GerIta 1943

2

                It was hardly days later that Mussolini was arrested, and within two months, the Allies were in South Italy. Shortly after, my boss ordered the invasion of Feliciano's half of the country.

                I waited with bated breath for the story of an Italian posing as an Aryan man being caught somewhere in that zone, even volunteering myself to oversee the newly occupied areas in hopes of redirecting anyone who would perhaps come across him.

                But for several weeks, there was nothing, and I began to believe that Veneziano was safe with his brother after all, and our disguise had actually worked.

                And then, a small troop came in one day with a small man they  were dragging behind them and laughing at as he struggled against the bonds he was in, though it seemed to be pointless, and yielded no results for him.

                As soon as I heard the news around the camp, I raced over to where I was told the man was being detained, ready to split heads and rescue Feliciano.

                But I was stopped short in my tracks when-as I ripped open the flap of the tent, face stormy and rage high-I saw my boss casually sitting in a chair, facing Feliciano as he sat at the feet of his captors.

                "Ah, Ludwig, excellent!" he greeted me, smiling coldly-he never managed a warm smile with company. "You see, this man claims to have your very last name-imagine that!"

                I cautiously sat down, looking at my boss instead of Feli-who was looking at me, then almost trying not to; I knew however I reacted would determine how this would play out in the end for Feliciano and I.

                "Oh?" I questioned noncommittally, glancing at my best friend as though this was all new to me and he held that detached interest I had been taught to show to non-Aryans.

                "Yes, indeed," my boss repeated, a sort of malicious twinkle in his eyes that I did not like, though I stayed impassive in facial expression. "And, what do you have to say for that, Ludwig? Have you ever seen this 'Mr. Beilschmidt' before? A distant cousin, perhaps, as he says?" That look was unsettling, actually sadistic when the factor of the pleasure he got from watching Feli squirm was taken in.

                "I do not believe so, sir," I answered slowly, pretending to study Feliciano in order to identify any characteristic that could relate him to me-still feigning confusion. It was obvious Feliciano was found out, but I was desperate to keep the cards in my favor to gain leverage for him. Right now though, my boss was just toying with him, and I needed to comply.

                "Yes, well, I would think not. As it turns out, he is one of your own; we have the distinct joy of being the hosts to Veneziano, the Northern half of Italy, as I am sure you know, Ludwig: you countries seem to have a thing for knowing one another." The sound behind his voice was partially disgusted, and I tensed slightly, wondering if everything was already for naught as we were caught before I began. But he pushed on.

                "Yes, I believe he was trying to flee from us, Ludwig, just as his frivolous King and Council did."

                "Sir?"

                "I believe he should be… detained, and taught his lesson. And, seeing as you are the one he tried to associate with-and since you have done such an incredible job at work of late-I think it is just that you get the honor of reteaching him. Good?"

                I could not suppress my smile, but I managed to add a cruel twist to it at the end so as to conceal my real reasons for expressing delight at this situation.

                "Good," Hitler repeated.