Herr Domber called a man over to him. After listening for a few minutes the man left. He returned a few minutes later with a youngster not more than eighteen years of age.
“Swen, you will be Lieutenant Wilson’s assistant. Help him in every way you can. You are under his orders,” Herr Domber said.
“Heil Hitler,” Swen said and saluted. He was a blond, curly-headed kid with a ready smile. Stan grinned at him and said:
“We’ll get along.”
“You may talk freely to Swen,” Domber said. “He is a tested party man, but he does not like killing, so he is a mechanic. I have to watch him to keep the generals from stealing him and sending him off to Russia to fight.” Domber laughed, but Stan saw fear come into the boy’s eyes.
“Anyone else speak English in the shop?” he asked. “I might want another man.”
“No others,” Domber said. “Now we must get to work.”
Stan was supplied with a locker and a pair of coveralls. He was taken to a special room in the shop. There he found parts from P-51’s recently shot down. The smaller shop was completely equipped. Three other men worked at benches before a window. Stan was assigned to a vacant bench. Before him lay part of the new dual turbo-supercharger. Other parts were stacked on a table.
“Know anything about one of these gadgets?” Stan asked Swen.
“Gadget?” Swen repeated in a British accent.