Chapter 3 - The Shipment

8/2/2019 Chapter 3 - The Shipment

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Written by

Andrew Roberts

These stories are based on

characters and settings by Pinnacle

Entertainment and Great WhiteGames.



Swiss Alps – 1938

“I’d drop those guns if I were you.” Sauvettre demanded as he walked in. Buck and Volkov

complied, kicking their guns towards Sauvettre and raising their hands.

“So you’re all involved in Delmar’s murder.” Sauvettre proclaimed, “And Mr Volkov was with you

too.”

“No. He has nothing to do with us.” Danny said in protest. Volkov gave him a murderous look.

“Is that so?” Sauvettre asked, “In that case, you aren’t needed any more, but you still know too

much. Since the police couldn’t find you at the castle, I might just take you outside and shoot you

all in the backs. As for Volkov here; I’m sure there are certain people who want to see him.”

“No!” Volkov yelled in defiance. “I will not be sent back!” He grabbed the oil lamp and threw it a t

one of Sauvettre’s men, knocking him out. The men watching over the group turned to aim at him,

giving Buck and Virginia the opportunity to tackle them to the ground and punch them out.

Meanwhile, Volkov was able to dispatch another five of the men with a series of agile punches and

kicks, taking advantage of their inability to effectively aim their rifles in the confined quarters of the

farmhouse along with his Cossack upbringing.

Sauvettre left the scene as the broken oil lamp started a fire. Buck attempted to pursue him when

another one of the thugs blocked his path. The treasure hunter punched him out before turning to

face another man, who pulled a knife on him. Virginia quickly broke a chair on the man’s head,

immediately knocking him out to allow Danny and Doc Gold to escape. Buck pulled Volkov’s arm

and they ran to the door with Virginia, leaving the farmhouse as the entire building went up in

flames.

As they arrived outside, they noticed Sauvettre attempting to start up a truck parked outside. Buck

strolled up to the driver’s door and opened it, pulling Sauvettre out of the cab and knocking him out



with a single punch to the face. Doc Gold moved past and tried to start the truck himself while the

others climbed into the back.

“Hang on Savage,” Doc said, “You get behind the wheel while I check the engine. I’m sure that old

Frenchy there won’t be out for long.”

“He’s not the intimidating type, but he is quite ruthless.” Buck mentioned, “If we stayed at the

castle he would have left you outside during the blizzard to extract a confession from you.”

As Doc managed to start the truck’s engine, he closed the bonnet and climbed into the passenger

seat while Buck manoeuvred away from the path and back onto the mountain road towards Bern.

Dawn was breaking by the time the group reached Bern. They had convened in a quiet café to

plan their next move over coffee and breakfast.

“So, who are these Templars?” Volkov asked.

“The Knights Templar was an order of knights set up in 1119 after the first crusade to pro tect

pilgrims in the Holy Land.” Danny explained.

“They were wealthy bankers as well,” Doc Gold added, “Even though all members of the order

took a vow of poverty upon initiation. I guess they lent out their money to people.”

“Thanks Doc.” Danny remarked, “But anyway; in 1307, Philip IV of France had the leaders of the

Order arrested and imprisoned on false charges. The last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was

tortured into confessing and left to rot in prison while the Order’s assets were seized by King Philip

with Pope Clement V’s permission. However, de Molay altered his confession while in prison and

in 1314, he and his closest subordinates were burned at the stake. ”

“That’s an interesting story Danny.” Buck commented, “Where did you learn all that?”



“I learnt about it while working in Paris with Virginia six years ago. That was at the same time you

first approached Doc for that underwater suit.”

“Fair enough.” Buck returned, “But what were the Templars accused of?”

“I believe they were accused of desecrating the Golden Cross in their headquarters and

worshipping a bearded idol.”

“That probably wasn’t true.” Virginia added, “As Doc mentioned, the Templars were very wealthy

bankers despite their vows of poverty, which just goes to show how hypocritical these orders can

be. The point is, the Crusades were over by then, and Philip wanted their money.”

“Delmar owned a factory and a railway yard here.” Volkov mentioned, “You should investigate it to

find out the nature of this shipment.”

