Chapter 30

One of the impressive Swiss leaders during WWII was General Guisan who disagreed with his government's stance on neutrality. The leaders in the parliament were concerned that under no circumstances should the Swiss do anything to provoke Hitler.

General Guisan proclaimed that Switzerland's main aim was to maintain independence. He contended that without independence there would be no neutrality to protect.

Remember that the Swiss also trained every available male to shoot a rifle. The rifle was kept at home and the owner was told that if they heard that Switzerland had surrendered it was nothing more than enemy propaganda. Further, the trained men were instructed to fight to the last cartridge.

Bombing of populations.

There are two sides to the argument of bombing populations into surrender.

For instance, the bombing of Britain served to galvanise the population to further resistance.

In the Mediterranean, during mid-1943 there were two islands, Pantellaria and Lampedusa that were bombed into submission. Perhaps being islands, any chance to escape was severely restricted. However, from both islands, approximately 17,000 troops were captured by the Allies.

Gerry and Hilda were travelling back to Hilda's apartment by bus from Franz Muller's house. Gerry had met the members of the secret Lora society. The society comprised of a group of influential Swiss citizens who devoted their time to assisting war refugees to escape from Germany.

"I'm not good company am I?" Gerry asked as the bus stopped and they filed to the door to alight.

"You've had a tough night, I feel subdued too and I was only listening to what you've been through. There won't be many people who will understand what you've endured. Even fewer will know how well you're coping. But I do!"

Walking to her apartment, she pulled on his arm. When he stopped and looked down on her, "Would you kiss me?" she asked her face pleading for intimate contact with him.

There were few people on the street; those walking close by stared at them as they were embracing. Public displays of affection weren't acceptable. But Hilda didn't care and Gerry didn't know the Swiss conventions.

She pulled away from his lips, "Let's go to bed for the rest of the weekend?" her face grinning and her eyes bright with anticipation.

"Doctor Meltzer, you're such a desirable woman. How could I refuse you."

"You've changed me. I was an independent female with a giant superiority complex," she leaned closer and whispered; "Now all I can think about is getting you into bed so we can fuck."

Gerry laughed softly and started walking quickly pulling her along by the hand.

Anna wondered why Gerry had not mentioned her in his message. She was in the Comms room the day after receiving Gerry's message. Her mind was wandering; her mood was sad.

'I know he doesn't love me but I miss him terribly.' she thought.

Her mind slipped back to that terrible day of the murder of her husband and children in the alleyway alongside the department store in Berlin.

'I must get myself out of this mood. I owe Gerry for the way he rescued me from my grieving... I know that someday he will leave me but that doesn't stop me hoping that he will stay with me. But if he leaves me our parting will cut my heart out, ' she thought.

Her head went forward onto her arms that were resting on the desk on which the transmitter stood. She wept quietly.

She heard the partition sliding back, she saw Alex's backside as she backed into the Comms room.

Quickly she wiped her eyes. Slipping the headphones on she pretended to be listening for a broadcast.

"Anna?"

Alex looked questioningly at Anna.

"What's troubling you, darling? As if I need to ask!"

She moved closer and pulled the headphones away from Anna's head. Holding her close she rubbed her hand down Anna's back.

With a quick hug, Anna pulled away.

"I'm all right now," she said sadly.

The morning after visiting Franz's home Gerry slowly lifted Hilda's arm from across his chest then eased out of her bed. He went to the bathroom then he dressed and left her apartment. On Minerva Strasse where Hilda's apartment was located, a fog swirled in the street. Heading north to Rami Strasse, he walked to the Limmet River. He followed the river upstream to Munster Bridge. He was attached to this bridge because it reminded him of the bridges across the canals near his home in Amsterdam.

He walked to the centre of the bridge. Leaning on the railing, he peered through the morning mist. The bridges in the distance were partly obscured by the gray fog. From the corner of his eye he thought that he saw a man approaching. The stranger hesitated then turned and hurried away retracing his steps and soon he was out of sight in the fog.

'Strange, ' Gerry thought as he turned and watched the figure departing, 'I could have sworn that was Doctor Schaeffer. Right height, same pompous swagger.'

He continued to watch the light changing the river scenery as the sun came up. The slight breeze rapidly chasing the mist away, pulling himself upright he started slowly back to Hilda's apartment.

When he turned onto Rami Strasse, he sensed that he was being followed. Turning onto Hottinger Strasse that led to Minerva Strasse where Hilda lived; he hid in the doorway of the first apartment block.

