Heidi Fischer

SWALLOW

A Novel

July 1929

“Would you like to see some kittens?” He spoke with a thick Russian accent. “They’re so cute. You must come and see them.”

Gabi’s skipping rope fell to the cobbled ground, discarded in favour of something more interesting, her lively steps taking her to Yuri, the familiar character who tended their garden. She was a pretty girl with the mischievous grin of an only child accustomed to finding her own source of amusement and the temperament of a playful puppy gnawing on a favourite shoe.

Her stockings had shrunk down her legs and she pulled them high above her waist, as she had a hundred times that day, knowing that they would slip down again with each step. But she did not complain to her nanny for she knew that a bath awaited her, and today was a hair day.

“Where are they?” She smiled up at the tall man and his lips parted, showing a row of yellow teeth that fought for space.

“Come with me, just in here,” he said.

The excited seven-year-old skipped after Yuri, following him down a flight of stairs to a cellar used for storing wine, coal and preserved food for the long winter ahead. It reeked of musty, wet earth.

Gabi’s button nose wrinkled. “Phew, it stinks down here. I can’t see a thing,” she said, pinching her nose to block the stench.

A tarnished oil lamp hung on the wall by the entrance. Yuri placed it on a stand and lit the wick to reveal a deep chasm with large supporting pillars and beams that stretched as far as the light allowed, exposing a foreign world to the little girl. Many a time, she had been cautioned never to venture into the malevolent sanctum of the cellar where, according to her nanny, all manner of vermin and pestilence thrived. But the lure of kittens would not deter, and she squinted to see beyond the light.

“The kittens are down here? It’s so dark and cold. Perhaps we should bring a blanket for them?”

“No, they’re fine. Just go right to the back.”

Gabi moved forward, pulling at her tights with each tentative step.

“Farther back.” He waved his hands to urge her on. “Go, go…”

The girl tiptoed deeper into the cellar, fumbling in the darkness until a stone wall blocked her way. “I can’t go any farther. Where are the kittens?”

Yuri placed the lamp by a pillar and the shadows that had followed them into the cellar grew long and ghoulish.

She asked again. “Are they this far back? I can’t hear them.”

An arm came down and then another, grabbing the girl from behind and forcing her to the floor. “Don’t fight me, it will only hurt more.”

“Yuri, no, stop!” she pleaded, kicking her legs and thrashing her arms while he tore the layers of clothing from her body, his bulk so heavy upon her that she could not fight back. But she could hear every breath that he took and with each deep gasp, her body contracted in pain. “Stop, stop!” she shrieked, terror paralysing her efforts to break free.

He clutched her neck and squeezed until her screams fell silent.

* * *

She looked at the clock and pulled the sock from the darning mushroom, folding it inside its pair and placing it on a pile of mended underwear. She scurried to the bottom of the staircase and called up into the void.

“Gabi, Gabi, where are you?” She waited a moment, tilting her head to the left so that her good ear faced the stairs. She called up again. “Your father will be home soon—you must have a bath and get ready for dinner.”

Gabi’s silence came as no surprise to Frau Hermann. After all, what child with long hair looked forward to a bath? She wiped her clean hands on her apron out of habit and scurried down the hallway to the back of the house, leaving her unfinished darning and cold cup of tea. She quickened her pace crossing the courtyard to the kitchen door.

“Have you seen Gabi? I can’t find her anywhere—you know how the captain hates it when she is late.” Frau Hermann’s tight ashen bun had worked its way loose, and she hastily reinserted hairpins to secure it.

Chef turned and shrugged, stirring his pot of liver dumpling soup. He was a middle-aged, rotund man with a bulbous nose and a club foot he had endured since birth. His cuisine was provincial and flavoursome, reflecting his humble Salzburg origins. But his indifference to her helplessness aggravated Frau Hermann all the more and she scurried off to find Helmut, the head butler; he would know what to do.

An automobile clipped the curb as it pulled up at the front of the house, a stately mansion, four stories high with cream rendered walls and a red tiled roof. It was known as Rittergut Grosse Eiche—Manor Grand Oak—after an enormous tree that stood on a hill nearby. The Richter family had lived on the estate in eastern Germany for three generations, first making their fortune in mining coal and producing the machinery required for such an industry. But over time, the business struggled and was sold just before the great depression of ’29 for a substantial sum, leaving the Richter dynasty financially secure, at least for a time.

Captain Richter stepped from the vehicle and was immediately set upon by Helmut.

“Captain, we have a problem. We can’t find Gabi anywhere. The house has been turned inside out and the groundsmen are searching the gardens but so far, nothing!”

Captain Richter tugged at his earlobe, assessing the situation with the mind of a strategist. His thoughts were swift, his response definite. “She must be here; she can’t have just disappeared. Keep searching the grounds, I’ll look inside.”

He was a tall, striking man in his mid-thirties who moved with self-confidence, as one would expect of a senior ranking officer. He made his way to the kitchen, acknowledging the cook with a curt nod. “Have we checked the pantry?”

Chef nodded. “Twice, Captain. I know it’s one of Gabi’s favourite hiding places.”

The captain looked to the yard, through a window that framed a bleak picture for darkness had descended and the swallows were settled in the safety of their roosts for the night. But not Gabi.

A small crowd gathered in the kitchen and the room hummed with anxious muttering that rose and fell like the surge of a tide before the storm. The captain held up a hand to silence the group, fine-tuning his senses to a faint sound coming from the yard.

“Saxon.”

A miniature schnauzer bounded about, yapping and spinning frenzied circles. The captain immediately ran to the dog, grabbing him by the collar to hold him still.

“Where is Gabi? Go—show us.”

The dog ferreted its way across the yard before changing direction, not once, but twice and the gathering followed tenaciously behind, stopping and waiting until the next burst. Then, finally, the little schnauzer stood his ground by the cellar door.

Captain Richter unbolted the latch and seized a lantern from one of the men. He thrust at the door and the little dog bounded down the steps, Captain Richter and staff trailing behind, lanterns casting macabre shadows as they ran along the cobblestones and deeper into the blackness.

The little schnauzer stopped and whimpered. Dread turned to horror for on the floor lay the naked body of a child, her tiny figure white and lifeless. Captain Richter knelt down and placed a shaking hand on her neck.

“She’s alive. She’s alive. Go, get the doctor!”

He removed his jacket, placing it over her tiny frame and cradling her into his chest, rising slowly and charging for the door. Servants, groundsmen and farm hands all stood in silence, but for their shocked gasps as he passed them by. Helmut quivered at the base of steps.

“Go, get the police,” the captain said before making his way across the yard and into the manor.

A forceful boot shunted the sturdy kitchen door open, his elongated strides taking them up the servant’s stairs to the master bedroom on the first floor. A second kick flung the bedroom door back against the wall with a whack that left a crack in the plaster. He lay Gabi down on the bed, never lifting his gaze from her for a moment.

Now, in the light of the room, he could see clearly what Gabi had suffered. Bruises and grazes covered her body; a ring of purple circled her neck. He dare not examine her private place; this he would leave for the doctor. Tears welled, to be blinked away before they broke.

“Gabi, wake up, Gabi…” He stroked his daughter’s forehead, softly repeating her name.

Gabi’s lashes fluttered, and her eyes grew. She pulled herself up, but a pain stabbed at her innards and she curled herself into a ball.

“Papa, it hurts.”

“Shhhh… it’s all right, my little soldier.” He eased her body back so she would lie flat and pulled the bed covers up to her shoulders, tucking in the edge as one does with a child.

“He hurt me, Papa. He hurt me.” Her words quivered, and her body shook.

“Who hurt you?” he said in a voice choked with rage.

A tear trickled along the curve of her cheek and down to the pillow, leaving a faint stain. He wiped away the second tear that followed the same path, his glistening eyes pleading for her to respond.

“Yuri.”

The captain’s eyes glared.

“You believe me, Papa, don’t you?”

The captain could not speak for fear that he would lose control. He stroked Gabi’s forehead with a trembling hand, willing the doctor to appear and relieve him from his duty. He had never been good at dealing with her tears and even now, it felt foreign to him to comfort her. He could not remember a time when his own parents had ever shown any warmth or tenderness, and sadly he was a product of such an upbringing. But his wife Mary had been different, and he had loved her for it.

A knock at the door announced the doctor’s arrival. He walked into the room, placed his battered medical bag on the bed and shook the captain’s hand with a flaccid grip. Gabi’s eyes darted back and forth between her father and the doctor, her knuckles white as she clung to her sheets.

“The doctor is here, my little soldier; he will make you feel better.”

“Perhaps it would be best if you wait outside,” the doctor said.

It took a moment for his words to rouse panic in the little girl, and she sprang up and reached out for her father.

“No, Papa. Don’t leave me!”

“Frau Hermann will stay with you. It won’t take long,” the captain said, avoiding her pleading eyes and closing the door firmly behind him.

He rushed downstairs to the reception hall where a troop of policemen waited, impatiently shuffling their feet and murmuring into their coats.

“Yuri, it was Yuri.” The captain watched the men pour outside into the courtyard and scatter. He left them to their search and made his way to the drawing room, a place where he always felt most contented and at peace. But not tonight.

Reclining into a wingback chair, he waited for the police to return, tapping his fingers on the lustrous patina of a desk clear of clutter but for two ornate photo frames, one of his wife on their wedding day, the other of Gabi cuddling Saxon as a puppy. He stared at the image of Gabi taken on her fourth birthday; her joy so great and emotions so overwhelmed that she had cried. And he had laughed at her.

Ten minutes passed. He paced the room, the pendulum of the grandfather clock swinging in unison with his steps, amplifying the intensity of the unfolding drama. Twenty minutes passed. Finally, a police officer entered the room to announce that Yuri had been found.

Captain Richter ran for the courtyard, launching himself down the stairs to the gathering in the centre of the yard where a carriage stood, a filthy blanket covering what appeared to be a body in the back.

The police officer coughed nervously. “He hung himself in the forest.”

Captain Richter lifted the blanket and saw a man with bluish-grey skin and bulging demonic eyes that stared vacantly up at him. This was not the friendly, accommodating man that he had employed as a gardener over two years ago; it was the face of Satan.

“This death was too good. He should rot in hell.” The captain stared down at the man feeling nothing but repulsion. How could anyone commit such a heinous crime? What possesses a human being to inflict such pain and horror on an innocent child?

No answer came to him. He let the blanket fall and returned to the house where he paced the deserted reception hall, suppressing a rage that would not settle.

“Papa, it hurts.”

A cry for help from his little girl sent the captain charging up into the bedroom once again. She thrashed about as she fought against Frau Hermann’s grip on her legs and the captain glared at the doctor.

“She’s been torn and needs stitches,” he said in response to the icy stare.

Captain Richter made no sound but his expression told the doctor of this thoughts. They retreated into the privacy of the hallway where the captain cleared his dry throat with a cough that left his voice deep and menacing.

“How many stitches must she have?”

“Seven, perhaps eight.”

“Why so many?”

“Yuri is a big man.”

“Yuri is dead.”

The doctor hesitated, lowering his voice to a gruff whisper. “He may have also inserted other things in her.”

The captain gasped at the unimaginable. He fled back into the room and sat on the bed beside Gabi, softening his demeanour at the sight of her pleading eyes. The pain and fear had left her weak, but she still sobbed and trembled. He held her hand and whispered soothingly into her ear.

“Be brave, my little soldier. It’s going to be all right. I’m here for you now.”

The doctor removed a syringe from his bag, inserting it into a vial of clear liquid. “I will administer some morphine to help dull the pain.”

And when she lay still, her eyes rolling to one side with barely a blink, they lifted her and placed clean sheets beneath her pelvis and the doctor commenced his work.

The following day, Captain Richter made arrangements for Gabi to live with her aunt and cousins in England as soon as she was well enough to travel. He explained to his daughter that he could no longer trust the staff at Manor Grand Oak with her care and that she would be safer with family abroad. And in so doing, the captain cleared himself of responsibility and guilt and Gabi, as children have a tendency to do, convinced herself that she was to blame.

September 1939

A tiny shadow moved along the skirting board, pausing every now and then to review its position. Gabi’s gaze followed the mouse until a slamming door sent it in a frenzied dash to sanctuary: a small crack hidden behind an impressive bookcase that stretched the full length of the room, its shelves so laden with knowledge that they bowed.

She shifted her weight on the hard pew and surveyed the surrounds of the foyer. Like everything at St. George’s School in Ascot, it was stuffy and pretentious, filled with airs and graces befitting the pedigree of its students. She had spent the best part of her informative years at the institution and had loathed every minute of it for unlike her peers, Gabi had a common ancestry that left her ostracized and open to ridicule. She was ‘that strange German girl who had bought her way into St. George’s with dirty money made from mining’. How bourgeois.

She leaned back against the wall and unravelled a satin bow at the end of a long braid, tied with a knot so stubborn that it would not undo. Her finger twisted the ribbon idly while she waited and pondered her return to Germany. Home. The word stuck in her head like a spell, conjuring emotions and memories that swirled with happiness. Home. It was where she belonged. Home. It would be Christmas, her favourite time of the year. Home. She would be with those she loved…

The door to the head mistress’s room opened to reveal a frail, well-groomed woman in her sixties who curled a beckoning finger at the girl on the pew. Gabi quickly retied the bow in her hair, straightened her pinafore and strolled into a room blanketed in a thin layer of dust. A large chair stood behind a mahogany table that had long given up its usefulness as a dining table and was now used as a desk, covered with books, papers and odd trinkets. Two comfortable but well-worn dining chairs stood invitingly in front.

“Come, sit down. We need to talk,” said the woman.

Gabi liked Mistress Loveday. She was a kindly sort, wise and fair but prone to asthma. Perhaps this was why she insisted her room never be dusted, although this in itself seemed illogical to Gabi—after all, was it not better to dwell in a room free from dust? Despite this odd quirk, Mistress Loveday was always interesting to talk to and Gabi spent many hours discussing all manner of topics from politics to fine art, religion or the tragic plight of the mayfly after mating.

It hadn’t taken long for this wise old matriarch to realize that Gabi had a mind made for logic, excelling in all subjects scientific, and the headmistress spent years encouraging Gabi to pursue such a vocation. “You could be a doctor or scientist. Just think how proud your father would be.”

But Gabi had other dreams to follow.

A few times a year Gabi would visit her godfather, Onkel Albert Kesselring, a family friend who, like her father, had made a life in the German military. He was a charismatic man with a perpetual smile and a talent for storytelling, beguiling his audience with war tales of battle, heroism and glory for the Fatherland. Serving with the foot artillery in his early career, he had risen impressively to the ranks of high command. At the age of forty-eight, Lieutenant General Kesselring was transferred to a commanding post with the Luftwaffe where he insisted that he learn to fly, believing only through first-hand knowledge was one able to command.

It was on her twelfth birthday when Onkel Albert surprised Gabi with a joy flight that changed her dreams forever. What an experience that had been, soaring high above the patch-work quilt that covered the earth where they were pummelled by playful winds and blinded by the starkness of fluffy white clouds. It was a defining moment, an epiphany in a life lost to dreary classes and nights of loneliness in a foreign boarding school.

Mistress Loveday removed her spectacles, placing them on the cluttered desk, her expression grave.

“Your father has requested that you return to Germany immediately. You must depart on the next available boat.”

Gabi nodded in like seriousness, keenly aware of the unfolding circumstance. Germany had just invaded Poland to reclaim what rightfully belonged to the Fatherland, but France and the British Empire now felt threatened and would surely retaliate.

“You think there will be war?” Gabi asked.

“I have no reason to doubt your father’s motive. After all, he is a general.”

“I’ll go pack.”

Gabi scurried to her dormitory, hastily removing her clothes from a chest of drawers she shared with another girl and stuffing them into her suitcase. A terse voice spoke from the entrance door.

“What are you doing?” The girl entered the room but kept her distance, preferring to hover behind Gabi’s back like a pesky mosquito.

“I have to return home. War will be declared soon.” Gabi turned her shoulder to block the intrusive girl’s view. Her name was Elizabeth and as the daughter of an Earl, she held herself in high regard. Gabi had tried for years to befriend Elizabeth, hopeful that such an ally would gain her acceptance amongst her peers, but over time Gabi realised that class had more to do with breeding than wealth and that she would never be accepted as one of them.

Elizabeth watched Gabi press more clothing into her bulging suitcase. “You’ll wrinkle all your clothes.”

Gabi shifted her position again and kept stuffing more clothing into her case. “I don’t care.”

Elizabeth stood and stared a while longer but offered no assistance or any further advice. She eventually walked back to the door, turning on her heels to make one final remark. “Your father will be fighting in the war, won’t he? He’ll be killing Englishmen.”

Gabi stopped packing but did not respond; she was the enemy now, and there was nothing she could say that would make it otherwise.

* * *

It was the day before England declared war on Germany, and Gabi was where she belonged. The weather was cool and the wind howled through the elm forest that bordered her home on the outskirts of Meissen in Saxony, carrying with it the earthy scent of its rural surroundings and the memories of her childhood.

What adventures she had every summer break when she would play with the village boys—not girls; dolls and sewing were of no interest to Gabi—war games and hunting were far more exciting. They would raid the neighbouring orchards, scrumping the best fruit and devouring it like famished explorers in the Wendy house they had cobbled together down by the old mill. They fished using fat worms that the trout could never resist and snared the wild rabbits in the open fields, gutting and skinning their kill before roasting the carcass on an open fire. They were happy times that passed all too soon, and she would be packed off once again to England to endure another semester at St. George’s.

Gabi waited by the bay window for her father to return from Berlin where he resided and worked during the week. She stared out into the blackness, listening to the grandfather clock tick, its pendulum swinging back and forth, prompting her to count mindlessly in her head. A beam from a motor vehicle broke Gabi’s trance and she bolted for the front door, hurling herself down the stairs and wrapping her arms around her father’s neck.

“Papa!”

“How is my little soldier? Not so little anymore.” He drew her from his neck and surveyed his daughter at arm’s length, taking in her tall stature and square shoulders. Seemingly satisfied with what he saw, he smiled and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Come, let’s go inside—it’s fresh tonight. Helmut, take my bag into the drawing room.”

The man nodded and scurried to the back of the vehicle, leaving the general and his daughter to their banter. They moved into the main reception room, and the general eased himself down into a tufted chair of the finest leather.

“How was your trip?”

Gabi’s eyes sparkled, and she scrambled over the sofa to be close to him. “Exciting. So much is going on down by the docks.”

Hamburg was indeed buzzing with activity for in these early days of war, optimism had turned what was once a dying economy into a thriving, productive war machine.

“You should see the size of the fleet they’re building. I’ve never seen the shipyards so busy. Every dry dock is in use and the cargo ships are endless—people everywhere.”

“Yes, nothing like war to kick a nation into gear,” the general said and he frowned.

“Are you worried, Papa? Can we beat the English?”

“It would be better if we were not at war with the brother land.” He paused and ran his hand through his hair. “It will only be a matter of time before the industrious Americans meddle.” The general waved a dismissive hand. “Enough of such talk—let’s eat.”

Gabi and her father dined on roast duck that evening. It was plump and stuffed with a fusion of onions, bread, apples, liver, and spice. The table was set with the finest Meissner porcelain, a family heirloom that, although precious, was put to good use. Large, generous serving dishes of potatoes, peas, carrots and gravy completed the hearty feast, its delectable aromas wafting around the room and sending Gabi’s stomach into a rumbling spasm as she eagerly watched her father carve the duck.

“The breast, Papa. May I have the breast piece please?”

“Yes, yes, child. Didn’t they feed you at that expensive school?”

Gabi watched her father carve the bird and place a generous portion of breast on her plate.

“Not so much, Papa. I have to watch my figure.”

The general raised a brow at his blossoming daughter. “Figure? I’ve seen more meat on a toothpick. I expect you to finish it all.”

He enjoyed a cognac with dessert, laughter lining his face as his daughter amused him with her endless chatter. When Gabi had run out of dialogue, which took some time, an unfamiliar serenity came over the room and the general was finally given the opportunity to speak.

“So, what are we to do with you?” He drew on a long cigar and blew the cloud high so it dispersed quickly to avoid any complaint from Gabi.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you can’t sit around here all day. You’ll drive this household insane with your constant prattle.” The general pulled out a pamphlet from the Nazi League of German Girls. “Here, read this.”

Having been educated in England for most of her life, Gabi had avoided compulsory membership to this organisation and read the booklet with an interest that quickly turned to mockery.

“Papa, I don’t believe what I’m reading. Is this a joke? It’s hilarious.”

The general shrugged, having not read the pamphlet himself, and gave his daughter a bemused look. “What’s so funny?”

“According to this, the ideal German woman doesn’t work, wear trousers, make-up or high-heeled shoes. She mustn’t get her hair coloured or permed, and she shouldn’t be too skinny. I guess they just want women to cook, clean and pop out babies.”

Although he knew this to be true, the general grinned at the absurdity of these regulations. “I wouldn’t worry about them too much. Do you want to join the Helferinnen war effort?” he continued. “You could learn communications or mapping. They’ll need nurses too.”

But Gabi had other plans. She pulled a pamphlet from her pocket and pretended to read. “Well, actually, I’ve got an application form from the flight academy in Fürstenfeldbruck. They’re looking for aeronautical engineering students.”

The general cast a cynical eye over his scheming daughter. “Since when have you been interested in engineering? I thought you wanted to learn to fly?”

“Doesn’t Onkel Albert say that a good pilot should know what keeps his plane in the air?”

“But Gabi, Fürstenfeldbruck is so far away. Surely, there is a training base closer to home?”

“Papa, it’s the best Luftwaffe training school in Germany!”

Seemingly unimpressed, he waved a hand to dismiss her latest caper altogether. “I’m sure they don’t accept females.”

Sensing defeat, Gabi stubbornly maintained her attack. “But if they do?”

The general heaved a sigh. “Why must we argue over everything?”

“But, Papa, what harm is there in trying?” She fluttered her eyelids and smiled so broadly that her cheekbones ballooned, a ploy that rarely failed.

“Well, all right then. Go ahead—but I think you’re wasting your time.”

The next morning, Gabi sat at her father’s desk, arching her shoulders and choking the pencil into submission, like an unwilling accomplice in an act of deceit. She wrote her name as Gabriel Richter. Gabriele… Gabriel… it was only a little lie, one that might easily be excused as a spelling faux pas, a mere oversight. Was she being sneaky? Absolutely, but how else was she to get in? No one would take a seventeen-year-old girl seriously as an engineer, she was certain of it. But if they thought that she was a male and accepted her application, she would be given the opportunity to prove herself every bit as capable as any male applicant, even more so.

She looked up at the ominous portrait of her grandparents on its lofty perch above the mantelpiece. Her Oma sat on a gothic style chair with an austere expression; her Opa’s image no better, his eyes glaring down at her with a stern look of judgement in keeping with their family name, which meant ‘judge’.

She had never known her grandfather, who had passed away not long after the first war, falling ill with tuberculosis and never recovering. Her grandmother died when Gabi was five, leaving Gabi with only vague memories of her Oma, sadly, none of them fond. And so it was that Gabi never really knew either grandparent and going by their aloof portrait expressions, she suspected that it was for the best.

She sealed and addressed the envelope and headed outside where Helmut was de-linting some coats, brushing them with obsessive vigour. He took his role as head butler earnestly and was often compulsive when it came to order and cleanliness, spending hours fussing over her father’s military tunic, polishing each button to a glint, or cataloguing and reorganising the wine cellar so that every bottle was sorted by variety, region and vintage. But he would always drop whatever he was doing to attend to Gabi’s needs first, making her welfare his highest priority.

She waved at the tall, gawky man whose stern expression seemed all the more exaggerated by the strong magnification of his spectacles.

“Good morning, Helmut.”

“And a good morning to you.” He placed the coat he had been thrashing onto a pile. “Is there something I can do for you?”

Gabi pulled the envelope from her tunic pocket. “Could I trouble you to post this letter for me the next time you go to the post office?”

He raised a wiry eyebrow, and Gabi felt compelled to explain further.

“It’s my application to Fürstenfeldbruck.”

Helmut pouted his meagre lips. It was a mannerism that Gabi knew well; Helmut was not happy.

“I know that I probably won’t be accepted, but there’s no harm in trying,” she proffered, hoping to appease his obvious disapproval.

His puckered face retracted and he reached for the envelope. “I’ll go this afternoon.”

October 1939

The sun broke through the dawn haze casting rays of gold across a glistening countryside. The season was autumn and soon the lush leaves of summer would fall and cloak the land in readiness for the frost. Gabi took a deep breath and exhaled, the steamy particles rising and vanishing into the air like an apparition. What a perfect morning for a ride.

She saddled Spitz, her stallion, named after his pointed ears that twitched with nervous energy. Purchased from the most reputable stud in Prussia, the horse was of the finest pedigree and her father made no secret of the fortune he had paid to acquire the beast. She mounted Spitz and trotted out to a field that rose gently up a hill crowned by a grand oak. Like an old friend, the tree and Gabi shared an affinity for a time that was simple and carefree, when climbing fearlessly to the highest limb to catch a glimpse of Castle Albrectsburg and the Cathedral in the nearby township of Meissen seemed like the greatest achievement of all.

One firm jab and they bolted from the yard, the stallion’s powerful legs surging across the clover, Gabi’s lean body moving in unison as if they were one. She was an experienced rider with a yearning for speed that was perfectly matched to that of her spirited steed. She urged the horse on, tightening her legs around its powerful girth and immediately feeling his longer strides, beads of sweat seeping down and staining his neck that shimmered like oil in the sun.

They reached the oak and Gabi pulled back at the reins, Spitz rearing up on his hind legs in protest. “Good boy,” she said, her heart still galloping to a frenetic pace that settled with each deep breath.

Gabi dismounted and walked a few paces, stretching out to touch the tree’s rutted truck, etched as a memorial to love. She ran her finger along the grooves that her father had carved, initials enclosed in a lover’s heart that was faultless in shape and pure in sentiment. Apparently, her parents had loved each other deeply for the short time they were together. Her father had never remarried and Gabi took this as testament to his devotion, although she suspected that he still enjoyed the company of women for he spent far too much time in their apartment in Berlin to be on his own. At forty-three, he was still relatively young and handsome and would be a fine catch for even the most finicky woman.

She wandered through the lush grass where wildflowers still bloomed—cowslip, autumn crocuses and a few late poppies and cornflowers that she picked and pressed into a small posy and placed on Saxon’s grave. He had died when she was twelve, and she had cried until her eyes were so puffy that she could barely see. Her father dug Saxon’s grave—this she could remember—but he did not stay long after the burial and did not help her arrange rocks to mark the plot or place any flowers. And he did not visit the grave at Christmas with her when she would blanket the ground with spruce branches to keep her dear friend warm through the cold months.

She sat down beside the grave and submerged herself in thoughts of flight and fantasy until Spitz lost interest in the lush grass and ambled away. “Get back here—you naughty boy.” Gabi stroked his sticky coat, pulling an apple from her pocket and slipping it into his mouth, listening to the crunch as he chewed and savouring his pleasure as if it were her own.

They rode back to the stables where she brushed him down with his favourite goat’s hair brush; soft and smooth, just the way he liked it. In the distance, a male voice was calling. It was Helmut, and he sounded uncharacteristically excited. Gabi walked into the courtyard to greet him.

“Gabi, its’ come—the letter from the flight academy.” He held the envelope high above his head, waving it like a prize before handing it to her.

Gabi’s eyes widened; it had only been a few weeks. Tearing the envelope, she scanned the letter and her eyebrows arched.

“Tell me, have you been rejected?” Helmut asked.

“They want me to take an exam in Meissen at the town hall on Friday.”

That Friday morning Helmut drove Gabi to Meissen, a sizeable city renowned for its porcelain and historical ties to the House of Wettin, a dynasty that ruled Saxony for over eight hundred years. He dropped her at a neo-gothic building with a steeply pitched roof in the traditional Saxon style. It was the Rathaus, a pivotal place for all things of state significance. Helmut wished her well, reminding her that he would return at 3 p.m. This would give Gabi plenty of time to explore her favourite shops and arcades, and no doubt make a few purchases along the way.

She inquired at the registry and was directed to a large room crowded with desks, row after row like stitches in a knitted scarf. Taking a seat nearest the exit, she gazed about the room, observing a clock on the far wall, willing its arms to move faster. Her senses were keen, and she could feel a draft sweeping along the floor that chilled her ankles. Dust wafted along rays of light that filtered through grimy, glass windows and dankness hung in the air from cracked, mouldy walls that shed their layers of plaster and paint in an ugly state of neglect.

Such a poor impression warranted action, and Gabi’s thoughts turned to how she would go about complaining to the mayor. Knowing that she lacked the maturity and diplomacy warranted for such an undertaking, she concluded that her father should raise the matter with the mayor and made a mental note to speak with him that night. Her fingers strummed on top of the desk, drawing a scowl from a girl to her right. Probably a nursing recruit, Gabi thought and she smiled back at the girl and sat on her hand to avoid any further hostility.

At precisely 10:00 a.m., the examiner commenced calling names and handing out papers, moving about the room with efficiency and purpose. He made his way over to Gabi, who in her enthusiasm on hearing her name called, almost fell from her seat.

The examiner cast a suspicious eye. “Engineering?”

“Yes, that’s right.” She took the test paper, avoiding his eyes, and promptly commenced the task at hand.

She had two hours to complete the exam. Mathematics, physics and some basic comprehension demanded her attention for an hour, followed by another thirty minutes to check and re-check her answers. For the remaining half hour, Gabi fiddled with her pencil and doodled love-hearts and aeroplanes on a spare sheet of paper, overlapping them in an eclectic medley of nonsense.

The examiner appeared, standing over her shoulder to review her artistic effort.

“Did you find the exam too hard?” he asked.

She blushed and handed him her paper before scrunching her drawing into a ball and shoving it deep into her pocket.

Gabi’s mouth ran a marathon that night over dinner. She told her father, who had returned from Berlin for the weekend, all about her day in Meissen. She raved about the amazing books on aircraft at the bookshop, the smart pair of black riding boots with big brass buckles she had purchased with birthday funds, the delicious bienenstich she devoured at the konditorei by the river and the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth’ she wanted to see.

But she did not tell him about the cute soldier, all dimples and gangly legs like a sprightly colt, who had stolen a bunch of daisies from a shop window box for her. Nor did she raise the issue of the walls within the town hall, for it no longer seemed that important and her father would probably say that it was none of their business anyway.

The general listened, amused by his daughter and the passion she poured into her tales of trivia. “I recall something about an exam?”

“Exam? Oh, yes… it was too easy.”

He downed the last of a wine that was to his liking, swilling it between cheeks to extend its length and finish. “Oh Gabi, don’t be too overconfident—it’s not like St. Georges. You’re competing against males, you know. Besides, it’s not feminine to be cocky.”

November 1939

“Now that’s my kind of dog—humps anything and everything.”

“There’s something wrong with you, Kurt,” Otto snapped, shaking his leg violently to dislodge the amorous canine.

Minke hung on in keeping with his obstinate dachshund temperament until Otto peeled him away by his collar.

“This dog needs some training,” Otto continued. “Damn. Look! He’s left a wet patch.”

“Don’t complain. Any loving is better than none.” Hans knelt on one knee before Minke, one of two squadron mascot hounds. “And you—you’re a bad boy.” He shook his finger in mock discipline and the dog’s tail wagged playfully.

“See, he knows what feels good.” Kurt stooped and lifted Minke to his face, allowing the little dog to lick his nose and lips. “You know, I need my boots polished. Can I borrow Minke this afternoon?”

Laughter filled the room as it often did when Kurt was around. He had a natural knack for comedy and enjoyed drawing attention to himself as all narcissists have a tendency to do.

The Poles had surrendered a month earlier and the German fighter pilots were stationed at Frankfurt, where life on the Luftwaffe base was mellow—at least for now—allowing the young pilots to indulge in their favourite past-times: drinking and women.

Hans Philipp and Kurt Dorfmann were buddies. They met at gliding school some years ago and attended the Luftwaffe flight academy together, remaining the best of friends. Hans was a twenty-two-year-old second lieutenant, average looking in build and complexion with dark hair and brown sympathetic eyes. He was well liked by his comrades for he was fair and conscientious and could always be relied on to do what was right. Kurt was the same age as Hans but he was neither fair nor reliable and was self-serving in all that he did. He had a reputation for playing the scoundrel and beguiling women with his pale blue eyes.

Kurt reported to Hans but rank never came between them. They enjoyed their status as elite fighter pilots for Jagdgeschwader (JG) 76, 1 Group. The Luftwaffe’s edict was ‘We fly till we die’ and the young fighter pilots took this quite literally, living each day as though it would be their last and revelling hard and long whenever they could. Tonight would be such a night. With the following day reserved for a rest day, they planned to meet up with some girls at the local pub.

“Check her out,” Kurt slurred. He’d already had way too much to drink, and his eyes ogled the waitress as she poured another round.

“What about me?” Hilda crossed her arms and pouted a bottom lip. She was a pretty brunette with short, permed hair and big, brown eyes awash with dejection at his lack of interest in her.

“Kurt, you’re with Hilda tonight—behave.” Hans turned to his date, Brigitte, and whispered into her ear, inciting giggles and a passionate kiss from the buxom blonde. “Lets’ go,” he said, drawing Brigitte to his side with a possessive arm and escorting her to the door.

“Where are we going?” Kurt asked.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m up for a hotel room.” Hans cupped Brigitte’s voluptuous bottom, squeezing it softly until she groaned while Kurt, on observing their mounting passion, shifted his gaze to Hilda, eyeing her with a vague squint.

“Why not.” Kurt grabbed Hilda’s hand and followed Hans and Brigitte, dragging Hilda behind him.

“Hey, not so rough!” She pulled herself free.

“Do you want a good time or not?”

Hilda’s watery eyes glared at Kurt. “You’re such an arrogant pig.” She turned her back and waited.

“I don’t have time for this. You two sort it out.” Hans and Brigitte left them standing at the bar and made their way to the reception desk in the foyer.

But Hilda stood her ground, leaving Kurt with no choice but to change tack. He moved behind her, nestling his chin into the nape of her neck.

“I’ve got something for you,” he said, stroking her arms enticingly. He nuzzled up to her ear and whispered.

Hilda’s faced flushed and her eyes almost popped from their sockets. “I didn’t know it could get that big.”

* * *

Gabi was restless. Winter was upon them and with it came the short days, cold weather and boredom. Unable to spend much time outdoors, she whiled away the hours reading and day-dreaming about flying. Once or twice a week, she would help other volunteers in the community hall pack provisions for the soldiers or sort mail at the local post office. Sometimes, she would assist Chef in the kitchen and like any apprentice, spent more time cleaning and washing up then engaged in the practice of cooking itself.

Today, they were making streuselkuchen for dessert. Made with a yeast dough base, a layer of fruit and a sweet crumb topping, it was one of Gabi’s favourite treats—second only to chocolate.

“Gabi, could you go down to the cellar and bring back a few plum jars?”

Gabi held her breathe. She had not been down in the cellar since that day, and the thought of it made her feel ill. She stalled, fidgeting with her cotton belt, twirling the end over her finger tightly until it went white. “How many do you need?”

“Three should do.” He tipped a cup of sugar into the bowl and blended the floury sludge, whipping it in a frenzy of culinary fervour. He looked up and saw that Gabi had not moved from her place, and he paused. “On second thought, I’ll go down. I’m not sure where they are, and it’ll be quicker if I look.”

Was her fear so obvious? Awash with shame, Gabi backed away. “No, I’ll go.” Clenching her jaw, she marched outside to the cellar door and her eyes fixed on the latch. She quivered. Her father had told her that Yuri would never harm her again, that he was with the devil as he deserved to be and would remain there forever. But it took Gabi years to accept this and even now, she reminded herself that Yuri was dead and it was foolish to fear what was no more.

She unlatched the door and peered inside. Light flooded the chasm and down into the stairwell, a familiar stench filling her nostrils and leaving her momentarily paralysed. She saw the lamp still hanging in its place on the wall, but it was no longer needed for electricity had been installed some years ago and a single switch by the door illuminated the vault via a series of ceiling lights. Even so, Gabi fought the rising panic, her chest heaving to fill her lungs and suppress her fear. She scuttled along the wall, seeing row upon row of pickled gherkins, sauerkraut and onions but no fruit.

Then, as if deliberately placed to challenge her further, she spied the preserved fruit jars at the back of the cellar on the highest shelf. Fumbling and swaying precariously on tiptoes, she coaxed three jars to the edge with her fingertips. She didn’t stop to see what fruit they were but bolted for the door with the jars nestled into her chest. One jar slipped and exploded as she bounded up the stairs, leaving a puddle of sticky, red muck that oozed back down into the cellar.

That night they had cherry crumb cake for dessert.

“Any news from the flight academy?” mumbled the general between mouthfuls.

“No, not yet.” She saw her father’s smug expression and looked away. Why did he always have to be right? She began to count the days since the entrance exam to convince herself that it had not been so long, and there was still hope. After all, had she not found the exam easy? Why would she settle for a nursing or typing position? No, she would simply reapply again until she got what she wanted.

Helmut entered the room. “General, I have the mail. Will you be retiring to the drawing room?”

Gabi sprung from her chair and launched herself at Helmut. “I’ll sort the post, Papa.” She grabbed the pile and fanned through some twenty or so letters. They fell and scattered across the floor and the general shook his head.

“Gabi, you can be so clumsy.”

She fell to her knees and rummaged through the mound, checking and tossing letters to the side. “See, here it is—I knew it would come,” she said, tearing the envelope and drawing her finger down the page as she read. “You have been accepted as a student of aeronautical engineering,” she read aloud. “I’m to start this month!”

The general’s eyes bulged. “I don’t believe it. Since when do we recruit women as engineers?” He took and read the letter, his eyebrows rising and falling as he puzzled through the consequences. “So, you’ll be in Bavaria.” He paused for dramatic effect. “You know that I won’t be able to visit you often?”

“I know, Papa. But you wouldn’t have to drive all the way from Berlin to Meissen on weekends anymore, either. I know how much you hate that drive.”

The general tossed the letter on to the sideboard. “My convenience has nothing to do with this matter.”

But Gabi knew that it had everything to do with her father’s final decision, so she held her tongue and waited for her father to concede as she knew he would. She watched as he picked up and reread the letter and her excitement grew with each passing moment.

Finally, and with a wistful sigh, he folded the sheet and handed it to Gabi. “Well, I suppose we should celebrate your success then. Helmut, go down to the cellar and get some champagne. You know which one.”

Helmut puckered his face at the general.

“Well? What are you waiting for?”

With a crumpled brow, Helmut left the room and promptly returned with a bottle of Perrier-Jouët. It was not one of their best but most certainly drinkable and would be more than acceptable to Gabi’s adolescent palette.

The general disengaged the cork with exaggerated ceremony, allowing the mousse to erupt from the bottle and into Gabi’s extended flute.

She gulped a mouthful with sheer relief and offered her glass for a refill. “Papa, this tastes so good—I could drink the whole bottle.”

He replenished her flute with a reluctant sigh. “Too much of a good thing can only end badly,” he cautioned before sculling his own glass.

The next morning Gabi understood what too much of a good thing could do to the body. Her mouth was dry; her head was sore, and a queasiness kept her in bed far longer than usual. Vague thoughts drifted to their discussion from the previous night: “—take plenty of underwear… the food won’t be as good as you get here… make sure you eat enough… I’ll pack something just in case… be sure to write…”

Her head whirled with well-intended advice until her father’s words cleared the flurry.

“I promise to visit you at the end of the month.”

She yawned dismissively and snuggled into her feather bed. Like her years at boarding school, Gabi knew that there would be no visit from her father.

* * *

The taxi door slammed, missing Hilda’s foot by millimetres.

The girls had left Hans and Kurt to sleep it off while they made their escape and the boys were relieved that they had been spared the usual embarrassment that accompanied one night stands. They retreated to the lobby bar for a hair-of-the-dog drink and contemplated their next course of action.

“Never again,” Kurt groaned.

Hans squinted through bloodshot eyes. “You say that every time we get drunk.”

“No, not drinking. I mean Hilda. What a dud lay.”

Hans eyed him dubiously. “Who’s the dud lay? With the amount of alcohol you drank last night, I’m amazed you could get it up.”

Kurt chuckled. “Maybe you’re right.” His gaze followed the rear of an attractive waitress as she sauntered from table to table. The crashing of a glass tumbler on the tiled floor drew Kurt’s attention to the bar, where a red-faced kitchen hand collected the shards of glass like evidence at a crime scene. “She didn’t have any scars either,” he said before tossing back another shot.

“I don’t want to hear about your scar fetish.”

Kurt pushed the empty shot glass at the barman and pointed for a refill. “Did I tell you my little brother Heinz has been accepted into the flight school? God only knows how—dumb as dog-shit and built like a panzer.” Kurt downed the replenished glass, sucking in air between his teeth and coughing his satisfaction. “He should have joined the infantry. Anyway, he starts in the spring.”

Hans grunted something incomprehensible. His bloodshot eyes lifted to assess the state of his rambling sidekick. “Your turn to drive,” he mumbled, and he tossed the keys to Kurt and downed the last of his schnapps.

* * *

“Hurry up, Gabi, we have to go soon.” It was the morning of Gabi’s departure and Helmut scurried down the hall, bags in hand, so frazzled that he almost fell down the stairs.

Chef stood waiting by the front door, shuffling his feet and twisting a tea-towel. “Are you all right?”

Helmut adjusted his hold on the luggage, taking the opportunity to catch his breath and expel his troubled thoughts. “I just don’t understand how he can let her go to a military college. And why does she want to learn how to design and service combat aircraft, anyway? She’s a girl. She should stay at home and not live on a Luftwaffe base—it’s dangerous. What is the general thinking?”

“The general has his reasons,” said Chef and he relieved Helmut of some of the burden by taking a bag and placing it into the boot of the beige limousine.

At 8:30 a.m., the household staff assembled at the front door with rehearsed efficiency. They bid Gabi a heartfelt farewell and she embraced each one, leaving them with a kind word and a kiss to the cheek for they were more than mere servants to Gabi and she would miss them like family.

With a final wave, she stooped into the vehicle and settled against the window facing her adopted family, and a vague feeling of dread swept over her as the car pulled out into the driveway. Would she see them again? The war had been non-eventful thus far, and many believed that nothing would come of it. Was all the worry for nothing?

Gabi watched her father tug at his earlobe, only half hearing his words as he lectured her. They pulled up at the station entrance where Helmut carried her luggage to the train and placed the bags in front of the baggage car. Gabi gave Helmut a kiss and a hug goodbye, perhaps a little too long—his spectacles grew foggy. He returned to the limousine and promptly set about buffing the bonnet of the vehicle, although it already glistened, having been waxed and polished the previous day.

The general waited until a shrill whistle signalled the train’s imminent departure. He hugged his daughter with an intensity that neither had expected and as he drew her away, tears trickled down her cheeks, staining the collar of her tunic.

“Don’t worry, Gabi. We’ll see each other again soon,” he said.

She nodded, but the tears did not stop and it filled her with shame and self-loathing. Why must she always cry? Had she not arranged this all herself? “I’ll call you when I get there, I promise,” she said between sniffles, and she kissed her father one last time and climbed on board the train, taking a seat at a window close to where her father had been standing on the platform. But he was no longer there, and she pressed her face against the cool glass and watched his limousine drive away.

The trip to Fürstenfeldbruck took most of the day. Regular stops and delays prolonged the tedious journey but Gabi kept herself entertained with thoughts of what was to come, excited at the prospect of studying aircraft engineering but also apprehensive about the reception that awaited her at the academy.

It was early evening when Gabi finally arrived, tired and underwhelmed by the experience. She had missed the bus from the station to the academy and had been forced to trudge an hour down unfamiliar streets to a compound that reminded her of a labour camp, although in fairness, she did not know why it should look otherwise—it was a military training facility after all.

The main building was three stories high and resembled a big, ugly box. Surrounding this eyesore was a labyrinth of dormitories, workshops and bungalows. Several large hangars were visible in the distance. She walked to the main gate where a guard stood idly swigging from a flask. On seeing the young woman, he returned the bottle to his coat pocket and adopted a stiff, official demeanour with clipboard in hand.

“And who might you be?” he asked.

“Gabriel Richter.”

He looked down at his clipboard and smirked. “You look more like a Gabriele to me. Somehow, I don’t think you’re what they’re expecting. What are you studying here?”

“Engineering.”

“Mmmmm, impressive. Do they know that you’re a girl?”

“I’m not sure,” she said. “Don’t I look like one?”

“Very funny,” said the guard. “Fine, go in but I’ll escort you—I want to see this.”

They walked to the main building, and the guard rang the bell. Brisk steps echoed down a long, empty corridor and a woman appeared. She was solidly built with red curly hair and a scowl that confirmed her annoyance.

“Don’t you know how late it is? What is it?”

“I have a new student—Gabriel Richter,” he said.

“They’re late. Well, where are they?” the women asked.

The guard motioned towards Gabi.

“Wait here,” she said before scurrying off back down the corridor. Sometime later, she reappeared with a uniformed man, papers in hand.

“You’re Gabriel Richter?” The man looked down at the document in his hand and frowned.

“Yes,” said Gabi.

He glared at the agitated woman with curly red hair. The guard sniggered and was immediately ordered to return to his post.

The officer was Captain Wilhelm Bauer. He was a short, stocky man in his forties. As one of the chief engineering staff, he held a prominent position at the academy. He studied the papers. “You want to be an engineer?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you father is General Max Richter?”

“Yes, sir.”

Captain Bauer pondered for a moment, licking his lower lip vigorously. “It’s late—we will deal with this tomorrow.”

Gabi was shown to a room in a dormitory nearby. It was sparsely furnished with just a bed, wash basin and chair.

“The toilet facilities are down the hall on the left,” he said before bidding Gabi goodnight and closing the door behind him.

Gabi sat on the bed and scanned the dull, uninviting room. Perhaps this had not been a good idea after all. Her stomach grumbled; she’d had no appetite all day and had therefore eaten nothing since breakfast, but now she could feel the hollow curvature of her empty belly and was sure this was the source of her disheartened mood.

She opened the side pocket of her knapsack and as expected found a few treats: biscuits, a bag of walnuts, an apple and a small bottle of cider and, after eating all that Chef had thoughtfully packed, she settled herself into a strange bed and sank into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Gabi rose early. The sun was also awake and life was stirring outside. She washed, dressed and found her way back into the main building, where she wandered down the corridor to the reception area. The woman who had greeted her so coldly the night before had thawed overnight; her voice was warm and mellow.

“My name is Frau Klop, and I am the head secretary and administrator of the academy.” She placed her elbows on the counter and leaned in closer to Gabi. “How did you sleep, dear?”

“Like a baby, thank you.”

“Captain Bauer would like to see you after breakfast. It’s served down this hall, second door to the right,” she said.

Gabi thanked Frau Klop again and continued down the hall where young cadets walked briskly up and down on missions of their own, and Gabi found herself dodging between them like a fish swimming against a current. She entered the rowdy dining room and a hush fell as every face turned and stared. She walked to the servery, burying her hands deep into her pockets and ignoring the awkward stares and whispers. A wolf whistle broke the tension; Gabi’s lips curled and she blushed. A young man with protruding ears made the first move.

“I’m Josef. Who are you?” he asked.

“Gabi Richter. I’m here to study aeronautical engineering in case you’re wondering.”

“Mmmm. I didn’t think the academy accepted girls.”

“Well, you thought wrong,” she said. She placed a roll, some slices of cured meat and an apple on her tray and walked to one of the long dining tables where she sat and busied herself with her meal.

The young man followed. “Got you a coffee. It’s weak but drinkable,” he said and he slid himself in beside her. “So, you’re really here to be an engineer?”

Feeling her muscles tense, she swallowed and almost choked on the dry bread, quickly slurping her coffee to clear the obstruction. She looked at Josef, who was now standing and saluting at someone.

“Ah, I see you’ve already settled in,” said Captain Bauer.

Gabi remained seated, oblivious to her breach of protocol.

Josef glared down at her. “Get up,” he said through gritted teeth.