“Is that your plan too?” Buck asked.

“Nyet . I find treasure. I don’t fight military orders that are believed to have been dissolved.”

The group watched as Volkov stood up and left the café. Buck felt a wave of suspicion as he

watched him leave.

By midday, Buck had returned to his hotel room. He had discarded the anorak and packed away

the dinner jacket, now wearing his khaki work trousers and a rugged collared shirt. Virginia

entered the room as Buck was packing his suitcase.

“What did you find out?” he asked.

“The only train heading out from Delmar’s rail yard today is heading for Munich.” Virginia told him,

“I’d met with some German racketeer called Arnold Leitner. He said he’d be overseeing the

shipment of machine parts it was carrying. I may need the diamond we got.”

Buck’s eyebrows rose at Virginia’s unusual request. He handed it over, looking perplexed.

“I’m going up to Munich with him.” She explained softly, “I’ll need an incentive.”

“We should be going.” Buck replied, “Chances are that the hotel’s being observed. Danny is

arranging to meet us in Paris.” He donned his leather jacket and fedora, kissing Virginia as she left

the room. His mind was racing now. What would Delmar have to do with a gangster? Buck alwaysknew him a respectable aristocrat. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a holster carrying

his Webley, noticing Virginia’s Colt at the same time. He attached both holsters to his belt.

Two hours later, Buck and Doc Gold had arrived at the Delmar Industries rail yard on the outskirts

of Bern, observing a large freight train being loaded from a vacant building.

“That must be the one heading for Munich.” Doc whispered as he observed the scene through his

binoculars.

“I just don’t get what the Templars are up to.” Buck replied, “Whatever this shipment is, it’s

supposed to be going to an ‘Eagle Chapter’. Any ideas who they’re supposed to be?”



“Hold on. Come and look at this.”

Doc handed the binoculars over to Buck. As he peered through them, he noticed Virginia walking

over to a large man in a business suit and homburg. They shook hands and boarded a carriage

near the front of the train.

“That must be Herr Leitner.” Buck whispered, “Either way, Virginia has made contact.”

He continued to observe the view when he noticed a man in a suit running away from the train.

Attempting to focus his view, he noticed the man briefly look back, revealing himself as the Syrian

man from the party.

“It’s Solak!” Buck hissed, “What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t know,” Doc replied, “But I’m going to find out.”

“I never knew you as a spy Doc. I saw that kind of work associated with Danny or Virginia, but not

with you.”

“You’re not the sneaking type either. Remember that incident in Ethiopia?”

“Just be careful. I’m going to check out what he was doing by the train.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“No.”

“Well, best of luck Savage.” Doc said as he left.

Buck stealthily manoeuvred through the train yard, ducking behind an unused wagon to avoid

being spotted by two men in suits patrolling around. As he peered from his hiding place, he

noticed the two sentries reporting to a man in a black trench coat and hat with an MP38

submachine gun slung over his shoulder. He looked closer. It was Sauvettre. Buck watched as he

boarded the train. At the same time, he noticed that the train was beginning to pull out.

“Shit.” He murmured, “If Sauvettre recognises Virginia, we’re finished.”



He ran from his hiding place towards the moving train. Shouts in German and French emanated

from behind him. Three sentries had spotted him and were giving chase. Buck dived over a pile of

crates as several bullets flew past him. He drew his Webley and fired two shots at his pursuers.

One of the men sprawled back as the bullets entered his chest. The other two men took cover

while Buck attempted to climb up to the top of an unused boxcar, his attentions now firmly focused

on the departing train. As he watched it leave, he noticed a crane used to load flat wagons. Seeing

an idea, he ran across the boxcars and leapt towards the crane, using his body weight and

momentum from the jump to swing across to the guard’s van of the supply train. Another sentry

was standing guard on the car. He reached for his pistol, only for Buck to grab his arm and punch

him out, sending him over the safety rail. “This isn’t a passenger train.” He quipped as he watched

the man tumble along the ground.

