Georg closed the door and crossed the narrow room to the night table beside the bed. He placed the tray of food that Sister Berthe had just delivered onto the table and prepared something to eat for both Maria and himself.
Noticing that his wife was very quiet, Georg turned around and found Maria standing at the single window, staring outside into the night. She had her arms crossed in front of her and was absently rubbing her upper arms with her fingers.
"Are you cold, darling?" he asked.
Maria nodded her head vaguely, never removing her gaze from the window. "It's always been a bit chilly here. I'd forgotten," she murmured, turning to face Georg.
Georg glanced at the kerosene heater in the corner of the room. "It'll warm up a bit once the heater turns on," he said with a serious look in his eyes, although he knew that nerves, and not the temperature, were affecting his wife tonight.
"I suppose," Maria answered absently, once more moving her gaze to the window. She stared out into the night as she reminisced aloud. "It's amazing how calm everything looks from the outside, isn't it? I mean from here Austria looks the same as it always did, but we know that it is so different."
Maria turned to face Georg, a look of utter sadness on her face. "How will we ever get her back? I've had so many ideas the whole way here, but just can't think of anything that seems promising."
Georg walked towards Maria and touched her shoulder. She instinctively moved into his embrace, needing to feel the strength that they created together. Maria sighed peacefully as Georg caressed her cheek with the back of his palm; as always, his mere presence soothed her.
"We have all night to think of something, Maria," he reassured her.
Maria sighed deeply. "I know. And I have hope that we'll find her, but when it comes to actually figuring out how, I feel somehow, uh, overwhelmed."
Georg gave her a sidelong glance, trying to lighten her spirit. "Fräulein Maria, overwhelmed?" he quipped.
Maria released another exasperated sigh and nodded her head slowly, as if confessing a deep secret.
Georg touched her cheek with his hand and brushed a strand of hair off of her forehead. "I used to feel that way in the Navy. I knew what needed to be done and had hope that we'd succeed, but devising the strategy was always the most difficult part."
"Yes, that's it exactly."
Georg rested his hand on Maria's cheek and she pressed her face to it. "We'll think of something together. And if we come up against an obstacle, we'll handle it. Sometimes instinct is just as powerful as the plan."
She nodded, her face ashen and her eyes tired. "I just can't stop thinking about Liesl that's all. She's completely alone tonight; frightened and worried. I've never felt such sadness, Georg; such emptiness," Maria confided as she gazed wide-eyed at her husband.
He took her in his arms and rubbed her back softly. "You're a true mother, Maria."
"I knew I loved all of them so much, but I'd never felt it so strongly before; until one of them was gone. I'd let them take me instead if it would mean she'd be safe," she sighed.
"But I wouldn't," Georg whispered, holding her close. "I want you both and I'll get my wish no matter the consequences. My family is more important than anything."
Maria closed her eyes as her head rested under Georg's chin, savouring the safety she felt in his arms and believing him completely. "…Than anything," she murmured in agreement, moving her head away from his chest and meeting his gaze.
"I'll do whatever it takes to have her safely back to us," Maria sighed.
"I know, darling. I know," he said with equal solemnity. Georg leaned forward and kissed Maria's forehead.
The couple remained silent for a moment, both thinking about their next move and what would have to be done to get their daughter back. Suddenly, Georg looked down at Maria and his eyes showed a hint of renewed spirit. "I've an idea that I would like to get your thoughts on. Come have some of this food the Sisters brought to us and I'll tell you."
"What is it?" Maria asked eagerly upon noticing the spark of hope and determination in her husband's eyes.
Georg tapped Maria on the end of the nose. "Always so impatient. Just come sit down and I'll tell you while we eat. It'll be good for you to have some food. Your face looks so pale, darling."
"I'm just worried, that's all," she said with a shrug.
"And being on your feet for hours without any rest or nourishment is also part of the problem," Georg said with a knowing look. "Come eat something, Maria. Please. You'll need your strength tomorrow."
Maria smiled with defeat. "I'm really not hungry, but all right."
Georg dropped his arms and reached out for her hand. He took it and led her to the bed, urging her to sit down on the edge. Crossing the room, Georg moved the lone table and chair that sat near the door toward the bed. He removed the tray of food from the nightstand and placed it on the table in front of Maria. With one last glance around the room, he took a seat on the chair across from her.
"Voilà. Dinner for two," he announced while grasping Maria's hand and gesturing to the impromptu set up.
