Chapter 29

"The day I saw Mustangs over Berlin, I knew the jig was up."

A quote from Hermann Goering.

Hermann Goering's book Germany Reborn (1934) tells of his role in setting up the Gestapo.

He wrote, 'I became commissioner of the Interior in Prussia and at the same time Minister of the Reich. I had taken on a heavy responsibility.

Here it was that I made the first sweeping changes of personnel. Out of 32 police chiefs, I removed 22.

New men were brought in, and in every case, these men came from the great reservoir of the Storm Troops.

I gave strict orders and demanded that the police should devote all their energies to the ruthless extermination of subversive elements.

In one of my first big meetings in Dortmund, I declared that for the future there would be only one man who would bear the responsibility in Prussia, and that one man was myself.

Every bullet fired from the barrel of a police pistol was my bullet. If you call that murder, then I am the murderer.'

In Doctor Franz Muller's office, his secretary placed a tray with cups and biscuits, next to a coffee pot, on his side table.

When his secretary left the room, Hilda jumped up and poured coffee for Franz Muller, Gerry and herself.

Gerry went to his coat on the peg stand and took the newspaper report of the destruction of the Uberlingen patrol boat station.

He handed it to Franz, "What do think of that, Doctor Muller?" he said remembering Hilda's advice to use formalities in the hospital.

He smiled at Hilda as he sat down; he kept quiet while Franz quickly read the article.

"Have you seen this Hilda?" he asked as he passed the news item to her.

"Oh no!" Hilda looked scared as she passed it back to Gerry.

"What do you think Franz? What should Gerry do?" Hilda asked.

"I believe that Gerry has three things to consider. One, the Swiss government is making the right kind of noises but won't spend much time chasing the culprits. Two, this whole thing could blow over in two weeks. Three, the Swiss government might be pressured by the Germans to catch those responsible.

"What's the most likely outcome?" Gerry asked.

"That's anyone's guess but if I were you, I would read the newspaper closely every day. If there's any mention of the German government hounding the Swiss government to arrest those responsible then we should get together and decide what to do. Meanwhile, keep calm and pay close attention to developments. Most importantly, Gerry, don't get involved in anything that will attract the attention of the authorities." Franz said.

"Thank you Doctor Muller, I'll do as you say. I won't be mentioning this to Richard though, I don't want to affect his recovery."

"Yes, that's the correct thing to do. Herr Dasch is improving; it'll be slow during the first few weeks but then you should see noticeable recovery. In the next day or so, I'll slowly have him out of bed, He won't be walking for a while yet, but I try to get my patients moving again after surgery. We'll be starting him on a long course of rehabilitation in the near future. Conservative physicians keep their patients in bed, their muscles deteriorate and the outcome is never as good as it could have been.

Franz Muller seemed to be thinking, Hilda and Gerry remained silent. His eyes came back into focus, "Hilda, I think that we should have a 'special' meeting next Saturday. You can explain the background to Gerry when you leave here. I'm sure a few things will make more sense to him when he knows about us."

Gerry heard the distant sounds of heavy artillery fire and bombs detonating.

He looked at Franz and Hilda but they didn't seem disturbed.

"What do you think that was?" Gerry asked, disturbed by the sounds of war.

"We're only thirty kilometres from the German border and the cities lining the northern edge of the Bodensee have been heavily bombed lately. Friedrichshafen has been the target for a few weeks but Meersburg and Uberlingen have also been targeted," Franz said.

"I would have thought that the Ruhr valley cities were better targets," Gerry said shaking his head in disbelief.

"I think you've given that some thought. However, let me assure you that those cities and further away, cities such as Berlin and Munich are also being pounded," Franz said.

"I haven't been near a radio for some time. When I was at home, in Goppingen, I had many hours a day to keep abreast of war news. Have you thought about how long it will be before Hitler succumbs?" Gerry asked.

"At this point, I'm wondering if he's losing," Franz said.

"We live in uncertain times don't we Doctor Muller," Gerry said.

"Unfortunately, that's true. I don't want to hurry you out, but I have a pressing appointment in five minutes. I'll have to ask you two fascinating people to leave. Saturday is only two days away, I want you to come to my house with Hilda."

Franz stood up and Hilda went to him, he kissed her on each cheek. He held her by the elbows causing her to listen, "Give Gerry the cautions that we give to all of our friends when you leave here."

"Yes, that's wise, I'll do that," Hilda said, her face showing her concern.

'I'll give Gerry one more day. If I haven't heard from him by this time tomorrow, I'll be going back to Meersburg. I can't stand anymore harping from my mother, ' Kurt thought as he sat with his brother Luke. They were in the basement of the family home listening to Luke's communications receiver.

The sounds of warfare snapped Kurt out of his reverie.

