Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
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Part 118, Chapter 1976
Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-Six
26th April 1970
Wilmersdorf, Berlin
There was a serious question as to who was more terrified about what was going on. Ben’s mother or Kiki herself. For years, Kiki had warned him that the two of them came from radically different worlds. That had never been more apparent than this afternoon as Ben had watched every News Agency of note set up outside the Orthodox Cathedral before he had entered himself to wait by the doors.
Upon arriving to this spectacle, Ben’s mother had unexpectedly found herself the subject of some of the focus of the gathered Press as the mother of the bridegroom. Currently she was sitting in a folding chair that someone had found and if Ben had to guess, his mother had taken tranquilizers judging by the dazed, unfocused look on her face. If there were any justice in this, she would realize that she had gotten a small taste of what Kiki went through on any given day and that Kiki had had some rather good reasons for her actions. Because this was an Orthodox service, the congregants and witnesses were expected to stand through the services, so his mother had been lucky that a chair had been found so quickly. The Metropolitan had said that it would take no more than about forty-five minutes, which was about forty-four too long in Ben’s estimation.
Then there had been what Aurora had told Ben over the phone, Kiki had been on the verge of panic all morning. Questioning if they were making a huge mistake because this was going to change everything. According to Aurora, Zella hadn’t said anything. That was fortunate considering that she had never liked Ben and had merely tolerated him because she valued Kiki’s friendship. That had not prevented there from being incidents because Zella was one to act as opposed to just complaining. The most extreme example had been when Ben had inadvertently cornered Zella when he had tried to talk to her. She had ridden her motorcycle over one of his feet. Ben had wanted to tell Kiki that nothing was going to change, but he knew that he would be wrong. They were doing this in the full glare of the public eye, and the whole world would see it. It was impossible to say that Kiki was wrong here, things were going to change profoundly.
That left Ben standing there in an unfamiliar church, shuffling his feet. The Luftwaffe had strongly suggested that he wear the blue-grey wool dress uniform today and he was reminded of how itchy it was. The Metropolitan of Berlin looked at Ben happily. He ought to, Ben thought to himself, this wedding was increasing the visibility of his church like few other things could have and it was also a moment for the Russian community that lived in Berlin.
Kiki had told him why she had remained in the Russian Church despite the fact that no one had held her to it after the death of her mother, for Kiki it was about happy memories of her childhood. The Metropolitan had been almost gleeful months earlier when Ben and Kiki had approached him over this matter the first time that they had tried to plan this, only to have Kiki be sent to the Pacific. The Medical Service, and Luftwaffe had asked to be represented at this event, due to both the bride and groom being members of those service branches. Ben being a Reserve Officer in a Landwehr Airwing really didn’t matter. Those who Ben felt had a legitimate claim to be there were only Wim, his plane’s Systems Officer, as well as Ingo, Rolf, and Valentin, the members of Kiki’s former FSR team. There was a fifth member of the FSR team, Mitzi, but she was a part of the group of those who were going to be entering with Kiki.
Looking at the rest of the gathering guests, Ben was reminded of Kiki’s complaint about how it felt to her that everyone else had an agenda with this event and what she wanted had been disregarded. He had told her that she needed to speak up, but she had worried that people would say she was being selfish if she did that. Instead, she had just quietly watched them do it. Ben could see that it was continuing even as they were waiting for the ceremony to start and would probably resume at the reception the instant the toasts were finished. Kiki had joked that she should have her father and oldest brother ejected from these proceedings for exactly that reason.
“This is my neighbor Benjamin” Ben heard a voice say, “He can be a bit of a dunderhead at times, but Kiki likes him.”
He saw that it was Tatiana, Katherine’s oldest daughter holding a baby that stared at Ben with a curious look on its face.
“And just who is this?” Ben asked.
“My cousin Ingrid” Tatiana replied, “Ilse said that she needed a break and passed her off to me.”
“If Ilse is here then…” Ben started to say only to have a firm hand grab his shoulder.