She slowly rose from her seat, knowing something was amiss but not entirely sure what.

The captain scoffed aloud. “You should know better. You clearly have much to learn about military life. Come.”

She followed him into the corridor and out of the building where they made their way across a quadrangle to a bungalow. It was a modest structure, barely large enough to accommodate the twenty desks and blackboard that filled the space.

“Sit.”

Gabi sank into one of the desks but even before she had settled in her seat, she felt the full wrath of the captain bearing down.

“How stupid do you think we are? Did you honestly think that you would get away with your little sham?”

“I didn’t…”

“Be quiet. I haven’t finished yet. I’ve already spoken to your father. He was under the impression that we accepted females at this facility. He is disappointed with you.”

Gabi squirmed, her legs jiggling with wayward nerves that would not rest.

“Sit still!” he said. “This is not a holiday camp. We are at war, and this is a military unit. We take our training seriously.” He paused for effect. “Well, what have you to say for yourself?”

Gabi swallowed her humiliation, her ashen face a mask of gravity. “I’m sorry for the deception. I so want to be an engineer and help the Fatherland. But, Captain, would I have been considered if I had been honest about my gender?”

The captain flinched, her directness catching him off-guard.

“Well possibly, but that’s not the point.” He walked over to the window and ran his finger along the pane, gathering dust in a small heap that he sprinkled onto the floor. He turned to Gabi and his shoulders fell. “Look, I’ll have a word with the school board; perhaps we can make an exception. I’m not promising anything, though.”

Gabi flashed a row of teeth at the captain. “Thank you.”

“It’s Captain Bauer to you.”

“Yes sir—I mean, Captain Bauer.”

December 1939

Gabi’s father did not visit her as planned. War was a demanding business and the general spent all of his time in Berlin or out in the field. The board agreed that Gabi could study engineering on a trial basis until January when her performance would be reviewed. Special accommodation in a vacant dormitory was organized, and she was fitted with a uniform and overalls.

Assigned her semester subjects and timetable, Gabi settled into the first lesson of the day—mathematics. She made her way to the lecture theatre, taking a seat at the back of the room, self-conscious eyes fixed on the door as she sat waiting for the rest of the class to arrive. In a moment of panic that she may have misread her timetable, Gabi rummaged through a pile of journals to check her diary but was interrupted by a huddle of students pouring through the door, chatting loudly, oblivious to her presence. Only Josef noticed her in the far corner. He broke away from the pack, taking the quickest route and climbing over the rows of seats to a place beside Gabi. She watched him slip and land heavily on the floor.

“Are you all right?”

Josef pulled himself into the seat, his face and neck dappled red. “I’m good. No broken bones,” he said.

Gabi looked away to hide her face; she could feel the start of a giggle and did not want to embarrass him further.

They sat in awkward silence watching the room fill, wanting to talk but unsure how best to start. Gabi fanned through her tutorial book, reviewing pages arbitrarily and rereading sections as if she cared.

A voice whispered covertly from the side. “Are you any good at mathematics?”

She closed her book and turned to Josef, relieved that they had found something to talk about. “Not bad. Why?”

“I’m hopeless; algebra, calculus, it’s all Greek to me.”

Gabi smirked at this frank, inept young man, relieved that she had found someone that she liked. “How did you pass the entrance exam?”

“I didn’t need to take an exam. My father arranged a place here for me so I wouldn’t end up in a trench.”

“Your father?”

“Yes, he’s one of the chief engineers at Regensburg.”

She would never have admitted such a thing herself, but she appreciated his honesty and saw no harm in lending him a hand.

“I can help you.”

Josef beamed his enthusiasm. “Really?”

She nodded and he promptly stood and announced loudly to the room, “I’ve found my study buddy.”

Jeers and a squadron of paper planes assaulted them, striking Gabi in the head and clinging to her hair. Josef flung the planes back, diving behind Gabi and using her as a shield. She squatted down low, sniggering with juvenile glee and without thought to consequence. Then, as unexpectedly as the mayhem had started, the room stilled before the menacing figure of authority.

With order restored, Gabi slinked back into her seat. But Herr Klein, Professor of mathematics and master of sadism, would not let the matter go without penalty; they spent that morning memorizing logarithmic identities. By noon, Gabi was exhausted. Her hand throbbed from constant note-taking and her bottom ached from a seat she was sure was made of marble. She could see that Josef hadn’t written a thing and nudged him with her elbow.

“No point in both of us getting a sore hand,” he said. “Besides, I have no idea what he was talking about.”

Gabi eyed him sternly. “Look, you need to make some effort, otherwise I won’t help you.”

“Fine, you’re right. I promise to take notes next time. Or better still, why don’t I just give you some copy paper?”

She punched him playfully on the arm. “How can you be so lazy?”

“I may be lazy, but at least I’m practical.”

He returned her punch, and she knew that he liked her.

* * *

It was Christmas Eve and the students were given leave to celebrate with their families. Gabi arrived home that afternoon filled with joy and anticipation for a night rich in tradition and ceremony. It was a time of fantasy when the snow that blanketed Manor Grand Oak created a world of wonder and mystique when angelic choirs sang age-old carols that crackled on a gramophone used but once a year and colourful platters laden with marzipan fruit, oranges and gingerbread biscuits roused squeals of delight.

Gabi had bought everyone a gift at the Christmas market in Munich after much deliberation, for she cared greatly about such things and could scarcely wait for after dinner when gifts would be exchanged. She wandered about the house looking for Helmut to find out when dinner would be served.

Helmut and the groundskeeper were on their annual quest for the perfect spruce. The butler ambled about the forest looking for a tree of exactly the right height with flawlessly symmetrical branches and thick lush needles. The groundskeeper plodded along behind him from one tree to the next, inspecting and measuring with the accuracy of a carpenter. Finally, Helmut found a tree to his satisfaction and after shouting random instructions to a befuddled helper, they hauled the nine-foot spruce back to the manor and positioned it in front of the bay window in the main reception room. Gabi walked in to find the two men kneeling beneath the giant specimen.

“You know you shouldn’t be in here, Gabi. It’s supposed to be a surprise; Father Christmas may not come tonight,” Helmut teased.

“Oh, Helmut, I stopped believing in Father Christmas years ago.” She pulled herself tall and glanced knowingly at him. “It’s a beautiful tree, though; you’ve done well.”

The groundskeeper, who was securing the tree on the stand, rolled his eyes. “I’ve aged ten years helping Helmut with this damn tree. Never again.”

Gabi ran her hand along the spruces firry bristles, savouring the freshly cut scent that seeped from its oily limbs, reminding her to ask when dinner would be served.

“When I’m done decorating this tree.” Helmut reached high to break a bare branch from the main stem. “There, that’s better.”

“But that’ll take forever. Can I help with the decorations?”

Helmut removed his glasses, holding them in the air and squinting while he wiped a smear. Seemingly satisfied with his effort, he placed them back on his nose and peeled his ears forward to secure the arms. “Of course, but we need the ornaments. Could you go to the cellar and get the box?”

Gabi’s heart quickened. The cellar…

“Perhaps you’re right, Helmut. I shouldn’t be here. You decorate the tree and surprise us all tonight.”

She retreated back into the hall, following the heartening aroma of Christmas down to the kitchen, where Chef bustled about preparing the goose he had force-fed for a month and clumsy Inge polished the crystal glassware. A large pot of glühwein bubbled away on the stove and a cloth covered what Gabi knew to be dessert, a Dresdner Stollen, heavy and rich in nuts and glazed fruit, made by Frau Hermann from an old family recipe.

She watched them work, mundane though it was, finding relief in the warmth of a cosy kitchen, surrounded by familiarity; safe and secure, where she stayed for the rest of the afternoon.

Dinner was delayed by almost two hours. It had nothing to do with Chef, who had forgotten to light the oven, or Helmut, who spent the whole afternoon decorating the tree and not setting the table and attending to the wine. The clumsy maid was not at fault either, even though she dropped a tray of crystal goblets in the dining room, scattering needle-like splinters all over the floor. No, the household staff was not to blame but the master of the house. Apparently, the general had visited an old friend and had simply lost track of time.

Everyone dressed for the occasion. The general wore a new suit of the latest cut and crafted by the best tailor in Berlin while Gabi dressed in a cute outfit with fur collar and cuffs, worn but once a year on this special night. Although old-fashioned in style, Gabi adored its light cream colour and snug fit. Frau Hermann had unpicked a few stitches, allowing Gabi to squeeze into it for a third and most likely final time.

Helmut and Chef would celebrate Christmas Eve with the Richter family as neither had a family of their own. Only Tante Helga would not be with them that year for she was unwell and didn’t feel up to making the journey from East Prussia, but then she rarely did, preferring to dither about in her large, lifeless mansion.

Her husband Siegfried had died when they were still young. He was a Prussian officer, the son of a wealthy landowner, apparently of noble ancestry, and Helga told anyone who would listen how he died of a bullet wound. In reality, he had shot himself in the foot while cleaning his pistol, the wound becoming septic and eventually killing him. But she considered this fact immaterial and never spoke of it.

The general, her brother, was younger by some fifteen years and although they had never been close, had tried his best to keep in touch, inviting her to stay during the festive season. But she had become a recluse and rarely ventured out except to attend Mass and visit her husband’s grave. The general would say that after Siegfried’s death, his sister was like a cracked cup without a saucer—no longer functional and only half there. She wasted her young years pining for a lost love and spent the rest of her life wondering where the years had gone. Gabi always thought it a tragic coincidence that both her father and her aunt had lost their partners young and never remarried.

The double doors parted to welcome the small party into a room where a tree overladen with baubles and tinsel shimmered by candlelight.

“Oh, Helmut, it’s just beautiful,” Gabi said.

They all stood and admired Helmut’s work and a glint of a smile appeared on his face. He motioned to Gabi and she took her place at the base of the tree, as always, within arm’s reach of presents, meticulously arranged. Helmut and Chef shared a couch to the side and the general sat at the front in his armchair.

“Gabi, it’s time.”

“Papa, have you forgotten? We have to sing ‘Silent Night’ first.”

The general nodded and released a cough, although he knew no amount of throat clearing would improve the pitch of their singing as it was well known to all that both he and Gabi were tone deaf. And so they sang their off-key rendition of ‘Silent Night’ as they did every year.

“Now Gabi, you can start.”

She scanned the mound of gifts, selecting one that she had wrapped herself and handing it to Helmut, who studied it for some time before undoing the bow, unwrapping the paper, folding the paper and then inspecting the casing.

Gabi’s eagerness finally broke. “It’s a shaving set.”

Helmut opened the case and examined the implements through spectacles that no longer functioned as they should. He held each piece close to his nose, and his eyes crossed. “Solingen. It’s high quality, very fine indeed,” he said.

Next, she handed Chef his gift, an over-sized beer stein from the Hofbräuhaus in Munich.

“Is it a beer mug or a piss pot?” he asked.

Helmut scowled at him. “Such language in front of the General! You should keep your yokel comments to yourself.”

“So sorry, Herr General,” Chef said, bowing his head in shame.

The general chuckled at his affable cook, resolving the matter with an offhanded wave. He turned to Gabi, now seated on the arm of his chair, and watched as she placed a perfectly wrapped parcel on his lap.

The gift had cost Gabi the better part of her annual allowance and she was eager to gauge her father’s reaction; she never really knew what he liked or needed.

He pulled at the red satin ribbon and unfolded the delicate paper, allowing the gift to unfurl before a captivated audience. “It’s a handsome scarf. Thank you, my little soldier. I shall wear it tonight.” He kissed his daughter and placed a small, unwrapped box in her hand.

“What a beautiful box.”

“I hope you appreciate what is inside more,” he said, and he winked across at Helmut and Chef.

Gabi lifted the lid and gasped. “Oh, Papa, they’re stunning.” She placed the sapphire and diamond earrings on her lobes and waited, as always, for his approval.

“They were your mothers,” he said, and his eyes glistened….

The clock chimed.

“Good Lord—look at the time! We’d better get going or we’ll be late for Midnight Mass.”

In recent years, Gabi and her father had travelled by car, but tonight would be special. Chef and Helmut had repaired the old wooden sleigh and it stood in the courtyard, looking splendid in a fresh coat of red paint with sleek black trim. Gabi squealed at the sight of the restored sleigh.

“Oh Papa, it’s beautiful—just like it used to be—no, better.”

“Yes, I agree. Chef and Helmut have done an amazing job.”

“Papa, do you remember when we would take the sleigh through the forest to Midnight Mass? I would watch the moon follow us all the way, wishing it was Mama wanting to come along.”

“Yes, Gabi. It was special as it will be tonight.”

She thanked Helmut and Chef, leaving them both with a kiss before climbing into the sleigh and huddling under the blanket.

“Oh, Papa, this is the best Christmas ever!”

* * *

Hans and Kurt spent Christmas in Frankfurt. As young, single men, it was expected that they remain on the base while husbands and fathers were given leave to celebrate Christmas at home with their families. They didn’t mind; it meant bonuses in their pay packets and two extra days leave, so they settled in for a night of cards and a bottle of Jägermeister to instil some Christmas cheer.

It was late, and they had been drinking and playing cards for many hours. Kurt took a shot of schnapps, throwing his head back and savouring its effect. He glanced at Hans and spoke with slurred exaggeration. “My mother’s really pissed that I can’t spend Christmas with her and the family.”

“Mine too, but she’ll get over it. I promised to spend some time with her after the New Year.” Hans shuffled the cards and dealt to the players slumped at the table.

Otto and Willy puffed away industriously on cigars, squinting through a rank cloud that snaked its way to the light above and dispersed along the ceiling.

“God, that stuff stinks. Blow your smoke somewhere else,” Kurt said.

Otto puffed a cumulus plume in Kurt’s direction. “I’ll blow it up your arse if you don’t pick up.”

Kurt downed another schnapps, throwing the glass over his shoulder and waiting to hear it shatter. While the others turned to appraise the damage, Kurt continued to talk as though nothing had happened.

“Speaking of picking up,” he said, “does anyone have a lay for tonight?”

They all shook their heads.

Hans eyed Kurt suspiciously. “What are you up to?”

A knock rattled the room and a child-like smirk appeared on Kurt’s face—his Christmas surprise had arrived. He opened the door and beckoned the visitors to come inside. In trotted four young ladies of the night, scantily clad despite the cold. Hans shook his head and laughed; Otto and Willy couldn’t believe their luck.

“Merry Christmas, boys,” Kurt declared before grabbing one of the girls and nuzzling his face in her ample cleavage.

January 1940

New Year celebrations heralded a year of optimism and victory for a nation drunk on itself. Gabi returned to Fürstenfeldbruck, revelling in the workshop classes where she spent hours dismantling and rebuilding aircraft engines. Ever-eager to learn, she smuggled biscuits and cake pilfered from the academy kitchen into the hangars, enticing the veteran engineers and mechanics in exchange for knowledge. They looked forward to her visits, enjoying her company, her enthusiasm and her illicit treats. Captain Bauer and the other trainers were all impressed with her performance and recommended to the board that she be officially accepted as a student.

In these early months, Gabi befriended a pilot cadet who was soon to graduate. His name was Michael and he was a smart, likeable fellow with straw-blond hair and an infectious laugh. He had taken an interest in Gabi, and she suspected that it was of a romantic nature. But he was shy and probably inexperienced with girls so they spent most of their time together chatting about aircraft. She quizzed him endlessly on flight procedure and other technicalities, determined to know how to fly, even if only in theory.

They were at lunch one day, engaging in their usual small talk when Gabi took the opportunity to confide in Michael.

“Do you think the Luftwaffe will ever train women as pilots?” she asked.

Michael took a bite from his roll, talking as he chewed. “I can’t see why not. The English already have female pilots; they’d be stupid not to consider it.” He paused and cast Gabi a look that made her turn away. “Why? You’re not thinking of becoming a pilot, are you?”

She took a gulp from her cider, stalling the conversation to give her time to think. “Well… I hear that they’re pushing through cadets to make up for the shortage in fighter pilots. I’m already here at the academy so I might as well give it a go. What do you think?”

He clenched his jaw. “I think that you were lucky to get into the academy in the first place and that you shouldn’t push it.” His cheeks reddened and in one impulsive action, he pushed his lunch tray onto the floor. “Is that the reason why you talk to me? I’ve been convenient, haven’t I? And to think I thought you liked me.”

Stunned, Gabi reached for Michael’s hands to draw him back down to his seat and restore some measure of calm. He shrugged her off but sat down on the bench, hunching his shoulders to block the surrounding stares.

“You should have applied through the Luftwaffe Women’s Auxiliary instead of playing this masquerade,” he muttered into his chest.

“It’s not a masquerade; I want to be an engineer.” She peered into seething eyes, knowing that his pride had been wounded. “But I want to be a pilot more.”

“So why didn’t you go through the Women’s Auxiliary?”

“It would have taken me nowhere. The Luftwaffe Helferinnen is nothing more than a gaggle of geese: bored housewives, lonely single women, token volunteers. I’d sooner stay here with the men and be an engineer.”

She reached out to take his hand, but he pulled back as though repulsed and Gabi knew that no apology would make things better. His final words severed their friendship for good.

“You used me, and I won’t help you anymore.” He left Gabi with one final piece of advice. “You should speak to Major Stern.”

That night, Gabi thought about what Michael had said and whether she should approach the major and risk her place in the engineering school. And what would her father do if Major Stern were to contact him? No doubt, he would order her home and tell her to forget this folly. But her father was always telling her to follow her dreams. Was it her fault that her dreams were those befitting a son, not daughter? Surely, if opportunity knocked, she should answer.

* * *

Hans leaned across a large bureau table, pointing to the flight path on a map creased and torn from over-use.

“It’ll be rough; they’re forecasting strong winds,” he said.

Otto sniffed the air and his face contorted. “Phew, what a smell. Does someone have a dead rat up their arse?”

Pinke, a female dachshund, waddled out from under the table in what appeared to be an admission of guilt.

Otto continued his whiny tone. “One dog mounts everything, the other one farts like a skunk—where did you get these dogs?”

“Why does everyone always blame the dog? Here Pinke, I know it wasn’t you,” Kurt said, bending low to give the spoiled pooch a pretzel. “Onkel Kurt had too many onions for lunch.”

“Then there’s something wrong with you, Kurt,” said Otto. “That stench can’t be healthy.”

“Did you know that the average man farts up to fourteen times a day? I reckon I only fart a little more than that. Besides, it’s not the quantity, it’s the quality…”

“Enough with the fart talk, all right.” Hans knew that Kurt had the concentration span of a squirrel and was usually tolerant of his waffling, but this was too much. They had a particularly dangerous sortie that afternoon and he needed to clarify in his own mind what had to be done, even if the others showed little interest. He continued to outline tactics, geographic and navigational information, weather forecasts and any other concerns that came to mind. The briefing dragged on far longer than Kurt’s challenged attention span could endure.

“I thought the whole point of a briefing session was to keep it brief. If we don’t get going soon, I’ll let another one go.”

Hans folded the map and returned it to its draw. “Better get going then—those farts of yours are lethal,” he said as they headed to their fighters. “We should use them against the English.”

The squadron scrambled into Bf-109 Messerschmitts and ascended into overcast skies with blustering winds and turbulence, climbing to 1,200 metres over the channel and flying in two, four-finger formations. A combat box of Spitfires came into sight, splitting the Bf-109s into pairs in preparation for the attack. They circled the enemy, marking their targets and advising their wingmen, all the while wrestling turbulence that thrashed their planes and their nerves.

“Shit, this wind’s a pain.” A moment passed before Kurt continued his broadcast. “Ah, that feels better. It’s a good thing I like the smell of my own farts—that was a beauty.”

Hans sniggered at Kurt’s boyish quip, grateful for the relief, though brief, it provided from the maddening tension of battle.

“Attack!” He shot across his target, spraying a round into the Spitfire. They applied hit and run tactics, smacking their targets hard, much like the get in and get out strategy they used on their women. Willy covered his tail, firing wildly at a plane that appeared out of nowhere and was now fixed on Hans.

“Steady on, Willy. You’ll use up all your ammo,” Hans said, worried that his trigger-happy wingman would send a round of friendly fire into his plane. Willy had a problem with impulse control and wasn’t a particularly accurate marksman, making him lethal irrespective of what side you were on.

Hans turned and banked, making a second run at the Spitfire. It looped unexpectedly, avoiding the onslaught and forcing Hans to over-shoot his prey.

“Damn, he’s good.”

He saw the Spitfire turn and as he drew closer, the plane’s nose-art took form. It was a medieval sword with the word ‘Excalibur’ in bright red, a stylish motif that Hans liked very much. In that moment where thoughts drift and focus stalls, the Tommy opened fire and Willy was blown to oblivion.

Hans watched the stricken plane descend and slam into the ocean, leaving a legacy of billowing smoke. He had failed in his duty to his wingman. Fighting the guilt that constricted his chest, Hans heaved each breath to calm his shattered nerves and soothe his vengeful conscience.

“Keep attacking. I’m going after that Tommy.”

Never had Hans felt so alive, so invincible, as when on the hunt, high on Pervitin and the thrill of the chase. He stalked the Spitfire, weaving and diving before flying into a milky abyss, bursting through the cloud and into a blank canvas. The tables had turned; the Spitfire was on the attack and Hans was now his prey, exposed and vulnerable. Ricocheting bullets tore through his engine and across his shield, and he shut his eyes and waited to feel them rip his face apart. But he felt no pain, hearing only the drone of his engine.

Hans watched Excalibur flee. He did not think for a moment to pursue his enemy; it was enough that he had survived. His confidence had taken a hit and he could not bring himself to face death again, not today. He checked his instrument panel and the damage his plane had sustained, a trail of bullet holes across his canopy and along the fuselage. “You’ve busted my balls, Excalibur. I’ll get you another day.” Hans dug into his pocket to get what he needed—just one tablet for now and all will be bearable again.

* * *

“Take a seat, Cadet Richter.”

Gabi saluted and positioned herself on the edge of a wooden chair that creaked precariously beneath her. She placed her feet squarely on the floor before easing herself fully into the seat. The office was sparse: a filing cabinet in a corner, a notepad and several acutely sharpened pencils neatly arranged on a desk. On the wall hung photos of the major with various important people; she recognised the Führer in one and Field Marshal Göring in another.

“Now, what can I do for you?” the major asked.

“Major Stern, as you know, I am studying aeronautical engineering here at Fürstenfeldbruck. I understand that the Luftwaffe is looking for fighter pilots and was wondering if I would be considered.” Gabi kept her voice low and steady, but her mind flittered with erratic thoughts; her stomach clenched like a fist before the punch. She held her breath to calm herself and waited for his reply.

Major Stern leaned back as if reflecting on the meaning of life. His blank expression gave nothing away, and he stared out the window for some time before responding.

“Perhaps… let me think.” He seemed to be enjoying Gabi’s unease, forcing her to sit there a few moments longer watching him study something outside the window, or so it appeared. The major eventually turned from the window. “Tell me, why do you want to be a fighter pilot? You do know there’s a high chance that you’ll be killed in action?”

The room was so quiet and the major so calm that Gabi was sure he could hear her heart pound. “To be a fighter pilot and sacrifice myself defending the Fatherland would be the greatest honour,” she said, but her brows crossed and her voice wavered enough to expose her self-doubt.

A smirk appeared on the major’s face. He moved towards the desk and took a seat. “Have you flown before?”

“My Onkel Albert took me on a flight many years ago, and I have never forgotten it.”

“Onkel Albert? Is he a Luftwaffe pilot?”

“He’s in the Luftwaffe, but he doesn’t fly in combat. Onkel Albert’s not my real uncle either, he’s my godfather,” Gabi said eagerly, grateful that Major Stern was showing some interest. “His name is Albert Kesselring.”

The major leaned forward, knocking some pencils onto the floor and disregarding the mishap entirely. “General Kesselring is your godfather?”

Gabi looked at the scattered pencils and wondered if she should pick them up. “Why, yes. He and Tante Liny are my godparents.” She bent down to retrieve the pencils.

“Leave them.”

She sat back down and watched as he strummed his fingers on the desk.

“Have you spoken to your uncle about this?”

Gabi hesitated. She had deliberately not asked her godfather, knowing that he was sure to discuss it with her father.

“No, Papa says I should always do things on my own merits and besides, he’s too busy now,” she said.

Major Stern grinned. “How old are you?”

“I’ll be eighteen at the end of the month.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said.

She thanked him for his time, saluted and left the room with a spring in her step.

Major Stern made some enquiries with administration regarding their position on females in combat. As aerial attacks were not deemed as hand-to-hand combat, female fighter pilots were technically admissible. He spoke with Captain Bauer about Gabi’s performance in the engineering school; he described her as exemplary.

Traditionally, trainee pilots were sourced from the Hitler Youth Glider Training Camps but this was not a prerequisite. There seemed to be no good reason why Gabi could not commence pilot training other than she was a girl and given that the board had already approved her acceptance into the academy, he saw no reason why she couldn’t start immediately. Providing she passed the physical exam, she could join the spring intake of recruits.

He advised Gabi and she made her way without delay to the medical unit for her physical check-up. Healthy and fit, Gabi was given the all-clear.

Gabi thought it best not to approach Michael with her news for although she had not intentionally used him, his friendship seemed less important to her now. Besides, he would be graduating within the month and would be transferred to another base. Instead, she told Josef and the other engineering students that she would be starting pilot training with the new intake.

“I’m happy for you, Gabi. I know it’s what you’ve always wanted to do but those pilots are a breed unto themselves. They’re cocky egomaniacs, and they’ll give you a hard time as sure as the pimple on my nose,” Josef said with grave honesty.

Unperturbed, Gabi merely smiled at Josef and his throbbing pimple.

“And what about your father? He’ll have a fit when he finds out.”

Gabi grimaced. Yes, he would be mad but what he did not know would not worry him—at least for now. She would tell her father after she had settled in and proven herself.

April 1940

Dawn spread through the sky in soft pastel hues, gently coaxing the world back from its slumber. Today was Gabi’s first day of pilot training and she was wide awake, nervously watching a pair of swallows nesting outside her window. They darted and swooped back and forth, bringing morsels of mud to build their castle perched under the eaves, an amazing feat of engineering. Gabi studied their agility and lightning reflexes. She marvelled at their erratic flight patterns—if only a fighter pilot could fly like a swallow.

She made her way to the dining hall, taking a seat with her engineering buddies where she toyed with her breakfast and chatted about nothing. The cadet pilots watched from across the room, mumbling their disapproval.

Major Stern was their instructor. Competent and respected, he demanded nothing short of one hundred percent from his fledgelings. The cadets would train on a variety of aircraft, requiring a minimum one hundred and fifty flying hours to obtain their pilots licence. They would also be allocated a fighter plane to refine their skills and build their flight hours.

After a safety briefing, the fledgelings were herded out into the yard where they waited in line for instruction. Each cadet was given a paper bag. Some of the cadets scrunched the bag into a ball; others tore it in half. Gabi inspected her bag and folded it neatly into her jacket, deciding to keep it although she knew not what for.

The test plane was a Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann and it reminded Gabi of her first and only flight with Onkel Albert for it too was a bi-plane with two open cockpits in tandem, fixed landing gear and wings made from wood and fabric.

The pilot, Major Stern, would take each cadet on a brief flight to see if they had the stomach for it. The other instructors joined them on the tarmac—apparently, this initiation was entertainment not to be missed.

“Each one of you will spend ten minutes in the air under my control. I will perform a few manoeuvres to gauge your tolerance for speed, aerobatics and g-force. If you’re still in any condition to fly, you will be given the opportunity to take control of the craft under my instruction. Any questions?”

Gabi shuffled from one leg to the other. She held her hand up and waited for permission to speak.

“Yes, Cadet Richter.”

“Major, I have a question. What is the paper bag for?”

The major’s brow rose. “I thought you were smart, Cadet Richter—you work it out.”

The others sniggered, and Gabi felt her cheeks burn. She knew that most of them had gliding experience and, therefore, thought nothing of a few barrel rolls and corkscrews. But one by one they climbed into the bi-plane only to clamber out after ten minutes of Major Stern’s torture test. The paper bag was put to good use by some cadets, others preferring to puke down their uniforms like a badge of dishonour. Instructors were taking bets on who would remain vomit free. The odds looked decidedly poor for Gabi.

“Cadet Richter, are you ready?”

“Yes, Major Stern.” She climbed on board, adjusted her cap, buckled herself in and grinned.

“I’ll soon have that grin off your face.”

The plane coasted down the runway, ascending steadily to an altitude of two thousand metres, whereupon the major commenced his aerial routine. He eased into a slow and gentle inside loop, gradually progressing to more difficult and demanding stunts.

After five minutes, he checked on his passenger.

“All good, Cadet Richter?”

“Yes, Major.”

“Then it’s time for the fun to begin.”

The plane spun and Gabi’s braid dangled freely in the wind, rotating with the craft as it looped and twisted and looped again. She squealed, turning to grin at the major behind her.

“Again! Can we do that again?”

The major shook his head. “Let’s see how you cope with this.”

The plane ascended to twenty-five hundred metres before stalling momentarily and plummeting into a spiralling vortex of terror that weaved a trail of vapour from its wingtips. Gabi’s chest compressed and her brain throbbed from the pressure as blood surged to her head, but she kept her breathing deep and controlled. With only moments to spare, the plane swooped and rocketed up again like a charged champagne cork. The blood rushed the other way, her head light but still lucid.

“Are you all right?” the major asked.

“Yes, Major Stern.”

He shook his head again. “You’re a freak, Cadet Richter. I think you’ve earned some time at the controls.”

The cadet pilots put Gabi’s impressive flight performance down to female inferiority. According to one arrogant cadet by the name of Erich Schreiner, “You’re less likely to feel the effects of flight if you’ve got a small brain.”

Erich was your typical blue-eyed Hitler Youth pin-up boy—blond hair cut in the standard military style (shaved sides, long and combed back on top), of average height and build with sparkling white teeth and a high flat forehead, physically fit and coordinated, but lacking finesse and the mental capacity to know what that meant. His family was wealthy and owned a large rural property in Bavaria that Erich made out to be some noble country estate but Erich’s common dialect gave more away than he realised; his family were nothing more than uneducated, ignorant farmers, that had never ventured beyond the local village.

Gabi’s first encounters with her fellow trainee pilots were positive—they were polite, almost friendly, and joked with her somewhat patronizingly, but Gabi didn’t mind; at least she wasn’t being ignored. But as time went on and Gabi’s abilities became apparent, their feelings of superiority turned to jealousy and eventually, contempt.

Gabi was no stranger to bullying, having endured many years as ‘that strange German girl’ at boarding school, so she kept quiet and ignored the bullying as best she could. At the start, it was harmless, taking the form of childish pranks—like the time Klaus wiped shoe polish on the rims of Gabi’s flying goggles. Even Major Stern had to chuckle at the dark rings that circled her eyes when she removed the goggles. But the pranks became increasingly more malicious.

It was well known to everyone that Erich despised Gabi. He hated that she was smarter than he was, could fly better than he could and knew more about planes than he ever would. But most of all, he hated that she was a girl.

“Women are only good for three things: breeding, cooking and cleaning—but I think you’d struggle with all three,” Erich said to Gabi one day over lunch.

“You’d be surprised,” Gabi said, immediately regretting that she had engaged with him.

“Yeh, maybe you’re right. I think you would be good at cleaning toilets,” Erich said and sniggered into his shoulder while the others chuckled along.

But Gabi had no rival when it came to verbal stoushes. “If ignorance is bliss,” she said coolly, “then you must be living in paradise, farmer-boy.”

The others all cackled at Gabi’s quick response, a look of confusion spreading over Erich’s face that roused even more hilarity from the group. From then on Gabi referred to Erich as the farmer-boy, and he hated her for it.

Erich’s first attempt at revenge was unimaginative and juvenile. They were sitting an open-book examination and were permitted to reference a journal on meteorology. The previous day, Erich had glued the pages of Gabi’s journal together and shared his prank with the rest of the class. Sniggers and winks circled the room as Gabi tried to open her book during the exam. She knew Erich was responsible and cast him a cocky grin before placing the useless book under her desk and continuing with the exam. It came as a shock to her class—especially Erich—when the teacher announced that Gabi still passed the exam with top marks.

On another occasion, she found a folded note that had been slipped under her door.

I want to get to know you. Please go out with me this Friday night – Heinz.

Gabi opened the door and peered outside. No one. She blushed as she reread the note. Could it be true? She liked Heinz. He was tall and imposing, modest and jovial. He would sometimes laugh at her remarks but apart from that, he seemed disinterested in her. Perhaps she just hadn’t noticed. She looked forward to accepting his invitation the next day just the same.

Fighter pilots were exposed to challenging conditions, demanding fitness and stamina. The first few months of pilot training were therefore focussed on physical discipline and like boot camp, cadets were drilled for hours. Each morning, they rose with the roosters and subjected their bodies to all manner of physical torture. Gabi struggled, her thin frame buckling under the pressure, but she had endurance and a stubborn disposition on her side and managed to keep up with her physically superior peers.

It was early, before their morning drill, and Gabi was nervously tying the laces on her gym shoes waiting for Heinz to make an appearance. He strolled out into the yard, confident and carefree, eager to put his body through its paces.

“Yes,” she whispered from behind his shoulder.

“Yes, what?” He adjusted his shorts and kept his back to her.

“Yes to Friday night.”

He turned around. “What about Friday night?”

“You didn’t send me a note?”

Heinz shook his head, and for a moment Gabi wanted to slap the bemused grin from his face. But then Erich and his circle broke into laughter.

So, it had been another prank.

Gabi gritted her teeth. “Sorry, Heinz—my mistake.” She turned to Erich, glaring at him with malice that flowed effortlessly as she spoke. “Not getting any, Erich? Good God, you must be frustrated to dick me around like that.”

The other cadets sniggered; she might be an easy target, but she certainly knew how to bite back.

The harassment finally came to a head a few days later when Erich assured his clique that he had devised the ultimate prank to stitch up that smart-mouthed schlampe.

Gabi sat alone, enjoying her bottle of non-alcoholic apple cider with her meal, observing the stream of students move through the busy dining hall. She pursed her lips, the taste of cider unusually bitter, and wondered what apple variety had been used.

“I got you another one.” Erich placed a cider before Gabi and took a seat beside her.

“What’s up, farmer-boy? No one to play with?”

Erich forced a snigger. “I grabbed one for Pauli, but he’s not here so I thought you might like it.”

She accepted the cider, flicking the top and taking a swig. This, too, was bitter but still drinkable. They exchanged a few cool words, Erich’s company both awkward and incredibly dull. She gulped her drink down quickly.

“Better go or we’ll be late for class. Thanks for the cider.” She trotted off to her next lesson, leaving Erich to gloat at the table.

Ten minutes into the class, the room whirled and objects blurred through squinted eyelids. Gabi looked about her at faces that grinned annoyingly back. Unable to focus on the lecture or make sense of the writing on the blackboard, she gave in to the yawning and laid her head on the desktop. Just a quick nap, she thought.

A book slammed down by her head and she sprang up, eyes wide and bewildered. Swaying slightly, she giggled at Sergeant Klim, who stood ominously over her.

“What’s so funny, Cadet Richter? Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”

“No, Sergeant, I mean, yes, Sergeant, I mean… I don’t know what a mean anymore.”

Sniggers circled the room.

“Are you drunk, Cadet Richter?” Sergeant Klim asked. “Do you know that drinking is against regulations and you could be expelled?”

Gabi pulled herself upright, tilting precariously to one side and struggling to stay still, her body rolling with the spinning room.

“Go to your quarters.”

She rose and stumbled across the room, landing heavily on the floor. More sniggers followed, prompting Sergeant Klim to scan a room that reeked foul and culpable.

“You, Dorfmann, show Cadet Richter to her room,” he said.

Heinz scrambled to her side, immediately hauling Gabi to her feet and leading her out into the corridor.

“I feel sick.”

“We’re almost there.”

“No, I feel really sick. I don’t think I can wait.”

Her lunch exploded onto the pristine floor, spraying up the walls and along the skirting board. It trickled down her uniform front and stuck in clumps in her braid. Heinz recoiled, covering his mouth as the stench filled the air.

“I’m so sorry, Heinz.”

“Here, let’s clean you up.” He took Gabi into the latrine and rinsed her hair under a tap. When the worst of it had been washed away, he helped Gabi to her room where he took off her soiled jacket and placed her on the bed. By the time he had removed Gabi’s boots, she was fast asleep.

Heinz studied her for a moment, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. He leant over her and sniffed close to her mouth and grimaced. Leaving Gabi to sleep it off, he went to clean the mess in the hall.

Heinz returned to the classroom where Sergeant Klim was grilling the other cadets to find out who was responsible for Gabi’s drunken state. Pauli broke first and confessed that Erich had spiked Gabi’s cider. Given that they all knew what was going on, Sergeant Klim showed no mercy and they were all punished with restricted privileges for a month. Erich was also given a formal warning—one more slip up and he would be transferred to the infantry.

Gabi woke later that evening. Her head pounded with malice, she was dehydrated and her stomach was empty. She made her way to the dining hall where she drank a jug of water. The kitchen had closed for the night and so she settled on a bread roll and a wedge of cheese. Sitting down on a bench nursing a throbbing head and wounded self-esteem, she failed to notice Heinz beside her.

“How are you feeling?”

Startled, Gabi spilt her glass of water. “Damn.”

“Here, I’ll clean it up.”

“No, it’s fine. You’ve already helped me enough today.”

They sat quietly, Heinz patiently watching Gabi eat her roll and cheese, waiting for her to make the first move. She sensed his guilt and forced him to sit and stew for some time before speaking again.

“Heinz, who spiked my cider?”

Heinz looked away. “Erich,” he said, “but we all knew about it.”

Gabi could feel her throat tighten but she did not cry. “Why do you all hate me so?”

Heinz shrugged and after a time, slinked out of the room, leaving Gabi to her bread roll and cheese.

The following morning, Gabi ate breakfast with Josef. She no longer conversed with the cadet pilots; they had made their position clear. She spent her private time in the hangars with the mechanics and engineers, learning as much as she could and in no time, she was performing all her own plane maintenance.

Erich would watch Gabi with the maintenance crew and unleash his spite. “She thinks she’s something special. I wonder how many have had her?”

Only Heinz distanced himself from such hateful talk. He didn’t know why Gabi played on his conscience, but he cared not for Erich’s malice towards her and thought it best to stay out of it.

For Gabi, the situation was disheartening, leaving her once again the outsider.

August 1940

Hans cursed into his mask. These English pilots were savvy predators and their Spitfires flew as fast as his 109 and could turn and spiral even better, although he would never admit such a failing.

The dogfight had gone on for some ten minutes, and both pilots were so evenly matched that a stalemate seemed inevitable. Soon, he would be low on fuel and would have to return to base. Hans made one last attempt to outmanoeuvre his foe. The plane rolled to one side, descending rapidly and swooping into an outside loop, positioning itself behind the enemy. This would be his only shot. He took aim and pelted the plane, holding his breath until the round had expired. All five senses exploded at once.

“Horrido!” He was hit. The Spitfire roared in a death dive that left no doubt. Another loud explosion as it burst into flames. Hans exhaled slowly, opening and closing his clenched fingers to bring them back to life, his mouth dry, his ears still humming from the blast. This Tommy had been a good pilot and a worthy adversary, but lady luck played a fickle hand and had deserted him on this occasion.

Hans surveyed the sky. Kurt’s plane, branded with a cheeky ‘Good Night Tommy’ flew across his path. He held a thumb to his windshield, confirming that he also had claimed one victory.

Hans turned his plane south back across the water. Both he and Kurt were now revered ace fighter pilots, having already downed over fifteen enemy aircraft. They were fighting the French and English over the northern skies of the channel and south-east England and JG 76 had been reformed as JG 54\1 Group Grünherz. The Battle of Britain campaign was taking its toll, but not today; this was a successful sortie for a change—two down with no losses and another victory added to their scorecards. Hans had his ambitions set on a Knights Cross and he knew that it was within reach. But for now, he would settle on a reward of another kind—an evening with Rosie, a clerical assistant with the body of a goddess and a passion for ace fighter pilots.

* * *

It was evaluation day and the atmosphere was tense with anxious muttering. In the centre of a vast hangar stood an Ardo Ar 96 training fighter encircled by a captive group of cadets waiting for the torment to begin.

“I hope I’m not first,” Pauli said to Heinz. “Puked like a dog that had eaten shit. I think my gut is trying to tell me something.”

“It’s just nerves. You only need a couple of clean touch and goes to pass.” Heinz leant into Pauli’s ear and whispered: “Let Gabi go first.”

Stepping aside, Pauli gestured to Gabi to move to the front. “Ladies first.”

She eyed him suspiciously but took her place at the head of the line before saluting their assessor, Major Stern.

“Go, show them all how it’s done.”

Gabi flew as they all knew she would. Her takeoff was smooth, her touch and goes controlled, her landing safe; all within the allowed time frame. Major Stern gave Gabi the thumbs up as she dismounted from the plane and she smiled her relief, flicking her long braid behind her back triumphantly.

“She’s his little darling. He must be giving her one,” Erich said.

The other cadets rolled their eyes and bobbed their heads like sheep.

Heinz strode out next onto the tarmac, eager to show off his skills. The plane ascended competently, his manoeuvres equal to Gabi’s in style and execution. And then things turned.

“Shit… it’s stalling.” He pulled back to level the plane and correct the angle of attack, but the plane continued to dive. “Pull up, pull up…” He thrust forward, then back in a panic, hoping to regain control of the craft but it remained unresponsive. An emergency landing was his only option, prompting a series of actions that all cadets were now well versed to perform. But he was descending too fast, and his lack of experience was working against him. All eyes watched helplessly as the plane careered down.

Gabi turned to the cadets. “He’s coming in too fast!”

Silence.

“Did you hear me? He’s coming in too fast. He’s going to crash. Come on, farmer-boy. He’ll need help,” she repeated, bounding back and forth as panic took hold.

Erich and the others stood and stared.

“What’s wrong with you all?” She turned her back and ran towards the runway.

Major Stern could see it too. “Slow down, Dorfmann,” he yelled into the radio. No response. He repeated the command; still no response. He jumped down from the viewing platform and sprinted for the runway.

The plane wavered and bounced, then bounced again and slammed into the ground, flipping and skidding in a plume of dust at the end of the strip. Chaos erupted—sirens blared, maintenance men yelled, a fire crew ran frantically to a fire engine only to find it would not start.

Gabi was first at the mangled wreck, diving to the ground to check the cockpit. Heinz dangled within, conscious and pulling at his straps.

She knocked on the screen. “Open the canopy”

Heinz shook his head.

She pulled at the latch. “It won’t open. Can you force it?”

Heinz repositioned himself, thrusting a shoulder down again and again. “Goddamn shit!”

“Come on, push harder. Use your legs.”

“Where are the others?”

“They’re coming,” she said.

A rumble from the engine ruptured into flames, sending Heinz and Gabi into a frenzy of thrashing arms and legs, yelling for help, the heat of the fire scorching their skin, the toxic smoke choking their throats and scalding their eyes. The thumping ceased.

“Heinz, keep pushing, don’t give up.” She thrust down, using the full weight of her body, her hand quivering against a jagged metal strip. And though it bled, she pressed down, harder still, until the canopy released.

“Run!”

Heinz scrambled out, stumbling forward, momentum keeping him afoot and in motion. He ran, blindly, stumbling, scrambling, until the boom of the aftershock blew him from his feet.

A jacket slammed down, smothering the flames beneath. Major Stern rolled the body and gasped. Blood, so much blood. But she was alive. He watched as her chest rose and fell, momentarily relieved. “Gabi, Gabi!” He called again but she did not respond and he looked about, panic rising. “Go—get help… get an ambulance,” he shouted and one cadet broke from the pack and ran.

Heinz staggered towards the group nursing an arm, contorted unnaturally. “How is she?”

Major Stern lent over Gabi, blocking Heinz’s view. “She’s alive, Dorfmann. Now back off.”

“Let me see her.”

The major glared at him. “I’ll not say it again. You’re hurt; go get yourself attended to. That’s an order.”

They dragged him away, though he resisted at first until the pain of a dislocated shoulder caused his legs to buckle and his head to reel.

“God, let her be all right,” he mumbled as they carried him to the infirmary.

Gabi was taken to the Munich-Schwabing Hospital. Her father was notified and flew immediately from Berlin to Munich. He arrived at the hospital and was briefed by the surgeon, who looked down at a clipboard, announcing her injuries like a list of inventory.

“She has sustained multiple internal injuries—four broken ribs and a punctured lung. We have also removed part of her spleen. She has lacerations to the forehead and right hand. Her left eye socket is fractured and the left side of her face is badly contused. She has second-degree burns on her back. Oh, and her left arm is also fractured in two places.”

The general listened, open-mouthed as the extent of his daughter’s injuries sank in.

Major Stern joined the general and surgeon, introducing himself and offering a convoluted apology that made no sense to the general.

“I just don’t understand how this could have happened. Why was Gabi flying a plane?”

The major looked to the surgeon, then back to the general, his expression perplexed. “All cadet pilots must fly a plane if they are to obtain their pilots licence.”

“What are you talking about?”

“General, you are aware that Gabi transferred to fighter pilot training about three months ago?”

“No, she mentioned nothing.”

“My sincerest apologies—I assumed that she had your support.”

An awkward silence followed, the general’s stupefied stare leaving little doubt who had been remiss. He turned to the surgeon. “When can I see Gabi?”

“You can see her now, although she is still under anaesthetic,” the surgeon replied.

Gabi’s father was shown to her room, where he waited and worried himself into an ulcer.

* * *

“Watch this.”

Pinke sat on her behind staring up at the morsel of schpeck above her head, her little paws held up together as if in prayer.

Otto looked across and tutted. “You’re giving that dog schpeck? Great, more smelly farts.”

“Oh, relax. Isn’t she cute?” said Kurt, and he lowered the treat just above her nose. The little dog stretched its neck, grasping the meat and swallowing it whole.

The pilots were lazing on deck chairs overlooking the main runway, basking in the heat of a late summer’s sun. Walter and Dieter were playing cards, Otto swatted at an annoying squadron of flies, Hans had fallen asleep and was snoring while conniving Kurt saw an opportunity that couldn’t be missed.

With stealth and a mischievous eye, Kurt crept up behind Hans, leaned over and carefully placed a piece of schpeck on Hans’s groin. The others watched in juvenile suspense.

“Pinke, go get it,” he said.

Pinke’s tail wagged. She took a few steps back before bounding up and landing on her target with pinpoint accuracy.

“Shit!” Hans rolled onto the ground where he stayed, writhing in agony, the intensity of his pain inciting roars of laughter from his comrades. Eventually, Hans pulled himself back onto the chair. “Who the hell did that?”

Four condemning fingers pointed at Kurt.

“What?” Kurt feigned innocently. “Thanks, boys…”

They ran the full length of the air-strip before Hans gave up the chase—Kurt was way too fit and fast. Besides, Hans had to get ready—he had a date with a hot actress that night.

* * *

Gabi stirred. An eye opened and fixed on a face with a grooved forehead.

A firm voice spoke. “How is my little soldier—or should I say, fighter pilot?”

Gabi’s breathing deepened, labouring under the burden of guilt. She had deceived her father yet again and would be reprimanded.

The general placed his palm on her cheek, urging her gently to calm. “It’s all right, Gabi. You saw an opportunity and took it.” He paused and continued in a softer tone. “It’s of no consequence now. All that matters is that you get well.”

“Papa, it hurts,” she whispered. The general turned to a doctor who had slipped into the room and was reviewing her chart. He eyed the physician, raising an eyebrow and the doctor responded with a nod, leaving the room and returning a few moments later with a syringe on a tray. He placed the tray on the bed and took Gabi’s arm, inserting the needle. Gabi flinched, her eyes blinking slowly before she drifted off into morphine-induced darkness.

The general sat by his daughter’s bed for hours. He held her bandaged hand and stroked the bruised side of her forehead soothingly. The left side of her face was covered in dressings, sterile and unnerving. He did not sleep that night.

