Part Seven:
Donny eyed Catherine carefully, always glancing over his shoulder at her. The sound of rocks and crumpled earth crunched under their feet, lightly adding to the natural ambiance of the thick woods. The clouds were dangerously dark, threatening the moment with the promise of rain. Catherine felt nervous with the look he was giving her, it was obvious he wasn't too fond of the whole situation and he especially was not fond of her.
"Don't mind him," assured Wicki tapping her lightly on her shoulder, giving her a small hint of a smile, he seemed more accepting of all this, a hell of allot more easy to be around.
Catherine tried to smile, but found that she was to anxious to do so. She couldn't help but feel tight and nervous with the look Donny was shooting at her.
"Well we're a good deal away from that market now, you have that map?" Asked Aldo giving Catherine a weary eye himself. He pulled his cigarette from his mouth letting it smolder for a bit, the thick cloud of smoke gravitating down to his chest.
"Yes, yes of course," Catherine pulled the map from her pocket, ruffling her dress as she did, "Now I can not tell you for certain where the main outfit is at, I just know its around an orchard."
She handed the map to Aldo cautiously, who took it with a jerk.
"I can tell you that there is a much smaller group of Germans out about here." She flipped the map over in his hand pointing to the spot, "they should be able to tell you the exact location." Aldo smiled widely, smacking Catherine hard on the back.
"You ain't too bad for a Brit," he said tossing his cigarette. Catherine managed a smile glad to find the information she had was of some help.
"Ok let's get the fuck out of here," said Donny, his grip growing tight on his machine gun.
"Yeah that sounds good, Wicki let's get going." Aldo picked up his own gun giving Catherine a brief salute.
"We'll be in contact," he said as he, Donny, and Wicki began to walk off into a more secluded part of the woods.
Once they were gone, she let out a sigh, happy to find things went rather smoothly. She grabbed the corners of her dress walking back to the French Market, into a back entrance of a sound of chatting people and the clang of cups and forks met her ears instantly as she opened the door; the distinct aroma of coffee was a pleasant, well welcome sensation. A man from the bar noticed her, a rather young stubble covered man named Pierre. He smiled at the sight of her, glancing over his shoulder.
"Did it go well?" He mouthed, tossing a bar towel over his shoulder.
Catherine gave a firm nod, smiling happily.
"Couldn't have gone better," she mouthed back.
Pierre smiled, he was what some would call a roommate to Catherine, though she never stayed long due to her having to constantly hide. Although, even still, she was always welcome over at Pierre's, after a while a developed a small crush for her but he would never tell her.
Catherine let out a sigh walking over to his side,
"Can I have a coffee please?" She asked, nudging him with her elbow.
"S'il vous plaît," he pressed, snapping her with the towel.
Catherine never learned to speak French fluently, she had only lived in France for less than a year. Her father had become a spy shortly after the German occupation due to his strategic value from living in France. She gave a small groan as Pierre refused to give her a coffee until she said please in French.
"Come on, its easy, S'il. vous. plaît." He spoke as if he were teaching a child, teasing Catherine rather well.
"S'il vous plaît!" She said finally, "Now can I have that coffee?"
Pierre nodded, grinning mischievously as he handed her a cup. Catherine waited patiently as he poured the black coffee, whistling as he did.
"Why are you always so cheery?" She asked, raising the black coffee to her lips taking a sip.
"Because I am with you of course mi cheri, and you make me happy," he said in a 'matter of fact' tone of voice, still smiling wildly.
Catherine bit her bottom lip, smiling embarrassingly as red blush filled her cheeks.
Light hit her eyes once more, the happy memory of Pierre gone and replaced with the present moment. Curling tightly in her bed, Catherine tried to fall back asleep, trying to go back to that happier time. Hans stood at her door, gazing into the room, his arms folded over his chest. He moved from his leaning position, walking a few paces to the foot of the bed.
"Mein Liebe," he called, pressing his palms into the bed.
