Chapter 11
I sure hope I'm not going to be sick…
Maisie held her breath again as the truck lurched through a pothole, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Her stomach was doing flip-flops, and she prayed she didn't see her breakfast again. Between the bumping and jolting of the truck and her nerves, she couldn't tell which one was making her so queasy. Deep breaths. Breathe, Maisie, breathe- If she concentrated enough, she could hear Hogan speaking to her in her mind, felt his arms around her and holding her after she'd been woken by a nightmare. You're okay, you're okay.
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she held Hogan's pins tighter. What was she going to find out when she reached Berlin? What information would she find out? What if Hogan really was dead? She'd been pondering over and over those questions without finding answers. What would she do if Hogan really had been killed?
The truck began to slow again, and her heart beat faster as she heard German being spoken loudly. Must be a checkpoint, she realized, hearing Klaus recite his information. She held her breath, praying that they would make it through without problem. Footsteps crunched on the road beside the truck, and she heard the tarp being lifted. Please, please- she begged in her mind, trying desperately hard not to move.
The tarp was replaced after a moment, and the footsteps crunched past again, the teen sighing softly in relief as the truck started forward again. Thank you, God, she prayed, with gratitude, then had to stifle a yelp as the truck bounced again. I'm sure I'm going to feel this trip later, she thought grimly, and wondered just how many bruises she was going to find when she got out.
Time passed by slowly, and she tried to sleep to make the trip pass by faster, but sleep wouldn't come. Her mind just wouldn't rest and neither would her stomach. She stared into the darkness, still holding onto Hogan's pins. Except for the days after her Uncle, Aunt and Cousin had been killed, she'd never felt so alone. She was frightened. Worried. Scared. Back at camp, she'd had Hogan's men she could lean on, and then she'd had Jenny, the kind old Swedish woman who had lent her a shoulder to cry on more than once. Now, though, she was alone. Headed to a big city where she knew no one and danger lurked on every corner.
She closed her eyes again, breathing deeply through the nausea in her stomach. Not only was her worry about things causing her to be sick, the memories running through her mind were, too. This wasn't the first time she'd been hidden away in a truck to get somewhere. Her escape from the work camp had been in a truck, only made possible by divine intervention and her Uncle. When Uncle Tobias had found out where his brother and his family had been taken to, he'd gotten himself a job as the laundry and garbage truck driver. He'd been too slow to rescue her parents or sister, but he'd been able to save her. He'd smuggled her out of camp in a load of washing, and she still hadn't been able to figure out how he'd managed to do it.
The truck slowed again and stopped, another checkpoint they had to go through. Again the back of the truck was checked, then they were on their way once more. How much longer, she wondered, gritting her teeth when the truck hit another pothole. How much further?
The sound of shouting and activity outside woke Maisie sometime later, the teen rubbing her eyes as she regained her senses. I must have fallen asleep, she thought, and listened carefully to what was being said outside. A shiver ran up her spine as she felt someone moving a bag, and she guessed that they'd finally arrived in Berlin. Quickly, she felt the sack for Hogan's pins, placed them back inside her bag, then settled down to wait to be let out.
A little while later, she could feel the bags being moved aside from her, and the sack was opened. She blinked in the light for a moment, gathering her bearings, and Klaus helped her get out of the bag.
'Alright, we're clear.' He whispered, looking around the back of the store they'd parked behind. 'Now listen closely. Red Fox is in the store. He will escort you to the hotel.'
She nodded, holding her bag tightly. 'Danke for everything, Klaus.'
'I hope you find what you're looking for.' He helped her down from the truck, patting her shoulder. 'Now go, you don't have much time.'
The teen slunk through the shadows from the parking lot to the back of the store, catching her breath as she rapped on the door. Night had fallen, the stars twinkling in the night sky above, and she gazed at them for a moment while waiting for the door to be opened.
'Little Bear?'
She nodded and was promptly invited into the room, the door being closed behind her again. 'You are Red Fox?'
The man nodded, looking the teen up and down. 'I am.' The attire the girl was wearing was hardly suited to the occasion, and he showed her to another room down the hallway. 'There's some clothes in here. You better wash and change quickly. I'll wait here.'
