Fire and Steel, Volume 6

by Gerald N. Lund

  He smiled, then took her in his arms and kissed her gently. When he pulled back, she reached behind his head and pulled him in again and kissed him back, only this time for much longer. “I love you so much,” she said when they finally pulled back.

  “And I love you, Lise. More than I can ever express in words.”

  “So why are you frowning so? Have you got more bad news for me, Benjamin Westland?”

  “Nein. You have had more than your share of that. No, I . . . I have a possible job offer.”

  That caught her totally by surprise. “A job offer? Here?”

  “Uh . . . no. In London.”

  “Ohhhh,” she said very slowly. “I see.” She turned and glanced toward the door. “And would Herr and Frau Bergau have anything to do with that?”

  “Yes. I would be working with Nigel and Cassandra.”

  “Is that why they kept you up there for so long?”

  “Partly. Mostly we were working really hard to come up with solutions for your family. But sometimes over meals, or when we were sitting around waiting for a contact to check in, Nigel began to drop hints.” She started to reply, but he pressed a finger to her lips. “But Nigel made something very clear to me right from the first. And this is very important.”

  “What?”

  “He wanted me to know that their efforts to help you and your family and the Zeidners was not contingent upon me coming to work with them. He really stressed that. He has deep, deep feelings about Hitler and his regime. So does Cassandra.”

  “I could tell that.”

  “So I have no actual offer. When I started to hint to him while we were in the taxi that I would be interested in learning more, he waved it off. Said all of that could wait until we get the family crisis resolved. But he did say that when all of this is worked out and you and I get to London, he wants to meet with us and then—”

  “With us? Why me?”

  “Uh . . . because you’ll be my wife.”

  “He doesn’t need my permission, and neither do you.”

  “Hey,” Benji cut in. “All of life’s big decisions we make together from this point on.”

  She kissed his finger, then laughed softly. “Yes, sir.”

  Benji didn’t laugh. His mind was racing on. “Okay, let me say some things. One night I was free, so I went to the library and did some research.”

  “On what?”

  He didn’t answer her directly. “Nigel’s title is Liaison Officer with the U.S. Embassy, but I don’t buy that. Well, I think he is that, but I think he is much more than that. First of all, he’s a Brit. You’d think a liaison officer would be an American. Well, in the library I did some research on government security services, as they are often called. Particularly secret government security organizations. And here’s what I learned. In 1909, an organization called the Secret Service Bureau was formed through a joint initiative between the War Office and the Admiralty of the British Navy. Their mission was to control secret intelligence operations in the UK and overseas.”

  She nodded, starting to get an inkling of where this might be leading.

  “After the war, they continued watching over the government’s security. By the early twenties they had become the Secret Intelligence Service, or SIS to most people. Though much of their work is classified, they are basically tasked with gathering intelligence from both domestic and international sources to help keep the British government and its citizens safe and secure.”

  Lisa was no longer smiling. “And you think that’s what Nigel is, an SIS person?”

  “I think they call them agents. But yes. And Cassie too. And very likely more than just agents. Supervisors or senior officers. I think he is housed in the American embassy so he can work closely with his American counterparts.”

  “So . . .” Lisa’s mind was churning. “They want you to be a spy? But why? You’re an American. And if they do, I say no. I don’t like that, Benji. If we get out of Germany safely, I don’t want to ever come back as long as Hitler is here.”

  “And I share those feelings. And I can’t say for sure what they’re thinking, but this last week while I was working with them, Nigel used two words several times. ‘Analyst’ and ‘courier.’”

  “Okay. That sounds better.”

  “Either of those assignments require excellent German.” Benji sat back, his mind working hard now. “And here’s what else I learned. In Nigel’s mind, the question is not if Hitler is going to take Europe into another major war, but when.”

  Lisa sat back, considering all that he had said.

  Benji spoke again. “I should remind you that your soon-to-be-husband is currently unemployed, with absolutely no job opportunity in sight, except for punching cows back in Utah.”