As his pursuer passed by, he saw that it was indeed Doctor Schaeffer. He waited until he was some distance along Hottinger Strasse and then followed him.

Allowing the distance between them to increase, he saw more people leaving their houses. There were family groups and couples; he guessed they were going to church. He saw Schaeffer turn onto Minerva Strasse.

Hilda's apartment was three quarters of the way along the block in Minerva Strasse so he took his time to reach her street. Turning the corner, he was surprised when he saw Schaeffer and another man talking. They were standing across the road looking at Hilda's apartment. When Schaeffer pointed to Hilda's apartment, the man with him nodded.

Ducking quickly back into Hottinger Strasse Gerry doubled around the block. Entering Minerva Strasse from the other end, he satisfied himself that Schaeffer and his companion had left the street. Quickly he hurried into Hilda's apartment.

Quietly closing her front door, he hung his coat on a peg in the small lobby. Hilda was still in bed half asleep but she heard Gerry entering her apartment, slowly she stretched.

"You've been out?" she asked.

"I went for a walk down to Munster Bridge. I was enjoying the scenery when I spotted a man out of the corner of my eye. He hesitated as if he recognised me. Turning he hurried away in the direction he had come from. About ten minutes later, I decided to return here. On Rami Strasse, I thought someone was following me. I hid in a doorway and as he passed where I was hiding, I was able to identify him. It was Doctor Schaeffer!" Gerry said.

"Schaeffer? Are you sure?" Hilda asked. She was now wide-awake.

"Wait there's more, I followed him. When he turned onto Minerva Strasse, I waited. Then when I turned into your street he was on the other side watching your apartment. There was another man with him and Schaeffer seemed to be pointing out your apartment. I didn't let him see me. I doubled around the block and by that time, they were nowhere to be seen so I came inside. What do you make of that?" Gerry asked.

"I don't know but we're sure that Schaeffer's a Nazi sympathiser. I hope he's not spying on me. Or worse, he might have alerted the Gestapo about your location." Hilda said.

"Do you think we should tell Franz?"

"Later. Let's eat first," Hilda said sliding her legs out of the bed.

Katherine watched her sons, Kurt and Luke eating breakfast. However, she pretended to be absorbed in conversation with her husband Alex. However, she was listening closely to her sons' chattering about the party that they had attended last night. She listened closely as Kurt asked Luke about a girl called Jennell.

'I hope Luke gets involved with a girlfriend. It was Kirsty that caused Luke to stay home instead of joining the Resistance, ' she thought.

Katrina relaxed when she heard Luke telling Kurt about Jennell.

Luke looked at his brother who appeared to be very interested in Jennell.

"Yes I can phone Kirsty and get her phone number. See, I told you that hanging out in the forest would send you crazy. Fancy not getting her phone number, what a thickhead! In the old days, you would have memorised everything about her. I'll bet you don't even remember the color of her eyes," Luke said.

"Her eyes are brown, smart arse! Come on phone Kirsty and get Jennell's phone number for me," Kurt said as they rose and went to the telephone in the living room.

Katherine secretly nudged her husband and smiled at him. Alex looked up from his newspaper. Confused, he wondered what had caused her newly found good humor.

Kurt made a quick phone call to Jennell. Then he moved to the lobby. He was pulling on his leather coat when Katherine called out, "You're going out, will you be back for lunch."

"I don't think so. Bye," Kurt said as he slammed the front door behind him.

Hurrying up the hill toward the town, he walked for a kilometre before he turned into the street where Jennell lived. As he drew closer, he heard a piano, he could not identify the music but he knew that it wasn't any of the popular tunes that he was hearing on the radio.

The front door of Jennell's single storey house opened directly onto the street. He grasped the doorknocker and froze. The music was enthralling; he eased the doorknocker back onto its rest and stood listening. Ten minutes passed before the piano stopped, forgetting where he was he clapped loudly and yelled 'Bravo'. A window in the apartment next door flew up. An old woman 'humphed' at him and violently slammed the window closed.

The door flew open and Jennell grabbed him by the front of his coat and quickly dragged him inside. Kicking the door closed she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Her mouth closed over his and her tongue pushed into his mouth. It was too much for Kurt, the music and Jennell's passionate welcome astounded him. He staggered back onto her sofa.

"Ouch! You clumsy oaf!" yelled a female voice.