She smiled softly at his chivalry. "It's perfect. Now go on and tell me your idea," Maria said with eagerness. However, despite her efforts, the events of the night had drained her voice of all energy and her fatigue could not be hidden.
"All right. I'd like to ask to borrow one of the caretaker's cars from the Abbey," Georg began, raising his eyebrow and giving Maria a look that encouraged her thoughts on the matter.
"It will not be a problem," she assured him with a confident shake of the head.
"Very well. Let's ask the Reverend Mother in the morning and get an early start. We'll leave together and drive to the Rathaus; or as some now refer to it, 'the Nazi Quarters'," he said dryly while meeting his wife's gaze.
"That's where they are?" Maria asked him with surprise.
Georg nodded his head stiffly and sighed with disbelief. "Yes, even our Town Hall is contaminated," he said wryly.
"Where will this end?" Maria asked aloud. Not waiting for an answer, she turned to the window and gazed outside with woe. "Even the Abbey isn't safe anymore. I can't believe that it's come to this."
With a loud sigh, Maria turned her attention back to her food and absently began running her spoon through it. "I'm sorry, Georg, go on with your idea," she told him with a small apologetic smile before returning her attention to her full plate.
Georg reached across the table and touched her cheek softly. "Yes, well I'd like to leave early so there's plenty of time to get there if I encounter any problems along the way," Georg continued.
Maria stopped pushing the untouched food around and laid her spoon on the saucer in front of her. She turned to Georg and their eyes locked.
"If we encounter any problems," she corrected him. Maria realized the danger that lay ahead of them, but knew that she would do everything in her power to ease some of Georg's burden. To her, this and safely getting Liesl back were more important than anything else. In her mind, there was no other option; she would conquer any obstacle they came up against, alongside her husband.
Georg continued to stare intently at his wife. "Forgive me. Yes, we. But, Zeller should be expecting only me to return."
Maria took a sip of tea, not even really tasting the liquid as it went down her throat. Never removing her eyes from Georg, she cast him a look of understanding as she drank. She returned her cup to the saucer and absently began to circle her finger around the rim.
"And what he mustn't know is that you are with me - that I have help- or we'll be putting both of our lives in extreme danger," he continued while gazing intently at his wife.
"Yes, I know," Maria replied with a serious nod. "But where will I be then?"
Georg held his index finger up at Maria, urging her to have patience. "I'm getting to that. What I was thinking is that we'd leave the car in town, within walking distance of the Nazis. The car belongs to the Abbey, so it won't be connected to us if found, but should go unnoticed in that alley behind Schwarzstrasse."
Maria nodded and took Georg's hand as encouragement when he continued to speak.
"I'd like for you to wait in the car for me. I will go to Zeller myself and pretend to surrender in exchange for Liesl. Once I escape, we'll meet you—"
"Georg," Maria cut him off, "just how do you expect to do all of this on your own? Zeller will surely not let you out of his sight after he has you," she stated with concern. Suddenly, she shivered and placed her hands around her teacup to try to warm herself up.
Noticing his wife's shudder, Georg moved to sit beside her on the bed. He placed his arm around her and she leaned into him. Georg ran his fingers briskly over Maria's arm in an attempt to warm her up.
After a moment of silence, Maria looked upwards towards her husband with troubled eyes. She shook her head slightly as she spoke.
"I'm sorry, but I can't sit back and let you attempt to conquer this on your own. We've gotten this far already, Georg. Together. I refuse to watch from the car window as you walk into danger, without any help," she asserted with a frustrated shake of her head. With a sigh she stood up and walked a few paces from him.
Georg turned his gaze upwards and stared off absently toward the far end of the room, contemplating Maria's words. Given his inclination to be in control, he wished that his wife would just accept his plan without question or doubt. Yet, his common sense and his heart were telling him that she was right.
"I know you're brave, Maria, and I admire that about you. You're just as involved in this as I am, but you don't know what the thought of anything happening to you does to me. It tears me apart inside just thinking about it," Georg confided in a low voice.
Maria locked her eyes with his. "Of course I know what it does. How could I not?" she whispered.
The couple held each other's gaze for what seemed like an eternity before Georg lowered his eyes. "You're just as worried about me as I am about you and it was silly of me not to realize this. I'm sorry," he said to Maria in a soft voice.
Maria walked toward Georg. She reached toward him and brushed his cheek with the back of her palm, silently showing her acceptance of his apology. "Just include me, Georg. Please. I need to be by your side," she implored while continuing to tenderly caress his skin.