'Danke.' In the light, she could see that she had gotten quite dirty, dust and old grains of wheat that had been in the sack messed up in her hair and clothes. The door was closed after she walked in, a lantern lighting the room with a soft glow. Placing her bag beside the door, she hurried over to the basin and washed her face, brushing her hair out with a brush left beside the basin. Her fingers worked quickly to get her hair into a simple braid.
A brown dress laid out on the table in the room with tights and a cardigan. After a couple minutes, she'd changed and hurriedly packed her clothes into her bag before she emerged from the room. 'Ready.'
He looked her up and down again, then nodded his approval. 'This way.'
Her heart pounding, she hurried after him, staying close to his side. He led her out of the store to a car parked out the front of the building, motioning for her to get inside. She did so, looking around in awe as he got in the driver's seat and started the engine. So this was Berlin.
Just keep calm, you're alright. It's going to be alright, she reminded herself, as Red Fox navigated his way through the light traffic. The sight of a Gestapo car heading the opposite direction sent shivers up her spine, and she looked the other way. You've made it this far, don't lose it now.
The car came to a stop in front of a huge brick building. Red Fox turned off the engine, and they stepped out of the car. 'This way,' he instructed, and she followed close behind him.
Her eyes widened in amazement as they walked into the hotel, looking around in awe. The hotel was grand, tapestries on the walls and marble statues in the entrance room. Oh wow- She'd never been to a place so fancy in all her life. A sure far cry from the work camp…
'We have a reservation,' Red Fox said, to the young woman at the desk. 'Under the name Andreas Hartmann.'
Monika nodded, going through the motions of looking through the book, watching a clerk out of the corner of her eye. The clerk went about his business, waited till he had left, then she motioned for him to come closer. 'This is Little Bear?'
'Yes.'
'I have a letter here for you.' Monika produced an envelope from its hiding place and passed it over to her, then turned back to the man. 'You must go-'
He nodded, patting the teen's shoulder. 'You'll be safe here.'
'Danke.'
Red Fox left the hotel, and the woman found the key for her room. 'Follow me. I'll take you to your room.'
Her heart still pounding in her chest, holding tight to her bag, she followed the woman down a hallway into a lift. Corridors and hallways followed, more corners turned than she could count, then they finally stopped at a door.
'This is your room.'
The door was opened, and she walked in, her eyebrows lifting as she looked around. 'I'm to stay here? I've never stayed somewhere so fancy…'
'I was under orders to give you one of the best rooms in the house.' She replied. 'You'll be safe here. Your instructions are in the letter. Dinner will be sent up to you shortly. If you need anything, use the phone. The numbers are beside the phone.'
Maisie nodded. 'Danke for everything-' She pulled out the envelope of money from her pocket, pulling out some cash to pay for the room. 'How much is the room?'
'Five hundred marks.' She was handed the correct amount, the teen slipping the envelope back inside her jacket. 'Goodnight.'
The woman left the room, and she locked the door after she'd left, Maisie looking around as she finally began to calm. She'd made it. She'd made it to Berlin and without any trouble. She felt a huge burden lifted from her shoulders, the hardest part of the journey finally being over.
Placing her bag down on a table beside a chair, she sat, pulling the letter from her pocket. The letter was written in German, and Maisie held it up next to the lamp to read.
Have received word of your request. Am arriving in Berlin tomorrow. Will make contact sometime tomorrow night. Wait for contact.
Black Wolf.
She read the note over again, then put it back in the envelope and hid it away in her pocket. More waiting. At least she was in Berlin, though. Now she was closer to finding something out about what had happened to Hogan.
Going over to the wardrobe, she pulled her clothes from her bag and hung them up, placing the empty bag away in the wardrobe. Her trinket box in hand, she went over to the bed and sat, taking out Hogan's pins again. Somehow, holding his pins in her hand gave her strength. She closed her eyes, an image of Hogan coming into her mind. Please be alive, Papa. Please be alive.
