“Most Kosarians did not like the
Kommunists but supported them because they led the resistance. The Partisans
carried out ambushes, raids and sabotage. They also murdered people who did not
agree with their politics, including leaders who were loyal to the King.”
“As the war began to go against
the Germans Paul began losing support. People secretly changed sides, or
slipped into hiding. In October 1944 the Russian Red Army, communists of course
in those days, drove the Germans out of Romania and Bulgaria. The Germans began
withdrawing their forces from Greece and Kosaria so they would not be cut-off.”
“When the Russian advance reached
the Kosarian border the remaining Germans withdrew very rapidly. With them went
Prince Paul, his remaining KSS supporters
:-
and the
Kosarian Crown Jewels.”
“Jewels!”
Stephen cried.
Inspector Sharpe paused and
raised an eyebrow. “During the retreat the Crown Jewels were lost. The convoy
was ambushed in the Vulture’s Pass. Treachery was involved because the
ambushers knew exactly which vehicle, out of hundreds, was the one carrying the
jewels. The trap was sprung in such a way as to isolate it. The ambushers wore
Partisan badges and uniforms but the Communists have always claimed it was not
their men who did it. They say that is a lie to cover the identity of the
people who really stole the crown jewels.”
The boys exchanged glances. Roger
spoke their thoughts.
“Crown Jewels!”
“The Communists claim it was all just
a deception and that the KSS actually had the jewels in other vehicles and got
away with them. So it may not be the Crown Jewels,” Inspector Sharpe commented.
He went on: “Kosaria then fell under the control of the Russians who set up a
communist government, led by Turderov.”
Peter interrupted. “I hope there
aren’t any communists involved in this. I don’t like them after what they did
to Grandpa and Omma.”
“Well there are. Kosaria has a
Communist government.”
“I thought all the Communist
governments fell a few years ago?” Graham said.
“They did.
All
except for Kosaria.
In Europe that is. Kosaria is the last Communist
state in Europe.” Inspector Sharpe explained.
“I hope I don’t meet any,” Peter
said.
“You very well may if I see you again.
One of the officers from their embassy is joining me tomorrow,” replied the
Inspector. “The Kosarians are very worried about what’s going on up here.”
Roger sat up. “Why’s that sir? Do
they want the treasure?” he asked.
The Inspector hesitated then replied,
“You lads don’t follow the news do you. The Deputy Premier of Kosaria, their
Number Two man, is on a state visit to Australia. He’s in Cairns tonight and
will be visiting Mareeba and Dimbulah tomorrow; and Atherton and Herberton the
day after. Knowing that the Archduke Paul’s thugs are here, and murdering
people, has the people at the Kosarian Embassy very worried.”
Roger frowned. “Why is he here
sir?” he asked.
“Usual things, trade and good
relations I suppose. Remember there are a lot of Kosarian migrants living on
the Tablelands.”
Stephen spoke next. “What
happened to the Archduke Paul and the KSS at the end of the war sir?” he asked.
“They appear to have fled with
the Germans. Their organization rapidly fell apart as the rats left the sinking
ship. Paul was last seen in Zagreb in April 1945 but then vanished. It was
rumoured that he escaped to South America in a German U-Boat which sailed from
Trieste on 2nd May 1945. Other KSS men have definitely been seen living in
Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.”
Stephen grinned. “The ‘Boys from
Brazil’,” he said. “We’ve seen
all the
movies sir.”
Roger nodded. “Paraguay certainly
fits. Two of the four we met had Paraguayan passports,” he added.
Graham looked puzzled. “Why are
there a lot of Kosarian migrants here sir?” he asked.
“Remember what I said about
Krapinski a couple of days ago? Thousands fled the country during World War
Two. A lot of their army retreated to join ours in Greece. There was a British
Empire army there which included the 6th Australian Division and the 2nd New
Zealand Division.”
“And Ponsonby,” Stephen added.
They all laughed.
