XLIII - Journey into the blitz, part 3
XLIII – JOURNEY INTO THE BLITZ – part 3
House of the Ladies Ryan, Boston, USA, December 14th, 1939, 20.09 hours
“Why do you hesitate, my dear?”
“I am only a teacher. How can I ever become the lady to guide our nation in this troubling times?”
“Your colleagues at the party think you are the right gal.”
“And what do you think, Bethany?”
“Well, I think they are damned right. You should go out there and save the world from fascism. Besides, thats what you want to do anyway. What better position to do this?”
“But it would change our lives forever. The kids... well.”
There was sadness in Bethanies eyes, Jill could see.
“We will live with it. Anyway, you wouldnt shy away from this challenge whatever I say. And we both know that. Why should I fight against the inevitable, making live for us all difficult? You are who and how you are. You are the woman I married. I still stand to that decision.”
Both were quiet for a while. Outside, it was snowing, their living room illuminated and warmed by the fire in the fireplace.
Finally, Jill sighed.
“You are right again, honey. The world situation is grim. Germany controls europe, the Britas all alone, and China on the brink of collapse. Its time the good gals get their things together. If they need me to do the job, I will do it. I must. As long as you stand beside me, that is.”
“I always have and always will, Jill.”
Bethany Ryan will always stand beside her Jill, no matter what, even if she goes to the White House.
A dojo, Osaka, Japan, December 19th, 1939, 2.51 hours
Blood dripped slowly to the ground. The woman, tied to a chair, groaned in pain. Miyabi stepped back, wavered her knife a bit and said in conversial tone:
“So, what was it with the young white girl your mother trained in the past? Was her name Skorzeny? Ophelia Skorzeny?”
“Yes, yes. That was her name, but...”
“What?”
“I can stand it no more. I will speak. The truth, the whole truth.”
“I hear.”
“Its all a lie. This woman, this Skorzeny, came here in 1932, to me, my mother was already dead. The dojo was in a bad shape and I needed money to sustain it. The white devil offered me money, much of it. All I had to do was telling the story of the white girl named Skorzeny who was trained beside me in our youth. I changed the old records, I bribed others myself to launch the story and gave it a wider background.”
“So this woman never learned japanese here and the fighting arts?”
“No, never. But her japanese was perfect in 32.”
Miyabi knocked with the bloody knife against her slender cheek and seemed lost in thought.
“Will you release me now? I have told you everything I know. The white devil warned me to do this, she said she would come back for me and...”
With a quick move Miyabi cut the throat of the bound woman.
She left as traceless as she had come, thinking about a mysterious blonde who had become more mysterious still.
CBS news from London, December 20th 1939, 8 hours
“Last night the German Luftwaffe conducted another heavy raid against the british capital. The german air strikes have grown in intensity over the last days, and british officials describe the situation in London and other southern cities as grim.
Today, a group of republican congresswomen and specialists will reach London from the States, to confer with british prime ministress Churchill. The group is headed by Dr. Jill Tessa Ryan, a foreign and defence policy specialist known to be a prominent proponent of US intervention in the conflicts in Europe and Asia.”
Downing Street 10, London, United Queendom, December 20th, 1939, 19.20 hours
“I wish the current US-administration would take your parties position, Lady Ryan. We definitly need help. The air strikes are one thing. What worries me far more are the german uboats in the Atlantic. If they are able to strangle Britain, we might not hold out.”
“I concur with you on that, Lady prime ministress, but theres hardly anything we can do before the election. And its nearly a year to that.”
“A year we probably dont have. At least I see no chance for a german invasion of Britain in the near future. Their Kriegsmarine is to weak for that. But, as I said, the battle of the atlantic might prove decisive.”
Lady Churchill leaned back and lit another big cigar. Puffing out smoke and folding her arms across her massive belly, she then inquired:
“Is it correct that YOU will become candidatress for president next spring?”
Jill hesitated only a second.
“Yes, thats correct.”