Georg stared into Maria's pleading eyes for a moment, trying with all of his will to find some reason to deny her request. However, his only rationale for this seemed to be out of selfishness. Given how much Maria had already helped him and the confidence that he had in her, Georg's heart kept overpowering his mind, telling him that he should relent.
With a sigh, he broke the silence and conceded "There's that stretch of brush to the right of the Residenzplatz where you can hide while I go inside. It's close enough to the Rathaus for you to hear any disruptions and keep a lookout, but also near the car, in case you need to escape."
Georg took Maria's hand in his and patted it with confidence. He removed the pistol and dagger from his waist, and placed them on the table next to them. He looked at her intently as he continued speaking. "I want you to take these. They'll search me immediately when I turn myself in and take all of my weapons, so I want you to keep them."
Maria nodded slowly and looked at Georg with wide eyes, understanding how serious his statement was and not denying the anxiety that suddenly consumed her. "I'll keep them with me so they're available for us," she said hesitantly.
She glanced downward toward the floor, somehow ashamed that they might actually need to use a weapon. However, knowing that it might be the difference between safety and protection for her family, Maria looked upwards and met her husband's gaze. "That is, only if we need to use them, of course."
Georg looked into Maria's eyes. "Of course," he said with an air of solemnity. The couple continued to gaze at each other until they were certain that they understood each other and were in agreement. "I'll give them to you to hold tomorrow."
Maria nodded. "What happens once you surrender to Zeller?"
"If he knows what's good for him, he'll release Liesl right away and you'll see her when she goes outside. I know for a fact that the only exit from the Rathaus grounds is on Bergstrasse, near where you'll be hiding. So she'll end up there, even if she leaves the building another way. When you see her, both of you run to the car, start the ignition and wait for me," Georg instructed.
Maria gave her husband a sceptical look and raised her eyebrow. "And just how, may I ask, will you escape? And Zeller may not release Liesl. I wouldn't put it past him. What then?"
"Maria, I'm not going anyplace until my child is safely out of there," Georg retorted. He absently walked across the room, and began to pace the area between the window and the door.
"Georg, I know what you want, but wanting and doing are two different things. I'm not doubting that this could work, but without you having any protection and not having a backup plan, I'm just very nervous about all of this," Maria admitted while staring at her husband's profile as he brooded across the room.
Georg stood silent for a moment, reflecting on Maria's words, and his frown suddenly softened. "Well, I will have this with me," he told her while reaching into his inner jacket pocket and removing an object. He walked towards her and held out his hand. In it was a thin silver pen.
Maria narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side with confusion. She looked at Georg with a puzzled expression, silently asking for clarification.
Georg removed the cover from the pen and Maria stared at the pointed ink cartridge within. The sharp object gleamed in her husband's hand as he held it out for her.
"That's the pen you always have in your pocket," Maria stated with a shrug.
"It's not much, but any sharp object can offer some protection if needed," Georg explained.
"Oh, I see," Maria said with a low gasp of understanding.
"I'll stick it through the inside fabric of my sleeve and keep it at my wrist. It's so thin that hopefully they won't find it and take it from me."
"I never thought I'd find comfort in knowing that my husband is carrying a weapon," Maria said softly, while locking eyes with Georg.
"Remember, only as a last resort, Maria," he comforted her as he placed his fingers on her chin and cocked her face upwards. He stared at her with an intensity that left no room for doubt on her part.
"I believe you," she said in a low voice. Narrowing her eyes in thought, she continued speaking. "While you're with them, is there anything I could do from outside? Perhaps create a disruption of some kind."
He met her gaze and his eyes bore deep into hers. "Would you fire a gun, darling?" Georg suddenly asked.
Maria's eyes widened at the inquiry and she felt her hands begin to tremble with nerves. She absently leaned against the edge of the table and cast her gaze downwards to the ground. "Well I suppose…. If it's, if it's what must be done…As long as—" she trailed in a flustered tone as the color drained from her face.
"No, no. Not at someone. Just as a diversion," Georg reassured her, sensing what was causing her distress. He reached towards his wife, urging her away from the table and leaning against it himself. He beckoned for her to lean against him and took her in his arms. Gently, he rubbed her back, grateful to feel her quivering settle and to see her face resume a more normal complexion.
Maria smiled shyly at her misunderstanding. "Well in that case, I should mention that every farm girl has fired a gun at least once, and I'm no exception. It just wasn't at anything, so I can't promise that my aim is something to brag about," she said with a nervous laugh.