  “I like that.” Then she immediately sobered. “Is this something that interests you, Benji?”

  “It does. For several reasons. First, I’ll get to use my German. Second, it sounds challenging. Third, and most important, we’ll be working to pull down Hitler.” He sat back. “That’s still all supposition on my part, but I think that’s what’s coming. I think he’s going to ask me to join the SIS.” He snapped his fingers. “And there is a fourth reason, too.”

  “What?” Lisa was smiling. “I love your lists.”

  Benji pulled a face, then went on. “Let’s assume that your family doesn’t get their exit visas and that we do have to send your siblings out with the Kindertransport. That means they’ll be assigned to some British couple until it’s safe to go back home again. That’s part of the obligation. But if we’re in London, then maybe they would let us be their ‘parents’ until your mom and Grandma Inga can come too.”

  “That is a big one, Benji. A very big one.”

  “So, if I’m right, and that is what Nigel is going to offer me, do you agree that we ought to take it?”

  Lisa didn’t answer for a long time, and then she nodded slowly, an impish smile playing around her mouth. “I have two answers to that.”

  Benji hooted. “Okay. I don’t always think with numbers.”

  “Don’t you dare stop it. I love it. It makes things very clear. So, here are my two answers. First, after what Nigel and Cassie have done and are doing for us, absolutely. We owe them an enormous debt. Second, if you can help in any way to stop what’s going on in the Fatherland and see that my father didn’t die in vain, then my answer is even more emphatic. Yes, Benji, you have to do it.”

  “Thank you, my love. Those are my feelings exactly.”

  “But I have one condition.”

  “Oh, and what is that?”

  “That come May, they give us permission to go to America to see your family.”

  “Ah, I like that. But why May?”

  “Because when we are there, on your birthday, and your parents’ wedding anniversary, you are going to take me to Salt Lake City and we are going to be married a second time.”

  “In the Salt Lake Temple?”

  Lisa rose up and kissed him softly. “Exactly. Oh, and one other thing,” she said as she cuddled in against him again. “You’re going to take me and Jo to Leprechaun Canyon, and we’re going to make her climb down that rope. And once she’s down and out of our sight, I’m going to be the one who kisses you on the cheek.” She kissed her fingertips, then reached up and pressed it against his lips, smiling mischievously. “Or maybe a little lower.”

  Chapter Notes

  The day following Kristallnacht, Hermann Goering announced that since the Jews had started the riots by assassinating the diplomat in Paris, there would be a fine of two billion Reichsmarks against those Jews who had suffered losses. How much was actually paid is not clear. The other laws and policies noted here were also implemented. Many of the 30,000 Jews who were arrested that night were offered freedom in return for exorbitant bribes. Those who could not pay often died
in the camps.

  Though it was a few months later than shown here, the United States Congress, probably inspired by the Kindertransport program, sponsored a bill authorizing 20,000 Jewish children from Europe to emigrate to the United States. It never made it to a vote in the full chambers because one of the congressmen said that “to bring children to America without their parents was contrary to the laws of God.” One can’t help but wonder how that person may have felt about sending children to the gas chambers and the laws of God (see Academy Award–winning documentary Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2000).

  December 1, 1938, 1:42 p.m.—Eckhardt Home

  Benji stepped over and pulled the kitchen door shut as Niko and Rikki went racing down the hall, hollering something about the wedding that he didn’t catch. Then he leaned into the phone. “Well, Mom and Dad, the time is getting close, so I’d better say goodbye. It was so good to talk to everyone. Oh, and Mom, tell Abby I got her letter and wedding card. And the picture of the baby. They came yesterday. She looks like the happiest wife and mother ever.”

  “Well, maybe the mother part is true, but based on when I talked to Lisa a few minutes ago, I think she wins the prize for happiest wife.”

  “Yes. I’m so glad that they finally released Hans’s body and they were able to hold the funeral. This past week it’s like the family has finally found some peace.”