He felt the softness of a female body under him and he awkwardly struggled to his feet.

"I beg forgiveness Fraulein," Kurt said to the stranger, his face blushing with embarrassment.

Jennell rushed forward, "Just ignore Jas. She's always moody on a Sunday morning."

"Jas! Behave while I introduce you. This is Kurt Nagle; he's the one I told you about. The one I met at the party last night."

Jas held her hand up limply. Kurt took it and bowed slightly.

"Sorry to sit on you. But you were a soft landing place. It was enjoyable," he said smiling broadly.

Jas jumped to her feet so swiftly that Kurt stepped quickly backwards. She followed him and threw her arms around his neck.

"You could kiss it better?" she said her voice low and sultry.

Kurt disentangled himself from Jas's firm hold, shaken by her aggression.

"I came to see Jennell..." he said his face blushing. He was nervous and his voice trailed away.

"That's okay, you can't tell us apart in the dark!" she said then laughed loudly.

He glanced at Jennell, looking for assistance but was unsettled to see that she was also laughing. He moved to the other end of the sofa and eased himself onto the seat.

Jas turned to Jennell, "He looks as startled as a nervous deer in the forest. I do hope I haven't frightened him; he's so handsome too. He'd be fun to play with."

Jas turned to Jennell, "Would you like tea, darling?" Jas asked Jennell.

"Yes, please."

Jas drew herself up to her full height of 160 centimetres, pushed her breasts forward.

"Kurt darling, tea or that horrible coffee and chicory shit?" Jas asked.

"Coffee and chicory shit please," Kurt said smiling broadly again.

Both women giggled as Jas departed for the kitchen. Kurt had recovered and watched her display her swaying hips as she departed to the kitchen. 'She's like a little show pony, shaking her backside like that for my benefit, ' Kurt thought.

Jennell joined him on the sofa, "I saw you watching her sexy walk, she's petite and beautiful isn't she?"

"Your backside is better," Kurt said.

"She's a musician like I am," Jennell pointed to a 'cello standing in its supporting frame at the other end of the room. "We're both a little eccentric with unusual tastes, in food and... men. We don't give a fuck for society's norms. They're for the little people; the conformists."

"Jas is an unusual name, what's it short for?" Kurt asked.

"Jasmine. I think it's an exotic name. Before the war, her parents worked for a trading company and they were assigned to the company's Shanghai office. Jas was born there and her parents are still there. When the war broke out Jas was home here studying at the conservatory in Zurich. Her parents send her money every month. Now she's having private lessons here in Kruezlingen," Jennell said as Jas carried a tray into the room.

"What was the music you were just playing? You played it so expressively," Kurt said.

"It was Chopin. I have an examination during the coming week so I'm using every opportunity to practise," Jennell said.

Jas parked the tray on the small side table. She passed a cup of tea to Jennell.

"Tea for Jenny and..." Jas said.

Passing a cup to Kurt, "Coffee shit for Kurt. There's cake here. Help yourself. "

Armed with a cup of tea Jas moved to Kurt's left side on the sofa and edged her backside against him causing him and Jennell to move, making room for her.

"So Jas calls you Jenny?" Kurt asked.

"All my close friends do! So why don't you?"

"Okay..."

Jas interrupted Kurt by placing her hand firmly on his left thigh, "We both want to be your close friend, if you know what I mean."

Kurt was bewildered; he had no compass for this unfamiliar territory. He turned to Jennell hoping that she would give him a lead. Instead, she was looking at him, her face flushed; she seemed highly stimulated by the way Jas was resting her hand on his thigh. She brought her lips closer to Kurt and kissed him softly. At his left-hand side, he felt Jas's hand stroking his thigh.

Soon his erection was making him uncomfortable; it was straining for room as Jas closed her hand over it. Balancing his cup and saucer he tried to bury his mind in drinking his coffee. But when Jas squeezed him softly, the shock caused him to shake and his cup of coffee dropped into his lap. He stood rapidly, the cup crashed to the floor shattering into pieces. He tried to shake the hot liquid from his trousers.

Jennell set her cup on the side table and dashed to the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry! You are the nervous little one, aren't you," Jas said as she rapidly undid his trouser belt.

Instinctively Kurt held onto his trousers but Jas yanked and his trousers fell to the floor.

"Let's see if there's been any damage," she said as she surprised Kurt by pulling his underwear to his knees. Taking his wilting penis and twisting it this way and that she examined it closely.

