“Talking to Colonel Frade.”
“About what?”
“Rachel, you don’t have the Need to Know.”
“Oh, sorry. I thought maybe you were talking about the Russian you caught at your monastery.”
“What Russian? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No,” she said, chuckling, “of course you don’t. Need to Know and all that.”
She looked at his face and then changed the subject.
“Maybe Tony will be called away somewhere and we can have a little time together in Munich.”
“That would be nice. Rachel, what if your husband starts looking for you and can’t find you?”
“That would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?”
She put her clothes back on as quickly as she—they—had taken them off, and left.
VIII
[ ONE ]
Kloster Grünau
Schollbrunn, Bavaria
American Zone of Occupation, Germany
1005 2 November 1945
First Sergeant Chauncey Dunwiddie and Technical Sergeant Abraham L. Tedworth had heard the Storch approaching and were waiting next to the former monastery chapel when Cronley taxied up to it.
They spotted Frade and curiosity was all over their faces.
Frade and Cronley climbed down from the airplane.
Dunwiddie softly ordered, “Ten-hut!” Both non-coms popped to attention and crisply raised their hands to their eyebrows.
“Good morning, Colonel,” Dunwiddie barked. “Good morning, Captain. Welcome home.”
Frade and Cronley returned the salute. Dunwiddie and Tedworth crisply lowered their arms and popped to parade rest.
“As you were,” Frade said. “Good morning.”
“Colonel,” Cronley said. “This is First Sergeant Dunwiddie and his field first sergeant, Technical Sergeant Tedworth.”
Frade offered them his hand.
“My name is Frade.”
“Yes, sir,” the two non-coms said in unison.
“Command of Operation Ost has been given to me,” Frade said. “So you now work for me.”
“Yes, sir,” they again said in unison.