Chapter One Thousand Three Hundred Eighty
19th July 1960
Seoul, Korea
After having spent all day Saturday in Cuxhaven being briefed on what she could expect in Korea and filling out reems of paperwork, Kiki had spent the night in the women’s barracks. Then she had been informed that she was to be on the first train back to Berlin on Sunday morning because her flight would be on Lufthansa to Seoul. It had made her wonder what the point was for her to have made the trip to Cuxhaven in the first place.
Then, really having nowhere else to go, Kiki had spent the Sunday night with her family in Potsdam. Sleeping in her chambers in the Summer Residence had been nice, however she could have lived without the awkward dinner that had preceded it. Everyone had been there including Nella which had been a bit of a surprise. It seemed that Kiki’s stepmother Charlotte had taken more of a hands-on approach to raising the youngest member of their family than her actual mother had. There were still a team of nurses around to help, but they weren’t doing everything. The entire meal itself had been an excruciating experience, with Kiki’s personal choices being something that everyone was talking around. Something that they were afraid to bring up, so as to not say something unforgivable. Kiki had been relieved when she had left the next morning to have breakfast with Zella and Aurora.
It being the Summer Holiday, the three of them were going their separate ways. Zella on the road trip with her father and Aurora to the Baltic seaside with her family. It was obvious that Aurora would have preferred to be going with either of her friends, this was despite Kiki’s realization that she had put herself in a somewhat precarious position. Somehow Aurora thought that being in an area that might become a warzone was preferable to being around her family. Still, it had been a pleasant breakfast, though in Kiki’s opinion the goodbyes had been a bit needlessly poignant. They were all going to be back together in September and that wasn’t a very long time. They would probably all have some real stories to tell, even Aurora.
Upon arriving in the airport, Kiki had discovered that her seat had been upgraded to first class. She had been thinking of what she would say to her father about his interference when she learned that it had in fact been Tilo Schultz who had gotten her the upgrade.
“Nancy would skin me alive if I left you back in Coach” Tilo said when Kiki had questioned him in the airport lounge about what his motivations were. It was while they were waiting there that Kat had turned up and had spoken with Tilo. Kiki couldn’t help but overhearing what Tilo had confided in Kat. That he was unhappy about being pulled away from Nancy at this time and that he was overwhelmed by what the Marine Infantry expected of him. That was quite a thing to have heard him say. Later, as Kiki had boarded the plane, Kat had pulled her aside and apologized. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you” She had said, to Kiki’s bewilderment. What else could Kat possibly have done? She had done everything imaginable to prepare her for what was ahead, whatever it was.
Now, standing on the tarmac having just gotten off the plane the concrete was steaming. It had just stopped raining and the sun was out. It felt the same as July in Japan had a few years before, which Kiki knew was a completely wretched thing to deal with. Before she had even made it to the main building of the airport she was soaked in sweat. Hopefully, the she wouldn’t spend the next several weeks feeling like she was walking through a haze like she had in Japan during this time of the year. Once inside she found what looked like a circus happening inside. Dozens of Journalists, Photographers and even a television camera crew. Mercifully, they ignored Kiki and were focused on Tilo when he entered the building. A Korean General greeted him warmly as he entered, then the two of them turned and faced the gathered Press for a brief statement. Later, Kiki would learn that the Korean General was Gang Yeong-Su and that he had fought beside Tilo Schultz in the chaotic days after the Japanese had been expelled from Korea against the bandits that had taken over the Northern Provinces. Gang was considered a national hero by the Koreans and Tilo coming to lead the 3rd Marine Infantry Division was seen as the old, unbeatable team getting back together.
Kiki watched the Press conference until she learned that a Stabsarzt Lehmann was looking for her at the Lufthansa baggage claim. Realizing who that probably was, Kiki hurried to the baggage claim to find a stern looking man, who looked a bit too cross at having to wait for her. The Clerical collar that he was wearing was not something that she was expecting either.
“I am terribly sorry that I kept you… er… Sir” Kiki said unsure exactly how to address him as she handed her claim ticket to the Porter. “It’s a mess in the main building.”
“I had asked for a Feldunterarzt” Was what he said to her in reply, “You are what I got sent instead, Fraulein Fischer.”
He had asked for a Field Surgeon Trainee, presumably to act as his assistant and had gotten a Field Medic instead. No wonder he had looked so displeased. As soon Kiki was handed her duffle bag Lehmann turned on his heel and walked towards the doors with Kiki having to run to catch up. Once out in the carpark, he got into the Iltis that was waiting.
“We’ve a long drive ahead of us Fahnenjunker” Lehmann said, “So I hope that you got some sleep on the plane.”