“Yes, and
Ponsonby.
Our
forces were outnumbered about 12 to one. The Germans had four Panzer Divisions
against one British Armoured brigade. That’s stiff odds, even for Ponsonby. And
they had two Austrian Mountain Divisions; and Greece is mostly mountains. We
didn’t have a chance, so it was a fighting withdrawal back to the sea, then
evacuation by the British Navy back to Crete and Egypt.”
“A Kosarian Brigade was reconstituted
which served with the British 8th Army in the North African desert and then in
Italy. As a result many got to know Australian and New Zealand soldiers. After
the war it was not safe for them to return to a Kosaria run by Communists who
were busy executing any royalists they could lay hands on. So they became
refugees and migrated to Australia. It’s just coincidence many of them settled
here on the Atherton Tablelands. I suppose they liked the place.”
“What about King Peter sir?”
Roger queried.
“The Royal Family lived in Egypt
until the end of the war,
then
went to live in
England. Over the years there were a number of attempts made on their lives.
This culminated in the murder of the King and Queen while they were walking in
Regents Park five years ago. You might remember it. They were killed by agents
using poison-tipped umbrellas.”
Peter let out a little gasp. “Oh
I remember that!” he cried.
“So do
I
!”
Stephen said.
Inspector Sharpe read on. “It was
assumed that the Communists carried out the murders but it has never been
proven and they deny any involvement. The Crown Prince, who would be Peter V if
he is ever crowned, went into hiding and has not been seen in public since.”
“And Kosaria is still communist?”
Peter asked.
“Yes.
Ever
since 1945.
There has never been an election and Slobodan Turderov has
ruled as a dictator since then, supported by the Communist Party and a large
Secret Police, the KOSPUSS. He’s 89 now and in ill-health.”
DS Crowe then explained.
“Remember that the whole commo system has fallen on its arse. The Russian
armies have gone home; former Soviet satellite states like Czechoslovakia and
Hungary now have democratic governments; Germany has been re-united; the USSR
has fallen apart and so has Yugoslavia. You must have seen on TV that terrible
series of sordid little wars they had in Bosnia and so on.”
They had. These were discussed
for a minute or two. Then Inspector Sharpe went on, “Kosaria is apparently in
trouble. Their economy is in a mess, there are food shortages and a lot of
unemployment. There have even been riots demanding freedom and democracy. These
have been brutally put down by the KOSPAR, the Kosarian
Partisans,
that
is the communist army. The communists are managing to keep control
by fear and by force but apparently the place is a powder keg ready for civil
war and revolution. The speculation is that when Turdorov dies, from old age if
nothing else, then the place will erupt in revolution.”
Roger tried to imagine this. He
didn’t pay much attention to the news and now felt quite ignorant and
ill-informed.
Graham then asked, “Do I get this
right sir. There are two rival princes: Peter and Paul; one hiding in Paraguay
and the other hiding God knows where, plus the Communist government in
Kosaria?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
Graham nodded and looked serious.
“So maybe, if Krapinski was a captain in the Royal Guard then the KSS may not
be looking for the Thigh Bone of St Joris or a treasure, but for a person- a
Crown Prince, one they would probably like to kill.”
“By Jove!” the Inspector cried,
sitting up. “You could have something there. If the Archduke Paul’s men, the
KSS, are here; perhaps the Crown Prince’s men are here too? Perhaps their
organization also still exists?”
“I think it does sir,” Stephen
said.
“Do you? What makes you say
that?”
Stephen held up the captured
signal. “This message we have been translating from German.”
“Ah yes! I’d forgotten that. What
does it say?”
“We haven’t quite finished
translating it yet sir. Can we finish it?”
“Yes, do that. I need to go to
the toilet anyway. We’ll have some coffee too. My word, you kids are doing more
to solve this case than we are!”