Catherine looked up over her layer of blankets to find Hans dressed in his dress uniform, a golden iron cross with oak leaves around his neck along with various other medals, it seemed that he was on his way to going somewhere important.
"Get up and get yourself ready, I have a new dress awaiting you in the bathroom, and try to hurry, I'm not a man that is fond of being late." He moved from the bed back to the door, flashing his gray eyes at Catherine.
"Where are you taking me?" Catherine managed to ask, sitting up from the bed.
"Oh you'll see." That was all he said and with that he closed the door, walking back down the hallway.
Catherine let out a sigh, tossing her covers aside, she did not want to test Hans, as the lingering image of his Luger stood like a poison in her mind. She walked down the hall to the bathroom and just as Hans said there was a dress laid neatly over the water basin awaiting her. Catherine closed the door behind her, slipping her older dress from her shoulders setting it aside. It truly perplexed her as to what Hans was doing, though it wasn't like she had any other thing he did quite figured out either. She sighed, pulling on her stockings and undergarments first before pulling the thick black and cream ball like gown over her head. Catherine frowned at her appearance, deciding to pull her hair back. Now at least she fit the appearance better, though she still frowned bitterly. What was she doing putting on a ball gown, what did this have anything to do with her correspondence with The Basterds.
There was a light knock at the door, followed by the sound of Hans' voice. Catherine practically jumped out of her skin at the sudden sound. She ran a hand through her hair.
"I'm almost ready," she called out through the closed door. She could hear Hans shifting slightly, his boot heels lightly knocking at the ground in an idle pace. It didn't seem that he was anxious or even trying to rush her at all, just him shifting around aimlessly. Catherine opened the door, Hans was now completely still. He looked up from his feet, smiling benevolently, practically radiating eloquent charm and sophistication.
"Shall we go," asked Catherine, running a hand over the front of her dress.
"Of course," He motioned ahead of himself, letting Catherine walk before him. Catherine picked up the sides of her dress walking on before Hans, pass his ever watchful gray eyes.
Catherine reached the front of the house, Hans smiled opening the door before her.
'It was open the entire time!' she cried in her head, her eyes wide at the sudden realization. Hans seemed to realize why her face brightened up so much that he chuckled lightly.
"You seem to take allot for granted." He couldn't help but grin even wider as Catherine was rendered speechless.
Hans took her arm in his, patting her lightly as his grin still lingered on his face. The two walked outside to the awaiting town car where Hermann stood waiting patiently for them.
Hans and Catherine climbed in and with a single slam of the door they were off. Catherine, finally getting a hold of herself turned to Hans, moving her arm from his.
"I've had enough of this game, where are we going?" She asked, feeling a tinge of annoyance forming.
"It is a public function I'm not so pleased to inform you," he said plainly, "One I would much rather miss."
"And I am with you-" Catherine couldn't finish her question before he interrupted her.
"Because One, I can not leave you alone and Two, it would be inappropriate for me to attend this alone." He sounded slightly irritated, it was obvious what ever it was they were going to he was not keen to going.
"It is all about appearances really, you have to at least act like you care about these things other wise people get the wrong impression of you."
"I would have never pegged you as that kind of person herr oberst," said Catherine plainly
"That goes to show how little you actually know of me mein liebe." he said his grey eyes looking down, gesturing a single finger towards her.
He smiled speaking in an almost condescending way as he looked at her. Catherine opened her mouth to say something but decided not to as she had no idea what to say to Hans any more.
"Now when we arrive, I expect you to behave yourself," Catherine felt his Lugar pistol poke her side, sending a deep shiver down her spine.
"Is that clear?" He asked, speaking now in a low whispering tone.
"Ja her oberst."
"Sehr gut komm lass uns gehen mein liebling," (Very good, now let us go my darling) He said putting his pistol away, leaving a small warm kiss on her neck.
The car stopped and with that Hans opened the door, showing a crowed of finely dressed people of all shapes, colors, and sizes walking to one single building. Hans looked back over to Catherine, offering his arm. Catherine interlocked her arm with Hans, walking out of the car with him. As she continued to look around she could see that the lines of people were that of various people of the German military of varying rank and status along with a large portion of the French bourgeoisie and important members of the Nazi party.
