The Storm That Shook the World

by Walter Soellner

  “No! Helena, stop!” Markus burst out. “No, please. I won’t have you. You don’t have to do this for me … as much as I desire you.” He moved swiftly to her and held her upper arms gently. There were tears in her eyes.

  “I love you,” she whispered through her tears.

  “I know … I know. I love you, too.” He repeated in a gentle voice, “I love you, too.” They kissed again, a long, soft wonderful kiss that stirred their passions. Both were breathing rapidly as they held each other in a delirious embrace.

  Moments later, interrupted again, this time by the banging of a box stall door slamming shut, Sambolo came around the corner with a saddle in his arms. He was startled to see a man deep in the shadows of the feed room.

  “Oh, sorry, sir, I’ll just leave this and come back later.” With that, he was gone. Helena had a chance to pull up her dress over her shoulders and compose herself. The two of then walked out into the cool evening air.

  “Do you really love me?” she asked quietly as they headed for a row of shade trees along the ridge of the ravine.

  “Yes, my dear, but … but there are things you don’t know, things you don’t know about me. I’m afraid … That is, I’m not sure.”

  “Not sure. Not sure of what? What things?” She stopped and turned to look at him. “Do you have a wife or a fiancé in Germany?” She waited expectantly, with a worried quiver to her lips.

  “No, no, it’s not that. It’s not that at all.” He was silent for a moment. “I don’t have anyone in Germany.” He stopped talking and thought about what he just said: That’s not actually true. Ilsa might still love me, probably still loves me. And I—I don’t know whether I still love her or not. It doesn’t really make any difference any more. But how could I have gotten involved with Diana? How stupid of me!

  “Markus?” Helena was looking at him intently. “Markus, you don’t have to tell me everything about your past. I believe you are an honorable man. I believe you would not hurt me intentionally. You say you love me. I believe you. I can wait until you sort out whatever is troubling you. But if it helps, if I can help you, you can trust me too.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Two Notes, Two Women

  Markus managed to avoid Diana the few remaining days until he left on his required excursion. He did see Professor Lange and asked him to deliver a note to his daughter from him, stating he had a required trip for the next ten days and would contact her when he got back.

  The excursion proved to be grueling but fascinating as the wireless party made their way by saddled camel, crossing changing landscapes and catching glimpses of wildlife, some he had never seen before. At the end of the two-week trip, he found himself back at his billets with a bundle of mail from home, tied with a string, waiting. There were also two local envelopes, both by feminine but different hands. He skipped the mail boat delivery bundle and took up his letter opener, slicing through the stiff fold.

  The first note was from Helena:

  Dearest Markus,

  I hope you had a successful trip to fulfill your duties.

  My father and I invite you to the ranch for the weekend next.

  Professor Lange and his family are also invited. I await your visit.

  God bless, with love, Helena

  The Langes are coming too? Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. How am I going to explain this, deal with this? The two of them will surely talk, and for sure, they’ll talk about me. This other one must be from Diana. Let’s see what she has to say.

  He tore open the envelope with certain trepidation and turned over the card to read it:

  Dear Markus,

  I’m sorry I missed seeing you before you left on your trip.

  Daddy gave me your note. I must see you right away.

  Meet me at the Dutch café this Thursday, one past noon.

  Affectionately, Diana

  He walked briskly from his military post, making his way toward the Dutch café. He had rehearsed several versions of an explanation—all seemed totally inadequate, even ridiculous.

  Why this urgent meeting? The tone of her note was strange, kind of abrupt. Maybe she’s mad at me, or worse, totally in love with me and will demand, no, expect, some kind of commitment—even a proposal. Jesus, I don’t feel like going into that café. What am I going to tell her? But here you are, Markus, so in you go.

  He stepped in and went to a familiar booth in the back and realized he was the first to arrive.

  “I need a beer,” he mumbled. “Waiter, one liter, please.” He had drained half the stein when he spotted her outside the café, talking with another young woman. Her companion departed, and Diana turned and came through the door. She is as beautiful as beauty can be, he thought as she approached.

  As he got up, he said, “Hello, Diana. You look as lovely as ever.”

  She approached and returned the compliment with a half-smile as he took her hand.

  “I’m just having a stein. Would you like one?”

  “Yes, a half would be fine.”

  “Waiter, half a stein for the lady.” They were sitting across from each other in the half-empty café.

  “Would you like to order now for lunch?”

  “Markus, dear, I can’t stay for lunch … I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, too. Something important?”

  “Well, yes.” Diana glanced at the other patrons across the room. “You see, I have something very difficult to tell you. You know I care for you. I think you are a wonderful man, dear Markus. I don’t know how to begin, so I’ll just start.”

  Markus could see how distressed Diana was, with her eyes darting away from his gaze and with her fidgeting behavior. He was surprised, perplexed, and completely taken aback as she struggled through the recitation of her unfolding circumstances. He sat in silence, listening.

  “You see, you are a very attractive man, and that evening was so much fun … I feel I led you to believe … or I should say, I thought we … that is, it was wonderful being with you then. But, you see, while you were gone on that military assignment of yours for two weeks … you see, the mail boat came and—” Her face was flushed, and she was gesticulating, her hands moving in front of her.

