The Beginning
The party Georg never wanted to give was finally over. He felt it had been forced upon him by the children who encouraged him to succumb to Elsa's insistence. And after only recently had repaired his relationship with them, he heard their please father pleading; he had agreed.
It was close to midnight when the last guest left the villa. Georg was still remembering his dance with Maria to the music of the Laender. They had danced as if they had been dance partners for years. Each of them had smiled; some smiles were almost subtle laughs.
He also remembered when the music had them looking into each other's face, Maria had suddenly stopped and moved away from him. And he still didn't believe she had done so because she didn't remember anymore of the dance.
And he also remembered how she had quickly recovered to announce that she had planned something special for the children to do.
He had heard the jealous tone in Elsa's voice as she commented on seeing him dance with Maria. He hadn't let it bother him as he listened to his children sing their good night song. He was a proud father.
He didn't let his conversation with Herr Zeller bother him either, mostly because Max immediately began pleading with him to allow Maria to join them for dinner. And he had known Maria had reluctantly agreed.
But it was seeing Elsa in deep conversation with one of Herr Zeller's followers which had disturbed him. Georg needed some fresh air in hopes it would clear his mind. He stepped out the front door but didn't close it.
Georg walked around the circle and out the open gate. He could still see the tail lights of the last car driving away from the villa. And could hear the clip-clop of a horse as it pulled a carriage down the lane.
Suddenly that voice of the man he detested startled him. "Going somewhere Captain, or are you looking for your children's governess. I heard you made a lovely couple when you danced with her."
"Who told you that?"
"I have ears, Captain. I also have eyes. Your Fräulein ran from the villa before dinner. What a shame, now the great Captain von Trapp has no lady friend."
"I don't know what you are talking about, Herr Zeller."
"It doesn't matter. Men take him into custody. I'm not giving him the chance to escape the new regime's plans. He's much too valuable of a prize."
Out of nowhere five men appeared with cloth to cover his mouth to prevent Georg from speaking and to bind his arms behind his back. They prodded him down the lane with their guns to a hidden car.
Zeller didn't know that Max had been standing in the door frame of the front door. He had seen it all and heard Herr Zeller's final words.
"Men, we'll take him to our camp on the Untersberg Mountain's plateau ridge."
Max ran into the villa to find Franz. He knew he was like himself. He was inclined to support the Anschluss.
He found him coming from the dining room where he had finished his duties there.
"Herr Detweiler, I thought you went to your room."
"I was distracted. Franz, I saw Herr Zeller's men bind and gag Georg and take him away. He had told Georg that Maria left the villa before dinner. Remember, she didn't join me. You must let Frau Schmidt know before the children discover she's gone."
"Max, this is terrible. I knew Herr Zeller fully supported the Anschluss; I never thought he would do anything like this."
"Neither did I. I'm sure Maria went back to the Abbey. At the first light of day, I'm going to drive there. I must speak to her."
"How can she help?"
"I remember hearing her tell the children she and a group of friends spent their summers climbing mountains. Maybe she knows where Zeller has this camp of his."
"It's worth a try. Frau Schmidt and I are going to have our hands full with seven hysterical children."
"Yes, hopefully we can find Georg quickly. Franz, you must think of a way for all of us to get of Austria."
"I'll try, Max."
Franz locked the front door and returned to the kitchen to be sure that door was locked and even locked the door to the veranda. Neither man slept well that night.
And Georg had arrived at this camp well after midnight. The space was lit with a couple of lanterns. In addition to the five men who had bound him, there were two young men who were acting as gophers for the others.
Zeller had the men remove Georg's mouth gag and unbound his hands. Georg had already assessed that he couldn't escape.
Eventually, he had lain down on a mat and had dozed off for a short time. He woke fully awake as he had learned to do during the war. It was still dark.
He began to contemplate his situation. He had hoped to be able to sneak off into the brush before the sun came up. Instead he heard Herr Zeller.
"You might as well eat, Captain. I don't want you to be malnourished when you arrive in Bremerhaven."
Georg didn't respond; he had no desire to converse with Zeller. But he did eat the food provided for him. When he finished his meal, he got up and walked around. He came and peered over the cliff. That's mighty steep. He thought.