The following day, General Richter made arrangements to relocate to the Führerbau in Munich for a provisional period. He and Heinrich Himmler, Head of the SS, were assignedSpecial Services for the Reich; a seemingly unremarkable but most convenient appointment for General Richter.

September 1940

Both men swore that they would remain bachelors during the war, a pact that seemed sensible and mutually advantageous. But this all changed for Hans when Eva Schmidt appeared in his life. She was an actress, intelligent and articulate and a good conversationalist. She was also intensely ambitious, recognizing Hans’s potential as a war hero and how this could enhance her own career. They had dated exclusively for a few weeks, and Eva saw to it that she was by his side at every public event.

One such event was a dinner function to celebrate the Japanese inclusion in the Axis Alliance. Hans and Eva were seated at the back of the hall, the farthest table from the VIP area and the Führer. Everyone rose when Hitler entered the room and saluted with the obligatory “Sieg Heil”. They waited patiently for the Führer to take his seat and the room settled into a lively buzz as diners gloated over Germany’s occupation of France, discussed operations in North Africa and debated the overall success of Italy’s invasion of British-held Egypt. But no one spoke of the profoundly embarrassing Battle of Britain campaign.

Eva strummed her fingers on the side plate. “How dare they seat us so far from the Führer.” She took a sip of champagne and surveyed the room. “Hans, darling, let’s mingle. No one will see us here at the back of the room.” She hauled him across the floor and into the realm of the powerbrokers. “Hans, sweetheart—move this way. I think I just saw Leni Riefenstahl.”

Hans soon tired of his companion’s manipulative tactics. “I’ve had enough. I’m going back to our table. Are you coming?”

“We shouldn’t waste this opportunity.”

“Suit yourself.”

He left her and returned to the dim shadow that was their table at the back of the hall while Eva shifted her attention to Doctor Joseph Göbbels, Hitler’s loyal but over-zealous Reich Minister of Propaganda.

He was a short, unimposing man who suffered from a deformed foot—the result of unsuccessful surgery to treat a bone marrow inflammation as a child. But he had made his mark in the world and was now seated at the Führers table, a prime position and table worthy of Eva’s presence. She flirted and flattered her way past Hitler’s battalion of bodyguards, taking a seat beside the doctor, where she remained until she was obliged to return to her table when dessert was served.

“Made a new friend?” Hans asked, leaning back in his chair and away from Eva.

“I’ve been discussing your public profile with Joseph, and he is most supportive of you. Apparently, you’re quite photogenic.” She pouted, pulling him towards her by his collar and running her finger down his cheek. “Anyway, he wants to do some promotional pieces for the Luftwaffe and thinks you’d be ideal.”

Hans’s eyes narrowed, as did his lips. He had never known anyone as ambitious as Eva and the only other person who had more front was Kurt.

Doctor Göbbels ambled over to their table. He introduced himself to Hans and repeated what Eva had said, taking a seat next to her without invitation. They carried on flirting in front of Hans, who said nothing while he watched and seethed, eventually taking himself away to the men’s room. When he returned, Eva was gone. Hans sat back down and waited.

Eva slinked back to their table half an hour later. She was alone and looked decidedly flushed. Hans glared at her.

“Where have you been?”

“Hans, darling, I’ve been singing your praises as a war hero.”

“Don’t get huffy with me. If I was a jealous person, I’d be thinking there was something going on.”

Eva’s voice wavered. “Don’t be so ridiculous. It’s you I love. Besides, Joseph is such an ugly man.”

Hans wasn’t entirely convinced but thought it best to let it go. There was no denying that Eva was his greatest fan, and she did give good… advice. But did he love her? He doubted it. He had feelings for Eva but he never totally trusted her, this evening being just another example. They left the function and returned to Eva’s apartment. She made a special effort to please him that night—who was he to complain?

* * *

It would be another two weeks before Gabi was well enough to receive visitors. Engineering students, teachers and a surprise visit from Helmut and Chef kept her entertained with gifts of biscuits, magazines and the latest news on the war. But there was no sign of her fellow fledgeling pilots—not even a card—and Gabi could not help her dismay at their indifference to her.

Then, one morning, a quiet tap on the door revealed the youthfully appealing face of Heinz peering into the room.

“Can I come in?” he asked. Gabi nodded and Heinz entered, placing an unassuming bouquet of pastel yellow and pink carnations on the side table. “How are you feeling?”

“All right. And you?”

“Oh, I’m fine—hardly a scratch.”

He stared at her forehead, and she squirmed under the sheets.

“Does it look that bad?”

Heinz glanced away. “No, no, you hardly notice it,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for saving my life.”

“That’s what comrades do for one another.” Her eyes sparkled her joy at seeing him, but he seemed uncomfortable so she kept the conversation going. “How is everyone?”

Heinz blinked rapidly. “Oh, they’re all good. They send their best wishes. They want to know when you’ll be back.”

Gabi cast a forlorn eye over her crumpled bed sheets, pulling them tight to her chest. “I won’t be returning.”

“Why not?”

Eyes moist with hurt, Gabi lashed out. “You don’t really want me to return. You all made it so hard,” she said. “Thank you for the flowers. Now, please leave.” She turned her back to conceal her face, reddened by her emotional outburst.

“I’m sorry,” he stuttered and promptly turned to do as he was told. But as he left, a figure of similar stature entered the room, forcing a collision that left Heinz frazzled all the more. “I’m so sorry,” he said again and his face froze at the sight of an officer’s uniform. Instinctively, Heinz saluted the officer, making his escape down the corridor but pausing at the reception desk.

“Excuse me, nurse, who is the officer visiting Gabi Richter?”

“That’s General Max Richter, Gabriele’s father.”

The colour drained from Heinz’s face.

The general watched the young man lumber down the hallway and out of sight, giving him time to compose himself before entering the room. He was feeling a little guilty, having not visited Gabi for almost a week due to POW transportation issues and a rather sulky mistress in Berlin. He hoped his gift would make amends.

“Hello, my little soldier.” An exquisite red velvet box of Belgium petits fours was placed beside the carnations on the side table.

Gabi did not respond. The general leaned down to kiss her cheek but she rolled to her side away from him, covering her face with her bandaged hand.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

But General Richter knew his daughter. She had been a sensitive child, prone to episodes of crying so intense that she made herself sick, leaving him helpless and bewildered. Something was troubling her now and he was no mood to deal with her tears—not today. Was she upset with him? He probed gently. “You’ve had a visitor then?”

“Yes. Heinz Dorfmann.”

“Ah, isn’t he the cadet that crashed the plane?”

Gabi nodded.

“Clumsy fellow… but he brought you some flowers. That’s nice. He’s not your boyfriend?”

“No, he’s not my boyfriend.”

Annoyed by her curt responses, the general tried another approach. “So, I guess you can’t wait to be with your cadet buddies?”

Gabi tugged at her sheets, pulling them free from where they had been tightly tucked under the mattress and drawing them over her shoulders. “I won’t be going back to pilot training.”

“Why?”

“Because I found it too hard.”

“So, what will you do instead?”

“I’ll finish my engineering studies and sign up with the Air Corps in some support role.”

The general’s shoulders fell. “I’m glad to hear that you’ve come to your senses.” He studied the box of petits fours. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“I’d like a mirror, Papa… please.”

He looked at his daughter, her face still badly bruised and swollen. But the bruising and swelling would disappear in time. What worried the general was the gash on her forehead, a deep course of neatly sewn, but unsightly stitches above her left eye. They would not fade so quickly, and the general was sure that Gabi would be aghast at the sight of them. “Perhaps another time, my little soldier. You will look much better soon when the swelling and bruising has gone.”

Gabi nodded obediently.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

An extended pause left them both drearily eyeing the room until the general handed Gabi a glass of water. She took a sip and held the tepid water in her mouth before swallowing as if rinsing down an unpleasant aftertaste.

“I’d like my engineering books. They’re in my room back at the academy. Could you send them, please?”

“Of course. Now, let’s try these petits fours. They’re from Belgium, you know—the very finest.”

* * *

He walked into the dormitory and threw himself onto the bed. Fellow cadets lounged about the room, reading and playing chess, the mood gloomy and subdued.

“How is she?” asked Frank through his teeth, his chin nestled on his fist while he contemplated his next chess move.

“She’s getting better,” said Heinz.

“When will she be back then?”

Heinz rolled over, turning his back on the mob. “She won’t be back.”

A charge of bodies jostled for position around Heinz’s bed.

Erich pushed his way through. “What do you mean she won’t be back?”

“She’s not completing her pilot training,” Kurt mumbled into his pillow. “She’s had enough of us giving her a hard time.” He punched at the pillow and buried his head.

“What’s up with you?” Erich leaned over the bed and winked at his captive audience. “I reckon you’ve got a crush on that slampe.”

Heinz rolled over and glared at him. “Shut up, farmer-boy.”

“Don’t you start,” Erich spat back.

Heinz hauled himself off the bed, thrusting his broad chest out and into the face of the farmer-boy. “Get out.”

He watched Erich skulk out of the room, satisfied that he had put Erich in his place. But the stench of guilt mixed with the musty odour of adolescence still tainted the room and Heinz felt the pressure of nausea build in his throat. “Pauli, go open the window—it stinks in here.”

Pauli gaped at the glass “Who’s that?”

An official’s limousine stood boldly at the main entrance, blocking access to the building. The door swung open and out stepped a high ranking officer.

“It’s a general. What’s he doing here?”

Heinz bounded over the bed and peered outside. He recognised the officer immediately. “Shit. It’s Gabi’s father.”

“Gabi’s father’s a general? She never mentioned anything. We really did pick on the wrong person.”

* * *

Major Stern greeted the general with a rigid salute and escorted him inside. “Gabi’s room is just down this corridor. How is she doing?”

“Gabi’s recovering well and should be discharged soon. She asked that I collect some of her books for her to study at home.”

The major opened the door to her room, stepping aside for the general.

“I’ll leave you here for a moment, if you don’t mind, General,” he said.

General Richter wandered over to a desk stacked with manuals and textbooks. “Yes, of course. Close the door behind you.”

He ran a casual eye over the books before circling the room. It was as he expected; simple and in keeping with Gabi’s modest needs. He made his way to a chest of drawers on which stood a photograph of Gabi and Spitz standing in the shade of the old oak. It was a charming image, one that he had never seen before and he wondered when it had been taken.

Another photograph stood alongside and he recognised it with a cringe. It had been taken some ten years ago at a local fair, and he had worn civilian clothing, not unlike that of a hick farmer. And to make matters worse, his expression reminded him of his own father, cheerless and stern. What had he been thinking to pose for such a picture?

He placed the photo frame face down on the chest and made his way to a wardrobe, pulling open the latch. Postcards, photos and newspaper clippings of heroic pilots were pinned to the back of the door. His lips curled; she was a teenage girl after all.

A firm knock rattled the general, and he slammed the wardrobe shut.

The major entered the room. “Sorry to startle you, General. Have you found what you were after?”

“Yes—I’ll be taking the books on the desk.”

The major studied the stack of engineering manuals. “When is Gabi likely to complete her pilot training?”

“She won’t be returning.”

The major drew breath. “May I ask why?”

Walking to the window, the general peered outside at the exercise yard, taking his time to respond as he always did when addressing subordinates. “Apparently, she found the training too hard.”

“Too hard?” the major said, his pitch rising. “I find that hard to believe. She would have graduated top of the class.”

Their eyes locked and the major immediately adjusted his tone. “I know that Gabi was given a hard time by the other cadets. Perhaps this is the real reason.”

The general eyed Major Stern, asserting his position with a stare that left no doubt who was in charge and the major bowed his head.

“I’m not going to encourage my only child to become a fighter pilot. If she chooses not to continue, whatever the reason, so be it.”

“Yes, of course, General Richter,” Major Stern said dutifully. “I understand.” He opened the door for the general and saluted but could not suppress one final retort. “Such a waste, though—she would have made a brilliant fighter pilot.”

* * *

“Nurse, may I have a mirror?” Curiosity, incited by boredom, finally drove Gabi to disregard her father’s advice. She needed to see the cut on her head. Gabi ran her finger down the stitches—they felt horrible, like a chain embedded in her skin. Did it look as bad as it felt? The nurse returned a few minutes later with a hand mirror, and Gabi waited for her to leave the room before holding the mirror up to her face.

Tears welled; Heinz’s horrified stare had been an honest reaction. She now understood why her father was so adamant that she not see herself; she looked like Frankenstein’s monster. Gabi placed the mirror on the side table and curled up under the blanket. She would never look in a mirror again.

October 1940

It was a grim period for the Luftwaffe. The Battle of Britain was a humiliating disaster, the invasion called off so the Fatherland could lick its wounds. The mood was sombre around the academy, the cadets grounded while their instructors attended urgent meetings.

Heinz wallowed in guilt and regret over Gabi’s injuries and her decision to drop out of pilot training. He wanted to make things right again but knew not how and this bothered him.

He gazed out over the airfield at the trainee planes on the tarmac, all of them looking drab and uninspiring, and it occurred to him that Gabi’s Arado Ar96 could do with a fresh coat of paint. Heinz remembered how he and Gabi had watched swallows swoop over their exercise yard one morning before a drill. She had said that she dreamed of flying with the swallows, and he had laughed at her.

What if he were to paint Gabi’s plane like a swallow, all sleek and shiny? Would it be enough to earn her forgiveness and bring her back?

He visualized the design and made a mental list of what needed to be done and in a burst of decisiveness, he set about drafting a plan and drawing up preliminary sketches.

When satisfied with his efforts, he showed his plans to the maintenance crew who confirmed that the design complied, more or less, with field camouflage regulations. All he needed was permission from Captain Bauer.

That night, Heinz approached the captain.

“Captain Bauer, may I discuss a proposal with you regarding Cadet Richter?”

The captain eyed him warily. “What is it, Dorfmann? Hasn’t she been through enough?”

“Yes, Captain. She’s been through more than enough, and I’m sorry for what we made her go through. I just want her to come back and become a fighter pilot.”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“I was thinking if we spruced up her plane and painted it like brand new, she may change her mind.”

Captain Bauer rubbed his nose. “I’m not sure,” he said. “Have you spoken to maintenance?”

“Yes, I’ve drafted the design and have their endorsement. It’s based on a swallow, you know, because she loves swallows.”

“No, I didn’t know that she had a thing for swallows.” He studied the design. “You know that Gabi’s father does not want her to fly. He will not be pleased if we change her mind.”

Heinz kicked at the dust on the ground, annoyed for not thinking of the general himself.

“I can try speaking with him,” he volunteered, although he didn’t have the slightest idea how he would approach her father on such a matter.

The captain shook his head. “No, leave it with me. But go ahead and start on your design.”

Heinz’s eyes flashed his excitement. He saluted and raced off to recruit the other cadets; the plane would need a thorough scrub down.

The following week Heinz worked closely with the painters, refining the design and colour scheme until they were all satisfied. Meanwhile, Captain Bauer met with Gabi’s father to advise him of the cadet’s plan.

“If Cadet Dorfmann thinks that this token gesture will make up for what they put Gabi through, then he’s sadly mistaken,” the general snapped.

“General Richter, we both know that Gabi’s passion is flying. It would only be a matter of time before she was back behind the controls of a plane. She’s good… a natural. It’s her destiny to fly, and you know it.”

The general sighed. In his heart, he knew that Gabi, like an addict, lived for the rush. She needed the thrill that came from facing danger head-on and would seek it out, one way or another. Yes, it would only be a matter of time before she needed her next dose but he would see to it that her doses were safely administered.

“When will the plane be ready?”

“By the end of the week.”

“All right. Gabi should be discharged late next week. We’ll come past the academy and Cadet Dorfmann can show her the plane.”

Heinz christened the plane ‘Swallow’ and he marvelled at his creation, with its under-carriage of shadowy grey and burnt orange, dissolving into silvery white at the tail. The top of the plane was cobalt blue, its wings black or possibly a shade of dark brown that shimmered in the sun like old engine oil. Finally, and most importantly, its name was emblazoned in large red, gothic font that ran down both sides of the fuselage directly below the cockpit.

Heinz approached Captain Bauer to find out what had come of his meeting with the general.

“They’re dropping by later this week. It’ll be up to you to convince her, though.”

Gabi was discharged from the hospital the following week. Her father had come to drive her home, and she sat quietly in the back of his limousine pondering how she would fill in the days, aside from her engineering studies and the naps she promised to take. Horse riding would be out of the question, as would be most of the outdoor activities she enjoyed. She could help Chef in the kitchen or Frau Hermann with some domestic chores- her prospects looked depressingly tedious at best.

The journey was long, their route past the academy to collect her belongings a significant detour that had Gabi both perplexed and annoyed at the same time. Why couldn’t her father just have her things sent home? But he was most insistent and Gabi saw no value in arguing the point so she kept her mouth closed and brooded. They drove on to the compound and continued to the hangars.

“You’re going the wrong way,” Gabi informed the driver, who took no notice of her and pulled up alongside an enormous sliding door.

“Papa, where are you going?”

The general kept his face stern. “I have to attend to something first.” He nodded to the driver and stepped out of the vehicle. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Gabi fiddled with her bandaged hand, tugging at the cotton, puzzled by her father’s behaviour. What was he up to? She peered about the deserted yard—not a single mechanic or student could be seen, and she thought it most strange.

The general returned a few moments later. “Gabi, please get out of the car. There is something I think you should see”.

Gabi huffed her displeasure but did as she was told, climbing out of the vehicle and walking towards the hangar, her head bowed low in keeping with her mood. The doors parted and a team of cadets hauled a plane onto the tarmac, glistening in the sun like a lacquered boot. Gabi stared at the craft, her mouth open to speak, but she could not find the words and she turned to her father for help.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” Heinz said, appearing from a shadow cast by the plane. “We did it for you, Gabi. It’s a swallow, you know because I know you love swallows. We’re so sorry, please come back.”

“You painted my plane like a swallow so I would return?” It didn’t make any sense. Her father had made it clear that he did not approve of her flying so what was his part in all of this?

“Papa, are you sure?”

He nodded, a poised grin reaffirming his endorsement.

Gabi’s face burst into a contagious smile that swept over the gathering. She bounded over to Heinz, throwing her arms around his hulking frame and squeezing. “Oh, Papa, isn’t Heinz wonderful?”

Heinz blushed, and the general raised an inquisitive brow.

* * *

It was a lavish apartment in a much sought after district of Berlin, with views of the Spree river and Charlottenburg Palace from its rooftop terrace. Gabi could just make out the monolithic blocks of the city centre, and her heart fluttered with nerves. Today, she was to receive an award for valour at the Reich Chancellery and the thought of standing before a crowd left her stomach in knots.

She could pretend to feel poorly. After all, her ribs did ache when she breathed deeply, as did her shoulder and arm. Her vision was still not as it should be, not to mention the ghastly scar above her left eye. But her conscience would have none of it, and she resigned herself to her duty.

The Mercedes Benz cabriolet pulled away after depositing its two passengers at the entrance of the Reich Chancellery in Wilhelmstrasse. Gabi and her father entered the building where he was immediately greeted by some dignitaries and escorted inside. Gabi dawdled along behind them, staring down at the marble floor and lifting her gaze only enough to see where she was going.

Her father excused himself; he had some important matter to attend to. She reassured him that she would be fine and wandered into the Court of Honour alone.

High back chairs arranged like Roman sentries at the Colosseum stood before an elaborately decorated stage with massive, elongated swastika banners shadowing an adler, its wings extended across a lectern, a menacing eye staring threateningly down on the assembly.

To the side of the hall was a long trestle table covered in white linen and adorned with an assortment of cakes and biscuits for afternoon coffee and cake. Gabi spied a delicious crumb cake that drew her in like a fish on a reel, inspecting it closely and licking her lips at the sight of lush plums generously inlaid and sprinkled with a delicate layer of icing sugar.

“Why don’t you take a piece?”

Gabi looked up at the striking features of a young officer with dancing eyes and a playful grin to match.

“That wouldn’t be right,” she said.

“Do you always do the right thing?”

“Yes,” she lied.

He laughed. “Good for you. What brings you here today?”

Gabi nibbled the inside of her mouth. She could feel the heat of her cheeks as they reddened. What did he want with her? The room swarmed with attractive women eager to gain the attention of such a fine-looking officer, yet he had approached her. Perhaps he knew her father.

“I’m with my father; he’s over there.”

The officer cast a casual eye in the general’s direction but made no comment, instead gazing inquisitively back at Gabi.

“You’re wearing a cadet’s Luftwaffe uniform. Don’t tell me you’re going to be a pilot?” His voice was incredulous but good-humoured, as though he was making a joke.

“Fighter pilot actually,” she said.

His jovial expression fell from his face, replaced with a fretted brow. “Is that how you were injured?”

She nodded. “It happened in training. A plane lost control and crashed on landing.”

He peered into Gabi’s eyes as if searching for something, and she pulled at her hair to cover her scar and looked down at the floor.

Seemingly sensitive to her discomfort, he quickly resumed their dialogue. “I’m so rude. I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Lieutenant Hans Philipp.”

“Cadet Gabriele Richter.”

The Lieutenant extended a friendly hand which he promptly withdrew on seeing the reddened mark on her palm.

“It’s fine now,” she said, “I can shake.”

He offered his hand again, his grasp firm but soft enough to send a tingle down Gabi’s neck. At that moment, a woman joined them, stylishly dressed in matching shoes, handbag and Hollywood hair, perfectly coiffed. Gabi stood mesmerized by the woman’s attractiveness, envy and awe leaving her mute.

“Hans, I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” she said. “And who have we here?”

“Cadet Richter, this is Eva Schmidt, actress.” Hans bowed theatrically. “Eva, Cadet Gabriele Richter, trainee fighter pilot.”

Gabi, unable to think of anything to say, merely gaped at the actress and waited for her to speak.

Alert to the girl’s plight, the actress adopted a condescending tone. “Cadet fighter pilot? We must be desperate. They’ll let anyone defend the Fatherland.” She leaned in closer. “Whatever happened to your face, dear? Lets’ hope that scar fades; you would have such a pretty face.”

Gabi’s jaw fell. She looked across at Lieutenant Philipp, who responded with a kind but uncomfortable smile and pity in his eyes. He felt sorry for her.

Tears welled, lips quivered. She made her escape, rushing across the room, bumping into people and apologizing awkwardly before spotting her father near the stage.

“Papa, I want to go home.”

“You’re not feeling well?”

“No, Papa. I just don’t want to be here any longer. People are staring at me, and I don’t want their pity.”

“Gabi, you did an incredibly brave thing. Being awarded the Iron Cross is a great honour. You should be proud. Besides, the ceremony will start soon and will be over in no time.”

“But, Papa…”

The general held up a hand and Gabi ceased her whining, taking a seat in the front row.

Her father was right about the ceremony starting soon but he was dreadfully wrong about it finishing in no time—the speeches and presentations were endless. Gabi flexed her fingers and rubbed her wrists as they were stiff and sore. She poked her finger under the cast of her broken arm to scratch an exasperating itch. She yawned continuously, fidgeted and basically drove her father mad.

“For God’s sake, Gabi, sit still,” he scolded.

She frowned, but her annoyance quickly passed; the Master of Ceremonies, Colonel-General Otto Dessloch, had called Lieutenant Hans Philipp to the stage to receive a Knights Cross medal and Gabi was all goosebumps and tingles. She leaned forward, captivated by the handsome warrior, an ace fighter pilot with twenty victories under his belt and a smile that could easily claim another victory over her heart.

Hans walked onto the stage and saluted as the medal was presented and hung around his collar. He looked over and winked at Gabi. She blushed and turned to her father, blushing even more on seeing her father’s bemused expression.

Gabi was called up shortly after. Colonel-General Dessloch gave a brief recount of her brave deed. She winced; how she hated this attention—especially looking the way she did. Rising from her seat, Gabi strained to clear the faint haze in her left eye, the blur distorting her perspective. She misjudged the first step and tripped clumsily up the stairs. Flushing again, Gabi kept her gaze fixed on the floor as she carefully walked up to the MC and waited. He looked at her kindly and pinned the medal to the lower left side of her uniform. She dare not look up, knowing that everyone would be watching her and waiting for her to fall down the stairs on her way back to her seat. She turned to make her escape.

“Colonel-General Dessloch, I have a question,” a voice called from the propaganda ministry. The journalist introduced himself and continued.

“Cadet Richter is extremely courageous. How is it that none of the other cadets came to help?”

Gabi looked anxiously about her. Was she expected to answer this? She turned to the MC for guidance, who prompted her to respond. Scratching her right palm, she positioned herself in front of the microphone and glanced down at her father, who nodded encouragingly, and across at Lieutenant Philipp, whose adorably crooked mouth and dancing eyes roused a momentary smile from her. She coughed to clear her throat, sending an amplified rasp that echoed her distress throughout the hall. She waited. Nothing. All eyes were on her and waiting. Waiting for what? The truth? How could she tell them the truth—that Heinz’s fellow cadets would rather see him die than listen to her? She took a deep breath.

“It is not my place to speculate why the others did not help; they can debate that with their own consciences. I did what I could. My conscience is clear.”

General Richter beamed with pride, the MC nodded his approval and Gabi returned to her seat safely.

The general took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “Well done,” he whispered. “But you must remember to speak up next time.”

Gabi made a dash for the cake display the very moment the ceremony ended. To her dismay, the crumb cake was nothing but a barren platter with only a circle of sugar to mark its being. Glumly, she studied the remains of the buffet and settled on a piece of fruitcake. A familiar voice whispered in her ear.

“I think you deserve better than a dried out fruitcake. Here, I’ve saved you a piece.” Lieutenant Philipp handed her a large slice of crumb cake.

“How thoughtful,” Gabi said. “Thank you so much.” She accepted the cake, succumbing to his beguiling eyes that sparkled at her, and she was sure that he liked her. Why she did not know, nor did she care at that moment. She was under a spell, lightheaded and deliriously happy. He turned away and beckoned someone from across the room to join them.

“Here comes Eva to congratulate you.”

The spell was broken.

“Congratulate me? I don’t think so. I should join my father.” She scurried across the floor, away from Lieutenant Philipp and his witch of a girlfriend.

November 1940

Three months after the accident, Gabi returned to the academy to complete her training. She had studied diligently during her convalescence and only needed to rack up flying hours to obtain her pilot licence and wings.

Unfortunately, Heinz struggled with all things academic and was informed that if he did not pass his final exam, he would be transferred elsewhere in the Wehrmacht. He moped about the base in his despair, hoping for a miracle but settling on a sympathetic ear to listen to his tale of woe.

“Did you hear I won’t be graduating with you?”

With crossed brow and vexed eyes, Gabi put on her most concerned face. She lowered her voice to a tone deep with worry and seated herself on a bench beside him.

“What do you mean? Graduation’s at the end of the month. What’s wrong?”

“If I don’t pass the finals, I’m off to infantry as trench fodder and there’s no way I’m going to pass.”

Gabi felt sorry for Heinz. He was a good pilot and marksman. She knew that he didn’t really follow most of the theory, but it didn’t affect his performance in the sky—the accident was due to a mechanical problem and not his flying ability.

“I can tutor you. The exam isn’t until the end of the week; I’m sure I can get you through,” she said.

Heinz slid closer to Gabi. “Really? You would do that for me?”

The bench tilted and Gabi quickly stood to stop herself from sliding to the ground, but Heinz’s reflexes were not so sharp and he tumbled into the dust. Gabi couldn’t help but laugh. As much as she liked him, her father had been right: he was a clumsy fellow.

“Come, lets’ get started.” Gabi grabbed Heinz by the arm and hauled him to the library, seating him behind a desk, hidden from view at the back of the building. It was her special place, tucked away behind a compendium of philosophical works considered irrelevant and therefore never referenced, giving her the solitude and privacy she needed every now and again.

“Wait here, I’ll be back.”

She returned sometime later with books and manuals, paper and pencils and set to work quizzing Heinz on his level of knowledge. Sadly, the prognosis did not look good for Heinz, his blank expression confirming the enormity of the challenge ahead.

They worked on the fundamentals, studying for hours until both Heinz and Gabi could focus no more.

“No, no, no… you’ve got it the wrong way around. Kinetic energy is speed and potential energy is altitude.”

Gabi ran her fingers through her hair, feeling the frustration that accompanies futile effort. Heinz leaned back in his chair oblivious to her stress.

“God, you’re mellow. I wish I could switch off like you,” she said.

“I can only take in so much—no point flogging a dead horse or even a dumb one.”

Gabi closed the journal in front of her. “Okay, I get it—enough for today.” She gathered their books and stationery together. It had been a long, exhausting day and Gabi was looking forward to a shower and sleep. She glanced up at Heinz who was rocking on his chair, smiling. “What’s up with you?”

“Oh, nothing, I only just realised that your eyes are green.”

“My eye colour? Is that what you’ve been thinking about? You need to get focused if you want to pass the finals.”

“You’re right, but did you know that green eyes are the rarest eye colour?”

She drew her brows together over her rare green eyes. Was Heinz always this easily distracted? He had a wealth of trivia in his head, but no sense of consequence. “No, I didn’t and I don’t think it’s that important right now, do you?”

He ignored her question and continued his rambling. “My brother has really light blue eyes which is strange because he is the only one in the family with an eye colour like that.” Heinz leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I sometimes stir him up by reminding him that our local butcher has exactly the same ice-blue eyes and that Mama always seems to get the best cuts of meat.”

With a knowing smirk, she called an end to the prattle “Come on, let’s go. We can have another crack at aero-physics tomorrow.”

Heinz flinched as though he had stood on broken glass, lumbering after Gabi with the enthusiasm of an undertaker.

The results were posted on the board the day after the test. Heinz raced over on hearing that they were out, anxiously running his finger down the list.

‘Heinz Dorfmann—sixty-eight percent’

His heart jumped. Not only had he passed, but it was a respectable result. Elated and relieved, he turned to Klaus to share his excitement, slapping him hard on the ridge of his back.

“Ouch, that hurt! But how lucky are you?” Klaus said. “God only knows how Gabi managed this miracle.”

“Have you seen her?”

Klaus pointed to the far end of the corridor where Gabi stood chatting with Josef. Heinz whacked Klaus on his back again, sending him tumbling before barrelling down the passage, scooping Gabi up in his arms and whisking her around.

She squealed with surprise and her heart leapt with joy at Heinz’s display of affection while Josef stepped back to avoid a collision, toppling over a bench and landing heavily.

“Heinz—put me down… Josef—are you hurt?”

Josef’s faced reddened. He brushed himself off and scurried outside and away from the source of his embarrassment.

Heinz, totally oblivious to Josef and his tumble, blurted his excitement. “Gabi, Gabi… I’ve passed. We did it. Sixty-eight percent! I’ve never scored that high before!”

“I’m so happy for you, Heinz. Now put me down; I have to check on Josef.”

She found him sitting on a rail at the far side of a sports ground looking drearily at his hand, picking at calluses.

“Are you okay?” she asked, leaning on the rail beside him.

Josef stood quietly, looking across the field as if waiting for a game to start. “You like him, don’t you?”

“You’re my best friend.”

“But you like him, don’t you?”

Gabi nodded.

Josef looked away, unwilling to show the hurt. “You know those pilots will break your heart every time.”

Gabi stretched her arm across Josef’s shoulder and squeezed. “Oh Josef, you deserve a girl that’s a little more grounded than me—I’ll break your heart every time.”

He forced a smile. “You’re a good friend, Gabi. But that’s all you’ll ever be, isn’t it?”

She turned away and gazed out over the deserted field. Yes, she thought but she could not bring herself to say it.

* * *

“Come with me.” Heinz took Gabi by the hand and pulled her along behind him. “I’ve got something to show you.”

It was the week before graduation and the academy buzzed with excitement, cadets busying themselves with ceremony rehearsals and transfer arrangements. But not all cadets were focussed on graduation.

“Isn’t she sweet? I won her in a card game. Not as good as my BMW back home but nice just the same,” Heinz said proudly.

Gabi eyed the Zündapp KKS500 motorcycle, squatting low to inspect the engine. “Two cylinders… is it fast?”

“Hop on, let’s go for a ride and you’ll see,” he said.

“What now?”

“You’ve got something better to do?”

“Well yes, we both do—graduation is in a week. Besides, we shouldn’t leave the base without permission.”

Heinz grinned deviously. “I know a back way out of here. No one will know we’re gone.”

Gabi knew that it was wrong to leave the academy without permission, but she had never been on a motorcycle before and found its lure irresistible. “Well, all right then. Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Gabi straddled the bike, nestled into the pillion seat and pulled on the leather cap, leaving a long ponytail dangling down her back. A forceful kick brought the beast to life, its engine spluttering fitfully before Heinz revved the bike into motion.

“Hold on,” Heinz said over the roar of the engine. “I like to ride hard and fast.”

Gabi tightened her grip around his waist, nervous energy building to a giggle of anticipation as the bike made its escape.

They rode for almost two hours through Landsberg am Lech and Schongau, along the river and into the Bavarian Alps, lost in a blur of sensation that took them high into the hills, their bodies leaning in unison as if they were one, weaving their way through quaint hamlets and forests speckled with flecks of gold and rust, the brisk breeze filling their lungs and refreshing their skin. They eventually pulled up to a lookout where they dismounted and stood together, awkwardly gazing at a fairy-tale castle perched on a hill; two young, hormone charged teenagers wondering if this would be the moment.

“It’s lovely, Heinz… just gorgeous.”

“Did you know King Ludwig II of Bavaria built Neuschwanstein in 1873? Apparently, he was a bit of a romantic nutter. They found him drowned in a lake not far from here.”

“Bizarre story. Does anyone live in it now?”

Heinz cleared his throat with a nervous cough. “I’m not sure but if I had the money, I’d buy it for you.”

“Buy me a castle? What for?”

“Because I think you deserve to be treated like a princess.”

“That’s sweet,” she said, not sure if Heinz was being serious.

He moved closer and wrapped himself around her. “Will you be my princess?”

Gabi grimaced. What did he expect her to say?

“I know, I know, I sound like a schoolboy. But I’m not and I’m sincere about it, Gabi. I really like you.”

Gabi looked into his hazel eyes, placing her hands on his cheeks and drawing his lips to hers. They kissed. It was a soft, dreamy exchange that lingered. Gabi pulled back and gazed at Heinz, his eyes closed, his lips slightly parted, his breath poised. She kissed him again, feeling his body tense and goosebumps tingling on her own arms and legs. Would he go all the way?

Heinz glanced behind him and guided her to a hidden patch covered in autumn leaves where they lay down together. It was cool and soft and the musty scent of the forest reminded Gabi of her home in Saxony. They kissed feverishly, Heinz groping clumsily at her breasts. Both were writhing and totally aroused.

“Now, Heinz—I need you now.” She fumbled frantically to unfasten her trousers.

Heinz, who had slipped his trousers down with record speed, struggled ineptly to assist.

“I can do it!” She squatted over him and guided him into her.

Heinz embraced her tightly, rolling Gabi onto her back and thrusting deeply. She groaned, slowly at first with exquisite relief, like scratching an itch just out of reach. He jabbed at her, again and again, until she cried out in a frantic tremor that brought on his climax a moment too soon. She pressed herself hard against him, but the moment had passed and so she eased back onto the ground. They lay in each other’s arms, exposed and vulnerable but blissful in their embrace.

Then, as spontaneously as their coupling had started, Heinz declared its finale. “I have to pee.”

They dressed and returned to the bike, radiant and euphoric from their love-making.

“Can I have a go?” Gabi asked.

“Sure, let me show you.” Heinz climbed on the bike and took the riding position. “Three gears, clutch here, twist grip throttle here, brakes here. Just remember to accelerate slowly and take your time changing gears. Got it?”

Gabi nodded. How hard could it be? After all, she could fly an aeroplane better than most. She swung her leg up and over the seat and onto the worn, leather padding. Heinz squeezed himself in behind her, confidently resting his hands on his thighs. Clasping the handlebars, she kick-started the bike and accelerated. It lurched forward and stopped with a jolt. Heinz grabbed either side of Gabi’s leather jacket for support and chuckled. She tried again, this time gently twisting the throttle and the bike eased forward smoothly. She smirked triumphantly and changed gears. Easy. Now, for some speed.

Heinz couldn’t dismount fast enough when the bike finally swerved to a halt back at the academy.

“You’re dangerous… way too fast. I’m sure I showed you where the brakes were.”

Gabi laughed. “And you call yourself a fighter pilot. You need to grow some balls.”

“Don’t ever joke about my balls,” he said, turning his back to her, and Gabi knew that she had gone too far.

“I’m sorry, Heinz. I didn’t mean it. You’re one of bravest people I know.”

“You don’t have to exaggerate. I know what I am. But you know what, Gabi? One day, I’ll be a hero and have a medal to prove it.”

* * *

It was time for the fledgelings to leave the nest. Gabi’s father flew from Berlin to attend her graduation ceremony, making it clear that he could only stay a short time for he had pressing matters in Berlin. Heinz had spoken to his mother, who was unable to attend due to ill health. She suffered from a chronic chest infection that rendered her weak and too poorly to travel. Instead, his brother Kurt and his buddy Hans Phillip would take her place.

The cadets spent days rehearsing flight routines for their aerial performances and no one was more conscientious than Gabi. As dux of her class, she would perform solo and she practised her routine incessantly, determined to make her father proud.

The conditions were perfect on the morning of graduation; frosty but sunny with a light southerly breeze. The aerial show was the first of the day’s events so the cadets dressed and readied themselves early, checking and double-checking their gear to ensure all was in order, nervous chatter filling the room where they waited to be called. A large crowd assembled along the main runway and a temporary stand erected for the officers and dignitaries took centre stage.

The crowd cheered as the cadets ran onto the field for the line up where Major Stern inspected his fledgelings for the last time, barking his orders and watching with pride as they sprinted to their planes. A group of six fighters took off and performed a few neat but unremarkable synchronised manoeuvres. The crowd clapped politely.

“That’s the future of the Luftwaffe?” Kurt took a swig from his flask and handed it to Hans. “I hope they can do better than that or we’ll be speaking English in a year.”

“You’re such a patronising bastard.” Hans gulped a mouthful from the flask and coughed his dislike for the rough brew. “They’re only graduates.”

The next group performed with more bravado but still failed to excite an expectant crowd. Finally, Gabi and her group took to the skies, Gabi flying front and centre of the arrow formation.

“I think this is Heinz’s pack,” Kurt said. “He’s number five.”

They watched the formation execute a tight loop and shoot off like buckshot, charging the atmosphere with simulated dog-fights that thrilled the crowd.

“This is more like it,” Kurt said. “The big oaf can actually fly.”

“Who’s flying the one called Swallow?” Hans asked.

“I think that’s my brother’s new girlfriend. Can you believe they let a female train as a pilot?”

Hans said nothing but watched Swallow with a keen eye.

The squad disbanded, leaving Gabi to perform her solo display. She set herself up for the first manoeuvre, a tight outside loop, followed by a barrel roll.

Kurt tracked the frenzied plane as it darted and spun above them, shaking his head and tutting aloud. “She’s a nutter—flies like an erratic female for sure.”

“I’d have her in my squadron any day. She’s brilliant,” Hans said, endorsing her performance by clapping along with the crowd.

After three impressive stunts, Gabi commenced her finale, a huge inside loop that levelled out low to the ground before flipping the plane upside down and flying over the viewing platform. The crowd ducked their heads and gasped their disbelief at such a feat and the general cursed his reckless daughter for scaring him so.

“See—she is crazy,” Kurt yelled above the roar of the frenzied mass.

Gabi landed the plane and climbed down to face Major Stern, who stood with his arms across his chest as a measure of restraint.

“That’s not what we practised, Cadet Richter,” he yelled.

“I’m sorry, Major Stern. I just wanted to impress my father.”

The major’s tense jawline eased, and he unfolded his arms and placed them on his hips. “I think you exceeded his expectations—your father has gone a shade of grey I’ve never seen before.” A good-humoured grin replaced the scowl. “Damn good flying, though.”

Meanwhile, Kurt weaved through the spectators looking for his brother.

“Heinz! Hey, Acorn!” Kurt’s arms waved wildly at Heinz, who shunted his way forcefully to get to his brother.

“Hey, big brother. What did you think?” He gave his older sibling a hug.

“Not bad, little brother.” Kurt shot Heinz a pretend punch to the stomach and followed through with a playful headlock. “Hans, this is my little brother Heinz, otherwise known as Acorn—no prize for guessing why.”

Kurt released his stronghold and Heinz broke free. He brushed himself down and saluted Hans, who returned a casual, half-hearted salute before clutching and shaking Heinz’s hand vigorously.

“It’s great to finally meet you. You’ve made your brother proud.”

Heinz looked at his big brother, his eyes dancing with glee, his dimples so wide they almost fell from his face.

“Don’t let it go to your head now,” Kurt said. He noticed a girl walk towards them and stepped forward to greet her.

“Well, well, who have we here?” He nudged Heinz with his elbow.

Heinz pulled Gabi to his side. “Gabi, this is my brother Kurt and his comrade—.”

“Lieutenant Hans Philipp,” she interjected.

They shook hands and Gabi felt the warmth of a blush spread across her cheeks. She pulled at a tie that bound her hair back, allowing her hair to fall freely over her face and shoulders.

Kurt cast a suspicious eye. “You know each other?”

“Yes, we met in Berlin last month.” Hans grinned. “Nice bit of flying there, Gabi.”

She blushed again.

“Yeh, you’ve got balls for a girl—maybe even bigger than yours, hey, Acorn?” Kurt took another jab at Heinz, who blocked the punch and followed through with a swift boot to Kurt’s rear.

“Watch it, little brother. Remember what happened the last time you tried to take me on.”

Heinz promptly backed down. “We’d better get going anyway; the ceremony will be starting soon.”

Heinz and Gabi hurried to the barracks to change into their official dress uniforms. The men watched the cadets scurry away and Kurt pondered aloud.

“She’s cute—I like that scar on her forehead. I wonder if she’s got any other scars?”

“Man, you’re weird,” Hans said, shaking his head. “I’d keep your warped fetishes to yourself—Gabi’s your brother’s girl.”

Kurt shrugged and walked off. “She’s not my type anyway—she’s got a brain.”

It took Gabi almost half an hour to track her father down, eventually finding him in a cluster of Luftwaffe officers, taking centre stage as he always did. She greeted her father with an official salute, and the general pointed to his cheek.

“What—no kiss for your old man—especially after nearly giving me a heart attack?”

“Oh, Papa, it wasn’t that dangerous.”

“That’s not what I hear.” He turned to one of the officers. “Irresponsible? Isn’t that what you said?”

The officer mumbled beneath his moustache and promptly retreated into the crowd.

“So, my little soldier, what happens next?”

“The ceremony will start as soon as the marching parade is over. I should go now, or I’ll be late.”

“Get going then. I’ll be there soon… but I need a drink first. Where is the refreshment stand?”

She pointed to a marquee and scurried off, leaving her father to make his own way to a settling beer.

Gabi joined the graduates on stage, shuffling her feet and only half listening to the speeches and award presentations. She looked for her father but could not see him. Had he already left? The doubt churned and her annoyance grew. How could he do this to her again? After all, it would not have been the first time that he had skipped out on her. But then she spotted Kurt in the crowd and standing beside him, her father in conversation with Hans. Her mood changed instantly, and she was happy again.

“We have one final award,” Major Stern announced. “Could Cadet Richter step forward.”

She took her place on the podium, gazing down at her father and Hans, her heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe.

“I am pleased to promote Gabriele Richter to the rank of Officer Cadet for outstanding achievement.”

Gabi covered her mouth to smother her surprise. She looked at Heinz, his stunned expression making her laugh and then she smirked across at Erich, who sneered back at her like a hyena. But her greatest joy was at seeing the glint in her father’s eyes. She had made him proud.

Hans and Kurt made their way to the car park, bumping into Gabi and Heinz not far from the exit gate.

“Congratulations, Officer Cadet Richter,” Hans said.

Gabi fluttered her eyelashes. She looked away to hide her embarrassment yet again and into the bemused face of Kurt.

“Who did you blow to earn that promotion then?”

But before Gabi could respond, Hans elbowed Kurt in the ribs and shunted him away, blushing adorably.

“Good luck with your fighter training; may our paths cross again,” he said.

Gabi couldn’t have wished for anything more. She dipped her eyes and saluted the lieutenant, but he had already disappeared and she stood there looking forlorn and wondering if she would ever see him again.

“Come on, your father’s waiting for us.” Heinz grabbed Gabi’s sleeve and dragged her to the general’s vehicle parked conveniently, and illegally, in a restricted zone.

Kurt and Hans watched the six-wheeled Mercedes-Benz G4 cut through the crowd on its way out of the academy grounds.

“Her father must be special,” said Kurt. “Not just any general can get their hands on one of those—strictly for parades, I thought.”

“Yes, it’s a nice car.” Hans removed his hat and threw it into the back of their battered military vehicle. “Maybe he’s made a pact with the devil.”

March 1941

It was ironic that the general had made a career of dealing with matters deemed difficult and for which he had earned both respect and the title of ‘The Fixer’ by High Command, yet he knew not how to deal with his rambunctious daughter. His little girl was an active Jagdflieger, and he had allowed it to happen. What had he been thinking to let things go this far?

She was his only child and still a teenager, not to forget that she was also a woman and women should not fight in war. He slammed his fist down on the desk, knocking over a tumbler of malt whisky. He rarely drank scotch but had received it as a gift from Rommel, who had assured him that it was worth a try. As expected, it was not to his taste so he cared not that he had wasted some. Instead, he cursed at the stain on the Persian rug beneath his desk, calling for Inge to bring a cloth and warm water.

While the maid cleaned around him, the general brooded over his daughter and what should be done. He peered at a photo of Gabi and Saxon and his thoughts drifted to her godparents. Of course, he should speak with Albert. He was a generalfeldmarschall with the Luftwaffe and would know what to do. He made the call.

“Hello, Albert, it’s Max here.” He shifted his weight and eased back into the chair, drawing the telephone towards the edge of the desk. “Yes, it has been a while. I hope you and Liny are well?”

They chatted; small talk and niceties, vague remarks about the war. Finally, the general broached the issue.

“Albert, I have a problem. It’s Gabi; she’s joined the Luftwaffe and has been accepted as a Jagdflieger.”

A barrage of expletives overwhelmed the general’s ear.

“Yes, of course I know she’s a girl but apparently policy permits her to fly.” Again, the telephone exploded.

The general’s voice boomed back. “No, no, I don’t want her discharged. She’s determined to fly and would never forgive me.”

The line fell silent while each man pondered what should be done. Finally, Albert’s pragmatic reasoning provided the solution. Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring would have her transferred to Magdeburg Ost near Berlin where she would continue her training—indefinitely. She would not fly on any sortie or face any enemy combat.

“Yes, Albert, that sounds good. Could you also have Flight Cadet Heinz Dorfmann transferred… to keep her company?”

Gabi’s godfather saw to it that they were both stationed with JG 27 ad infinitum.

* * *

Gabi and Heinz were called to ‘active duty’ after a prolonged period of specialized training. Rostered on patrol twice a week, they spent the rest of their time playing cards, working out in the gymnasium or indulging in active duty of another kind, usually sneaking off after lunch to a disused hangar or the base stores for some clandestine coitus.

“Your father and Onkel Albert are behind this, you know,” Heinz said while fastening his trousers.

Gabi, still flushed from their lovemaking, shrugged on her shirt. “What?”

“You know… us not getting any action up there.” He pointed to the ceiling.

She buttoned her shirt and hummed in agreement. There was no point arguing otherwise. “At least we fly a few times a week.”

“They’re playing with us, Gabi. Those patronizing old…” He swallowed his next word but continued to vent. “You know, we haven’t been on a real sortie—ever!”

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

They stood stubbornly eyeing each other until Heinz conceded with a dismissive wave.

“Here, I got you something.” He unfolded his fighter jacket, revealing a package that he shunted into her chest. “Happy Birthday.”

Gabi’s expression softened and she squeezed the parcel carefully.

“It’s nothing breakable. Go on—open it.”

“How did you know it was my birthday?”

“A little bird told me.”

“Papa?”

Heinz nodded and a small dimple on his cheek confirmed that all was well again between them. “Your old man’s not a bad sort.”