Sleep was impossible that night. Maisie stared up at the ceiling into the early hours of the morning. Worry and anxiety held her in their grip, her mind so tangled up in thoughts and questions she couldn't figure out. More waiting. She'd come to hate and loathe waiting. The quicker she was able to get some answers, the better she hoped she would feel.
Everything was still and quiet, the teen looking on into the pitch blackness. I wonder how the boys are back at camp, she pondered, thinking of Hogan's men. I wonder if Carter and LeBeau have told the others by now where I am.
While she hated to lie to them about what her trip to Berlin was for, she knew that it was the best decision at the time. There was no point in getting their hopes up, especially when she didn't even know if Hogan was alive or not. The whole day she'd been asking herself what she was going to do if she found him to be dead, and still, she hadn't come up with any answers. Her whole heart wished with everything that she had that he was still alive, but her mind was trying to be reasonable. If he was here in Berlin, he'd have been here for almost two months. What could have happened to him during that time? She held the pins tighter in her hand, scrunching her eyes shut as various scenarios ran through her mind. She didn't wish to think of what the outcome of this trip might be.
Papa, if you are alive, please hold on, she begged in her mind, the same thing she'd been pleading since she'd met with Matilda. If only she had tried to find out sooner, perhaps she'd already have answers by now. If she hadn't been so consumed by grief… She sighed heavily as she rolled over again, staring into the darkness. She'd allowed herself to waste so much time where she could have been doing something about the situation instead.
Minutes slipped by slowly, and she attempted to fall asleep again. Despite the bed and pillows being the best she'd ever slept on, sleep still wouldn't come. Her mind was just too full of questions and worries. Rolling over again, she flopped her head back on the pillow, wishing for morning to arrive and soon.
A knock sounded on the door, and Maisie rubbed her eyes at the sound. I must have dozed off, she thought. The knock sounded again, and she climbed out of bed, placing the supplied dressing gown around her before turning the light on and answering the door.
'I can't stay long-' Monkia started, as she walked into the room, the door being closed behind her. 'But I've just heard that Black Wolf has arrived in Berlin.'
'Danke for coming to tell me.' She replied gratefully. 'Do you know when he'll come to make contact with me?'
The woman shook her head. 'I do not. I expect he'll come to see you as soon as he's able.' She looked at the teen closely. 'You don't look well rested at all.'
Maisie sighed wearily. 'Couldn't sleep. Too many things going on in my mind.'
'I understand. I hope you find what you came here for soon. I must go now. The kitchen is still open for breakfast, so if you ring, you'll be able to get something to eat.'
'I'll do that,' she said, opening the door for the woman to leave and locking it after she left. So, her contact had made it back to Berlin. That both excited and frightened her at the same time. How long was she going to have to wait to hear from him, though?
It's something, at least. She frowned as her stomach growled a little. Guess I am a little hungry after all. Picking up the phone, she made a call to request breakfast be sent to her room, then looked around, deciding what to do next.
A little while later, she'd had a shower, changed into her day attire, and felt much better. Breakfast arrived not long after, and as soon as she finished eating, she tried to figure out what to do to pass the time.
Going over to the window, she pushed the blackout curtain aside, looking out the glass to the street below. Her room was on the fourth floor, giving her a good vantage point to watch the activity around her. There were people, lots of people going about their day, and she could make out most of them were civilians. There were a few soldiers, a group of young men walking down the street, and if she listened closely, she could hear the sound of their laughter. A memory of the young German officer who'd delivered the bomb to the refinery came to mind, and she quickly brushed it away. In war, you can't afford to be sentimental. These people might be our own people- she could hear her Uncle's words in her mind, as if he were in the room speaking to her. But they are working against us. They are our enemies. We can't allow our feelings to get in the way of our goal: helping the Allies win and end the war.
Watching the people below, she wondered how many of them actually knew what Hitler was doing to their own country. To their own people. Did they know about the work camps? Did they know about the extermination of an entire race based on their religion? Did they know that the man they were fighting for was power hungry and malicious? Did they realize that he would stop at nothing to take over the world?