“I think thats a good decision of this party of yours. If you promise me to win the election, I will promise you that Britain will hold out till then.”
“Uhh, I will do my very best.”
“I am sure you will, dear.”
Jill Tessa Ryan is determined to help Britain and stop the fascists. But will Britain hold out until the next US-elections?
The Fuehras quarters, Reichschancellory, Berlin, Germany, 1st January 1940, 0.16 hours
She small lady with the short haircut entered the quarters. A light was switched on. Another lady already sat in the room, a tall blonde in high boots and black uniform.
“You look tired. The stress takes its toll.”
“I hate such official festivities. Sometimes I just wanna be back home and be done with it.”
“We are doing this for so long, one hardly remembers how it was before.”
“YOU are showing weakness Ophelia? You are the rock on which I rest. Dont give me that.”
“We have done good work. Especially you. Everything according to plan, France fallen, the British at our mercy. Only I have failed on you. The dutch queen, Egypt – all failures. Maybe I am getting old.”
“Thats nonsense. The Queen, Egypt, only sideshows. Do you think I really give a damn about the queens insult back then? I admire her for her braveness, to speak the truth. A pity she is on the other side. But I, the dangerous, evil Fuehra, you know the rest.”
“You are perfect in your role. CONTROLS choice was a good one.”
“But I wonder if CONTROLS choice of country was as good too. I still think we should have tried the USA as a starting point.”
“To difficult to achieve power, no aggressive potential like here. Germany was the right choice for CONTROLS plan. The only question is, is the plan the right one. You know I always had my doubts about that.”
“They wouldnt have believed us when we had told them the truth. No one believes it. Its better this way round. And with Janet in Atlanta doing such good work we really have a chance here. Nearly all big manufacturers now use the Marlboro formula due to its success. We might even succeed in imunizing most of the population against the SPELL.”
“Anyway, to unite the world we have still a long way to go, and otherwise our mission will be a failure. You still dont want to invade England?”
“With what? The Kriegsmarine is far to weak for that. A failure in an invasion would be a psychological setback I dont want to risk. No, Russia is the next target. We will conduct the offensive in the summer. My generals say they can beat the soviets till October. With our back free, we can turn against Britain and the US with everything we have. In spring, we will clear the flanks, Scandinavia and the Balkans.”
Ophelia lit a cigarette, the Hitler, a non-smokress, didnt even blink.
“Any special missions for me?”
“How do you think about a fascist coup in Sweden?”
“We are already well established there.”
“The Himmler will give you the details. Try to be back soon.”
“I will also try not to fail again. I hope there are no british commandos in Sweden, I really have no desire to meet them so soon again for a fourth time. On the other hand, this little Stockbottom...”
“Getting fond of one of your enemies again?”
“Why not get some fun out of this all?”
“You never change, Ophelia.”
“No. What do you think, how many years do we still have?”
“Several for sure. CONTROL says ten, but I wont count on it.”
“Ten would be nice. But on the other hand – the last ten years are gone fast enough.”
“Aint that the truth. Besides... theres one more thing.”
“So?”
“It seems like there are already agents of the enemy operating here. Or ... another ETNAL KROSA is here, one gone wild.”
“You mean Danja. How do you think so?”
“You have heard of the Manstein case in Paris? The general was abducted using a cigarette gagress. Those devices lead us to the enemy. On the other hand, the Manstein was released again after a fake hanging. And then the flower in her hair. It looks like the criminal known as THE FLOWER has turned resistance fightress. I think its Danja. I must tell CONTROL about that, you know this.”
“Why shouldnt you? Shall I take a look after the case?”
“No, you go to Sweden. Another SET team will turn to the case of the FLOWER. Bringing Danja back to CONTROL would be a major success.”
Ophelia said nothing to that. She didnt envy the SET team destined for Paris. Danja would give them a warm welcome, she was sure. Not to forget Aristide...
Adolfina Hitler has led Germany to great heights again. But what is her and Skorzenys real purpose? Who is CONTROL, und who the real enemy?