She recalled the only year her father had forgotten to wish her a happy birthday. She was in England at St. George’s and had turned thirteen. It was a milestone year; not only had she become a teenager, but also a woman with raging hormones and a figure to match. She had waited anxiously for a package or a telegram from her father, but nothing came. Apparently, Helmut reminded him the next day. Her father was so riddled with guilt that he presented her with a fine stallion the colour of ebony during her summer break that year.

She studied the parcel, its wrapping creased and messy, the bow looking like it had been tied by someone with two left hands. She picked at the knot, sniggering into her chest to conceal her amusement at Heinz’s woeful attempt at gift wrapping.

“Give it here.” Heinz pulled at the paper, taking no mercy and tearing it swiftly. He handed the gift to Gabi. It was a pink velvet cushion with the word Prinzessin embroidered delicately in the middle in white cotton. She ran her palm over its softness.

“It’s for your plane. Now I don’t have to listen to you whine about your sore arse anymore,” Heinz said.

Gabi’s eyes twinkled. She was so moved by his thoughtfulness that she ached inside.

“Mama did the stitching. I think she did a good job.”

Gabi ran her finger over the intricate detail. “Yes, your mother is skilled. It’s fine work.”

A paralysing screech blasted the base and Heinz and Gabi gawked at each other as if struck dumb.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Come on, let’s go!” Gabi grabbed her cushion and sprinted to her Bf-109, Heinz close on her heels. The ground crew ran in spirals, frantically helping pilots with gear and cranking the engines. She threw her cushion onto the seat and climbed in, adjusting her buckles and cap. The drone of enemy craft could be heard in the distance; they would soon be under attack.

Gabi scrambled into the sky, circling the base and anxiously scanning the horizon for a glimpse of the enemy while waiting for instruction from their squadron leader. Heinz sat on her tail, taking the defensive position.

“How’s the cushion?” he asked over the radio.

“What? We’re about to get blown out of the sky and you want to know how my arse is?”

Gabi saw the flashes of tracer bullets, a hostile plane appearing from nowhere, its trajectory aimed directly at Swallow. She banked quickly to see Heinz discharge a round into its tail, sending the Hawker Hurricane hurtling to the ground and morphing into black smoke and flames. The shock of coming so close sent a shiver through her core and a gush of warmth between her legs.

She made a pass over the airfield and flew into the path of another Hurricane, her reflexes pumping a spray of bullets directly into its belly. Gabi saw the pained expression of the English pilot before the cockpit blew. He was young, not much older than she and in that split second, Gabi knew all innocence was gone; she had blood on her hands. A ricocheting bullet startled Gabi back into action, instinctively adjusting her course to confront the enemy, adrenaline surging like nothing she had experienced before.

The attack ended as it had commenced, a shrill siren heralding the all clear. Fighters jostled for landing, their runway marred by wreckage and debris.

Heinz made his way to Gabi’s plane, exhilarated and taut like over-wound elastic. “Man, that was incredible, I almost shit my pants.”

Gabi looked down at her crotch, a dark patch marking her shame. Heinz stared at her wet trousers and Gabi was sure he would laugh at her. But he did not laugh—not even a snigger. Instead, he drew her into a sympathetic embrace and held her close and she loved him for it.

That night, she relived the attack in her dreams and woke to a troubled conscience. She was a German, and her loyalty was with her father and the Fatherland. But she was also part English and had taken the life of a man—an Englishman. How would her mother have felt about her actions? It was a moral quandary that she had given little, if any thought to, only to surface when she was least prepared. The seed of guilt and doubt had been planted, and she knew over time that it would grow.

April 1941

“Papa, we’re here. They live in this house. Isn’t it cute?”

The limousine pulled up outside a modest, three-story terrace on Rietschelstrasse. It was Easter, and Gabi and Heinz were on leave for a week, Heinz spending it at home in Dresden while Gabi stayed the first few nights with her father in Berlin. Frau Dorfmann had invited Gabi and her father for lunch on Easter Sunday and so, after stopping to buy a bouquet of tulips in yellow and white, they journeyed the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Berlin to Dresden to spend a few hours with Heinz’s family.

Gabi knocked on the front door. A pretty girl, about fourteen, greeted them, her eyes flitting nervously between the two visitors.

“Charlotte?” Gabi enquired.

The girl nodded. “Everyone calls me Lotti,” she said, and she motioned for them to come in.

They walked inside to hear shouting coming down the hallway from a room at the back of the house.

“I swear, if you boys embarrass me in front of a general, I’ll take a hairbrush to the both of you!”

Gabi and General Richter followed Lotti into the room where Frau Dorfmann, looking over her shoulder, shrank in horror.

“I think you’ve done a good job of embarrassing yourself, Mama,” Kurt said, grinning with a smugness that riled his mother all the more.

Frau Dorfmann quickly composed herself, drying her hands on her apron before extending an inviting hand-shake. “I hope your trip was pleasant,” she said. “Please sit down. Now you must be Gabi—well of course you are. Heinz hasn’t stopped talking about you since he arrived home.”

Gabi kissed her on the cheek, presenting her with the bouquet. “I can see where Heinz gets his fine looks; you both share the same hazel eyes and dimples.”

“Thank you, dear. Kurt’s the black sheep; he’s the only one with blue eyes.”

Gabi exchanged a knowing glance with Heinz, and his dimples appeared. Although the boy’s eye colour differed, the family resemblance was unmistakable, both being tall and athletic in build, with the same chiselled nose and cheeky grin.

The two brothers turned to the general and saluted before shaking hands.

“Good to see you again, General Richter,” Kurt said. His gaze ran over the general and he grinned. “Can’t see much of a family resemblance between you and Gabi—she must get her good looks from her mother’s side.”

Heinz rolled his eyes, Frau Dorfmann let out a mortified gasp and Gabi tittered to herself, expecting to see Frau Dorfmann clout Kurt over the head with a hairbrush at any moment.

“Yes, Gabi’s mother was beautiful but she gets her height from me,” General Richter replied.

The smirk on Kurt’s face widened. “Can I offer you a drink, General?”

“I’ve brought some wine, but it will need to breathe.” It was not one of his best wines for it was still young and required aeration to soften its structure.

Kurt accepted and opened the bottle, spilling some of the wine as he carelessly extracted the cork. “How about we have a beer while we wait for the wine to breathe then?”

General Richter nodded and Kurt left the room. He returned from the cellar moments later with a crate of beer, slamming it down on the kitchen bench beside the wine and handing out bottles to the general and Heinz.

“Get that dusty crate off my clean kitchen bench. I prepare food here,” Frau Dorfmann scolded.

“Relax, Mama. Let me drink my beer first.” He turned his back on his mother, who frowned at her arrogant son.

Kurt had always been difficult—especially after his father had deserted them for another woman. His mother had hoped that he would fill his father’s shoes as man of the house but he had neither respect nor manners around women, becoming the self-indulged larrikin that he was.

“Are you married, Kurt?” the general asked.

“Good Lord, no.”

“No girlfriend then?”

Heinz flashed his brother a roguish grin.

Kurt cleared his throat. “No one special,” he said in a flippant tone that grated on the general. Kurt took a liberal swig of beer and made a half-hearted attempt to suppress a burp. Eyes darted to Frau Dorfmann, who let the indiscretion pass, while the general took the opportunity to assert his place.

“Nothing like a sensible woman to help a man mature.”

“I agree. The problem is, I can’t seem to find a sensible one—they’re all ditzy and just want to have fun.”

The general frowned, Gabi stifled another laugh; Kurt really knew how to wind her father up.

“Do you think the wine has breathed enough?” Kurt continued.

The general nodded. “It probably makes little difference. I don’t suppose you drink much wine, anyway.”

They dined on a sizeable beef pot roast sauerbraten, served with red cabbage and potato dumplings.

“What an enormous piece of meat,” Gabi declared to Frau Dorfmann. “Your butcher certainly looks after you.”

Heinz kicked Gabi under the table and shook his head earnestly. Gabi beamed broadly at Heinz and then across at Kurt, who grinned back, oblivious to her defamatory thoughts. The small talk continued over lunch.

“Seen much action, Acorn?” Kurt asked while chewing on a piece of fat.

“Keep your mouth shut when it’s full of food. You’re still not too old that I wouldn’t take a wooden spoon to you.” Frau Dorfmann turned to her other son. “And you, Heinz, sit up straight and get those arms of yours off the table—I didn’t raise you to eat like a peasant.”

Heinz rolled his eyes but did as he was told. Gabi suppressed another giggle; she found the banter hilarious.

Kurt ignored his mother and kept on chewing and speaking. “Well, have you?”

Heinz sat upright in his chair as though making an official announcement. “Our base was attacked last week. I got a Tommy that was about to smack Gabi,” he said proudly, “and Gabi got one too.”

Gabi cringed. She had deliberately not mentioned the attack to her father fearing that he would have her transferred out of harm’s way again. She glared at Heinz.

“Mmmmm, impressive, but you’ll need more experience than that or you and Gabi will be like lambs to the slaughter on your first real sortie,” said Kurt, and he filled his mouth with a dumpling.

“You’re not prepared?” Frau Dorfmann’s eyes flitted about the table in distress.

The general shook his head at Kurt. “You should not worry your mother.” He turned to Frau Dorfmann and placed his hand reassuringly on hers. “I’m sure they will be well prepared before they are assigned any dangerous missions,” he said. “I’ll have a word with Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring. Did I mention he’s Gabi’s Godfather? Anyway, he will see to it that they are well prepared for their first sortie.” He leaned towards Frau Dorfmann and spoke softly. “Not too risky, though, I assure you.”

She smiled back but held her fist clenched.

After lunch, Gabi helped Frau Dorfmann and Charlotte clear away and wash the dishes while General Richter shared a schnapps with Heinz and Kurt in the sitting room. The women chatted in the kitchen as they went about their work, breaking into laughter every now and then as they settled into friendship and familiarity. While Gabi prepared the coffee, Frau Dorfmann drew her close and hugged her warmly.

“I never thanked you for saving my son’s life.”

Gabi beamed her affections at this kind-hearted woman. How she envied this easy-going family, their simple life and cosy home, its walls resonating with laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Gabi asked as she carried coffee and cake into the sitting room. The boys had shown General Richter a postcard that had made him blush. He hastily handed it back to Kurt.

“It’s nothing, Gabi. Just a bit of smut,” the general said.

Kurt grinned. “You’re right, general, but we all like a bit of smut, don’t we?”

More polite conversation while coffee and cake were served.

“Gabi, Heinz mentioned that it was your birthday last week. Happy Birthday—how old are you?”

Gabi turned to Kurt, surprised by his interest in her. “Nineteen,” she said.

Kurt leaned forward. “Did you know that birthdays are good for you? Apparently, the more you have, the longer you’ll live.”

Heinz rolled his eyes and coughed and Gabi could tell that he was embarrassed by his brother’s tired joke. She burst into laughter, joyful eyes flitting to her father to gauge his reaction. Smothering a chuckle behind his fist, the general whispered, “At least the peacock has a sense of humour.”

With satisfied stomachs and a chorus of infectious yawns, the afternoon drew to its pleasant conclusion. Gabi and her father thanked Frau Dorfmann for a delicious meal and delightful afternoon, although in truth, Gabi knew that her father had found the visit tiresome for he grew impatient and distracted as the hours passed.

Heinz would be joining them at Manor Grand Oak but it took almost half an hour for him to say goodbye to his distraught mother, for she was ill-prepared for their parting. She fussed over him, packing freshly washed clothes and soap, reminding him to change his underwear daily, sniffling into a handkerchief that grew moist with tears until she ran out of excuses.

Kurt made a hasty exit, claiming that he had a long journey back to his base at Jever, Lower Saxony. His farewell hug was fleeting and unemotional, and like his father so many years before, Kurt left his mother standing teary-eyed at the front door.

Helmut was already waiting outside when the limousine pulled up only a few inches from the tips of his lacquered shoes. He scurried to the back of the vehicle and removed the items of luggage.

“I hope your journey was pleasant,” Helmut muttered to neither Gabi nor her father; for his eyes were fixed on a tall, conspicuous young man who shuffled from one giant foot to the other.

“Yes, it was fine but I am tired. See that supper is served as soon as possible.” The general disappeared into the bright light of the foyer, leaving Gabi, Heinz and Helmut to the luggage.

“Helmut, this is Heinz, my friend from the academy.” Gabi presented Helmut with a peck on the cheek as always, slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way inside for she too, was tired and longed for a quick bath before supper. Heinz smiled uneasily at Helmut and extended his hand—a gesture that was ignored. Instead, Helmut studied the youth through thickly magnified glasses like a scientist scrutinising a bug on a Petri dish.

“I’ll be watching you so don’t get any ideas,” he said and he ushered Heinz to a guest room in the farthest wing from Gabi’s bedroom. Heinz followed Helmut like a puppy, awed by the size of the manor; he was sure to get lost just going for a pee.

That evening, they enjoyed a light supper of cheeses, pastries and of course Gabi’s favourite: cherry crumb cake. Although generous in size, the cake was quickly devoured as both Gabi and Heinz filled their cake plates twice over. They toasted to Gabi’s nineteenth birthday, Heinz seemingly unimpressed with the champagne served. He quickly sculled the delicate flute down to rid himself of the distasteful brew.

“You like the champagne then?” the general asked as he watched the youth down the glass in one gulp. Heinz suppressed a cough and nodded.

“Good, then I haven’t wasted an expensive drop after all. Here, Gabi, I have a present for you.” He offered no apology for his belated birthday present and handed the gift to Gabi as though nothing was amiss. She kissed her father on the cheek before opening the box. It was an elegant Swiss watch set in gold with a few jewels tastefully embedded around its face.

“It’s beautiful, Papa. Thank you. On my, look at the time, it’s almost midnight.” She winked at Heinz.

The general watched this daughter and her boyfriend bid each other a coy goodnight and head off to their bedrooms at opposite ends of the house. He chuckled at Helmut’s prudent selection of guest accommodation and poured himself a cognac, taking a deep whiff followed by a satisfying swig. It was a fine brew, extra old and smooth as silk.

He wondered how long it would take Gabi to sneak into Heinz’s bed. He knew that Gabi was no longer a virgin, her innocence lost long ago in a manner that should have made her repulsed at the thought of physical intimacy with a man. And yet Gabi had gone the other way, promiscuous and longing for love, much the same as someone else close to his heart.

Memories of Gabi’s mother, Mary, drifted into his thoughts—the day they met down by the River Elbe as clear as though it were yesterday. She was staying with relatives in Dresden, catching his eye as she promenaded with her cousins, giggling as they flirted with the soldiers who strutted like peacocks in their uniforms. He was the only one that could speak any English, and so began their clandestine liaisons, Mary not yet twenty and madly in love with her dashing German soldier.

Their passion for each other was intense, their courtship swift, their commitment to each other a fait accompli with the news that Mary was with child. But he did love her and grew to love her more when Gabi was born. He fell into a wistful stare, polishing off the last of the cognac before retiring to his bedchamber.

* * *

“I thought you said riding a horse was like riding a bike. It’s nothing like it. How do I get this thing into gear?”

Gabi and Heinz had risen early to explore the estate on horse-back but Heinz had never ridden before and was finding his seat, so to speak.

“Just jab firmly with your heels, like this.”

Heinz followed Gabi’s example but the horse turned the opposite way and sprinted up the hill with obstinate determination, Heinz holding on helplessly, having surrendered control from the moment he mounted the beast. Gabi chased them down and coaxed the mare to a canter.

“Trust you to give me a crazy horse.”

“Never blame the horse, Heinz,” she said.

“My arse is sore and so are my balls.”

“Like I said, never blame the horse. You should have taken it slower last night.”

Heinz screwed up his face. He swung his leg over to dismount, catching the other foot in the stirrup and hopping until he had freed himself.

Gabi slid down beside him. “Had enough already?”

“I prefer horsepower of another kind.”

She leaned against the trunk of the old oak, gazing blissfully at Heinz. Was this love?

He stepped closer, thrusting his groin into her pelvis.

“What? Again?”

Heinz’s lips curled adorably. Unable to resist such a face, she relented and unfastened the buttons of his trousers, slipping her hand inside.

“Whoa, that’s cold.”

“Let me warm it a little.” Gabi knelt before him and tugged at his trousers, pulling them down to his knees. She gently caressed his erection and teased him with her tongue and lips. Heinz groaned and ran his fingers through her hair.

“Stop it, I’m losing concentration,” Gabi scolded.

Heinz disentangled his fingers. “No, don’t stop.”

She resumed her routine and his legs began to twitch and shake. He moaned with pure relief, releasing himself into her before dropping to his knees and kissing her zealously.

“So that’s what I taste like.”

They sniggered at each other like two naughty children sampling from the lolly jar. A soft drone could be heard over the fields and Gabi turned to take a look.

“There it is.” Kurt banked sharply to the south and circled the estate while Hans followed closely behind, scanning the familiar landscape. They were delivering new fighters to a base down south and although they were on a schedule, they detoured over Meissen to check out Gabi’s country estate. Hans studied the imposing mansion.

“I know the place. I can’t believe this is Gabi’s home,” Hans said.

Kurt circled the property. “I knew they were loaded, must be worth a fortune. I wonder how many servants they have to keep this place going?”

“Look, over to the hill. I think I see Gabi and Heinz.”

The pair dived down for a low pass.

“Look! I bet its Kurt and Hans,” Heinz yelled, pulling up his trousers and bounding out into the clearing. “Kurt said they would be flying this way.”

Gabi gaped up at the planes for a moment before hauling herself back onto Spitz and bolting down the hill. She could see the shadows cast by the planes drawing nearer until they flew directly above her and the shadows merged and then parted again.

“Shit, she can ride,” Kurt said. “Look at her go.”

Hans watched, mesmerized by the vision below; young, beautiful virgin with long, golden hair riding a black steed on a splendid country estate. All right, so she wasn’t a virgin, but the rest fulfilled his fantasy.

“Hey, Phipps, watch it!”

Hans quickly adjusted his course; a mid-air collision would not only be fatal, but highly embarrassing.

May 1941

“Six weeks we’ve been here and you haven’t let me win once!”

Heinz, idle and bored with their internship at Magdeburg Ost, let the frustration fly. Gabi had once again beaten him at cards and for Heinz, it was the proverbial last straw.

“I don’t always win,” she said. “I’m sure I’ve let you win a few times.”

Heinz tossed his cards onto the table. He rolled his shoulders and stretched, seizing the latest JG 27 bulletin that lay on top of a pile of magazines, aggressively peeling its pages from back to front.

“Fine, be stroppy. It’s not my fault that you play a poor hand.” Gabi gathered the cards and placed them back into a wooden box, irritation building at Heinz’s juvenile outburst. She held her breath, hoping to calm herself and avoid any further hostility; this had not been the first time that Heinz had lost his temper and she was growing tired of his moods.

“Heinz, we need to talk. I know you’ve been bored but…”

Heinz held his hand up like a schoolmaster silencing an assembly of noisy students and continued to read the paper.

Incensed by his haughtiness, Gabi snatched the bulletin and scowled at him.

“What are you doing? I was reading something important.”

He snatched the paper back and turned a page. “See, it’s true what they’re saying… there, page two—take a look.”

Gabi examined the article and her eyes widened as she took on its significance. The Luftwaffe was setting up bases in North Africa and Egypt to provide support for the Italians and JG 27 was to transfer there.

“Finally, a chance to see the world and get some real action under our belts,” Heinz said.

But Gabi did not share Heinz’s excitement. “Heinz, I’d love to go but my father wouldn’t permit it. Even after all this time, he still has a problem with me flying. Don’t forget, he was responsible for getting us posted to Magdeburg Ost in the first place because it was close to Berlin. He’ll be on the telephone to Onkel Albert the minute he finds out.”

Heinz stared at the bulletin, and Gabi could see in his eyes how his thoughts darted back and forth. What was he up to?

“How would you be if I transferred to North Africa—just a provisional transfer?”

Gabi chewed her bottom lip. She knew that Heinz desperately wanted a change and this transfer might give him the opportunity to prove himself and earn that promotion he so wanted. Who was she to hold him back? Besides, they had been getting on each other’s nerves lately, and she couldn’t help but think that a break would do them both good. “I’d miss you and I’d worry but if it was only for a short time, I guess I could live with it.”

“And you can transfer to JG 54 in Jever—Kurt can look out for you. Your father should be fine with that.”

She drew breath. Kurt… and Lieutenant Philipp. She smiled approvingly. “Yes, I suppose so.”

“Then it’s settled.” Heinz clutched the bulletin and scurried away, leaving Gabi to dwell on the transfer.

Her worry grew. Heinz was still so young and impulsive, often oblivious to danger and consequence. And clumsy, so very clumsy. But he was a good jagdflieger and knew what to do. Besides, it would only be for a short while; she would see to that herself through the ever-reliable, always obliging Onkel Albert.

On the morning of Heinz’s departure for North Africa, Gabi cried herself sick. She clung to Heinz and sobbed until he tenderly pushed her from him, holding her at arm’s length, soothing and stroking her to calm.

“Don’t cry, Gabi, we’ll see each other again soon. I promise to write to you every day.”

Gabi knew how much Heinz hated writing, and this would be a real test of his commitment to her. She wiped her runny nose on a sleeve and swallowed hard to suppress hiccups that left an ache in her chest.

Heinz placed his hands on either side of her face, using his thumbs to wipe away her tears. “I need to tell you something.”

Their eyes locked and Gabi could feel the fear in his trembling hands as he smoothed her cheeks.

“I won’t be able to protect you,” he said. “Promise me that you’ll be careful. Stay close to Kurt.” He paused. “Don’t trust what you see. The fatal shot comes when you least expect it.”

Gabi threw herself at his lips and clung on until her sobs forced them to part.

“I love you, Heinz.”

“I love you too. I’ll be back soon, you’ll see.”

* * *

Coffee and cake greeted Gabi on her mid-morning arrival at Jever. A table decked with chequered cloth and coffee set for six, speckled poppy cake and apple strudel dusted with icing sugar accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream, set a bizarre scene for it had been positioned in the centre of a drab air-base yard, surrounded by unattractive hangars and empty fuel drums.

“Welcome to JG 54, Officer Cadet Richter.” Hans strolled over to Gabi and extended his hand. “Perfect timing; we’re having coffee and cake—no crumb cake, though. I trust your journey went well?”

Gabi blushed and inwardly cursed her reaction. “Yes, indeed, Lieutenant Philipp.” She saluted and took his hand to shake. “Who have we here?”

Hans smiled down at the dogs that bounded about their feet, demanding attention. “This one is Minke and this is Pinke. They’re the most spoiled pooches in the Reich but they make good company, although they do have a few bad habits.”

They took to Gabi immediately, licking and pining to be picked up and cuddled. Pinke, the female, was especially besotted by Gabi and followed her around incessantly. She selected Gabi as her new bed-partner, curling up with her each night under the warm bed covers and nestling so close that Gabi could feel its little body rise and fall with every breath. A foot-stool was placed at the end of the bed allowing the little dog to climb on and off the bed safely for dachshunds were an impractical breed and prone to back injury.

Pinke became Gabi’s confidante, sharing both her bed and a fondness for a certain charming squadron leader with a soft, deep voice and manly eyes. But not everything about her transfer was agreeable. Not long after she arrived, Gabi discovered that the farmer-boy was also stationed with JG 54.

Erich had proven himself to be a competent fighter pilot, having already scored five victories. But he was cruel and merciless, attacking anything that took his fancy, often boasting how much he enjoyed firing at children and old women. Gabi distanced herself from him, wary that such a disturbed mind was capable of anything. Although she spoke to no one of her hatred for Erich, Hans sensed that something was amiss between them and rarely had them fly the same sortie.

Kurt kept his word to Heinz and watched over Gabi with the tenacity of a guard dog. He attacked all enemy aircraft that came close to Swallow and drove away any potential suitors on land just as forcefully. But their relationship was often volatile, erupting in fits of vulgarity that left Gabi red-faced and Kurt sneering like a cornered badger. He would blame Gabi, claiming that she never shut up while Gabi found Kurt to be tactless and juvenile, although, in truth, she did find him amusing.

Heinz did not write to Gabi every day as promised but he did send a letter once a week. He wrote about the astonishing landscape, intriguing local customs and insufferable heat. He also told her over and over how much he loved her and missed her and she read his letters over and over, reassuring herself that he was safe and would return to her. Sometimes, she would read parts of his letters aloud to Kurt and Hans, keeping the more personal details to herself. Hans listened politely; Kurt always had something to say.

“I can’t believe that he still finds the time to write to you. I mean, if I had all that hot, exotic pussy to play with, I know what I’d be doing.”

“You’re such a penis-head, Kurt. Why don’t you go screw yourself?” Gabi rarely cussed but Kurt had a talent for soliciting the foulness in others.

“I would if I could,” Kurt shouted after her as she walked away. “It would save me a lot of time trying to dunk my dick into frigid Teutonic pussy.” He turned to Hans and chuckled. “Feisty little thing.”

“I’d be careful if I were you. She could be your future sister-in-law.”

“Not likely,” said Kurt. “She’ll end up marrying some rich industrialist or baron.”

“Yeh, you’re probably right,” Hans said. “Although I think Gabi’s the kind of girl who will follow her heart.”

* * *

Heinz never would propose to Gabi. Kurt was given a telegram on the morning of July twenty-fifth. It was from his mother who had received the official death notice from administration. Kurt broke the news to Gabi, not in the privacy of her quarters as one would expect, but in the middle of a busy mess hall surrounded by lunchtime clatter. He did not embrace her or attempt to soothe her distress in any way but stood and watched her tears and quivering lip. She threw herself at him in a fit of convulsive sobs, trembling against his chest, seeking comfort in his arms. He waited until her sobs were replaced with faint sniffles before pulling away.

August 1941

JG 54 was based at Lindenthal in Cologne. It was a difficult time for Gabi as she struggled to come to terms with the loss of Heinz. She was told that he had fought courageously against an enemy that outnumbered them three to one, and that he had taken no fewer than three down before his own plane was struck, its tail blown to pieces and his plane falling into the desolation of the Gazala desert.

Heinz received a posthumous Iron Cross medal for bravery, presented to the family at a commemorative ceremony in Berlin. Gabi did not attend the service. Instead, she wallowed in self-pity, waiting for her grief to pass, but the suffering lingered especially at night when dark thoughts and images of Heinz buried beneath the Sahara sand would keep her awake. She would comfort herself by stroking her princess cushion and rereading all of his letters until her eyelids closed and she fell into slumber that left her empty and despondent when she awoke.

Two final letters from Heinz arrived a month after his death. Hans and Kurt debated whether they should give them to Gabi and risk opening wounds not yet healed, but in the end, they thought it best to let Gabi decide. Kurt presented her with the letters but neither Hans nor Kurt asked about their content and Gabi never spoke of them. She did read them both, one after the other, and when she had cried herself dry, she bundled them with Heinz’s other letters and tore them into tiny shreds, releasing them from her plane like confetti in the wind.

* * *

Another nail clipping dropped onto the dining table where a small pile had gathered. Kurt studied his nails with a fixated eye before swiping the nail shards onto the floor, just as he had always done back home—a foul habit that had disgusted his mother ad nauseam.

“When was the last time Gabi got away from this boring shithole?”

Hans drew on his cigarette, exhaling the smoke through his nostrils and rolling the stump between his fingers. “Not since Heinz—” Hans cut short his words, most likely to spare his friend from painful memories, but Kurt had already moved on and was only troubled by the burden he carried to take care of his late brother’s girlfriend. He simply could not accept Gabi’s prolonged grieving and this irritated him. Why hadn’t she moved on?

“You know, she needs to get out, get on with things,” he said.

Hans stubbed the cigarette into an ashtray and took a swig of cold coffee. “I’m taking Eva out for dinner tonight. Why don’t you and Gabi come along?”

Kurt scratched the stubble under his chin. Although he and Gabi argued more often than they did not, she was never boring and was certainly pleasant to look at.

“Sure, good idea, Phipps. I’ll go ask her.”

He went to her barracks but she not there, so he made his way to the recreation room and settled into a game of cards with the Erich, Dieter and Sepp. Sometime later, she ambled into the room.

“I see you’re hard at work defending the Fatherland,” Gabi said to the huddle around the table. “You wanted to see me?”

“The morale of Wehrmacht personnel is always paramount,” Kurt said smugly. “And on that topic, how would you like to go out to dinner with me, Hans and Eva tonight?”

Gabi replayed Kurt’s words in her head. Had she heard right? Was he asking her out on a date?

“It’s not that hard a question,” Kurt continued impatiently.

“What’s the matter, Gabi, scared that Kurt will make a move on you?” Erich chuckled into his chest.

Gabi glared at Erich. “You’re so easily amused farmer-boy. But then, simple-minded people always are.”

Erich slammed his beer down on the table, shattering the base of the bottle and leaving a nasty gash on his hand.

“That must have hurt.” Gabi watched the blood trickle onto the table but did not move to help him.

“I didn’t feel a thing,” Erich said, sucking in his teeth.

“No brain, no pain.”

Erich stood and held a fist out threateningly, leaving Kurt no option but to intervene.

He grabbed Erich by the wrist and with a toss of his head, motioned for him to leave. “Go get that looked at.”

Erich slinked away and Kurt resumed his seat, leaning back and resting his feet on Erich’s vacant chair.

“Look, no pressure. Phipps and I just thought you needed a night out.”

Gabi blushed. “Hans suggested it?”

“Yep.”

Although still melancholy, Gabi’s mood lifted and she felt a twinge of excitement. “All right then.”

“Good. We’ll meet here at 19.00.”

No sooner had Gabi left the men to their game of cards, when doubt and apprehension played its own menacing game in her head. What had she been thinking to agree on a date with Kurt? She was in no mood to joust with him and to make matters worse, that witch would be there mocking her whenever she got the chance. Clever as Gabi was, she was no match for Eva’s acid tongue and she winced at the thought that she would be made to look a fool in front of Hans. Perhaps it was not too late to cancel…

It was 19:10 and Kurt was late as usual. She paced the room, fretful that they were keeping their commanding officer waiting. Kurt eventually strolled in at 19:15 and gestured to Gabi to hurry up; Hans and Eva were waiting outside in the car.

“What took you so long?” Hans asked as they climbed into the vehicle. “I thought my watch must be fast.”

“Ah, women, they can never tell the time,” Kurt said.

Suppressing a protest, Gabi gritted her teeth; she shouldn’t start the evening on a sour note. Her mood had mellowed, and she was looking forward to a night away from the base.

Eva gave Gabi a passing glance before turning her attention to Kurt. “Good evening, Herr Dorfmann. Handsome as ever,” she teased.

“Takes one to know one,” Kurt said.

Gabi winced. This was going to be a painfully long night.

“How are you, Gabi?” Hans glanced in his rear-view mirror and their eyes locked. He grinned at her, and she felt her mood lift higher still.

“I’m fine. Where are we going?”

“I’ve made reservations at Der Innenhof—it’s Eva’s favourite restaurant in Cologne.”

Gabi’s face fell. They would be dining at a formal establishment where the fashionable went to be seen and unlike Hans and Kurt, she had not worn her uniform and was dressed neither formally nor fashionably, although she had made an effort to present herself as best she could, wearing her only dress and a bulky over-coat that at least matched in colour, if not in fit. On her feet, she wore flat boots, a major fashion faux-pas that complimented her unfashionable ponytail, worn loose to conceal the scar on her forehead. Thankfully, neither Eva nor Kurt passed comment regarding her attire—a small blessing that Gabi knew would be short-lived.

Hans dropped them at the front door while he parked the car nearby. The party of three made their way inside and although the restaurant was busy, the maitre d’ recognised Eva immediately.

“Ah, Fraulein Schmidt, always a delight to have you dine with us. Is Lieutenant Philipp joining you?”

“Of course, Willy. He will be here shortly.”

The maitre d’ escorted the group to a well-positioned table in the centre of the room. “Your table as usual,” he announced.

Eva sneered graciously. “Thank you so much, Willy. You’re such a dear. I don’t know how this place would run without you.”

Gabi screwed her face and rolled her eyes. Kurt kicked her under the table and scowled. She shrugged and began fidgeting with her napkin. Kurt watched as Gabi folded the stiff cloth over and over until she could fold it no more.

“Did you know that you can only fold a napkin in half six times at most?” he said.

Before Gabi had a chance to prove him wrong, Hans joined them, immediately requesting the wine list and ordering a bottle of champagne. They toasted to victory for the Fatherland and settled into small-talk.

“So, Kurt, do you like my new hairstyle?” Eva asked, fishing for attention and the usual compliments that followed.

Her hair was rolled up on either side, her fringe teased high in a curl, a ball of large loose coils nestled at the nape of her neck, a gentle wave softening the overall effect. Gabi thought she looked like a cocker spaniel.

“Very much. It suits you—very glamorous.”

A devious grin settled on Eva’s mouth. “Tell me, Gabi, have you ever had your hair styled?”

And with that one, seemingly innocent question, Gabi knew that the games had begun.

“No, I’ve never had my hair styled—or cut, for that matter.”

“Never had it cut. Why not?” Eva said, her tone exaggerated as one would expect from an actress.

“I promised my father that I wouldn’t cut it. He likes it long.”

“Good Lord, dear. All fathers want their little girls to stay little girls. Sooner or later, you’ll have to look like a woman if you want to catch yourself a man.”

Stunned, Gabi’s mind went blank, her face turning beet red to match the lipstick that glistened on Eva’s wicked mouth. How could she be so malicious? Gabi stared down at the crisp white linen tablecloth while a lump the size of an acorn grew in her throat.

Sensing Gabi’s vulnerability, Eva continued, “You know, if you have your hair cut into a fringe, you might be able to hide that ugly scar of yours.”

“I don’t know,” Kurt said. “I’d leave your hair alone. I actually think your scar’s a real turn on.”

Gabi turned to Hans and saw only pity in his eyes. She turned to Kurt, whose blank expression left her defenceless. She had been wounded and no one would help her.

“I have to go…” she mumbled and promptly scurried out of the restaurant.

Hans threw his napkin onto the table. “What is it with the both of you? Can’t you ever be nice to her?” He stood to go after Gabi, but Kurt held him back.

“You stay here with Eva. I’ll go.” Kurt dashed for the exit, grabbing Gabi’s overcoat on the way out.

A frigid aura descended over the table. Hans and Eva watched as the waiter cleared the spare place settings and return them to the sideboard, and when he was no longer within earshot, Hans took aim and fired.

“You can be a real bitch.”

“Of course, you would take her side,” Eva spat back.

Hans leaned across the table and lowered his voice. “It’s not about taking sides. You were well out of line and what has Gabi ever done to you anyway? All you do is belittle her and try to make her feel bad.”

“Well, if I’m such a bad person, what are you doing with me?”

“Good question.”

Eva’s eyes widened. “Hans, darling, let’s not fight over this.” She placed her hand over his for reassurance.

“You’re right. There’s no point fighting.” He withdrew his hand and stood. “It’s over.”

Eva’s glare could have ended the war there and then if she had been facing the enemy.

Meanwhile, Gabi trotted down the road at a fast pace, trailed by Kurt and her overcoat.

“Wait up, Gabi. I’ve got your coat. Where are you going?”

“Back to the base,” she hollered over her shoulder.

“What! Walking? It’s getting cold, and it’ll take hours.”

“Then it’s going to be a long, cold walk.”

Kurt scampered behind Gabi and flung the coat over her shoulders.

She caught the coat before it fell to the ground and pulled it on. “Thanks.”

They walked side-by-side, Kurt slowing his pace to match hers. Step by step, breath for breath, they trudged in silence until Kurt finally spoke his thoughts.

“You know, she’s jealous of you.”

It was met with a sideways glance. “Jealous of what? She’s the movie star.”

“Hollywood’s full of movie stars, but you’re the only female Jagdflieger in Germany.”

Gabi’s scowl dissolved; sometimes Kurt could be so sweet. She nudged him with her elbow and his face widened and dimpled on one cheek.

They talked for hours, Kurt reminiscing about fun times when he and Heinz were growing up as boys, Gabi laughing along as they made their way back to the base. By the time they arrived, it was after midnight and both Kurt and Gabi were weary but at peace with the world.

He walked Gabi to her quarters and stood at the open door like he was waiting for something to happen. She entered her faintly lit room, Kurt still standing in the doorway expectantly.

He whispered into the room. “You know, I meant what I said about your scar.”

A shadow reached out, gently drawing him into the dimness. He surrendered to the shadow with a kiss, moving to the bed and the softness of its covers, nudging a sleepy Pinke from her cosy nest and laying across the warmth that the little dog had left behind.

Kurt was a lustful lover with the vigour and stamina of a wild boar. He soothed her with firm, deliberate strokes, over and over until she was ready. She arched her back as his pleasure consumed her; she whimpered when he had fulfilled his duty. They slept soundly in each other’s arms for some hours before Gabi began to stir. Her body trembled; she mumbled something incoherent, her movements becoming more and more desperate. Kurt woke from his sex-induced slumber to find her screaming and lashing out.

“Gabi, what’s wrong? Shhhhh… you’ll wake up the whole base.”

“Stop, Yuri. Please stop! Papa…”

Kurt shook Gabi, her eyes staring, stunned and confused. She watched him hastily pull up his trousers and stumble to the door.

“You’re crazy. You’ve woken the whole base and scared the shit out of me.”

“Don’t go, Kurt. Please don’t leave me.” But awareness had come too late, leaving her to face her demons alone.

Gabi gazed vacantly out the window until the rising sun persuaded her to leave her bed. She took a shower and made her way to the mess. Kurt sat alone at a small table near a window, immersed in a morning newspaper. Gabi made herself a coffee and wandered over, standing before him, brittle and exposed.

“I’m so sorry, Kurt. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Kurt looked up from his newspaper. “What’s your problem? I thought we had a great night.”

“We did. It’s just… I sometimes have nightmares.”

“You need help then.” His eyes returned to their reading.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

“You’re right there—I won’t be spending another night with you again.”

Gabi’s heart sank under the weight of rejection. She scratched the scar on her palm and made her way to Swallow and emotional sanctuary.

Later that morning in the officer’s quarters, Kurt grappled with a report long overdue, grumbling to himself and struggling to make sense of the words in his head. Funny, he never had any trouble telling a story but the minute he was expected to write it down, the words failed to flow. How he loathed paperwork—almost as much as he hated salting down the chopping block at the butcher where he worked his first job as the family provider. He hated the smell of sawdust and blood and the inane talk of people whose lives revolved around small goods and nothing more. Thank God his uncle had offered to help them financially, enabling Kurt to finish his education and follow his dream of becoming a pilot.

Hans walked into the room and immediately scanned over the papers strewn across the desk. “What! You’ve only just started that report?”

Kurt shrugged and grinned sheepishly. This was not the first time that he had failed in his reporting duties, but their friendship meant more than just a late report and Kurt knew that Hans would not make an issue of it.

“Say, what happened to you last night?”

“Oh, Gabi and I walked back to the base.”

“That’s some walk.”

“Yeh, tell me about it. What about you and Eva?”

“We’ve split up.”

A cup of coffee tipped and poured out over the desk and onto the floor.

“Really?” Kurt said, quickly mopping the liquid with his report papers. “You must be pissed off.”

Hans glanced at the pile of soggy papers but continued to talk as though nothing had happened. “Not really. It was always about her and what she wanted. I’ve never known anyone as selfish or conceited—except for you, of course.”

Kurt nodded to move the conversation along; boredom had set in and he just wanted Hans to make his point quickly and leave so he could get away for some early lunch.

Hans studied a chart on the wall. He turned to Kurt, who was now cleaning coffee from his boots with the remains of his report. “Say, did you hear that screaming this morning?”

“No, I didn’t hear anything,” Kurt lied. “Maybe one of the boys was giving some slapper a good time.”

“No,” Hans said, “it wasn’t a cry of passion; it was sheer terror.” He left the room.

Kurt watched the door close, his thoughts on the previous night’s events. She had cried out in fear for help and he had offered her none. He tugged at his earlobe and scowled at himself. She couldn’t help having a nightmare if that’s what it was. And who was Yuri?

Kurt gathered the coffee soaked sheets of paper and threw them into the wastepaper basket, leaving the office, and his unfinished report, to find out.

Gabi spent that morning in the hangar servicing Swallow and stewing in regret. Why had she slept with Kurt of all people? He had always called her crazy, and now he had proof. He probably would refuse to fly another sortie with her. After all, who would trust their life to a mad female fighter pilot?

Manfred, a veteran mechanic with a crusty demeanour, coughed to clear lungs choked from years of heavy smoking. He watched as Gabi grappled with a stubborn bolt that refused to shift, the spanner slipping and grazing her knuckles.

“Damn shit spanner!” She threw the spanner against the tin hangar wall.

“Tsk-tsk… such a temper. You’re all thumbs today, Gabi.”

“You know, Manfred, some days you just shouldn’t get out of bed.”

A shadow emerged from behind the hangar door. She frowned as the shadow took form and spoke.

“Can we have a chat?”

Gabi turned her back to the shadow. “I’ll only be a few minutes,” she said to Manfred, who winked and she reddened—did Manfred know what she and Kurt had done?

She clambered down the ladder from the platform, its rusty frame rattling unsteadily and walked away from the hangar. The shadow followed.

When far enough away to be out of Manfred’s earshot, Gabi let the hurt and anger fly. “Look, Kurt. I’ve already apologized for what happened last night. I don’t know what else you want from me.”

Kurt opened his mouth to speak but faltered under Gabi’s intense glare. But he did not back down. “I know you didn’t do it deliberately. I just want to know that you’re all right.”

“I’m fine,” she said.

“Is there a reason why you had that nightmare?”

“It’s not your concern.”

“Yes, it is. I promised Heinz that I would look out for you. Tell me, who is Yuri?”

Startled, Gabi looked up at Kurt, eyes wide as they connected. What had she been saying in her sleep? She sat down on a bench, Kurt taking a seat beside her uncomfortably close. The corrosive fumes of aviation fuel invaded her nostrils, prompting her to survey a row of metal drums nearby. They were dented and rusted around their rims but intact with no visible sign of any leaks. A sneeze from Kurt drew back her attention.

“Gesundheit.”

“Thanks. I’m allergic to diesel,” he confessed.

Gabi shifted her position farther along the bench away from Kurt. Why was he doing this to her? Should she tell him the truth? Rubbing her palm, Gabi reluctantly released the painful memories.

“Yuri was our gardener at Manor Grand Oak. One day, Yuri said that he found some kittens. I was seven years old at the time, so naturally, I wanted to play with kittens. I went with him down into the cellar, but there were no kittens. He raped me, tried to strangle me and left me for dead. My father didn’t find me until later that evening. He has never forgiven himself. That’s why he sent me to live in England with my aunt; he thought I’d be safer there.” She took a quivering breath and clasped her hands to stop them shaking. “Anyway, I had nightmares for years but they eventually stopped. When Heinz died, they started again. I’m so sorry—I shouldn’t have slept with you.”

Kurt leaned towards her. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I mean, I didn’t force myself on you or anything like that?”

“No, Kurt. You didn’t hurt me.” She watched as he tugged at his earlobe as if trying to rid himself of something. “Please, Kurt, don’t tell anyone. No one else needs to know.”

“I’ll tell no one, I promise.”

* * *

JG 54 relocated to the east in preparation for what some generals called the beginning of the end for Germany. Only a madman would dare attack Russia, Hitler’s generals would joke. But when Hitler declared war on Russia, nobody laughed.

Operation Barbarossa was a military crusade of epic proportions, the perfect campaign for Hans to distinguish himself as an outstanding leader and expert in aerial combat. His victory tally escalated and on August twenty-fourth, he became the thirty-third recipient of the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross medal, presented by the Führer himself. Kurt’s efforts were also recognized, and he was promoted to First Lieutenant.

The months passed and camaraderie grew. Hans, Kurt and Gabi were inseparable, relying on each other for companionship and some measure of sanity. There were stressful times where periods of intense fighting were often followed by interludes of extreme boredom. They would play cards and drink until late at night, whiling away the hours of tedium when the war seemed to stop—at least for them. Gabi would curl up and sleep on a sofa with Minke and Pinke nestled up against her, too tired to continue playing cards but unwilling to go to bed should she miss out on anything. On some nights, Hans would dust off his squeeze-box and play folk songs accompanied by a howling Minke and Gabi and Kurt would clear the floor of furniture and dance to whatever Hans played.

Both Kurt and Hans watched over Gabi like big brothers, Hans reporting back to the general every other week as requested, reassuring him that Gabi was safe and well looked after. Gabi still referred to Erich as the ‘farmer-boy’ and the nickname caught on and stuck to him like a wart. In return, Erich would find ways to harass Gabi, making false accusations and undermining her authority behind her back, deliberately goading her into verbal stoushes that always ended the same way.

“Let it go, Erich, you’re no match for Gabi,” Kurt would say. “She’s got more brains in her little finger than you’ve got in your head, dick and balls combined.”

She shared a warm, unabashed rapport with her fellow pilots and would speak openly on all manner of topics, often shocking them with her honesty and candour. Only Hans distanced himself from such conversations, most likely because he was their commander and respect demanded a degree of formality and reservedness. But he was also an introvert by nature and rarely delved into the private lives of others and certainly never spoke of his own family or upbringing.

On the 22 October, JG 54 Group 1 transferred to Krasnowardeisk in Russia for an indefinite period. Located just twenty-eight miles south of Leningrad, it was nothing more than an inhospitable hellhole loathed by all, especially during the bitterly cold winter months.

They flew almost every day, with two or three sorties on some days. A steady stream of new pilots came to replace those killed or missing in action. Although danger never left them, Gabi felt safe under the watchful eyes of her two guardians. Her victory count was growing steadily and she was now classed as an ‘Ace’.

But there were times when Gabi despised her duty as a fighter pilot; times when they were ordered to fly over enemy villages and release their bombs on civilian targets. Wehrmacht Intelligence would claim resistance from town folk warranted such action but Gabi did not accept this and would deliberately miss her target. Erich, however, took great delight in dropping his bombs on the local church, hospital or school. She argued with Erich when they returned to base but such debates were dangerous.

“Do you want the Gestapo to drag you off to some concentration camp or firing squad?” Kurt warned Gabi one day when he found her arguing with Erich in the middle of a crowded dining room. “Just keep that mouth of yours shut, hard as I know that is for you.”

The war was taking on new meaning for Gabi, challenging her morals and conscience almost every day…

It was on such a day and JG 54 was engaged in a fearsome stoush over Russian lines. A parachute’s canopy burst open like the mainsail of a ship that had just caught a gale, a crippled Ivan was staring death in the face, his plane crashing to earth in a smoke ball that blackened the sky, the explosion sending shockwaves that jolted nearby aircraft. But he had bailed from the stricken plane and was floating down with the breeze to home soil and safety.

A Bf-109 screeched past, firing directly into the parachute. Gabi looked on in revulsion—such tactics were deplorable. She watched as the lifeless Russian struck the ground before searching the skies for the culprit. Her gut sank into a hole of moral discord. Lieutenant Philipp—her mentor, her hero—had fired at a defenceless man.

Later that evening while dining in the officer’s mess, Gabi sat quietly toying with her food. Kurt took a seat beside her and commenced his feeding frenzy. His plate was piled with a generous helping of potatoes, sauerkraut and schweinshaxe seized from a stockpile of local produce and reserved for the mouths of Nazi officers. He glanced at her, aware that something was wrong.

“What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing. I guess I’m just sick of these conditions.”

“You’re not getting cabin fever, are you?”

Hans joined them at the table. “Check out this banquet. I can’t remember the last time I had ham hock.” Hans too had a plate heaped with enough food to feed a Russian family for a week.

Kurt sniggered and continued eating with an unyielding appetite, lifting his gaze from his plate only long enough to wash his meal down with a swig of beer. Gabi left the table and cleared her plate and utensils without saying a word, returning them to the dish-pit before heading to her quarters.

Hans removed a piece of elasticised pork skin from his mouth and placed it on the rim of his plate. “What’s up with her?”

