Winfred

121

Official Report

British Intelligence

Code: 3986                 

Kathleen Winfred

June 20, 1944: four days

The day before, Freidrich had been too busy and distracted to ask me why I had not made it outside to say goodbye to Jessica.”

However, once we got a break to have dinner together, he thought to ask.

“Kathleen…” he said, absentmindedly, as we were sitting down to the meal in his office. “Where were you the other day? Why did you not come to see Jessica? I thought you had planned to?”

I sighed. “I had,” I said. “But Schwab picked that very moment to stop me for my language proficiency test and…”

“Language proficiency test?” interrupted Freidrich, frowning deeply.

“Yes,” I said. “Schwab has been put in charge of testing the proficiency of the prison personnel in various languages: French, English, and German. He’s going to test the entire prison staff.”

Freidrich’s frown, if possible deepened even more and he stood, pacing the length of the office.

“Freidrich?” I asked, hesitantly.

“Schwab has been given no such authorization. I am still commander of this prison, and if such authorization had been given to him, I would have been informed.” He stopped pacing, turning to look at me. “You say he tested you in French?”

“Yes,” I said. “I pretended not to understand.”

Freidrich sighed. “That is a good thing. That way, when you leave, you’ll be harder to find. But Kathleen…Schwab must be suspicious, otherwise he would not have tried to corner you. Did you have any problem with the test?”

“My English…I don’t have a good German accent.”

Freidrich groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Why didn’t I think of that?” he said, frustrated with himself. “Why didn’t I prepare you to speak in English with a German accent. Why was I so stupid…” Finally he stopped pacing once more and faced me. “Tell me…Was there anything that stood out to you about the test?”

“Yes…” I said. “He made a special point to ask me if I had been to England. Also…the article written in English which he gave me to read mentioned…my name. Kathleen Winfred.”

Freidrich’s face paled. “He is suspicious,” he said, matter-of-factly.

He completely abandoned his dinner in favor of pacing back and forth. He sighed. “The Allies are marching closer. With the resistance rumored to attack in a few days, it’s best that you leave right before the time when the attack is supposed to happen. It will be a good distraction. You’ll need to leave almost immediately, if Schwab has started to suspect.”

I felt afraid, but I listened to Freidrich talk, only stopping him once to ask when I would have to leave.

He looked sad. “June twenty-fourth,” he said.

“That’s…that’s…” I felt stricken.

“Four days,” he said, grimly.

I stood from my chair and threw my arms around him. He hugged me back. Neither of us spoke. We didn’t know what to say.