“But they won’t hear our lectures,” Krafft began, “…or know our work…” Krafft found it unbelievable that the Poles would consciously forfeit the most valuable part of the program: to hear German astrological knowledge. “…our work, known to be the best in the world.”
“They’re not interested in knowledge, Herr Krafft.” Groesler said pointing at the astrological society’s charter, “they just wanted to prance around Berlin with us as if they were important… while we picked up the bill.”
“A fourth of our annual budget spent on servicing those pigs. They’ll pay for this. They’ll pay for sure. We’ll kill every one of those Polish pigs if it’s the last thing done!”
While looking at the papers on the old table in front of him in the Polish castle, Karl Ernst wondered if any of those Polish astrologers were now still alive.
When entering the city he could see that every part of the city had severe damage inflicted upon it. If these Polish astrologers were alive, are they still laughing over how they ‘got one’ over the Germans?
“Karl Ernst.”
Krafft turned around and his heart stopped. Before him stood Ewa Mann, holding a box of rolled manuscripts. Below her left ear was a freshly made scar.
The Count’s wife, in Belgian with her parents, was not able to make his birthday. She was not aware of the fact that her presence at her family home was part of a sequence of movements that was part of his plans. The last time she was there her presence was part of plan that allowed General Wladyslaw Sikorski to escape out of Europe to London to set up Poland’s provisional government – a series of events she was totally unaware of.
With the party now over and most guests going for their coats, little did they know this would be the last time they would all see each other. It would not be of the Count’s doing, it would be because of the inevitable German invasion of France.
The Count’s core group laid out the contents of the boxes from the guests on the circular table. Where once were dishes of their last meal together, now was filled with certificates, priceless historical artifacts, and documents from France, Germany, Russia, England that each of the country’s governments thought were top secret.
“Count, what would you like to see first?” Fa asked, knowing the Count would want to get straight to work once the last guest had left.
In the 1870’s, the Count’s father had collected a vast amount of information that was fundamental in building his family empire that rivaled any country at the time. In order to maintain this empire in the fast changing world of the 1920’s and 30’s, how quickly one obtained information turned out to be just as important as the information itself. In this manner the Count adapted to the new technology for this requirement in excellent form.
“I would like to see the papers Herr Stöver kindly brought us.”
Maria snorted at the mention of his name. Both she and Fa hated the thin German, mostly because of his arrogance.
“Ladies,” the Count said in a fatherly voice understanding their feelings, “we are all aware of the Herr Stöver’s manners and attitude, however today we need to thank him for a very important development”.
“What did he tell you?”
“Actually Herr Stöver was not aware of the information he as giving me, but the time table and other details he gave will allow us to be in on 378 million Swiss francs in gold the Belgium government is transferring to France for safe keeping.”
“But, isn’t Belgium neutral in all this?”
“The Belgian government, my dear, seem to now know that neutrality won’t matter when the Germans move west to France.”
“From you…?”
The Count ignored the question and continued. “We will need to intercept the train first while it is in Belgium since the Germans have the schedule and timetables as well… which of course is how I learned of it. Maria, here are the details, will you make the arrangements?”
Marie nodded and bowed a ‘yes’.
The Count looked at the next set of papers.
“Monika, will you move all of our accounts out of Belgian and the Netherlands into my account in Switzerland?”
After a few moments of reading the documents from Colonel Walls, the Count turned to Fa. “Will you please have Herr Borcht fly our plane out of Stettin and meet us in Rome?”
After several papers and several sets of orders for his core group, the Count gave his final order. “Ladies, we have done all we can to secure what we could in Europe, please meet in Naples on the fifteenth of May and we will sail out.”
The Count didn’t say where they were going to be sailing, and the girls didn’t ask – they knew not to.
Karl Ernst rose and put his arms around Ewa. Their embrace quickly turned into passionate kissing.
“How did you get here?” Krafft finally spoke.
“I heard you would be here and had to see you.”
“Does Fesel suspect anything about us?”
“No… no.” Ewa lied.
Krafft said nothing. He returned to their embrace.
“I just wanted to be with you… is that alright?” Ewa asked in between fabricated deep breaths.
“Yes, of course… this is a pleasant surprise, a very pleasant surprise.”
“Is your wife with you here in Warsaw now?” Ewa asked, but already knew the answer.
“No, she will be coming later.”
“Then… we only have this moment.”
Krafft lowered his hands very slowly over the shapely body in front of him. He had only a few loves in his life, but Ewa excited him more so than any of them. She was the only one who ever made his mind turn completely off. She also had an uncanny power have him forget his childhood, education, and profession.
The general motioned for Kriederman to come forward and handed him a small red box filled with hundreds of typed pages, identity forms, photos and keys.
“The folder on top.”
Lt. Kriederman saw the name of the intended prey: Otto Manfred Huber.
“What has he done?” Kriederman asked while skimming the first pages of Otto’s descriptions and habits. Experience told him just because there was a file and charge didn’t necessarily mean the ‘suspect’ was actually guilty.
“Nothing yet. The Gestapo in Hof heard a few calls going out to a Zellenlieter{Zellenlieter: Hitler created a “Big Brother” system ahead of its time. He divided Germany into 42 districts called “Gaue”, supervised by a District Leader (Gauleiter). The Gauleiter for Berlin, for example, was Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Each Gau was subdivided into circuits (Kreise) led by a Kreisleiter, subdivided by groups (Ortsgruppe) and these divided further still down to street cells (Zellen) supervised by a Zellenleiter – whose sole duty was to report any and all anti-government or suspicious activities of families living on that street. Many Zellenleiters were under 18 years old, and some were as young as 12 – who would report on their own parents and other family members. Germans living abroad were regarded as the 43rd Gau and were treated with the utmost suspicion.} in Berlin while Goebbels was on a restricted lodge vacation a few weeks ago.”