Kurt shrugged. “I’ll be damned if I know. Maybe it’s her time.”

Hans grimaced. “Please, not while I’m eating.”

They finished their meal and spent the rest of the evening playing cards and discussing the merits of bachelorhood.

Gabi scratched the scar on her palm, her mind racing for plausible excuses for Hans’s act of cowardice, none of them convincing. Should she confront him? What would that achieve? No, she was better off letting it go; it was what it was and nothing could change what happened. She undressed and climbed into bed with Pinke, forcing her thoughts to other matters but finding it impossible to dwell on anything for any length of time.

The following morning, Gabi rose early to work herself out in the gymnasium. Kurt had just finished his morning routine and was returning some weights to their rack.

“How are you this morning?” he asked.

“I had a good night’s sleep, thanks for asking,” she lied.

Her voice was sharp, detached, and Kurt knew that something still troubled her.

“What’s your problem?”

Gabi was no mood for ethical debate—especially not this early in the morning—but she succumbed to her conscience.

“He shot at a parachute.”

Kurt spoke to Hans immediately after discovering the source of Gabi’s foul mood. Hans now stood before her, alone in the gymnasium where she had withdrawn for most of the morning.

“It upsets you that I killed an Ivan?” he asked.

“It’s how he died that upsets me—like shooting a rabbit in an open field. I thought we had more honour than that.”

“And what if I had let him go only to face him again the next day or the day after? What if lady luck were on his side on that day? I’ve seen our boys, defenceless with no ammunition, taken out by Russian snipers, never knowing what hit them. Is that honourable?” He paused as if waiting for Gabi to respond but she kept her head bowed so he continued. “No, Gabi. You are wrong to have such noble expectations. We do what we have to do to win this damn war and to stay alive. Whether he is in his plane or not, he is the enemy and we must do what we must do.”

Gabi met his gaze, his eyes clear and fixed on hers, his words spoken with conviction. She didn’t accept that what he said excused his actions, but she did acknowledge that he believed it was the only thing to do.

December 1941

December was a month sent from hell. Germany had failed to take Moscow, testament to the strength and determination of a proud Russian people. The Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbour, forcing the Americans into the war. It was the turning point the general had prophesied—the beginning of the end.

General Richter took a swig of brandy and immediately felt the sharp stabbing of his ulcer as it fought against his decadent lifestyle. He sat at his desk, staring blankly at the layers of books that lined the walls. A knock at the door broke his trance, a graceful shadow gliding behind him, two willowy arms folding down around his neck.

“Come to bed,” she whispered. “It’s late, and you need to sleep.”

The general’s face softened and he leaned back into the chair, drawing the apparition around to his lap. She nestled into him and kissed him softly.

“I cannot sleep.”

“Well, then, Max, I’ll have to think of some ways to help you relax.”

He swathed a hand over her shoulder and glided it down her willowy arm. “Go, warm the bed. I’ll be there in a minute.”

The apparition disappeared into the bedroom, leaving the general once again to his thoughts.

It was Christmas Eve and the first Christmas without Gabi. He was more or less alone but for the company of his young mistress—one of many who entertained him in his Berlin apartment. But she was his favourite and knew how to pleasure him with little effort—sometimes it just clicked between sexual partners. He took a sip of brandy and suffered another painful spasm. He shouldn’t be drinking this cheap paint stripper; it couldn’t be good for his health. But where to find a decent cognac? He stroked his chin and contemplated his list of reliable cohorts. Sepp Dietrich would be able to get his hands on some; he wasn’t much of a general but there was no questioning his resourcefulness.

It was bitterly cold outside, possibly the coldest winter he could remember and Gabi was in Russia, in temperatures of minus thirty-two degrees. He shuddered at the thought. They had spoken only yesterday to wish each other a joyful Christmas and she had assured him that she was in good health and spirits, saying that the base was well equipped to handle the extreme cold although she mentioned nothing of her flying duties. How cold must it be for a fighter pilot at five thousand metres? Another sharp pain shot through his abdomen.

He pondered his life and where it had taken him. Ambition had always been a driving force, as was his lust for all things fine. On his walls hung examples of fine art—Monet, Vermeer, Degas; the spoils of victory. He had a fine wine cellar with the best French vintages. His apartment housed many examples of baroque furniture, and he shared his king size antique mahogany bed with a harem of fine women. Yes, life was fine, very fine indeed, perhaps too fine…

“Max, come now or I’ll start without you.”

The general chuckled to himself and stood, undressing as he made his way to the bedroom.

January 1942

“I don’t have it. I’ve lost it… no, I’ve left it behind,” she declared as she rummaged frantically through her bag for something precious, something she could not live without.

“We must go back. I must have my mirror.”

A mirror is not the only thing she’s lost, Helmut thought to himself. He bent down and with a groan, lifted the confused, obese woman from the train station bench and ushered her to the limousine.

General Richter had summoned his sister Helga to Meissen fearing a Red Army invasion of East Prussia was only a matter of time. But the years of loneliness and idleness had left Helga scatty and vague, not to mention twenty kilos overweight.

Helmut endured fifteen minutes of relentless ranting on the drive home to Manor Grand Oak. She complained about the filthy conditions on the train, the stale food in the dining car, the smelly passengers, the disrespectful ticket inspector who insisted she shared her cabin with peasants and, of course, her missing mirror. Helmut shuddered at the thought that this crazed woman would be living with them—indefinitely. Perhaps it was not too late for him to enlist in the war.

June 1942

“Aren’t you just a little bit excited?”

She straightened the map, stooping to study the fine print. “Excited? No, nervous, yes. I hate standing in front of a crowd. Besides, it’s just a piece of metal.”

Hans looked at Gabi from across the table. “The German Cross in Gold is not just any piece of metal. And your Knights Cross is pretty impressive too.”

“For a girl, you mean.”

“You know what I mean.” Hans narrowed his focus to a point on the map. “We’ll catch a transporter to Neuhardenberg and then drive to Meissen. I better telegram my mother—she hates surprises.”

Hans left Gabi in the meeting room where she slumped over the table, wrestling principles that would not submit. They had been summoned to Berlin to attend an award ceremony celebrating their victory counts, and it did not sit well with her. Unlike the others, Gabi did not have Swallow’s rudder painted with a scorecard; she saw nothing honourable in taking the life of another man—even if they were the enemy. Her life as a fighter pilot had become a matter of survival, not victory and glory for the Fatherland. It was her duty to fight and defend her country and its people, and death was a tragic outcome, nothing more.

Hans however, thrived on his success. Though only twenty-five, he had already achieved the rank of captain and commanded one of the best groups in the Luftwaffe. How proud he had been when awarded the Swords of the Knights Cross at the Wolf’s Lair back in March, presented by the Führer himself. How he gloated over his many victories, mocking his adversaries and their misfortune, and it bewildered her that he could be so callous. But he was not the only one in Germany who had become detached from humanity and this troubled her most of all.

The car travelled along a forest of elms, skirting the base of a hill that rolled gracefully into the estate.

“That’s Grand Oak. That’s the tree I’ve been telling you about.”

Hans stopped the car and peered at the solitary oak cloaked in a mantle of jade, its girth as wide as four barrels, its age beyond the memory of any living being. “Impressive—must be a least two hundred years old.”

“At least,” Gabi said. “It’s where I go to get away from this mad world.” A vision of fancy crossed her thoughts and her lips curled. “I’ll show it to you one of these days.”

They pulled up at the entrance of the manor and Hans gaped at the grandeur of Gabi’s country home. “You live in a castle. It looked big from the air, but it looks even bigger now.”

“It’s just an over-sized barn with a lot of plaster.” She strained under the weight of her bag, hauling it over the back seat and hurling it out of the car. “I’m sure I didn’t pack any bricks.” She unbuttoned her jacket and loosened her belt, inhaling the sweet scent of home like a tonic to the soul. “Would you like to come in for coffee and cake?”

“No, thanks, best be off. My mother will worry if I’m not home for dinner.” He watched Gabi shunt the bag with her foot. “Do you need a hand with that?”

“No, it’s good—you better get going. Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you in Berlin.”

Gabi waved goodbye and dragged her bag up the stairs and through the front door, leaving it at the foot of the staircase. The aroma of fresh bread wafted down the hallway, enticing Gabi to the kitchen where Helmut, Chef, Frau Hermann and Tante Helga sat discussing details for that night’s dinner.

“Who would have thought you needed a committee to prepare dinner,” Gabi said, greeting each committee member with a kiss and a hug.

“You’re early. You look like you could do with a good feed. Here, just out of the oven.” Chef wielded a basket of bread rolls through the air, the aroma of steamy fresh yeast filling every cavity of Gabi’s nose.

She took a bite and purred. “Oh, Chef, how I miss your cooking.”

Helmut placed the basket before Gabi, urging her to take another. “How long is your stay?”

She took another roll and spoke between bites. “Only two days and then we’re driving to Berlin. We fly back to Krasnowardeisk on Friday.” She lifted her arm, catching an offensive whiff. “It’s time I wash. I smell like a Russian.”

The general arrived at the estate later than expected. He looked tired and worried and Gabi sensed that his mind was elsewhere. It had been over eight months since they had last seen each other—the longest time apart that she could remember—and it came as a shock to see his hair so grey and his skin so wrinkled.

She led the conversation, hoping to distract her father from his troubled thoughts. She spoke of jovial things, of the fighter group’s mascots and their amusing bad habits.

“Why do you have dogs in the Luftwaffe? Surely they can’t fly.”

Tante Helga’s befuddled questions and bizarre recollections had them rolling their eyes and tittering all evening. Gabi did her best to clarify misunderstandings but in the end, it didn’t matter; Tante Helga seemed quite content to interpret the world as it suited her.

After a few more glasses of wine, the worry in the general’s brow lifted and life appeared as it once had been: simple and care-free—if only for a brief time. They ate, drank and chattered into the early hours of the morning—light, frivolous conversation devoid of all matters political, military or logical where Tante Helga was concerned.

Gabi slept in late the following morning, her fatigued body grateful for a few extra hours’ slumber in the warmth of her feather bed. Refreshed, she enjoyed a sizeable lunch followed by an afternoon stroll to her special place.

She lay on a grass patch listening to the wispy rustling of the leaves, the canopy of her majestic oak swaying hypnotically, clouds drifting in gatherings of fluffy white rabbits, elephants and lambs. Her gaze followed the floating menagerie as it transformed, challenging her imagination as rabbits became pigs and pigs turned into swans. A white feathery motorcycle broke the animal theme, and Gabi’s thoughts turned to memories of Heinz. Her eyes welled as she recalled his visit to her home and the old oak—the fun, the laughter… he wasn’t much of a horseman but, oh, he could ride. She wondered if Heinz was looking down, still watching over her through Kurt and Hans. What a blessing they had been. She was fond of them both, but her feelings went beyond friendship with Hans. She wondered if he felt the same.

A dark cloud cast a menacing shadow before rupturing. Gabi scrambled to shield herself from the downpour, the tree’s massive girth and canopy offering her shelter as the rain swept across the fields like a curtain of silk, rising and falling in waves that roared, drowning out all other sounds and overwhelming the senses with its intensity. Then, as unexpectedly as it had started, the rain ceased, leaving only the fresh scent of the cleansed earth behind.

* * *

Kurt winked at the pretty local girl. Although no older than sixteen or seventeen, she was well developed and seemed open to a foreign exchange. She smiled back, blinking shyly. Kurt rode up to her, revving his bike in a testosterone-fuelled display of manliness. She giggled and Kurt grinned his relief; brutality with women never sat well with him and there clearly was no need to force himself upon her on this occasion.

“Can you speak German?”

She looked at him quizzically.

Kurt tried again. “Ya ne pomimaya Nemetsky?”

She shook her head. “Nyeht.” Her hair was tied back under a scarf, but it hung long and loose down her back.

Kurt licked his lips. His Russian was limited but he was keen to establish some rapport. He motioned to the seat of his bike, offering her a lift.

She shook her head again.

He removed some chocolate from his pocket and offered it to her.

“Nyeht,” she said but her refusal belied her obvious attraction to the handsome German officer, and she smiled alluringly back at Kurt.

He opened the packet and broke off a piece, holding it out to her. She hesitated before cautiously accepting, peering about to see if anyone was watching. Kurt broke off another piece and popped it into his mouth.

“Mmmmmmm, it’s good,” he teased.

She giggled again and took a nibble from her shard.

Kurt pointed to his chest. “Menja zovut Kurt,” he announced. “And you?”

“Menja zovut Lydia,” she said, her voice soft and sweet.

“Where do you live?” Kurt mouthed slowly.

She stared back blankly and shook her head.

“Home… dohm?” he asked.

She nodded in understanding, pointing to a farm across a field.

Kurt nodded. “Tonight… segodnya vecherom?”

She shook her head.

“Tomorrow… zavtra?” Kurt asked, beaming his cheekiest grin and her face blushed a soft pink.

She pointed to an abandoned storage shed at the far end of a nearby field and fluttered her eyes.

“Nine—devyat—o’clock,” he said, holding up nine fingers.

She nodded eagerly and Kurt grinned—the language of love was universal.

* * *

Gabi sat at her dresser and stared glumly into the mirror, the mark on her forehead looking ugly as ever, her hair limp and unkempt. She had never paid much attention to herself and was now acutely aware of her neglect.

Frau Hermann knocked on the door. “Gabi, are you there?”

Why had she knocked? Frau Hermann never knocks, she just barges in. And it struck Gabi, like a revelation, that she was no longer the little girl of the house, and she lamented, for the briefest moment, the passing of her childhood.

“Please, come in, Frau Hermann.”

The one-time nanny, now full-time house-keeper, entered the room with a pile of clean bed linen. “Why the long face?” she asked.

Gabi looked down at the rug, an intricate pattern worn to expose the cotton lining beneath. “I look so plain, and I don’t know how to make myself look more like—” Eva she thought but mumbled, “a woman.”

Frau Hermann smiled with caring eyes. “That’s because you’re a natural beauty. Why fiddle with perfection?”

Gabi forced a feeble smile, her true emotions exposed by a trembling bottom lip.

“Oh dear, I’ll have none of that,” Frau Hermann said, but her temperament softened immediately at the sight of Gabi’s welling eyes. “I have a friend who runs a salon in Meissen. I’ll have her drop by early tomorrow before you leave for Berlin.”

Madam Weissburg arrived the following morning. She was accompanied by a small entourage of helpers, each carrying a bag bursting with beauty products. Frau Hermann greeted her friend appreciatively and showed them upstairs to Gabi’s room. Gabi had only just risen and was in her nightgown when they poured through the door.

“Good morning, dear. I am Madam Weissburg.”

Gabi tightened and secured the cord of her nightgown, a bewildered gaze following this strange woman that flittered about her.

Dressed in black as if in mourning, Madam Weissburg cut a striking figure. Tall and slender, her hair was streaked ebony and grey like a silver fox. Her neck was long and wrinkled like a tortoise’s, and her hands were bony and slightly crippled from arthritis. But her eyes contradicted all these features, for they were a youthful, sparkling blue that brought life to her face.

“Well, no time like the present. Shall we get started then?” She studied Gabi as though she were some curiosity, touching her hair and inspecting her nails and ears, her lively eyes scanning the young woman, her excitement building as the challenge emerged. “I love a blank canvas!”

They washed Gabi’s hair, trimming the split ends and brushing her mane so intensely that it shone like polished brass. Madam Weissburg drew it back into a tight ponytail, not a hair out of place, exposing Gabi’s classical features, her high brow and cheekbones and square jaw-line. This was not the fashion of the day, but Madam Weissburg cared less about fashion; style and elegance always came first with her.

“You like it, dear?”

Gabi winced; her ugly scar was more visible than ever. She dropped her eyes, avoiding Madam Weissburg’s inquiring brow. “My scar really stands out.”

“You should not feel ashamed of your scar. It is part of you and shows people that you have experienced life. Now, what will you be wearing?”

Gabi gestured towards the wardrobe where a freshly cleaned and pressed uniform hung.

“You’re with the Luftwaffe?”

“Yes, I’m a pilot.”

“Well, I never.” She eyed the tailored uniform and hummed her approval. “Your makeup must be understated. I’ll not have you disgrace a uniform of the Reich by looking like a cheap showgirl.”

She began by plucking Gabi’s eyebrows. Gabi flinched as Madam Weissburg ripped at each follicle. She squirmed uncomfortably as the lightest trace of rouge was brushed onto her cheekbones and eyeliner and mascara meticulously applied to her eyes.

“Now, for a bit of colour.” She opened a large case containing an assortment of lipsticks and nail varnishes and carefully selected one of each in bright red—a fashionable colour that Gabi thought gaudy at the very least. As if reading her thoughts, Madam Weissburg explained her selection.

“The beauty and individuality of a woman’s lips and hands should not be underestimated; they have their own unique allure and must, therefore, be accentuated.”

Madam Weissburg stood back to admire her work. “Just perfect. Get dressed, dear. You’ll be leaving soon.”

Gabi removed her uniform from its hanger, shrugging on the stiffly-pressed shirt that she tucked scruffily into her trousers. Casting a critical eye, Madam Weissburg launched herself at Gabi in a frenzy of tugs and tucks, carefully adjusting the collar, shoulders and belt.

“There, that’s better. Now go, look at yourself in the mirror.”

Gabi stood before a form, both foreign and appealing and marvelled at herself. “Oh, Madam Weissburg, you’re a miracle worker. Thank you. Thank you all so much.”

“It has been our pleasure. Here, take this makeup and promise me that you will apply it exactly as you see now. No heavier.”

The general stood by the front door, adjusting his belt and tunic. “Gabi, are you coming?” he called up in a tone that hinted at a poor night’s sleep. Gabi appeared at the top of the staircase, and his mood rose with each descending step that she took.

“And who have we here? This couldn’t possibly be my little soldier. Why she’s grown into a stunning officer.” The general took Gabi’s hand and led her down the final steps. “You grow more and more like your mother.”

Gabi kissed her father on the cheek. She squeezed his hand softly before pulling away to wipe the mark left on his cheek. The general removed his handkerchief and rubbed aggressively to be sure that no lipstick remained and Gabi wondered how many women had left such a mark on her father.

“Gabi, come here. I want to take a good look at you.” Tante Helga examined her niece, shaking her head and grimacing in her usual state of bewilderment. “Yes, my dear, you look lovely but why the military uniform? Don’t you own a pretty floral dress?”

Gabi tittered inwardly at the thought of her receiving the Knights Cross medal wearing a summer frock. “No, Tante Helga, my uniform is more appropriate,” she replied and winked at her father.

The fertile landscape whizzed passed in a haze of green and gold. It was on the cusp of summer and the changing season was turning Gabi’s pensive mood to thoughts of love. They would arrive in Berlin soon and Hans would be there—alone perhaps, but most likely with Eva. She winced at the thought of them together, intimate, holding hands and laughing, gazing into each other’s eyes. She blinked to clear the image, instead, looking at her reflection in the car window, pleased with what she saw. But did she look woman enough to catch herself a man?

Eva had set the benchmark, and Gabi knew that she could not compete. Besides, Hans had never shown any romantic interest in her, and as her commander, she should not expect otherwise. But maybe things would change someday. She grinned and allowed herself a dream, blissful in arms that held her close, his lips pressing into hers, his manly eyes looking at her with desire.

The general studied his daughter’s contemplative grin and sublime gaze. “Gabi, we’ve arrived but you look like you’re somewhere else.”

She smiled demurely.

They climbed out of the vehicle and made their way into the main hall, a large crowd of military personnel and invited guests blocking their entry, but the throng soon parted, allowing them passage into the main foyer where refreshments were served. There would be no crumb cake on offer today.

She scanned the room for Hans, dragging her father across the hall, oblivious to the attention she was receiving from the crowd—especially the young officers.

A man stepped out, blocking their charge.

“Max—so good to see you again.” It was Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. His interest shifted to Gabi. “Ah, this must be your lovely daughter. You have made an amazing recovery, Lieutenant.”

“Yes, indeed, Reichsführer. I was in the best of hands.”

“I must say, that Luftwaffe uniform is most becoming on a woman.” Himmler’s mouth contorted into what Gabi took as a smile, and she shuddered. There was something about this man that left her cold.

She spied a familiar face across the hall, seizing the opportunity to make her escape. “Please, excuse me,” she said, saluting and moving away in a brisk motion that left a scowl on Himmler’s face.

The general coughed his embarrassment at his daughter’s sudden departure, quickly taking up the conversation and guiding Himmler to the bar.

Meanwhile, Hans was entrenched in a lively discussion with a fellow group commander. They spoke of fighter tactics with animated hands and faces, exaggerated gestures of cunning and skill, bursting with bravado mixed in with good humour. The other officer’s eyes locked on to Gabi as she approached. He whistled under his breath.

“I’ve just seen an angel,” he whispered. “Look, over there.”

Hans glanced across at the angel and his jaw fell.

“Good afternoon, Captain Philipp. I see you made it here on time.” Gabi’s heartbeat quickened on realising that Eva had not accompanied Hans, and she grinned coyly at him.

Hans hesitated, clearly shocked by what he saw. “Yes, I made good time. We should find a seat,” he added hastily, saluting the other officer and promptly escorting Gabi to a row of empty seats.

“Look at you! You’ve been playing with makeup,” he said as though mocking her. This was not the reaction she was expecting, and she pouted her annoyance.

“You don’t like it?”

“No. I do. I do. You just look so… so…”

But his words were cut short by an announcement over the speaker, leaving Gabi to doubt herself yet again.

The ceremony was the usual, tedious affair. Gabi fidgeted and chattered nervously while Hans did his best to keep her still. They were awarded their medals and made their way to the foyer for a farewell drink before the return journey to Krasnowardeisk.

With flute in hand, General Richter took up position beside Hans, sipping the champagne with pouted lips like he’d been sucking on a lemon. “So, Hans, what are your plans for this evening?” He took another swig and grimaced before placing the half-empty glass on the tray of a passing waiter and taking a beer in its place.

Hans watched the exchange. “Well, Gabi and I hope to arrive back at the base at dusk. No other plans after that, perhaps an early night.”

The general chuckled into his beer. “What’s the rush back to that God-forsaken Krasnowardeisk? You should stay another night in Berlin and perhaps go out for dinner.”

Hans looked at the general and his eyes flashed. “An excellent idea, General. Gabi deserves a night out.”

“Good man. I know you’ll be the perfect gentleman.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Oh, and thank you for keeping an eye on Gabi—I know she’s in good hands.”

The general left Hans, catching a glimpse of Gabi with a clutch of photographers, posing while cameras flashed and snapped.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, while I give my little girl a kiss good-bye.”

The photographers sniggered as they parted, allowing the general access to his celebrity daughter.

“Oh, Papa, please don’t embarrass me.”

“Me, embarrass you? Never.”

She smiled broadly and his eyes twinkled with pride. “Amazing what a difference a bit of grooming can make.” He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Be safe.”

Gabi watched her father depart, his stately posture conveying the self-assurance of a man in command. But he was not always so in his actions with her and over the years, Gabi had come to realize that he was somewhat of a coward when faced with unpleasantness, although she would never admit this to anyone, including herself. She was her father’s daughter after all.

Her attention shifted to Hans as he walked briskly towards her, grinning slyly. Her eyes caught his glint and she smiled alluringly back, unsure if this was appropriate but compelled to respond likewise. Was he flirting with her?

Soon they were on the road and on their way to a cosy guest house in the country where Hans hoped to surprise Gabi with dinner. They talked small talk for much of the drive, the trivial topics complimenting the picturesque but repetitive landscape as they passed fields and forests in a kaleidoscope of colour, the weaving road edged by a sprinkling of oxeye and poppy blooms that grew, as weeds do, arbitrarily along the roadside. It was a pleasant drive but decidedly boring, and a question that had been niggling at Gabi finally found its moment.

“I thought Eva would have been at the ceremony today. What happened to her? Did she misplace her broomstick?”

Hans pursed his lips. “We split up ages ago. I still see her occasionally, but we both have other priorities.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, unable to mask her glee. She turned her beaming face away from Hans, mindful that he still may have feelings for Eva.

“Are you seeing anyone?” he asked.

A loud boom jolted the car, a whiff of burning rubber tainting the air. They limped to the side of the road, and Hans jumped from the vehicle to inspect the remnants of a tyre shredded to the rim. He walked to the back of the car to recover the spare but could find none.

“Incompetent mechanics!”

“Hey, steady on. It’s not always the mechanic’s fault.” Gabi stepped from the vehicle to take a look for herself. “That’s some flat.” She stretched her arms and yawned out at the rural vista. “I think there’s a town not far from here. Let’s start walking.”

They unloaded their bags and set off for civilization, maintaining a steady pace, enjoying the radiant heat that followed their path. A dome of cloud cover smothered the sun’s warmth, replacing it with a cool foreboding shadow.

“Looks like rain,” Gabi said.

Hans studied the clouds. “No, they’re cumulus, they don’t bring rain.”

No sooner had the words left his lips, when the sky turned grey and the static charge of a thunderstorm electrified the air, glistening beads exploding on the road and leaving little doubt what was to come.

“Oh, great. Just great.” Hans held his palms up as though in prayer to the rain gods.

Gabi laughed. “Relax, you worry like an old woman. There’s a barn just over there. Let’s wait it out.”

They ran to the shelter, empty but for a few bales of hay and some rusty farming equipment. Gabi left the barn door open and they nestled down on the hay to watch the sheets of rain sweep over the meadows.

The rain settled in for the evening. Gabi rummaged through her bag hoping Chef had packed something for the trip. She discovered a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine and some biscuits. With supper taken care of, she scoured the barn, finding a kerosene lamp that she lit with Hans’s cigarette lighter. She shunted bales and spread loose tufts of hay over the earth, stuffing hessian sacks with the softer straw for pillows and shaking an old horse blanket vigorously before laying it on the straw mattress.

“You’ve done this before,” Hans said, impressed by her resourcefulness.

“One year, my father hired a cute stable boy. I spent a lot of time in the stable that summer break.” She sniggered to herself, embarrassed by this admission and her own promiscuity at such a young age. “Now, are you a lefty or a righty?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you prefer to sleep on the left or right side of the bed?”

“I’ve never given it much thought. I’m a righty, I suppose.”

“Good, because I’m a lefty.” She sat down on the left side of the bed and placed the chocolates, biscuits and wine in the middle. Hans looked on, his crooked grin reassuring Gabi that he was comfortable and in good spirits.

“What happened to your father?” Gabi asked.

Hans fiddled with the crown of his watch, his lips twitching uneasily, his gaze distant. He seemed ruffled by her question, and she wished that she could take it back.

“You don’t have to tell me if you’d rather not.”

“It’s all right,” he said and he tilted his head to one side. “My father was a surgeon during the first war. He was killed the same year I was born.” He paused. “Well, that’s what my mother tells everyone.”

Gabi sensed that something was amiss but thought it best not to probe further. She lifted the wine bottle and laughed. “Helmut packed wine but no opener.”

Hans took the wine and using his gravity knife, forced the cork into the bottle. “Not the best way to open a bottle, but it’ll do.”

He handed it back and Gabi filled her mouth with the ruby liquid, wiping her mouth with her sleeve and coughing before taking up their conversation again.

“So, you never got to know your father. It’s the same with me but with my mother. She died when I was a baby. Papa blamed the gypsies that settled near Meissen. They had an outbreak of scarlet fever at their camp. They came to beg for food one day, and my mother gave them some. She contracted the fever in return. I don’t blame the gypsies though.”

“Damn gypsies—absolute vermin.” Hans flicked the stump of his cigarette out into the rain.

“Vermin? Is that what you really think of them?”

“Why, yes, don’t you? Gypsies and Jews, they’re all the same.”

Gabi took another swig of wine and her thoughts darkened. She had seen how the Nazi’s actively incited such bigotry but had never taken part or condoned such behaviour. “You think what the Nazi’s are doing is right?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. We’re all part of the same circus now. And whether we like it or not, we have to dance to whatever tune the party plays.”

There was much Gabi wanted to say to Hans, but she knew that her views were in conflict with his and she did not want to argue with him. Besides, she understood where his loyalty lay. After all, had the Reich not made him a hero?

“Tell me about your mother.” She passed the wine to Hans, and he filled his mouth.

“Ah, Mama. She’s a tough one—always working to fill our bellies. My Oma was the one who took care of me you know, wiped my snotty nose and made sure I had clean clothes for school. I got my first job when I was ten just to help the family out.” He took another gulp and handed the bottle to Gabi.

They exchanged memories of their youth, the bottle passing between them in turn until Gabi took one final mouthful.

“Here, you finish it. I feel like something sweet.” She opened the box of chocolates and tin of biscuits, selecting one of each and gnawing keenly.

“I guess money’s never been an issue for you,” Hans said, and he craned his head to finish the last of the wine.

“No, we’ve always been well off. But money isn’t everything—I’ve had my share of hard times too.” She yawned and held her watch arm up to the lamp. “Can you believe its eleven o’clock already?”

Hans yawned. “Well, I guess it’s good-night then.” He punched at the bedding and nestled into the blanket, leaving Gabi with a half-eaten box of chocolates and an empty bottle of wine.

She watched him settle, bewildered by his lack of interest. Had he not flirted with her this afternoon? She dimmed the lamp and bid Hans goodnight, succumbing quickly to exhausted slumber.

But Hans did not sleep. He listened to Gabi’s heavy breathing that bordered on snoring, pulling itchy bits of straw out from his trousers. He tossed and turned and grunted his discomfort aloud.

“Gabi, are you awake?”

Gabi rolled over to face Hans, still in a deep sleep. He studied her features for a time before taking a piece of straw and touching the tip of her nose. On the cusp of awakening, she groaned and rubbed the itch. He suppressed a snigger and watched her lick her lips. His unease grew and he peered about the barn, looking at nothing in particular, unable to find comfort on the lumpy bedding and in a burst of rashness, he leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips.

Gabi’s eyes opened immediately. She must be dreaming.

Hans kissed Gabi again, more firmly. She didn’t move except for her eyes that flitted about in the dim light. His kisses moved to her ear, where he tickled the sensitive areas with his tongue. Tingles ran down Gabi’s neck, a soft moan escaping her lips.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Gabi returned his kiss and in a frenzy of arms and legs, they removed their bulky clothing and repositioned themselves. Gabi straddled his pelvis and lowered herself over his arousal.

“Slow down; it’s too soon,” he whispered, “I want this to last.”

Gabi eased back and rocked slowly.

“You’re driving me mad,” he said in a deep sensual voice that sent Gabi writhing, her thighs shaking with involuntary spasms. He rolled her over and thrust himself into her. She released a shrill cry as the tension reached its glorious peak and he moaned as his manhood erupted. They clung to each other for the rest of the night, their bodies entwined, their souls were as one.

The syrupy scent of manure hung in the air, its potency stimulating the senses into awareness, the frosty dew covering the field like crystals on a carpet of felt. Gabi yawned and sat up, rolling her shoulders and stretching her stiff limbs while Hans lay nestled against her, running his fingers down her exposed back.

They rose reluctantly and helped each other dress, joining the sun outside as it broke through the fog and cleansing themselves in the icy waters of a nearby stream before meandering down the road towards the village.

“You’re quiet. Is everything all right?” Hans asked.

“I’m good,” she said and she smiled to herself, relishing the intimacy they had shared.

Hans paused before blurting a thought aloud. “Did you know you snore?”

Gabi gave him a sidewards glance. “Did you know that it’s not polite to tell a woman that she snores? She may never snore with you again.”

Hans chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it as an insult—just thought you might like to know.”

“Is there anything else I should know?” she asked.

Hans squeezed her hand. “I think your hair is beautiful. Promise me that you’ll never cut it.”

Gabi blushed. “I promise.”

They walked, hand in hand for an hour until a friendly farmer offered to drive them to Neuhardenberg airbase. By late afternoon, they had arrived back at Krasnowardeisk, exhausted but elated with each other.

While Gabi showered, Hans wandered over to the officer’s quarters to find Kurt, who had apparently gone AWAL. He eventually found him in the lounge sleeping in an armchair, legs sprawled across a coffee table. Hans knocked them down with his boot.

Kurt jolted violently. He yawned and stretched his bewilderment into focus. “Where have you been?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Hans said.

Kurt squinted at the irate figure that loomed over him. “I had to see someone.”

“So you left the base without permission for some pussy? And with a local, no doubt. How stupid can you get?”

“We’ve done it before. What’s the big deal?”

“I’m responsible now, that’s the big deal. Don’t push it, Kurt. All right?”

Kurt dropped his head and swore through clenched teeth. Things had changed between them; it wasn’t the same anymore.

October 1942

During times of war, mankind seeks inspiration to rise above the drudgery, insanity and horror of his existence. Dr Joseph Göbbels understood and exploited this well. Gabi, the only female fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe, was perfect fodder for zealot Hitler Youth and battle-weary soldiers. Young, beautiful and an ace Jagdflieger, she had become a celebrity, gracing the cover of many magazines, with photo-cards and posters keenly sought and traded by the lonely and love-struck.

One morning before a briefing session, the men were admiring one such poster when Gabi joined them. Walter quickly concealed the picture under the table but was too slow to avoid Gabi’s eagle eye. She playfully snatched the poster and held it up in full view of everyone. The room lapsed into silence, anticipation building as they waited for her reaction.

It was a caricature of a young woman, scantily clad in suspenders, corset, thigh-high boots and officer’s peaked hat. Her lips and fingernails were bright red and she was straddling the fuselage of a Messerschmitt painted with the JG 54 insignia. The caption read ‘Mistress of the Hunt.’ Kurt studied the female image closely, paying particular attention to her breasts, observing their spatial dimensions as only a male could.

“Not an accurate likeness if you ask me.”

“I agree,” Gabi said. “My eyes are green, not blue.”

They all laughed, relieved that Gabi had not taken offence. At that moment, Hans walked in.

“Quick, get rid of it.” She wasn’t sure how Hans would react to this piece of adult art and as their commanding officer, it was best not to put him in an awkward position.

The group stood at attention, giving Gabi time to hide the poster behind her back, passing it to Walter, who slipped it under the table with the skill of a magician.

They discussed details for that morning’s sortie to take out Russian frigates and supply ships destined for Leningrad, flying a three-pack formation; Walter would fly with Max, Otto with Kurt and Gabi would shadow Hans as usual.

It was overcast and condensation on the windscreen made visibility poor, but a fleet of Russian ships accompanied by a group of MiG-3 planes appeared through the haze.

Hans focused on his target, tailed closely by Gabi and Walter. Kurt broke away to the south, chasing a Russian into a cloud, Otto firing wildly at another that had closed in behind him. Walter and Max stalked a MiG-3 that seemed to have lost its nerve while Gabi zoomed in and out between Hans and two Russian planes. Hans had his sights on a frigate and was closing in.

“Captain, you’ve picked up an Ivan,” Gabi broadcast and she fired a spray of bullets across the fuselage and down to the tail-feather, sending the Russian plane into a tail-spin.

“You’re clear.”

Hans dove down for the kill, unloading his bomb and hitting its mark. A catastrophic boom followed by a plume of smoke saw the stricken frigate flounder, listing to one side and sinking beneath the cold Baltic Sea. Hans looked over his shoulder at Gabi and grinned broadly at his vigilant wingman.

Kurt was high above them all, trailing a Russian pilot with nerves of steel. Even Otto, Kurt’s wingman, cursed at this Ivan’s daring manoeuvres that kept both Kurt and Otto on edge. Kurt swooped beneath the plane and fired from below. The plane stalled and smoke billowed from behind, this Ivan’s fate was sealed. He watched the pilot open his canopy and jump, free-falling into the abyss and then Swallow appeared.

“Gabi, dive. Dive now!”

Kurt’s panicked voice sent a chill through Gabi and she thrust forward on the control stick without thought, frantic eyes searching to her left and right for the attacker. The Russian’s body slammed into her canopy, blood splattering across the cracked screen, the smashed face of the pilot shattering into an unrecognizable glob that slid down the front panel. Another shower of guts and gore sprayed before her as the body hit the propeller.

Hans looked on in horror as Swallow dove uncontrollably. “Pull up. Pull up, Gabi!”

Flying blindly, she grabbed the stick and pulled back. “I can’t see a thing. Am I clear?”

“You’re clear. Head thirty-three degrees west, maintain altitude,” Hans shouted. “We’ll finish this another time—we’re heading home.” He waved through the shield at Kurt. “Surround Swallow, we’ll escort her back.” Hans flew alongside Gabi’s unbalanced craft as it vibrated violently, giving instruction until she landed.

He touched down and watched Gabi scramble from her crippled plane and run out into the middle of a field where she doubled over and vomited. He ran to her, standing helplessly by her side.

“Are you all right?”

“I’ll be… I’ll be fine.” A spurt of vomit splashed up from the ground, soiling her boots.

Hans wrapped his arms around Gabi and with shredded nerves, they clung to each other, breath for breath, until their trembling passed.

“I thought I’d lost you. Oh, God, I love you. Don’t ever do that again,” he said.

“I’ll try not to fly the next time it’s raining Russians,” she joked feebly. They both looked over at Swallow’s bent propeller and a shuddered passed between them—lady luck had been with Gabi that morning.

The other pilots observed the covert lovers and for some, it was a revelation.

“Since when have Gabi and Hans been together?”

Walter removed his cap, walking alongside Kurt back to their quarters. “I think they got together at the award ceremony in June. Don’t tell me you hadn’t figured it out?”

Kurt spat on the ground. “He never said anything to me.”

“It’s not something a commander wants to get around if you know what I mean.”

Kurt eyed his comrade. “What exactly do you mean?”

Walter slapped Kurt on the back. “Well, Kurt, we all know you’ve got a mouth. You just can’t be trusted to keep it shut.”

It was a mild evening and Hans and Gabi were having coffee on a deck overlooking the southern sky. Pinke sat snugly on Gabi’s lap, her little paws stretched out before her to show off her fiery red nails.

Hans looked on, amusement in his eyes. “Only you would paint a dog’s nails.”

“It keeps my mind off things.”

“Like what happened this morning?”

“Yes, I can’t seem to get that image out of my head.”

“I know what you mean. I took some metal once that almost blew me away. It was a Spitfire—painted with a sword called Excalibur. That pilot had me chasing my tail… damn he was good; almost as good as me. I get the shivers just thinking about it. You know, I still look for that sword every time I see a Tommy.” He shook his head as if to rid himself of a niggling insect and took hold of Pinke’s little paw. “Nice job, but I think pink would have suited her better.”

Gabi took another sip of her coffee and turned to Otto, who was sitting on a tilted chair, rocking slowly and drawing on a cigarette. “And what do you think, Otto—red or pink?”

The rocking stopped and Otto pulled himself from the chair. “I think the war is turning everyone cuckoo.” He flicked his cigarette to the ground and walked away.

Gabi sipped her coffee, gazing idly at Hans who fidgeted with his watch, winding and holding it close to his ear. He removed the watch and tapped it on the deck.

“I don’t want you flying anymore. Why don’t you go back to engineering?”

“Pardon?” Gabi put her coffee down—this was no small talk and warranted her full attention.

Hans lowered his voice to a whisper. “I don’t want you to die.”

She slid closer to Hans, taking care not to disturb Pinke on her lap. “I don’t want to die either,” she whispered. “And I don’t want you to die, but we have a duty and both you and I serve the Fatherland best in the skies.”

“Do you get scared?” Hans asked, his voice still a whisper.

A memory, a fear rose against her will. “The cellar back home scares me. I can’t bring myself to go down there.”

“Yeh, cellars can be creepy. But do you ever fear flying?”

“Oh… flying. Yes, all the time. I peed my pants the first time I came under attack.”

The corner of his lips curled, and Gabi knew that he too had felt such fear. The whispering continued.

“How do you control your fear?”

“I don’t. But I’m not afraid to die—maybe that’s why fear never controls me,” Gabi said.

Hans bobbed his head. “I’m the same.”

But Gabi could tell by his abrupt tone that he doubted himself and that there was more to his fear then he let on.

That night, they made love. It was slow and gentle and Hans slept soundly afterwards while Gabi looked on, her feelings for him profound beyond meaning. She loved his lips; they were perfectly shaped for a man, and when he slept they took the form of a pout. His face had always been familiar to her—even before they met. She couldn’t explain it; perhaps they had been lovers in another life. Gabi’s nightmares had stopped, and she slept peacefully every night when Hans shared her bed. She knew what she had with Hans was special, that this man was her true love, her soul mate; there was no other explanation for it. She would die for him or she would die without him. Either way, Hans was her life.

The next day Kurt confronted Hans in the privacy of their office.

“When were you planning on telling your best buddy about it?”

Hans leaned back in his chair, eyeing Kurt and twirling a pencil between his fingers. “About what?”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

Hans flipped the pencil onto the desk and watched it roll to the edge where it balanced without falling. “Frankly, it’s nobody else’s business.”

“When a commander’s humping one of his subordinates, I think it is.”

Hans tapped the pencil with the tip of his finger. Both men watched it topple onto the floor.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last remark, Lieutenant Dorfmann.”

Kurt saluted, resentment flaring in his eyes. He knew that he was out of order but he had never censored any dialogue with Hans before. Was this how it was to be between them from now on? He spun on his heels and left the room to clear his head with a drink.

It had been seven months and his so-called best friend hadn’t mentioned a thing about his relationship with Gabi. Admittedly, Kurt had spent much of that time away, having been seconded to JG 52, but he had returned two weeks ago and hadn’t noticed a thing.

How could he have been so blind to it—so utterly clueless? Annoyed by his lack of insight, Kurt’s fickle mood swayed between acceptance and malice. He was glad that Gabi had finally moved on from Heinz, freeing him from the burden he had taken on to watch over her. And it didn’t bother him either that Hans had abandoned his oath to bachelorhood and gone and found himself another woman. What Kurt couldn’t handle was his own jealousy; it would eat away at him, bit by bit, this he knew and over time he would hate them both for it.

It wasn’t long before Kurt requested a transfer. He didn’t care where to, as long as it was somewhere else. A few months later, paperwork was finalised and orders were issued—Kurt would transfer to North Africa under Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring’s command.

March 1943

He stood paralysed, watching as bullets tore through her body. He saw her on the ground, riddled with holes, her eyes frozen. He woke abruptly; sweat pouring from his forehead and down his chest. This was the third night in a row that Hans had woken from such a nightmare.

His panicked breathing settled but his body still shook so he walked to the wash basin where he splashed water over his face, running his fingers over his clammy head and through sweaty hair. He popped a pill into his mouth and waited for his fear to dissolve.

Tomorrow night, he would be with Gabi and this troubled him. They had been together for nine months and everyone knew that they were a couple, but no one spoke of it for it would not have gone down well with the Reich Air Ministry. He would spend every other night in her quarters, sneaking back to his room at sunrise. But since the nightmares had started, he would not allow himself to fall asleep in Gabi’s bed, instead, returning to his own room after their love-making to get some sleep.

Gabi’s collision with the Russian pilot had rattled Hans and he blamed himself for her brush with death, having failed in his duty to look out for his wingman. His victory tally had escalated beyond any expectation and he knew that Gabi, as his wingman, was placing herself in more danger than would otherwise be the case. He worried incessantly, often vomiting on returning from a sortie, his nerves frayed to the point of exhaustion, making him doubt his ability to command. Why must she fly? He asked this question over and over, knowing the answer and unable to argue against it. He had no right to tell her what she should do with her life, but he simply could not accept things as they were.

Hans confided in Otto that he couldn’t stand the thought of seeing Gabi die, that it haunted him and that he was thinking of transferring elsewhere to sort himself out. As things weren’t improving, Hans went through with his request. On March thirtieth, his orders to transfer to the western front for the Defence of the Reich were finalised. He summoned Gabi to his office that morning to break the news.

* * *

Did Hans know it was her birthday? She had deliberately not mentioned anything to anyone, preferring to keep her twenty-first birthday a secret to avoid all the fuss and embarrassment. She was sure her father would also forget, as he had a tendency to do, but it no longer bothered her and she had become accustomed to his belated gifts. But why then, would Hans ask to see her in his office, as though he had some official matter to discuss with her. It all seemed quite odd. Perhaps he was playing a trick.

Gabi finished her breakfast and went to see Hans, her mood light and cheerful. She knocked on the door and walked in to find Hans sitting behind his desk reading a report. He looked up and in his eyes, she saw despair, and she knew immediately that this meeting had nothing to do with her birthday. Gabi sat down and waited. Hans kept his head low.

“What’s wrong, Hans?”

“I don’t know how to tell you this.” A pencil twirled between his fingers and Gabi could tell that he was deliberately stalling, as he often did when dealing with unpleasant matters.

“Hans, tell me.”

“I’m being transferred to the western front.” His words were flat, cold, official like he was announcing the time.

A deep rut appeared across Gabi’s brow, her thoughts a jumbled puzzle with pieces that didn’t fit together. “Why? When?”

“I need to move on… I need a change… I leave tomorrow.”

Gabi shook her head, unable to comprehend his words as they struck, her eyes searching the room for something, anything to offset the rising panic. “What do you mean you need to move on? I’ll request a transfer, too. We can still be together.”

“No,” Hans said, his tone sharp, almost hostile. “I think it’s best if we spend some time apart.”

Gabi forced herself to calm, breathing long and deep, clasping her hands so tight they ached. “Hans, what have I done?”

Hans closed the report. “You’ve done nothing. The problem is mine; let’s leave at that.”

So, this was it. This is how they would break up. Her heart sank like a lead weight, her eyes filled with tears, her throat choked. She would have thrown herself at his feet and begged him not to go if it would change things. But he wouldn’t even look at her; he just sat there and gazed down at the report in front of him as if she was not there.

Gabi stood and ran from the room.

* * *

“Helmut, Helmut!” Helga was agitated. She had misplaced yet another precious item—a comb—and was beside herself with worry.

Helmut walked into the bedroom. “Yes, Madam?”

“Helmut, someone has stolen my ivory comb. It belonged to my mother, and she will be upset when she finds out. I want the thief arrested.”

Helmut shook his head. She was always difficult but as the months passed, she was becoming increasingly more so; fretful over trivial things, often delusional. Only last week, she had accused one of their maids of breaking her reading glasses, forgetting that while sitting down for breakfast that same morning, she had accidentally sat on them and crushed them herself.

General Richter rarely stayed on the estate nowadays, so it was left to Helmut to deal with these situations.

He exhaled a long, frustrated sigh. “I’ll see what I can do, Madam.” Hopefully, she will have forgotten by lunch. He’d make sure Chef gave her plenty to eat—nothing like a filling meal to divert her thoughts.

* * *

“You wanted to see me, Captain?”

“Walter, you’ll be covering for me today.” Hans was scheduled on a sortie with Gabi that afternoon and could not face her. “I’ve still got tons of paperwork to get through.”

Walter nodded. “That’s unlike you to leave things to the last minute.”

Hans ignored him.

“You’ve told Gabi then?”

Hans looked up from his papers. Why can’t you mind your own business? he thought, but he did not reprimand his second in command. “That will be all, Lieutenant.”

* * *

It was peaceful in the seclusion of Swallow’s cockpit. For half an hour, the tears flowed. Gabi had calmed, engrossed momentarily in the plight of an unlucky wasp that had found its way into the cockpit and was held prisoner.

She watched as the little wasp flew along the edges of the canopy in its quest to escape. It buzzed about Gabi, who sat perfectly still in awe of the creature’s determination to be free.

Was Hans like this little wasp? Did he feel trapped? Had she smothered him with love? Perhaps she had. Yes, she must have. It was her fault. She would speak with him before their sortie in the afternoon and tell him that she understood his need for space. She would give him all the time he needed and when he was ready, she would be waiting for him.

Gabi opened the canopy and watched the little wasp escape, her hope renewed.

That afternoon, Gabi waited for Hans at the briefing session. She sat nervously rehearsing in her head what she would say. Dieter and Otto were whispering to each other, and she wondered what they knew of Hans’s transfer. Was she the last to know?

Walter walked through the door. “Hans is bogged down with paperwork. I’ll be flying instead.”

Gabi nodded. Tonight would be a better time to speak with Hans, anyway. She clasped her hands tightly, and Walter saw how she struggled. He took a seat beside her, leaning in close. “Are you all right?”

