Chapter One: The Escape.

The rocking was endless, and Sarah's arms, legs, and neck were terribly cramped from being scrunched up in the costume basket for the last few hours. She wanted desperately just to talk to Michael, to breath fresh air, but speaking would bring attention to them and arouse unneeded suspicion. And getting fresh air was absolutely out of the question. This was an enemy ship, and it would be profoundly dangerous to show their faces while on it. She and Michael were wanted in East Berlin as criminals for spy work. Who would have guessed? Her fiance, world famous physicist Michael Armstrong, wanted for spy work? And her? It all seemed so absurd. But then, once Michael had told her everything, explained to her that he was not a defector, told her just what he was after, she had lent him a helping hand. Professor Lindt had taken to her- Michael said it was her obvious charm and good looks, but she thought otherwise. Yeah, maybe she did look pretty and attractive...after all, that German professor couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of her. But really, all you had to do was gain the genius professor's trust and goodwill, and he'd tell you or show you anything you wished. He'd proved that when he'd slipped and given Michael just what he'd been after, after only fifteen minutes of arguing over a nuclear bomb formula. Sarah still marveled over the fact that Michael had managed to get the formula before escaping, though it seemed so impossible.

The ship gave a sudden lurch as it rode over reluctant, powerful waves, bring Sarah back to the present, out of the thoughts that had preoccupied her mind. Oh, how I wish we'd get to Sweden soon. Sarah thought wistfully as she swayed with the movement. Suddenly, Sarah's body tensed. There were footsteps heading towards her.

God, this is terribly uncomfortable...Michael hoped they were nearing the safety of Sweden faster than it seemed. I wonder how Sarah's doing. Goodness how I love that woman. Her help was invaluable. And she's the most beautiful thing I've ever laid my eyes on...I can't believe I was stupid enough to try to shake her off for this trip. I should have known she wouldn't care how dangerous it was- she's always willing to be there for me and help. How many women would put themselves in such a situation? How many? My darling Sarah is most definitely one of a kind, and I love her. I'm glad I'm going to marry her. Michael's mind wandered to the part where Sarah had been invaluable help. She'd unknowingly, yet consciously and cunningly charmed the brilliant German professor, Gustav Lindt, into good graces for Michael. That and a combination of the fact that one overpowering characteristic of a scientist is his curiosity, had gotten Michael information that might change the ways of nuclear warfare permanently. Michael's mind drifted to all of the events that had led to them ending up in the costume baskets of a Czech ballet company on an East Berlin ship headed for Sweden. It had all been nerve wracking, suspenseful, and ever so interesting, just to get across this imaginary, yet lethal line, the Iron Curtain.

Just get to Sweden, and you'll be safe. That's what they'd been told. Michael brooded silently, scrunched in an extremely uncomfortable position. Then he heard footsteps rapidly approaching his and Sarah's hiding places. He stopped breathing, holding his breath, his heart almost in his throat.

Sarah was frozen in fear. If they were discovered, it was possible they could be killed. It was said that the Communists could be brutal if required. She believed it too. Sarah's senses seemed to have sharpened a hundredfold. She listened carefully, and became unexplainably frightened when she heard rustling- the rustling of the contents of nearby costume baskets! Suddenly, her dark basket was flooded with a light that was slowly and steadily dimming. It must have been near dusk. Sarah's heart stopped in her throat. The frightened, hurried looking face of the defecting baggage master, Hugo, peered down at her. His English wasn't very good, but what he did know was understandable.

He gestured hurriedly to her to get out, whispering in broken English, "Hurry, must baskets change! Like fire, now! Careful, we not want be seen!"

Sarah quickly clambered out of her cramped basket, only standing up halfway. She glanced around and noticed Michael quickly getting into one of two costume baskets that were craftily hidden along the railway of the ship, by the ladder.

She quickly inquired of the unnatural looking redhead, "Are we nearly to Sweden?" She crawled rapidly into her new basket, awaiting his answer. He finished securing Michael and quickly turned to her basket.

"I create ruckus, distract officials. Then three us jump into water, swim to shore, not get caught. When hear shouting, get out. We near Sweden."

Sarah noticed the bar that had gone in the loops of their previous baskets weren't there any longer. This seemed easy enough. But most things were most certainly easier said than done. She scrunched down into the basket once again, and watched as the dimming light quickly left her eyes when the basket was again shut.

Michael knew they were swiftly nearing Sweden by now, but he was exhausted, and started to lightly doze. Around an hour or two later, he heard extensive screaming, and firing, which immediately jerked him out of his nap. He didn't care if they were close to the Swedish shoreline or not, he and Sarah simply had to get out now. Carefully turning himself so he could get out faster, his ears caught the sound of Sarah's quieted sobs. It was now or never.

"Now, Sarah!" Michael jumped out of his basket swiftly and quietly ran to help Sarah, who was getting ready to jump over the rail. "Here, let me throw you in, Darling." He picked up her light frame and gently tossed her into the water. As soon as she hit water and rose back to the surface, she swam like lightening for the docks. Good, they weren't far off. Just as Michael jumped in, he heard the splash next to him. It was Hugo, who was doggie paddling furiously for the dock.

Michael quickly swam to catch up to Sarah, who was quite athletic and a wonderful swimmer, then upon reaching the docks, helped her up. They were greeted by a Swedish officer. "Uh, we're Americans," he quickly replied.

"Oh. Welcome to Sweden. Come with me, we've got a whole stack of blankets in the office for refugees."

Michael took Sarah's shoulders with a big grin on his face and led her to follow the officer. "Could you ask Hugo why he insisted on that we make that last minute switch?"

As they walked towards the buildings, waiting while the officer asked their question, Sarah looked at Michael with the most radiant smile he'd seen, cupped his chin in her hand and quickly kissed him. They shared a laugh as the officer started to explain to him that the lead ballerina in the ballet company had caught refugees hiding in baskets before, and had been extra watchful on this voyage. He'd gotten nervous when she began sniffing around, and decided to switch their baskets and then throw her off. It had apparently worked.

The news reporters flocked all around Sarah and Michael as soon as they heard their names. Sarah picked up her pace and Michael did the same. They stepped into a small, yet cozy and warm room. The blankets that were laying neatly folded on the table were soon around Sarah's shivering shoulders. She sat down with Michael in front of the pot-bellied wood-burning stove. She cuddled up against him, something she hadn't had the privilege of doing since the start of this whole mess.

"Remember the last time we got to cuddle together, Darling? We were freezing cold then, too." Sarah smiled mischievously.

"How could I not," Michael replied, touching the tip of her nose tenderly with his own. "First thing to-" He was cut off. There was a rapping at the window. Sarah turned around, sighting a man with a camera. He pointed to his camera, asking for a picture. Michael just took Sarah's arm and turned her back around towards the fire, covering his and her body with his own blanket.

"That reminds me...Last time we were cuddling, I recall being interrupted then as well." There was a hint of a smile in his eyes. "But as I was saying," he turned to whisper in her ear, "first thing tonight I'll make sure the heating system is working and that we don't get interrupted. I want to finish that cuddle without heavy thoughts on my mind."

"Oh, Michael!" Sarah half laughed, half giggled, then snuggled back up against the man of her dreams. "Now it's my turn. I say we get married right now and go back to the States pronto." She had a teasing shine in her eyes.

"Hmm," replied Michael, "what's your position on a July wedding?"

Sarah's eyes sparkled. "That'd be wonderful, Michael. Wonderful."