Lucilla--NaNoWriMo2014

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mark arranged that General Kesselring's subordinate contact the Rabbi Iiacobbi in the Jewish Synagogue in Rome. First, the Oberst made a telephone call to set up an meeting.

Rabbi Iiacobbi had contacted the Italian Paritsans to show up at the meeting. When the Oberst sat down with the Rabbi and the Partisan, who was wearing a disguise.

"I am Oliveti of the Resistance. We have volunteers to help your German soldiers with a planned evacuation of some two hundred Jews from Rome. Our object is to turn them over to the Allied Forces."

The Oberst said, "You Italians will help us to evacuate the Jews?"

"Signore Oberst, we will provide the civilian trucks because military vehicles are likely to be fired on by American and British planes. We welcome German soldiers in this endeavor."

"Danke," the Oberst said.

"I will make a short phone call to give the go-head to provide the trucks."

"And I can have fifty German soldiers for this mission."

Rabbi Iiacobbi said, "I wish to thank you two, who represent mutual enemies, to help protect the innocent lives here."

"My German soldiers are loyal to my country, but they hate the SS men. They want to do the right thing." The Oberst leaned over to the partisan. "For this mission we will put aside our hostility. After we return come back, we will go our separate ways.  The next day we will be enemies again."

"Civilians are allowed one carrying bag when they leave their homes. They will have signed their property to Pope Piius XII, and their belongings will become official property of the Roman Catholic Church, to be released back for one Lire after the war," the Rabbi said.

As they lay together that night, Mark kissed Lucilla. "Lucy, you need to sit this mission out. There will likely be shooting. I'm worried for your safety."

"My love, my place is with you.  When you found me on Capri, what was I?  Using people.  I used younger centurions to bring pleasure to my body at every opportunity. It was all about me."

"Lucy, you don't have to tell me."

"But I want to, Mark."  Lucilla kissed him. "Maybe Emperor Commodus was power hungry, but so was I.  I loved being an Augusta, but I wanted more. Taking my revenge by poisioning the man who first took my innocence was just the first step. No, I did not kill because it was easier for me to send another to do my dirty work. I almost loved Petronius, taking pleasure in him in hopes he would give his life to protect me.  But he joined the assassins."

"Lucy, I know all of this because the historians said you were brutal.  But you are no longer that woman that I rescued on Capri that night."

"Mark, that is all the more reason for me to fight by your side.  Here is a chance for me to do something for others, and not for me."  Lucilla placed her hands on Mark's cheeks.  "Mark, this is still not my world, you are.  If something happened to you, my world will have ended.  I could not wait hour after hour for someone to come back to me, just to say that you are dead."

"What if you are kiled, Lucy?"

"Then I will have died trying to liberate innocent people rather than sought power for myself."

Three nights later, at the appointed time, Herr Oberst, Mark, and Lucilla met together. Mark and Lucilla were dressed in dark clothes, but wore nothing to suggest that they were partisans. Herr Oberst provided them German MP-40 Submachine guns and a pack of loaded magazines each.