“Congratulations” Kapitan-zur-See Albrecht von Richthofen, Ben’s former Commanding Officer in the Space Program said. It was rumored that Albrecht was on the shortlist to be promoted to Flag Rank and was slated to take over the Fleet Air Command, but that hadn’t happened yet. There were already too many individuals of the highest Ranks, both military and social, already. Ben watched as Albrecht collected Ingrid from Tatiana. It was odd to see the tough, no-nonsense Navy Captain gently carry his daughter off while chatting with his niece as they walked off to take their places.
Once again, Ben was left standing there, trying to remember what they had gone over at the rehearsal the day before. His father appeared next to him, which meant that things were about to get rolling. Ben’s father had watched this whole thing with a bit of detached amusement. He had never been a part of any organized religion and Ben suspected that if he had insisted that Ben and Kiki follow any tradition of Ben’s family then they might have gotten married at the University Library, not that Kiki would object. She had always been a voracious reader. When she had time for it, that is.
That was when Kiki finally entered the Cathedral. To Ben, she was the only one here who mattered. The rest of these people could go hang.
26th April 1970
Wilmersdorf, Berlin
There was a serious question as to who was more terrified about what was going on. Ben’s mother or Kiki herself. For years, Kiki had warned him that the two of them came from radically different worlds. That had never been more apparent than this afternoon as Ben had watched every News Agency of note set up outside the Orthodox Cathedral before he had entered himself to wait by the doors.
Upon arriving to this spectacle, Ben’s mother had unexpectedly found herself the subject of some of the focus of the gathered Press as the mother of the bridegroom. Currently she was sitting in a folding chair that someone had found and if Ben had to guess, his mother had taken tranquilizers judging by the dazed, unfocused look on her face. If there were any justice in this, she would realize that she had gotten a small taste of what Kiki went through on any given day and that Kiki had had some rather good reasons for her actions. Because this was an Orthodox service, the congregants and witnesses were expected to stand through the services, so his mother had been lucky that a chair had been found so quickly. The Metropolitan had said that it would take no more than about forty-five minutes, which was about forty-four too long in Ben’s estimation.
Then there had been what Aurora had told Ben over the phone, Kiki had been on the verge of panic all morning. Questioning if they were making a huge mistake because this was going to change everything. According to Aurora, Zella hadn’t said anything. That was fortunate considering that she had never liked Ben and had merely tolerated him because she valued Kiki’s friendship. That had not prevented there from being incidents because Zella was one to act as opposed to just complaining. The most extreme example had been when Ben had inadvertently cornered Zella when he had tried to talk to her. She had ridden her motorcycle over one of his feet. Ben had wanted to tell Kiki that nothing was going to change, but he knew that he would be wrong. They were doing this in the full glare of the public eye, and the whole world would see it. It was impossible to say that Kiki was wrong here, things were going to change profoundly.
That left Ben standing there in an unfamiliar church, shuffling his feet. The Luftwaffe had strongly suggested that he wear the blue-grey wool dress uniform today and he was reminded of how itchy it was. The Metropolitan of Berlin looked at Ben happily. He ought to, Ben thought to himself, this wedding was increasing the visibility of his church like few other things could have and it was also a moment for the Russian community that lived in Berlin.
Kiki had told him why she had remained in the Russian Church despite the fact that no one had held her to it after the death of her mother, for Kiki it was about happy memories of her childhood. The Metropolitan had been almost gleeful months earlier when Ben and Kiki had approached him over this matter the first time that they had tried to plan this, only to have Kiki be sent to the Pacific. The Medical Service, and Luftwaffe had asked to be represented at this event, due to both the bride and groom being members of those service branches. Ben being a Reserve Officer in a Landwehr Airwing really didn’t matter. Those who Ben felt had a legitimate claim to be there were only Wim, his plane’s Systems Officer, as well as Ingo, Rolf, and Valentin, the members of Kiki’s former FSR team. There was a fifth member of the FSR team, Mitzi, but she was a part of the group of those who were going to be entering with Kiki.
Looking at the rest of the gathering guests, Ben was reminded of Kiki’s complaint about how it felt to her that everyone else had an agenda with this event and what she wanted had been disregarded. He had told her that she needed to speak up, but she had worried that people would say she was being selfish if she did that. Instead, she had just quietly watched them do it. Ben could see that it was continuing even as they were waiting for the ceremony to start and would probably resume at the reception the instant the toasts were finished. Kiki had joked that she should have her father and oldest brother ejected from these proceedings for exactly that reason.