She hadn't known. Not until she'd experienced those things first hand. She could hardly remember the years before the war now, a time when her family had believed they were safe. They hadn't known what was going to happen. Her Papa had thought since he was a loyal German citizen that they wouldn't have trouble, even though her Mama was American. Both her and her sister had been members of the League of German Girls on their encouragement, and look where their 'loyalty' had gotten them. She was the only one left now, and it was because of what she'd seen and experienced first hand that made her fight against them. Against the ideologies of the Führer.
She turned from the window with a sigh, her thoughts having become too deep. It was best she didn't think of those things. She had to be focused on the task at hand. She'd come here to find out what had happened to Hogan, and that was all she needed to be concerned with. I think I'll read for a little while, she decided, and went to gather one of her books from its hiding place. Perhaps reading would be a welcomed distraction from the ponderings her mind had conjured up. With her copy of 'Call of the Wild' in hand, she curled up in the warm sunlight on the big chair in the corner of the room and settled down to read.
John Thornton and Buck looked at each other.
'You poor devil,' said John Thornton, and Buck licked his hand.
The sound of a loud rap on the door interrupted Maisie as she went to turn the page, her book quickly disappearing back into its hiding place in her bag. A knock sounded again as she stood and hurried to the door, unlocking it before she opened it. A man in a black uniform was standing there, the teen swallowing the lump in her throat down hard. Gestapo.
'Can I help you?' She questioned, in perfect German, hoping her voice didn't convey her nervousness.
'Black Wolf.'
Black Wolf! The name of her contact. Don't panic, don't panic- She forced a smile onto her face as she opened the door wider and invited him in. Don't panic, you're alright. It's just your contact, she reminded herself, as she locked the door behind him.
'I am Wolfgang Klink-' The man continued, looked around the room, then turned back to the teen. 'You are Margaretta Dietrich, Little Bear.'
Maisie nodded, as she observed the man closely. Klink? I wonder if he's related to the Komandant at Stalag 13. She'd never seen Klink herself, so she couldn't compare this man to him, and she looked him over again. He was about the same height as Hogan, brown eyed and with grey hairs sprinkled through his thick black locks.
'You will now be known as Annika Klink-'
She raised an eyebrow. 'Pardon me? You're changing my name?'
'For security reasons, my dear.' Wolfgang replied. 'I am under orders that no harm is to come to you. In order to keep you safe, you will assume the identity of my step-daughter.'
Both her eyebrows were now raised. 'Step-daughter?'
He nodded. 'It is dangerous for a young girl like you to be alone in Berlin, let alone be connected with the Underground. So as no suspicion falls upon you, I've arranged for the necessary papers and identity documents for you to become my legal step-daughter.'
Maisie took a seat in bewilderment, wondering what on earth this was all about.
'You look surprised, little one.'
'T-that's an understatement.' She replied, after a moment, trying to figure out what was going on. 'Step-daughter?'
Wolfgang took a seat beside her. 'You are here in Berlin to find information on a Colonel Robert Hogan, a US Army Air Corps officer, are you not?'
'That is correct.'
'In order for you to be safe, you need a solid backstory and evidence to back up those claims, which is why you're going to be posing as my step-daughter. If you wish to find information on Hogan, you need to cooperate with me. Do you understand?'
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she nodded. 'I understand.'
'This here-' He pulled an envelope from an inner pocket in his jacket. 'Contains your new documents and your backstory. Keep the documents and passport in a secure location, memorize your backstory, then destroy the papers.'
She nodded again as she took the envelope and placed it down beside her, then turned back to him. 'What about Colonel Hogan? Do you have any information?'
He shook his head. 'No. I haven't gone to Headquarters, yet; I came here to see you first. I needed to give you these documents and inform you of your new identity. Now that you have those, you'll be safe. I have a private apartment that you'll stay in for the duration of your visit here in Berlin. How long will it take you to pack and be ready to leave?'
'About ten minutes.' She replied. 'You're going to take me there now?'
Wolfgang nodded. 'My car is waiting outside.' He thought for a moment. 'We're going to need to get you some new clothing, too. You need to be able to blend in. I'll leave you to pack and be back shortly.'
