Read The Metal Man: An Account of a WW2 Nazi Cyborg for Free Online Page B

charge of the construction of this super-soldier for the Third Reich had left him in a state of near-collapse. Everyone knew that he routinely worked sixteen-hour days – and yet they were unaware that he’d often continued working long after everyone had left.
     
    And it was during these lonely hours that he’d incorporated certain things into the Metal Man’s design that were not on any blueprint or design specification...
     
    Why he had done this, he was not entirely certain himself. Psychological reasons, perhaps – yet another field in which Schroder had considerable expertise.
     
    Chances were the things Schroder had secretly added would never even be used – or, rather, seen…
     
    But, was the Metal Man one day ever to realize that he’d once been –
     
    Impossible .
     
    Schroder admonished this line of thought as being ridiculous and instead prepared himself to get a few hours’ precious sleep.
     
    The Metal Man had no soul; he – it – was just a Machine. A Machine created to kill and destroy, whenever and wherever it was given the order.
     
    ‘But I built you,’ said Schroder softly in parting, as he stood up from his chair. ‘I built you – so just you remember my voice. And if one day I ever have reason to give you an order, obey that order above anyone else’s…’
     
    Confused himself as to just why he should have said such a thing, and by now near-dead with fatigue, Schroder walked towards the large double-doors, flicking off the two strip-lights before leaving the colossal room.
     
    The humming noise was loud in the darkness, the Metal Man continuing to charge. 
     
     
    8
     
     
    ‘Sir,’ said Private Klim Konev, squinting through his binoculars into the darkness. ‘Sir – there’s something out there…’
     
    Commander Georgy Krylov walked over, cigarette cupped carefully in one hand. Just another half-derelict Polish village he and his men had to take over, as they made their slow but steady advance towards Germany and ultimately Berlin itself.
     
    The poorly-equipped, half-starved, ragged SS soldiers and the like were out there, somewhere in the darkness. A motley band of rabble being pushed ever-backwards, their number constantly dwindling.
     
    Although, Krylov had been almost surprised by the sheer ferocity of the German resistance. Even secretly respectful of it. These SS men fought as Soviet troops did, seemingly uncaring even as they faced almost certain annihilation.
     
    So what a shame, in a way, that these two sides now had to be enemies…
     
    Still, this was hardly any concern of Krylov’s. He and his unit were making excellent progress, with very few casualties. All of which served to place Krylov in a most excellent light with his own superiors.
     
    ‘Someone looking to surrender?’ demanded Krylov, as he unholstered his pistol. He hoped to try a little marksmanship in the dark; just something to sharpen his aim.
     
    He was determined: no prisoners. 
     
    ‘Can’t really see, sir,’ replied Konev.
     
    Which was hardly surprising, given that it was nighttime with very little moonlight. Peering through a set of field binoculars, no matter how powerful these were, was hardly likely to help matters.
     
    Now other men in Krylov’s unit were becoming alert to the fact that something was moving through the ruined buildings and piles of bomb-shattered rubble that lay all around. They could hear it now – for somehow, a slight, mechanical-sounding ‘whine’ was being emitted by this soldier(or whoever it was) as he walked.
     
    ‘Challenge it – and then shoot,’ ordered Krylov.
     
    The first part of the command was given only on the off-chance that this might actually be one of his men, somehow got drunk and lost in the dark.
     
    Konev barked out the challenge, but that strange whining noise only increased in volume. Whoever it was also sounded extremely heavy-footed, their footsteps crunching on the rubble all around…
     
    For some reason