The Fragile Hour (13 page)

“
Let’s come back here one day,” she said, lost in the beauty of the scene.

“
We’ll do that.”

They
both knew that chance might never come their way, but it comforted her to hope for it.

They
skied together side by side and kept up a good speed, for there was a crisp crust to the new snow. They were completely alone among the glittering mountains, the endless slopes lying unmarked before them. It would have seemed like any day of carefree cross-country skiing, except that the imminence of their parting was hanging over them. Finally they came to the place where they had to go their separate ways.

“
This is it!” he said, as they came to a halt. “Are you sure of shelter tonight?”

“
Yes. I showed you the map I was given by Rolf before I left Alesund. All the
saeters
are marked and I have my compass.”

“
I’ll try to send you a letter if I get an opportunity,” he promised.

“
I’d be content with a verbal message from someone just to know you’re safe.”

“
I’ll remember that.” He enfolded her into his embrace with a groan of love and for a few moments they stood with their cheeks pressed together, he almost crushing the breath from her. “Always remember that I love you, Anna.”

He
had spoken with such tenderness that she could hardly answer him, but a lover’s parting in war was no time for reticence. If words of love were left unspoken, the chance to say them might never come again.

“
You’re taking my heart with you,” she whispered.

Then
they kissed so long and deeply and lovingly in farewell that afterwards she felt mildly surprised that the snow had not melted under their feet and spring flowers blossomed around them.

He
saw she was smiling and was glad. “What is it?” he asked. When she told him, he smiled too. “Didn’t you see it happen? You must have had your eyes closed.”

“
I always do when you kiss me.” She was as thankful as he that they could part with a smile to help the anguish that was in them. “
Farvel
, dear Karl.”

He
watched her ski away. She paused once to exchange a wave with him. Then he turned in the opposite direction.

Anna
kept to the higher slopes from which she could sight the enemy far in the distance should that arise, but it was unlikely. She had no difficulty in getting into the cabins, the key to her aunt’s country home coming into unexpected use.

It
took nearly three days before she came down the mountains at Sjoholt. It was where the bus had been refuelled on the way to Tresfjord. There were a few soldiers about, but none took any notice of her. She was still some way from Alesund and it would be curfew-time before she reached it unless she could get transport. A garage hand gave her the telephone number of a taxi-driver. He was already booked for the same trip, but would take her if she was willing to share with another woman passenger.

She
agreed immediately. Her fellow passenger proved to be an elderly woman, well pleased to halve the fare, who chatted about her five beloved grandchildren all the way. Anna was content to listen, for it was so normal and domestic after what she had been through. The flow of talk did not stop even at the bridge check point where their papers were examined. The guard, young and amiable, gave Anna a sympathetic wink as he returned them.

Chapter
Eleven

Entering the hotel, Anna went through the staff-lobby into the kitchen, a ski-boot in each hand. Dinner was over and only Emil and Cook were there, chatting together. At the sight of Anna the woman widened her eyes. “
Store
verden
! You’ve caught the sun!”

“
I had time for some skiing during my visit,” Anna replied with a smile, padding across the tiled floor. “It was perfect weather for it.”

“
Lucky you! I haven’t skied since that Easter the Germans came.”

Emil
looked inquiringly at Anna. “Are your skis outside,
fröken
? I’ll put them in the cellar for you.”

“
Thanks.”

As
Anna was about to leave the kitchen, Edith called after her, wagging a finger dramatically. “Wait until you hear what’s been happening here while you were away! Fru Sande will tell you.”

Anna
raised her eyebrows, wondering what it could be. She had intended to find Greta in any case to let her know she had returned.

When
she entered the office Greta called from her private sitting-room beyond. “I’m relieved to see you safely back, Anna,” she said, stubbing out a cigarette in an ashtray almost full. “You look so healthy with that tan and I’m a nervous wreck today. Sit down. You’ll never guess what occurred here.”

“
Cook mentioned that something had taken place.” Anna sat back on the cushioned sofa.

“
You know that batch of young officers who moved in last week? They had a party here last night with a consignment of French girls from the brothel ship in port. If Major Schultz had been here, he would have intervened, but he had gone to Kristiansund for a couple of days. Cook put on the buffet that was ordered and there was so much alcohol being consumed that most of the men were soon drunk. Then, when supper was over, the trouble started.”

“
Did they start smashing things up?”