Catherine felt Hans tighten slightly in her arm, it may have not been apparent on the outside but it was obvious from how Hans spoke he would have much rathered not go this bit of nonsense at all. He looked over at Catherine a clear image of charm and calmness, not hint of anxiety lined his face, she could hardly understand how he could do it.
They walked inside, greeted with the bitterly harsh bright light of the grand chandeliers and bright colors. The loud audacious sound of chatty, noisy people rambling on in French, and German alike. Catherine wanted to be anywhere but where she was as the sounds and smells continued to over take her senses. The pair walked on, occasionally stopped by various soldiers and women, some failed to even notice Catherine on Hans' arm as they spoke to him, others spoke very smugly to her almost nastily. As the two finally broke from a conversation with one woman Hans pulled her aside, whispering softly into her ear.
"It's almost time to go, we can leave as soon as I speak to the host." He said sounding almost reassuring.
Hans leaned back over shining fake smiles at the people who passed by. He looked over a Catherine briefly before his attention was taken away.
"Ach Landa! Es ist gut sie zu sehen!"(Ah Landa, it is good to see you!) Cried a voice walking over to shake Hans' hand, "Und wer ist das schön Fraülein Sie habe bei du?" (And who is this lovely young lady you have with you?)
"Ein alter freund," (an old friend) he replied shaking the man's hand firmly.
The man smiled widely, obviously delighted that Hans was there at his even, though it seemed rather pointless and Catherine couldn't gather anything from their conversation that would constitute Hans being there and having to do with her being there as well.
"Sie sind ein Glückspilz Fräulein einen zu solchen eine Mann wie Hans holen." (You are one luck young woman to get a man such as Hans) Said the man haughtily.
Catherine simply smiled, feeling it harder and harder to keep this up as the man continued. Hans gently tapped her side assuring her that they were about to leave. Hans gave a slight bow to the man, telling him in a matter of words it was time for him to leave, slipping in a suggestive remark as his eyes flashed towards Catherine. The man let out another haughty laugh, smacking Hans on his shoulder. He smiled waving Hans off still laughing slightly. The two could not have left quicker, as both were practically running for the door. Hans never was much for big social events, especially when they had little to no meaning what so ever. The man he had just spoken to was just another wealthy and highly esteemed and fortuitous member of the German military and of the Nazi party, though the man was a complete fool.
Donny looked across the way, at a brightly lit building, Aldo by his side. They were looking for a particular officer, one who held crucial information they needed. They knew someone had intercepted their informant, and they just needed to find out who and just exactly what they could do to prevent her from divulging information about them.
"I fucking told you not to trust her, that or she would get her ass caught by the SS and look what fucking happened!" Spat Donny, his eyes darting around for the man they were looking for.
"Will you keep your God damn mouth shut, and keep looking for that kraut!" Spat Aldo back at Donny. Wicki, Omar, Hugo and the other Basterds were back at their camp waiting up for Aldo and Donny. They had caught wind of the party and at the same time they had heard the news of Catherine's capture.
Donny grumbled lowly and went back to looking, his eyes grew wide with rage from what he saw next. There across the way he saw Catherine interlocking arms with Hans, and he didn't have to look twice to smack Aldo on his shoulder.
"Look! She's a fucking traitor!" Growled Donny.
"Well I'll be damned," exclaimed Aldo, almost unsure what his eyes were seeing.
Catherine and Hans got back into the car closing the door, sitting a seat away from Han. She crossed her arms over her chest, pulling at the tight fabric of her dress. Her cobalt eyes were glazed over with sleep, she could hardly keep her eyes open any longer. Resting her head on the side of the door, she drifted off to sleep, lulled by the soft rumble of the the car as it drove her back to the town house. The last thing her eyes met before she drifted were the ever watchful gray eyes of Hans always there, always attentive.