You Don't Look at All Like a Sea Captain
Chapter 2
Sorry this took so long! Have to work through the Christmas holiday season this year and things got a lil cray. Hope you enjoy!
1930
"I promise I'll be back with Aunt Hede and Oma as soon as possible." Georg reassured his over-excited entourage as they followed him out to the car. "The train station isn't far."
"Oh please, father, can't we come?" begged Marta, her little eyes wide. Georg faltered a bit at the look of longing, but luckily, Maria was there to intercede.
She parents so naturally, it's almost infuriating.
"Your father told you, Marta, there's no room in the car for all of you and his guests and it's not fair for only one or two of you to go."
Normally, Marta would never push back against her father and her governess, but this was different.
"But I've never met Oma or Aunty Hede!" she insisted.
"Me neither!" Gretl added, to Maria's dismay.
"That's not fair," Marta reasoned passionately. "Everyone else has!"
It took everything Georg had to mask the look of utter devastation at his youngests' words. Technically, Marta and Gretl had both met Hede and Hedwig (his mother), but they were far too young to remember. After Agathe died, so did family visits. He'd kept his children from their own blood.
"Marta, Gretl, I know you're very excited, but you'll have plenty of time with your aunt and grandmother when your father returns." Maria tried with a smile. "Besides, you only found out they were coming this morning! You haven't had time to make them any pictures!"
Those seemed to be the perfect words. Instantly, Marta and Gretl forgot about the journey into town and hurried inside for their drawing supplies.
She's magical with them.
Georg looked sheepishly at the older children, but they only embraced him.
"It's alright, Father," Liesl promised, "they'll know them now."
Peering over Liesl's head, Georg's eyes caught Maria's in overwhelming gratitude. Her eyes teared and she tore her gaze away.
…did she just blush? Stop it, Georg.
"Alright, I really must be on my way. Hede will never forgive me if I'm late." Georg warned.
"Oh, it's hereditary, then." Maria teased before she could stop herself.
She braced for the expected reprimand, but it never came. He only met her straight on with a warm smile and equally playful words.
"Yes, Fraulein. Which is why you will forever struggle with the concept."
The children's laughter didn't distract her from the smirk he sent her way as he settled into the car, but she shook it off. She had to be imagining things.
Georg pulled out of the main gate in deep confusion.
What on earth is wrong with me? She's just a governess.
Despite his own conviction, however, his heart couldn't help but push back. She wasn't just a governess.
But then…what else could she be?
1915
Georg groaned and dug his fingers into his temple so hard he thought he might crack his own skull. It didn't matter how many times he'd shipped out, it always took his brain at least a week to adjust to the reverberating noise and the endless headache of it all. He was getting better at hiding it, at least.
How do none of them seem to care?!
It hurt his pride that no other soldier he'd ever met seemed to suffer the same way. Or if they did, they were even better at hiding their pain that he was – and that would be a noble feat indeed.
A raucous cry erupted from the galley and he grimaced against the booming laughter. He was glad his men were getting along, he really was, but my god, at what cost?
Another round of the happy cacophony rattled into his brain and he gave up, heading out of his small room, up to the main deck, and finally out of the hatch.
The stars shined down lovingly at him from a dark sky meeting a dark sea of equal black.
Another oddity that surprised him – most of the men shied away from inky nights. They said it felt isolating or eerie or some other word Georg couldn't comprehend. The moments between him and the stars had always been nothing short of miraculous.
There was a natural simplicity to the scene. With external submarine lights off, it felt as though he himself were a part of the universe. No society, no war, just peaceful darkness.
Or at least it would've been if he'd been alone.
"Captain?"
"Shit!" Georg swore, instinctively reaching for his gun.
"Sorry, sir! Sorry! It's me, it's Karl! Don't shoot!"
Georg slowly pulled his flashlight in favor of his weapon and shined it towards the shaken voice. Sure enough, Officer Kutschera sat on the lip of the vessel with his hands raised.
"I could've killed you."
"Yes, sir."
"You didn't tell anyone you were leaving the ship."
"No, sir."
"I could have you disciplined for that."
"Yes, sir."
A long pause sat between them. Every muscle in Karl's body tensed until shockingly, Georg's manner dropped.
"At ease, Officer."
Karl slowly lowered his hands, body still mistrusting, but definitely less afraid of being shot.
He watched in fascination as his normally uptight, non-smiling, biting Captain wormed his way onto the deck with an undignified groan.