“
No, nothing like that. The girls simply refused to go up to the bedrooms. Tempers were lost and there they all were, the girls fighting and struggling on the stairs with the drunken officers and screaming out that they would never serve the dirty
Boche
and much worse. I know enough French to have understood that.”

“
Those girls were courageous!”

“
They were a new consignment flown in a few days ago. I’ve heard since that as soon as they went on board, they all rebelled. As with all the prostitutes brought from Nazi-occupied territories for these vessels, the Frenchwomen had been given no choice about leaving their own country.”

“
Weren’t the officers warned of their attitude?”

“
Apparently not. The girls were pleasant enough to their German hosts when they arrived at the hotel. It’s my belief that they came for the food, which would be better than their rations, and some wine. But — obviously — nothing more.”

“
What happened in the end?”

“
Soldiers were called in and there was such confusion. The girls were rounded up and shoved in the back of an army truck. They went off shouting `
Vive
la
France’
and singing the
Marseillaise
. But not to the ship. Today Oberleutnant Werner, looking bleary-eyed and with scratches down his face, told me they were being sent to a concentration camp.”

“
Oh no!” Anna spoke in dismay.

Greta
let her hands rise and fall in a gesture of sympathy for their plight. “I shall give Major Schultz a full report when he returns tomorrow and I’ll speak up for those unfortunate women.”

“
Please do! I will too.”

“
He might listen more to you than to me.” Greta did not speak with much hope for either of their appeals before her voice took on an apologetic tone. “I’ve been going on about all the troubles here and I haven’t asked yet if you had a successful trip.”

“
There were a few problems, but in the end all went well.”

“
I’m relieved to hear it.”

“
Now if you’ll excuse me,” Anna said, getting up out of the comfortable sofa, “I’m going to have a hot bath and go straight to bed.”

“
You must have something to eat first.”

“
I really don’t need anything but sleep. I’ll say good night and see Margot in the morning.”

*

The next day was uneventful until early evening when Klaus Schultz returned. Having been told by Margot that her mother wanted to see him at once on an urgent matter, he went straight to Greta’s office. He was shut in with her for twenty minutes.

Anna
caught a glimpse of him when he emerged. His face was livid with rage, a muscle working in his cheek, and he went at once to his room. Anna could tell he would be a dangerous adversary if crossed and made up her mind to be extra careful in all her dealings with him.

Soon
afterwards Margot informed her as to what had happened. “He was so angry and is going to reprimand all the culprits. I wouldn’t be in their shoes!”

Dinner
passed without incident. Afterwards all the officers went as usual for coffee in the comfortable
peisestue
, so named for the open corner fireplace where logs blazed in the evenings for their comfort, for they denied themselves nothing. It was after one of the waitresses had carried out the cups and emptied coffee pot that the officers not involved in the French fiasco left the room. Although the last one closed the door after him, the snap of heels was heard as Klaus Schultz’s angry command brought the rest to their feet. From the lengthy rumble of his tirade it was clear he was showing them no mercy.

Anna
had taken over the reception desk and she saw them file out, some flushed, all of them looking disconcerted, and in turn they went to present their apologies to Greta. Not for the first time Anna thought what a contrast there was in the violent brutality the German troops committed under orders and the strict discipline that forbade them any personal laxness of behaviour off duty. It was Klaus’s respect for Greta that had outraged him on her behalf.

When
Klaus himself emerged from the room, he saw Anna at the desk and his stern expression softened into pleasure at seeing her. “You’re back. How did your trip go?”

She
had her answer prepared. “I’m sorry to say that the old lady I’d hoped to visit died a while ago. I took advantage of the time I’d been allowed off work to go skiing.”

“
What a good idea! Are you going to the ski-jumping on Sunday?”

“
I’ll be on duty.” It was the perfect excuse. Any sports event sponsored by the Germans was boycotted, a measure of the contempt shown by people who had once crowded to Holmenkollen and other ski events in their enthusiastic, flag-waving thousands.

“
That’s disappointing. But I hope nothing has arisen to prevent you coming to the party with me.”

“
No. Nothing at all.” She hoped her smile was not becoming fixed. He was leaning his arms on the reception desk between them, looking directly into her face as if intending to create a more intimate atmosphere between them. Little did he know that while he was at dinner, she had examined the file he had brought from Kristiansund. Unfortunately it only showed that he had been organising the bringing in of more prisoners, Yugoslavs this time, to work on the immense task of installing the great gun. “Fru Sande would never renege on a promise to let me off duty.”