“This is my neighbor Benjamin” Ben heard a voice say, “He can be a bit of a dunderhead at times, but Kiki likes him.”
He saw that it was Tatiana, Katherine’s oldest daughter holding a baby that stared at Ben with a curious look on its face.
“And just who is this?” Ben asked.
“My cousin Ingrid” Tatiana replied, “Ilse said that she needed a break and passed her off to me.”
“If Ilse is here then…” Ben started to say only to have a firm hand grab his shoulder.
“Congratulations” Kapitan-zur-See Albrecht von Richthofen, Ben’s former Commanding Officer in the Space Program said. It was rumored that Albrecht was on the shortlist to be promoted to Flag Rank and was slated to take over the Fleet Air Command, but that hadn’t happened yet. There were already too many individuals of the highest Ranks, both military and social, already. Ben watched as Albrecht collected Ingrid from Tatiana. It was odd to see the tough, no-nonsense Navy Captain gently carry his daughter off while chatting with his niece as they walked off to take their places.
Once again, Ben was left standing there, trying to remember what they had gone over at the rehearsal the day before. His father appeared next to him, which meant that things were about to get rolling. Ben’s father had watched this whole thing with a bit of detached amusement. He had never been a part of any organized religion and Ben suspected that if he had insisted that Ben and Kiki follow any tradition of Ben’s family then they might have gotten married at the University Library, not that Kiki would object. She had always been a voracious reader. When she had time for it, that is.
That was when Kiki finally entered the Cathedral. To Ben, she was the only one here who mattered. The rest of these people could go hang.
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Right. That got me going down the rabbit hole again.
No part of organized religion. I hadn't realised that Prussia was ahead so much in that respect.
1847 legalisation of leaving an organized church. First 'movement' in that direction before the first World War, however mainly Socialist in character. Then the second wave after the War...
And then things started making sense again, that's the bourgeoisie one that got integrated into the Nazi ideology.
And of course because there was a reverse of the trend between 1945 and 1968 I had a wrong impression. (Of course, knowing more about Austrian history versus Prussian one didn't help in this case. See Kulturkampf, see Catholicisim in Austria.)
So the question here is, what kind is Ben's father? Not knowing his exact age, he might have been one of the early exponents of socialists in hard sciences at a University, or he might have been moving in circles that might in a different world have moved close to the National Socialists.... Does he have any notable scars on his head, maybe even in his face?
Then again this is 1970, maybe I overestimate his age, and underestimate the effect that Langism had on academia.
No part of organized religion. I hadn't realised that Prussia was ahead so much in that respect.
1847 legalisation of leaving an organized church. First 'movement' in that direction before the first World War, however mainly Socialist in character. Then the second wave after the War...
And then things started making sense again, that's the bourgeoisie one that got integrated into the Nazi ideology.
And of course because there was a reverse of the trend between 1945 and 1968 I had a wrong impression. (Of course, knowing more about Austrian history versus Prussian one didn't help in this case. See Kulturkampf, see Catholicisim in Austria.)
So the question here is, what kind is Ben's father? Not knowing his exact age, he might have been one of the early exponents of socialists in hard sciences at a University, or he might have been moving in circles that might in a different world have moved close to the National Socialists.... Does he have any notable scars on his head, maybe even in his face?
Then again this is 1970, maybe I overestimate his age, and underestimate the effect that Langism had on academia.
The reception should be fun to watch as we see the subtle campaigning going on.
It will mostly be a feeling out process to make sure that there is no one in the wings gaining support to overcome Friedrich for Kaiser.
Otherwise everything should be like a normal Royal Wedding reception with great food and wines along with Top Shelf liquor flowing freely plus some entertainment from top performers.
It will mostly be a feeling out process to make sure that there is no one in the wings gaining support to overcome Friedrich for Kaiser.
Otherwise everything should be like a normal Royal Wedding reception with great food and wines along with Top Shelf liquor flowing freely plus some entertainment from top performers.