  “And how is Emilee doing?”

  “She misses him fiercely, but she is very strong. Her faith is amazing. The denial of their exit visas was a bitter blow, but she’s accepted it pretty well.”

  “Yes, we heard that neither she nor Inga will be allowed to leave Germany for at least another year.”

  “You did?” That took Benji aback.

  “Yes, your old missionary companion wrote me all about it. Said that he had heard that the American embassy tried to work with Germany to get around it but got stonewalled.”

  “My old missionary companion?” What was she talking about?

  “Yeah, Nigel McKensie. Or was he just in the same district with you?”

  Well, well. Thanks, Nigel. “Oh, yeah. We go back a ways.”

  “What are you going to do for your honeymoon?” Edie asked.

  “Wait on it, for now.” There was no way he could talk about him and Lisa flying to London tomorrow evening. “The children leave on the train tomorrow. So we’re going to celebrate an early Christmas this evening after the wedding. Once we get them off, we’ll sit down and make some plans. As you can imagine, it’s been kind of hectic around here.”

  “I can’t imagine,” Edie said softly. “Your friend told us some of what has been going on. What a terrible time for the family. The wedding will be a bright spot in all of that.”

  “Yes. Some thought we ought to postpone it, but actually it’s been good to have something happy to celebrate.”

  “Yes. Especially with tomorrow. I can’t begin to imagine how hard that is going to be for all of you. How are the children taking it?”

  “It’s pretty hard on Jo. She understands what this means. And her cousin Leyna does too. But the little ones think it’s a grand adventure. Going off to England, like it was a summer holiday.”

  As they both chuckled, Benji straightened. “Well, Mom and Dad, I feel so bad that this is happening without you being here. I wish we could have waited until we could be married in the temple, but—”

  “No, Benji. Don’t apologize. You and Lisa are doing the right thing. For Emilee to miss her first daughter being married would have been just one more blow for her to bear.”

  “I know. Lisa and I will call at Christmas. We’ll wait ’til afternoon your time so we can talk to everybody.” Then, feeling his eyes start to burn, he added, “Love to all. Bye.”

  After hanging up, he stood there for a few moments, letting the pangs of homesickness abate a little. Through the door he could hear voices out in the living room. He looked up at the clock. Twelve minutes to wedding time. Time to go out and mingle.

  But just as he reached the door, it burst open and Lisa was there, on the arm of a handsome young man in a starched army dress uniform and wearing a red beret.

  “Oh!” Lisa said. “You’re done?”

  “Yeah. Just hung up.”

  “And are they very sad?”

  “Yes. But they said to tell you that we’re doing the right thing by not waiting until we get to Utah.”

  “Yes. But it’s still hard.” Lisa pulled her companion forward. “Benj, let me introduce you to my second-most favorite handsome man in the whole world. This is my cousin, Staff Sergeant Gerhardt Borham. Gerhardt, this is my fiancé, soon-to-be husband, Benjamin Westland. But everyone calls him Benji.”

  Gerhardt removed his beret, tucked it under his arm, stepped forward with military precision, and shook hands with Benji. His grip was like a steel clamp. “I am very pleased to meet you, Gerhardt,” Benji said. “I have heard so much about you.”

  There was the slightest hint of a smile. “And I am very happy to finally meet the man who knocked me out of first place in the most-favorite-handsomest-man-in-the-world contest.”

  Benji laughed, liking him immediately.

  Gerhardt took a quick breath as his expression became serious. “Lisa, I was so shocked to hear about Uncle Hans. What a tragedy.”

  “Yes. It was a tremendous shock to all of us.”

  He spoke to Benji again. “Hans was always my favorite uncle. In a way, he’s the one who inspired me to choose the military as a career. Some of his stories from the war and when he was in the Spartacan Revolution were astonishing. He inspired me to stay in after Hitler Youth.” Seeing that Lisa was starting to tear up, he changed the subject. “Oh, and by the way, Lisa, Miki called last night. She told me to be sure to congratulate you. She sends her best.”

