The Chain That Binds Them
He held the ring up against the soft glow of dawn. GvT you have my heart it read. Frowning slightly, Georg let the rings slide down the fine golden chain that held it, and watched it spin and dangle. Since Agathe's death her ring has been on his person. The ring that bound him to her for eternity. Only recently, the chain around his neck began to feel like a burden. A few months ago that very thought would have initiated a tremendous amount of guilt and self-loathing. Now he was almost at peace.
There were nearing a small village, and if his calculations were correct it would be one sympathizing with the French resistance. Once they were discovered the situation could go two ways. They could both be shot on the spot, or he could convince them that their lives are worth sparing and that he could provide them detailed information about the Germans. His hope was that they would trust him enough and get him contact with England. In England his father-in-law's influence could help them. Maybe he could even be reunited with his children. With a pang, he shook his head. At the moment, it would be better not to think of them. The idea that he could see his children was still a far off dream. If he survived, he would likely languish in an English prison. But for Maria, England would be safe he hoped.
Georg glanced at her slumbering form and smiled. Not wanting to wake her, he quietly rose. The days ahead of them would be intense, and he thought it would be best if their stomachs were full.
He pocked the ring, no more would it be chained around his neck.
Maria shivered in her sleep as the morning sun filtered through the trees. She turned and stretched, searching for a source of warmth- expecting to find Georg arms around her- she found nothing. Having gotten used to Georg's arms around her while they slept the sensation of being alone woke her with a start. Quickly standing she found a note from him fluttering to the ground.
Maria,
I went to hunt for some food, please don't worry. I'll be back soon.
Yours, Georg
The sound of food made her stomach growl but knowing he was fine, calmed Maria. They had been in the wilderness for days, and while their rations were slowly running out and the walk was exhausting, Maria never felt any closer to someone as she did with Georg. She stretched out her stiff limbs once again, and laid back down for a few more minutes, enjoying the sounds of nature awaking around her. The birds chirping, the wind whistling, and the small brook of a water flowing over the rocks nearby seemed to create a song. Quietly she hummed along to the sounds of nature and listened for Georg's return.
Soon, Georg approached their campsite carrying a small animal carcass over his shoulder.
"Breakfast!" Georg announced, while wrinkling his nose. "It has been a very long time since I had to eat anything of this nature."
He placed the animal on a flat stone and took out his army knife. For a moment he hesitated with his blade hanging over the dead animal.
"May I?" Maria queried with a raised eyebrow. "I did grow up on a farm you know."
Wordlessly he handed her his knife and watched as she expertly cut and skinned the animal. The sight of the raw meat made Georg feel suddenly queasy and his quick intake of breath was enough to make Maria glance up at him.
"My captain," she teased. "You are turning absolutely green."
"Baron," he reminded her while shaking his head. "I...I think I'll start the fire."
After eating their unusual meal, Georg extinguished the fire and the two packed up the rest of the cooked meat to take with them. They walked along the brook feeling energized from their breakfast. But as the sun rose higher and higher in the sky Georg paused often to glance at his compass. Past noon he stopped them and they ate their food in silence. And once again Georg glanced at his compass and studied a map of the area.
With a sigh he rolled up his map and pocketed his compass. "We are nearing a small village now. Where there is water there are people and if I calculated correctly the village we are approaching is occupied by the French resistance." His eyes met Maria's, and for the first time that she had known him, something akin to fear fleetingly appeared in his eyes.
"That's good isn't it?"
"That depends on how well I can convince them that I am on their side." Georg replied. "Maria, do you still have the book I gave you?"
"Yes"
"Good, hold on to it. And take this too," he said, as he handed her a wad of French and English bills. "Put some bills in your boots too."
"Georg-" she began to protest.
He shook his head and began jotting something down on a small pad.
"Here are four numbers, memorize them. The first is my in-laws address the second is their phone number. Explain to them who you are and your relationship to my children. If I make to England, I'll likely need my father-in-law's aid. He isn't an unreasonable man but he may be suspicious. The third number is a Swiss bank account and the fourth is a passcode."
"Georg-"
"This isn't negotiable Maria," he said sternly. "We are trying to cross one country only to enter another- and neither country wants us or people like us. We can't be like an ostrich now and bury our heads in the sand. I have a bounty on my head from one side and the other side may not feel the information I can give them is useful- but you Maria, "he said urgently. "You need to survive somehow and while you always managed to find a way to live, this situation is different."
Silently Maria nodded and took the money from him and stuffed it into her boots like he instructed. She took the paper from him and memorized the numbers he had written. The times for tears has long gone and she knew that. Right now it was only about survival.
"One more thing Maria," he said. "If all else fails, get to England and show my father-in-law this." He held up a fine golden chain. GvT you have my heart was engraved on the ring hanging off it. Maria recognized it immediately. It was the ring that bound him to his children's mother, the same ring that she cleaned off his lifeless and bloodied body. He closed the chain around her neck and kissed her deeply. The ring was so light and so fine that she could hardly feel it, but it felt heavy on her heart and soul.
