Chapter Three Hundred Sixty-Nine
17th February 1944
Judenbach
It had been discovered that the best view in the helicopter aside from the cockpit was at the back bulkhead which offered the best view out either of the two doors. It was also seen as most vulnerable to ground fire. That was laughable considering that the doped fabric of the fuselage didn’t exactly offer more protection. It was generally excepted that it had more to do with not wanting to admit to being scared of heights.
Somewhere along the line plugs had been installed that allowed the passengers to talk to the pilot, co-pilot and listen to the radio net. Kat had unplugged the headphones and unclipped the safety harness to move to the front of the cabin as the camera crew took her place in the door. They were filming as the Hellcats were practicing a live fire exercise and small unit tactics. After a while the show ended and the helicopter landed in the parade ground. Leaving the film crew in the helicopter Kat walked towards the mess hall. She was thinking about how Aunt Marcella had called and asked when her next weekend was because Hans was back in town and Marcella really wanted to get everyone together because she didn’t know when such an opportunity would come again. Kat was still under the dictate of Doctor Holz, if she was going to engage in strenuous training then she couldn’t skip meals, ever.
That was why Kat was eating her lunch when Leni caught up with her. She watched as Matthias walked in turned on his heel and walked back out. Some friend Kat thought to herself. Leni had a thing for young muscular men, which Matthias definitely was. On the first day of filming Leni had seen the Jäger Oberfeld with his shirt off while the Regiment was doing morning calisthenics, cold be damned. Since then he’d been a bit of a favorite of hers.
“You’ve been extremely busy, Major” Leni said, “This is the first chance I’ve had to interview you. I understand that your friends call you Katze? Do you mind if I call you that?”
“I can’t stop you” Kat said off handedly as she glanced over and saw that the camera was rolling. Kat had to remind herself that she had told Oberst Koch that she wouldn’t create a scene.
“Good” Leni said with a smile, “I’ve a few questions for you.”
It looked like Kat had no choice here. The faster she answered the questions the sooner she’d no longer have to deal with Leni.
“Alright” Kat said.
“How is it to be a woman in a not only a male dominated profession but an elite unit as an officer?” Leni asked.
Kat thought about the answer. What was she supposed to say?
Berlin
Hans had discovered that life had gone on in his absence. Aunt Marcella and Uncle Klaus were both busy at work. Gianna seemed to spend most of her spare time focusing on her studies which were spread out on the kitchen table. Her school had no doubt that she was headed for University and were piling advanced studies on her to prepare her for that. Hans had been at loose ends since he’d gotten back to Heinersdorf. He found that he had trouble sleeping in the too comfortable bed in the guest room, it was also formerly Kat’s bedroom which added to the level of discomfort. All through adolescence he had been forbidden from touching the doorknob of that room if the door was closed. Kat had always been extremely protective of her privacy.
This afternoon Klaus had called and asked him if he wanted to get out of the house for a few hours. Hans couldn’t think of anything better to do so he agreed and went to meet Klaus at the machine shop wearing his dress uniform. He hadn’t anticipated the reaction that he would get when he got there.
The swing shift was just getting ready to start and Hans found a bevy of young women gossiping around the timeclock. They took one look at Hans and there was a great deal of giggling.
“You had to wear that damn uniform Hans?” Klaus demanded as he clocked off and walked towards the loading bay, “That lot won’t get anything done this evening because you did that.”
“Sorry” Hans said as he followed Klaus down the street, “Had I known I might have…”
“Nonsense” Klaus said, “At the Local you’ll get a free beer or two, they always love a returning hero.”
Hans smiled at the thought that he was a hero.
“So, what are you working on these days?” Hans asked.
“Jewel bearings and other parts for aircraft instruments” Klaus said.
“That’s what those women are doing back there?”
“Yeah” Klaus said, “Trained all of them myself, turned out they were a good bunch of apprentices.”
Something else that had changed while he was away.
They walked around the corner and they saw a plain brick building. The stained oak door and windows that no one had been able to see out of in years were exactly as Hans remembered it.
Klaus was greeted as soon as he came in by the regulars. It took them a few minutes to recognize Hans. The interior also looked and smelled exactly the same, dark wood and green paint.
The bartender looked across the bar suspiciously at Hans, this place wasn’t exactly friendly to people from outside the neighborhood.
“My God, Hans” The Bartender said, “It’s been a dog’s age since you’ve been around. How the Hell did you get made a Lieutenant?”
“Happy to see you too, Gert” Hans said, “Long story, got a beer?”
“Lot of long stories around of late” Gert said as he poured Hans a beer, “Starting to remind me of the old days.”
Everyone knew that Gert had been in the Marne during the last big war. As Gert handed Hans the glass a flickering light in the corner caught his eye and he saw a man kicking a ball on a screen then it panned back. Hans realized he was looking at a football game.
“What is that?” Hans asked.
“You really have been away haven’t you” Gert said, “The latest thing, like radio with pictures.”
“That’s happening, right now?” Hans asked.
“Yep” Gert said.
“Who’s playing tonight?” Klaus asked.
