A Round of Drinks
Maria's face changed from the brightest shade of red to white so quickly that Georg would have been alarmed had he been able to tear his gaze from her eyes. Maria could not speak as Johannes profusely apologized for her. The whole situation was very embarrassing for Johannes. Not only was his commanding officer just drenched by his partner's drink, but also Captain von Trapp was seated with some of the most high-ranking officers in the German navy. What made matters worse was that the Captain did not seem notice Johannes or acknowledge his apology. He seemed completely mesmerized by Maria and Johannes could not understand it.
Remembering himself and where he was, Georg finally tore his eyes away from Maria's deep blue eyes and nodded to Johannes, who took it as his cue to leave the Captain's presence. He quickly grabbed Maria's hand, and led her away from the table. Georg bit his tongue to stop himself from calling Maria back. As much as he wanted to talk to Maria, he was wary of doing so in front of the men he shared drinks with. Georg sat down and saw his colleagues suppress grins. He ignored their looks and smirks and followed Maria and Johannes with his eyes, never losing sight of them.
So many questions plagued his mind. Why would Maria be here in Bremerhaven at all? Was she not safe in the abbey? After all, that was the reason she gave for leaving the children so suddenly, for leaving him…He didn't believe her reason for leaving then, and he still didn't understand it months later.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Georg?" Admiral von Schrader teased, snapping Georg back to the present.
"Yes, sir, of course."
"It really is funny, Georg: you are finally on dry land and you are doused by a pretty lady," Captain Schmidt joked.
"Yes, very pretty," Georg agreed.
He continued to make polite conversation, but found himself unable to think of anything but Maria. He had come to the holiday party at the personal request of Admiral von Schrader. Georg would hardly call the evening festive and he stared down at his pitiful drink. The party was an attempt to boost the moral of the men, whose spirits were usually down during the holiday season. The men were homesick and the availability of drinks and women was a ploy to make them forget that they are in middle of a war.
Georg had just anchored his submarine earlier that day. His feet had barely adjusted to land when he received a request to join the Admiral. Georg was exhausted and would have preferred to sleep, or at the very least spend some time alone after being cooped up with dozens of men in a cramped submarine. But it was an invitation he could not refuse, so Georg pretended to enjoy himself in the company of men who would prefer that he'd be dead!
Georg was exhausted; there was no denying it. He had spent the last few months at sea with the most difficult missions to execute. Some would say Goerg's orders were impossible to fulfill, others would say they were suicidal. Therefore Georg did not doubt the men seated with him wanted him dead, they sent him on countless missions that, due to his naval skills, luck, and grace of God, he returned to land again and again alive. He was just a pawn in their game, and the young men under his charge-that he kept motivated and brave-were only a group of nameless and unimportant people who were not sacrificing their lives for an ideal like they have been told; rather their lives would be sacrificed in the effort to kill Georg von Trapp, in the most convenient and least political damaging way.
Georg could not be killed outright because of his terrific record in the first war. His legacy alone kept him worthwhile to keep alive. However, Georg's past vocal opinions of the Third Reich were a problem, as well and the fear that Georg would defect and work with the Allied forces. Thus the Admiral and his conniving underlings concocted a plan that would serve two purposes. They sent Georg on the most difficult missions. If Georg dies as their wish, he dies a hero and there is no political fallout. If Georg succeeds than the Allies forces are weakened. It was a win-win situation for them and a lose-lose situation for Georg.
The stress of his predicament was physically and mentally exhausting. The only thing that got him through the last few months was the thought of his children. Georg would be the first to admit that he was not a great father, but he was the only parent they had left. He would do anything in his power to ensure that his children would not be orphaned. Even if is meant serving in a cause he vehemently opposed, or faking his way through drinks with the Admiral and his henchmen.
Georg continued to watch Maria and Johannes talking. As they rose from their table, his view of them was suddenly obstructed. He panicked not being able to see Maria for a moment. What if she disappeared from him again? The dance floor was crowded and in his opinion he sat long enough with the Admiral to fulfill his obligation. The downed the rest of his drink and caught sight of Maria once more. Georg politely excused himself from the table.
He was suddenly in the mood to dance.
