The Lonely Goatherd – Chapter 13
Georg was seething. He stormed out of the main entrance of the hospital slamming the door behind him. How dare she question his motives and his character? He fumed to himself as he stomped down the path leading to the street. His past was his past and had nothing to do with her or his future with her! What if he'd slept with eleven women before her? It was really none of her business. And to question his honour like that? Well… He really had much more that he wanted to say to Maria and he felt so angry at that moment that all he wanted to do was to go right back in there and give her a piece of his mind.
But as he stopped and turned back towards the hospital about to stomp back in and confront her, his anger began to dissipate and be replaced by a niggling thought in the back of his mind.
What if Maria was right? Georg started to wonder.
Before the Agathe sank and his world turned upside down, it was true that he had been quite proud of his rakish reputation and the fact that he'd never gotten into trouble with the ladies while others had. Of course he knew the consequences of casually sleeping around and many a time heard gossip surrounding certain young sailors who had been accosted by previous dalliances that sought assistance before they entered the home for unwed mothers. While Georg laughed along at the gossip with the other officers as one did, secretly he always felt thankful that it was them and not him that had been landed in trouble. And he couldn't help but be reminded of the many occasions that he would drag Max to a bar on the other side of Trieste just to avoid running into certain women that he knew would frequent their usual haunts just to ensure that they wouldn't track him down again after a previous encounter.
Georg tapped his foot impatiently on the ground as he was trying to decide what to do. He was still irritated with Maria for her brutal honesty, however, he realised she did have a very good point. He had been a reckless idiot with the many women he'd slept with in the past and it did matter for he knew his how much he loved Maria and he couldn't even imagine wanting or needing to look at another woman now that he had her. Of course he would do the 'right thing', if one of his previous conquests came to him with an unwanted pregnancy; he was a man of honour, but he shuddered to think how quickly his life with Maria would disintegrate if that were to ever happen.
Georg glanced back up at the almost completely darkened hospital; the only light coming from one window on the lower floor: the room he'd left Maria in. Reflecting on their argument plus what she'd told him about Margaretta and her predicament, Georg knew he had to fix things. But instead of returning to inside the hospital to Maria, Georg walked off in the other direction and towards the naval base.
Even though it was still early, just before dawn, the naval base was quite lively with activity as many sailors were returning from the docks and getting organised to go and clean up after the explosion. So it took Georg only around five minutes to locate the person he was searching for through the crowd.
"Lieutenant Franz," Georg called out as he finally spotted the short, weedy man who always wore a sour expression on his face. Franz narrowed his eyes in distain as Georg approached. however, he still gave him the obligatory salute due to Georg's higher rank.
"Captain von Trapp, sir," Franz addressed him somewhat arrogantly. He really didn't like the Captain but he had been forced to work alongside him by Commander Zeller.
Georg at once noticed the condescension in the weedy man's tone. He gave Franz a hard look that commanded respect and immediately Franz straightened up and stood to attention, an apology on his lips. Franz knew it wasn't a good idea to get the Captain off-side. "Forgive me, sir," Franz muttered through gritted teeth, "it's been a long night."
"Yes it has been," Georg replied cautiously, glaring at Franz again. "However, the events of last night are no reason to be forgetting your respect…"
Franz bit down on his lip slightly as he stared straight ahead. "No sir. I'm sorry sir." Franz shouted back dutifully. "How can I be of assistance, sir?"
"I need to find someone," Georg began, almost satisfied that Franz was now giving him proper respect. "I think he may be a private in your company. A man called Rolf. Blond, tall, sort of sleazy looking."
Franz nodded slowly, not quite sure exactly what the Captain wanted with one of his privates. "Yes sir, he's under my command. He delivers telegrams in his spare time. What is it regarding?"
"That," Georg snarled slowly, "is none of your business."
Franz looked Georg hard in the eye, wondering whether it was worth the effort of challenging an officer of superior rank, especially after he'd had strict orders from Commander Zeller to report the Captain's every move back to him. But after a moment, Franz decided it would be in his better interest to work with the Captain to find out what he was up to. "This way, sir. I'll take you to him."
Georg followed Franz outside to where a man was standing next to a bicycle, about to go and deliver the mail and telegrams out to the town. Georg recognised him as one of the men that had been out the back of The Lonely Goatherd the night before, like Maria had said. Franz approached Rolf and whispered something in his ear. At once Rolf turned and walked over to Georg before saluting him. "Captain, sir!"
"A word, Private," Georg said. "It won't take long," he added as Rolf flicked his eyes back over to Franz who gave him a faint nod of permission.
Georg had expected that Franz would take his leave at that moment but when he didn't, Georg cleared his throat loudly and at once Franz took the hint and quickly headed off back to the base.
