The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile.
Author's note: post series and very AU; some movie events will happen, but differently.
Warning: May contain movie spoilers, as well as violence, blood, bad language, and maybe sex.
Beta: Kittygirl109
17. Dodged That Bullet (Ausgewichen dieser Gewehrkugel)
The Calais Express left the city limits of Munich and began to chug it's way west across Germany towards France. Even with the half hour delay, Steve and Mike barely made the train, leaping on board in a similar fashion to the way Edward had done. After the pair dropped their suitcases in their respective sleeper compartments, they made their way to the dining car for a late supper. Then they repaired to the smoking car.
"Hey Steve," Jim asked while his friend lit up a small dark brown cigar. "Do you believe Kesslar's story about Elric bein' a mental patient? He sounded convincin', but something ain't addin' up."
Once his cigar was drawing well, Steve handed the lighter to his friend before he sat back and took a slow drag, then blew smoke rings towards the roof of the car. He didn't speak until the last ring began to dissipate. "Kesslar was lyin', Jimbo. Cause if he really was crazy, guys in white coats and carryin' big nets would be after him, not Nazis. That kid was scared and I just wonder what he did to get those Krauts all riled up."
Jim had lit his own hand-rolled cigarette by now and he blew his own set of smoke rings before he replied,. " I wouldn't wish Nazis on my worst enemy, cause those bastards are gonna be trouble in the future, Steve, mark my words. I sure hope Edward gets away."
"Me too," Steve nodded. "That makes two of us."
Captain Kesslar's men had fanned out all over the station to question the ticket sellers, and managers of the various kiosks which sold newspapers and other items to travelers. No one one recalled seeing a slight young man with long blonde hair in a ponytail - until a ticket seller near platform five. Unfortunately for Kesslar, she couldn't remember for what destination, nor even what platform he'd headed for. She sold so many tickets each day faces just blurred together. But Kesslar gave her a spare picture of Edward anyways, just in case something jogged her memory.
For tonight, he'd had to admit defeat and he returned to the station master's office to report the failure of their search. Hess was also in the office, and with him was a woman with light brunette hair wearing a fashionable skirt suit, plus a dignified-looking older man with a pince-nez screwed into one eye socket. The station master, Herr Braun, leaned back in his big wooden chair and rubbed his chin while saying "Hmmmm..." He abruptly sat back upright and handed Kesslar a sheet of paper printed on both sides.
"Here is a timetable Captain Kesslar, use it to find out which trains have left in the last two hours from platforms one through ten for a start. If your quarry purchased his ticket at Fraulein Kehrmeyer's window, it's entirely reasonable he took a train leaving from a conveneintly nearby platform. Show Elric's picture to all the guards at each platform, and if no one remembers him, then repeat the process at platforms eleven through twenty."
"Ja wohl!" Captain Kesslar clicked his heels and bowed to Herr Braun, then to Hess and his two companions. His back held ramrod straight, he left the office without a backward glance, but with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. If a high-ranking Nazi was involved in the search, it didn't bode well for this Edward Elric.