Colonel Berry

Chapter Nine

Maria rose from the chaise longue as David entered their suite. "That took you longer than you had said it would."

They met in a hug and a kiss, then David said, "We had many more details to cover than I had anticipated."

"The men are going into Germany again, aren't they?"

He nodded. "Two of them tomorrow."

"I don't want the details, David. Simply an overview. You know the details would bore me."

David motioned toward the chaise longue, and they sat. "The French haven't yet been able to bomb the plants at Oppau and Pirmasens, and they're too heavily guarded for us to approach on foot. To reduce their production of ammonia for explosives, we need to take out as many of the coal gas works as possible."

"Ammonia, NH3. The gas is their hydrogen source for the synthesis, isn't it? And nitrogen from the air."

"Exactly. Rick and I identified five plants in February, and tomorrow, Hans and Greg are going up to identify at least four more.

"So, nine. That means you're going."

"No, Georg is. I'll still be in Schaffhausen training."

"But Georg is leaving the Army."

"But not leaving the fight. William has recruited him as an agent, and he thought it would be better if Georg were out of the Army."

"A sales agent like you? Selling watches as well?"

David chuckled. "No, an espionage agent. A spy, like me."

"Oh! Mama didn't mention it."

"She didn't know." David shrugged. "Hell, Georg didn't know until a while ago when I unscrambled the two cryptic letters he'd received from William."

"So, recruited? That means he'll be paid for it?"

"Far better than from the Army. I cannot believe how miserly the Brits are with the men's pay. Privates get a shilling a day, Corporals one and eight and sergeants two and six."

Marie tilted her head. "What's that in Francs?"

David paused to do a quick mental calculation. "About three. Georg is a member of the Royal Engineers, and they get paid a higher rate for their skills. He receives three shillings thrupence per day, just short of four Francs."

"And what do you get?"

"Canadian Army rates are much higher. A Lieutenant Colonel gets six and a quarter dollars per day, about thirty-five Francs. I've been —"

"What? Thirty-five to his four?"

He nodded. "Told you the Brits are misers toward the enlisted men. I've been issuing their pay since we met at Oxford last July. The Aussie, Kiwi and Canuck raw privates all get more than the misers pay Georg as a highly-skilled Engineer Sergeant with many years of service, leadership experience and teaching expertise. Almost half again as much."

Maria shook her head. "And what has William offered him?"

"A Guinea per day — more than six times his current rate. That's a bit above the Brit rate for a Major." David laughed as he pulled Maria into his chest. "And you said you would be bored with the details."

"I like details like these. It's the ones about destroying which bother me."

"The destruction bothers me as well. But that seems to be the course the Germans have plotted."

"So, Hans and Greg? While they're up there, will they have time for dickie dipping?" She snickered. "I love that expression?"

"And the men love how you've helped them recognise the subtle body language. I've given Hans and Greg ample funds and asked them to have a detailed report of all the sites when I return next Friday."

"I love that approach. No rush. Relax and settle into their identities and relieve their tensions. I bet they gather far more information than you've asked them to provide." She reached up and stroked his beard. "Wise."

"I thought it would be safer without having the pressure of a deadline." He lifted her hand off his cheek and kissed it, then he played with her fingers. "They've invited us to breakfast in their mess tomorrow. I told them I'd ask you and get back with your reply."

"I'd love to join them." She giggled. "They'll pump me with all manner of questions about sexual attraction, I'm sure. But those will give me broader insight for my research. The men's profile is so different from my usual med school and university students."

"Likely less inhibited."

"Very much so. More in touch with their own reality. They've seen how tenuous life is, they've watched death, and they've had time to ponder their own mortality." Maria shrugged. "They're mature far beyond their years, and they have a freedom of expression and a self-effacing nature I don't see among the students."

"Likely more sexually experienced as well."

Maria giggled. "From what you told me, the ones who were up there last month will be. I want to talk with them about those experiences, particularly Manny. That was such a change in his attitude."

"Another thing you can discuss with them is the difference in response between the German women and those here in Switzerland. They were telling me a while ago that they've had much less luck here."

"That makes sense. There's stability here and relative social order with friends, acquaintances and companionship. In Germany, most of the healthy young men have been shipped off to battle, or they've been shipped home wounded or dead."

David pursed his lips and nodded. "Twice, Rick had women ask him to take them to Switzerland." He shrugged. "Preferring to run off with a man they know near nothing about to remaining in the increasing hell they do know."

"I can see that. Women crave stability, companionship and attention, and your men posing as successful Swiss businessmen and showing them some interest, would offer that."

"And a way to escape the forced labour in munitions plants or factories. Their lives have been disrupted. Devalued. I can see how some attention would be welcomed."

Maria reached down and began unbuttoning David's trousers. "And speaking of welcoming attention."