As Rolf stood to attention, Georg took a moment to slowly walk around him, sizing up the man who had assaulted Maria's friend. He had a look of cocky arrogance about him which made Georg instantly dislike him even more. He stopped right in front of Rolf's face, noticing the young man's lips beginning to twitch in agitation.
"You know a woman called Margaretta?" Georg finally asked Rolf.
At once Rolf flinched slightly at the question by quickly regained his composure. "No sir, I don't believe I do," he lied.
Georg narrowed his eyes. "Think again Private," Georg snarled, "for my information says you do."
Rolf stared straight ahead, not making eye contact with Georg. "What did you say her name was again?" he asked innocently. When Georg repeated it, Rolf pursed his lips and shrugged. "Perhaps," he answered non-committedly. "You know there are so many women in town, I suppose it's hard to keep track of them all." Rolf flicked his eyes towards Georg. "I guess you know all about that," he added brazenly, "sir."
"Your meaning?" Georg hissed.
"Only that you have a fair reputation with the ladies yourself, sir," Rolf countered with a seedy smirk. "Even last night, sir, I saw you taking a woman upstairs…"
At the mention of Maria, Georg snapped. He shoved Rolf up against the nearby wall and held him by the neck in a choke hold. He got right up close into Rolf's face. "What I do with my fiancée," Georg seethed so coldly at him that Rolf involuntarily shuddered, "is none of your concern." At once Georg released Rolf and he fell to the ground, clutching his throat and gasping for breath.
"Get up!" Georg ordered. Rolf struggled to get to his feet but then he stood up to attention and looked straight ahead once again.
"Now," Georg continued as he started to pace in front of Rolf again. "I think you remember Margaretta all too well. A couple of months ago, at The Lonely Goatherd, the night of the dance. You bought her a drink then invited her to your room upstairs." He stopped pacing and stood right alongside Rolf. "Starting to ring a bell?" Georg asked Rolf. He didn't reply but just swallowed hard.
"I know you assaulted her," Georg hissed into Rolf's ear. "I know everything: how you hurt her and how you got her pregnant and how you've refused to help her. I know it all!" Although Rolf was still standing still, he began to tremble at the knowledge that the Captain had somehow found of everything about his night with Margaretta.
"And I think you know with this knowledge that I can destroy you just as easily as you have destroyed her," Georg threatened him. Rolf gulped then wet his pants. As much has he liked to put on a show of bravery, he really was the most pathetic coward. And being confronted about his actions by Captain von Trapp scared him to death.
"Now," Georg continued as Rolf whimpered and shook like jelly in a bowl. "I think we can avoid all this nastiness by making a deal…"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Ten minutes later and Georg left the naval base feeling satisfied of the outcome of his conversation with Rolf. Although he felt exhausted, there were still several tasks he needed to accomplish before finding his bed.
The sun had just finished rising as he strode down the street towards The Lonely Goatherd. The building looked a lot different in the morning light, quiet and deserted. But that didn't bother Georg as he knew the person he wanted to see would definitely be inside. But rather than knock at the front door, he made his way around to the back alley and up the staircase, taking the steps quickly two at a time. He was so intent on getting to his destination that he failed to notice a figure standing in the shadows of the alleyway watching his every move.
At the top of the stairs, Georg turned the opposite way to the way he'd taken Maria the night before and walked along the outer balcony until he got to the first door. He knocked loudly. He only waited a few seconds before, impatiently, he knocked again. A second later, the door opened and Elsa stood in the open doorway, dressed only in the most revealing piece of sheer red lace.
Georg's eyes scanned over her body quickly. "Do you have company?" he asked.
"No, I'm alone," Elsa confirmed.
"Good, just checking. I wasn't sure as you're barely wearing a thing!"
"Well, Georg, you're lucky I am actually wearing something, I usually sleep in the nude, you know." Elsa laughed seductively.
Georg let out a weary sigh, not really in the mood for Elsa's flirtatious games. "Well, cover up Elsa. Can we talk? I need a favour."
Elsa raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows in curiosity. It wasn't often Georg needed anything from her. "Of course, darling," she replied with a wave of her hand. "Come in. I'll make coffee."
Georg gave her a grateful smile as she stood back to let him into her room.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
Several cups of coffee later, Georg had finished explaining the situation and what he wanted from Elsa. Now dressed in a long satin robe wrapped snuggly around her body, she leant back in her armchair and flexed her jaw indecisively.
"Georg, I'm not a charity service," she stated shortly.
"I know that," he quickly retorted. "But it would be a great help to me if you could do it."
"If I could…" Elsa repeated.
"You could, if you wanted to."
Elsa clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Well, that's the thing, isn't it? If I wanted to… But more's the question of why are you so intent on helping this girl who's in trouble? I mean it really doesn't have anything to do with you, does it?"
