Chapter 6- Rescued

I gasp in shock as it begins to sink who is standing in front of me…

The Nazi next to me stops dead in his tracks, as he turns around to look at Herr Zeller.

" What are you stopping for?" Herr Zeller barks as he pushes me out of the way.

" Going somewhere Herr Zeller?" The man in front of me asks.

Herr Zeller is stunned motionless as he looks at the man in front of him, " Nice of you to join us, Herr Detwiler." He says his voice as diabolical as ever.

" Did you really expect Georg to come alone?" Max asks calmly.

" He may well have come alone, Herr Detwiler, as you too can easily be disposed of."

I shutter at the bone chilling malice I hear in his voice.

" That maybe true Herr Zeller, but three Nazis are no match for the Swiss authorities."

Herr Zeller scans the front yard before I again hear his satanical laughter, " Swiss police? You must be delusional Herr Detwiler, there's no one here but you."

Max shifts his eyes to mine; silently reassuring me that everything is going to be all right. " No Swiss police? That is puzzling, perhaps you're just not looking hard enough?"

I look past Max into the front yard, and suddenly find myself fighting off my screams of joy as I see Swiss police officers approaching us.

Herr Zeller makes no attempt to move, instead choosing to command his Nazis, " Draw your weapons; we fight to the death."

I feel the gun move away from my stomach, and fully expect to see him draw it to the police, but instead I watch utterly stunned as both Nazis drop their guns to the ground, before they put their hands up. The Swiss police move in quickly and take the two Nazis into custody.

Herr Zeller watches helplessly as his Nazis surrender without a fight, " I won't leave here alive." He vows as he draws his own gun. Before I have the chance to react, he grabs my arm and tries to pull me in front of him. Max is the nearest to Herr Zeller and he instantly punches Herr Zeller in the face. The force of the punch makes him release my arm, but not his gun.

I hear Max say my name, as he tries to quickly usher me into the house.

I don't respond, I just watch stunned as the Swiss police raise their guns in what I imagine will be an intense gun battle.

Georg takes my hand, and I turn around, " It's over now." He says softly as he leads me into the house.

We quickly walk back into the house, and Max closes the door behind us just as I hear the first shots being fired. The children stand at the bottom of the stairs, tears staining their cheeks. I want to go to them, but Max heads for them first. Allowing Georg and I to have a moment to ourselves…

He gently cups my face, as he looks deep into my eyes. " Maria, are you all right?"

I nod, painfully trying to hold back my tears.

He nods back to me before placing a tender kiss on my forehead.

The love I feel in his gesture, makes me realize just how close I came to losing it all, and I find myself no longer able to hold back my tears.

He pulls me to him, and I lay my head on his chest, as I finally shed the tears that I've been fighting all afternoon.

He pulls me closer as the sound of gunfire continues to echo through the silence of the afternoon. Herr Zeller said he wouldn't go back to Austria alive, and it seems that he meant it.

I stay in the safety of Georg's arms for a few more moments, before I turn to face the children. They look at me for a moment before running into my arms. I pull them as close as I can, my own tears starting again. Liesl hands Ellie to me, and hug her as tight as I can, before I give her a tender kiss on her forehead.

" Mother, are you ok?" Gretl asks tearfully.

" I'm fine darling." I tell her with a nod for emphasis.

" We were so scared." Marta says as she lays her head against my stomach.

" I was too, darling."

" You were scared?" Kurt asks obiviuously confused.

I nod to them, " Even adults get scared sometimes."

I see the fear finally begin to fade from their faces, shy smiles beginning to replace it.

I watch Georg and Max talk things over with a few Swiss policemen, and it suddenly occurs to me that Georg had this whole thing set up. He knew we were in some sort of danger, and didn't tell me.

My mouth falls open as it dawns on me that Georg lied to me…

To be continued…

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Notes:

* What happened to Herr Zeller? Is he alive or dead? Use your imaginations!! LOL!

** The way I see it, for the other two Nazis this isn't their battle as much as it is Herr Zellers. They don't want to die for something that isn't their cause.

*** Look for Part II soon!