Gabi looked into Walter’s worried eyes and she knew that Hans had spoken to him. Her bottom lip quivered. “I’m not sure. This is all so sudden.”

“Give it time,” he said. “Hans really does love you.”

The swarm returned late afternoon. Hans stood in the control tower scanning the sky, a mirage of planes emerging over a hazy horizon. He grabbed the binoculars, taking a moment to identify each craft—Walter, Dieter, Otto… where was Gabi? Hans adjusted the focus; still, he saw no other plane. He made his way to the radio.

“This is Phipps, come in Walter.” No response. He tried again; still no response. Squeezing the binoculars, he searched the sky, recounting the planes aloud—only three… where is she? His heart pounded at the thought of the unthinkable; today of all days. He hollered into the radio, his voice shrill with panic.

“I copy you, Phipps.”

“Where is Gabi?”

“She’s fine. Just a problem with her landing gear, but it’s sorted.”

Hans saw the distinctive colours of Swallow in the distance and released a deep sigh, his chest collapsing with exhausted relief. Now, more than ever, he knew that he could not stay with her. He would go mad.

* * *

Gabi sat on the outside steps of her accommodation block, gazing up at the stars, blackness speckled with white glistening gems to infinity. It had been drizzling earlier that evening but the sky had cleared, the night motionless like frozen water on a vast lake.

Minke nestled himself into Gabi’s lap. He was warm and comforting, and she was grateful for his company. She scratched a spot beneath his collar that she knew gave him pleasure. The little dog extended his neck and a blissful groan escaped. As usual, Pinke made a cosy nest for herself in Gabi’s bed and was warming the sheets for her.

She waited anxiously for Hans to return to base, having rehearsed in her head what she would say to him again and again. She pondered over the past few months leading up to the day’s shocking announcement—Hans had been acting strangely, leaving her bed not long after making love. She had asked him if her snoring was keeping him awake, and he had laughed at her. Was it the Pervitin that kept him awake and anxious all night? She was unsure of its side effects and wondered if there was more to his odd behaviour than just a drug… like another woman.

A lorry pulled up in front of the officer’s quarters. Gabi watched Otto stumble out, followed by Erich, Dieter, Peter, Walter and finally, Hans. The boys had organised a farewell bash. A couple of girls, nurses from the base infirmary, sat in the front.

“Hans, sweetheart,” one of them said, “be sure to come back. I’ll be waiting for you.”

The women drove off, leaving the men to stagger to their quarters. Minke pounced off Gabi’s lap and bounded after Hans, yapping loudly. Gabi retreated inside, the door slamming behind her.

“Minke, what have you been up to?” Hans mumbled through lips numb from too much schnapps. He picked up the little dog and scratched him under his chin before joining the others inside.

Gabi paced her room. He was already seeing another woman. How could he do this to her? Had she really meant so little to him that he could move on so quickly? Or had he been seeing her all along? What was she going to do? Why didn’t he love her anymore? Her mind raced to rationalize what she did not understand and could not accept. She threw herself down on her bed and sobbed uncontrollably for hours.

It was 4 a.m., and she was still awake. With puffy, bloodshot eyes, Gabi made her way to the shower block where she washed her body and face until the water ran cold. But no amount of scrubbing could wash away the hurt that had caused her eyes to swell and nose to flush. She dragged herself out of the shower and looked in the mirror, hoping to see normality restored.

With a sigh, she accepted her puffy face and returned to her room, where she sat and stewed at her dresser, cursing the mirror and twisting her ponytail, unable to clear the confusion that blurred all reasoning. A pair of scissors, shiny and beguiling, caught her eye. She had promised Hans that she would keep her hair long; what did it matter now? She would show him—show them all how little she cared.

With violent, uneven cuts, Gabi hacked into her hair, throwing the severed tuft into the bin. Fatigued beyond thought, she curled up on her bed with Pinke and watched the sunrise.

The next morning, JG 54\1 Group assembled in the yard to bid their commander farewell. It was a crisp, overcast morning, the yard a muddy bog that stuck to the soles making it slippery and difficult to walk. Hans squelched out into the centre and stood before his men, his manner official, his mood solemn.

Gabi was the last to join the line-up. She looked frightful. Her jagged hair, which she had stuffed into her hat, stuck out like tufts of straw, her face still swollen and pale. The palm of her right hand was red raw; she had scratched the scar obsessively throughout the night. Her jaw ached from grinding teeth that would no longer part without effort. And Gabi’s poorly chosen position in the line-up, standing beside Erich, ensured misery had company.

“What’s happened to you? You look a mess. And your hair looks ridiculous.”

“Mind your own business, farmer-boy.”

She kept her head down, eyes transfixed on a puddle that rippled with the breeze. Numb from her epic, emotional outpouring and lack of sleep, she was in a trance, praying that it would all end soon. A gust of wind sent Gabi’s hat toppling into the mud, her lacerated hair exposed for all to ridicule.

Hans moved down the line, shaking hands, joking, wishing his comrades well and then he saw Gabi. He starred at what was left of her hair and drew a puzzled frown. She avoided his eyes, now brimming with pity, and rubbed the palm of her right hand up and down her thigh before saluting, all the while staring stubbornly at the puddle. Hans moved on.

They were dismissed after the final salute. Gabi was the first to walk away, picking up her muddy hat and striding to the mess hall as hastily as the sludge allowed. Pinke, who sat in the car waiting for Hans, jumped out from an open window and ran after her, springing about her feet.

“Go back, Pinke. Please, go back.”

The devoted dachshund bounded about her ankles, splashing mud on her trousers as she jumped. Gabi sighed—how she would miss her little dackel bed warmer. She picked up her furry confidant and walked over to Hans. Without raising her eyes, she held the adorable, but grubby dachshund out in front of her.

Hans took the little dog, holding it at a distance so as not to soil his coat. “I’m sorry,” he said.

Gabi ran to her quarters, leaving Hans and his guilt standing in the yard.

* * *

Walter knocked on her door. Nothing. He carried a tray of bread and cured meats accompanied by a drink and mail. Gabi had not made an appearance for lunch or dinner that day, and Walter thought that she must be hungry. Turning the knob slowly, Walter let himself into the room. Gabi lay on the bed, her back facing the door. He placed the tray down on her dresser and stooped to see if she was awake. Her eyes were closed, her breathing deep and steady; she was fast asleep.

Walter saw her severed pony-tail in the bin. A torn photograph of Hans lay beside her. He watched her sleep curled up on the bed and shook his head; she had put herself through hell last night. They all knew how much she loved Hans; she didn’t deserve this—she was always honest and open with him. But Gabi was tough and knew her duty; she would bounce back, he was sure of it. He snuck out of the room, hopeful that Gabi’s heartache would pass quickly.

It was dark. Gabi leaned out of bed, fumbling for the switch. The room illuminated to show a clock face telling her it was half past five in the morning. Had she slept that long? She reached under the sheets for Pinke and felt nothing. Realization hit hard. It hadn’t been a nightmare—Hans was gone.

Gabi hauled herself out of bed and sat at her dresser. A tray of food, now dry and unappetizing, had been left some time ago. A letter lay wedged under a plate and Gabi examined its postmark; it was from Tunisia. She opened the envelope and pulled out a postcard of a camel in the desert. On top of the camel was a badly drawn picture of a cat; a hand-written caption read ‘Hot, Exotic Pussy’. Kurt had written to wish her a happy twenty-first birthday. He had remembered and her eyes twinkled with sentiment. How she missed him.

She looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror—damn mirrors; they were everywhere, mocking her. But Erich was right for once: she looked terrible. Her father would have said that she looked like a scarecrow. She sat and glared at the ghoulish figure for some time before taking action. The scissors still lay where she had flung them the night before, but this time they would not be abused.

Carefully, Gabi cut the jagged edges of her hair straight and combed it flat as best she could. She would apply some make-up too; bright red lipstick to show everyone that she had moved on. Her mind wandered back to the source of her distress. Hans would be in Holland now sleeping in his bed. Would he lose any sleep over her? From what she saw the previous night, she doubted it. Hans had already moved on. By transferring to the western front, he had secured himself a promotion as wing commander and would be even more popular with the ladies. She sighed. Never again—she was through with love.

April 1943

The motorcycle pulled into the driveway, accelerating hard on its final stretch towards the manor. She had flown to an airfield close to Meissen from Nikolskoye in Russia and acquired a motorcycle for the short trip home. The general stood in the open doorway drawing on a cigar.

“Papa, you beat me home.”

Gabi swung her leg back and stepped a few paces away from the bike, greeting him on the lower step with an embrace wracked with sorrow. The general held her close but frowned at his daughter.

“I’m so happy to see you, but you look so thin. Have you been eating? And what’s happened to your hair?”

Gabi said nothing, clinging to him like a barnacle to a rock, unable to look her father in the eye. The split with Hans was still fresh—not yet a month had passed—and her heart ached like an open wound.

“I’m so sorry, my little soldier,” he said. “I know how much you loved Hans, but there is no point dwelling on it; love plays many hands, not all of them fair.”

She released her stronghold, emotional but calm.

The general pointed to a vehicle parked in the driveway. “Did I tell you that I’ve got a new Mercedes? It’s a 320 Cabriolet D—very special… only eight of them were built, you know.”

“That’s nice, Papa.”

He scoffed at her dismissive manner and glared down at the motorbike. “I don’t like you riding that thing. It’s too dangerous.”

“And my Messerschmitt is safer?”

The general shook his head and tittered. “You’re right—I don’t know what I was thinking.” He wrapped an arm around his daughter, drawing her close. “Come inside—Helmut and Chef can’t wait to see you. Apparently, they’ve been working on tonight’s dinner all week. We’re all looking forward to spending some time with you.”

“I could do with a drink,” she confessed. “That, and a hot bath.”

Jägergoulash with sauerkraut, boiled potatoes, onions and sour cream accompanied by the traditional basket of coloured, hard boiled eggs were on the Easter menu. Gabi wondered where Chef had acquired the venison; it had been years since she last saw deer on the estate. Chef mumbled something about road-kill that Gabi thought best not to pursue; Chef’s cooking tasted every bit as good as Gabi remembered and that was all that mattered.

They ate their fill of goulash accompanied by liberal glasses of red wine, inviting Helmut and Chef to join them for a drink. By midnight, Gabi was drunk.

“Papa, come sing with me.” She launched into a verse of Hänschen Klein, Chef and Helmut drinking and rocking in time with her off-key performance.

Tante Helga sat slumped in an armchair that Helmut had moved to the dining room to save her walking any distance to her next meal. She snored in time to the singing, amusing the general no end. Taking a final swill from his goblet, he shook his head at his inebriated daughter and chuckled.

“Time for bed, little soldier.” He removed the empty wine glass from Gabi’s clasp and drew her up to her feet.

Gabi fell back on her seat, sniggering childishly at nothing in particular; perhaps it was just the hilarity of life after a few too many.

The general smiled. “You’re enjoying yourself now, but tomorrow will be another story.” He scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom, Gabi cackling all the way.

“Papa, where are we going?”

“To the Federball.”

“Will you dance with me?”

“Not tonight—maybe another time.”

“Hans won’t dance with me anymore,” she said, “but Kurt’s a good dancer. Perhaps he will dance with me?”

The general grunted his disapproval. “Get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.”

“I love you, Papa. Don’t ever leave me,” she whispered before drifting off to sleep. He covered her with an eiderdown quilt and left his little soldier to her dreams.

* * *

Life at Fliegerhorst Deelan in Holland was comfortable. There was plenty to eat and drink, the compounds were spacious and well-appointed, and a bevy of pretty girls was always available to keep them entertained.

Hans threw himself into his new role as Wing Commander JG 1, desperate to shake his guilt and heartache. But he had traded one nightmare for another, flying high altitude missions over the channel against countless B-17 Flying Fortresses and P-47 Thunderbolts, watching his life flash before his eyes. It was suicide. At times, when in the thick of battle, he almost willed his own death, his nerves so frayed from tension and fear. Every day Hans saw his crew—many of them young, inadequately trained and inexperienced boys, face the full wrath of the allies—running the gauntlet and slamming into the gates of hell. He lost scores of men. No sooner would a pilot be replaced when another was lost. It was endlessly depressing.

He flew sorties as often as his duties as wing commander allowed, leading from the front as all Luftwaffe commanders were expected to do. Before a sortie, Hans would climb into his Fw-190, one foot in the cockpit, the other foot in the grave; he knew it was only a matter of time.

Thoughts of Gabi haunted him. He procrastinated in his despair—should he write to her and try to explain? But each time he put pen to paper, he was lost for words. It was hopeless; all was hopeless.

* * *

The next morning, Gabi woke to a hangover to rival the blitzkrieg. She ran herself a bath and soaked her body until the skin on her fingertips and soles was white and gnarly like that of Methuselah.

Frau Hermann knocked on the door. “Are you all right?” she asked, opening the windows in Gabi’s bedroom for airing.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.” She cringed, the throbbing in her head forcing her eyebrows down as she cowered to the pain.

Frau Hermann placed fresh under-clothing and a shirt on the bed. She brushed down Gabi’s flight jacket and trousers in preparation for her return flight to Nikolskoye after lunch.

“Be sure to eat something, Gabi,” she called out before leaving the room.

Gabi placed a wet flannel over her face and sank back down into lukewarm bathwater. She hated tepid baths but couldn’t find the energy to leave so she soaked there a while longer until hunger finally motivated her to dress and find some food.

After breakfast, Gabi made her way to the drawing room. Her father was studying some papers and his eyes flittered back and forth over the words as though he did not understand. He looked up and the gloom momentarily left his face.

“So how is your head this morning? I’m looking forward to hearing another verse of Hänschen Klein.”

“Very funny. I feel like I’ve been ramming my head into a stone wall.”

The general’s lip curled, a small dimple breaking the smooth contour of his cleanly shaven cheek. He bowed his head and resumed his work.

“What’s wrong, Papa?”

He lifted his head, and she studied her father’s face; dark sacks hanging beneath red eyes.

“I can’t tell you.” His gaze fell back to the pile of papers before him.

Gabi lowered herself onto the couch, reclining slowly in sympathy with her throbbing head, dreading the thought of flying back to the base in just a few hours. She lay staring up at the ornate cornice and chandelier for a short while, studying a spider and its intricate cobweb that had somehow escaped Frau Hermann’s manic dusting regime. Random thoughts finally gave way to actuality, and Gabi broke the silence.

“We’re going to lose the war, aren’t we?”

“Yes.” It was a flat, matter-of-fact response.

“But that’s not what’s troubling you, is it?”

“No.”

Her father’s anguish was self-evident, yet she could not imagine what would be tormenting him so if it was not the war. Gabi desperately wanted to find out but could not bring herself to badger him. He would tell her when he was ready.

Tante Helga ambled into the room, oblivious to the stern look the general cast his vague sister. He was in no mood for her ramblings and motioned to Gabi to take her elsewhere.

“Come, Tante Helga. Let us go for a walk to the old oak. I need to clear my head before I fly back to Russia.”

“You can fly?”

“Yes, Tante Helga, I can fly.”

She raised her brows and nodded her approval. “Tell me, Gabi, is it true that they have trained dogs to fly in the Luftwaffe?”

“No, Tante. There are no flying dogs in the Luftwaffe.”

Gabi turned and winked at her father before escorting her aunt outside into the warmth of the late morning sun.

“I’m hungry, when is lunch?”

“Soon, Tante. Let us walk a while first.”

They meandered up the hill, arm in arm, through the long grass speckled with colour, picking crocus, daffodil and poppy flowers until they reached the oak, where they nestled under its abundant canopy. Gabi made a posy for Saxon’s grave while Tante Helga fashioned a floral head wreath and necklace with the remaining blooms.

Their conversation was arbitrary but sincere, and Gabi relished the chance to confide her inner-most feelings with another woman. She spoke of Heinz and Hans and of her heartache. The old woman’s eyes sparkled like an awakening; they had made a connection that brought clarity to her thoughts.

“Take it from a silly old woman who found out too late: you must live in hope to love again for without love, life loses all hope.”

And in that one moment, her dear, dithering aunt made more sense to Gabi than anything else she had heard since the war had begun.

* * *

“Captain, are you interested in a transfer back to Europe? They’re forecasting a lovely summer this year.”

The timid corporal kept his gaze low as if cowering before a malevolent warlord. Kurt, fighter pilot and group commander extraordinaire, had been driving them all manic on the base and the corporal, having drawn the short straw, was delegated the task of convincing Kurt to transfer elsewhere.

“What, and leave all this?” Kurt glanced out the window at the desolation of the Sahara and snorted to himself. He recalled his first week in North Africa; the stifling heat, the infinite dunes, the exotic aromas and of course the beguiling women; he loved it all, joking that he’d gladly stay until it rained. But after only a month, his fascination with the desert had lost its appeal, and Kurt now dreamed of lush green pastures and frigid Teutonic pussy.

The corporal continued nervously, eager to find a compelling argument. “There’s talk that we’ll all be pulling out soon. It’s a good time to apply for a transfer… maybe back to your old Jagdgeschwader—JG 54 needs a group commander.”

Kurt looked up, giving the scrawny subordinate his full attention. “What happened to Major Philipp?”

“Defence of the Reich orders—apparently, he transferred to the western front.”

“Do you know if Lieutenant Richter is still with JG 54?”

“Not sure. Would you like me to find out?”

“If it’s not too much trouble.”

Kurt’s sarcasm was lost on the corporal who shuffled some papers, moving at a snail’s pace as was the norm for this part of the world. It had been a troublesome posting for Kurt that had tested his resolve many times over, his men a lazy herd of dim-witted bootlicking no-hopers. He had even endured a month in the infirmary after an incompetent physician had removed a bullet from his chest but failed to sterilize his instruments.

Kurt shook his head at the corporal and grunted his displeasure. He stomped across the parched earth to the communications post and dictated a message regarding the status of Lieutenant Gabriele Richter to the teletype operator; the response came within minutes—Gabi was still with JG 54. Kurt scratched at his stubbled chin. What was going on there? Had Hans and Gabi split up? He returned to the administration office.

“Corporal, I’ll need the paperwork for that transfer.”

“Yes, Captain.” The corporal jumped to attention, handing over the papers, already completed.

“Impressive,” Kurt said.

An unfamiliar sound tinkled on the tin roof. Both men rolled their eyes to the ceiling, the corporal standing fixed to the wooden floorboards, unwilling to venture past the security of his desk. Kurt stepped outside, cool drops from heaven seeping into his sweat-stained shirt, beads of life trickling down the bridge of his nose and onto his cracked lips. He licked the moisture and shook the wet from his hair, laughing aloud at the irony of life.

* * *

“Kurt—he’s coming back?” Gabi blinked excitedly. “Are you sure, Walter?”

“Absolutely,” he said, grinning generously.

This was exactly what they all needed; Kurt was a good pilot and friend, and they had all missed him. Admittedly, Gabi had some reservations about his ability to command the group—Kurt was not known for his leadership skills—but Luftwaffe High Command obviously thought otherwise. In the end, it didn’t matter—immature, irresponsible, irreverent Kurt was always fun to be around, and they all needed a good laugh.

Kurt would fly from Tunisia to join JG 54 in Nikolskoye in Russia. She hurried to the strategic room where a wall-mounted map showed numerous routes for such a journey. Would he fly over Italy and the Alps or head further east over Turkey? Was it to be a solo flight and where would he refuel? Her mind churned over the logistics, her anxiety growing as the risks unfurled. Gabi heaved a sigh of hope and chanted a silent prayer—may Kurt return safely for she needed him.

* * *

It was the day of Kurt’s return and Gabi paced anxiously along the rickety deck surrounding the control tower, gazing out over the vista for her friend. She had missed Kurt more than she dared admit and couldn’t contain her joy when a small speck appeared on the horizon. She raised her binoculars and zoomed in on the craft, recognising Kurt’s distinctive flying style for he rarely flew in a linear fashion, but would lift and drop like a condor riding the thermals.

Gabi scrambled over the railing, ignoring the ladder and clambering down the support beams. She leapt from the lowest strut, landing and bounding for the tarmac in one effortless motion, her eyes fixed on the plane circling the base. She spread her arms and rocked from side to side, welcoming Kurt with a customary victory salute and as she watched his plane’s wings waggle their acknowledgement, she knew her prayers had been answered.

The fighter plane, coated in a layer of Sahara Desert sand, glided skillfully onto the runway. The canopy flew open and Kurt jumped down, landing heavily before rolling his stiff shoulders and stretching his rigid legs back to life.

Gabi stood, momentarily riveted, emotions welling and spilling into motion. A slow pace quickly turned to a sprint as they ran to each other and embraced.

“Welcome back, Kurt.”

“It’s so good to be back. I missed you… missed you all.” Kurt paused to study Gabi’s face. “You’ve cut your hair. I like it. It suits you.”

Gabi ignored the compliment. She had cut her hair for the wrong reason and did not want to be reminded of it. Besides, a compliment from Kurt… surely, he was joking.

“And you, you’re so brown—like a native. Come, you must be dying for a beer.”

Kurt had them all in hysterics that afternoon; apparently, he had given his lazy, good-for-nothing crew hell in North Africa, claiming that they just didn’t get his sense of humour. Gabi’s ribs ached; she couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so hard.

When Kurt’s tales of hilarity finally ran dry, she excused herself, wishing him a good night’s sleep. It was early evening, and only Kurt and Otto were left seated at the bar.

“What was Phipps’s problem? Was it another woman or did he just fall out of love?”

Otto downed the last of his beer. “No, there was no other woman that I know of. Did he stop loving her?” He paused. “If you ask me, he loved her too much. After that accident with the Russian pilot, Phipps couldn’t stop worrying about her. He confided in me once that he didn’t think he could take watching Gabi die. It was driving him crazy. He became totally paranoid every time they went on a sortie; all he wanted to do was protect her. He knew that something had to change. I guess that’s why he asked for the transfer—out of sight, out of mind.”

“That’s stupid logic,” Kurt said.

“Yeh, it is but when you’re madly in love, you think stupid thoughts.”

“Madly in love or just mad on Pervitin.”

“Pilot’s Chocolate? Maybe—but my money’s on love. One day, you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

“Who me? Fall in love? Like hell!” Kurt finished his beer and belched loudly. “Say, when is Edith due?”

“Next month. She’s convinced it will be a boy—wants to name him Manfred.”

“Manfred? Must be the father’s name.”

Otto punched Kurt’s shoulder and smiled his affection for his old friend. “It’s great to have you back, Kurt. Now, go have a shower. You stink.”

Kurt slept from the moment his head found the pillow but he woke a few hours later, his body clock out of sync with a foreign time zone, the midnight sky an eerie twilight glow. He got out of bed and wandered outside for some fresh air, taking in the mild chill of a summer’s night in sub-arctic Russia. A slender figure sat on a bench in the yard observing the serenity.

“Can’t sleep? Light keeping you awake?” Kurt asked.

Gabi let out a deep sigh. “I’m used to it now. I just can’t get to sleep easily anymore.”

“Nightmares?”

“Yes, sometimes.”

Kurt sat beside her and looked up at the streaks of crimson and purple across an endless sheet of dusty blue. “Did you know that the Russians call the white night Beliye Nochi? It only happens north of the Arctic Circle.”

Gabi shook her head and snorted.

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

“No,” she said. “But you’re a strange one to work out. You know so much about the world and yet you know so little about people.”

Kurt shrugged. “I’d hoped you’d write to me.”

She remembered a postcard of herself that she intended to send him one lonely afternoon. She had written ‘To Kurt with Love’ on the card but had had second thoughts and never sent it. She now wished that she had.

“I did write to you, but I forgot to post it. Besides, I didn’t think you’d be interested, with all that hot, exotic pussy to distract you.” She slapped her hand down on his thigh and chuckled. “Thanks for your birthday card, though. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me.”

He smiled; a dimple exposing his fondness for her. “Oh, I almost forgot. I got you something in Africa.” Kurt dug into his pocket and removed a handkerchief. He unfolded the cloth on his lap, revealing an item of Bedouin tribal jewellery. “It’s a fertility necklace.”

It was an exquisite piece of intricate silverwork with beads of red and turquoise, like the desert sun and moon. Gabi’s face glowed beneath the shimmer of the white night.

“You’ve got to be kidding me—a fertility necklace from you of all people. But it is beautiful. Thank you so much.” She gave Kurt a peck on the cheek and placed the necklace around her neck. “Lets’ hope it doesn’t work. That’s the last thing I need right now,” she said.

They sat and watched the skies muted colours fade, the stillness of the night amplifying their loneliness.

“So, what happened?”

Gabi shook her head.

“You know, between you and Hans?”

She looked into his glacial eyes and took a deep breath. “He called me into his office on a Tuesday morning to tell me that he was being transferred. On the Wednesday morning, he was gone.”

“What? That’s it?”

“What more is there to tell?”

“There wasn’t someone else? You didn’t argue?”

“I don’t think there was anyone else… I’m not sure.” She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat, and her heart sank into despair. “No, we didn’t argue… we never argued. He just said he wanted to spend some time apart.” Tears welled.

“It still hurts then?”

She quickly wiped away a tear that trickled down her cheek, embarrassed by emotions that she could not control. “I’m still in love with him.”

Kurt coughed to clear a throat choked with unease and his gaze fell upon eyes awash with sadness. “I’m sorry. I just thought you would have moved on by now.”

Gabi sighed. This man, whose eyes flickered with life’s passion, had no idea. “I’ll be fine. Life goes on, doesn’t it?”

Kurt bobbed his head slowly. “Who knows, you might get back together again.”

She fondled the beads about her neck, rolling a pearl of brilliant blue between her fingers like a rosary bead but without a prayer. “He’s fighting the Flying Fortresses; it’s only a matter of time.”

“Fly till we die.”

Their eyes met and a painful understanding passed between them. Gabi bid Kurt a hasty goodnight and returned alone to her quarters.

* * *

“What a cute creature.” Gabi watched Kurt stroke the grey mouse with his finger, its tiny body dipping with each soft caress.

“I’ve named him Max,” Kurt said. “He’s going to be our mascot.”

“You’re joking, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m serious. We need a mascot and it was either this mouse or a cockroach,” he said, lips slightly curled. “I couldn’t catch the cockroach, but I had no problem enticing Max to breakfast. I’m having a caricature of Max painted on my plane as we speak.”

Gabi rolled her eyes. “A mouse as a mascot for a fighter squadron… that’ll really make the enemy quake in fear.”

“Did you know that General Galland has a mouse emblem on his plane?”

“Generals can get away with anything. Besides, you’ve called it Max and I’m sure my father wouldn’t appreciate having a mouse named after him.”

Kurt grinned at the thought of the little mouse’s namesake. Why Gabi’s father had taken a disliking to him, he did not know, nor did he really care. He only knew that it amused him to taunt the general whenever the opportunity arose.

Kurt placed Max on Gabi’s arm. She squealed again.

“He’s just pooped on me.”

“That’s what they do; poop and procreate.”

“A bit like you then?”

“Very funny.”

Otto walked into the room. “What’s that rat doing in here? It’s disgusting.”

“It’s not a rat, it’s a mouse,” Gabi said.

“Rat, mouse, they’re all vermin. Do you want me to get rid of it?”

Gabi carefully handed the little mouse back to Kurt. “His name is Max, and Kurt’s decided that he’s our new mascot.”

Otto sneered at the rodent. “What, a rat as a mascot? What’s wrong with a dog?”

“You try finding one—I reckon the Russians have eaten them all.” Kurt toyed with the mouse, allowing it to run up his arm and around to the nape of his neck. “And remember what happened when we had that baby fox? Bit you good—lucky you didn’t get rabies.”

Otto touched the scar and scoffed. “But a mouse? I think your brain has been baked by that desert sun. Maybe you should apply for sick leave.”

“Max will make a good mascot, you’ll see.” Kurt scooped the mouse from his neck and placed it in his pocket. “I’ll catch up with you later—me and Max have some accommodation matters to attend to.”

Kurt made his way to the workshop to find a home for Max. The fitters also found a mouse mascot odd but agreed to build Max a house. Using a toolbox, they removed the front panel and welded a wire grill to create a large window. They painted the box red with the JG 54 insignia and Green Heart logo and wrote ‘Max’s Maus Haus’ across the top. Kurt was satisfied; Max was bewildered.

August 1943

Days turned into weeks, weeks became months, months passed with the seasons. The war moved slowly, painfully in the wrong direction. Everyone could see it coming, yet they hung on… stubbornly, stupidly, they fought on.

Kurt and Gabi made a formidable combat team. Kurt was leader, Gabi his dutiful wingman. They flew like a pair of swallows, bobbing and weaving their way through an attack, confounding their adversaries with their erratic flight patterns. Their victory tallies were impressive, their reputations as aces of the sky incontestable. Kurt was promoted to wing commander, Gabi to captain. They often flew as a pair, but they were not a couple—Hans had taught Gabi love’s painful lesson and Kurt, well… he still liked to play the field.

On the fourteenth of August, Gabi and Kurt attended a conference held by the Reich Air Ministry on the latest developments in aeronautical technology. It was hosted by General Adolf Galland, an interesting character bordering on eccentric. His nose had been broken in a plane crash some eight years earlier and was bent. He had a small, distinctive moustache similar to the Führer’s, his ears protruded and his mouth, though amiable, was crooked and gave the impression that his head was tilted. But what he lacked in good looks, he made up for in charisma. Puffing away on his signature cigar, General Galland was a figure larger than life, epitomising the dashing war hero—courageous and noble.

But the ambitious program had become mind-numbingly boring, a presenter with the appeal of an undertaker inciting mass yawning throughout the assembly. Gabi fidgeted with her buttons; Kurt’s leg jiggled with nervous energy. A tiny face poked out from a tailored uniform pocket.

Gabi’s eyes bulged. “What! You’ve brought that rodent along? You’re a lunatic. What if he gets away?”

“He’s trained now. I can get Max to stay on command. Watch.”

The little mouse, however, had other plans. Max sprang from Kurt’s hand and dashed up the stairs and on to the stage. Kurt and Gabi watched the rebel mouse cower beside the sole of General Galland’s left boot, who spied the mouse sniffing about and shuffled his foot to shoo it away. Max scampered down the stairs, taking cover behind a curtain.

Kurt bent down low on hands and knees, scanning the floor, oblivious to the commotion he and his little renegade had stirred.

“Max… Max…”

A swift kick into unprepared ribs left Kurt gasping for air.

“What was that for?”

“Shhhhh… everyone is looking,” Gabi said.

Kurt looked about and all eyes were indeed fixed on him. He stood and gestured towards the stage where General Galland waited to speak.

“Have you found what you were looking for, Major?” Galland announced into the microphone. The room chuckled and Gabi sank low into her seat.

“Yes, thank you, General. My apologies for the disruption… please continue.” Kurt took his seat and winked at Gabi, and she could not help but admire how calm and self-assured he was.

Galland was a component orator, regaining the audience’s attention with his booming diction and vigorous gestures. He spoke of the Messerschmitt Me-262, a jet-powered fighter plane that would win the war for the Reich. Gabi was captivated and was first to approach General Galland after his closing address; she had a million questions to ask him.

Hans was also at the seminar. He took an inconspicuous post at the back of the hall, casting a stealthy eye over Gabi and Kurt. When the presentations had run their course, he approached Kurt, standing behind him and watching him shake and tug the stage curtains. It must have struck Hans as odd behaviour, even for Kurt, but he did not ask him what he was doing. He spoke to Kurt’s back.

“Impressive presentation—who’d have thought we were losing the war.”

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be sorting yourself out?” Kurt said, still pulling at the drapes.

Hans tugged at a shirt collar that appeared a size too small. “That Pervitin was messing with my head. I’m off it now.”

Kurt dropped the drapes and cast a wary eye over his one-time best friend, noticing sweat stains around Hans’s neck—his grooming was not what it once had been. “Never took that stuff myself; never needed to.” He could see that Hans was uneasy, and it gave him some satisfaction to see him so. “You know, Phipps, I thought I’d left Gabi in good hands. If I’d known that you were going to desert her, I wouldn’t have gone to Africa.”

“Trust me, if I’d have known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have gone. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”

Kurt spotted the maverick mouse. He was in a corner and surrendered without a fight. He popped Max into his pocket and smirked at Hans, who stood with his mouth agape.

“Are you all right? I mean, you haven’t sustained a head injury?” Hans asked.

“Nope. That’s Max, our mascot.”

Hans shook his head. “You haven’t changed, Kurt. You’re still nuts.”

The assembly sprawled into a large reception room where an impressive assortment of cakes, pastries and torts were on offer. It was a rarity during these later war years when rationed ingredients like sugar and cooking chocolate were available only to those in high office. The crowd responded accordingly, stampeding towards the display like a herd of ravenous cattle. Gabi’s sweet tooth sent her scrambling along the table in search of her beloved crumb cake.

She was tempted by a bundt blanketed in a deep layer of ice-sugar and a butter-yellow cheesecake that almost started a riot. At the far end of the table stood the pitiful remains of what had once been a generously sized crumb cake; alas, only a tiny sliver remained. Gabi pinched it between her fingers and placed the morsel on her tongue, savouring the clump as it crumbled and dissolved.

“I’ve saved you a piece.”

Her heart stopped. She turned to the man who had once been her world. Hans looked tired and war-weary; the western front had taken its toll, but his expression was sincere and he beamed expectantly. She glanced down at the slice of cake, giving her time to unravel her emotions. How could he be so nonchalant? Didn’t he realize how hard it had been for her? She had cried herself to sleep for months, and her appetite had only recently returned. She peered into his eyes and his soul spoke to her. He wanted something from her, something that he had already broken, leaving her alone and vulnerable. She looked away, unwilling to make the same mistake again.

Kurt tugged at his earlobe, watching the pair from across the room. He approached the estranged lovers.

Hans shoved the cake plate into Kurt’s chest, halting his advance. “This is between Gabi and me.”

The two men sized each other up like virile stags, antlers locked, ready to spar. Gabi glanced at Kurt. She hesitated, and Kurt could see the panic in her eyes before she fled out of the building. Hans immediately broke the face-off with Kurt and sprinted after her.

“Gabi, wait. Please wait.”

Gabi stopped. She heard his steps behind her and felt his hands on her arms. She shuddered. “Don’t touch me.”

“I’m sorry.” He paused and Gabi could hear each breath he took as though it was his last.

“I’ve thought about you every minute of every day for the past five months, four days, five hours and…” he checked his watch, “and twenty-four minutes since I saw you last. You are my love… my life. You give me hope, and I cannot live without hope.”

A tear broke free and trickled down Gabi’s cheek. She turned and gazed into pleading eyes, remembering her aunt’s words. ‘You must live in hope to love again for without love, life loses all hope’.

Cake plate in hand, Kurt followed them outside. He watched as they kissed and whispered words of love and devotion to each other and his jaw clenched.

Hans and Gabi drove out of the car park together, leaving Kurt standing on his own, still holding the plate and clenching his teeth. When he could no longer see their automobile, he broke off a piece of cake. “Love… who needs it?” he said and he placed the crumb into his pocket for Max.

October 1943

On 4 October 1943 Reichsmarschall Herman Göring is said to have issued the following instructions:

There are no meteorological conditions which would prevent fighters from taking off and engaging in combat. Every fighter pilot taking off in a machine not showing any sign of combat, or without having recorded a victory will be prosecuted by a court-martial. In the case of where a pilot uses up his ammunition, or if his weapons are unusable, he should ram the enemy bomber.

“As far as I’m concerned, I categorically refuse to allow myself to be held to such advice; I know what I have to do.”

– Wing Commander Philipp

The newspaper headline read “FIGHTER ACE FALLS”.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Philipp, Wing Commander JG 1, was dead. He was shot down near Neuenhaus on the Dutch border on Friday, 8th October, and although he had managed to bail, his parachute had failed to open. Some said it was schicksal.

Gabi found out that evening after supper, before her weekly telephone call to Hans. She was eager to discuss plans for their upcoming wedding, as they had done the past few weeks, and was especially excited to tell him of her latest thought: to have the ceremony beneath the old oak.

Hans had proposed almost immediately after their reunion, and Gabi had eagerly accepted before Hans had even spoken the words. They laughed until they cried, so great was their joy.

But on the evening of the eighth, Gabi’s joy died.

It was Thursday, the fourteenth day of October and Hans was awarded his final honour; a military funeral with all the solemnity and ceremony befitting a war hero. The funeral commenced at the Meissen Town Hall where his coffin, draped in a Nazi shroud, stood for viewing. This was the place where Gabi had taken her entrance exam into the flight academy, with the same cracked walls and peeling paint. It had been another world back then—a time of innocence and anticipation for a better way of life. On the surface, nothing had changed, yet everything had.

The funeral procession made its sombre journey down cobbled streets, Hans’s coffin placed on a canon trailer drawn by a half-track military vehicle, his family, Gabi and her father walking behind, a wretched train of misery. Even Eva was there, standing amongst the mourners who lined the street. What a performance she gave, overwhelmed with grief and sobbing theatrically as the procession passed her by. But Gabi didn’t question why Eva’s grief was so intense; perhaps she, too, had never stopped loving him.

Kurt waited at the cemetery as part of the guard of honour, watching Gabi from a distance. She had already been through so much and now she was to bury her beloved Hans. Kurt wondered why she did not weep like the other women but held herself stoic and calm. Perhaps it was because Gabi had no black veil to hide behind as the other women did. He shook his head at the futility of it all.

It was a chillingly cold day, light sleet drifting down like frozen tears. A few final words of respect, the symbolic laying of the wreath, one last salute and it was over. A middle-aged woman standing across from the grave twisted a handkerchief around her finger, again and again, lost in grief that spanned a lifetime. Her face was a death mask, her mouth a mere line across a pale, expressionless facade cloaked in sheer black silk. Alma, Hans’s mother, could cry no more.

Gabi hid in the shadow of a stone memorial, her eyes seeping their sorrow. Kurt watched for a time, mesmerized by the depth of her grief that now flowed freely. He approached her tentatively, wondering if he should embrace her and tell her how sorry he was. That would be the right thing to do. Instead, a tepid voice asked, “Do you need a lift?”

Gabi’s gaze pierced through Kurt. She shook her head and spoke, her voice serene, barely audible. “Why couldn’t it have been me? I can’t live without him.”

“Yes, you can. You’ve done it before; you’ll be fine.”

Gabi looked at Kurt as though he were a stranger. She left him standing in the shadow and joined her father and Hans’s family. They said their farewells and Gabi and her father disappeared into the black limousine.

He watched, alone; a memory from long ago but clear as spring water rose to the surface. Kurt, a rough and tumble five-year-old, had fallen over and grazed his knee so badly that his mother wanted to take him to the doctor. She praised his bravery, for he did not cry—he did not shed a single tear. So she bandaged the wound herself, telling him that it would leave a scar and she kissed the wound with tenderness before sending him off again to play. But Kurt did not feel brave on that day when he loved his mother more than anything else in his world. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to cry, he simply didn’t know how.

Kurt looked on as the Grosser Mercedes-Benz 770 drove away. It was a fine vehicle, the latest, top of the line model. Gabi’s father certainly knew how to feather his nest with style.

The limousine pulled up at the front door of the manor. The rain had cleared and the wind had died down, leaving only stillness and a crisp, clean scent. Gabi did not move but stared vacantly out the window.

The general placed his hand on hers. “Are you all right?”

Words, just words… Gabi said nothing. She removed her hands from her father’s clasp and left the car, crossing the courtyard with slow, even steps.

“Gabi, where are you going?” he asked.

More words. She turned to her father but stared into the emptiness. “Just for a walk, Papa. I won’t be long.”

The general knew where she would go to ease the pain. He left her to her grief and walked into the manor, making his way to the drawing room and a stiff drink.

Seeing Gabi today in her suffering for a love lost brought back an ache that he had buried long ago, but it worked its way to the surface like a festering splinter. Twenty-one years had passed and for the most part, he and Gabi had coped without Mary. But there were times when he missed his wife, and Gabi needed a mother and today was such a time. Such a pity his sister was not of sound mind and could not offer Gabi comfort. He finished his drink and buried himself in his paperwork.

She wandered through the fields where autumn crocus flowers beckoned to be picked and admired. As was her ritual, Gabi snapped their stems and weaved a dainty posy that she placed on Saxon’s grave. She stood under the oak, its outstretched limbs almost naked, inviting another memory of love to be immortalized. Taking a knife from a concealed pocket in her boot, she began Hans’s epitaph, carving into her heart and soul. The ground lay covered in a pool of red, the old tree shedding its autumn leaves like drops of blood. This was how she would share her beloved oak with Hans.

That night, Chef boasted goose was on the menu. After years of war, it was a treat that had Helmut salivating each time he passed the kitchen door. Gabi understandably had no appetite but agreed to join them for dinner. Times had changed and now only Helmut, Chef and Tante Helga still lived on the estate so when Gabi and her father were home, all five dined together as family do.

Helmut set the table with the fine cutlery and Meissner porcelain while Chef attended to the meal preparations. The general headed down to the cellar, returning with a wine bottle in need of de-cantering. The wine filtered into the crystal vessel in a translucent, ruby cascade, leaving thick sediment behind at the base of the bottle. It was one of his best wines, a mature vintage that required no breathing; it was already rich and mellow and perfect to an educated palate.

They sat down to a dinner they hoped would lift spirits heavy with woe. Familiar aromas tantalised the senses as modest bowls of roast vegetables, semolina dumplings and gravy were placed on the table. Chef sheepishly stuck his head out the kitchen door, signalling to Helmut to come and join him. A moment later, they crept back into the dining room, platter in hand. The goose, covered with a silver cloche, was placed in front of the general. Helmut glanced at Chef for reassurance before slowly lifting the dome to reveal what could have been mistaken for a small duck. Stunned into silence, the gathering stared at the gosling until a snigger from Chef released all emotion and tears and laughter poured out onto the table.

“What is it?” the general asked, stooping low to examine the bird. “Have you roasted us a pigeon?” He carved the goose and placed a tiny portion of meat on each plate.

Tante Helga shoved a morsel into her mouth, savouring the flavour as if it were beluga caviar. “I had no idea pigeon tasted so good.”

The general rolled his eyes and winked at Gabi. She responded with a feeble smile, reassuring her father that she would be all right.

The following morning, the general returned to his war duties and Gabi returned to a life without Hans.

March 1944

It was March seventeenth, Hans’s twenty-seventh birthday. Gabi exhaled her despair after yet another restless night’s sleep, dreams of her beloved vivid and unsettling. It had been five months since his death and she hadn’t moved on. She was living a life in limbo, waiting for something or someone, she did not know. All she knew was that her soul mate had left her forever, and her world would never be the same again.

Before the funeral, Gabi had asked for Hans’s pillow, unwashed, just as it had been when he last slept in his bed. It was sent immediately to her wrapped in brown paper and tied with black ribbon. How she wept into his pillow, his scent so strong and real that she was certain he was still alive. It took many months for the familiar smell of aftershave, hair cream and masculinity to fade, but it lingered.

Kurt also received a package shortly after the funeral. It was from Hans’s mother. Gabi recalled watching Kurt unwrap the keepsake and was sure she saw a glint of a tear in his eye when he held his old buddy’s temperamental watch. Kurt never spoke of Hans again.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, she stroked the pillow and pressed her face deep into its softness to smother her chronic sorrow. Was she becoming like her dear but tragic Tante Helga, living without hope after losing love? Life after Heinz had been difficult, but with time the hurt had faded to a fond memory and she was open to love again. Hans was that love. But unlike Heinz, she could not let go of her love for him, its bond so strong that it tore at her core and closed her heart to hope. She now understood why her aunt was as she was and it filled her with dismay. Things must change, she told herself, for sleeping with a dead lover’s pillow was insane.

Gabi dressed and made her way to the hangar, determined to rid herself of the melancholy. She would fly to where Hans’s fighter plane had been shot down and where he had fallen to earth. Perhaps then, she might accept what her heart and soul could not.

Karl, the chief mechanic, cleared his throat and spat before hauling open the hangar door. It creaked painfully and he shuddered. “Goddamn door.” The door jammed and he shunted it along with his shoulder. A figure walked across the yard, catching his eye.

“Morning, Gabi. What are you doing up so early? I didn’t know you had a sortie.”

“Sortie?” She thought about lying but saw little point to it. “No, I’m not on a sortie but I need to fly somewhere.”

Karl knitted his brow. “You know you shouldn’t be flying alone without authorization.”

“I know but I won’t be long. Can you give me a hand?”

His brow furrowed again with fatherly concern. “Promise me you’ll be careful?”

“As careful as lady luck allows.”

Moments later, she was on her way.

She flew north-west towards Holland following the coordinates of Hans’s final flight, flying low over a wooded landscape of birch and pine trees. The weather was clear and the sky calm, freeing her thoughts to dwell on her beloved, her eyes searching the sky for a plane, for a miracle, wishing him back into her life, if only for a moment so she could say goodbye. A speck appeared and slowly took form.

It was a Spitfire. She waited for more fighters to appear, knowing that she should flee but somehow drawn to this plane cruising unaccompanied on its way home to England. They would be within firing range soon and still, Gabi saw no other fighters.

Separated from its squadron, the Spitfire sought only to reach the coast of England in one piece. It flew with dogged determination, maintaining its course and defiantly ignoring the imminent threat that flew ever-nearer. Gabi speculated that the pilot was waiting for her squadron to appear, and she mused how strange it was that they both flew solo.

Neither took the attack, instead of flying side by side as though in formation. Gabi could see the marking on the Spitfire’s fuselage, a large sword with the name ‘Excalibur’ embossed below.

Her heart skipped. “I don’t believe it,” she said aloud as if speaking to someone. “Hans, I’ve found your nemesis.”

She flew closer still—so close that she could see the shock in the pilot’s eyes as they stared at one another for she wore no mask and was smiling with ruby red lips. Teasing him further, she pulled ahead and rocked the wings of Swallow in a cheeky wave to urge him on. Would he like to play a game of cat and mouse?

Excalibur thrust forward, roaring past Swallow to take on the challenge. She pursued the fighter, mimicking every manoeuvre, each stunt increasing in difficulty until they were out flying each other with reckless abandon. They flew like playful children; looping and rolling, teasing and taunting through skies so vast that they both lost track of time and place. But after ten minutes of aerobatic tom-foolery, Swallow’s low fuel gauge signalled an end to the folly. She would have to refuel somewhere soon. Gabi set herself up for one final duel, dropping Swallow’s nose low while she turned into a steep spiral dive, gravity working in her favour as she spun vertically towards earth.

The Spitfire followed Gabi’s spiral, taking the attack position behind her as she careened to the ground, a screeching banshee, recklessly fearless, hurtling down and around. Nerves faltered and the Spitfire decelerated, cutting the power and extending the speed-brakes before aborting the dive.

But Gabi did not abort. She maintained her death dive as though paralysed with terror and yet she felt nothing. Nothing. Should she not fear death? Then, with only moments to spare, she heard a voice, calm and self-assured telling her what she must do.

She pulled up.

Swallow buffeted with the transfer of energy, and the plane swooped up like a peregrine falcon coming out of its stoop.

That was close—stupidly so, she thought, but she had shown that Tommy what she was made of.

Gabi climbed level to cruise alongside Excalibur.

“Chicken,” she mouthed.

He saluted her and she was overcome by an intense kinship with this man, a sense of camaraderie that defied all reasoning. Not knowing what else to do, Gabi returned the salute and grinned at his adorable crooked smile.

She left Excalibur to fight another day.

* * *

The empty cup fell to the floor and cracked but did not break, rattling in a semi-circle before rocking itself still. Helmut bent down and studied the motionless woman, her eyes closed as if sleeping in her favourite chair, a cake plate in one hand barren of all crumbs. He picked up her wrist, allowing it to drop back down into her lap. Helga had enjoyed her last coffee and cake.

“How long has she been like this?” Helmut asked.

Chef shrugged. “She stopped talking to herself about an hour ago.” He placed his ear close to her chest and listened. “Dead as a dormouse.”

“We must call General Richter.”

“What are you going to say she died of?”

Helmut paused. “Too much good food.”

They burst into sniggers like two conspiring scoundrels.