  “Well, I should start at the beginning. You see, back in California, before I came out here, I had … there was this man. Our families were, are, close. He and I … I thought I loved him, but he didn’t seem to love me, so I came to Africa with my parents. But now, from the mail boat, I received a letter from him. He says he misses me and is offering me a proposal of marriage, which is what I wanted before I left.” She paused. “You see, Markus, I still love him, and I want to go home.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she lowered her head and dabbed her face with her white-gloved hand. Several patrons looked intently at the couple. “I am so sorry, Markus. I have done you a grave—”

  “No, no, no,” Markus interrupted as he handed her his handkerchief. Thoughts flew through his mind: This is a godsend. It is more than a godsend. Thank you, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I can’t believe it.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?” he said softly. “And is it truly clear in his—your gentleman’s—letter that he is proposing marriage?”

  “Yes, yes! Both my parents read and reread the letter. They’re so happy too.”

  “Then I’m happy too—for all of you.”

  She looked up, examining his expression. “You’re not angry or disappointed? I thought—”

  “Of course I’m disappointed, Diana! You’re such a beautiful woman and fun and interesting to be with. Of course, I had hoped we could have developed a much closer relationship.” They were leaning in toward each other across the table, and he was holding her hands. The same patrons kept glancing over to the couple. The cook and the waiter, with big smiles on their faces, were also keen on observing these two young people, obviously lovers.

  “But, you know, Diana, I think it is probably best for both of us, really. My life is pretty much unsettled right
now.” There was a noticeable uplift in his voice. “I didn’t tell you this before, and I suppose I should have. But back in Germany, I had a relationship with a wonderful woman that didn’t work out. It’s why I came to Africa, really … almost just like you.” They both laughed at this astonishing coincidence as Diana blew her nose.

  “So, you see, it might be best for me to be alone for a while, to sort things out … in my head I mean. Maybe it was meant to be, to end this way … on a happy note with your pending engagement. What do you think?”

  “Yes, yes, I’m sure you are right, Markus. Oh, thank you. I was so worried about telling you. Thank you for taking this all so well … and I’m sorry your affair in Germany didn’t have a—well, didn’t work out.”

  “So, we’re friends still?” he asked.

  “Yes, of course, we will always be friends, Markus.”

  “Well, congratulations!” He leaned across the table and kissed her on the cheek.

  Diana smiled broadly and brushed a loose hair with her hand. There was a long silence after that. They both were drained emotionally.

  “Well, I must be going,” she said at last. “My friend is waiting for me back at the hotel.”

  “Shall I accompany you there?”

  “No, that’s not necessary. It’s just a short walk.”

  “Right then. Oh, I understand I’ll be seeing you and your parents at the Conrad ranch this Saturday and Sunday.”

  “Yes, of course. Until then.” She got up, raised her hand in a little wave, and was gone.

  Markus was beside himself with relief and had a joyful bounce to his gait as he hurried back to the wireless station. This must be Divine Providence interceding on my behalf, he thought. And he half believed it. But he soon developed an uneasy feeling about the two families meeting at the ranch, or more specifically, the two young women.

  Their conversation still could cause him embarrassment, or Helena could be too affectionate in front of Diana. She would pick up on that right away, he thought.

  Well, he continued in his mind, Whatever happens, at least there won’t be a scandal.

  All went famously well at the weekend gathering, with Diana’s parents announcing proudly the pending engagement of their daughter to a man from a fine San Francisco family and, Diana and her mother would be leaving on the next available ship for home. Warner Lange would stay on for a short time to finish his contract.

  Markus and Helena had a chance to slip away on horseback for an evening ride, to a secluded spot on the ranch. In tall grass under the trees, their passion again swept over them like windblown ocean waves. Both bodies surrendered to kisses and caresses.

  “Oh, my dearest,” she whispered as his hand traced back and forth across her body. And she moved with his every move until they finally lay quiet in the grass in each other’s arms, still clothed but in disarray.

  “I’m so happy, Markus, darling. I know you wanted to … to make love … completely, as I did. But you resisted what I could not have resisted. Thank you for loving me that much. I will give myself to you completely, Markus, when we are one.”

  “Yes, my dear Helena, and it will be—”

  “I know, I know,” she stopped him as they came together again in a long, lingering kiss.

  CHAPTER 11

  Best-Laid Plans

  Amere two weeks later, Diana and her mother were packed and ready for the long sea voyage. Warner had arranged an unusual passage. The usual route was to take a German steamer back to Germany, on to New York, and finally, a four-day train trip across the country to San José, California.

  By special permission of the German Consulate in Windhoek and with the co-operation of the British Consulate in Walis Bay, a small British territory on the coast, the two women instead planned to take a British ship from Walis Bay to British South Georgia in the South Atlantic, then on to the Falkland Islands, another British possession off the coast of Argentina.

  There the two ladies would book passage on an American or Chilean vessel that would take them around Cape Horn into the Pacific and due north all the way to California. It would save the women at least a week’s travel time if they made timely connections. Several of Lange’s American colleagues in Africa were also returning with them.

