“And seeing Pythagoras and Kepler’s work is what gave you the idea of harmonics?” The Baron asked, wishing to see more in depth as to how Krafft’s mind works.
“Yes, that is correct. Both men were looking at relationship of planets to musical frequencies and I merely thought of doing so the other way around – applying our own scientific division of frequencies on to the planets, and their aspects.”
“Incredible.” The Baron muttered to himself. More in the fact this was something so simple he could have thought of it than of what Krafft actually accomplished.
“Thank-you, Herr von Hoogerwoerd, but I’m sure this relationship would have been eventually discovered as more astrologers apply statistics and other areas of math to their work.”
Both von Wohl and the Baron sensed that while he was a very proud man, Karl Ernst Krafft was also very modest.
“Herr von Wohl?”
Ludwig jumped out of his daydream for a moment. “Yes, Frau Hildebraudt?”
“If my husband’s secrets were operating in the 10th house, the house of career, wouldn’t that mean that he could very well be a spy?”
“Excuse me…?” Von Wohl realized while daydreaming he had missed something important and needed to rewind the conversation without revealing he had not been listening.
“His secrets, Herr von Wohl, you said secrets are operating in the 10th House, the house of careers, and since his work – or career – is in the military, wouldn’t secrets in this house make him a spy?”
Von Wohl had a lot to do. Now that he understood the question, he had to construct how the conversation went from the common “I’m unhappy with my husband” to “My husband is a spy”.
“Yes, Frau Hildebraudt, that is certainly a possibility. But tell me, what other things have you seen that might justify this theory of yours?”
Von Wohl thought by keeping her suspicions to a just possibility, she would be satisfied that someone took her seriously while giving him time to research this further to see if there were some way he could take advantage of this information.
Unknown to him, the word ‘possibility’ was enough of a green light for Frau Natalia Hildebraudt to press further beyond her instincts, eventually uncovering one of the largest spy and counter-spy operations between the Allies and Nazis.
In the living room of a lavish Parisian home, the large King Arthur-styled round table was covered with Cabernet Sauvignon, bread, seafood, and exotic fruit. All of its twenty-four seats were occupied with four men and 20 women.
“Well, Ah’m taking my girls out of the country, even with your assurances, if you don’t mind.” The American began, then pulled a shrimp out of its shell with his teeth and sucked it down. “It doesn’t matter where the front lines are today, people in major cities are even more at risk now-a-days, with bombers and all.”
“Your vision has evidence to support it,” added the Count, “look at what Franco did to Barcelona.”
“Do you mean to say, sir, that you think Adolf Hitler would do the same as Franco?” Herr Stöver asked, somewhat in a state of disbelief.
“Well, uh…” Colonel Walls could not contain his Texas accent, “…you all certainly gave Warsaw a pound’den, and I believe that is a major city… or was one.
“Of course, but those were Poles… Slavs. Slavs comes from the word ‘slave’, they are all ‘untermentchen’ or what I believe the correct American translation would be ‘sub-human’.
The dark haired girl next to Walls, apparently of Slavic descent and who happened to understand English, stopped chewing at the mention of Slavs by the pretentious Nazi.
“And the French, Herr Stöver, are they ‘untermenchen’…?” Asked Walls, accenting the word with a Bavarian style of German mixed with the Texan accent.
“No, they simply are the historical and natural enemy of Germany.”
“And you will not bomb Paris when the real fighting begins?”
The German internationalist thought for a moment, then realized the answer to the Texan’s question was not found in his opinion, but the whims of Adolf Hitler, who even at this point of the war did not follow his own party’s doctrines and slogans.
“In my opinion – no – Germany would not bomb Paris.”
“Well, uh, then it simply looks like we have a difference of opinion here… and since opinion does not dictate policy in our group, here, as I said before, I’m taking my girls out now.”
Stöver looked at the Count, who returned the glance with an expressionless face.
“Count, can he leave now… independently?” Stöver asked based on his interpretation on how this group was supposed to operate.”
“Herr Stöver, we make our agreements by consensus here. If you cannot satisfy Mr. Walls’ concerns in your sphere of influence, then he is not obligated to participate with what he has to offer.” The Count’s tone was diplomatic, but his words revealed finality to this topic – it was he had already cast his vote in favor of the American.
Walls thought it unusual the Count did not refer to him by his military rank, which he had always done. All knew the Count paid particular attention to addressing one with their proper title. Even though the Count was siding with him on this issue, Colonel Walls couldn’t help but think that somehow their relationship had changed – a change that would either bring them closer together or drive them father apart.
Elaine woke up as the Governor General’s car bumped over some debris of road construction twelve blocks from their hotel. She was sandwiched between Karl Ernst and the gruesome Frank, who was smiling and staring at her. He patted her lap to acknowledge her return to consciousness. Her intuition sensed his hands had been elsewhere while she was out.
Governor General Frank and her husband’s discussion covered how the Luftwaffe had found several Spitfires that had been shot down in France especially fitted so they could accommodate legless and handicapped pilots.
“See how desperate the English are?” The Governor General gloated. “They are pressing to even find cripples to fly their planes!”
Karl Ernst now noticed Elaine was awake, and Frank retreated his hand from her bottom.
“Frau Krafft, perfect timing, you’re almost at home!”
Elaine turned to look at her husband, who turned to look out the car window after their eyes met.
“You missed the second half of the show!” Hans Frank continued.
“I… I enjoyed what I saw… really, thank-you.” Elaine remained lady despite her tipsy, almost drugged state.
Karl Ernst started to put his arm around Elaine, but the Governor General beat him to it.
“Get your own girl, Karl Ernst.” Frank half-joked. “I carried her to the car and I will finish the job. She’s mine now, but don’t worry… you can have her back… later.”
Karl Ernst was haunted by the way Frank said, “Get your own girl”. It was as if Frank knew about Sabina and Karl Ernst actions in the “bathroom”. Did Sabina tell Hans Frank?
“Too bad Sabina couldn’t come home with us.” Frank said mockingly while looking at Karl Ernst as if he knew about every one of Sabina’s actions.