The Lonely Goatherd – Chapter 17
Briiiiingg… briiiiingg… briiiiingg…
Georg awoke with a start and immediately rolled over, blindly reaching through the dark searching for the source of the invasive noise. Slamming his hand on the small alarm clock, the ringing stopped. He groaned and rolled back over, curling himself around the warm body of his wife asleep in the bed next to him. He lay with his eyes closed, resisting the temptation to doze back off to sleep, but just enjoying the last few minutes of resting peacefully before the inevitable moment when he would have to get up and get ready to leave.
Snuggling closer to Maria, Georg kissed the side of her neck and thought back to their wonderful wedding night together. As soon as they'd arrived at the room, they hadn't wasted any time before collapsing into bed together. Georg had expected, especially after Maria's case of nerves several nights earlier, that perhaps she might have held back from him, that she may have needed some coaxing and guidance in their lovemaking, but he'd soon found that that wasn't to be the case. She was an eager and fast learner. Following from his example, she'd matched his movements entirely – kiss for kiss and touch for touch. Everything he did to her, she did to him in return. She'd held nothing back from him and everything she did spurred him on more, from the way she lavished hot kisses across and down his chest and explored his body with her lips and tongue, to how her body moved naturally and rhythmically against his. And her unrestrained cries as her body shuddered and trembled underneath him had almost undone him completely. Afterwards, they shared the bottle of champagne and food that Elsa had sent to their room and talked for hours before making love again in the early hours of the morning.
Georg felt Maria stir in his arms. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily.
"Just after 5," he replied, not even bothering to look at the clock for he'd remembered what time he'd set the alarm for.
"Oh that's so early," Maria moaned, turning over so that she was facing him. Georg rolled onto his back so Maria could lay her head on his chest. She draped one arm over his body and cuddled into him.
Georg softly kissed the top of her head. "Well, you can go back to sleep if you like," he whispered.
"Not a chance," Maria replied with a sigh. "I'm not going to waste what little time we have together by sleeping. In fact, I've decided that the Navy is going to have to do without you. I need you more."
Maria lifted her head and reached for him in the dark. Guiding his face towards hers, she kissed him softly at first, then more deeply. Georg responded by kissing her back passionately, although he knew it was dangerous to let things go too far. As much as he wanted desperately to make love to Maria again that morning, he knew that time was ticking on and that he would run incredibly late if he let her distract him too much. And he never ran late.
"Uhhh… Maria," he murmured in between kisses.
"Hmmh?" Maria kissed him again, her hands starting to wander across his body.
"I need to get up," he muttered, kissing her neck this time. He was trying to stay focused on the fact that he needed to get ready to go, but he was quickly losing his resolve and becoming lost in her kisses.
"One more minute?" she hummed, kissing him again.
"One minute will turn into two, which will turn into ten…" Georg tried to reason between kisses.
"And what's wrong with that?" More kisses and caresses.
As much as he didn't want to, Georg knew he had to find the strength to be firm with her. "I'll run late," he stated with a sigh.
Hearing the definitive tone in his voice. Maria stopped and looked down at him. He looked as disappointed as she felt. "And we can't have that, now can we?" she said. He shook his head sadly. He pulled her close to him, holding her tight for several seconds, savouring their last few moments of intimacy together for he didn't know how long it would be before they'd be together like this again. Finally, Georg placed a light kiss on her forehead and tore himself from her embrace.
Swinging his legs out of bed and getting up, Georg immediately tripped on a discarded throw cushion. "Damn!" he swore. Sunrise was not for at least another half an hour and although the room was dimly lit from the pre-dawn light, he still could barely see where he was going.
"Do you mind if I turn on the light?" Georg asked Maria.
"Not at all," Maria reached over and turned on the small bed lamp. Immediately, she squinted and blinked several times for the bright light hurt her eyes. But after a second or so, her eyes adjusted to the light and she propped herself up in bed watching Georg pick his way through the disarray of cushions and clothes thrown haphazardly around the room the previous night. As she looked at Georg walk naked across the room, she had a sense of feminine pride at seeing the effect that their early morning kisses had had on him. Of course she already knew just how much Georg desired her – he had made that obviously clear the night before when they'd made love for the first and second time. He'd lavished affection on her and made her feel so special, wanted and loved. It had felt so easy and natural to reciprocate his affections and actions, and show him just how much she needed him too.