As the train rolled through the Swiss countryside, Buck had climbed onto the top of the guard ’s

van and was running across the top of the other wagons. He climbed down to the door one of theboxcars and peered through the crack inside. There were two large crates in the centre of the car,

and many smaller crates stacked up against the sides. Buck entered the car with his Webley at the

ready and opened one of the crates. It was filled with a variety of rifles and machine guns.

“Well, I know about the shipment.” He said to himself, “But who are they for?”

As he rooted through the crate, he noticed a large bundle of TNT with a timer concealed among its

contents; a bundle that was ticking.

“Oh, shit!” he yelled loudly, “I’ve got to get to Virginia and warn her!”

He ran back to the top of the cars and jumped across a flat wagon carrying more crates. Sauvettre

and three other men were seated there and noticed him. Buck dived behind a covered stack and

fired at them with the Webley, hitting one of the sentries and sending him falling off the wagon.

Sauvettre dropped the MP38 and drew his Walther. The other sentry picked up the submachine

gun and primed it.

“Don’t use that!” Sauvettre barked, “You’ll damage the goods!” He fired a shot at Buck. The bullet

skimmed across the tarpaulin and embedded in the wood of the boxcar. At the same time, another

thug had drawn a switchblade and was attempting to shimmy across the side of the wagon to

avoid being noticed. As Buck fired two more shots at Sauvettre and the other thug, the man withthe knife pounced on him. Buck grabbed the man’s arm in an attempt to stop him from stabbing

down. Although he could feel the very tip of the blade touching the skin on his neck, Buck was



able to keep it there, as his assailant was using his other hand to stop Buck from aiming his

Webley.

Sauvettre watched the struggle from behind the crates while the man with the MP38 slowly walked

towards them.

“Shoot them both.” Sauvettre ordered coldly. Buck and his opponent froze, turning their heads in

horror.

“But he’s one of ours.” The man complained.

“He’s expendable.” Sauvettre replied, “Shoot him, and don’t ever disobey me!”

“I’m sorry mon ami .” The man said to his colleague, “Nothing personal.”

Buck quickly managed to raise the Webley a few centimetres off the floor, firing a round which

entered the thug’s skull. As the man with the MP38 dropped dead, Buck turned the tables on the

man pinning him, rolling over and punching him out. Sauvettre attempted to grab the MP38, only

for Buck to grab the knife and cut two of the straps anchoring the tarpaulin to the wagon. The

crates rolled on top of Sauvettre, pinning him to the ground.

As Buck scrambled across the fallen boxes, the door to the next wagon opened and several men

ran out with their weapons drawn. Thinking quickly, Buck grabbed the MP38 and opened fire,

taking them all out while he leapt to the top of the wagon.

In a short space of time, Buck had managed to run across the top of the train to the passenger carnear the locomotive. As he entered, he found himself in an elegant interior where Leitner and

Virginia were seated at a small but expensive dining table.

“Gott en Himmel !” Leitner cried out, “Who are you? I was just discussing a payment for that stone

with Fräulein Dare when I heard gunshots.”

After Buck didn’t answer, Leitner’s bodyguard grabbed him and placed him in a chokehold.

“Wait a minute,” Leitner began, “You’re the famed treasure hunter Buck Savage. And the Fräulein

is working with you. What are you doing here?”

Buck didn’t answer. Leitner promptly drew a knife and held it to Virginia.

“Tell me Herr Savage.” He said menacingly, “What are you doing here? If you do not tell me, I will

cut off your friend’s fingers one at a time.”

Buck emitted a small chuckle. Virginia looked at him with confusion while Leitner remained

incensed.

“Alright.” He said as he laughed, “You can let Virginia go, because I’ll talk.”

Leitner pulled the blade away from Virginia’s hand. “In that case,” he said, “Share your humour.”

Buck laughed again. “There’s a bomb on the train.” He said.



The look of fury in Leitner’s face turned to horror. At the same time, Virginia threw him over the

table while Buck escaped from the bodyguard’s choke hold and punched him out.

“Come on, let’s go!” he called to Virginia. He grabbed her and jumped out of the train as the bomb

detonated, setting off an explosion that obliterated the box car. Flaming debris landed through the

other wagons, setting off more explosions that travelled down the train.

To be continued…

Chapter 3 - The Shipment

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