Georg stared into his now empty coffee cup and fiddled nervously with the rim of the cup with his finger. "Put it this way," he replied, not looking up, "I was reminded earlier this morning by someone about the consequences for reckless actions and the importance of taking responsibility for those actions."
Elsa gave him a hard look then let out a low laugh. "Maria."
Georg gave a wry smile. "How'd you guess?"
"She's changed you from that reckless rake of a lady's man, hasn't she?"
Georg shrugged. "It's called being in love. I'd do anything for her and to be with her, and only her," he chuckled. "But she challenged me to consider the ramifications of all my past liaisons and if any were to ever surface, especially now we're together…" his voice trailed off.
"And together, I take it you mean last night was a success?" Elsa probed.
"A success?"
"The room I provided? I saw the two of you leave the bar and the room was left in quite a state when I went up later on - throw cushions everywhere."
"Oh…" Georg caught on. "Yes, it was lovely, well… that is until we were interrupted by the explosion. We really could have used more time to, uh… seal the deal, so to speak."
Elsa furrowed her brow. "So you didn't…?"
Georg shook his head. "No, but it's a story for another day, I think," he said with such finality that Elsa knew she shouldn't press him further on the matter. An uncomfortable and awkward silence then fell between the two of them.
Elsa, not speaking or looking at Georg, picked up the coffee pot and refilled Georg's cup. As she replaced the pot on the table, Georg asked her. "So, will you do it?"
Elsa sighed wearily. "Georg, if I helped one poor girl, then I'd have to help them all. Besides, this isn't the sort of place to bring up a child, is it?"
"No, I suppose not. But you've never been in the situation of having an unwanted pregnancy before, have you?" he challenged.
Elsa flicked her eyes up to meet his, the hurt in them showing. "No," she answered quietly.
Georg instantly regretted what he'd said, seeing it was such a sore point for Elsa. "I'm sorry."
"No," Elsa replied dismissively looking away. "It's fine."
Georg sat back in his chair. "You know you've never really told me about why you never had children."
Elsa licked her lips. "Not much to tell really," she sighed. "When I was first married, I wanted children and Heindrich and I tried for them for several years. But after three miscarriages and a haemorrhage that almost cost me my life, well the doctors thought it best to remove everything and that was that. I think Heindrich was more devastated than I was knowing that having children ourselves would never be possible but by that time I'd seen too many poorly behaved children – ones playing tricks on their governesses, climbing trees, going on mountain picnics and falling out of row boats and so forth to know that I wasn't the motherly type. But then I suppose after Heindrich died, I did have a lot more freedom to pursue the company of men knowing that there was no possible way that I would ever get myself in trouble."
"I'm sorry," Georg said again.
Elsa shrugged and gave him a wide smile. "Don't be. I'm not."
"And you never wanted to remarry?"
Elsa let out a raucous laugh. "No darling, I love meeting and being with different men too much to be tied down to just one. Besides, if I were to remarry, I'd want a man who'd need me desperately, or at least need my money desperately." She paused before adding wistfully. "But honestly Georg, how could I ever think of marrying again since the only man I've ever truly been in love with doesn't love me back, nor ever will?"
Georg felt the weight of her words as her eyes lingered on him. He swallowed hard. "Oh Elsa…" he began with a sigh but she cut him off abruptly.
"Alright darling," Elsa said almost too brightly as she wiped the tear from the corner of her eye. "You've convinced me. I'll help that poor girl."
Georg smiled, even though Elsa's confession from just a moment before still remained on his mind. "Good. Thank you. I really do appreciate it."
"You just tell her it'll be my pleasure," Elsa replied.
Georg squirmed a little in his seat. "I'd sort of hoped that you would tell her yourself."
"Me?"
"I think the offer would sound better coming from you," he explained.
"But it was all your idea!"
"Elsa, please?"
Elsa sighed. "Oh all right. Should we go and do it now?" She glanced up at the clock on the wall. "It's still early though."
"No," Georg replied, quickly glancing at his watch. "It'll have to be tomorrow, unfortunately. I need to get cleaned up and catch a few hours' sleep. And then with this explosion and all the madness from last night, I'll be stuck at the base for the rest of the day, and probably into the night too. I'm not sure I'll even get a chance to go back and speak to Maria. I'll come by in the morning to pick you up and we can go to the hospital together to tell Margaretta."
"Not too early in the morning, I hope. I do like to sleep in."
"No, not first thing. There is another task I need to do before we go to the hospital."
"What's that?" Elsa asked.
Georg didn't reply but just turned his head to look out the window to where he could just see the little church on the top of the hill.
A/N: I hope people are sticking with this story. I'd love a review to let me know what you think... More to come!
