Colonel Berry

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The aromas of grilling cervelat greeted David as Maria led him into the kitchen. "Sorry, Tante, I got caught up in planning. Georg should be here in a minute or two."

Karl stood from the table and stepped forward, extending his hand to shake. "Delighted to see you again, David."

"And you, Karl."

A few minutes later, after they all settled around the table and had begun eating, David turned to Bethia and asked, "Do you foresee soon selling the estate in Erzingen? Is there any interest?"

"None recent. None since last summer." Bethia shook her head. "Herr Goldstein tells me people are increasingly uncertain. Husbands and sons are away, and those left behind are struggling. Besides the slaughterhouse, there's little opportunity for employment; the town's not much more than a supply and services centre for the surrounding vineyards and farms."

"May we lease it?"

Bethia stopped her teacup just above its saucer as she contorted her face toward David. "Whatever for?"

"It would be impossible for us to purchase it without raising suspicion. Even with the war, registration is necessary."

"But why would you want it?"

"For the war effort." David shrugged. "It would be a better terminal for the tunnel than the tool hut. Your courtyard is only seventy-five or eighty metres farther, hidden and protected by high walls. Far better there than in the open vineyard, clearly visible from the Customs post."

"Yes, certainly, you may lease it." Bethia tilted her head as she smiled at him. "How long have you been concocting this one?"

"It occurred to me on the train to Bern two days ago. London approved the idea, and we need only your consent before we proceed."

"You have that. What else may I do to help? When will you begin?" Bethia grimaced. "I'll have to evict the renters."

"It'll be a week or two before we can get a team of sappers here. Then depending on the material through which they have to dig, it would take three to five weeks before the tunnel reaches the courtyard."

"A month and a half." She sighed. "But they're more than four months in arrears now, so Herr Goldstein should have no difficulty with showing cause."

"Won't it appear odd evicting them, then have the place remain vacant?" Rachel shrugged. "Maybe we could open the shop for a few hours. Two, maybe three days a week. Take some of the less expensive sausages and hams from here rather than making them over there."

"A fine idea," Karl said. "Another way to show you're sympathetic. Help keep Schwarz from snooping."

"And show continuing activity there, so it doesn't appear suspicious when the team begins using it."

Georg nodded. "Also, to cover the preparations in the courtyard for the arrival of the tunnel."

"Or in the cellar," Bethia added. "Wouldn't it make more sense to have the tunnel lead into the house? There's the ham elevator up from the brining room, so they don't have to go outside."

"All details we need to examine after the sappers have arrived," David replied. "They'll survey, probe and calculate before we decide."

What about the tailings, the spoils as they call them?" Georg asked.

"We'll bring them out as we did before and spread them through the new vineyard." David chuckled as he looked at Karl. "The only place from which that will be visible is your fishing spot. I estimated there'd be the same quantity as before, about four thousand cubic feet."

Maria swept her eyes around the kitchen, following her pointing arm. "Five by eight by three, about a hundred and twenty cubic metres. What's this in cubic feet? I still haven't grasped the English system."

"A bit less than three point three cubed times a hundred and twenty. So elevenish times three point three, times one twenty." David bobbed his head as he calculated. "Around forty-three hundred cubic feet. The kitchen could hold it all, and if the tunnelling is slowed by chalk all the way and takes five weeks, a day's worth would fit under this table."

As he looked down, his eyes landed on his cervelat roll, and he lifted it from his plate. "But let's concentrate on eating now while it's still warm."

Ideas and discussions continued while they ate, then when they rose from the table, Michael took David aside. "I like the atmosphere you provide, encouraging everyone to offer ideas and criticising none."

David shrugged. "I find it a good way to take advantage of our diverse backgrounds and our varied experiences. The best course of action is not always obvious, so no idea is crazy, and none rejected. A seemingly silly suggestion can trigger a discussion leading to a brilliant idea."

"Of course, when we have the luxury of time. But when we don't have that?"

"I would hope when that occurs, a range of possibilities has already been considered, and the most appropriate one is obvious. This is why I like these open discussions. I continue to learn from them."

"Do you need to go back to Bern now to let London know they can proceed?"

"There's no rush. This isn't critical; it's more a convenience and an improvement to security." David shrugged. "Besides, the Embassy is closed for Easter, so I cannot send a message until Monday. And if I could, the War Office won't begin acting on this until next week."

Michael nodded, and he was about to speak when Rachel sidled up to him and asked, "Do you want to delay the tour of the winery until later, Papa? We can do it whenever you're free."

He looked at David than at his daughter. "No, now is fine. We were just chatting."

Rachel nodded and turned to David. "You should join us. You've not had a proper tour, nor have you seen the new equipment."

David bobbed his head as he thought, The men can continue their planning without me. "I'd love to. Maria likely will as well."