  Three days before the homeward-bound group was to leave, Warner Lange and Markus were in the small military compound that housed the wireless station. It included an electrical assembly and repair building, a barracks, and other support facilities. When not on inspection tours or meetings, the two of them spent most of their time in the small assembly building, testing electrical components.

  “Where did you get your hands on these French, experimental, R-type vacuum tubes?” Warner asked in surprise when Markus opened the newly arrived box. “These were being developed in America … very private, secret stuff.”

  “Ja, well, we have our ways, Professor.” Markus paused in his work and glanced up with a slightly embarrassed but proud look on his face. “You’re an American scientist. You see how many Europeans are working in the United States. Take the Austrian Robert Van Liebon, a great electrical engineer. We just installed his electron beam telephone relays on our equipment, thanks to his work in America. We get much stronger signals now.”

  “I can see that. Are you going to tell me where the next box is coming from?” Warner was looking at Markus and grinning. “I hope it’s not from my lab in San José!” They both chuckled, but the message was obvious.

  “And what ideas from here are you going to take home with you, Professor?”

  “That, my boy, is a state secret!” They both burst into hearty laughter.

  “It’s time for lunch!” Warner proclaimed. “I promised the ladies I’d be back to the hotel by noon. Come along; we’ll dine together.” They each grabbed their coat and headed out into the noonday sun.

  “Ah, that sun feels good. These stone buildings stay cool all day.”

  As they strolled along the plank walkway, Warner continued his questioning: “How are those triodes in the amplifiers holding up?”

  He didn’t get an answer, however, as Dorothy and Diana burst out of a shop directly in front of them.

  “Oh, darling, I just found the perfect shawl for back home … not too thick and heavy but just right to keep the evening chill out.” Dorothy had spoken before she spotted Markus.

  “Markus, so good to see you. Are you joining us for lunch?”

  Several days later and a day before their ship was to leave, Dorothy and Diana had finished the last of their packing and were directing the servants to transport the luggage to the docks. As the last steamer trunk and pieces of luggage were loaded onto the dray in front of the hotel, an assistant to Professor Lange ran up, gasping and out of breath: “Professor Lange had an accident or something. They’ve taken him to the hospital!”

  “Oh, dear, what happened? What happened? Is he hurt? We must go at once!” Dorothy Lange grabbed her daughter’s hand and climbed aboard the half-loaded dray.

  “Take us to the hospital!” she ordered the black teamster.

  “Forget the rest of the luggage for now; we’ll get it later. Hurry!”

  Warner Lange was lying on his back under a white hospital sheet in the emergency ward, with a cloth screen drawn halfway around his bed. Markus was by his side, talking quietly to him. A nun in a white habit and apron was holding a damp, folded cloth to the professor’s forehead.

  Mrs. Lange and her daughter burst through the glass-paneled doors at the far end of the ward. Dorothy scanned the room as she thundered across the wooden floor toward her husband. A frightened look was on her face, and Diana’s cheeks were streaked with tears.

  “Warner, Warner, my dearest, are you all right? What happened?” Warner raised his right hand a few inches off the sheet as the white-clad Catholic nun stepped forward and raised a single finger to her lips in a sign of silence.

  She spoke in a quiet voice, “Your husband has had a heart attack and must remain still … and
quiet. He must not exert himself in any way right now. His friend here, the soldier, may be able to answer your questions.” The nun returned to her care giving.

  Dorothy and Diana crowded in close to the bed and were looking intently at Warner’s face.

  “It’s not bad; I’ll be fine in a few days,” Warner spoke in a tired voice.

  “Professor Lange, you must not talk!” ordered the nun. “I must ask you all to leave now, for the good of the patient,” she said in a stern but understanding voice.

  “Just another moment, please, Nurse,” Dorothy pleaded.

  “Just another moment then,” the nun answered, “but the rest of you must leave now.”

  Markus got up, looked at Diana’s anguished expression, and took her by the arm as they walked slowly down the long room toward the glass doors.

  “Oh, what am I to do? Daddy looks so pale. That’s not like him. Will he be OK?” She was looking sideways at Markus as they stepped into the hall. He turned to her, and she folded into his arms.

  It was a long evening and night for the two women and for Markus, who stayed by their side and held hands with both of them. The doctor had been by several times, with updates on the professor’s condition, reassuring them that with plenty of bed rest, the prognosis was good for a stabilized recovery. He suggested there was nothing they could do at this time and that they should go home and get some rest.

  “You can return tomorrow morning at eleven, after my rounds, and I’ll give you Professor Lange’s latest condition.” The doctor continued, looking at Markus, “His wife and daughter can visit for fifteen minutes, but with no emotional outbursts. The patient must remain absolutely quiet. His heart needs to rest and heal.” With that, he nodded to the two ladies and left.

  “I think it best you two go back to the hotel as the doctor suggests. I’ll escort you.” It was past midnight when the three of them arrived at the spacious suite at the Bismarck Hotel. Mrs. Lange invited Markus in, even at that late hour, to hear the details of the events of the day. Diana appeared completely exhausted, and with a teary good night, she excused herself. Dorothy and the young soldier sat down together on a couch in the elegant parlor.