Maisie took a deep breath to calm her nerves after the man had left the room, and she took a moment to process what he'd told her. Step-daughter of a Gestapo Generaloberst. Papa would have a fit if he knew. A little smile touched her lips at the thought of what Hogan's reaction would be if he knew what she'd gotten herself into. She could see how this cover story would provide her with protection, though. At least she would be safe now with him down as her guardian. No one would question the step-daughter of a full-ranked Gestapo general.
The knots in her stomach easing a little, she quickly began to gather her things together, and after a few minutes, she had everything packed away. Hogan's pins were hidden back in her trinket box, the box hidden carefully in the lining of her carpet bag. With her things packed, she sat on the bed and pulled the papers from the envelope, quickly reading them over to get an idea of her new backstory.
She couldn't help but chuckle a little at the story he'd woven for her new identity. She'd been a student at some boarding school she'd never heard of (it was named something she thought sounded quite fancy) until the Allied forces had bombed the town, and she'd been recalled to Berlin to be with her stepfather for her safety. Her 'mother', Erika Klink, had been killed during an air raid in Hamburg, which was where she supposedly had come from. Guess it's a good thing I have been there before. At least I'll have a rough idea of the town if anyone asks me.
Rereading her backstory once more to make sure she'd gotten it in her mind, she folded the papers up and returned them to the envelope. Her identity documents went into the pocket of her jacket, her old documents and backstory slipped into the lining of her bag. Picking her bag up again, she stood and took another deep breath, then opened the door. Wolfgang turned as the door opened, and she closed it behind her, locking it with the key. 'Packed.'
'I'm ready.'
'Speak German from now on while we're in public.' He hissed in German, glancing around to see if anyone had heard. 'If anyone finds out you've got American blood, you're dead.'
Maisie swallowed hard as she nodded. 'Sorry.'
'You might have those papers now, but we can't afford to be careless.' He continued in a whisper, the two of them walking down the hallway to the elevator. 'And I know it's going to be hard, but you're going to have to make it believable that you're my daughter. From now on, call me your father while we are in public.'
She nodded again, though her stomach revolted at the thought of calling this Gestapo officer her father. Hogan, and only Hogan, would she think of as her father, but she'd come this far already. She wasn't going to mess it up now. 'I understand, Father.'
'When we're alone, we can speak English-' He paused as they walked past a civilian making their way to their room. 'But out in public, no.'
'I understand.' She repeated, her heart skipping a beat. Deep breaths, don't panic. Don't panic, she repeated over and over in her mind, as she kept pace with Wolfgang, following him into the elevator. After a moment, they arrived back on the ground floor, and they made their way to the front desk.
'We're checking out, room 411.' Wolfgang handed the key back to the woman at the desk.
The clerk checked the book to confirm that the room had been paid for and nodded. 'It's all taken care of. Good day, Generaloberst.'
Maisie stayed close to his side as they walked out of the hotel and followed him down the street to his car. He opened the door for her, and she smiled nervously as she climbed in the back, Wolfgang getting in beside her.
'Home, Huber.' Wolfgang instructed, closing the door.
The officer behind the wheel nodded as he started the engine. 'So, this is your step-daughter?'
'Yes, this is Annika Klink.'
'Pleasure to make your acquaintance.'
She smiled as the young officer glanced back at her. 'Likewise.'
'I never knew you had such a pretty daughter-' He continued, as the car pulled out of its parking space. 'Where have you been hiding her all this time?'
'She's been away at boarding school, though the last Allied raid got a little close there. I thought it would be best to bring her back to Berlin. It's somewhat safer here.'
'Well, regardless of the circumstances, I'm pleased to meet you, Annika.'
Annika. That was going to take a little getting used to.
'Now that you're here-' Wolfgang continued, after a moment. 'I'll have to show you around. I have to go to work for a little while this afternoon, but then I have the rest of the day off. How does some shopping and an evening out sound?'
'Oh, that sounds wonderful, Father.' Maisie replied, with more enthusiasm than she felt, watching the city go by through the window. 'Berlin is so big. How do you get around without getting lost?'