“Well, at least she went with a full belly,” Helmut said. “I’ll go make the call.”

* * *

“Where the hell have you been?” Kurt stomped across creaking floorboards in a rant that took Gabi by surprise. She had been reading in the officer’s lounge, engrossed in a technical manual on gas turbine engines.

“Just out for a cruise; I needed to get away.”

“You needed to get away? Christ, we’ve barely enough fuel as it is. You know it’s against regulations; you could be up for a court-martial.”

An inquisitive face popped through the half-open door but quickly retreated under Kurt’s intense glare. Kurt relaxed his clenched fists, conscious that his outburst was drawing attention.

“Look, Gabi. We go back a long way—just don’t push it with me.”

She cast him a sideward glance. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“You bet it won’t—not while I’m commander of this fighter wing. And where did you fly anyway?”

“Neuenhaus.”

Kurt gritted his teeth. “You’re in love with a ghost. It’s time to let go.” He stormed from the room.

Later that night, Gabi removed Hans’s pillow from her bed, doused it in fuel and set it alight, watching the smoke rise high and drift with the wind and out of her life.

From that point, Gabi and Kurt’s relationship took on a sad, strained mantle of indifference. Gabi followed Kurt’s orders and performed as required, but she no longer cared to spend any time with him. Some nights, Kurt would go out with the other pilots while Gabi remained at the base on her own. He would return in the early hours of the morning to find her reading on the sofa in the officer’s lounge.

“Don’t you ever sleep?”

* * *

It took six men to load the coffin into the train but Helga would have been pleased, for she had the carriage to herself. Helmut watched the train depart and returned to the limousine, leaving General Richter to accompany his sister to her final resting place alongside her husband in the family crypt in Labiau, East Prussia.

Gabi flew Swallow into Königsberg, meeting her father at the train station. It was a sad time for not only had Gabi’s aunt passed away, but her father had also informed her that Spitz had gone missing, most likely stolen by deserters that roamed the countryside.

The day was cold and frosty, and in the stillness of a forsaken station, Gabi and her father waited. They spoke a few polite words to one another, detached and devoid of emotion, and Gabi asked herself why father and daughter should be so distant with one another, concluding that the war was to blame. They were eventually greeted by a Lithuanian man who ushered them into a waiting vehicle.

He was a strange character with a long nose and the hairiest ears Gabi had ever seen. She wondered how her father had come across him and was even more intrigued that he had allowed this man to make all the funeral arrangements. Perhaps her father had no other choice but to leave it in the hands of strangers.

As expected, Helga’s funeral was a simple affair, lacking in grandeur and ceremony befitting someone of her status. There would be no procession of grieving mourners and no white horses drawing her ornate funeral carriage, nor would her coffin be made of brass and adorned with funeral lilies. Instead, a haggard horse and rickety cart carried her humble pine casket to the crypt where a peasant masquerading as a priest mumbled prescribed words to a congregation of just two. Helga would not have been pleased.

Immediately after the funeral, the general bid Gabi farewell and made his way to Helga’s mansion to see if anything remained. As expected, it had been stripped of all value and lay derelict. He torched the building before returning to the train station—better that the manor be destroyed than left for the Russians.

September 1944

Gabi tore open the envelope, accidentally ripping the letter within. She cursed and reassembled the pieces, holding the document together as she read. It was an order from General Galland and the Reich’s Air Ministry to discuss a proposal regarding the Me-262.

She immediately telephoned Galland, who, although enthusiastic, would not elaborate over the telephone, saying that he would prefer to discuss the matter in person. They agreed to meet over dinner, Galland suggesting Maxim’s restaurant in Berlin, a favourite haunt of the Jagdgeschwader. It was a fair distance from her base in Wesenberg but she accepted his invitation, deciding to ride to Berlin on her motorcycle.

It took over two hours to reach Berlin and a further twenty minutes to find Maxims restaurant in the blackout. A queue of subdued shadows lined the sidewalk, disappearing into the adjoining establishment—a seedy house of burlesque. She pushed her way through the shadow and into the dimness of the restaurant, a bustling hive of waiters and an eclectic mix of patrons—military personnel, well-to-do civilians, and the overflow from the establishment next door.

General Galland sat at a corner table, puffing on his cigar and watching the human traffic dash about. He spotted Gabi, and his lips curled to expose a row of crooked teeth.

“Captain Richter, such a pleasure.” He extended his hand to shake, pulling her closer.

“I’m so sorry I’m late. The ride from Wesenberg was good, but I got lost in Berlin,” she said.

“So thoughtless of me—I didn’t realize that you came all the way from Wesenberg. Let me organise some accommodation for you here in Berlin.”

“It won’t be necessary, General. I can stay at my father’s apartment tonight.”

“Well then, at least allow me to pour you a drink.” His cheeks flushed pink from alcohol, but his manner was businesslike and he wasted no time outlining his proposal.

Kurt charged into Maxims with an entourage of officers and a bevy of burlesque beauties in tow. He had booked the private dining room at the back of the restaurant with proceeds from his gambling days and spared no expense. The mob poured into the room and immediately settled into their lavish surroundings, lounging across chairs and sending champagne corks flying.

Two eager girls vying for Kurt’s attention provided the entertainment. While a well-endowed redhead sat straddled over Kurt’s lap smothering his face with kisses, a petite contortionist performed subhuman feats of flexibility with a chair and beer bottle. Kurt extracted his lips from the redhead, groping for the contortionist, who pulled the other woman off him and continued her routine using Kurt as a prop. Even Kurt could not believe her skill.

“Another glass?”

Gabi waved a hand over her flute. “No, thank you, General. I think I’ve had quite enough.”

He topped up his glass and tossed the empty bottle under the table. “Major Nowotny will make an excellent commander, don’t you think? It will be a challenge though, make no mistake—the Me-262 still needs to be fully tested and combat tactics must be established to earn any credibility with the Führer.”

“Yes, Walter is perfect for the position.”

Galland leaned back into his seat and yawned. “So, Captain Richter, I suppose you’re wondering what we want from you?”

“I assume Walter wants me to join his group.”

“Well, after our discussion at the conference last year, I would think that you’d jump at the opportunity.”

She had thought of little else during her ride from Wesenberg and in truth, she had her reservations. Was she prepared to leave JG 54 and Kurt? She pushed herself from the table. “Please excuse me, I’ll be back in a moment.”

Unable to think above the noisy chatter of the dining room, she sought a place of privacy, somewhere she could clear her head and consult with her heart.

Gabi made her way to the restrooms, passing an imposing hardwood door adorned with a brass plaque that read ‘Private Dining Room’. She pushed the door and peeked into a scene that would have impressed Caligula: an orgy of inebriated officers and near naked women engaging in obscene acts of erotica. She backed away from the door but then a familiar voice rose above the debauchery.

“Don’t waste it!”

A woman, who had been spraying the room with champagne, threw herself at the man. They fell onto the floor and squealing like a piglet, she continued to pour the champagne into his mouth. He pushed her away and coughed his lungs clear.

Gabi swallowed the rising repulsion, glaring at a man who had once been her guardian angel. Their eyes locked, and he staggered to his feet only to fall back again on top of the squealing piglet. More shrieks of laughter, the atmosphere so charged and vile that Gabi felt it would explode. She turned her back on the depraved spectacle that was Kurt. Her father had been right all along—he was such a peacock.

She returned to her table and informed General Galland that she had made her decision—she would be honoured to fly the Me-262 for the Reich.

* * *

Gabi paced her room back at the base, rubbing her palm and mumbling thoughts aloud as she grappled with the conflict in her head. She had slept poorly at her father’s apartment and felt ill the entire ride to Wesenberg and now all she could do was delay the inevitable: informing Kurt.

Was she doing the right thing? Kurt had always been there for her and now she was deserting him. But what else could she do? They had become distant in recent months, going out of their way to avoid one another. She had told herself that it was for the best that they part ways but could not convince herself of this, instead, clinging to what once was and might have been between them. Had it not been for the orgy, she may well have refused Galland but now Kurt left her no choice. It was time to confront her conscience.

She found Kurt bench-pressing weights in the gymnasium, puffing and grunting as perspiration seeped, veins bulged and nostrils flared; an attractive vision not unlike that of a Greek statue, chiselled and rock hard. It was no surprise that women swooned over Kurt; he was an attractive man, even when hungover as he was sure to be after that night’s carousing.

Her gaze fixed on his torso, a scar the size of a thumb marring the perfection of his glowing chest. He must have been wounded in Africa but had never spoken of it. The bullet had struck close to his heart—lady luck had been with him that day.

Gabi cleared her throat, announcing her presence and Kurt responded by wiping a towel across his brow and under his armpits.

She took a long, nervous breath. “I’m amazed you found your way back. You must have quite a hangover.”

Kurt threw the towel onto the floor and resumed his workout as though she were not there.

She waited a moment. “I met with General Galland last night.”

“I know. I was there, remember?”

She wanted to slap him, throw something at him, anything to smash that smug look from his face. She clenched her fist. “He’s offered me a place with Kommando Nowotny flying the Me-262.”

“And?”

“I’ve accepted. I leave at the end of the week.”

Kurt said nothing.

She shook her head. “You’ve got nothing to say?”

“What is there to say?”

Kurt was right; what did she expect him to say? Standing at an open door, resigned to the fact that he didn’t care enough to stop her, Gabi’s words cut through the tension that separated them.

“You know, Kurt, not everyone can move on so easily; some people never stop loving someone that they’ve lost.” The door slammed shut behind her.

October 1944

Gabi marvelled at the machine. It was a beautiful aircraft with sleek wings and a streamlined fuselage. Two Junkers Jumo 004B turbine engines powered the beast and four 30-mm cannons protected it. Gabi had undergone a few weeks’ instruction, and it was time to see for herself what all the fuss was about.

She climbed into the cockpit, immediately impressed by its spacious dimensions. She placed her princess cushion on the seat, lowered herself down and commenced the start-up routine. The turbines roared and the jet shook with defiance as though rebelling against the engine’s authority.

“You’re clear to go.”

Gabi gently pushed the throttle forward, easing the 262 to a coasting speed of 160km/ph. It ascended steadily, its climb like that of an albatross, awkward and demanding. She flexed the rudder pedals and was less than impressed with its sluggish response.

“Feels a bit clumsy,” she said over the radio.

“Give it time.”

The 262 continued to climb to ten thousand metres.

“Let’s see what she can do.”

Gabi pushed the throttle and the jets exploded with 1800 kilos of combined engine thrust, its twin turbines roaring at 8700 rpm, her senses roused to the point of rapture. She banked and spun, whirling in a vortex of velocity that left her breathless, her heart pumping adrenaline through every vein, fuelling her ultimate fantasy—she was finally flying like a swallow.

* * *

Never had Gabi seen so many chrysanthemums, a sea of wreaths smothering the grief of a nation in mourning for a war hero. Walter was dead, killed in action on November eighth and buried in Vienna after a state funeral that spared no expense. ‘Fly till we die’ they had hollered aloud as brash, young jagdfliegers, high on life and naive to consequence. But lady luck was no longer with the Luftwaffe and all the pilots knew it.

Kommando Nowotny was redesignated to JG 7 but losses continued to plague the unit, especially during take-off and landing when the 262s were most exposed to attack from allied aircraft. A Jagdschutz of propeller fighters was established to defend the 262s during these vulnerable periods and JG 54 was assigned protection duties. Kurt and Gabi would fly together once more.

* * *

“And remember, every shot must count. We can’t afford to waste fuel either so keep on course and fly conservatively—no stupid stunts.”

She watched Kurt from the back of the room, sipping her coffee and only half-listening, her eyes flitting up and down discreetly to avoid eye contact. Kurt was briefing the group before a sortie, and Gabi couldn’t help but notice how much he had changed.

He was an experienced wing commander now with responsibilities and demands well beyond reason for one so young. This would most certainly account for his disciplined, level-headed demeanour. But was it the sole reason for this new sensibility? Gabi thought of something her father had said a lifetime ago: “Nothing like a sensible woman to help a man mature.” Had Kurt found himself a sensible woman?

The pilots left on their sortie, acutely aware that they no longer held the advantage. Tensions were high and tempers flared…

Gabi sprinted from her machine like a rabid greyhound, her target leaning against his plane watching the riggers refuel. Erich’s sneering eyes turned to Gabi as she bounded up and planted a clenched fist into an exposed jaw. He tumbled to the side, landing heavily with a grunt.

Gabi flung herself at him again, fists flying into his nose, chin, eyes, any target as long as there was impact. Erich thrust back, throwing her across the asphalt before hurling himself at her in a frenzy of blows. Gabi, shielding her head, kicked wildly at him, cursing and cussing with all the foulness within her. Kurt yanked at Erich, pulling him off Gabi, yelling for calm.

“What the hell are you two doing? Isn’t it bad enough that we have to watch each other die at the hands of the enemy? Do we have to kill each other, too?”

Gabi wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. “He took a swipe at me. Pelted me when no enemy craft was anywhere near.”

“Don’t be stupid—you flew across my path of fire, you crazy bitch.”

“Shut up, both of you,” Kurt said. “You’re never to fly together again… ever! Do you understand?”

Gabi and Erich glared at one another, mutual hatred hanging thick like the putrid stench of sewage in the air. Erich snarled, saluted and walked away, leaving Gabi shaking before she too headed off in the opposite direction.

Kurt let the incident pass without reprimand, for it would mean consequences that neither he nor the Reich could afford. Both Gabi and Erich were needed badly and a court-martial served no purpose to a dying force.

Later that evening, Kurt approached Gabi, not as a commander but as an old friend who cared.

“I meant what I said this afternoon. Stay clear of him; he can’t be trusted—his ambitions are set on revenge. If given the opportunity, he’ll have you by the throat and slice you like a knife in butter.”

“Just let that farmer-boy try… bah. He’ll cut me like a dead dog bites!”

“He’s a loose cannon and even you need to watch your back, impressive as your right jab is.”

Gabi winced and patted her split lip, smiling with her eyes at Kurt’s unwavering concern for her.

* * *

“Göring wouldn’t know what rations are; he’s such a fat pig. Put an apple in his mouth and you could serve him up for Christmas dinner.” Gabi had had enough of Reichmarshall Hermann Göring.

The war in the air was lost and Göring blamed the fighter pilots. They bickered and squabbled like seagulls at a picnic but nowhere was it more treacherous than at the top. Reichmarschall Göring and General Galland could agree on nothing and in an effort to restore some sense of unity, Dr Göbbels struck a temporary truce under the guise of fabricated success. They would celebrate the brilliance of the Me-262 with an event, a ball of grandeur and stateliness, attended by all prominent Luftwaffe personnel. Surely, this would lift the spirits of a demoralized force?

Heavily bombed, the once mighty metropolis of Berlin was now a labyrinth of bunkers and foxholes and so the event was held in a large bomb shelter that served two purposes: firstly, it offered some protection in the event of a night raid and secondly, the acoustics were brilliant.

Göbbels saw to the preparations personally and only the biggest and best would do: a fifty piece orchestra complete with conductor, a vast table embellished for a sumptuous feast and enough champagne to satisfy a banquet at Versailles. The charade continued.

Gabi arrived at the ball, escorted by her father who led her through the crowd to an area reserved for high command. He looked dashing in his full dress Waffenrock tunic adorned with ribbons, silver braid belt and white gloves and although in his late forties now, the General still cut a handsome figure that was sure to be popular with the ladies.

Gabi wore a blue high-collared gown that swathed her slim figure. Long, satin gloves, sapphire and diamond earrings, a French roll and makeup applied with understated elegance—Madam Weissburg would have been proud.

She danced as one does at a ball, handed from one partner to the next, all the while her eyes scanning the compound for Kurt, inquisitive to see if he had brought along a lady friend. A flash exploded, blinding her momentarily.

“Captain Richter, what a vision you are.”

More flashes. “Make sure you get plenty of shots.”

The photographers intensified their photo frenzy.

“Please, Dr Göbbels, call off your hounds,” Gabi said, forcing a smile.

“My exquisite lady, you are the belle of the ball. We must capture this moment for posterity. Come, dance with me.”

Gabi accepted the doctor’s hand, wondering how this would play out. It was an interesting coupling that bordered on comical; Gabi was almost a head taller than her dance partner, who, to his credit, seemed unperturbed to take to the dance floor in spite of his handicap. They swayed awkwardly to the music.

“How do you like flying the Me-262?”

“Oh, it’s like nothing else. Swallow has such power, such speed…”

“Swallow? You call it Swallow?”

“Yes, I’ve called all my planes Swallow but the 262 flies more like a true swallow than any other.”

“Interesting,” the doctor said, and he tightened his hold around her waist.

“Excuse me, Dr Göbbels… Major Dorfmann.” Kurt tilted his head and clicked his soles. “Do you mind if I cut in?”

Dr Göbbels glared at Kurt with weasel-like eyes, twitching his agitation. “Well, actually I do. This song hasn’t finished yet and—”

“I’ve been waiting patiently for some time now, and I really would like to dance with my fiancé before the night is over.”

Gabi held her tongue. She gave the doctor a sweet but artificial smile, then turned and cast a ferocious glare at the peacock. Kurt winked back roguishly.

“Oh, I didn’t know that you were engaged. Congratulations to you both. Of course, Major Dorfmann. Be my guest.” Dr Göbbels bowed courteously and retreated.

Gabi waited until the weasel was well out of ear-shot and even then, she spoke through gritted teeth. “What are you talking about? You could get us both in trouble.”

“Ah, no one else will find out. Bet you’re glad I came along though. What an ugly man.”

Gabi shook her head. “Cocky as always.”

“Listen, they’re playing our song.”

“What song? We don’t have a song. I don’t even know this song. You’re deranged!”

Kurt took her hand and swung his arm behind her waist in one elegant stroke, and they glided gracefully onto the dance floor and into the melody.

Meanwhile, Gabi’s father and Onkel Albert exchanged banter as they watched the entertainment from the back of the shelter.

“They make a handsome couple, don’t you think? Good Aryan breeding stock,” Kesselring goaded.

“She wouldn’t have anything to do with that peacock if I had my way,” General Richter replied.

“Well then, Gabi’s sure to be involved with him already.”

General Richter raised a brow. “She can do better.”

“Dorfmann’s actually a fine officer and brilliant pilot—one of the best… a bit of a hard taskmaster from what I can remember,” Kesselring continued.

“That may be so. I just wish she’d move on from these pilots—nothing but grief.”

Dr Göbbels approached the two senior officers. “Good evening, gentlemen. Max, I must congratulate you on the engagement of your daughter to Major Dorfmann.”

Champagne sprayed across the floor, followed by a fit of coughs and splutter. An amused Kesselring patted the general firmly on his back.

“Well, Max, how does it feel to have a peacock for a son-in-law?”

Before leaving the ball, the general confronted his wayward daughter.

“Papa, it was only a joke. You know Kurt has a strange sense of humour.”

“Humour? Is he mad? Joseph Göbbels will not take kindly to being made a fool of,” he said.

“I’m sure nothing will come of it. Dr Göbbels has far more news-worthy matters to report on.”

She bid her father and Onkel Albert a good night, making a hurried exit into the street where a taxi waited on the curb.

“Quick, get in. Is everything all right?” Kurt took Gabi’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

“I think so, but Papa really has a problem with you.”

“Can’t think why. Your father and I have so much in common.”

They arrived at the hotel, Kurt leading Gabi into his hotel room, a dim light silhouetting a bottle of champagne in a bed of ice, two chilled flutes resting comfortably alongside.

Gabi inspected the champagne, her warm hand clasping the perspiring bottle. “Veuve-Clicqout—Vintage 1918. Impressive. Did you win it in a card game?”

“I never divulge my sources.”

Gabi handed Kurt the bottle. “How did you know I would come back with you to the hotel?”

“I didn’t, but I figured it’d either be you or some other lucky lady,” Kurt said, opening the bottle and sending the cork flying like a missile that rebounded off the ceiling. Gabi ducked and shook her head, recalling the time many years ago when her father did exactly the same and was almost blinded.

Kurt poured the champagne, a creamy mousse cascading over the glass and down onto the rug.

“That’s what I admire about you, Kurt. You’re such an optimist.”

Kurt saluted his glass before gulping a mouthful. He pulled a photo from his pocket and held it at arm’s length, a cheeky smirk imprinted on his face.

“Where did you get that?” she snapped, making a grab for the photo.

Kurt pulled back and slipped it into his jacket. “You left it in your locker. I guess you forgot to post it.” He grinned slyly. “Did you mean it?”

“Mean what?”

“You know, the bit about love?”

Kurt’s eyes widened like that of an expectant child at Christmas, his face an expression of innocence that Gabi had seen only once before when they had walked for hours one crisp evening in Cologne a lifetime ago. Her riled features softened and she moved closer, stroking his cheek and drawing the back of her hand across his lips.

“Yes.”

Kurt’s eyes dilated. He placed his hands behind her neck, running his fingers through her hair and pulling the pins to free her locks. Hair unfurled over Gabi’s shoulders and down her back, and she quivered. He gazed into her eyes with an intensity that Gabi found unnerving. He drew her closer, pressing his lips against hers before moving his hands lightly down her back, tracing the grooves of her burn scar softly with one hand and skilfully unfastening her dress with the other. It fell to the floor and in her near-nakedness, she stood paralysed, unsure if she wanted to proceed.

He draped her body over the bed and Gabi watched him remove his clothing and lower his body over her. He smothered the scar on her forehead with kisses, working his way down her face and neck, kneading her breasts, gorging his way down, his tongue savouring the salt of her skin.

He spread her thighs, his lips caressing the softness of her folds and his eyes widened, taking a moment to study a faint mark. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “You’ve got a scar down here.”

Gabi tilted her head and in her eyes, he could see the years of shame and fear that she had suffered.

“I won’t hurt you.” He stroked her thigh with one hand, and with the other, lightly ran his finger along her scar. Like a tickle, it evoked an uncontrollable urge and Gabi squirmed, releasing a sensual groan. He strummed her scar, soft like a melody, and when her body quivered, he ceased his caress.

“Why did you stop?” she asked.

“We have all night.”

* * *

The general did indeed have a pact with the devil. His apartment had escaped the incessant bombing of Berlin and everyone marvelled at his good fortune.

Gabi returned to her father’s sanctuary the following morning, exhausted from her night of passion. She let herself in and quietly made her way up the staircase.

“So you finally decided to come home?” the general called out on hearing her stealthy steps. Gabi cursed and turned back down, smoothing her hair and dress before strolling into the dining room where she gave her father a hurried peck on the cheek.

“Good morning, Papa. I didn’t want to wake you,” she said.

“I’m hardly still going to be asleep now, am I? It’s 10 o’clock.”

Gabi sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee. “It was a lovely evening, don’t you think?” she said, eyeing her father cautiously from behind her cup.

“You know I don’t approve of Major Dorfmann. I know his type; it’s all about self-gratification with him. That peacock will be nothing but trouble.”

His mood was as she expected, yet it still left her perplexed. Why did he hate Kurt so? “That peacock has always looked out for me, Papa. He really cares about me.”

“Cares about you? Ha! He cares only about himself. Any feelings he has for you are as deep as a puddle.”

Gabi left the debate unchallenged and sought a truce to temper her father’s foul mood. “What have you planned today, Papa?”

He raised his bloodshot eyes and his voice was flat and menacing. “Matters of the Reich.”

She knew by his tone that he did not wish to speak of it and so she sipped her coffee in silence before wishing him a good day and retiring to her suite for a bath and some sleep.

It was a lazy afternoon and Gabi, unable to settle, meandered restlessly about the apartment. It was ideal for entertaining, with a large sitting area and bar and views of the Spree River from the balcony to captivate its guests, although, in truth, the view of Berlin was no longer so inspiring. She pictured her father and the other generals smoking cigars and sipping cognac from over-sized crystal balloons as they discussed war strategies. She had no doubt that her father also enjoyed female company in the apartment; Gabi had found lace dressing gowns and other feminine items in various drawers and closets.

An eclectic collection of art adorned its walls; some from the old masters, others from more contemporary artists. Gabi wondered where her father had acquired them. He’d never shown any interest in fine art before.

After studying the pieces, Gabi’s boredom drew her into her father’s library, an imposing collection of books serving only one legitimate purpose: to impress her father’s guests. She pulled a book from the shelf, recognising it immediately. It was ‘Mein Kampf’ and Hans had the same special edition. She flicked through the crisp pages looking for a signature. Unlike Hans’s copy, which was well worn and signed by Hitler, this book was pristine, a virgin never opened, let alone read. It was no surprise to Gabi that her father had not bothered to read the manuscript, for he had never been an avid reader and would have found such a rambling piece of boring nonsense a waste of his precious time.

She returned the book to its place and wandered to the desk where she flipped through some files, neatly stacked as if waiting to be marked by a teacher. They contained military photos and diagrams of tanks, requisition request forms and other administrative documents—nothing of any interest. She fanned through the pile, stopping at a large envelope labelled ‘Operation Reinhard (Treblinka)’ and emptied its contents onto the desk. Photos poured across the slick surface, some spilling onto the floor. She quickly put her hand down to halt their slide and selected a random image. It was a photo of a group of people, young and old, standing behind the barb-wired fence of a labour camp, their eyes dark with despair.

More photographs, all wretched scenes of misery—was this what went on in the labour camps? She had always presumed that they housed prisoners of war and criminals, not crying children clutching their mothers and old sobbing women. Her chest heaved for air as if she suffocated and her thoughts whirled with questions that her conscience could not grasp. An image, so grotesque, so horrific, ended everything. Corpses, piled high in front of a furnace, skeletal and sickening, children, babies… nausea.

With trembling hands, she shuffled the photos into a pile and scooped them back into the envelope. Her eyes dropped to the floor where a document had fallen, face-up, a familiar signature catching her eye. This was the source of her father’s anguish—he had authorised these atrocities. At that moment, the general walked into the room.

“You shouldn’t be in here. And who said you could look at that? It’s confidential.” His red eyes seethed, hot embers smouldering in a draught.

Gabi met his stare, fiercely defiant. “Since when do generals authorize the killing of innocent women and children?”

“They are Jews and gypsies and a plague on the earth. They are nothing but miserly criminals… vermin that tarnish the purity and supremacy of the German Volk.”

She gasped, appalled by her father’s assertion. He had always been politically conservative and had never spoken with such fascist hostility. Had he lost his senses? “Papa, they’re people, like you and I. They are not pests to be exterminated like flies. Where is your humanity?”

“Humanity! The gypsies are responsible for your mother’s death. And Yuri was a Jew,” the general bellowed. “Have you forgotten what he did to you?”

“And so these children must pay for Yuri’s crime? Papa, Yuri was a sick, evil man.” She pointed to the damning evidence in the envelope. “These are innocent mothers and their babies.”

“Child, you don’t understand.” He ran his hands through his hair and then snatched the envelope, throwing it across the room.

She watched it smash against the wall and fall to the floor. “Oh, I understand and I’m no longer a child. You’re the same as Yuri—no, you’re worse. You have no conscience. Yuri killed himself because he couldn’t face what he had done. But YOU! You dine out, drink and laugh with the other generals. How do you sleep at night?” She ran for the door.

“Stop. Stop, I said.”

She slammed the door behind her.

* * *

Gabi arrived at the base a quivering mess. She made her way to her quarters to hide from the world and a reality she could not face. Feelings of confusions had given into hatred for what her world had become. She hated the war, she hated the Nazis, she hated her father.

Kurt watched Gabi emerge from a taxi and scurry across the yard. He yelled after her, but she ignored him so he ran to her door and knocked. No answer. He turned the knob. It was locked.

“Gabi, I know you’re in there. Let me in.”

“I need to be alone, Kurt. Please go away.”

“I’ll wait here then.” He leaned against the door, banging his head on the wood to a monotonous tempo, knowing that this was bound to annoy Gabi sooner or later. Sooner prevailed and after only a minute, his ploy had worked; she unlocked the door. Kurt entered the dimly lit room, moving silently behind the silhouette by the window and wrapping his arms around the frozen figure.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered into her hair. She turned to face him, her eyes swollen and red.

“You’ve been crying. Why?”

“Oh, Kurt,” she sobbed. “Papa’s a murderer. He ordered the killing of innocent people… children.”

“Whoa, slow down. What’s this about murder?”

Gabi explained. Kurt listened. He knew of the mass executions but like so many others, he turned a blind eye. What could he do? The situation was out of his control.

“I’m sure your father was only following orders,” Kurt said.

Gabi shook her head. “No, he had a choice. We all have a choice.”

“And what if he had refused? You know what the consequence would have been.”

Yes, she knew. “We all must die one way or another. Better to die with a clear conscience.” She pursed her lips. “He is weak. He is selfish. He is a monster.” Her puffy eyes drifted past the window and down to her grated palm. “I hate him.”

“He is your father.”

A sob broke free, followed by an abandoned tear. “I can’t fight anymore; I want no part in this nightmare.”

Kurt’s nostrils flared; his expression brutal. “You’ll fight.”

“No.”

“You’ll fight or you’ll die. And if you die, I’ll die too.”

Gabi glared into his eyes and they were wild with fear. But Kurt was right. They were all past the point of no return.

“I fight for you,” she whispered and she clung to him.

“Promise me you’ll speak to no one of this?”

Her body sank into despair, her conscience thrashed into submission. They made love, and Gabi forgot about the war for a while.

* * *

The general sipped his coffee. It was just as he liked it: scolding hot and strong enough to corrode metal. He unfolded the newspaper, spreading it out over the table and scanning the daily headlines—all the same pro-Nazi propaganda. The ruse continued.

A story on page three caught his eye and he leaned down into an article on the Luftwaffe Ball, accompanied by a large photograph of Gabi and Kurt dancing like Cinderella and Prince Charming. The caption read ‘Princess Swallow to wed her Prince.’

“Over my dead body,” he mumbled although he had to concede, it was a lovely photograph. And what’s this rubbish about Princess Swallow? The general shook his head and tutted; he would have to go along with this sham now that it was public.

He worried for his daughter, the image of her horrified face still vivid and disturbing. He knew that she needed time to absorb what she clearly did not understand. He would leave it a few weeks before calling her.

As for the file—what had he been thinking? He should have destroyed it the moment it crossed his desk. Damn that Commandant Franz for taking the photos of the camp. Had Himmler not given strict orders to leave no evidence? Franz was a fool and regrettably, the Reich was swarming with such incompetence. It was only through dogged determination that the Reich had held on so long. As for Franz, he would see to it himself that this scoundrel was sent to the eastern front for his stupidity.

The general took a final swig of coffee, now tepid and distasteful, before leaving the apartment. He had an urgent meeting with Hitler, Göring and Himmler that morning in the newly completed Führerbunker.

* * *

The raindrops seeped down the window like beads of honey-dew. It had been pouring all night and Kurt and Gabi were huddled up in bed. Gabi was sleeping soundly; Kurt was staring out the window watching the rain with just enough light to see the silhouette of the hangars, and every now and then a bolt of lightning would illuminate the base sending macabre shadows across the yard. He counted slowly to himself—one, two… the crack of thunder exploded with a quake. The storm must be right above them; unusual for this time of year.

Kurt got out of bed and drew the blinds. He switched on a dim lamp and sat down on the bed, studying Gabi while she slept. She looked so peaceful now, but Gabi had struggled the past few days dealing with her father’s part in atrocities that left them both numb. Kurt saw a pained expression come over Gabi’s face, tears breaking through her closed eyelids and trickling onto her pillow. He watched, filled with despair, as she cried in her sleep. Her mouth opened and she gasped between sobs.

“Don’t go… please don’t leave me… I’m sorry, Kurt…”

She was dreaming about him. He recalled the first time they had made love, after their disastrous evening with Hans and Eva at the restaurant. Kurt cringed at his reaction to her anguish that night. He had been such a bastard; how could he have deserted her?

Gabi opened her eyes, and Kurt could see her fear and it pained him.

“I won’t leave you.”

She stroked his cheek and he drew her hand away and to his lips, kissing the scar on her palm soothingly and whispering his love for her.

“Did you know that swallows mate for life?”

Sex became a release for Gabi, a way to cope with a war, a reality she could not face and she sought Kurt out frequently. Unlike her relationship with Hans, Kurt slept with Gabi every night and stayed with her until morning. He didn’t care what the others thought; Gabi needed him and that was all that mattered. Besides, they were supposedly engaged and everyone seemed to turn a blind eye—who would dare question the conduct of their wing commander?

Yuri still haunted her in her sleep, but scenes of mass murder, screaming children and piles of naked bodies also found their way into her nightmares. She pleaded for the nightmares to end but every night was the same so she turned to Kurt. They made love often; its course ran deep, its mood changing like the tide. Sometimes it peaked high with intensity; other times it flowed low with tenderness. She had never known anyone with a sexual appetite that so complemented her own, and she loved him for it.

December 1944

“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” The corporal leaned against the wall, eyeing off the latest recruit, a twenty-year-old talented, though inexperienced pilot named Peter Erlich.

“Why, what’s up?”

Another pilot in the group grinned. “They’ve just returned from a sortie. They’ll be at it.”

“At what? What are you talking about?” Peter opened the door and peered inside. A hasty retreat brought on a chorus of sniggers from the other men.

“See, I warned you.”

“What are they doing?” Peter asked.

“Boy, if I have to explain that, you’re too young to be in this war,” the corporal said.

“No, that’s not what I mean. Who are they and why are they doing that there?”

“They’re Major Kurt Dorfmann and Captain Gabriele Richter, the horniest couple in the Reich.”

“Yeh, they’re always at it—like a pair of rabbits—, especially after a sortie. Death and danger must be a real turn on.”

The door swung open and Kurt stepped out into the corridor. He eyed the small group coolly. “Surely, you’ve got something better to do?”

The corporal saluted and stuttered an incoherent response while the others played dumb and stared at their boots.

Gabi stepped through the door, immediately drawing the attention and relieving the frazzled corporal of accountability.

“Hello, who have we here?” she asked the young pilot.

“Officer Candidate Erlich,” he said, saluting stiffly.

Her gaze ran over this fresh-faced young man and she found him appealing as one finds the little brother of a close friend.

“I’m Captain Richter. Where are you from?”

“Dusseldorf, Captain. I’m here to train on the Me-262,” he said, puffing out his chest.

“Ah, then I look forward to flying with you.”

The private blushed.

“I hate to break up this little party but I’ve got better things to do. Let’s go.” Kurt said.

The group saluted after them, dropping their shoulders and rolling their eyes once Kurt and Gabi were out of sight.

“She’s gorgeous,” Peter gushed.

“You’re not wrong there. And she’s the nicest girl you’ll ever meet. I’d give my left testicle to spend a night with Swallow,” the corporal said.

“That’s Swallow? The Swallow?”

“The one and only. Watch out for Major Dorfmann, though—he’ll have anyone that tries to make a move on her.”

February 1945

Berlin was bleeding.

On February third, terror bombing of the city centre started a firestorm that was to burn for four days. Thoughts of her father brought on dark feelings of hopelessness and dread.

Gabi had not seen or spoken to him since November, although he had made numerous attempts to contact her. She still hadn’t found it in her heart to forgive him. To make matters worse, Gabi was feeling sick; the smell of coffee was making her nauseous. She sat at the conference table, resting her head on her arms.

General Galland bounded into the room. “Are you ill?”

Gabi looked up and sneezed. “I’ll be fine, just a little under the weather.”

More pilots joined the group, energising the room with their lively banter.

They were Jagdveband 44, a new Me-262 squadron comprising of some of the Luftwaffe’s finest fighter aces, hand-picked by their commander, General Galland, who had recently been sacked from his staff post by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring for his ongoing criticism of policy and tactics. High Command’s intent was clear—they hoped that the troublesome Galland would be killed in action while flying a front-line command, but Galland was a fine pilot and would not be so easily purged from their records.

Today, they were on such a mission to intercept and destroy American bombers off the coast. They discussed details and adjourned for a break before departing. Gabi made her way to the restroom again; she hadn’t stopped going all morning. Her period was late and she felt bloated and lethargic but at least this sortie would be a quick in and out affair.

They climbed to a cruising altitude of six thousand metres, leaving Gabi woozy and disoriented. She checked her mask and steadied her breathing hoping to clear the vagueness, but nausea swept over her in waves and she gulped continuously to keep her stomach contents down.

“You’re off course, Captain,” Galland said over the radio. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m good—just had a sneezing fit.” Gabi adjusted her buckles, loosening the straps to ease the pressure on her bursting bladder.

Sighting a four-box formation of B-24 bombers, they took on the attack, diving down to unload their R4M rockets. Enemy fighters were quick to respond and soon the sky was alive with fire. Gabi weaved erratically to avoid the flak, making it almost impossible for the American P-51 Mustangs to keep her in sight. But the more she manoeuvred, the more she could feel rising nausea.

Galland gave the order to return to base and in her relief, Gabi sprayed her mask with vomit, its putrid stench filling the cockpit almost immediately, and she cursed at herself and wondered how she would explain this to the maintenance crew.

First to arrive back at base, Gabi leapt from Swallow and ran to the bathroom, where she promptly removed her soiled flight gear and showered. Only then did it occur to her that she might be pregnant. But how? She couldn’t conceive. The doctor had been quite adamant that her injuries at such a young age would render her infertile. She could still see the pain in her father’s eyes the day he told her. She had been joking about having a brood of children to annoy their Opa only to be told that it could never be.

With a glimmer of hope, she dismissed the thought—at least for now. It was probably just a bout of the flu.

* * *

It was early; the sun had not yet broken the horizon and Gabi could hear her stomach rumble. She made her way to the mess, the foul chicory aroma of ersatz coffee assaulting her senses. She grimaced and scanned the room.

Kurt sat alone at a table that leaned defectively to one side, his broad shoulders hunched over an unappetizing breakfast of dried biscuits and mouldy cheese, an apple balanced precariously close to the edge. Kurt stared at the apple, seemingly lost in thoughts of that day’s activities—a drive to Dresden for a meeting and visit with family later in the evening. Sensing a presence, he looked up and into the warm smile of Gabi.

“Are you leaving soon?” he asked, slurping his hot coffee in a manner that would have had his mother reaching for a wooden spoon.

Gabi nodded and took a bite from a hard bread roll smothered in lard.

“Sit down,” he said. “Have a coffee with me.”

“No, thanks. I’ve gone off that stuff.”

Kurt watched her shuffle from side to side. “Where are you off to then?” he asked.

“Reconnaissance off the coast. Which reminds me, have you seen Peter?”

“You’re not flying with that soft-cock? You’d be safer flying with Sepp.”

“Peter needs the experience; he’s not ready for combat yet. Besides, he’s kind of cute,” she said.

“You know I’m not the jealous type.” He took her hand and softly squeezed, but she pulled it free and his brow lifted.

“What’s up? You’re as fidgety as a virgin on her honeymoon.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” The mouldy smell of wet leather tainted the air, and Gabi knew that Kurt had put on damp socks and boots again and that his feet would smell like festering meat, but she did not lecture him. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Give my love to your mother and Lotti.”

“Be careful,” he said.

She lowered her voice. “I love you.”

“I know.”

It was a response she had come to expect, one that she would accept without altercation, but today Gabi wanted more. “You never say it back.”

“Say what?”

Now was the perfect time to tell him about her condition, but she could not bring herself to say the words. “Never mind, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

His eyes followed her until she was gone and a memory, long forgotten but as vivid as a field of poppies, appeared to him. It was a day when every sound could be heard, amplified in a moment of stark emotion. He saw his mother scramble down the hall, following the steps of a man she thought she knew—after all, they had been married twenty years and had raised three children together. She clung to the front door and called out to the man—“I love you”. They were words that Kurt had never heard his father say, and he held his breath and waited for his father to respond. But there would be no reply. Instead, he watched his mother fall to her knees and this man, his father, walk out of the lives.

* * *

Gabi and Peter flew over the channel travelling at high altitude, a blanket of cirrus cloud screening them from ground surveillance. They scoured the coastline of southern England, diving beneath their cover, leaving them exposed and vulnerable, if only for a few minutes, before returning back to the continent.

What they were doing was madness. The war was all but lost, this sortie merely another futile act in the Reich’s death throes. But she couldn’t say it—not to Peter in any case—he was a product of the Hitler Youth, a zealot minion who had pledged obedience to the Reich until death and would make good on such a promise.

“Nice spot for a picnic,” Gabi broadcast, hoping to relieve the tension that followed any flight over enemy lines.

Without warning, a spray of fire came down Gabi’s left side, a bullet entering the back of her shoulder and exiting the front in a spurt of red.

“Shit,” she screamed. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“Indians at 10 o’clock.” Peter thrust his stick forward. “I’m coming in.” He looped to cover Gabi’s stricken plane only to be pelted from behind by ten Mosquitoes, all closing in.

“We’ve been bounced good and proper.”

In need of altitude, Gabi pulled back hard, fighting the pain in her shoulder. Peter followed, nuggets of hot metal narrowly missing their aircrafts as they jinked a path above the clouds and out of range from enemy fire.

“We’re lucky these jets are fast.” He waited for instruction. “Captain, are you all right?”

Gabi peered down at a hole in her jacket, then up at the speckled canopy. “I’ve taken one in the shoulder.”

“You’ve taken one in your fuel tanks too—more than one by the look of things.”

A stream of fluid seeped from Swallow’s undercarriage, dispersing in a vapour trail.

“Check your fuel.”

Gabi looked at her instrument panel, the gauge dropping disastrously. No calculation was necessary; she would be without fuel in minutes.

“I won’t make it back… I’ll head for land and bail… you’d better get going… they’ll be back.”

Peter nodded across at her and saluted. “For the glory of the Reich.”

She rolled her eyes but took it no further; he would remain loyal and deluded to the end.

“Godspeed; be safe,” she said before turning Swallow back north to the coast.

She travelled along the shoreline in search of a suitable location to bail, the coastal vegetation dense but low, consisting mostly of shrubs and heather. It was a sea of purple and spread over the cliffs and hills like a soft, woollen blanket.

Swallow was not fitted with an ejection seat—few Me-262s were—but Gabi knew what needed to be done. She jettisoned the canopy and unbuckled her seat-belt, detaching the radio cable and oxygen supply. Then, with a final deep and tentative breath, she turned Swallow to a half barrel roll and fell from the cockpit, counting aloud before releasing the cord. The parachute deployed and Gabi was left dangling like dead weight below, clutching her princess cushion as though it would somehow save her from peril. As the wind blew in from the coast, she drifted farther inland and away from Swallow as it careered into the murky waters of the English Channel.

Her landing was rough, knocking the wind from her lungs and sending pain through her head with ferocity. The parachute canopy flew overhead, dragging her along the moorlands, her body scuffing the rough terrain until her weight finally anchored her still. She was alive and unbroken, save for her shoulder that throbbed to a painful beat.

Scrambling to her feet, Gabi released the harness and gathered together the parachute, concealing the canopy in a crevasse. She was light headed and woozy but resisted the urge to lie down in the open. She scanned the landscape for shelter, a rundown shack, weathered grey and most likely uninhabited stood about half a mile away. With princess cushion underarm, Gabi staggered onwards, scrambling over the heather until she reached the derelict barn, where her weary body fell.

“Hello,” said the sweet voice of a child. “Are you hurt?”

The throbbing in her shoulder had eased and Gabi gently hauled herself up and leaned against a bale of hay. “I’ve hurt my shoulder.”

The girl examined the strange woman and her unusual clothing. “Are you the enemy?”

“I’m not your enemy,” Gabi said, her lips arched in a weak but reassuring smile. “What’s your name?”

“Emily.”

“That’s a pretty name. I’m Gabi.”

A dimple appeared on the girl’s ruby cheeks, and she beamed her delight at having made a new friend.

Gabi looked at her watch, grimacing as she raised her arm. It was late in the afternoon and the day’s events had taken their toll on her body, fatigue and nausea sending the barn into a spin. She leaned back against the bale, her chest rising and falling with effort.

The girl moved closer. “Can I help you?”

“I’d like some water please and maybe a cloth or towel?”

“What’s that cross around your neck?”

Gabi touched the medal as if surprised that it was there.

“Do you like it? You can have it if you promise not to tell anyone I’m here. It can be our little secret.”

Emily nodded and knelt beside her. She watched eagerly as Gabi removed her Knights Cross and hand it over.

“Now, you mustn’t show anyone the cross either. Agree?”

Nodding, the girl’s eyes sparkled and she wrapped her nimble fingers around the cross and skipped out of the barn.

A small owl sat on a beam high in the rafters, its golden eyes set on a hole in the wall. It did not move except to blink and Gabi wondered how many mice had fallen prey to its stealth. She waited with the owl, watching the hole, but the mouse did not appear and after a short time, Gabi drifted into an exhausted sleep.

Emily returned twenty minutes later with a pail of water, towel, and a blanket. She knelt down beside her newfound friend, rocking her lightly, but Gabi would not wake, so Emily covered her with the blanket and returned to the house.

“I didn’t see anything, but I did hear something loud fly past this morning. It scared the hell out of me—I thought it was a doodlebug. You’re welcome to search the place,” said the farmer. He motioned towards the yard and the field beyond and the men followed his gesture with their eyes.

“Father, Father…” Emily whispered.

“Not now, Emily. Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“But, Father…”

He glared at her. She backed away, accidentally dropping the Knights Cross onto the wooden floor. It clattered as it hit, catching the attention of everyone in the room. A man bent down to retrieve it.

“Where did you get this?” the man asked.

Emily shrank at his aggression, pinning herself to her father’s side. Another man, an officer, knelt down before the frightened girl.

“It’s all right. You’re not in any trouble. But it’s important that we find the owner of that cross,” the officer said.

“She gave it to me,” Emily blurted back.

“Who gave it to you?”

“My new friend—Gabi’s her name. She hurt her shoulder. She’s asleep now, and I can’t wake her.”

The officer looked over at the other men. “Where is she?” he asked calmly.

“I promised not to tell.”

“If Gabi is not well, we need to take her to the hospital.”

Emily thought for a moment. “She’s in the barn over the hill.”

The men bolted outside, running towards a barn on the edge of a meadow blanketed in cowslip. With pistols drawn, they crept inside.

“She’s here.”

They assembled at the back of the barn where a woman lay, apparently sleeping. The officer lifted the blanket and removed Gabi’s pistol from her hip holster. He checked for breathing.

“She’s alive, but it looks like she’s been shot.”

He unfastened her jacket to examine the wound, removing a cotton scarf soaked with blood and replacing it with the towel Emily had left nearby. He pressed firmly against the wound and Gabi moaned.

“Let’s take her to the base hospital. Go get the lorry.”

They carried Gabi outside and placed her in the back of the lorry. It would not be a comfortable drive and the officer looked about him for something to act as a pillow.

“Mister, Mister, you forgot this.” Emily handed him a blood-stained cushion.

“Isn’t this yours?”

“No, it belongs to Gabi. It needs a wash, though.”

“It does indeed. Thank you.”

The journey took an hour and during this time, the officer removed her jacket as best he could so as not to cause her further pain. The bullet had passed directly through, leaving two open wounds. She let out a faint moan, partially opening her eyes.

“Wasser, bitte.”

He placed a flask on her lips. She clutched the flask and sipped slowly, handing it back and resting her head on something soft. Shaking from shock and in a semi-conscious state, Gabi gazed at the figure leaning over her. His eyes had a familiar glint.

“Hans?” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

“Arthur. My name is Arthur Wilson, but most people call me Art,” he said.

Gabi stared at Art, images flashing like a slide show until a frame was recognised. “Excalibur,” she whispered as the blur dissolved and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

He lifted her fighter jacket. It was a quality piece of leather tailoring with fur lining and a stylish belt, now ruined by two punctures. He rummaged through its pockets and found a wallet that he slipped into his jacket.

* * *

Kurt sat in the vehicle, drumming his fingers on the dashboard. He had not told his mother that he would be in Dresden, and he knew she would be emotional. He couldn’t remember his last visit—it had been so long—and even he felt anxious. He grabbed the box of assorted chocolates he had won in a bet months ago, the same box he had offered Gabi but she had refused, suggesting that he give it to his mother on his next visit instead.