Roger sat and watched Graham and
Stephen finish translating the secret message. He saw by the clock it was
11:15pm but his mind was so active he did not feel tired. This was the most
exciting and interesting thing he had ever been involved in.
Inspector Sharpe returned and sat
talking to DS Crowe. Peter went downstairs to the laundry. Roger fidgeted with
impatience while Graham and Stephen worked. Ten minutes dragged by before
Graham cried out: “We’ve finished it sir.”
“Good work. Read it out.”
Graham turned and called, “OK.
Hey Pete! Come up here.”
“Yeah what?” came Peter’s voice
from downstairs.
“We’ve finished translating. Come
up.”
Peter ran up and sat next to
Roger.
“All ready?” Graham asked. “OK,
this is a Radio Message Form. The title at the top says that. Then there are
these ruled boxes across the top section of the page. The first box says
‘Security Class.’. Next to that is written ‘Secret’. There is then some sort of
Reference Number system, KSS/SAT/9-001-673.”
Sgt Crowe looked at it. “For
filing in records probably,” he suggested.
Graham went on: “Then it says
‘Message Handling Instructions’ and a three letter code which we don’t
understand. After that comes a Date/Time Group. That is written in military
style
:-
170800K JUN.”
Peter looked interested. “That is
the same system we use. Why would they use that?” he asked.
DS Crowe replied.
“Probably because most countries have adopted the American system
that NATO uses.”
Roger spoke next. “So it was only
sent at 8 O’clock this morning,” he pointed out.
“Yes,” Graham agreed. “Then it
says ‘From’ and ‘To’. It is from the ‘Obersturmbannfuhrer Australie’. That is
the Lieutenant Colonel Australia; to the ‘Untersturmfuhrer’ or lieutenant of
detachment or Group- Abteilung- it’s hard for me to give it an exact meaning-
Detachment Rainforest.”
Roger nodded. “That is the man
with the glasses,” he added.
Graham also nodded. “Yes. Now
comes
the text of the message. It is actually a message
within a message so I will read it all. Don’t interrupt me,” he instructed. He
then read slowly and carefully while both Inspector Sharpe and DS Crowe made
notes. “Paragraph One. The following message has been overheard or intercepted.
It was sent by the General Staff of the Royal Army to Colonel Count Michael Von
Krapnoff, Kommanadant of the Royal Guard.”
“Paragraph Two. The intercepted
message says: ‘Operation Return’ is planned for 19th June. Company Knight is to
group at Concentration Place Cloud. Cloud is some sort of nickname I think. Then
it says: ‘Red Eagle is still following his travel plan’.”
“Paragraph Three. You will meet
White Falcon at Legend Hill. In brackets it says: ‘This is a codename whose
exact location we do not know but it is believed to be a road junction between
Malanda and Yungaburra’, brackets end. It goes on to say: ‘
Between
two Date/Time Groups: 171800Z and 172400Z JUN. White Falcon will be in a grey
Mercedes with three other people including Adjutant Stiltz. You are to guide
White Falcon to Concentration Place Cloud. Message ends.”
“Paragraph Four. KSS Detachment
Rainforest is to secretly observe the meeting, then follow Von Krapnoff to
locate his secret hiding place. It is most important that the Royalist HQ be
found within the next 36 hours.”
“Paragraph Five. Major Gostyxz is
coming to assist you. He lands at Mareeba Airport on Tuesday at 4pm. Meet
Gostyxz and have the answers or, there are four dots. Message ends.”
There was complete silence for a
moment while they all thought hard about what they had just heard. Then they
broke into an excited babble of talk. Inspector Sharpe slapped his hand on the
table. “Quiet! I will ask questions. You answer them. Now, does the KSS exist?”
“Yes sir,” Graham replied. “We
know that because we- you have captured some of its members. We have their
badges. And we have this message.”
“Question Two,” Inspector Sharpe
asked, writing it down as he did. “Who is the message from?”
“The Obersturmbannfuhrer
Australia,” Stephen replied.