"Shit!" Luke shouted, "They must be bombing Konstance!"

Kurt and Luke scrambled up the stairs from the basement; ascending another set of stairs to Luke's bedroom, they opened the French doors onto a tiny balcony that overlooked the Bodensee.

Although it was more than a kilometre away, an American B24 Liberator seemed like it was heading straight for them. The port outer engine was on fire, the end of the port wing shot away. Kurt felt sure that if it kept on its steep angle of descent that it would crash in Kruezlingen. With smoke and fire streaming from its port engine, the pilot managed to get the nose of the plane to lift. It was then that they saw the Mustang P51's escorting it. The drama for the Liberator wasn't over yet as two Me109's swooped down catching the escorting Mustangs by surprise.

The Liberator's pilot, alerted by his rear turret gunner, warned the experienced Mustang pilots that they were about to be attacked.

With thousands of hours of bombing missions over Germany, the Mustang pilots dropped away from the Liberator. In a wide arc, they climbed until they were at the rear of the Swiss Me109's. Like eagles swooping on helpless rabbits, they flew onto Swiss fighter planes. The Swiss Air Force had purchased the German planes before the war. While the Swiss were a neutral country, they fiercely protected their borders.

"They're Swiss Me109's," Kurt said loudly over the sound of the air raid warning sirens now wailing in the township.

Manoeuvring into a superior fighting position the Mustangs blasted away at the Me109s. Smoke and fire erupted from the port side plane and soon after the other plane was hit, the fuel tank exploded breaking the plane in two.

Kurt and Luke followed the remaining pilot abandoning his plane. His parachute opened and he floated down until he disappeared from their view.

"He'll end up in the Bodensee, poor bastard," Luke said.

The liberator passed overhead, "They're not more than three hundred metres up," Luke said.

"The nearest airfield is Dubendorf, I don't think they'll make it," Kurt said.

"Many disabled aircraft have recently put down in Dubendorf. If the pilot maintains his present height for another ten minutes, he'll make it." Luke said.

"Hope they make it," Kurt said as he waited for Luke to come back inside the house. Then he closed the French doors.

Let's see if Herr Dasch is awake," Hilda said as she led the way to his room.

"Wait here, I'll see if he's alone," she said.

"Perhaps I should see Doctor Schaeffer first."

"Just wait a minute," she said.

Hilda opened the door and peeked inside, she opened the door wider and beckoned Gerry to enter.

Gerry saw that Richard was sleeping soundly. Turning to Hilda, "I don't want to disturb him. Let's leave."

As they walked to the hospital exit, "You need to make a phone call at my place. Let me cook for you tonight?" she asked.

"What a nice thought, can I buy anything?"

"I have everything."

"You sure do!" he said placing his hand around her shoulders and pulling her close as they walked to her apartment.

In the camp at Meersburg, Pieter had assembled his men. Roger and Werner, the perimeter guards were in the camp. It was worrying Pieter that they were now without guards. As he looked around, he could see that his men were anxious. German patrols on the Bodensee had intensified since their successful destruction of the Uberlingen patrol boat base. There had been a number of army foot patrols into the forests but the closest had been three kilometres away. The bombing of Uberlingen had heightened their anxiety when they narrowly escaped being directly bombed during an Allied night raid that was off target.

"We need to rearrange the management of the camp," Pieter said.

"Werner and I would appreciate being relieved of guard duty more often," Roger said.

"It seems to me that the army's activity is increasing along the shores of the Bodensee. The Allies bombing of the cities, particularly Friedrichshafen and Uberlingen must be affecting how the army is being deployed. I'm concerned about being caught by the army patrolling the forests. From now on, we're all going to be perimeter guards. The water patrols seem to be everywhere like a stirred up hornet's nest," Pieter said.

"Have you heard from Kurt yet?" Oskar asked.

"No. We've agreed to remain silent until he has word from Gerry on Richard's condition. When he does call in I'm going to tell him to stay home until the patrols quieten down," Pieter said.

"There's only four of us left so what plans do you have in mind for us?" Oskar asked.

"For the time being we can't plan anything. Tomorrow morning all of us will decide how we can make the camp completely portable. If we're surprised by a patrol, we need to be in a position to pick up the most important items and abandon camp. From now on, guarding the camp will involve Roger and Werner six hours on, six hours off. Oskar and I will alternate with you. Questions?"

There were none.

"Oskar and I will take the first six hours. I suggest that you get used to eating and sleeping when you are off duty," Pieter said.

While Hilda was shedding her street clothes she turned to Gerry, "Why not make your phone call now?"

"You want to deprive me of the joy of watching you undress?"

"No, but we can relax when it's out of the way."

Gerry found Kurt's phone number in his wallet.

"Katherine? It's Gerry, may I speak to Kurt?" Gerry asked.