Zella and louis should indeed be an interesting performance. (I just keep mentioning this because its a good knock on the head momentfor both of them)
Part 118, Chapter 1977
Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-Seven
26th April 1970
Mitte, Berlin
The Old Winter Residence was being used to host the reception. Manfred von Richthofen recognized the hall as being the same one in which he had been awarded the Pour-le-Mérite a lifetime ago. These days, Manfred was finding that his legacy and the ties of his family were at the forefront of his mind. For good or ill, he had bound his family’s fortunes to the House of Hohenzollern. Louis Ferdinand had recognized his claim to become the Elector of Silesia. Of course, he had discovered that when the Council met over the coming summer Katherine of Berlin and Cecilie Marie of Galicia would be present. The consequences of that had yet to be seen.
The entire wedding and the reception that followed was the latest example of the moves that Louis had made over the previous decades coming to fruition. Albrecht of Bavaria had been the most likely rival of Crown Prince Friedrich. If the marriage between his son Franz and Victoria, Princess of Prussia had not cemented his support, the recent actions of Michael of Bohemia, namely talking with the Pope about reviving the Bohemian Bailiwick of the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary of Jerusalem, which had effectively split the Catholics as a block who might have complicated matters. There was also the marriages of Friedrich and Michael to consider. The later had probably secured the alliance of the British for a generation and the former had advanced the interests of the German Empire in the Pacific like few other moves could have.
The entrance of the bride and groom had been to polite applause. Kristina was arguably one of the most popular members of her family and her marriage to Benjamin Hirsch, a commoner who had elbowed his way into the New Junkers was an interesting development. That Benjamin had earned his spurs in the cockpit of a Fighter/Bomber over Korea was something that Manfred approved of. Manfred also knew he was the son of a University Professor. Louis’ calculation must have been that the other source of opposition would have been Academia, a large portion of whom were in favor of abolishing the monarchy entirely. This move effectively defanged them.
What had followed had been the toasts, a light meal, then refreshment and dancing. There had been a number of rituals common at weddings, some were serious, but most were in good fun. Manfred couldn’t help but notice a few different things. Kristina had seemed to withdraw into herself shortly before her and Benjamin had left for the night. The other thing was that Louis Ferdinand Junior looked a bit distressed over some matter. He had the look of a man who had just been sent packing. Manfred wondered what that had been about.
Plänterwald, Berlin
“We no longer have to think about any of this or either of our families for the foreseeable future” Ben said, “Just living in the moment for the next several weeks.”
“Hardly” Kiki replied, “My father has arranged for us to take a tour of all the various Kingdoms, Duchies, and Principalities of our cursed Empire. How free do you think we will be?”
“That isn’t forever.”
“No, it will just feel that way.”
Ben hated it when Kiki got this way. Ordinarily she wasn’t this cynical, but she considered an event like the one she had just endured a reminder that her life wasn’t always her own. There was always a subtext that had to be considered. He also knew that if Kiki had her way, they would spend the coming weeks on her motor barge. Head up the Rhine, take the canals to the Danube, then on to the Black Sea, was how she had put it. When Ben had asked how they would return, she had just shrugged. The idea of abandoning all responsibilities for a life on the rivers and canals did have its appeal, but neither of them were wired that way. Before too long something would happen that would bring them back.
“It isn’t all bad” Ben said, “We will be together, without having to sneak around anymore.”
Kiki frowned and sat down on the couch. Rauchbier jumped up and placed his head on her lap and she scratched him behind his ears. The dress that she was wearing was white silk. Ben knew that the Archivists would be rather cross if they knew that she was continuing to wear it, especially around the dog.
“What have we lost?” Kiki asked, “Before things were simple, now, not so much.”
“Things are only complicated if you allow them to be” Ben replied as he went into the side of Kiki’s cottage that had the kitchen. Finding a glass in the cupboard, he filled it with water. “You could always be like your little brother. He thought that he could string Zella along. She clearly had other ideas…”
That was when Ben noticed that he was talking to himself because Kiki had fallen asleep on the couch. He figured that today must have been totally exhausting for her, with having spent most of it well outside what she would have found comfortable.
“So, Smoke, did anyone remember to feed you?” Ben asked. Those were magic words for Rauchbier. He was off the couch in an instant and at his empty food bowl. Ben couldn’t tell if Rauchbier had been fed or not, like most dogs, he was perpetually hungry. Ben gave him a measured amount from the bag of kibble that he found under the sink. While Rauchbier was wolfing that down, Ben joined Kiki on the couch after turning on the television. What was on was mostly coverage of the wedding that the two of them had just left. That was why it was a relief when he found an old movie, a legal drama that was inoffensive enough.
