As Elka walked into the entrance of her lodge after returning, Marlene at the front desk and Peter the bellhop dropped their mouths in unison.
“Elka…?”
“Guten tag, Marlene, Guten tag, Peter.” Elka greeted them as she always had, as if nothing in her life had changed over the weekend. She continued walking to the employee room and saw Herr Kaufman in the hall.
“Herr Kaufman, here is the bottle you requested.”
Herr Kaufman turned and looked at Elka. He indeed recognized her voice, but his mind went blank in seeing the new lovely face that was producing it.
“Elka…?”
Herr Kaufman was a nice looking man for being in his mid-40’s and for this reason was often the desire of many females in the sparsely populated Hof mountain area. He also was one of the few available men fairly well off financially – increasing their desire even more.
“Herr Kaufman.”
Elka’s tone of voice even surprised herself. For the first time in her life she answered Herr Kaufman in the calm businesslike tone he normally spoke to her. A very proper, very civilized, leadership tone within the voice that expressed self-confidence. The silence between them also put another new thought in Elka’s head: She was equal with Herr Kaufman. She could be the one to have him.
Von Wohl saw the tension in the Baron’s forehead. He knew he must take Fesel’s attention away from his friend and teacher.
“Actually, Dr. Fesel, it was the business of astrology that brought us together a long time ago. In fact, it was the Baron who taught me everything I know about astrology!” Von Wohl said raising his voice.
“The Baron has many talents, doesn’t he? Businessman, horticulture, automobiles, architecture, airplanes, teacher… astrologer.” The sarcasm in Fesel’s voice negated any compliment such a combination of words normally would infer.
Von Wohl again tried to deflect attention away from his friend the Baron.
“And what is it that you do, Herr Doctor?”
“I dabble a little in astrology too, among other things… of course to serve the Reich.” Fesel said this proudly, coming to attention so his Nazi party-pin on his lapel became exposed and flashed its gold rimmed outline of the red, white and black design.
“The party has official astrologers?” Von Wohl sensed an opportunity.
“Well, some things, shall we say, can not be official since they must be kept a secret.” Fesel sidestepped in a way to make him more important than he was.
Von Wohl was torn. He wanted to pursue the possibility with Fesel of working as an astrologer for the Nazis, but also wanted to comfort his friend who brought him into this field.
“Baron, where are your seats?”
The Baron held up the four tickets he paid for without even looking at them.
“Please my good friend,” Von Wohl said while pointing at one of the large red velvet curtains at the top of the stairs, “escort these beautiful ladies to my booth and get started on the champagne that’s on ice up there. I’d like to speak with the Doctor here for a moment more.”
The Baron’s face changed completely at the mention of champagne. He politely took a lady in each arm and proceeded up the rest of the stairs. Once they entered von Wohl’s booth, von Wohl continued.
“Your work sounds very interesting, Herr Doctor.”
“Some think so.”
Von Wohl now began his attempt to create a new job. “And how might my work in astrology be of service to the Third Reich?”
“I don’t know, how might it?”
“Would fifteen years of experience be significant enough to be considered?” The actual number of years being closer to three.
“That would depend on the job.”
Von Wohl saw that much work would be needed to deal with Fesel. Perhaps if they met under other conditions, then this peculiar, out-of-place man might react to von Wohl differently.
Von Wohl also began to sense why the Baron found this cocky little man so irritating, but he still wanted to keep the opportunity open.
“We certainly don’t want to miss the show, or the champagne, Herr Doctor Fesel. Shall we join the Baron and ladies?” Von Wohl said, smiling.
“Certainly.”
As the two men walked up the stairs, Fesel turned to von Wohl.
“I’ve never seen any of your plays.”
“Well, I only hope this one will exceed your expectations.”
“It may be that…” Fesel began, then stopped in mid-sentence as well as paused his movement as well on the lush red carpet. Von Wohl stopped as well.
“Tell me von Wohl, do you have any other talents in the occult, shall we say, outside of astrology?”
Von Wohl has several witty responses to such a question, but dare not play with humor when a job possibility was at stake.
“I’ve had a lot of study in Egyptian magic, some experience with Tarot card readings, and some practice with séances – but astrology is my forte.”
“Have you any experience with Nostradamus quatrains?”
Von Wohl has a difficult time in refraining himself from saying ‘yes’. It was one thing to pretend you were an expert at something with lonely middle-aged women, but it was something else to try and bluff the Third Reich.
“To date I’ve only read a few translated passages of Centuries, I’m afraid.”
Surprisingly to von Wohl, Fesel did not look disappointed.
“Herr von Wohl, may I have your card?”
“Most certainly, Herr Doctor.”
The lights went out suddenly which delighted the crowd. The whistling and shouting indicated that more than half the audience was already drunk. The room remained completely dark and Elaine Krafft felt a hand seizing her leg and stroking it back and forth.
“This will be good, you’ll like this, I know.” The Governor General said. Then he took his hand off her leg. He didn’t want to shock Elaine, but the snapps and beer had loosened his control of restraining from touching her. The desire for Elaine had been growing after meeting her at Frau Ney’s several weeks ago.
He managed to put his hands on her a lot this evening already. In the taxi, guiding her though the crowded cabaret entrance, assisting with her coat. The longest experience was his hands on hers as he carefully handed her the huge mug of white beer requiring two hands to hold – an item the establishment was famous for.
While Hans Frank was directing all of his attention on Elaine, the Governor General’s date, Sabina, was keeping Karl Ernst occupied. Both Sabina and Hans were a component of Fesel’s plan to drive a wedge between the Kraffts – and were executing the plan with Teutonic precision and efficiency. This location was planned and chosen for a specific reason as well.
“Yeah!” The crowd roared as a small, but very bright, beam of a spotlight lit a single chair on the stage.”
“Meine Damen und Herren,” a voice came from the back of the room, “it is time, once again, for… The Lady Lion Tamer!”
With this introduction, an obese woman whose clothes and crown were an obvious jab at the British Royal family, bounced out and began her routine. With the assistance of the other actors who came on and off presenting different scenarios reflecting world current events. In these interactions the mock Queen of England was shown to be egotistical, ruthless, vain, and an uncaring woman in even the most personal matters.
About an hour and a half later, Sabina saw that Karl Ernst had finished his second beer and was laughing opening – a point not reached before. She then began to test what she could do with him. Frau Krafft had already passed out, half-leaning on the edge of Hans Frank’s chair, which had his huge leather & fur coat folded over twice acting as an over-sized pillow.