The general chuckled. 'When you've been here as long as I have, you get used to it.'
'I don't think so. I've never been to a city like this before.'
After a little while, Wolfgang and his driver became engrossed in conversation, and Maisie turned them out, watching the city go by instead. She never thought that Berlin would be so big. Her Papa had told her stories about his trips to Berlin, but it wasn't even close to what she'd imagined.
Finally, the car came to a stop out the front of a fenced, brick house that she would describe as a mansion. Perfectly manicured gardens were behind the fence, and again, she found herself dumbstruck at what she saw. This was where she was going to stay?
'Here we are-' Wolfgang announced, and opened the door, helping her out of the car. 'What do you think?'
'It's grand, Father. I don't know what to say.' She replied, holding her bag tight. The man chuckled and guided her through the gate and up the pathway to the front door, knocking loudly.
'Coming, coming.'
'That's Heidi.' He whispered to the girl, as the sound of footsteps came closer. 'She's my housekeeper. Be careful what you say around her, though. She's not a member of the Underground.'
'I'll be careful.' Maisie promised.
The door opened, a grey-haired lady smiling warmly standing in the threshold. 'Wolfgang, good to see you home.' She saw the young girl standing beside her. 'And you must be Annika. Oh, I've heard so much about you-'
The teen plastered a grin on her face, though she didn't feel like smiling much.
'Anni, this is Heidi.' Wolfgang introduced, then looked back at the woman. 'Heidi, would you mind helping her settle in? I've got some work to do, but I'll be back later this afternoon to show her around.'
'Of course, of course.' She replied warmly, inviting the girl in. 'I'll make sure she settles in well. Come along, dear, this way. Your papa's got your room all ready for you.'
Help, her gaze begged Wolfgang as the woman herded her into the house, and she caught a faint smile on his face before the door was closed.
'Come on, dear. Just wait until you see your room-'
What would Papa think, she wondered, as she followed the stout woman down the elaborate hallway, looking around the house in wonder and awe. There was a war on, yet some people lived like this? Before the war, she could vaguely remember her childhood home. A little cottage situated in Heidelberg that had been comfortable, but never as elaborate of a dwelling as this house. This place is practically a mansion.
'Here we are,' Heidi said, as she opened another door, showing the girl to her room on the second floor of the house. 'Make yourself comfortable, and when you're ready to be shown around the house, just let me know. Would you like something to eat?'
'No, thank you. I'm fine for now.' She replied, placing her bag down on the floor beside the bed.
'I'll leave you to get settled, then.'
The woman left, and Maisie sighed heavily, then flopped down on the bed. Already, the morning had taken its toll on her, and it wasn't even noon yet. She was exhausted. Not just physically from the stress she was under, but emotionally, too. At least she was another step closer, she hoped, to finding out what had happened to Hogan. That was the only small comfort she had to ease the knots in her stomach and the worry in her mind.
Resting for a little while, she forced herself to calm down and relax by deep breathing, feeling a little better once she'd finished. She sat up, taking her bag onto her lap and opened it. She looked around for a moment before pulling the trinket box from its hiding place. Opening the box, she pulled out Hogan's pins. I don't know if I can do this, Papa, she thought, as she fondled the pins gently. How did you do it, Papa? How could you be so brave?
She didn't feel brave, she felt scared. Alone. This was a big city where she knew absolutely no one, and if something went wrong, she had no one to rely on. She had to place her trust wholeheartedly in a man she'd never heard of and had just met. Now she was to be posing as his stepdaughter. What if she messed up? What if she did or said something wrong? She had the right to be scared. Part of her wished she'd never left Stalag 13. At least there she was safe with Hogan's men. The other part, though, knew that if she wished to find out what had happened to Hogan, she had to see this through.
See it through she would, she decided, as she placed Hogan's pins away and pulled out the envelope Wolfgang had given her. She read and reread the pages over and over, converting them to memory until she felt that she'd had the information memorized. If she were found out, it wasn't going to be because she'd made a mistake. This was a mission she would not fail.