“
I’m sure she wouldn’t.” He paused for a moment. “Fru Sande has been most gracious over the disgraceful upheaval that took place here while you and I were away.”

“
I’ve been told about it.” Anna had been waiting for the moment when she could bring up the subject and now he had done it for her.

“
Your employer has always been most gracious. She has never objected to drinking parties for officers only and those can be extremely noisy and destructive at times. What happened here the other evening was inexcusable behaviour on her orderly premises. If there were more people in this country as co-operative as Fru Sande our task here would be an easy one.”

“
She’s very fair in all matters. What of the French women? Are they to be treated fairly for their protest against being brought here from France against their will?”

A
tight expression clamped down on his face and he straightened up from the desk. “They were brought here to follow their own profession and, since they refuse to do that, they must be put to tasks of a different kind.”

“
I feel so sorry for them. Why not send them back to France? That would be the humane thing to do. Surely you could arrange it, Klaus?” Her urgent appeal melted his expression and he smiled.

“
You’re investing more authority in me than I possess. Rebellion in any form against the Third Reich must be punished. One of the officers, whom I’ve just reprimanded, informed me that our commanding officer has already sent the Frenchwomen to the females’ section of a place of confinement.”

“
Grini?”

He
hesitated. “Yes.” Then seeing her look of dismay, he hastened to reassure her. “I know there are rumours about the camps, but you must not believe all you hear. People are simply taught to understand what it means to reject Nazism.”

“
I’d hoped you might be able to help the French women.”

He
put his head slightly on one side as he regarded her almost with amusement, as if her plea had been that of a child innocently requesting the impossible. “You have a tender heart, my dear. That’s very admirable in the right circumstances.” If he had been able to reach her hands over the desk he would have taken hold of them, but she was keeping her distance. “I have to say it, Anna. You’re more beautiful every time I see you. It makes me all the more thankful that you weren’t here to witness that unpleasant scene. You would have been even more upset. Young women like you should be cherished and protected. I don’t even care to see you working here.”

Anna
knew what was passing through this Nazi’s mind. He was like so many others of his kind, believing Hitler’s dictate that women were fit only for the kitchen and bed. “I’ve been told there were two male clerks here before the war,” she said, “but both were shot after attempting to get away to England.”

He
shrugged his broad shoulders, unmoved. “Then, unfortunately, they were among those who couldn’t accept that we had come as friends to save Norway from the British.”

She
wanted to demand if that was why he and the rest of the
Wehrmacht
had invaded Poland and Belgium and France and Holland and Luxemburg and Denmark, all before destroying the peace of Norway. Yet she dared not give way to showing her loathing of him and all he represented. Too much was at stake in every way. “If you hadn’t come to Norway, I wouldn’t have such a important date tomorrow evening.”

He
was delighted with her and smiled widely. “It is for me too, Anna.”

The
telephone rang at this point and she picked it up. “Hotel Ryan. How may I help you?” When the reply came, she put her hand over the mouthpiece. “I’m afraid this will be a long call, Klaus.”

He
raised a hand in acknowledgement. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, drawing away.

The
caller was one of Margot’s friends, named Alf Ottersen. Anna recalled having a long and interesting talk with him at the party where Margot had taken her. They had also danced together three or four times.

“
How are you, Anna?” he wanted to know.

“
Fine. I had a break this week to visit someone, otherwise I’m busy all the time.”

“
Not too busy, I hope, to come and watch the ski contest with me on Sunday?”

She
was taken aback, never expecting any of Margot’s friends to support an enemy-sponsored sports event. “I’ll be working.”

He
must have caught how her voice chilled and yet he became persistent. “Can’t you switch duties? Naturally none of our best men are taking part. God knows whereabouts they are now. But the Germans are entering two good skiers from their own ranks and some of their ski-troops are taking part. We’ve only four entrants and only one of those can hold his own. Maybe you’ll know his name. When he was younger, he was in the Norwegian team that went to the last Winter Olympics held in Germany before the war and won a Gold Medal.”

Suddenly
suspense made her nerves tingle. “I was a bit young myself at the time. What’s his name?”

“
Nils Olsen.”

She
gripped the telephone tightly, not daring to hope. “Have you seen his name on a poster?”