. "I am in charge of this unit. Captain Dietrich was in the low-flying plane that turned back when your fighters engaged us. I surrender the force to you without question. It was folly to embark on this campaign without the King Tiger tank."

Troy smiled quickly and looked at Moffitt who flashed a smile in return.

"Very well, Captain Nehring," Wilson said quietly. "The armored cars will pass between your columns. Have your men give up their weapons and place them in the cars. Form your—" His lips had started to say "tanks" and he smiled. "Form your vehicles in a column of twos and follow the jeeps into Bir-el-Alam. You will come with us in the other jeep."

Captain Nehring walked over to Moffitt.

"Will you permit me?" he asked, reaching for the amplifier.

Hitch drove the jeep up to the line of tanks and Captain Nehring instructed his men to lay down their arms. The jeep swung around and drove beside the other and the Rat Patrol waited for the tank column to fall in behind. Colonel Wilson looked at each of them for a moment.

"I never thought I'd see the day," he said, smiling, "that the Rat Patrol would conquer a three hundred-tank force of the Afrika Korps' finest."

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