26th April 1970
Mitte, Berlin
The Old Winter Residence was being used to host the reception. Manfred von Richthofen recognized the hall as being the same one in which he had been awarded the Pour-le-Mérite a lifetime ago. These days, Manfred was finding that his legacy and the ties of his family were at the forefront of his mind. For good or ill, he had bound his family’s fortunes to the House of Hohenzollern. Louis Ferdinand had recognized his claim to become the Elector of Silesia. Of course, he had discovered that when the Council met over the coming summer Katherine of Berlin and Cecilie Marie of Galicia would be present. The consequences of that had yet to be seen.
The entire wedding and the reception that followed was the latest example of the moves that Louis had made over the previous decades coming to fruition. Albrecht of Bavaria had been the most likely rival of Crown Prince Friedrich. If the marriage between his son Franz and Victoria, Princess of Prussia had not cemented his support, the recent actions of Michael of Bohemia, namely talking with the Pope about reviving the Bohemian Bailiwick of the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary of Jerusalem, which had effectively split the Catholics as a block who might have complicated matters. There was also the marriages of Friedrich and Michael to consider. The later had probably secured the alliance of the British for a generation and the former had advanced the interests of the German Empire in the Pacific like few other moves could have.
The entrance of the bride and groom had been to polite applause. Kristina was arguably one of the most popular members of her family and her marriage to Benjamin Hirsch, a commoner who had elbowed his way into the New Junkers was an interesting development. That Benjamin had earned his spurs in the cockpit of a Fighter/Bomber over Korea was something that Manfred approved of. Manfred also knew he was the son of a University Professor. Louis’ calculation must have been that the other source of opposition would have been Academia, a large portion of whom were in favor of abolishing the monarchy entirely. This move effectively defanged them.
What had followed had been the toasts, a light meal, then refreshment and dancing. There had been a number of rituals common at weddings, some were serious, but most were in good fun. Manfred couldn’t help but notice a few different things. Kristina had seemed to withdraw into herself shortly before her and Benjamin had left for the night. The other thing was that Louis Ferdinand Junior looked a bit distressed over some matter. He had the look of a man who had just been sent packing. Manfred wondered what that had been about.
Plänterwald, Berlin
“We no longer have to think about any of this or either of our families for the foreseeable future” Ben said, “Just living in the moment for the next several weeks.”
“Hardly” Kiki replied, “My father has arranged for us to take a tour of all the various Kingdoms, Duchies, and Principalities of our cursed Empire. How free do you think we will be?”
“That isn’t forever.”
“No, it will just feel that way.”
Ben hated it when Kiki got this way. Ordinarily she wasn’t this cynical, but she considered an event like the one she had just endured a reminder that her life wasn’t always her own. There was always a subtext that had to be considered. He also knew that if Kiki had her way, they would spend the coming weeks on her motor barge. Head up the Rhine, take the canals to the Danube, then on to the Black Sea, was how she had put it. When Ben had asked how they would return, she had just shrugged. The idea of abandoning all responsibilities for a life on the rivers and canals did have its appeal, but neither of them were wired that way. Before too long something would happen that would bring them back.
“It isn’t all bad” Ben said, “We will be together, without having to sneak around anymore.”
Kiki frowned and sat down on the couch. Rauchbier jumped up and placed his head on her lap and she scratched him behind his ears. The dress that she was wearing was white silk. Ben knew that the Archivists would be rather cross if they knew that she was continuing to wear it, especially around the dog.
“What have we lost?” Kiki asked, “Before things were simple, now, not so much.”
“Things are only complicated if you allow them to be” Ben replied as he went into the side of Kiki’s cottage that had the kitchen. Finding a glass in the cupboard, he filled it with water. “You could always be like your little brother. He thought that he could string Zella along. She clearly had other ideas…”
That was when Ben noticed that he was talking to himself because Kiki had fallen asleep on the couch. He figured that today must have been totally exhausting for her, with having spent most of it well outside what she would have found comfortable.