But also, she marvelled at just how comfortable he was being naked in front of her. After overcoming her nerves and undressing in front of him for the first time and, with how beautiful and loved Georg had made her feel, Maria had never given it a second thought about being naked with him while they were in the throes of their love making. However, being able to just get up and walk around without her clothes on was another thing. Maria wondered whether she would ever feel confident enough to just do that like he was. She hoped so.
Georg disappeared in the adjoining water closet and re-appeared a minute or two later, clad just in his undershorts. He was whistling as he searched for the rest of his clothes in the midst of the vast numbers of cushions tossed onto the floor. He pulled on his trousers but left them lying loose around his waist as he retrieved his small duffle bag and began to pack his additional items into his bag. He tapped his fingers randomly as he tried to remember what else he needed. Looking over in Maria's direction, he spied the item he was searching for.
"Ah-ha, I can't forget this, can I?" he said, wandering over to the side of the bed and picking up the small alarm clock.
"I have to admit that I was surprised to see you had that," Maria confessed, remembering the previous night when Georg had produced it from his bag and proceeded to set the alarm.
"Well," he replied, sitting on the bed next to her. "Contrary to popular belief that all sailors naturally are able to wake up before dawn and never once sleep in, I am not like that at all. I hate waking up early, I'm terrible at it actually and would much rather sleep until late."
"Oh I'm the same!" Maria exclaimed. "All the other nurses are up before me and are always trying waking me up before Sister Berthe comes and yells at me to get up."
"We sound like the perfect couple," he chuckled. "I think after this blasted war, I should take you somewhere incredibly romantic for a belated honeymoon where we can stay in bed all day if we like and never once get up early."
"Sounds wonderful," Maria replied as she leant forward to give him a kiss, instinctively holding the sheet against her chest keeping her naked body covered. Maria wished she felt confident enough to just let the sheet fall, but she did not.
"Anyway," he grinned. "That's why I never go anywhere without this little thing." He waved the alarm clock in the air. "I use it very day so I'm not late. I can't live without it, and I can't live without you." He kissed her back.
His eyes lingered on her for a brief moment. She was adorable. Bright eyed, despite the early hour and her short golden hair mussed from sleep. She clutched the sheet to her chest, supposedly out of modesty, as if Georg didn't know exactly what lay under that sheet. Georg felt his resolve start to crumble and he knew he was only a microsecond away from pushing her back on the bed and having his way with her. But he knew he had to have at least a little bit of will power and stop himself before he went too far.
So instead, he lightly tapped her on the nose playfully. "Now stop distracting me," he joked, standing up.
"Me?" Maria gasped in surprise. "You were the one who came over here!"
"Well, stop being so alluring! You, lying there looking so beautiful and enticing, just barely covered by that sheet! I would hardly be a man if I wasn't distracted by you!" Georg concluded, one eyebrow raised.
At once, Maria blushed. Georg leant down for another kiss but Maria stopped him, placing one finger on his lips, which were only inches from hers. "Oh, no you don't!" she scolded teasingly. "I don't want to be blamed for you running late! Go! Finish getting ready!" she ordered as she swatted him away.
Georg held up his hands in defeat. "Ok, ok, ok. I'm going!" he chuckled as he returned to his task of finding his clothes: first his undershirt, which he put on, then he found his long-sleeved collared shirt and Naval uniform coat and laid them both on the end of the bed before starting to look for his socks.
As he continued to dress, Maria relaxed back onto the bed, her eyes wandering around the room. From the dishevelled bed, to the numerous throw cushions tossed randomly all over the floor then to the empty champagne bottle and flutes: all of which brought back pleasant memories from the night before. Finally her eyes rested on a small silver object lying on the bedside table. She shifted across the bed somewhat so she could pick it up. As soon as saw what it was, she giggled to herself.
"Georg, you forgot this," Maria called out to him.