  I’ll bet. But Lisa smiled. “Thank her for me. I’m sorry we couldn’t invite all of our family to the wedding. It’s all happened so fast. We didn’t think that the children would even get accepted on the Kindertransport, let alone be assigned to the first trainload out of Munich. They only told us on Monday, so we’ve had only five days’ notice.”

  “I understand.”

  Actually, Gerhardt was the only one of their entire extended family they had invited. Miki was an obvious omission. But the thought of having her Uncle Klaus and Uncle Karl standing around talking Nazi Party stuff, maybe even throwing out a few Heil Hitlers and Sieg Heils, was more than Lisa could bear.

  “I’m so glad you got my message, Gerhardt,” Lisa said, laying a hand on his arm. “And that they would let you off to come.”

  Just then Hans Otto came over and tugged on Benji’s arm. “Benji, there’s a man at the door for you.” His eyes were wide. “He’s on a motorcycle.”

  Benji extended his hand. “Excuse me, Gerhardt. I’ll catch you later. I want to hear your side of the story about how you trained Lisa to knock down giants with a single punch.”

  As Benji walked away, Gerhardt was laughing. Then he heard him say, “Wow, Lisa. His German is incredible.”

  To which she said, “That’s not all that’s incredible. Why do you think I’m marrying him?”

  1:51 p.m.

  As Benji signed the form the courier had shoved at him on a clipboard, he looked at the envelope. His name and the Eckhardts’ address were on the front, but there was no return address. No indication of any kind who had sent it.

  “Thanks.” Benji handed him a fifty-pfennig coin, then watched as the courier roared away. It was chilly outside, but he didn’t move as he inserted his index finger in the small opening of the flap and ripped it open. Inside was a message typed on a typewriter.

  Benji and Lisa, congratulations to the newlyweds.

  Best wishes from Frau Bergau and myself. We had hoped to be able to be there for your wedding, b
ut pressing business engagements have taken us elsewhere. A gift will follow in a day or two. May happiness be yours even in your times of sorrow. We were deeply saddened over the death of your father, Lisa. But even in times of loss, there can be a compensating joy because of your great love for each other. All is well here. The family sends their best. Hope to see you soon. Many years of happiness to you both.

  Oh, a quick note to catch you up on our mutual friends. This came as a great shock to us, as I am sure it will to you. We recently learned that Rich and Erik were taken to the hospital with unexpected and severe health problems. Both father and son have fallen victim to an infection that is highly contagious. This is not life-threatening, but can be very injurious to their health. Frau B was not allowed to visit because they are in total quarantine. No indication of when that quarantine will be lifted. Months for sure, possibly much longer.

  That is not good news, and we are sorry to have to share that with you at this happy time. However, there is one small bright spot. Frau B was able to leave a letter with the staff, which they assured her would be delivered to R and E before the day was out. In her letter, Frau B told them that we’ve stopped by their home and picked up their precious Lynette—a strange name for a bird, eh?—and that she will be well taken care of until their release from the hospital. Knowing how Erik fussed over that little thing, he will be happy to know that she is eating well and adjusting to her new environment.

  We will keep you posted on when visiting privileges will be reinstated. Have to run. Again, many congratulations on your wedding.

  With warmest regards,

  The Bergaus

  Benji stared at it for several seconds then started to read it again, but just then the front door opened. It was Lisa. “Benj, President Enzenberger is ready to begin.” Then she lowered her eyes. “What is that?”

  “A messenger just delivered it to us.” He held it out for her.

  “I’ll read it later. Come. Everyone is waiting.”

  He held it out even further. And with that, Lisa stepped outside and shut the door. She read it once quickly, and then, totally focused now, read it a second time, much more slowly. When she handed it back, her eyes were wide and filled with joy. “Does this mean . . . ?”