“So, Smoke, did anyone remember to feed you?” Ben asked. Those were magic words for Rauchbier. He was off the couch in an instant and at his empty food bowl. Ben couldn’t tell if Rauchbier had been fed or not, like most dogs, he was perpetually hungry. Ben gave him a measured amount from the bag of kibble that he found under the sink. While Rauchbier was wolfing that down, Ben joined Kiki on the couch after turning on the television. What was on was mostly coverage of the wedding that the two of them had just left. That was why it was a relief when he found an old movie, a legal drama that was inoffensive enough.
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Manfred von Richthofen is looking at this the same way he did years ago in the skies of France in his TriFokker.
He sees Kat as an ally who has ties to his family with Hans married to his daughter Helene and Ilse married to his son Albrecht, but also as a rival who is unquestionably devoted to the House of Hohenzollern.
One of the most scariest things to see must be the sight of Kat and von Richthofen working together as separately they are virtually unstoppable but teamed up with each other...
The Honeymoon of Kiki and Ben seems like not that romantic but knowing Kiki she will find a way to get some work in and Ben will be at her side making sure she doesn't do her usual over working herself to the point of exhausting.
He sees Kat as an ally who has ties to his family with Hans married to his daughter Helene and Ilse married to his son Albrecht, but also as a rival who is unquestionably devoted to the House of Hohenzollern.
One of the most scariest things to see must be the sight of Kat and von Richthofen working together as separately they are virtually unstoppable but teamed up with each other...
The Honeymoon of Kiki and Ben seems like not that romantic but knowing Kiki she will find a way to get some work in and Ben will be at her side making sure she doesn't do her usual over working herself to the point of exhausting.
The bit I loved the most after the wedding was Ben just ensuring life went on regardless. Make sure the dog is fed, he’s looking after his wife, etc... then crashing out in front of the TV after a big day.
So there possibly was something, or not quite-there-yet something.
Sorry I've MIA over the last couple days. We've been having a snowstorm in Portland and our regional transit system shut down totally yesterday. That wouldn't be a problem except I've been seemingly always stuck on the wrong side of the Tualatin Mountains, which divides Portland where I live, from Beaverton were my day job is. So, I was forced to walk that distance which doesn't have single patch of level ground and everything is covered in ice, particularly the pass where the Sunset Highway goes over Silvan, twice in one day.
That's ok man, it was notable but it's not like you've been gone a month.
More good stuff--always fun to read this and see the world keep changing.
I'm confused. Was it illegal to leave your church?
Part 118, Chapter 1978
Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-Eight
28th April 1970
Lány Castle, Bohemia
Having come from Berlin the day before, Birdie had traveled with Michael back to Bohemia to spend the rest of the Spring Holiday in the castle located outside of Prague, which was the traditional Summer Residence of the Bohemian King. Today, she had come looking for Michael in the fields outside the castle where she was introduced to one of his long-term projects.
“It’s a perfectly good name for a horse” Michael said as Birdie tried not to laugh.
“And a reindeer” Birdie said, “Like from the poem about Father Christmas, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.” She added emphasis on that last name.
“Oh” Michael replied, “It just means that the English author must have had a thesaurus that included German words.”
Birdie just smiled again. Michael had just let slip that he had in fact read the poem, he just didn’t want to admit to it.
Blitzen, his horse, was a part of the Eisenseiten/Lucifer line made famous as the favored cavalry mounts of Field Marshal von Wolvogle. Michael had said that he understood that horse breeders looked at the line with thinly vailed horror. They had been bred decades earlier for cavalry, meaning that they had needed to be tough and able to live off whatever could be provided to them by the military, not beauty by any means. Birdie felt that Blitzen was beautiful in a different way. She could see the muscles that were rippling under his red-brown coat and the way that he had asserted himself as Michael had led him around during his morning exercise routine. It reminded her of a Boxer swaggering into the ring, already confident of victory. The differences between him and a Thoroughbred were profound. Birdie figured that while one of the horses she had watched many times at Ascot could probably outrun Blitzen for the first few kilometers, he would probably still be going strong long after the other horse fell over from exhaustion.
“Well, I think he is lovely” Birdie said.