"What are you doing out here?" Georg asked expectantly.
"It was loud, sir." Karl responded honestly.
Georg snorted in agreement.
"It always is. One of the few things I've never gotten used to. And I've been in these ships for over a decade." Georg admitted, rubbing his head.
Karl quietly reached into his pocket and broke off a piece of something hard and brown, holding it out to his Captain.
"Here." Karl offered.
"What is that?" Georg asked skeptically.
"Willow bark, sir." Karl replied. "For headaches."
Georg took the bark hesitatingly and not without confusion.
"You chew it." Karl explained. "Don't swallow, though. It's not edible, it just helps."
Georg finally clocked the gnawed piece in Karl's other hand. He probably wasn't trying to poison him.
With a sigh, Georg bit down into the bark. It didn't taste incredible, but it wasn't nearly as odd as he expected.
"Where did you get this?"
"Brought it from home." Karl's voice strained on the word.
Home. How far away they all were from such a thing.
"Salzburg, yes?" Georg asked, remembering.
"Yes." Karl replied quietly.
It was only then that Georg realized how little he knew about the man. The rest of the men were relatively forth coming. Though, he supposed that was simply how it was when it came to talking of home. Some men talked constantly and some couldn't bear it. Apparently, Karl was the latter.
"For me as well." Georg offered. Karl didn't respond. "Or it is now. My family and I moved to Zell am See."
"Ah. One of those." Karl let slip. "Apologies, Captain."
"No, no. What do you mean? Be honest."
Karl looked at Georg, searching for a trap, but couldn't see one.
"There are only two types of people in Zell am See, sir." He explained. "The poor in the mountains who were born there and the rich that move into the lake district."
"Ah." Georg shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't the first time he'd grappled with his wealth in the face of a far poorer crewmate, but it was the first time someone had brought it up to his face. "I take it you're the former."
"With pride. Though my family lives in Tyrol now."
The odd haunted sadness crossed Karl's eyes and words once again and Georg couldn't help but notice.
"I know it's a long time away from them, but leave will be here sooner than you think. It always is."
"It doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter?"
"I'm feeling tired. I'm going to sleep, sir. Goodnight." Karl stood and hurried to the hatch.
"Officer Kutschera." Georg's authoritative tone returned, stopping Karl in his tracks.
"Yes, sir?"
"Don't ever come out here again without informing me, do you understand?"
Karl bit back the urge to fight. Instead, he deflatingly offered a reluctant,
"Yes, Captain." Before he disappeared.
Georg sighed and remained with the stars.
1930
"He lives!"
Hede von Trapp heartily embraced her brother as she hurried off the train. Their mother followed sullenly behind her.
"Of course I live, Hede." He replied with a sigh.
"Could've fooled me these past few years." She retorted. "Mother, do cheer up just for a moment, would you? Your son deserves at least a glimpse of a smile."
Georg might as well have not been standing there at all as far as Hedwig von Trapp was concerned.
"My son will be honored by my love this weekend."
With nothing more to say, Hedwig walked straight past her living children, lost in the memories of her only dead one.
"Well this should be fun." Georg sighed morosely.
"She loves you, Georg. She really does, I promise." Hede tried.
"Yes, like you love a lost puppy on the side of the street."
"Will you at least try to talk to her?"
"I'm not the one refusing to talk, Hede." Georg pointed out. "It's been over a decade. If she wants anything to do with me, she knows where to find me. Otherwise, she can throw herself on Werner's grave and never get up again."
Georg softened a bit, looking at his dear sister.
"I am happy you're here though, schwesterlein. Really. And the children will be thrilled to see you."
"I'm glad for it. I miss them dearly." Hede let the sweet moment settle before going back in. "And will there be anyone else special to see this trip?"
Georg rolled his eyes. "Yes, Elsa will be at the house. As will Max."
"Oh goodie, a true party."
"Hede, please promise to be nice. Elsa isn't the woman you think she is and I already have enough on my plate with mother."
"Very well." Hede promised with a huff. "I suppose I do have her to thank for bringing you out of your grief-filled idiocy."
Georg paused.
"Am I wrong?" Hede asked, suddenly insatiably curious.
"No," Georg assured, "no of course not. Elsa's done wonders for the whole family."
Hede didn't bother to remind her brother that he'd always been a horrid liar.
Thank you so much for the support of this story! I'm so glad you're liking it. 3