"Hmmh?" Georg glanced over his shoulder to see what she was talking about. His whistle. "Oh, I'll get that in a moment," he replied turning back around as he thrust his arms into his shirt sleeves.
"I didn't think you still used this," Maria remarked as she spun it around in her fingers.
"I don't that often anymore," he called back over his shoulder, starting to button up his shirt. "But on the ship out at sea, it does become quite useful as I don't tolerate anyone shouting. I think I told you about it once before. Each officer has their own unique signal which I can use to call them at any time. They do exactly what I want them to do, exactly when I ask them to do it. Simple."
At once an idea came to Maria, but she tried to push it aside as she didn't want to be the reason why Georg ran late. But she couldn't help herself: she liked playing with fire, especially the fire that Georg had ignited in her. Feeling more confident and quite a bit mischievous, impulsively Maria dropped the sheet she had been clutching to her chest, raised the whistle to her lips and blew it softly.
Instantly, Georg froze mid-button and turned around slowly, his mouth wide open in surprise. There was his wife lying propped up in bed, her naked body completely exposed, looking incredibly innocent, yet seductive as she twirled the long silver whistle in her fingers.
"I'm sorry, Captain, but I don't know your signal."
Georg could feel his heart start to race, the blood pulsating through his body. Any will power he had that morning up until then had completely disappeared. It took him less than a second to make his decision. Screw Zeller, Georg thought. He'd just have to run late…
"Oh, I think you do," he murmured, his voice thick with desire.
And then he pounced.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
Max paced back and forth on the bridge of the ship. He looked at his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last 10 minutes. 0545. Damn, he thought. Georg was cutting it fine. In all the years that he had served under Georg and borne witness to many of his drunken or wild shenanigans, never once had Georg run late for a departure. But then again, Georg had never gotten married to a beautiful woman like Maria before. This was a whole different ball game, he thought.
He glanced at his watch again. Still the same time. Max paced again. Then he cursed himself as he resisted the urge to check the time again. Checking the time repeatedly won't make Georg arrive quicker, Max scolded himself.
The sun had just started to rise and the docks were bathed in the yellow and orange rays of the early morning light. The sunrise across the sea would have even seemed beautiful to Max, if he hadn't been so anxious about Georg still yet to arrive. His head pounded from the intense hangover he had. Too many glasses of Elsa's special and very potent pink lemonade the night before. Max rubbed his weary and sore eyes then craned his neck over the side of the ship to look up along the street that he knew led from The Lonely Goatherd. Nothing. No sign of Georg. Max sighed and checked his watch again. 0546. There was still time, Max reasoned with himself. No need to be worried. Yet.
Until he heard a voice from behind him.
"Lieutenant Detweiller," Commander Zeller called out.
Zeller! Max winced inwardly. Great, just what I need now, he thought. Putting on his best poker face, Max turned and saluted. "Commander Zeller, sir."
Zeller looked Max up and down several times, trying to size him up. "Lieutenant. It is almost time to leave. Have all the appropriate final procedures been completed and are all the crew ready for departure?"
"Yes, sir," Max replied obediently.
"And Captain von Trapp?" Zeller inquired. "Is he ready for departure?" Zeller raised his eyebrows and Max knew he was fishing for information about Georg's whereabouts. Max knew he had to stall him somehow.
"I'm sure he is," Max replied. When he gets here…
"I would like very much to speak to the Captain. Where is he?"
"He's errr…. Busy. You know, getting everything ready. Doing all the appropriate checks and procedures needed for departure."
"I thought you'd just said, Lieutenant, that all the appropriate checks had been made."
Max cringed inwardly. He was sure Zeller knew he was lying but he needed to try and keep up the façade – for Georg's sake. "I did. But you do know how thorough the Captain can be. Checking off that my checks have all been checked and well, ughh… just checking everything."
Max could hear the ridiculous coming out of his mouth but he couldn't stop it. However, while Zeller appeared to be somewhat skeptical, for the moment seemed to buy Max's story. "Yes, the Captain is very thorough and of course he would be diligent with ensuring everything is ready for departure. Checking…"His voice lingered on the word for a second, like he didn't believe a word Max was saying. "Because I would hate to think that you're lying to me and that the real reason why the Captain isn't on the bridge is because he isn't here yet."
