Chapter Ten

France 1944

In the morning after, Aldo received information that they would be meeting Lieutenant Archie Hicox in a tavern that night. The meeting required fluent German speakers including Hugo Stiglitz, Wilhelm Wicki, and Archie Hicox. Eleanore wasn't sure why, but she had an odd feeling in her stomach that would force the bile of her stomach into her throat. The Basterds devised a plan so Eleanore could go to the doctor accompanied by Utivich. Raine, Donowitz, and Hirschberg on the other hand would all go to the building across the tavern and wait for the agent to meet back up with them. Utivich and Eleanore would meet back up with the others in the building when she was done.

Eleanore slept as Hugo dressed, putting the SS uniform on expertly. Hugo used the straight razor to shave his face, not grazing into his skin. When he finished, Hugo sat next to Eleanore on the makeshift bed. She was naked, her perfect breasts moving in synch with her deep breathing while the thin blankets covered the lower half of her frame. Hugo watched Eleanore, inspecting every inch of her flawless body; she was a masterpiece sculpted by the hands of Michelangelo and painted by Gustav Klimt. Hugo trailed his hand from the top of her neck, moving his large palms over her breasts before proceeding to trace the crooked lines of her captivating birthmark. He touched every part of her he could before he felt her move beneath his palm.

Eleanore's emerald eyes fluttered open, meeting the gaze of her husband. Hugo traced the contours of Eleanore's face, his rough hands handling the skin of a divine goddess. He bent down, kissing every curve of his wife's visible body. She ran her fingers through his soft hair, allowing Hugo to enrapture her senses. Hugo's mouth made it to the bewitching rouge lips that always plagued his mind, capturing them with his own. He anchored his arm against the bed as he continued his slow advance, his free hand caressing her jaw. The statuesque arms of his wife wrapped around Hugo's neck, inviting her husband to continue his onslaught.

Hugo helped Eleanore into her Parisian clothing, slipping the dress on her delicate form. He straightened out the back after pushing her hair to the side. Hugo saluted Eleanore's neck with a string of soft kisses as he rubbed her arms, the silence of the tent was filled with soft suckling sounds. Eleanore turned slowly as she met her husband's facade. Eleanore clutched the black collar of Hugo's jacket, luring his face to her. She kissed his shallow cupid's bow before seizing his soft upper lip with her teeth.

The couple heard the Lieutenant's yell, ready to head out. Hugo grabbed Eleanore's hand and kissed the soft, pallid skin. Hugo let the hand fall to her side before reassuring Eleanore with a tender kiss. Eleanore touched his rugged face, caressing the cheek of her warrior before he prepared for battle.

Eleanore and Utivich reached the small doctor's office, the sun setting as they knocked on the door. A young woman opened the door, peering her head out.

"May I help you?" She was in her late teens, her blonde hair was tied back in a blue ribbon. Her make up looked fresh, as if she had just reapplied it.

"Is the doctor in?" Eleanore asked and entered the home when the woman nodded her head. Utivich and Eleanore were escorted to a small sitting room, the walls covered in stripped wallpaper. The wallpaper was old, the color faded where the sun shown through the large window. The corners were peeling, revealing the original yellow paint. The smell of the home was stale, clearly uninhabited by people. Eleanore looked around at the paintings that lined the walls, recognizing the famous prints. Eleanore continued inspecting the waiting room when a quiet voice broke the tension.

"Can I ask you something?" Utivich sounded a little nervous as he scratched the back of his head. Utivich had his arms between his knees, watching Eleanore with large blue eyes. Eleanore faced him and gave him a small, curious nod. "Um... How did you and Stiglitz meet? You don't have to answer if you don't want to..."

"No, it's alright." Eleanore pursed her lips as she crossed her left leg over the right. Her lifetime flashed before as she reached back into her mind. Eleanore took a deep breath and Utivich gave her a strengthening smile.

"When I was thirteen years old, my family and I were in a terrible earthquake. We lived in a small apartment in Long Beach, California and it wasn't very well built. Just before the earthquake hit, we had just gotten back from my violin recital. My mother was bringing out my cake while my father was telling me how proud he was." Eleanore, even after all these years, still remembered the smell of her father as he wrapped her in a tight hug. He had hard muscles but a soft heart.

"When the ground began to shake, my father pushed me to the floor and covered my body with his. The building collapsed. The apartment building was old and already had a weak foundation and didn't stand a chance. When I was pulled out of the rubble, I learned that I had lost my father, my mother, and my baby brother. If my dad didn't protect me... If my dad didn't protect me, I would have died." Eleanore rubbed her wrists and looked into the face of Utivich who stared at her intently.

"So I was shipped to Germany to live with my grandparents. My grandparents were amazing people who always lent a hand to those in need. My neighbor was Hugo Stiglitz and he offered to teach me German. I know that everyone sees him as distant and unable to feel compassion, but I know the real Hugo. He doesn't talk much but that's because he doesn't feel the need to fill the air with frivolous conversation. Hugo was my friend when no one else was..." Eleanore absently straightened out her dress as she bit her lip. She could hear two sets of feet descending the staircase as they talked in low voices.

