“Should this work, we will be in Paris by the middle of June!” the captain said, actually believing his words even though he knew it would be quite a feat.
“All of the planners are counting on it.”
Captain Ranner then turned his thoughts to the uncertain part of this plan. “Is Krafft co-operating?”
“From what I heard, yes. Of course Fesel is trained in these matters, plus he does have a natural talent of getting his way with people.”
The captain laughed. Fesel’s emotional, financial, and sexual manipulations were known even outside the Ministry of Propaganda. “Then I’m sure Herr Krafft is in good hands.”
Both men laughed. They knew most of Fesel’s manipulations started with a woman’s hands, and much time and effort went into finding the right kind of woman for the job.
“Herr Captain, would you like a Berliner?”
Ranner smiled. The term had a private meaning between them, when they, and many others in the Nazi party were younger. Once in power in 1933, many Nazi party members learned quickly, as previous German governments in Berlin had, on how to use their position to obtain money, sexual favors, and other things lacking in their lives previously. A “Berliner” referred to a young woman from a small town that came to Berlin to seek her fortune, or just to escape the routine and boredom of their village life. They soon became at the mercy of those now in control of the German government.
“Come, I have one in here you might like.”
Goebbels walked over to the door that opened to his private room, and led Ranner into where Bettina was lying on the couch, drugged into being in a state of half asleep, half awake.
“She’s all yours, Captain.” Goebbels said, as he returned into his office and closed the door. Goebbels then walked around and lifted a painting that was hanging on the wall and placed it on the floor. Through a small hole he watched the Captain pull down his pants and shift Bettina into another position.
Goebbels watched as nature took its course. The previous excursion to the mountains had changed his relationship with his secretary. Bettina was no longer satisfying as an affair for his ego – he wanted something more. Something more than pleasure is what he was after now, but the only thing he could think of beyond pleasure was pain – but, pain for her to experience.
On the seventh floor Captain Best Payne was pushed into a small white room with bars on the outside of the window. There were two chairs in the middle of the room and a mirror on the wall to the left. The guards did not come inside, but instead slammed the door behind him as he walked in.
Payne walked over to the window and peered through the bars. It was a clear and sunny day except for a few puffy cumulus clouds hovering over the horizon. The sun was still above the building, and Payne hoped that he might remain in the room long enough to feel it. He longed to experience the rays of the sun warm the pores of his skin, for he had been chilly and cold ever since being captured.
Suddenly the door swung opened, causing Payne to jump. He had not heard any footsteps approaching, so the swish of air and creak of metal came as a complete surprise.
“Captain Payne?”
“Yes?”
“Captain Best Payne?”
Payne could not see the man who was speaking, yet did not want to move from the window that was his first source of pleasure since entering Germany. A tall, thin man in uniform walked in. He stopped by one of the chairs, looked at it, then at Payne.
“Please, Captain, have a seat.”
“I’ll stand… I’ve been sitting all day.” This in fact was the truth, but Captain Payne also wanted to remain near the window since in a strange way it was giving him a source of strength. A certain energy was returning into his mind and body that an undetermined amount of time in basement cells had drained him of. Plus it gave him a great amount of pleasure to finally be able to resist a suggestion or order from his captors.
“Captain Payne, I am Colonel Koch, I will be your lawyer for your trial.”
“Trial?”
“In order to serve our interests best, I must ask now that you give me your complete co-operation.”
“Co-operation? Sure? How can I help?” Payne said sarcastically.
The Colonel was a bit taken aback by this answer since his profile from Schellenberg indicated Captain Best Payne would more than likely be most uncooperative. “Good. This will make it easier for all of us. Would you care for a cigarette?”
The mention of the word was like a dagger in Payne’s heart. Sure he wanted a cigarette, he was dying for one since his capture. However, he felt accepting one would give Koch some kind of power over him, and that needed to be avoided if possible. Such discussions of power were matters of many discussions in his training with Commander Fleming back in London. Payne looked at the cigarette sliding out of the pack that Koch pulled out of his coat pocket.
“Yeah, I’ll have a cigarette.”
Elke was in a wonderful mood. In many ways she felt like a new person. She returned to work at the lodge on this day with a certain amount of confidence that was lacking in her previous nineteen years of life.
Becoming inspired after her conversation with cousin Bettina, plus saving a part of her paycheck over a period of several weeks afterwards, she went to Hamburg on her own.
Her boss had contacts in the port city and contributed to the trip as well, getting Elka a room at the German League of Lodges discount – a rate normally reserved for managers and directors of lodges, inns and hotels. This act of kindness allowed her extra spending money, all of which she would spend on herself.
“Thank-you, Herr Kaufman!” Elke said when he gave her the papers for the discount.
“Just pick up a bottle of Southern Comfort for me from this address.” Herr Kaufman said while handing her a second piece of paper, pleased a bottle of his favorite drink from America would soon be in his hands.
“Yes, Herr Kaufman, that will be the first thing I do.”
“And Elke?”
“Yes, Herr Kaufman?”
“Have a nice weekend.” He said while handing her a folded 50 Reichmarks note.
“Thank-you, Herr Kaufman!” Elka could not contain her joy. She had an adventure ahead of her and more money in her purse now than she ever had in her life at once.
Besides seeing the Fischmart – Hamburg harbor’s famous Sunday morning market party – Elka also walked along the Reeperbahn, comparing her body with the prostitutes in the windows. Elka felt she was just as attractive, if not more so, than most of the women offering their bodies on the street. However, there was one apparent skill these ladies had in abundance that she was totally lacking: make-up.
“May I help you?” An elegantly painted woman said, as Elka entered her shop.
“Yes, I am looking for make-up that would be right for me, but I want to do it like you, not those ladies on the street.”
The shop owner, educated in France in the art of make-up, smiled and began to show Elka the latest products and how to apply them. Thus began Elka’s trip into the magical world of accented eyes, more colorful lips, and even creating he illusion that made her face appear thinner.