As Jennell returned from the kitchen, "What do think Jenny?" Jas asked still firmly holding Kurt's penis. "I can't tell if the redness is from burning or arousal."

"Let me see," Jennell said taking his penis in hand. "No he's not harmed. Let me wipe the coffee off."

Jennell used the warm damp cloth to dry him carefully. Kurt was becoming accustomed to being nearly naked. Resigning himself to his fate, he sank back onto the sofa.

"Jas, you caused this mess! Clean up the broken cup then take his trousers and underpants to the laundry and sponge them clean. After that, we'll hang them in front of the fire to dry," Jennell said as she sat on Kurt's right on the sofa.

Her hand again grasped his penis, softly caressing him. She suddenly started laughing. Startled, Kurt pulled away.

"What? What's so funny?" Kurt asked, a little deflated and still nervous.

"It's not you darling," Jennell said as she kissed him briefly. "It just occurred to me that this situation is upside down. It's usually the male that fights to get the females pants off!"

With that, she burst out laughing again until tears rolled down her cheeks. Still she kept a firm hold of him.

Kurt shook his head from side to side; he didn't think it was that funny. He tried to pull his shirt down over his rapidly softening erection.

Jas returned to the living room carrying Kurt's clothing, "What's so funny Jenny?" she asked as she dragged the firescreen in front of the fire. Draping Kurt's clothes over it, she then joined Kurt and Jennell on the sofa, chuckling as Jenny explained.

Jas's hand massaged Kurt's thigh, "Hmm, he's built for serious work isn't he,"

"Take your hands off him he's mine," Jennell said starting a mock battle with Jas. They started with light slaps to the body but now they were locked together, wrestling on the floor.

"Maybe I had better leave," Kurt said easing off the sofa.

Deep down he was worried. 'How far will these unbridled women go, they're outlaws, ' he thought nervously.

Jennell moved rapidly. Pushing Kurt until he fell back onto the sofa she moved between his legs, her hands sliding under his shirt. She toyed with his penis until he was erect again.

"Perhaps you don't like two women playing games with you?" she asked sweetly. Her deep brown eyes setting him on fire as they had done the night before.

"It's just so... so... ," he stuttered.

"Jas we're being mean to Kurt. We excited him and now that he's calmed down he wants to leave! We can't have that can we? Go and get the oil from our bedroom, warm the bottle in some hot water. I'll keep him happy until you return," Jennell said.

Jas bounded to her feet, Kurt heard her bare feet slapping against the wooden floor in the hallway.

Jennell bent forward her hair cascaded onto Kurt's stomach. He felt her pulling his penis forward and then the warmth of her lips as she sucked on his erection.

"You and Jas sleep together?" Kurt managed to gasp.

Jennell made an audible slurp as she released him; she reached up and wiped her hair from her face.

"Yes we sleep together and when our sexual desire becomes too great we relax each other," Jennell said.

"You're homosexuals!" Kurt said his disgust showing in his face.

Jennell slapped his penis, "How dare you call us that nasty word. We're normal women, we'd rather have a male to keep us company. It's just an arrangement that we've had since school days. And it's convenient while we're studying — no distractions."

"Jas!" Jennell shouted, "Kurt just called us lesbians!"

"Wait until I get there I'll show him!" Jas replied.

"You just lay back and enjoy yourself. And stop thinking like a religious fanatic," Jennell said resuming her position and gently attending to his erection.

Through half closed eyes Kurt watched Jas. She was carefully carrying the bottle of oil in a pan of hot water. He saw her wriggle out of her pantaloon pyjamas. She dragged a thick rug from the centre of the room, placing it near the sofa.

"Up!" Jas commanded.

Jennell moved away as she pulled Kurt from the sofa.

"Lie in the center of the rug," Jas said.

Kurt lay on his back.

"No, on your stomach," Jennell said.

Kurt rolled over tucking his penis into a more comfortable position. He saw Jas take the bottle of warm oil and then he heard her rubbing her hands together. He didn't see Jas passing the oil to Jennell.

Jas started massaging the muscles in Kurt's neck and shoulders then he felt warm oil pooling in the small of his back. A small rivulet of oil escaped and ran between the cheeks of his buttocks. Hearing Jas and Jennell giggling he kept still until he felt Jennell's finger tracing after the oil.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Can't have oil spill on the rug," Jennell said.

Soon Jas 's hands were having an effect on him; he felt drowsy and yet he still felt highly aroused.