The Wall Crossers

Wed 12 Jan - 9:50am - At Andrews Barracks - Anja's perspective

I step into the guard shack at the front gate of Andrews barracks. It is a small room, and there is a kerosene heater burning, making the room extremely hot, sharply contrasting to the cold just outside.

There are two MPs working, one outside checking ID's and waving military and civilian employees and vehicles through, and one inside attending to other duties. I wait a few moments, but the MP is ignoring me. Finally, I interrupt him.

"Excuse me, please. Can you help me?"

"What is your need Ma'am?" the MP replies, looking up at me.

"I need to get on the compound. I am a civilian employee but left my ID at home."

"Do you work on the Andrews compound?"

"No," I say, "I work at the Air Ministry compound, in personnel there."

"Then I'm sorry, but we can't let you in here without an ID. I might suggest you return to your work site where you can get a temporary ID for use here, or else return home and retrieve your own ID."

I am alarmed and suddenly very worried, saying, "No! There is no time for that. Tell me, has a bus departed for the airport yet today?"

"Two busses have departed for the airport already this morning, Ma'am."

"Oh no." I am starting to be terrified.

The MP says, "I am busy." He says with some irritation, pointing to the flow of people and vehicles. "Can I help you with anything else?"

I suddenly have an idea. "May I use your telephone please, so to call the CQ for Service Company here at Andrews?" As I am saying this, the second MP comes in from outside.

"Well, we do not allow civilians to use official MP phones. I..."

I interrupt him, "Mensch! As I have been saying, I am a civilian employee in Brigade S1. I need to contact Corporal Felder."

The MPs look at each other, and the second one nods, "Go ahead, but make it quick!"

They return to their business and I step to the phone. "Vat extension should I use?"

The first MP sighs loudly, walks over, takes the phone from the cradle and dials the number for me, then hands me the phone."

"Thank you," I whisper to him.

I put it to my ear listening. It is picked up on the second ring. "Service Company CQ station, Specialist Ridge speaking, Sir!"

I clear my throat and concentrate on using my in-charge business voice—which I have found usually gets me what I want—and say, "Specialist Ridge, this is Anja Walena. I am with Brigade S1. Do you know if Olivia... er, do you know if Corporal Reary is in the barracks, or on the compound?"

"No one is in the barracks at this time, Ma'am. Everyone would be at their duty stations, or else at the infirmary."

"Oh, I see. Ummm, is Corporal Felder there? Vould he be available to speak to me?"

"I...., uh, think he is here, yes. Hold on, please."

A couple of moments pass. I hear muffled talking—two voices. I look up and both MPs are busy, but I am sure they are also listening to me.

"Service Company CQ station, Corporal Felder, Ummm, who am I speaking with please?"

"Corporal Felder. This is Anja Walena."

He pauses a few seconds before replying, "I'm sorry, say again please."

"Anja Walena. I am Olivia Reary's girlfriend. Also, she and I work together in Air Ministry compound. I am trying to find her. Did you give her my message? Two days ago... I called you... I spoke to you."

"Olivia?" he slowly says.

"Corporal Reary," I say. "Did you give her my message? I said it was very important that she get it."

I sense his change in tone as he speaks. "No. I'm afraid I did not." Beginning with disdain, yet clearly ending with regret.

"You... you didn't? Why not? Where is she? When does she go back to US?"

He pauses again. "He.... Er, well, I mean, she... departed for the airport at 9am this morning for a 10:45 flight to NY. On Pan Am. It is the only Pan Am 747 flight to New York today."

I look at my watch: it is 10 o'clock now. Ach nein! My heart pounds, and I feel dizzy, faint. "Ach nein! (Oh, no!) No. No!" I start to cry. "No, please no. Oh, Livie, vat will I do now?" I am choking the words out as the tears fall. 

Both MPs are studying me intently. One takes a step toward me, concern on his face. Traffic is backing up just outside. Someone in an olive drab Army jeep blows their horn twice quickly.

"Look," Corporal Felder says. "Where are you?"

"Here at Andrews," I say with broken words, sniffing back the tears.

"Are you at the front gate?"

"Ja, hier am Eingangstor--the front gate."

"Stay there. I have an official sedan parked just outside. I'll take you to the airport. Stay right there, just outside the guard shack. I'll be there in five minutes."

I hang up the phone, wipe the tears from my face with a tissue from my bag, and step outside the guard shack. I look again at my watch. "Oh, please, please, hurry," I softly say.