CHAPTER TEN: NIGHT FEEDINGS
In a small Norwegian town, miles from where Donavon and Starger were, there was a group of teenagers out on a nightly stroll. Two of the teenagers, a boy and a girl, decided to break away from the group. There was a special love in their hearts and a smile on their faces that suggested that they had plans for a wonderful night.
Gudd and Helena had been lovers, secretly, for two years. They knew each other in the town, but were frowned upon because of the fact that Helena’s father was Swedish – a taboo of the land. But the two didn’t care. They enjoyed each other’s bodies too much to notice world maps. In time, they both spotted a deserted barn. It was seen as a Godsend. It would soon be their coffin.
Inside the barn, both Gudd and Helena jumped into a hay pile and started to kiss each other. Gudd started to unbutton Helena’s shirt. Excited, she took off her top, and slipped off her bra. As both started to kiss again, they never suspected that they were being watched.
Their adventure was cut short by the sounds of movement. Movement that by all appearances was coming from the rafters above them.
“What was that?” Helena asked, pushing Gudd away from her breasts.
“Probably your mother.” Gudd joked, rather annoyed. “You know she never has liked me.”
Both started to kiss again. And, again, both heard scratching sounds coming from above.
“There’s someone in here, Gudd.” Helena grabbed her shirt, and covered herself.
Gudd started to shout up at whoever it might be, annoyed. “Okay, whoever you are. You better leave. I’m not joking.”
Helena put her clothes back on. She could hear a scratching sound coming from above her. Helena spotted her intruder. Screaming with horror, and pointing up, the young woman tried to warn her lover.
In reaction to Helena’s scream, Gudd looked up toward the direction his girl was pointing. He too flashed a look of horror. “Oh, my!” Was all he could say.
On the rafters above, was Hitler. With his arms in a bat-like state, he snarled down at the two children.
Hitler swooped down on the two, first, attacking Helena, instantly killing her. Gudd took a shovel that had been lying nearby, and tried to hit the monster with it.
The monster, with his yellow eyes, looked around the barn, wetting his bloodied lips. Since the barn was so far off the most-traveled paths, no one heard the screams coming from it.
* 2 *
Although Myer’s head throbbed with pain, he was ready to leave the hospital. With a worried look on his brow, he carefully placed his hat on his head. He had difficult things to do. Things best left alone.
Myer saw his doctor walking toward him. “Ahh, Captain, you are leaving I see.”
“It’s about time I get back to my duties.”
Both the doctor and Myer started walking toward the exit.
“Tell me, Captain,” the doctor asked. “How was your stay?”
“Fair. I only wish, doctor, that we could have met under more peaceful circumstances.”
The doctor was touched. Myer could see a nod of respect being held back by the medical man. It was the proper way for an honorable man to treat his conqueror.
With no fanfare, Myer exited the hospital.
As Myer left the hospital, he noticed that it had started to snow. Lightly at first, but then the snowflakes started to attack the ground in torrents. The street was deserted, except for him -–the only soul stupid enough to walk out in a snowstorm. Ironically, he started to laugh.
“Captain!”
Myer saw Starger running up the lonely street toward him. With the First Officer’s face highly illuminated by the street’s gaslights, Myer got the impression that no one in the church would believe their story.
“Number One, did you find any help?”
Myer, at first, remained silent, catching his breath.
“Number One?”
“I did as you ordered.” Starger’s voice rang with embarrassment.
“What did they say?”
“The priest thought that I was crazy.” The First Officer paused, hurt. “We are on our own. Alone.”
Myer stood silent; looking keenly into his First Officer’s disappointed eyes. The Captain knew that the First Officer expected this to happen. The National Socialist Party raised her Nazi Storm troopers to be loyal to Hitler, not to God. Myer was, however, pleased to see a measurable amount of hurt in the young man’s eyes. Whether Starger felt this guilt out of duty or responsibility didn’t matter to Myer.
That he felt it, did – there was hope for the man.
“Let’s head back to the boat and formulate our own plain, there, Number One.” Myer finally brought himself to say. He patted the First Officer on the shoulder, mildly amused at the soldier’s startled surprise.
Before the two officers could take another step, they were called after. Both, surprised, turned in the direction of the voice – a female voice.
“Excuse me, Herr Captain.”
The approaching woman was in her mid thirties, black hair, pale blue eyes, and quite attractive. Myer was more than impressed with her appearance – he had been at sea for a long time, and female companionship was always a luxury during war.
“Are you the officer who talked to my uncle?” Kate asked, giving the two men an amused smile. “You talked of a rather interesting problem.”
Both men started to give the woman a cautious look. This could have been a cleaver trick. The Gestapo was known for their incredibly long reach, even in Norway. Myer controlled his reactions. His First Officer’s were not as subtle. Myer noticed Starger’s face. The young man found the woman to be attractive.
“Depends on what you consider an interesting problem.” Starger barked, giving Kate a sly smile. “Who are you?”
“I’m sorry. Forgot my manners.” she said, uneasy. The woman became aware of Starger’s hungry stares. “I am Kate Donavon. My Uncle is the priest you talked to earlier tonight.”
“Miss Donavon,” Myer asked, curious. “Why would you be looking for us this late at night?”
“Then you are the Captain?”
“Yes.”
Kate started to walk off, motioning the two officers to follow her. “Come then. We must go to the church, at once.”
“Wait a minute.” Myer raised his hands in protest.
Kate stopped her walking, looking back. “Yes? What is it?”
Myer silently motioned his First Officer to explain.
The First Officer responded instantly. Starger approached Kate. She looked on with curious eyes, not fully understanding the two German officers’ confusion.
“Why would Father Donavon want to see us now?” Starger paused. “Not two hours ago, did he not say that I was crazy? What changed his mind?”
Kate started to show signs of great stress. Holding back tears, the woman gave the First Officer the answer he was seeking.
“Two teenagers were killed.” She explained, sad. “Both had a massive loss of blood, and showed evidence of being…” Kate started to cry, controlling herself. “Good God, they showed signs of being eaten.” Starger reached into his uniform jacket, producing a handkerchief for Kate. She smiled, taking the cloth. “If Hitler is the evil you claim him to be, a plan must be taken into effect on how to destroy him.”
Kate’s eyes pleaded for both men to follow her.
Snow started to slowly fall once more. It was a fitting atmosphere for such a harsh decision. Both Starger and Myer found each looking into the other’s eyes. Should they believe her? Myer could clearly see that his First Officer wanted to follow the young woman, but wished to also see if his superior was thinking the same.
“We go,” was all Myer could bring himself to say.
Kate started to dry her eyes, happy in the fact that the two men had chosen to help. Taking both men by the arms, she started to walk in-between them.
Myer scanned the street’s rooftops, expecting, still, to become the victim of a Gestapo trap.
To be continued...NEXT MONTH!
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