Stalag 13, Solitary Confinement Cell
July 25, 1944, 2040 hours
Marya crawled from the tunnel and looked at the woman lying on the cot staring at the ceiling. "How are you holding up?" she asked Heidi.
Heidi looked over as if she hadn't heard Marya enter the cell. "Good, I suppose," she replied.
"Are you still upset?" Marya asked, taking a seat on the end of the cot.
Heidi sat up to give Marya more room. She shrugged. "It is getting better," she replied. "There is a lot to get used to."
Marya nodded. "I know," she replied softly. "Have you talked with Hans yet?"
"Does he still want to be called Hans, or is it Robert now?" Heidi retorted with a tinge of bitterness. He quickly shook her head. I am sorry, I just …"
Marya smiled at the woman. "I think he would not care what you called him … as long as you talked to him," she said.
Heidi nodded but remained silent.
Marya sighed and tried a different approach. "Heidi, are you angry with me?" she asked. Heidi shook her head. "With Kurt?" Another head shake. "Then why are you angry with Hans?"
"I do not know," Heidi replied.
"I do," Marya said. "You are angry with him because he lied to you and told you he was someone he was not." Heidi nodded. "But Kurt also told you he was someone else … and you knew me as Kurt's sister. Why are you not mad at us?"
Heidi stared silently at Marya. After a moment, she shrugged.
"I think you do know," Marya said.
Heidi nodded and bowed her head to hide her face.
"You are angry at Hans because you love him," Marya said.
Heidi didn't answer. Marya saw her begin shaking and she knew the woman had started to cry. She stood. "Heidi, I think you should talk to Hans now," she said, walking over to the tunnel entrance. She bent down and motioned into the entrance. Teppel crawled out into the cell.
"Heidi, I am sorry," he said softly.
Heidi looked up with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh Hans," she cried, holding her arms out to him. Teppel moved to her quickly and embraced her.
Marya smiled at the sight. "I think it is time to leave you two alone," she said quietly, and retreated to the tunnel.
- - - - -
Marya walked into the large area of the tunnel and found Michael talking with Colonel Hogan. "Comparing stories about me?" she asked lightly.
Both men looked at her and smiled. "We're not telling!" Hogan quipped.
"So did it work?" Michael asked.
Marya smiled. "I think we should stay out of the solitary confinement cell for a while," she answered. "Or there will be two very embarrassed people in there!"