Winfred

84

Official Report

British Intelligence

Code: 3986

Kathleen Winfred

Once I had returned to my desk, and once I had gotten over the fact that Freidrich had basically told Andre that I was pretty and kind, I pulled out the letter and the wrinkled piece of paper.

I unfolded the paper first and, after smoothing it out, began to read.

It was Freidrich’s handwriting, but he must have been in a hurry because his usual neat handwriting was slanted and somewhat messier than usual.

Ilsa-

I am in town to meet the car that will take me to my meeting place, and I have just been sought out by the contact to whom your letters from Virginia come. He gave me a letter for you and, thinking that you might wish to have it as soon as possible, I am sending it with Andre. I hope it brings good news of your friend.

-Freidrich

Postscript: I suppose it must seem quite presumptuous of me to think that you might worry over my wellbeing but, knowing the consideration you extend to others by your nature, I know you well enough to know that you probably have been. Therefore, please allow me to assure you once more that this meeting is nothing to be concerned over. I should be back tomorrow evening or night. You are released from duties for tomorrow morning if you would like the day to do as you please.

I smiled, reading his short note, and read it a few more times before folding it and placing it in my pocket.

I turned next to Virginia’s letter.

My dear friend,

It has been literally ages since I have seen you last. Or heard from you last. Golly, I miss you.

The days here march on as always…but I make a continual effort to be as much trouble for the heinies as I can be.

When I spend the night in the dark closets they use for torture, I wile away the hours by singing. My singing voice is not to be desired by anyone, and I make sure to sing extra loudly and raucously. I believe the guards have become quite annoyed at me, but there is one, ironically named Heinrich (the same as the ultimate heinie, Schwab!), who, when he is on guard duty, shouts out requests. Either he thinks it is humorous or he believes that he must show it doesn’t bother him, but I still find his requests amusing. Just last night I butchered a German song that he attempted to teach me some of.

This is only one of the things I do to frustrate them. They hate my guts, but the other prisoners, seeing my insubordination, are lifted in spirits. They are also now quicker to follow my lead, only increasing the hatred the German officers have for me.

I know you’ll say that I’m destined for death if I behave this way. Well, I’m not scared anymore. God help me, I’m not scared. I was. But I realize that only God knows when I’ll meet my end, whether that’s when I’m old and gray and back in The Land of the Free or in days, weeks, or months at the hands of some uncaring death camp officer. So in short, I think I’m ready, whenever it is. I’ve made my peace.

However, I still have some hope…The Germans here, at least the great majority of them excepting maybe Heinrich, hate me. I’ve heard them muttering about wishing they could send me back. And I’ve heard rumors that a transfer of a few prisoners, something that rarely happens here, may be occurring soon.

I can cross my fingers and hope that I’ll see you and Jessica again.

For now, I must bid you goodbye, as my allotted time for writing you has just ended.

Stay brave, darling.

-Virginia