"Four years ago my grandparents and I were found hiding our Jewish friends in the cellar. We tried to protect as many as we possibly could but to no avail. The Gestapo found out and everyone I knew was slaughtered without a second thought. When I got home that night, I couldn't save them. A Nazi officer was waiting for me when I arrived home, and I instantly recognized the officer as a boy that used to go to my school. I had no option but to kill him." Eleanore decided to leave out the attempted molestation, saving Utivich from the minor details.

"Anyway, I disappeared from Germany and became a French citizen. Hugo thought I was dead as well as the rest of the German army and, as you can imagine, it was quite a shock to find each other after six years," Eleanore admitted.

"Hugo is the only person I have left. My family is gone and once the war is over, I don't know where I'll go. I've been thinking that Hugo and I could possibly flee to America and start a family." She turned her attention to Utivich again, gazing into his soft eyes.

"Why do you ask?" Eleanore inquired in a soft voice, uncrossing her legs.

"Oh.. Well... It's just that-"

"Eleanore? Eleanore Stiglitz?" The doctor had appeared in a long white coat. He had a bald head with a thick mustache that covered his upper lip. His hands shook as he held a clipboard in his hands. His face was gentle and he was shorter than Eleanore. He lead her up the stairs, asking her questions as they entered the room. When he was through, he looked over his clipboard and read the results to Eleanore as he pushed his glasses up his long nose.

When the doctor was finished reading the paper, Eleanore and Utivich left the office. They walked together, the warm streets of France surrounding them as they moved. They spoke to each other in soft voices, not wanting their English to attract any attention to them. They made it to the tavern to see Donowitz and Hirschberg waiting outside, both donning brown jackets. Their Parisian clothes allowed them to blend in with the French fashion. Eleanore and Utivich greeted them and Eleanore looked around.

"Is Hugo in the tavern?" A smile was spread across her face as she attempted to look behind them. Donowitz and Hirschberg looked at each other before slowly nodding, and pointed her in the direction of the door. Eleanore moved past them and descended the concrete stairs, noticing that the tavern was curiously quiet. She opened the door and was hit with a stale smell, the smile disappearing from her face. There was no noise, causing Eleanore to slow down her pace. She moved down the spiral metal staircase and was met with corpses lining the floors. She saw Wilhelm Wicki on her left who was propped up against the stone wall, his chest was grazed with multiple shots.

As Eleanore gazed forward, her pulse stopped as she saw her sleeping lover. Her feet forced her to advance forward, taking small quiet steps toward towards the dormant figure. Glass was crunching beneath her high heel shoes, as she slipped in the alcohol. Every sound around her was veiled so that Eleanore could only hear her trembling breaths. She held her breath as she saw the six holes in Hugo's jacket, face stained red. Her warrior was still, his chest not rising beneath his clothing. Eleanore's knees hit the ground beside Hugo's placid body as small pieces of glass penetrated the thin skin that covered her kneecaps and shins. Eleanore ran her hands over Hugo's still face, her palms smearing the blood.

"Hugo? You need to wake up now." Eleanore gently ran her hands through his short hair, and repeated the statement again against his ear. She touched Hugo's forehead and traced the lines of his face. She cradled his head, gently holding her fallen guardian in shaking arms. Eleanore could feel the hot tears slide down her cheeks, quietly landing on the collar of dearest. She rubbed the sides of his face again, rougher this time.

"Wake up," Eleanore's voice was becoming distressed as she repeated the line over and over. She kissed his soft lips, frigid against her own. Eleanore's sounds were muffled as she pressed her face into his neck, dampening the already wet collar of his jacket. She kissed his ear as she grabbed his arm that was extended to his side. She firmly pressed his hand against her belly, her vision becoming blurred through tears.

"Do you feel that, Hugo? You need to wake up for him." She was talking gently in his ear as she pressed his palm harder against her stomach. She continued to kiss his ear and his jaw, pressing her lips through the blood. Eleanore began to calm down, knowing that her husband wasn't going to open his eyes. She took deep breaths, the tears still rolling down her reddening cheeks. She kissed every part of his face and neck, trying not to look at the holes in his chest. "He's going to be big like you, Hugo. He'll have your handsome face and your beautiful steel eyes." Eleanore kissed his cheek as she moved his hand up and down her stomach."He's going to have your dimple." Eleanore kissed the dip in his chin softly as she continued moving his arm as she smiled at him.

"He'll be strong, just like you are and he'll be compassionate and loving. And he'll have your stubborn attitude. " Eleanore choked a laugh through her tears as she clutched Hugo's palm. She kissed the back of his hand over and over, watching his handsome face. She suddenly felt someone grasp her shoulders as she kissed Hugo. Utivich told her that they needed to leave before the Germans came, giving her another minute with Hugo. Utivich waited on the stairs as he lit a cigarette. Eleanore touched Hugo's gentle lips before granting the soldier one last kiss. She moved her lips against his, unmoving and cold. Eleanore finally moved back, kissing the hand of her husband before leaving.

Hugo Stiglitz could finally sleep soundly, dreaming of holding his bare, temperate goddess once more.