It took Franz Giese a moment to understand. 'You thought I'd invited you because I wanted to…'
Her Riibenstrasse accent broke through as she said robustly, 'Well, that wasn't such a daft idea, was it? Not when you gave me a hundred and fifty, plus an extra termer for the taxi!'
'I never thought of anything like that. I just wanted to see you. I like you very much. I hope that when you know me better… Fraulein Marlene, my intentions are honourable, if you know what I mean.'
'Oh, come on, just call me Lene.' She was touched. She swallowed a couple of times, because she didn't find it easy to dash his hopes. 'I have someone already, Herr Giese.'
Face grave, he devoted his attention to his piece of gateau. 'I've been thinking about a little haulage business. Starting with a three-wheeled van, they have a surprisingly big load area. Later we could expand, get a threeaxled truck, employ a driver. Not a great future, but I'd make a decent living.'
'I'm from Riibenstrasse. Know it?'
In Moabit. Not a very nice area.'
'Not nice at all. The children there are born with bones like rubber because no one eats enough fruit and vegetables. If you don't get out of it as fast as you can you're finished.' She reverted to her educated German accent. 'It was Fredie who got me out of Riibenstrasse. We've waded through a lot of muck together, but the outlook's good. Fredie knows the right people. He has a great career ahead of him, and I want to be part of it.'
'Will he marry you?'
'Does marriage matter?' She knew just how much it mattered to her.
'I want you to be my wife.'
She shed a few tears. Then she had to laugh because he couldn't get his handkerchief out of his breast pocket for her; he had folded it and fixed it in place with a safety pin. Instead, she blew her nose vigorously on her paper napkin.
'It doesn't make any difference,' he said firmly. 'I want to marry you.'
'… I hereby declare you man and wife; allow me to be the first to congratulate you.' The registrar shook hands with the newly married couple. Bright, June sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the panelled room, falling on Grandmother Mine's lace scarf, which Marlene had draped over her blonde hair. She buried her face in her fragrant bridal bouquet.
She reached for the bridegroom's hand. She still couldn't believe it: his almost casual question three weeks ago, her hesitant answer, the proposal. Everything would be different now — no, much better — oh, come on, it would be really good!
Fredie looked fabulous in his light, summer suit. He had been different recently, really nice and pleasant. He'd been bringing her flowers and little presents and taking her out.
'If I may ask for your signatures?' The registrar was waiting at the desk under the portrait of the Reich President. Fredie signed with a flourish. She wrote slowly in her girlish hand: 'Marlene Neubert, nee Kaschke'. Like a dream, only much better.
The two witnesses signed next: Dr Friedhelm Noack, who'd been promoted within a few months from his civil service post to a new body, where he was head of his own department, and his secretary, Frau Hermine Anders. In honour of the day, Noack had a carnation in his buttonhole and was in jovial mood. He kissed Marlene's cheek. 'I hope the bride will remain kindly disposed towards me.' She knew what that meant. He had made the arrangements for their wedding breakfast at Horcher's in Lutherstrasse, just why Marlene was not sure. 'To your health, children.' He raised a glass to them.
'Thank you very much, Obersturmbannfiihrer!' said Fredie, addressing his mentor by this new title. It denoted a rank more or less corresponding to lieutenant-colonel.
'Much work lies ahead of us. The F6hrer needs everyone to be at his place. Or hers — you too, my dear Frau Marlene.' The turtle soup grew cold as Noack embarked on a long discursion on the new Germany. What a load of guff, Marlene thought.
Dr Noack was one of the founders of the new Secret State Police, the Geheime Staatspolizei, soon to be abbreviated to the Gestapo. He had appointed Fredie to his staff, in a special operations department. That meant salary group [llc, and came with the rank of an SS Hauptsturmfiihrer, roughly equivalent to a captain. Marlene remained unimpressed. 'Just so long as the cash is OK.'
It obviously was, for how else could they have afforded their new home, a house on the Kleiner Wannsee with a big kitchen, a tiled bathroom, and a garden running down to the water? She had clapped her hands with delight. 'Oh, just look! What lucky people lived here before us?'
'Jewish riffraff. But they're gone now, like your Eulenfels.' Eulenfels had been obliged to sell his publishing empire for a fraction of its value, and had moved to London with what was left.
A cultivated man, Herr Eulenfels. He was very nice to me,' she defended her former client.
Marlene let herself down cautiously from the landing stage into the water. It came up to her shoulders if she dared to stand on the bottom rung of the ladder. She couldn't swim, but she loved the summer warmth of the Kleiner Wannsee. She squealed with glee as the wake of a motorboat racing by lifted her up off her feet. Then she climbed back to the landing stage. Time to make lunch. Fredie came home from the office early on a Saturday. She felt free and happy in her new surroundings, light years away from the squalor of Riibenstrasse and the demands of paying clients. Now she just had her husband and her own home to think of. She even entertained the idea of a baby. She'd talk to Fredie.
At one o'clock an open-topped, silver-grey Horch bearing the SS badge stopped outside the house. It was the official car of Obersturmbannfahrer Dr Noack, who was in his black uniform today. Fredie preferred a white, raw silk suit. Because of those special operations, he could wear what he chose.
'Enchanting.' Noack's eyes lingered on her figure. She hadn't been expecting a visitor, and was wearing only an apron over her bathing suit. She took the bathing suit off in the bedroom, slipped quickly into a lightweight summer dress, and then laid a third place. They ate in the garden, under an old birch tree. There were stuffed peppers with rice, and a light Mosel to drink. Marlene had acquired some culinary skills. She took her housewifely duties seriously.
Over coffee, Dr Noack got down to business. As I'm sure you have guessed, I didn't come just for lunch, for which thank you very much, by the way, it was excellent. Your husband has asked me to explain what we expect of you.'
An uneasy feeling came over her.
Noack took two spoonfuls of sugar and stirred his coffee in a leisurely manner. 'It's about the Communist leader Eddie Talberg. A dangerous enemy of the German people. There's a warrant out for his arrest. He got wind of it and has gone underground. One man certainly knows where Talberg is hiding: his friend the writer Dr Erwin Kastner, one of those intellectuals tainted by Jewish influence who foul their own nests, although we've spared them until now. Kastner goes to the Romanesque Cafe every afternoon. You will make his acquaintance there and find out from him where Talberg is hiding. Much depends on your success, not least the career of your husband. He will give you the details.' Noack rose to his feet and went into the house.
'Fredie, what's all this about?'
'It won't be difficult for you to get to know Kastner in the Romanesque, I'm sure.'
'Fine. So I get to know this Dr Kastner, apparently by chance. Then what? Am I supposed to ask, "Oh, and just by the way, where's your friend Talberg hiding?"'
'They all talk in bed.'
It took her a few seconds to realize what he was asking. 'I won't do it,' she said firmly.
'You'll do what I want you to do.' He forced her back against the trunk of the old birch tree. Noack was watching from the study window. Fredie pushed her thin dress up to her hips. She was naked under it. He raised her left knee and took her violently, standing. She screamed like an animal. When he had finished, he twisted her arm brutally behind her back and led her into the house. Noack was sitting on the couch. Fredie forced her to her knees in front of him. 'Go on, do it,' he ordered.