"I suppose so. I just wish you people would let him be!" Katherine replied angrily.

Gerry heard the phone slamming onto the table. Gerry covered the mouthpiece, "Katherine Nagle. She isn't happy," Gerry said to Hilda.

"Gerry! How are you?" Kurt said excitedly.

"I'm trying to stay out of trouble."

"What's the verdict on Richard's leg?"

"He has a fine doctor. He's managed to save his leg. He's a long way from walking again so I'm going to be in Zurich for many weeks yet. I want you to send a message to Pieter for relay back home. Tell him 'Richard injured, hospital Zurich. Long recovery, expect twelve weeks until return, ' Gerry said.

"That long?" Kurt asked as he scribbled Gerry's message.

"Yah, he's going to be lucky to walk normally again."

"I'm glad to hear from you, my parents have been driving me insane. They don't want me go back to the camp. I'll use Luke's transmitter to talk to Pieter tonight, and then I'll try crossing the Bodensee," Kurt said.

"Make sure that you encode that message."

"Pieter gave me the code to use while you were at the Kruezlingen hospital. It's not a problem."

"I want you be careful, Kurt. The Uberlingen station was in the newspapers here. I'm guessing that the Bodensee is being heavily patrolled right now. If I were you, I'd give it a few weeks to settle down. I think that it'll be a highly dangerous place to be right now."

"I can't stand being at home a day longer. I'll be okay."

"Kurt, you need to stay alive! Crossing the Bodensee right now is asking for it. I wouldn't do it!" Gerry shouted.

"I'm just so pissed of with the constant bickering and arguing. I have to get away from it."

"Like I just said, I would not do it at this time. Look, I'd better go this phone call is costing a fortune. Good luck Kurt."

"Manfred sit down! Pacing up and down! You're driving me crazy!" Alex said. She was irritable and anxious.

"I'm worried, Richard and Gerry..." Manfred was interrupted by Erika running downstairs from the Comms room.

"We've got news," she shouted.

Out of breath with excitement, Erika continued, "Richard's been injured, he's in a hospital in Zurich and it's going to take three months before he and Gerry return home."

Holding her hands over her face Erika doubled up; sobbing loudly, she stumbled to a chair and flopped into it.

Anna came running downstairs, tears flowing freely down her face. She went to Alex who was making little convulsive gasps. She was sitting at the table with her head resting on her arms, staring at the floor. Anna put her arms around Alex's shoulders and rested her head on her neck.

Manfred held Cornelia, calming her.

"Thank God they're alive," he murmured.

"He must be seriously injured to need three months to recover," Cornelia said though her tears.

"Come with me and we'll make coffee. We'll try and cheer them up," Manfred said.

Ten minutes later they heard a car drive into the farm and Manfred immediately ran to the back door. He turned the light out in the kitchen. Snatching his pistol from his coat, he slowly opened the door. Immediately, he saw that it was Bernard's car and he replaced his pistol in his coat pocket.

"You're a day early," Manfred said as he opened the door wider.

"I finished the work I had to do, new business is getting scarce," Bernard said.

"We've had news that Richard's been injured, he's in a hospital in Zurich. How he got there is anyone's guess. The message said that his recovery would take about twelve weeks."

"That's how long it took me to recover, when I lost my leg," Bernard said.

"I wonder, but we don't know what's wrong with him yet. Apparently Gerry's okay."

Hilda had changed into a dressing gown when she and Gerry arrived at her apartment.

The food shortages and rationing meant that she could not afford to eat meat more than once or twice a week. Nevertheless, she prepared a savoury vegetable meal and with French baguette bread, they ate with relish.

Gerry helped her clean up, and then she made a coffee and chicory hot drink. Walking to the middle of the longest wall, she pulled her bed down from inside the specially made cabinet. It was hinged to the wall inside the cabinet and two legs folded down to support the foot of the bed. Canvas straps kept the mattress and covers in place. It was the usual way to utilize the available space in many European homes. Space was at a premium so the bed folded away into the wall. This allowed the room to be used for other activities, during the day.

She pulled the straps from around the mattress, kicked the legs at the foot of the bed locking them in place, then lay on the bed, on her side looking up at Gerry.

"You want to go to bed now, I'd better leave!"

Hilda was off the bed, feline quick she was in front of Gerry; she rushed at him. Wrapping her arms around his thighs, she slid them down to his knees. Unable to maintain his balance, and carried backwards with her momentum, he fell heavily onto her bed.

Hilda put her foot on his chest and raised her arms, her clenched fists giving the salute of an Olympic champion. She started laughing as she fell on top of him.

"You've done that before haven't you?"

"What! You're a horrible Dutchman!"

"A horrible defiled Dutchman," he said, "I guess you want me to stay."