“That wasn’t really the intention” Michael replied, “I’ve raised him from a foal to be a Destrier.”
“Really?” Birdie asked, her eyebrows raised. She knew that Michael took the notion of Knighthood seriously, yet this was taking it to a higher level than she had imagined. Then again, he was the sort who would be into historical reenactment.
“Yes” Michael replied, “Getting Blitz to follow commands in the most chaotic environments, being able to steer him with my knees, and be tolerant of me wearing armor or using weapons on his back. Most of all, us being a team.”
Birdie could tell that Michael took a lot of pride in that last part, and it all represented a staggering amount of work he had done in training. She figured that Michael had also trained with Blitzen to compete in equestrian events, those had their basis in the very things he sought to emulate.
Over the last few months, she had learned a lot of things about her husband. Far more than she had imagined. His interest in reviving the Teutonic Order in Bohemia along the lines of the Johanniter Order was interesting. The fact that he had been on the phone with the Pope Paul in Rome discussing that when Birdie had arrived from Breslau a few days before his sister’s wedding had been a surprise. If Birdie had to guess, she figured that Michael had always aspired to be a part of something larger. That explained his involvement in the International Olympic movement and his efforts to advance culture in Bohemia. Now if Birdie could just figure out why he liked American Cowboy music as easily, that was something she didn’t understand.
That was when Blitzen turned and started gently nibbling on Michael’s ear. Birdie couldn’t help but giggle as she saw the big horse do that.
“You’re killing me here” Michael said. That was right before Blitz neatly plucked one of the buttons off the front of Michael’s shirt with his teeth and took off across the paddock at a moderate trot. Michael chased after him, cussing at the horse. Birdie was laughing at the spectacle. Michael might have raised Blitzen to be a fearsome warhorse, but the horse was clearly more interested in playing the clown.
Mitte, Berlin
“They seemed to have settled into the reality of married life quickly” Kat said, with a great deal of amusement.
Louis Ferdinand had just told her about what the First Foot had told him about what Kiki and Ben had been up to over the last two days. Mostly sleeping and watching television on the couch with the dog. What Louis wanted was for them to be getting ready to take a tour of Germany so that everyone could meet the new royal couple, which was in direct support of the aspirations of Freddy but so far neither of them had felt a pressing need. Not that Kat could blame them because if she were in Kiki’s shoes, she would probably be doing the exact same thing. She had also suspected for some time that Kiki and Ben had formed a united front against Louis.
“Whatever Katherine” Louis said. With his pending retirement so close, Kat suspected that he was finding it difficult to muster up too much enthusiasm for getting Kiki moving in the right direction. This wasn’t helped by the fact that Kiki had a bad habit in the past of working far harder than she needed to. “If you could please tell Kristina when she needs to be ready within the next few days. She actually listens to you most of the time.”
“I’ll see what I can do” Kat replied, knowing full well that she would not need to lift a finger. Sooner or later, Kiki’s sense of responsibility would compel her to act in the appropriate manner. Afterwards, she would need to send Kiki and Ben somewhere where they wanted to go, otherwise there was going to be some sort of rebellion far worse than just vegetating on the couch in front of a television.
28th April 1970
Lány Castle, Bohemia
Having come from Berlin the day before, Birdie had traveled with Michael back to Bohemia to spend the rest of the Spring Holiday in the castle located outside of Prague, which was the traditional Summer Residence of the Bohemian King. Today, she had come looking for Michael in the fields outside the castle where she was introduced to one of his long-term projects.
“It’s a perfectly good name for a horse” Michael said as Birdie tried not to laugh.
“And a reindeer” Birdie said, “Like from the poem about Father Christmas, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.” She added emphasis on that last name.
“Oh” Michael replied, “It just means that the English author must have had a thesaurus that included German words.”
Birdie just smiled again. Michael had just let slip that he had in fact read the poem, he just didn’t want to admit to it.
