Free The Eagle has Flown by Jack Higgins

Public aren't allowed in like they used to be before the war. I understand they run sightseeing trips for Allied servicemen in uniform some days.'
     
     
'And the Yeomen?'
     
     
'Oh, they still function and still live in the married quarters with their families. The whole place has been bombed more than once. Three times while Rudolf Hess was there, remember?'
     
     
They were stopped at a sentry post to have passes checked and moved on through the wool of the fog, traffic sounds muted, an anguished cry from the Thames as a ship sounded its foghorn on the way down to the sea.
     
     
They were checked again then carried on over the drawbridge and through the gate. 'Not exactly a day to fill the heart with joy,' Munro observed.
     
     
There wasn't much to see with the fog, only grey stone walls as they carried on, eventually reaching the Inner Ward, everything cut off around them.
     
     
'The hospital's over there, sir,' Carter said.
     
     
'You've made the arrangements as I ordered?'
     
     
'Yes, sir, but with some reluctance.'
     
     
'You're a nice man, Jack, but this isn't a nice war. Corne on, we'll get out here and walk across.'
     
     
'Right, sir.'
     
     
Carter struggled to follow him, his leg the usual problem. The fog was yellow and acrid and bit at the back of the throat like acid.
     
     
'Shocking, isn't it?' Munro said. 'Real pea-souper. What was it Dickens called it? A London particular?'
     
     
'I believe so, sir.'
     
     
They started to walk. 'What a bloody place, Jack. Supposed to be haunted by ghosts. That wretched little girl, Lady Jane Grey, Walter Raleigh ceaselessly prowling the walls. I wonder what Steiner makes of it?'
     
     
'I shouldn't think it exactly helps him to sleep, sir.'
     
     
One of the Tower's famous black ravens emerged from the fog, enormous, wings flapping as it cawed at them.
     
     
Munro started violently. 'Get away, you filthy great creature.' He shuddered. 'There, what did I tell you, spirits of the dead.'
     
     
The small hospital room was painted dark green. There was a narrow bed, a cupboard and a wardrobe. There was also a bathroom adjacent to it. Kurt Steinei, in pyjamas and towelling robe, sat by the window reading. The window was barred although it was possible to reach through and open the casement. He preferred to sit there because in better weather he could see out into the Inner Ward and the White Tower. It gave an illusion of space and space meant freedom. There was a rattle of bolts at the stout door: it opened and a military policeman stepped in.
     
     
'Visitors for you, Colonel.'
     
     
Munro moved in followed by Carter. 'You may leave us, corporal,' he told the MP.
     
     
'Sir.'
     
     
The man went out, locking the door. Munro, more for the effect than anything else, was in uniform. He shrugged off his British Warm greatcoat and Steiner took in the badges of rank and red tabs of a staff officer.
     
     
'Oberstleutnant Kurt Steiner?'
     
     
Steiner stood up. 'Brigadier?'
     
     
'Munro, and this is my aide, Captain Jack Carter.'
     
     
'Gentlemen, I gave my name, my rank and my number some time ago,' Steiner said. 'I've nothing to add except to say I'm surprised no one's tried to squeeze more out of me since and I apologize for the fact that there's only one chair here so I can't ask you to sit down.'
     
     
His English was perfect and Munro found himself warming to him. 'We'll sit on the bed if we may. Jack, give the Colonel a cigarette.'
     
     
'No, thanks,' Steiner said. 'A bullet in the chest was a good excuse to give up.'
     
     
They sat down. Munro said, 'Your English is really excellent.'
     
     
'Brigadier,' Steiner smiled. Tm sure that you're aware that my mother was American and that I lived in London for many years as a boy when my father was military attache at the German Embassy. I was educated at St Paul's.'
     
     
He was twenty-seven and in good shape except for a slight hollowing in the cheeks, obviously due to his