"He's so clever too. Genius level," she said sarcastically.

He kissed her deeply and when he tried to undo her robe, she rolled off him and stood up.

"We have to talk. Franz thinks you may be in danger, remember he asked me to explain some things to you before we left his office?"

From her small table she handed him his hot drink and taking hers, she sat on the edge of her bed. As he rolled over, he put his arm across her shoulders.

"Yes?"

"Maybe you've guessed that I've been working with Franz, hiding refugees, assisting people to get to safe havens. Others in important government positions also meet with us, assisting us in many different ways. We meet regularly at Franz's house. We're people who don't agree with Hitler and his gang of criminals. We're people who also recognize that we're also in the minority in Switzerland. Only Franz knows their real names and their positions. We've developed methods of hiding people and moving them around the country. Then when the time is right we move them across the border to the French resistance," she said.

"I didn't guess that much. But when Franz showed me his amateur radio equipment he told me that he had used it to help people; people trying to escape from Hitler's program of eliminating Jews. I didn't say anything to him because I knew he couldn't do it all on his own. From my own experience, I know that you must have others to help you. So, my sweet little innocent doctor has been fighting in a resistance movement. That's not too different to what I'm doing."

"I'm not sweet and you know I'm not innocent!" she said but she smiled sweetly at him and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"Is that all Franz wants me to know?" he asked as he placed his empty cup on the floor.

"No, he thinks that you and Richard are in danger. Herr Dasch is more vulnerable because of his condition. He can't be moved. I don't want to see you in trouble with the authorities so I'm asking you to give up your hotel room and come and stay here with me."

Gerry smiled widely, hoping that Hilda would understand his jest, "You do this for all your refugees?"

"You horrible, horrible man!"

She placed her half full cup on the floor then twisting around she beat him around the shoulders. He feigned pain as she pushed him over onto his back. She straddled him.

"I always knew I was right, men are such inferior beings. And so ungrateful!"

He looked up into her eyes and she gazed back at him. The pleasurable tremors started in her belly, her chest ached from the love she felt for him.

"Stop it! We have to talk, I can't concentrate when you look at me like that."

He pulled her down, his hand slipping inside her robe.

"No. Oh no, please stop, we must talk first," she said softly.

Gerry surprised her with his strength when he placed his hands under her shoulders, lifting; she suddenly found that she was standing on the floor again.

"In case you're curious, you're the first refugee to stay here."

"I was only jesting!"

"Other refugees that we've helped stay at Franz's house. He has a concealed area under one of the bedrooms."

"Let me guess, you access it from one of the wardrobes."

"Are you making fun of me?" Hilda was angry.

Gerry grabbed her tightly and pulled her to him.

"That's what we have at Goppingen. A communications room that's hidden between two bedrooms. Its entrance is through a panel at the back of the wardrobe."

"I'm sorry. I thought you were playing games with me," she said.

"Would you like to know what would be of more help to me?"

"Of course," she said.

"I need a Swiss identity for Richard and I. Documents that state that we're Swiss."

"We should discuss that on Saturday. I don't know much about this side of our activities but I'm sure Franz does. By the way our secret society of like-minded people is called Lora."

"That's the name of Doctor Schaeffer's secretary, any connection?" Gerry asked.

"Yes, we're not sure of him. Lora keeps an eye on him for us. She has done for so a few years now. She should be there on Saturday. It will be wise for you not to know anything, let others tell you what they want you to know."

"It's the way I conduct myself anyway," Gerry said.

He tried again to get his hand inside Hilda's robe, this time he succeeded. She pulled the cord from around her waist, the robe opened. She pushed her way onto the bed, took his hands from her body and forced them by his side.

"Lie still for me, so I can celebrate. Oh, I don't remember, did you accept my invitation. You are moving in with me aren't you?"

"You're so kind, it affects me deeply that you think so highly of me. Of course, I want to move in with you. But I'm going to pay my share of your expenses."

She flopped down alongside him, stretching her legs and turning she placed her leg between his. She caressed his chest and kissed his nipple, her hand caressing lower around his belly.

'Look at his erection growing, I know all about the why but it's especially beautiful when you have love, ' she thought as she placed her head on his belly. Edging closer to his erection she lapped at it. When it jumped away from her, she giggled softly.

"I want to play too," Gerry said as he changed position on the bed. With his head at the foot of the bed, he pushed her robe away. Kissing her feet, he was surprised at her reaction. She laved his erection then confidently covered him with her mouth. She knew the precise places to excite him for the greatest pleasure.

Gerry smiled, remembering her nervous start a few days ago. He lifted her leg and kissed behind her knee, sticking his tongue out he traced down her inner thigh. As he placed his mouth over her outer lips, he was surprised at the amount of lubrication flowing from her. He heard her gasp; her head come away from his penis.