Blitzen, his horse, was a part of the Eisenseiten/Lucifer line made famous as the favored cavalry mounts of Field Marshal von Wolvogle. Michael had said that he understood that horse breeders looked at the line with thinly vailed horror. They had been bred decades earlier for cavalry, meaning that they had needed to be tough and able to live off whatever could be provided to them by the military, not beauty by any means. Birdie felt that Blitzen was beautiful in a different way. She could see the muscles that were rippling under his red-brown coat and the way that he had asserted himself as Michael had led him around during his morning exercise routine. It reminded her of a Boxer swaggering into the ring, already confident of victory. The differences between him and a Thoroughbred were profound. Birdie figured that while one of the horses she had watched many times at Ascot could probably outrun Blitzen for the first few kilometers, he would probably still be going strong long after the other horse fell over from exhaustion.
“Well, I think he is lovely” Birdie said.
“That wasn’t really the intention” Michael replied, “I’ve raised him from a foal to be a Destrier.”
“Really?” Birdie asked, her eyebrows raised. She knew that Michael took the notion of Knighthood seriously, yet this was taking it to a higher level than she had imagined. Then again, he was the sort who would be into historical reenactment.
“Yes” Michael replied, “Getting Blitz to follow commands in the most chaotic environments, being able to steer him with my knees, and be tolerant of me wearing armor or using weapons on his back. Most of all, us being a team.”
Birdie could tell that Michael took a lot of pride in that last part, and it all represented a staggering amount of work he had done in training. She figured that Michael had also trained with Blitzen to compete in equestrian events, those had their basis in the very things he sought to emulate.
Over the last few months, she had learned a lot of things about her husband. Far more than she had imagined. His interest in reviving the Teutonic Order in Bohemia along the lines of the Johanniter Order was interesting. The fact that he had been on the phone with the Pope Paul in Rome discussing that when Birdie had arrived from Breslau a few days before his sister’s wedding had been a surprise. If Birdie had to guess, she figured that Michael had always aspired to be a part of something larger. That explained his involvement in the International Olympic movement and his efforts to advance culture in Bohemia. Now if Birdie could just figure out why he liked American Cowboy music as easily, that was something she didn’t understand.
That was when Blitzen turned and started gently nibbling on Michael’s ear. Birdie couldn’t help but giggle as she saw the big horse do that.
“You’re killing me here” Michael said. That was right before Blitz neatly plucked one of the buttons off the front of Michael’s shirt with his teeth and took off across the paddock at a moderate trot. Michael chased after him, cussing at the horse. Birdie was laughing at the spectacle. Michael might have raised Blitzen to be a fearsome warhorse, but the horse was clearly more interested in playing the clown.
Mitte, Berlin
“They seemed to have settled into the reality of married life quickly” Kat said, with a great deal of amusement.
Louis Ferdinand had just told her about what the First Foot had told him about what Kiki and Ben had been up to over the last two days. Mostly sleeping and watching television on the couch with the dog. What Louis wanted was for them to be getting ready to take a tour of Germany so that everyone could meet the new royal couple, which was in direct support of the aspirations of Freddy but so far neither of them had felt a pressing need. Not that Kat could blame them because if she were in Kiki’s shoes, she would probably be doing the exact same thing. She had also suspected for some time that Kiki and Ben had formed a united front against Louis.
“Whatever Katherine” Louis said. With his pending retirement so close, Kat suspected that he was finding it difficult to muster up too much enthusiasm for getting Kiki moving in the right direction. This wasn’t helped by the fact that Kiki had a bad habit in the past of working far harder than she needed to. “If you could please tell Kristina when she needs to be ready within the next few days. She actually listens to you most of the time.”
“I’ll see what I can do” Kat replied, knowing full well that she would not need to lift a finger. Sooner or later, Kiki’s sense of responsibility would compel her to act in the appropriate manner. Afterwards, she would need to send Kiki and Ben somewhere where they wanted to go, otherwise there was going to be some sort of rebellion far worse than just vegetating on the couch in front of a television.
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Great chapter!
I'm guessing Die Eisenfaust am Lanzenschaft is regular listening in their household, and that he sings it frequently when he's had a few...
This is great...
..actually, knowing those two, that sounds pretty much the ideal honeymoon...
...I forget, does the Reich have Governor-Generals the same way as the British did?
Why not make Kiki the Governor or whatever of Germany's Pacific territories, and get Ben to try setting up a telescope there? Kiki can see to improving the territories' medical service, Ben can work on that...and compared to back in Germany, it'll be altogether less work while still doing good