20demayo Chapter 40 He's an adult now.
Chapter 40 He's an adult now.
On the third day, Thorne noticed two British Spitfire fighter planes flying overhead.
They appear to be flying over Alexandria on patrol, passing by the oil drum factory along the way.
But Thorne knew that this was the time it would take for the Royal Air Force to arrive at the battlefield for live-fire tests.
Only by calculating the time down to the second can one enter the battlefield at the optimal moment and catch the German army off guard.
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On the fourth day, Thorne received a secret letter delivered by a messenger sent by Montgomery.
In wartime, if "timeliness" is not required for intelligence, it is often safer to deliver it by messengers, as this can ensure that it is not eavesdropped on by the enemy or spies.
"We have received intelligence," Montgomery wrote in the secret letter.
"German reconnaissance aircraft frequently appeared in the Kuz Mountains area."
"There are two of our large oil depots there, and the Chief of Staff is worried that that's where the Germans are targeting."
Thorne replied without hesitation:
"I don't think so, General."
"The Germans should know that the area is heavily fortified with our air defenses. Taking such a risk with their few remaining bombers to the Kuz Mountains would only yield unsustainable gains, which is clearly not worthwhile."
"This is more likely a misrepresentation by the Germans."
Montgomery nodded slightly in agreement when he received the letter.
The oil depots are indeed an "unsustainable" source of revenue, and the UK can solve the problem simply by increasing its logistical fuel replenishment.
But it's not necessarily the case for oil drum factories.
It is currently the only professional oil drum factory in Egypt. If it is destroyed and the oil giants refuse to produce new oil drums, the British army's deployment of new oil drums will be postponed indefinitely.
In other words, in the ensuing battles, the British forces would have to continue to "enjoy" days of losing a third of their fuel during transport and storage.
The benefits far outweigh the destruction of the two oil depots.
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On the fifth day, nothing happened.
But there was a sense of oppression in the air, a calm before the storm.
Kavanagh seemed to sense something and asked Thorne, "Young Master, the Master said the matter with the raw material supplier has been settled and he will return in the next couple of days. Should we remind him?"
Kavanagh meant that the factory was likely to be bombed by the Germans recently, and that Wells should be kept away from danger.
Thorne rejected the suggestion outright.
"No, Kavanagh," Thorne repeated, "Just do what you normally would, act like nothing happened."
"Yes, young master," Kavanagh replied, a hint of helplessness on his face.
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Before dawn on the sixth day, Thorne, who lived in the office building, was awakened by a knock on the door.
Thorne groggily got up and opened the door, only to be surprised to see Wells and Emma standing in front of him.
"God, you're really here!" Emma exclaimed, giving Thorne a big hug with a mixture of surprise and joy. "They said you were here, but I didn't believe it. I can't believe it's true."
"Mom, what brings you here?" Thorne asked, his eyes filled with a hint of panic.
"I heard you bought a barrel-making factory, and I'd like to come and see it," Emma explained with a smile.
"Your father just happened to come home, and he said that traveling at night is much more comfortable than during the day."
"I never expected to run into you, Thorne, I'm so lucky!"
As she spoke, Emma stepped back a little to examine Thorne, a satisfied smile on her face. The more she looked at him, the more she felt that her son had grown up.
Wells chuckled and glanced at the soldiers and guards surrounding the factory, who looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy. "So, Major Gray isn't needed anymore, is he?"
Thorne remained silent.
Wells must be treating these preparations as a precaution against thugs like Bassim, just like last time.
Then, Thorne once again demonstrated Wells's ignorance and insensitivity to military matters.
Wells looked up at the top of the factory and noticed the canvas that almost completely blocked out the sky. He exclaimed again, "Excellent, Thorne. This will make the factory much cooler."
Emma's excitement faded, and she asked Wells in surprise, "Darling, you mean, these things didn't exist before?"
"No, no, of course not." Wells looked at Thorne with pride in his eyes:
"Drake (the former factory manager) didn't care whether the workers fainted from the heat; he only cared about his own profits."
"Just a few days ago I was still thinking about how to solve this problem, and Thorne did it for me."
Emma looked at Thorne with a questioning gaze and asked in a low voice, "Thorne, these canvases aren't for sun protection, are they?"
Thorne didn't answer, but instead called over a guard: "You should leave now, Mother. Father will take you home."
Emma instantly realized she hadn't guessed wrong, and her rosy face gradually turned pale.
Wells was completely baffled:
"No, no, your mother just arrived; she'll stay here for a few days."
"Don't worry, Thorne. Everything is ready, and the factory will be running smoothly soon!"
"I have time to spend with your mother. We'll go to Alexandria for a stroll. Would you like to come along?"
Thorne refused outright. He led Emma downstairs and said to Wells, who followed, in a commanding tone, "Take her back, Father, now."
The guards drove Wells' car to the group. Thorne opened the car door and was about to help Emma into the car when he heard the faint rumble of an engine in the air.
"No, it's too late." Thorne closed the car door again, turned to the guards, and ordered, "Take them to the basement."
"Yes, Captain!"
Wells then realized what was happening. He stared blankly at Thorne, his eyes filled with panic: "The basement...you mean, the Germans are going to bomb this place? My factory?"
Emma gave a bitter smile, fixing Wells with a reproachful look, and demanded, "This is what you meant by 'the industrial liaisons won't be in danger'?!"
Before Wells could answer, she turned her gaze to Thorne, her eyes full of pleading.
Thorne knew what that meant; Emma wanted him to come into the basement with her.
"No, I can't, Mom!" Thorne shook his head gently.
He is a captain, the highest-ranking commander here.
If he hides in the basement at this critical moment, he will never be able to command his subordinates again, nor will he be able to hold his head high in front of others.
Emma seemed to know this, and could only nod slightly with a worried expression.
"We won't be a burden to you," she said. "Do what you need to do, child, don't worry about us!"
In crucial moments, Emma is always the most clear-headed one.
"I'll be fine," Thorne replied, then turned and walked away without looking back towards the factory exterior, where the view was more open.
Behind Thorne, out of sight, amidst the long, piercing wailing of air raid sirens, a guard urged the two, "Sir, Madam, please come with me!"
Emma didn't move. She silently watched her son's retreating figure as he gave orders to the soldiers as he walked away.
"Keep the workers quiet, and no one is allowed to run around at any time, everyone!"
"Be prepared to extinguish fires and rescue the injured."
"Stop Kavanagh production! Turn off all the machines! Now!"
……
His experienced and composed demeanor made Emma feel like a stranger, or even as if she didn't recognize him at all.
"This is what he'll be like now that he's grown up." Emma's eyes welled up with tears as she turned to Wells and asked, "Have I interfered too much?"
Wells hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said:
"Perhaps, darling."
"He's an adult, and quite outstanding."
"We can no longer treat him like a child!"