Max's heart seem to stop for an instant. Zeller knew!
"I had heard that it was quite a party last night at The Lonely Goatherd, and perhaps the Captain is now preoccupied in what he believes to be more important matters?" Zeller continued, eyebrows raised again. "I've been watching your ship for the past hour and not seen the Captain once. I don't think I need to remind you, Lieutenant, how much trouble the Captain will be in if he is not here for the fleet's departure."
Max gulped. "He has ten minutes," he replied.
"Eight," Zeller corrected. "You better hope he gets here in time. I'll be watching." Zeller sneered. He raised his arm in salute which Max reciprocated before Zeller left the bridge. Max let out the breath he was holding as he watched Zeller leave the ship and join some other officers on the docks before disappearing into a nearby building.
Max frantically looked back up the street towards The Lonely Goatherd. Still no sign of Georg. Max rubbed his eyes again. His hangover was no better. Max wondered for a moment whether he should risk leaving the ship and go in search of Georg himself. But just as he was weighing up his options, he caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, he saw Georg sprinting down the street, racing as fast as he could towards the docks. His unbuttoned shirt and coat billowing out behind him.
In less than a minute, Georg had arrived at the ship and hurriedly climbed the ladder to board the ship. A second later he joined Max on the bridge, out of breath.
"You're late," Max remarked, tapping his watch. 0556.
"Technically, I'm still early," Georg responded with a wicked grin.
"Only just," Max said. "You certainly cut it fine." Georg just shrugged as he bent down to start tying up the laces of his boots. "So how was it?" Max probed after a second.
"How was what?" Georg pretended not to know what Max was talking about as he switched to tying up the second boot.
"You know exactly what I'm asking about. Stop toying with me Georg."
"But you're a child. You like toys." Georg chuckled, standing up and beginning to button up his loose shirt.
"Come on Georg, tell me everything. Tell me every teensy-weensy, intimate, disgusting detail."
"Forget it Max." Georg tucked in his shirt then fastened his Navy uniform jacket. Georg knew Max was fishing for details about his wedding night with Maria, but unlike previous conquests where he was quite happy to disclose and discuss every minute and sordid detail with Max, out of respect for Maria, Georg did not want to to reveal any specific details about their intimate time together. But seeing the disappointed look on Max's face, he thought he'd give Max just a tid-bit of a morsal of information to chew on. "Why do you think I was late?" he smirked.
Max's eyes widened in amazement. "That good that you'd risk everything to be late?"
"More than good. Exceptional in fact," Georg replied with a wink, giving Max a slap on the back.
"You know Zeller was sniffing around after you only a few minutes ago."
Georg shrugged, not concerned at all about Zeller. "I'm here now, and before 0600. He has nothing on me." Georg glanced over to the docks where Zeller had just re-appeared. The time was exactly 0600. Zeller looked up to see Georg on the bridge of the ship, a scowl on his face seeing that Georg was now there and he couldn't proceed with reprimanding or disciplining the Captain. Georg saluted his commander from where he was on the bridge. Zeller responded with his own salute, then turned on his heel, returning to the Naval base.
"So everything ready to go?" Georg asked Max. "Have you done all the checks and everything?"
Max chuckled remembering his blundering story earlier about checks and more checks to Zeller. "Yes, all done. You trust me?"
"About as far as I can throw you," Georg laughed, but then seeing the look on Max's face, responded a bit more seriously. "With my life, you know that."
"I do. And I trust you with mine," Max replied sincerely. "Alright, Captain. Give the signal to depart."
Georg pulled out his whistle from his pocket. Looking down at it he smirked. That little whistle which almost caused him to run drastically late. Images of his wild and passionate lovemaking to Maria barely twenty minutes prior flashed through his mind. His body still tingled from her kisses and caresses, the taste of her was still on his lips and the unrestrained sound of her cries of pleasure still rang in his ears. Yes, it was certainly worth running late. He loved Maria and hated leaving her, but he was the Captain and they were at war. Now it was time to get back to work.
He blew the whistle.