Disclaimer: Do I haffta say it again? Cause every time I do I get sad….
Author's Note: I forgot the place where the Nazis wanted the Captain to go, so I made if Berlin.
Chapter 13
"Fraulein Maria?"
"Yes Gretl?"
"How long will we be gone?"
Maria froze in her process of packing Grelt and Marta's belongings. Could she really tell this precious little girl in front of her that she may never come back to the house she spent so little of her childhood again. That none of them may ever walk in the halls of this house, down the road towards town?
"I-I'm not sure Gretl."
Gretl looked down sadly. "Can I bring my dolls with me?"
"Can I bring mine too?" Marta piped up.
Maria had to contain her tears. This was tearing her apart. She remembered being Marta and Gretl's age and being inseparable from the doll she had. She couldn't bring herself to say no, she had already told the children that they needed to pack only what they needed, but she was sure that Marta and Gretl, perhaps even Brigitta and Kurt understood why.
"Gretl, you won't be able to take all of them, perhaps you and Marta can each pick your favorites and take them along." The Captain spoke from the door way. As the two girls put serious faces on to pick their favorites Maria mouthed him a thank you. He in return mouthed your welcome.
"Fraulein Maria?"
"Yes, Marta?"
"Will you be coming with us when we leave?"
Maria looked over at the Captain and found a small smile on his face, before she could stop herself she smiled too: "Of course I am."
The children had been scared, Fraulein Maria told them that they had to pack their things but only things they needed. When they asked why the only thing she told them was that something had come up and they had to leave. But at the moment there were no worries, the were playing in the garden, with Fraulein Maria watching from a near by bench. Carefully Leisl and Frederick approached her.
"Um, Fraulein?"
"Yes?"
"We. Leisl and I, where wondering why we had to leave."
"I told you all earlier that something had come up and when we may have to leave very, very soon."
"We know, but-but we know that there is more to that reason, please tell us Fraulein." Leisl begged. "Does, does it have to do with the-the-the, uh…Nazis?"
Maria shivered at the mention of the Nazis. With a deep, prolonged sigh Maria nodded her head. She couldn't lie. And Leisl and Frederick where at that age where you couldn't hide anything from them for long, they where smart. "I'm afraid so, they've taken over Austria." She heard Leisl gasp and Frederick swallow hard. "Your Father doesn't want to live here with them in charge and he thinks they may want him to join their navy. Do you understand why we must leave?"
"Yes, Fraulein."
"And please don't tell your siblings, they will learn in good time."
"Yes, Fraulein."
"Leisl, Frederick."
The Captain had just appeared in the garden. "Yes, Father?"
"Would you please join your brother and sisters, I must speak with Fraulein Maria."
"Yes, Father. And Fraulein Maria."
"Hm?"
"We're glad your coming with us."
"I am too." Giving their Father a smile, the two oldest von Trapp children ran over to their siblings, putting on smiles.
"Sir?" Maria asked as Georg sat next to her on the bench.
"Berlin." He said handing her the folded telegram from his pocket. "They've offered me a commission in their Navy, I've been requested to accept and report to their station tomorrow."
"I knew, and you knew, something like this would happen, but so soon?"
"I'm afraid so. Max and I have planned everything. Tonight, when it's dark enough, we'll leave." Before Maria could stop herself she reached for his hand and squeezed it in a comforting way.
Giving each other a small smile they turned their attention to the children, all of whom were oblivious to their surroundings, even Frederick and Leisl had forgotten their worry even if for these few moments. Maria and Georg watched as those precious seven children enjoyed their last moments of being children for the next few days. Watched as they laughed away their last moments as children of Austria.
"It's not that it strains my back, but the fact that I am losing a very good opportunity to make money." Max said sarcastically, later that night as he helped Kurt and Georg push the car that Frederick was steering with the girls following close behind.
The Captain gave a small snort: "You had no choice."
"I know, that's why I'm making it."
"Why doesn't Father turn the motor on?" Gretl asked, as she clutched Maria's hand.
Before anyone else could answer Kurt said in a rather loud whisper, "Because he doesn't want anyone to hear us."
"SSHH!" Kurt looked down at the car again, feeling ashamed.
"Will we be coming back here."
"Some day Leisl, I do hope someday." Maria said sadly.
"Is Father going to push the car all the way to Switzerland?"
"Ssshh." Maria said quietly, patting the girl on the head.
After Kurt opened the gate and the car was on the road everyone ran towards the car but all where stopped in their tracks as head lights of another car turned into spotlights on them.
"Having trouble with your car Captain?" The cold voice of Herr Zeller broke the icy tension of the air.
"Yes, as a matter of fact we couldn't get it started."
"Karl, fix Captain von Trapp's car so it will stop." Quickly a soldier went to the car and turned the keys. Giving a small laugh at the car starting and patting the soldier on the back Georg shrugged at Herr Zeller. "You received a telegram today Captain, which you did not reply."
"I was under the impression Herr Zeller, that the contents of telegrams in Austria where private!" The Captain said, slamming the car door, and walking forward. Maria found her courage and hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder to stop him from going any farther.
"I have my orders Captain, and they are to take you to Berlin tonight, where you will accept your commission." the evil man said with a smirk.
"I'm afraid that is quite impossible." He needed an idea, and quick. What could buy them time somewhere where there are a lot of people, somewhere where they could get lost, where it was noisy….that's it. "You see, we, all of us, are singing in the festival tonight."
"You, Captain von Trapp, performing in a folk festival?"
"Believe me, it will be a performance far beyond any I have ever seen." Max added, catching on to what Georg was doing.
"And these travel clothes your wearing?"
"Our costumes, naturally." Maria said, following the Captains lead but not knowing exactly where he was going with it.
"You couldn't possibly let the children down now, could you?" The Captain asked, an edge to his voice.
Herr Zeller stared around at the group, all eyes were on him. "Herr Zeller this night air is not good for the children's voices." Herr Zeller looked once again at the young lady. He recognized her from the party: the children's governess.
"Perhaps a slight delay will be alright. Therefore you will sing, you all will sing. And when you are done, you, Captain von Trapp will be taken to Berlin. Now if you'll get into your car, we will escort the von Trapp family to the festival."
"No escort will be necessary, Herr Zeller."
"Oh, on the contrary Captain, an escort is very necessary, very necessary indeed."
The Captain sighed and looked over a Maria, who gave him a worried look. Secretly he crossed his fingers and she gave him a smile before they both got into the car. This was going to be harder than he thought.
Author's Note: Thanks to all those who reviewed, more to com soon. Thanks!
The Lonely Goatherd
