Colonel Berry

Chapter Twenty-One

David rose from his chair as Colonel Picot strode into the Ambassador's office with a broad smile on his face and his hand out to shake. "You continue to surprise us, David. How have you managed to get away two and a half weeks early?"

"There's been an interesting turn of events." David shrugged. "Among the mail Maria brought me were letters from R and John Wallinger. I don't know what John has shared with you on this."

Both Henry and Evelyn shook their heads, Henry saying, "I've been too immersed in the interned prisoners program."

"We've come in contact with a network in Schaffhausen, working into Germany, and John has been supplying explosives to them. Remember the bridge we investigated in Alsace in January?" David saw the nods and continued, "The Alsatians we met are among those being supplied."

"How does this get you off training early?"

"It's a bit convoluted. Maria's great aunt, Bethia, has a neighbour whose land abuts hers across a stream, and he, Karl is his name. He frequently fishes for trout. Through the autumn, he watched the work on the new vineyard, and the continuing supply of chalk piqued his curiosity.

"I thought you had said the work was hidden from view."

"It was screened from the border post and the road by a copse on Karl's land." He shrugged. "But a fisherman in the copse would see it." 

Henry nodded. "I assume Karl is involved. Who is he?"

He's the Municipal Registrar, and we met him Christmas Eve when he performed our wedding ceremony. He's rather wealthy and doesn't have to work, but he continues as the Registrar to maintain access to records and information. He runs the Schaffhausen network, and R has approved his use of the tunnel."

"Makes sense to expand. But how does this get you off the course?"

"I told you it is convoluted. Horst, the Commandant of the armoury school, runs espionage and sabotage teams into Bavaria, Saxony and parts of eastern Prussia under Karl's direction." David laughed. "He was preparing to try recruiting me to the team."

"Do they know your Canadian identity?"

David nodded to the Ambassador. "No way to prevent it. Karl had met me as a British subject at the marriage ceremony. It was the only way I could marry Maria; otherwise, I was her brother."

"Why would that need to have been revealed?"

"They need documented identification of the marriage parties, and the only other one I had was my British passport."

Both Evelyn and Henry nodded, then Henry asked, "So, how does this relieve you from two and a half weeks of service?"

"On the record, I'm now in private instructional technique tutoring for the remainder of the course. On the fifth of May, my record will be marked as completed."

Henry looked at his watch and then the door. "I have a meeting in a few minutes. Are you around, or have you planned some travel?"

"I'm here tomorrow, then I'm returning to Sonnenhang on Friday. I've two men up in the Mannheim area investigating targets to destroy, and they'll be back to report."

"Come to dinner this evening if you're free, Henry; we can continue this discussion there. I'll see if John can join us." The Ambassador turned to David. "I've assumed you are also free this evening. Are you?"

"I am, Sir."

"Yes, and so am I," Henry added as he rose from his chair.

David stood as well. "I must send a message to R to give him an update on events and get clarification."

<><><>

A little past seventeen thirty, Sergeant Wilkins knocked on David's open door and entered. "The message you've been waiting for, Sir." 

"Thank you, Sergeant. Keep the Message Centre open for a while. This may need an immediate response. I'll inform you as soon as I know."

"Very well, Sir."

After Wilkins had left, David closed and bolted the office door, then he unlocked the bottom drawer of his desk and withdrew it completely, setting it on the floor as he retrieved a sheaf of paper from the bowels of the desk. He checked the time in the message header, then leafed through the pages to the appropriate code. 

With the message unencrypted, he returned the code pages and the drawer, then he took a small notebook from the file cabinet, turned to the date page and unscrambled the jumble of letters and numbers. Once he was satisfied, he pocketed the message, the notebook and his worksheet and walked to the Message Centre.

Wilkins responded to his knock by opening the small portal in the door and peering through as David said, "You may lock up, Sergeant. I have no more for you today."

"Very well, Sir. Have a pleasant evening."

Back in his office, David locked things away and tidied. As he put on his overcoat, he looked at the rifle and duffel bag. Leave them here until I have the car. No sense lugging them any farther. 

He hefted his satchel, locked his office door and headed along the empty corridors to the foyer where the guard unlocked the door and let him out. Eight minutes later, at the Ambassador's residence, Stanley opened the door to his knock. "Welcome back, Sir. Mrs Berry has been informed of your return."

David thanked the butler, then ascended the stairs three steps at a time, knocked on the suite door and entered.

Maria rushed across the sitting room, letting her robe fall from her shoulders to the floor, then she stood naked in front of him. "Evelyn told me you were back, and I've been warming up in anticipation." She lifted her fingers to his nose. He shuddered, dropped his satchel, and they merged in a passionate kiss.