"Really? You've fired a gun?" Georg asked, surprised at her answer.
"Would I completely shock you if I said yes?" Maria smiled upon seeing the stunned look on her husband's face. "After all, we needed something to frighten away all those blasted crows."
Georg chuckled heartily and leaned forward to kiss Maria's temple. "Well, I must say again what I've said in the past; you're full of hidden talents, Maria."
"And there are so many more for you to discover," she said softly.
"I look forward to it, my love," Georg whispered with a small smile and twinkling eyes.
"Now, here's what I'm thinking you could do, if you're comfortable with it. After I've been inside for a few minutes, aim as best as you can into the air and fire. The noise will surely create a disruption and I will be able to escape with Liesl during the chaos. If they've already let her go, I'll just escape on my own and meet you both outside. After you fire and your hear the chaos start to break out, make certain that you run to the car immediately and have it ready to leave when I arrive. If Liesl isn't out by then, he probably hasn't released her so just go to the car and I will worry about that," he said in complete seriousness.
Maria moved her gaze away from Georg's face to ponder his suggestion. Her eyes sparked with a glimmer of hope, but were still clouded with fright.
"I have confidence in you, darling. You can do this for us. For Liesl," he encouraged her.
Maria stared straight ahead without speaking, deep in thought, for a moment. She knitted her brow and Georg watched as her face changed from a look of apprehension to one of total faith.
"What do you think? It's important that we're both comfortable with this plan," Georg persisted.
Maria kept quiet for a moment longer, contemplating their plan, and then turned to face her husband. She nodded slowly, the worry completely faded from her face and only bravery and determination showing. "Well, it's at least worth a try. I think it will work."
Georg leaned toward Maria and brushed her temple with his lips. "So do I," he whispered.
Placing his forehead against Maria's, Georg continued to speak. "But promise me you'll be careful. I meant what I said about anything happening to you, Maria. I can't even bear to think about it."
"You have my word, Captain. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you," she whispered. Instinctively, she tightened her embrace around Georg's neck and drew him towards her in a hug, savoring his closeness.
After a moment, Georg moved his face backwards and just stared in wonderment at his beautiful wife, thinking about how he couldn't imagine being in this situation without her by his side. He brushed a strand of hair from Maria's forehead and looked into her tired eyes.
She stifled a yawn and picked Georg's arm up to look at his wristwatch. Maria sighed when she noticed the time, feeling as if they had been awake for so long yet also not believing that so much had happened in a few hours.
"Now don't take this the wrong way, but can I bring you to bed, darling?" Georg asked in a loving tone as he raised his arms and repositioned himself to gently massage Maria's stiff shoulders.
She smiled softly. "I'm much too tired to take that the wrong way."
Georg leaned forward, holding Maria's shoulders with his two hands, and placed a kiss on her hair. His face became more serious and he turned her around to face him. "I have so much on my mind tonight and sleep seems the least of our problems right now. But, we'll appreciate it in the morning if we can get a few hours of rest."
Maria sighed deeply and nodded. "I know. It doesn't seem I'll be able to clear my mind long enough to sleep, but my aching body is telling me otherwise. A few hours will do both of us some good."
Georg looked backwards and surveyed the narrow bed. He raised his brow and returned his attention to Maria. He frowned slightly with disappointment. "I didn't know beds came that narrow. I suppose that's why this room is meant for one. Shall I be a gentleman and let you have the whole thing? This chair seems quite comfortable," Georg said with feigned optimism.
Maria smiled softly at his chivalry. Her eyes moistened as she looked at her husband; feeling the pain and emptiness that were in her own heart, and seeing the same emotions in Georg's eyes as she watched him. "Just hold me close tonight, Georg. I need you by me."
Georg gathered Maria in his arms and stroked her back with his fingers. He looked into her eyes and stroked her face as he spoke. "So do I. We'll only get through this together, Maria."
She closed her eyes in relaxation and opened them again slowly to look at the man she had vowed to stand beside for the rest of her life. "'For richer and for poorer, in good times and bad,'" she mused aloud.
"I love you," Georg declared with a distinct seriousness in his voice.
"And I love you," Maria said softly.
"Let's get some sleep, Baroness," Georg whispered while taking Maria's hand and leading her to the bed.
The couple fell asleep in each other's arms for a few hours, anxious for what was to come the next day, but also feeling a sense of peace about their plan, their trust in each other and their faith giving them strength.