Kurt made his way to the front door, turning the knob to let himself in. It was quiet inside, so he snuck down the hallway to the kitchen.

“Mama.” Nothing. “Mama, it’s Kurt.” Silence.

He wandered about the house, room by room until he was sure no one was home. His mother and sister were probably at his uncle’s house so he headed for the larder as he always did, in search of something to eat while he waited for them to return.

His mother was a good cook and always had something special hidden away, but not today—the cupboard was bare. Damn, he thought, didn’t anyone have any food anymore? He tossed the box of chocolates onto the bench and took the last bottle of cider before settling himself on the sofa.

It was dark by the time Kurt woke. He had fallen asleep in an awkward position and now his neck ached like a rusty rivet forced into motion. He stretched and rolled his shoulders, peering out the window into the blackness, a faint humming growing in volume as he listened.

Bombers! The alarm sounded and people ran frantically into the street and to the bunkers. Kurt did not know what to do—should he seek refuge in the cellar or look for his mother and sister? He ran from the house, and as he ran to his uncle’s home, the sky turned a ghoulish red from the phosphorous bombs that rained down on the city. He dodged panicked people running for shelter, the atmosphere charged and deafening with the drone of bombers and the whistling of their falling loads.

An explosion shattered a building and it burst into pieces, blasting Kurt across the road and against a wall. He staggered to his feet, ringing in his head, unable to see his uncle’s house through the inferno, its heat so intense that people fell where they stood, into the molten tar of the road. A passing soldier seized him by the arm and dragged him to a bomb shelter.

It was crammed with screaming refugees, old men huddled near the entrance, fending off frantic women as they fought to escape and find children separated in the turmoil. He scrambled to the back of the bunker in search of his mother. The atmosphere was thick with fear, and he swore he could detect the faintest whiff of gas. He clambered back over the mass of hysteria, back to the entrance, where he sat beside a man that formed part of a prayer group and listened to the monotonous chant of the Hail Mary. But the man merely mumbled, and Kurt assumed he was not religious for he knew not a single word. Kurt watched and listened, his anxiety building with the relentless pounding above them until he could take no more and he forced his escape from the madness inside the bunker, pulling at those who held the door shut.

A bomb landed just as he fought his way out of the door, sending dust and rubble down from the ceiling, choking the panicked mass that scrambled for fresh air. Kurt stood his ground, blocking the open door to the fires of hell. He watched a family walking calmly along the road and one by one, they dropped like ragdolls as they suffocated.

He slammed the door and his body sank to the ground. He buried his head in between his knees and prayed.

The firebombing came in two waves that night starting at 21:51; the second, three hours later. Survivors sat out the rest of the night huddled in their bunkers across the city, praying for God’s mercy.

Kurt resumed his search before dawn, hopeful that he would find his family scared but safe in a shelter nearby. He wandered aimlessly through the rubble and smouldering ruins, hearing nothing and smelling only death. In the distance, the clearing smoke revealed a make-shift stall offering coffee and biscuits to dazed citizens. Kurt lumbered towards the gathering, a familiar silhouette standing on the fringe.

“Onkel Ludwig, Ludwig!”

Ludwig turned. “Kurt, what are you doing here?”

“Mama, where is Mama?”

“Gone. They’re all gone.”

“What? Where have they gone?”

His uncle’s voice fell to a whisper. “They were in the house.”

Kurt clenched his jaw; hope had failed him again.

They returned to Ludwig’s house and set about recovering their loved ones. The bodies of Ludwig’s wife and daughter, Kurt’s mother and his little sister were found in the remains of the kitchen. Only Ludwig had escaped, having gone to the pub some hours before the bomb destroyed his home—his life. Their bodies were not added to the pile of death at a nearby market square, to be cremated by the SS when the heap grew too high. Instead, Kurt and Ludwig buried them in the nearby Elias cemetery that had miraculously escaped the destruction of the firestorm.

Later that day, Kurt hitched a ride back to his base with a regiment on its way to the front. Seething with anger, he made his way to administration to find out why more had not been done to defend the city, confronting a young private left to fend for himself.

“Our position is hopeless,” he said. “We’re grounded… not enough fuel… we just don’t stand a chance against the Allied forces.” His eyes lowered, unable to look Kurt in the eye.

“What is it?” Kurt moved towards the private, who cowered under his glare.

“Captain Richter, sir… she’s… she’s…”

Kurt slammed the private against the wall. “Out with it! What has happened to Captain Richter?”

“She didn’t come back. She’s MIA.”

* * *

Gabi woke to unfamiliar surroundings. The smell of disinfectant was strong. She was in a hospital ward with beds running along two walls, hers being at the end of a row beside a window. She struggled to sit; her shoulder ached and her limbs were weak. A man in the bed beside hers called for the nurse and gestured that she should stay in bed but Gabi slipped her legs down onto the floor and staggered to the window, peering through the cloudy glass.

Outside she could see military personnel in flight gear loitering about hangars, lorries running errands, tankers refuelling and the drone of planes taking off and landing. She wasn’t at a POW camp; she was at an RAF base. How strange, she thought. Was she dreaming?

By now, Gabi had stirred up quite a commotion. Her gown was undone leaving her back and rear exposed to a room of ogling convalescents. The nurse had finally responded and hastily tied the bows, firmly pushing her back towards the bed.

“Get back into bed, my young lass,” she scolded. “What a spectacle you’ve made of yourself.”

At that moment, an officer walked into the room and Gabi’s heart quickened at the sight of him. She had seen him before, but where? And in the flicker of a thought, she remembered.

“She’s a saucy thing, Sir. I’ll not have her upset my other patients,” the nurse said. “You, now, back to bed I said!”

Art raised his brow and Gabi shrugged. She winced at the pain.

“See, you’ll get what you deserve.” The nurse waved a bony finger in front of Gabi’s face, and it took all of Gabi’s will to stop her from slapping this woman’s flat cheek. She walked to the exit to escape the annoyance.

“Where do you think you’re going, my young lass?”

“I’m going to London to visit the King, you old dragon,” Gabi said in perfect English. The room erupted with laughter, leaving the nurse flushed with humiliation.

Art stopped Gabi in the corridor outside the ward. “That was rather childish, don’t you think?”

Gabi wanted to poke out her tongue at this man who dared question her maturity, but she cast him a defiant stare instead. “Who are you?”

“Wing Commander Arthur Wilson.”

“Well, Wing Commander Wilson, what can I do for you? Another game of cat and mouse perhaps?”

He narrowed his eyes and a faint grin arched his lips. “You do realise that you’re a prisoner of war?”

“Yes, I know what I am. The question is, do you? This is an air base, not a POW camp. Why am I here?”

Art took her by the arm and led her from the building. “You should get back to bed and rest. I’ll arrange for other accommodation; you’ve caused enough disruption and I don’t think Nurse Taylor would appreciate any more cheek from you.”

* * *

Max sniffed the air and scurried out of his toolbox, past a near-empty bottle of rum and a photo frame of Gabi, before scampering along an extended arm and on to a man’s chest, sniffing the air again to catch a familiar scent.

“You miss her too?”

The little mouse’s big brown eyes twinkled as if he understood. Kurt heaved a deep sigh; he had never known such despair. With his family gone, the war all but lost, and most of all, Gabi missing in action, Kurt couldn’t shake the terrible sense of hopelessness. He dreamt of his love every night, unwilling to find relief with anyone else. His longing was strong and in the loneliness of his bed at night, his soul cried out for its mate.

They flew sorties infrequently as mechanical problems grounded more and more planes. Fuel was scarce and rationed to the point of indifference. He wasn’t sure what to do anymore. He wandered about the base aimlessly trying to be the commander in control, but the Luftwaffe was crippled beyond repair and Berlin no longer cared. Soon, the Russians would be at their doorstep and would either kill them or take them prisoner. He knew which one he would choose, and it wasn’t hard labour in a Siberian gulag.

Thoughts of Gabi never left him. Was she still alive and did she need him? Was he ever to see her again? Her birthday was coming and he couldn’t even write her a card. Gabi’s words came to him, cutting a deep and brutal truth.

“…not everyone can move on so easily; some people never stop loving someone that they’ve lost.”

He thought this was a stupid statement at the time but now he understood—he couldn’t face life without her.

* * *

Gabi could feel her waist thicken. The doctor had not mentioned her pregnancy, yet she felt nauseous. Her parachute fall could well have caused her to miscarry, but this did not seem to be the case. Still, she would wait a while longer before consulting with the doctor.

It would be about eight weeks now, give or take a week. Gabi ran her hand over her belly and marvelled at the thought of a baby growing inside. Was it a little girl or boy? She was sure that Kurt would want a little girl to spoil. Poor Kurt. He would be livid with worry not knowing where she was and giving everyone hell back at the base for it. How she had wanted to share her secret with him, but now it was too late.

Art had been suspiciously vague about her presence at the RAF base. She had asked him many times why she was there and not at a POW camp, but he avoided the question each time, saying only that it was best her presence remain confidential.

Her life on the RAF base was comfortable and everyone there kept a polite distance. Unlike a POW, she was permitted to wander the grounds as she pleased. Her quarters consisted of a spacious room with a double bed, desk, lounge, and coffee table. A bathroom was conveniently located next door. The library and recreation rooms were also close by; she had no complaints.

She would often talk with Art, exchanging personal details about their lives and loves, feeling a kinship that defied logic and circumstance. Gabi spoke of Kurt and their so-called engagement, recalling her father’s mortified reaction on discovering that his little girl was to marry ‘that peacock’. Art told Gabi that he was once married but his wife left him for a fish merchant. Apparently, they had been having an affair for a year before he caught them in the act, so to speak. It explained why they had fish for supper every other day.

* * *

Days blurred as Gabi settled into a boring routine that went one of two ways. On a good day, she would have ravenous cravings for all things rich and fatty. On a bad day, she would empty the contents of her stomach with violent seizures.

This morning was a good day. Gabi’s stomach rumbled impatiently as she queued for breakfast, the smell of porridge, eggs, sausages and, of course, the fatty lard in which all was fried, thick and enticing. She looked for Art but could not see him amongst the eclectic mix of English, Canadian and Polish flight personnel in the crowded dining room.

The cook handed Gabi her usual breakfast plate after making an effort to arrange the meal so it resembled a face, with two luminous egg yolk eyes, triangular toast ears and a thick, slightly burnt sausage smile. Gabi grinned and nodded her thanks to the friendly cook, whose face widened at seeing her smile. She had little reason to be happy, and it seemed to please him to see her face light up at this simple but well-meaning gesture.

She sat down at the table that she and Art shared most mornings, eating her happy face, taking a large slice of ear and eye and the corner smile, chewing her saturated breakfast with gusto and scanning the headlines of an out of date newspaper. Her eyes focused on a small article, barely the size of a playing card.

‘DRESDEN BOMBED!’

It went on to describe how between the thirteenth and fifteenth of February, over twelve hundred American and RAF heavy bombers had destroyed military and industrial targets in a series of raids in and surrounding Dresden. There was no mention of civilian casualties, but Gabi knew what such bombing statistics meant—this was no mere bombing raid; this was a campaign of annihilation.

Perhaps she had misread—it couldn’t be; they had bombed the wrong city. She reread the article, oblivious to everything around her except for the panic inside her head. Sobs rose and threatened to burst. She mustn’t make a scene. She had to get out, get away. She ran.

“Gabi, wait!”

Art weaved his way through the tables and chairs, stumbling over a bench before tumbling to the floor. A private stooped to help him back to his feet, but when Art looked up, Gabi was gone.

He searched the grounds of the compound until he was forced to report her missing. A search party scoured the base and in the late afternoon haze, she was spotted on a roof hiding where had once been a shadow, now exposed by a setting sun.

Art climbed the ladder, motioning to the others to stay away while he clambered onto the roof, taking a seat beside her. It was an uncomfortable spot and he squirmed in his seat to adjust his position. Seemingly oblivious to his presence, Gabi stared out into the sunset, her face a sullen mask that gave nothing away.

“What’s wrong?” He waited for her answer but she seemed lost in a dream or a nightmare. “The doctor spoke to me about your nightmares. He thinks that you may be suffering from shell shock.”

Gabi’s eyes flickered. “Shellshock? No—my nightmares started well before the war.” How she wanted to tell him everything, to unload the burden and confess all her fears. But she could not think beyond the present, beyond the fear most recent and disturbing.

“Why did they have to bomb Dresden? It was such a beautiful city; it had no military significance. I don’t understand. You’ve won the war. We all know it’s inevitable. Why destroy a city full of refugees?”

“I know what happened to Dresden.” Art looked into his open hands, as though they held the answer. “We did it because we could. All humanity is lost in the madness of war.”

Gabi’s eyes welled. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Kurt was in Dresden visiting his family that day.”

She waited in hope, wanting to hear Art tell her that Kurt was all right, that they would be together again.

But the words did not come. She watched Art dig into his jacket pocket.

“I meant to give you these sooner but forgot.” He handed her the Knight’s Cross medal and photo wallet. “I’ve had a look at the photos—I hope you don’t mind.”

Gabi took the medal and wallet, her palm grazed so it bled.

“You’ve hurt yourself.”

“It’s nothing. I always scratch when I’m upset.”

She flipped the medal in her palm, over and over like a thought going nowhere, before standing and hurling it across the yard. It clattered against a tin roof and slid into the gutter. She squatted, rocking back and forth to soothe herself.

Art looked on helplessly. He pointed to the wallet. “Which one is Kurt?”

Gabi ran her hand over its leather, worn and scuffed at the corners where a few stitches had come undone. She wondered for a moment if her sewing skills were good enough to mend it herself. Probably not, for she had never taken an interest in needlework at home or at boarding school and would certainly make a mess of it. She unfolded the leather jacket and gazed swimmingly over the first photo, smiling at the image.

“This was Heinz. Dear, sweet, huggable Heinz. He was my first love. We were in flight training together. He was Kurt’s little brother.” She ran her finger across the image to wipe away a smudge. “We had such fun together. He was killed in action in North Africa in May ‘41.”

She flipped to the next photo and her eyes twinkled.

“This was Hans, my…” The word stuck in her throat, and she coughed it clear. “He was my fiancé.”

“You called me Hans in the lorry.”

“You look a bit alike.”

Gabi thought back to their first encounter above the skies of Neuenhaus. “Did you know that you and Hans had a stoush once? Apparently, you almost blew him out of the sky.”

“Really? What was his name?”

“Philipp, Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Philipp.”

Art had heard of him but could not recall a specific dogfight. “He must have been a brilliant pilot to survive a contest with me.”

A faint smile crossed her face. “Yes, he was. And he was also humble, just as you are. It will be almost a year and a half since I lost him. I still miss him so.” She turned to the next photo.

“Ah, now this is Kurt—fighter pilot number three—handsome and courageous but also known for his arrogance and self-centeredness.”

“Otherwise known as ‘the peacock’?”

“Yes. But he is not as he seems. He is like an oak tree that sheds leaves to scatter where they will but with roots that anchor him to the soul.”

The last photo was a distinguished figure in full dress uniform.

“My father…”

“Is he still alive?”

“I think so… but not for long.” Another wave of sadness washed over her tear-stained face.

“Why do you say that?”

She gazed over the featureless air base, white-washed to splendour by a shimmering twilight. “He will either commit suicide or be hanged as a war criminal.”

March 1945

Life on the RAF base was lonely. Gabi spent much of her day wandering around the base, desperate for the company of others. Sometimes, there would be an exchange of words, comments about the weather and such, forced and awkward small talk that left her feeling even more isolated and alone. She understood why; she was the enemy and no doubt, most at the base would be resentful of her presence there. Occasionally she chatted with the cook, a good-humoured character who liked to laugh, especially at himself.

“I can make any meal taste like cement, especially dessert,” he would joke. Unfortunately, Gabi had to agree; his desserts were awful. She offered to make crumb cake one day.

“It would be a pleasure to watch a young filly like you sashay around my kitchen,” he said, eyeing Gabi as if she were a cupcake.

Gabi spent that afternoon in the mess kitchen happily preparing cake mixture, slicing persevered fruit and greasing baking trays while Cook looked on, so entertained by her efforts that he neglected to stir his cauldron of soup and in so doing guaranteed a less than savoury meal for that night’s supper.

“Where did you learn to bake?” he asked.

“Our chef back home taught me. He used to say that every hausfrau knows the way to a man’s heart is a good cake.”

That night, a queue stretched from the dessert counter to the far wall.

“What’s with the queue?” Art asked one of his crew that stood waiting in line.

“That Jerry’s made crumb cake for dessert. I’m up for seconds—it’s delicious… makes up for that muck we had earlier.”

Art looked over to the kitchen where Gabi dished out servings, waiting his turn and watching as she went about her work, offering the smallest dollop of cream and a more generous mound of jelly on the side. But by the time he made it to the counter, the crumb cake was gone. Art’s face drooped like a dejected puppy and Gabi shrugged at him, but her eyes flashed mischievously and she stooped under the counter.

“I’ve saved you a piece.”

He accepted the plate heaped high with cake, jelly and cream and for a fleeting moment when Art winked his appreciation, she thought of Hans and her heart ached.

* * *

The Fatherland was withering. Food was scarce and what was available was used to feed an insatiable monster. Civilians starved with only vague memories of bountiful times to fill their empty stomachs. General Richter could not grasp how things had come to this. What had they all been thinking?

He watched the people of Germany die, he saw his homeland crumble into ruin, he waited to hear from his estranged daughter. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Gabi since that day and now she was MIA. Her twenty-third birthday was upon them and his heart sank at the thought of not being with her. He dwelt on the last words Gabi said to him.

“You have no conscience. Yuri killed himself because he couldn’t face what he had done. But you, you dine out, drink and laugh with the other generals. How do you sleep at night?”

How things had changed. He no longer socialised with the other generals—those days were long gone — nor did he sleep at night. But was Gabi right? Did he really lack a conscience?

Then what was this nagging voice, like a parasite feeding beneath the skin, maddening and unresponsive to his scratches, relentlessly reminding him of the horror that he had inflicted and taunting him that he could never make amends with the dead, nor seek forgiveness from the living?

He had not always been troubled by this voice. All through his youth it had remained silent for the most part, allowing him to do as he pleased and profit where he could. Its silence had been to his advantage and he had prospered. But now, the voice spoke and he could not argue against it for it spoke the truth—he owed humanity a debt and God would see to it that sooner or later, he would pay.

Fatigued into submission, he accepted his damnation. After all, were they not all damned? The Nazis may well wear the blame but the German Volk would carry the shame of these atrocities for generations to come. This would be his legacy to the people of Germany.

He tossed in his bed, slamming his head down into the pillow. It was no good; sleep would elude him another night. A prayer stuck in his mind turned once again like a scratched record. Please God, let me speak with Gabi; give me one more chance to tell her that I love her and make amends. The record played over and over.

The next morning, he called his old friend Albert Kesselring—if anyone knew how to contact the enemy and find out about Gabi, it would be Albert.

* * *

She followed the boundary to the far end of the field, to a restricted building located on the south side of the grounds. A wire fence had been erected around the compound with a large ‘OFF LIMITS’ sign on the gate. Gabi had noticed some activity on the site the previous day that had sparked her curiosity and now, enticed by a good measure of boredom, she found herself scrambling along the fence line looking for a break. A sizeable hole made by a tenacious fox provided the means.

Kneeling, Gabi scooped her hands and trawled at the dirt, the musty smell of earth stirring memories of her childhood, when she would dig for worms near the brook back home determined to present Chef with a sizeable trout for dinner. She shuddered at the cool soil that packed beneath her fingernails but kept digging until the gap was sufficiently large to wedge herself under.

She ran to the hangar doors and pulled the handle but it was locked so she crept to the back of the building, spying a partially open window. Gabi clambered up and hauled herself through the opening and down into a dark and sinister crypt, feeling her way along a wall to a panel with a switch. The room flickered, leaving her momentarily blinded. But the light steadied and all became clear.

In the centre of the room stood the ruined carcass of a Me-262, its fuselage blackened and rutted with bullet holes. A white number five identified its pilot—it was Peter’s plane.

“Now you know why you’re here.”

Startled, she turned to the voice and Art stepped through the door.

“No—I haven’t a clue.” She walked alongside the plane and poked a finger into one of the bullet holes. “Where was Peter shot down?”

“We chased him back to the coast. He was hit but managed to land the plane in one piece. He didn’t make it, though. I’m sorry.”

Art paused, as though waiting for Gabi to speak, but she continued to stare at the plane so he continued. “Our engineers have been tinkering, but they’re having trouble firing her up. As soon as she’s ready, you’ll show me how to fly her.”

“Surely your engineers can work it out. I’ve heard the Gloster Meteor is comparable to the 262.”

“Comparable? Let’s just say, she still needs work.”

Gabi walked outside into the warmth of the morning sun where a flock of starlings rode a furious wave, rising and falling and turning back on itself, and her thoughts flooded with memories of those she had lost—so many lives wasted. They had all done what they thought they had to do, riding a wave of destruction and for what? She watched the flock disperse, and it made her sad.

“I can’t betray the Fatherland. It will all be over soon anyway.”

“Then what does it matter?”

Gabi could not answer him.

* * *

She was like a swallow with a broken wing. Unable to fly, Gabi hobbled about the base, aimless and yearning for Kurt and his love. But nothing could bring Kurt to her. She ran her hand over her widening belly, still barely noticeable, and allowed herself a moment’s solace; it was not all bad. She had something of him inside her after all.

She simmered in guilt. Why had she refused to help Art? Did she really owe the Fatherland her loyalty? Hitler and his generals were morally corrupt, sadistic criminals responsible for the destruction of her homeland and its people, turning it against itself with hatred and prejudice. She had played along, like everyone else, following orders and questioning nothing aloud. And for what? They had lost the war and rightly so, for neither she nor Germany, had considered the consequences of looking the other way and their time of reckoning had come.

Gabi searched the base for Art. She made her way to Excalibur and found Art in the cockpit, his face buried low while he foraged behind the seat.

She knocked on its undercarriage, and his face appeared.

“What are you doing?” she said.

“I lost my lucky coin, and I think it may have fallen down behind the seat.”

“I didn’t take you for a superstitious man. You know it’s totally irrational.”

“Since when is anything about this war rational?”

“Fair point.” She ran her hand along the dented body of the battle-weary machine, and for the first time noticed an inscription painted beneath the cockpit. She read it out aloud.

“Thenne he drewe his swerd Excalibur, but it was so breyght in his enemyes eyen that it gaf light lyke thirty torchys.—Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. I read his works many years ago.”

Art smiled down at her, impressed that she was familiar with the prose. “I’ve always had a fascination for King Arthur and the knights of the round table. As a boy, I’d spend hours fashioning swords and shields out of fence palings. My parents said that they named me after King Arthur, but I think they just said that to humour me.”

Art resumed his search, twisting his body and grunting aloud as he squeezed his hand down into a crevasse.

“Found it.”

He held a bronze object triumphantly in the air, a Roman coin unearthed as a child while fossicking with his father on the east Devon coast. It was the most treasured thing he owned and his relief on finding it once again reignited his resolve.

“Have you given any more thought to the 262? The engineers seem quite optimistic that she’ll be operational any day now.”

Gabi watched him flip the coin and thought how easy it would be for him to lose it again behind the seat. “Do you know why I enlisted in the war?”

He shrugged and tossed the coin again.

“I wanted to fly. That’s all. I never wanted to be in any war. It was always about the flying. Now, show me the plane.”

The coin slipped through his grasp and clattered beneath the seat. “Oh, well, at least I know where it is.”

He led her to the building out by the field where a crew worked on the 262’s engines. The men swore and cursed at the machine, and Gabi found herself stifling a laugh.

“Are the turbines clear?” Gabi asked a man with eyebrows that stood like the spines of a hedgehog. He nodded and she climbed on board and leaned into the cockpit. “Do you mind if I try to start her?”

The engineer looked at Art and shrugged. “Sure, but I can’t see the point of it. We’ve tried that a hundred times… they don’t work. What can you do?”

Gabi ignored the question and switched on the starter motor. The engine did nothing and she jumped down from the platform and walked to one of the jet engines, where she pulled the d-ring cable. Nothing again. She pulled a second time with the same result so she set to work dismantling one of the engines.

“Hey, don’t touch that—it’s sensitive equipment,” the chief engineer yelled as he moved towards Gabi and grabbed her hand. A spanner fell to the floor and she cursed, twisting her wrist to release his hold and retrieve the spanner.

“Relax—I know what I’m doing. I helped build one of these from scratch not that long ago.”

“You did what?”

“I trained as an aeronautical engineer before I became a pilot.”

A mechanic standing beside Art sniggered. “Those Jerries are full of surprises. No wonder this war has dragged on so long.”

Gabi worked closely with the engineers, a suspicious bunch of mumbling introverts, but she had a genuine way with people that soon won them over. They dismantled and re-assembled each section in a total overhaul, systematically stripping, checking and cleaning the turbines, compressors and exhaust assembly. As they worked, the engineers shared more and more of themselves with Gabi and she knew she had earned their respect. After a week, the work was done and a wondrous roar and trembling of the earth announced their success to the base.

* * *

Art’s eyes fixed on the radiant face of his attractive instructor, his heart pounding like that of a besotted schoolboy.

“The 262’s not like a propeller fighter, you know… she has slow throttle response that takes some getting used to.”

Gabi frowned at her pupil, unimpressed by his vacant stare. “Art, are you listening to me?”

Art blinked himself back and his cheeks flushed faintly “Yes. Of course, I’m listening, Captain. Please continue.”

“Good, then pay attention—your life depends on it.”

Art rolled his eyes. “That’s a little dramatic, isn’t it?”

“Dramatic? I wouldn’t be too cocky if I were you. She may fly like a dream at high speed but make no mistake, the 262’s clumsy at take-off and unpredictable at landing. Too hard on the throttle and you’ll overheat and catch fire, too soft and you’ll risk stalling the engines. Now, if you want to find out the hard way, that’s fine by me.”

He sat upright in his chair and saluted. “Yes, Sir, Captain Sir!”

On the day of the 262’s first flight, Gabi found her mended leather jacket on her bed along with her princess cushion, now a clean, vibrant pink. She pressed the cushion to her cheek, resting her head on its softness, running her hand over the embroidery so meticulously stitched by the loving fingers of a mother, and it filled her with hope. It was time to make amends.

The Me-262 rumbled onto the runway, its engines idling at 3000 rpm and sending a buzz of anticipation through the crowd of spectators that had gathered on the field. Gabi took hold of the throttle and eased the craft into motion, gaining speed rapidly as it thundered along the strip, lifting gracefully into the air and shooting into the southern sky.

“Where’s she gone?” a group captain yelled, wiping his balding head and neck with a handkerchief. “She won’t do a runner, will she?”

Art covered his ear, straining to hear Gabi over the radio. He knocked the ear-piece against the desk and the crackling cleared. “Come in, Captain Richter. How are you travelling?”

“I’m good—just checking my instrument readings. All looks in order.”

“Roger that.” Art turned to the panicked group captain, whose head glistened in the heat of the noon sun. “No, Sir, she’s not doing a runner, just spreading her wings.”

A faint rumble could be heard, its pitch rising slowly like that of a whistling kettle, building as the jet drew nearer. The charged air boomed and the earth shook with energy and the crowd covered their ears and opened their mouths as they gasped.

What a sight, Art thought, and his eyes followed the 262 as it flipped and rolled at a speed that left him winded. Soon, it would be his turn, and his stomach churned with excitement. He watched the plane land, and forcing his breath to a steady pace, greeted Gabi as she climbed down.

“Impressive show but you look a little off colour.”

“I’ll be fine.” She removed her cap and took a deep breath and the colour returned to her cheeks. “Just be gentle with her.”

Art let out a jittery chuckle and climbed on board.

“Remember, easy on the throttle,” she called up to him.

He nodded and settled into his seat to perform his checks.

Gabi watched for a while before tapping on the plane’s underbelly.

Art opened the canopy and yelled down. “What is it now?”

“Did you remember your lucky coin?”

He rummaged through his pockets, eventually pulling the coin out and holding it high. “Ready for take-off,” he said.

Gabi laughed, both at him and at herself, for although she was not superstitious, she felt a sense of relief that he had his lucky coin with him.

Waving through the canopy, Art eased the throttle forward, accelerating with a smooth and steady climb. Gabi held her breath, watching Art rise and bank into the clouds before sprinting to the control tower.

“Looking good—come in Wing Commander Wilson,” she announced into the radio.

The jet broke through the cloud, shifting unsteadily from side to side as it gathered momentum.

“I hear you, Captain Richter, just catching my breath—I think I’m in love.”

“Don’t give your heart away too lightly,” Gabi said. “She can be a temperamental lover.”

An awkward silence fell over the pair, ending the banter for the remainder of the flight.

April 1945

A shaft of gold filtered through the rain-stained window of the library, casting a dusty beam across an armchair where she nestled with a book. A shadow engulfed the light and Gabi’s gaze flickered.

“Your father has been in contact with us. He requested information regarding your status.” Art paused and took a deep breath. “We have advised him that you are alive and well and are being held as a prisoner of war.”

Gabi closed her book and stared vacantly at the cover, waiting for his words to stir something in her. “Does he know where I am?”

“No. He only knows that you are alive. He also wishes you a happy birthday.”

Her birthday… he had remembered. She closed her eyes to the memory of her father, and her emotions came alive. She felt his torment, his utter despair and she cried for him.

Art lowered himself onto a footstool and waited for her sobs to pass. “When was your birthday?”

“Two days ago. I turned twenty-three.”

“Then birthday wishes are in order—happy birthday.”

She parted her lips, staring sadly out the window, unable to bring herself to speak.

“What do you wish for?”

Her eyes closed and after a while, they flickered wide as if waking from a dream. “I wish the war was over. I wish Kurt were here. I wish that my nightmares would end. I wish that I was home, lying beneath the old oak and dreaming the daydreams of my childhood.” She paused and turned to the window again, searching. “I wish that my father knew that I still love him.”

She pulled at a thread that had worked its way through the stitching of her trouser leg, holding it high and letting it blow free with a soft puff. “Before the war, my conscience was clear. The war has changed just about everything in my life, but it will not stop me from loving.”

Gabi took a deep breath, holding and expelling it slowly. She had shared her innermost thoughts and fears with Art and she felt somehow cleansed at having done so. She touched his hand, a friendly gesture of gratitude.

Art closed his eyes and his lips arched into an insightful smile. “You’ll have all your wishes, I promise.”

“You’re sweet,” she said but she pulled away, unnerved by his nearness. “I’m sorry.”

They sat in awkward silence, vulnerable to emotions that they could not express.

Gabi eventually spoke again. “What do you wish for?”

“But it’s not my birthday.”

“It doesn’t matter. Tell me, what would make you happy?”

Art took her hands, stroking them with his thumbs. “I wish I could hold you in my arms.”

Gabi gazed at a man that reminded her of all the men she had loved. Was it the way he looked or spoke, the way he would wink at her and smile. Perhaps it was all or none of these. But she could not deny her feelings for him. “It would be so easy to fall in love with you, Arthur.”

“Then why don’t you?”

She pulled her hands from his clasp. “Things are complicated.”

“You still love Kurt?”

“Yes.”

“And he loves you?”

She said nothing.

“I love you.”

Gabi’s face fell into hands that shook. “Oh, Arthur, I’m pregnant with Kurt’s child.”

* * *

His steps echoed along the deserted corridor, moving briskly. He opened the door, acknowledging the radio operator sitting at a desk with a casual wave. The operator passed the headset to the general, who nodded and leaned into the microphone.

“Kurt, it’s Max here.”

Kurt’s brow rose, taken aback by his lack of formality.

“Yes, General, have you news of Gabi?”

“Yes. She’s alive. She’s a POW in England.”

Kurt squared his shoulders. The weight was gone. “Thank God. Is she well?”

“I believe so. She was injured but not seriously.”

The line between the two men hissed, giving Kurt a moment to compose himself.

“My deepest gratitude to you for informing me.”

“Just stay alive, Kurt.” The general paused. “The end is upon us. Goodbye.”

The line went dead. Kurt threw the headset onto the desk and bounded out of the office, his eyes dancing with renewed hope. He would be with her again soon; he could feel it.

* * *

‘The heart of Germany has ceased to beat. The Führer is dead.’

-Joseph Göbbels

JG 54 was based at Neuhausen. Kurt received a transmission advising the end of the war was imminent and to do what he thought best for his men. Surrender was the only course of action, but how? The Russians had a bounty on their heads and would show them no mercy. They would be better treated as POWs of the English or Americans. But what if they were handed over to the Russians? They must surrender as far away as possible from the east and the Red Army. Gabi was in England. No further deliberation was needed—he would tell his men to surrender on English soil.

May 1945

On May fifth, JG 54 assembled for the last time. Kurt eyed the row of pilots shuffling in the dirt, their spirits and uniforms tattered and dishevelled.

“We can do no more.” Kurt’s voice boomed across the yard and his men stood to attention, giving him the last of their self-respect. They had all known for years that this was how it would end. Gunter shrugged and winked at Kurt, a gesture that tempted a grin from a weary commander.

“We must surrender to the Western Allies.”

His men stood unresponsive, their shoulders drooping, their expressions blank.

Kurt eyed each one slowly. “I will fly to England. Who will come with me?”

“We have no fuel,” said Dieter.

“We have enough.”

“Where is this fuel? We ran out long ago.” Erich looked at Kurt with the eyes of a man who had never known trust, and he raised his chin and stared down his nose at his commander.

“It is in a pit behind the wash house.”

Gunter pulled a filthy handkerchief from his pocket into which he blew vigorously to conceal a smirk. All eyes watched as he scrunched the cloth back into his pocket. “I will fly with you to England. I hear the south is quite pretty this time of year.”

“Who else would like to see the white cliffs of Dover?” Kurt held his breath.

Dieter, Fritz, Werner and finally, Erich stepped forward. The others stood defiant—they would not desert their families.

“We will meet at 14:00 to discuss what must be done.”

They met in what remained of the last hangar. Kurt instructed the riggers to remove the bomb racks and cannons to lighten their load, leaving only a machinegun should they come under attack. A crude white cross of surrender was painted over the Balkenkreuz and Hakenkreuz emblems that marked each plane’s fuselage and tail feather. Erich refused to have his plane defaced, saying that he would not disrespect the Reich in such a way. Kurt let it go without confrontation; he cared nothing for this fool. They bid their fellow comrades farewell and in the privacy of their rooms, packed a few token mementoes with shaking hands.

The flight was a gamble on many fronts, the range of their Fw-190s only just able to cover the journey from Neuhausen to RAF Hawkinge, and with limited armoury, they would be no match should they come under attack. And what awaited them at the other end? Fear and apprehension played a brutal tune as they waited out a sleepless, unnerving night of cards and forced conversation. Come first light, the pilots would surrender and the war—for them at least—would be at an end.

* * *

Kurt opened the lid of Max’s toolbox. The little mouse climbed on top and sniffed the air.

“You’re free, General Max. I’m relieving you of your duty as mascot. Go, find yourself some mates. And remember, only hump the clean ones.”

Kurt put a slice of stale bread and a saucer of water on the floor before making his way to his plane, taking a final look at what was left of the base. It lay derelict, like much of the Fatherland. What utter madness this war had been; now for some sanity—it was time to find Gabi.

* * *

They made a sorry sight as they limped across the channel. Surrounded by a squadron of allied craft, the crippled Fw-190s completed their final sortie under a cloud of shame. They listened to Gunter’s strained voice over the radio, stammering their surrender in broken English; they followed his instruction to circle the base until clearance was given. They watched and waited for the end to come— without hope, without glory…

The base was frantic with activity, and Gabi sensed that something odd was in play. She made her way to the kitchen to find out; Cook always knew what was going on.

“They’re surrendering here, at this base!” The cook dried his hands and flung the towel over his shoulder, racing out into the yard.

Gabi stumbled after him. “Who’s surrendering?”

“Some Jerry fighters,” he shouted over his shoulder and he quickened his pace as he neared a gathering that grew as word spread. An armoured vehicle pulled up on the runway and a troop of armed soldiers took their positions, guns fixed on their targets. Gabi squinted up at a swarm of Fw-190s escorted by English and American fighters, circling the air base, waiting for clearance to land.

She recognised the insignia and sprinted onto the tarmac, straining her eyes to identify the planes, spotting Werner, Fritz and Dieter and in the distance, Gunter’s plane landing. Two planes continued to circle the base. She ran into the middle of the runway and extended her arms in a victory salute. Kurt made a low pass.

“It’s Kurt! He’s here. He’s alive,” she shouted, and she bounded about the runway in a fit of elation.

Art stood frozen — he had never seen her so happy.

“I don’t believe it—it’s Gabi.” Kurt hollered into the radio.

Nothing.

“Erich, do you copy?”

The radio hissed with venom. “She’s a traitor; she deserves what she gets.” Erich circled his prey, positioning himself for the kill.

Kurt’s eyes glowered. No! He wouldn’t dare. But Kurt had seen the evil in Erich and knew what was to come.

“Erich, don’t do it. I order you to abort. Abort now!”

He thrust the throttle to its limit, determined to ram Erich and blow him to hell.

Gabi turned to face the incoming planes, oblivious to the drama above. Her heart soared at the thought of Kurt’s embrace, and she laughed aloud with child-like glee. Her prayers had been answered, her hope restored. She followed Erich’s fighter as it banked and descended on its final approach, tailed precariously close by Kurt. She faltered; why hadn’t Eric lowered his landing gear?

Erich’s plane swooped and the rattle of fire swept the base. Onlookers threw themselves to the ground and the gunners released their rounds; tracking the fighters through a sky charged with ammunition. Erich’s plane stalled and listed to one side, billowing smoke trailing the stricken plane that plunged towards a field, colliding and roaring defiantly before erupting into black smoke and flames.

Art ran to Gabi. She lay face down and he turned her body, her eyes clear as they stared up at the clouds but they did not move and he knew that she saw nothing. He ran a trembling hand over her eyelids and heard the pounding of boots on the asphalt. He raised his head, taking in the figure of a man, tall and arresting.

“Kurt?”

The man did not acknowledge Art but looked down at Gabi, his face expressionless, his breathing deep and raspy like a lion after the chase.

It was over.

Art walked away—a moment alone was all he could do for them.

Kurt knelt beside Gabi, cradling her limp body in his arms, stroking her softly. His eyes swept over her face, her figure—it had been such a long time. She wore no make-up, dressed in an oversized RAF jumper and baggy trousers, her hair hanging in the same tousled, carefree way it had when he first saw her at the graduation ceremony all those years ago. How beautiful she had looked back then and how her beauty had grown over the years—beauty so profound that it left him in awe.

He looked out over the base at his fellow Jagdfliegers, huddled together, hands above their heads surrendering in shame. He saw the RAF personnel standing aghast, appalled by the scene that had just played out before them. It was a world he no longer cared for. His gaze drifted back down to the woman in his arms and he placed her hand on his cheek. It was warm and soft and his heart ached.

“I never told you that I loved you. I wanted us to get married and grow old together.” He lowered his voice to barely a whisper.

“I love you.” He kissed the scar on the palm of her hand.

“I love you.” He kissed the scar on her forehead.

“I love you.” Kurt paused, his fate now clear and inevitable.

“Did I ever tell you that swallows mate for life?”

His glacial eyes began to thaw, a single tear falling onto Gabi’s cheek. With a final kiss, Kurt withdrew his pistol from its holster and held it to his head. A heart-wrenching shudder swept over the base as the gun discharged.

* * *

The next morning, Art returned to the air-strip where Kurt’s plane still stood. He studied the line of the 190’s fuselage, the cracked canopy, the torn tail-feather, the bald tyres; maintenance had certainly not been a priority. He climbed on board and peered inside the cockpit. Like all combat craft, it was sparse and cramped; in the corner of the windscreen was a photo of Gabi.

Art removed and gazed at the image, signed ‘Zu Kurt mit Liebe.’ It was a black and white portrait, but her lips had been stained red to highlight her beautiful smile. How smart she looked in her Luftwaffe uniform. Art bit his lip to hold it still and placed the photo in his pocket, recalling her five wishes; only two had been fulfilled.

* * *

The cluster of keys chimed musically as the guard unlocked the door of the detention cell. Art walked into the confined space and eyed the row of men seated on a wooden bench along a brick wall covered with graffiti. Only one of them bothered to look up to see who had entered their cell, and he glared coldly at the figure standing before them.

“Which one of you speaks English?”

A man with a red nose looked up at Art. “I do.”

“What is your name?”

“Lieutenant Winter… Gunter Winter.”

Art eyed the man, watching him sneeze and wipe his nose into his filthy sleeve. When the man had settled, Art spoke again.

“I would like to contact General Richter. Tell me, Lieutenant Winter, do you know of any communication stations that may still be operating?”

The man stared up at the wing commander. “Do you have a cigarette?” he asked.

Art gestured to a guard who begrudging produced a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. After a few puffs, Gunter spoke. “Berlin is finished—the rats would have all deserted the nest but someone somewhere will intercept your radio transmission. Whether General Richter is still alive, well, that is another matter altogether.”

Art sent a stream of teletype transmissions across the channel advising of the deaths of Major Kurt Dorfmann and Captain Gabriele Richter and requesting instruction on the return of their bodies to Germany. A response eventually found its way back.

‘Fliegerhorst Berlin Gatow, 8th May, 6:00.’

Art made the necessary arrangements. They would rendezvous tomorrow morning at first light.

* * *

The general stood waiting beside a Red Cross lorry on the edge of the runway when the Avro Anson transporter came into view. It landed on the main strip and taxied to where the lorry stood. A hatch released and a man dressed in RAF flying gear jumped down and walked towards the figure. He saluted but the general disregarded the formal address, instead, extending his hand. It was an intense handshake that lasted longer than would normally occur between strangers.

They spoke briefly about Gabi’s last weeks, the circumstances of her tragic death, and watched in silence as the coffins were transferred from the plane into the back of the lorry.

The door slammed shut and the general shuddered. “I wanted to speak with her again.” A long pause followed. He tightened his jaw to suppress a sob. “I needed to tell her something.” But he could not speak for fear of breaking down.

“She wanted you to know that she still loved you.”

The general looked into Art’s eyes. “You know what I have done?”

“Yes. Gabi told me.”

The general wiped the tears from his eyes, his head falling forward in shame before a man who passed no judgement.

Exploding shells and gunfire could be heard on the outskirts of the city, and the two men listened to the onslaught as it rose and peaked and fell again into sporadic attack.

“The Russians will be here soon, and it will all be over. You won’t have much time to escape.”

“There’ll be enough time to do what I have to do. Escape won’t be necessary.” The general held out his hand once more and they shook. As he turned to leave, Art spoke again.

“General, there is something else I have to tell you.” He pulled a photo from his pocket.

“Go on, Wing Commander Wilson.”

Art handed the general Kurt’s photo of Gabi, his eyes fixed on the image as it passed between them. “Gabi was pregnant with Kurt’s child.”

The general stared at his daughter, tugging an earlobe that was red and swollen. He placed the photograph inside his jacket.

Art bowed his head. He had one final promise to make good. “She wanted to lie beneath the oak tree.”

“Yes, I know. God bless you. Good-bye.”

Art had fulfilled his promise. He walked back to his plane, his hands deep in trouser pockets where he felt an item that was once precious to him. He removed his hand and with an arm made good from years of cricket, threw the coin as far as he could.

The transport plane rose into a serene early morning sky, leaving behind a solitary figure on a deserted airstrip. Erratic gunfire continued along the cities fringe; the Red Army would take Berlin before noon. It was time to do what needed to be done.

The general removed his ornamented uniform and tossed it into a muddy ditch. He pulled on a pair of simple trousers and shrugged on a medical coat that had been left in the lorry. He unfolded a map on the seat, holding it some distance from his face and squinting to read its features. He would travel on the back roads to his first destination, Dresden, Kurt’s hometown.

The general drove for an hour before turning off down a dirt track, a canopy of pines shielding him from the sky. The gravel track was uneven and potted, forcing him to weave between the holes and slowing his progress. But the breeze that wafted through an open window was crisp as it blew across his face, and he it kept his senses keen and focused.

A gunshot cracked and he jumped in his seat. A Soviet ZIS-5 lorry sped past with gravel flying, a soldier hanging from the back, waving him to pull over.

“Stoy!” the young soldier shouted.

The general gulped and cleared his throat, willing himself into composure before bringing the vehicle to a halt. The soldier jumped down from the lorry and sauntered over to the driver’s side, a machinegun nestled on his hip casually aimed at the general.

“Vy atkuda?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. I’m English… do you speak English?”

The Russian shook his head.

“I’m going to Dresden to deliver some bodies.”

The general’s English was thick but to a Russian, it sounded convincing enough. The soldier motioned to look in the back of the vehicle. The general jumped down from the cab and released the latch, allowing the soldier to peer inside. Although spoken in Russian, the soldier made it clear that he wanted to see what was inside the coffins.

General Richter climbed into the back, his arms and legs shaking so violently that he feared he would give himself away. He lifted a coffin lid, staring into the face of Kurt, his skin a shade of egg-shell, the fine-looking features of his face grief-stricken, a single bullet wound visible in his temple. The general knew all too well the anguish Kurt must have suffered to drive him to this; perhaps he had misjudged him after all.

The Russian’s expression remained unperturbed. He turned to the other coffin and gestured with his gun once again. The general hesitated. Could he face what lay inside? He had made a career from looking the other way—a strategy that had served him well during the Nazi’s rise to power, but today he had nowhere else to turn. He pretended to cough, doubling over in a fit of splutters that received no sympathy from an impatient enemy.

“Skoryeye!”

An order to hurry up accompanied by a jab from the Russian’s gun forced the general to face his fear. He opened the second coffin and gazed down at the body of his daughter, her facial features serene, as if asleep. Only the stark whiteness of her skin and the stains on her clothing where the bullets had found their mark betrayed her. The soldier observed the RAF uniform, nodded and dismounted from the lorry. A moment later the Russian vehicle was on its way, leaving the general alone in the back of the lorry.

The general’s eyes drifted over her, and all the while he held his breath. He would never hear her laugh or sing again, never hold her close to comfort her, never tell her that he loved her. His chest burst with a sob at the sight of a wound in her neck; his little girl had died a soldier’s death.

He removed the photo of Gabi in his pocket, slipping it inside Kurt’s jacket before replacing the coffin lids and returning to the front of the lorry.

By mid-morning he had arrived in Dresden. He drove down unfamiliar streets, aimlessly through the rubble and destruction, numb to the horror that had taken place not so long ago. A sign, bent but legible, caught his eye—it was Rietschelstrasse. He swerved onto the road, his pulse quickening at the sight of a terrace that had been spared.

He parked the lorry and approached the door, knocking loudly. A tall, gaunt man answered.

“Is this the Dorfmann house?”

The man nodded. General Richter extended his arm and they shook.

“My name is Max Richter.”

“Ludwig… why are you here?”

The two men stared at one another, Ludwig’s face devoid of all expression.

“I must speak with Frau Dorfmann. Is she here?”

Ludwig shook his head. “Dead, all dead. Kurt and I buried his mother and sister after the firestorm. I am the only one left.”

The general dwelt on the tragedy that had befallen the Dorfmann family and wondered why Kurt had mentioned nothing of this when they last spoke—how tragic his life had become….

“Forgive my bad manners. Please come inside.”

They sat in silence at the kitchen table. The room was full of dirt and debris, empty tins discarded where they fell, broken glass swept into a corner. Ludwig followed the general’s gaze as it perused the sorry state of a once immaculate household but offered no apology. The general rubbed his stubbled chin, shifting uncomfortably in his seat before speaking.

“I have Kurt’s body in the back of the lorry.”

Ludwig’s chest rose and fell. The two weary men shared a drink with few words passing between them. They sat and watched a cockroach as it scurried across the floor.

“Damned pestilence!” Ludwig slammed his glass down on the insect and shards exploded across the room. A splinter landed close to the general’s boot. He stood and kicked it under the table.

“I must go. What shall we do with Kurt?”

Ludwig rose from his stool and motioned for the general to follow. They moved Kurt’s coffin to a cart on the street, covering it with a quilt made by Kurt’s mother. Ludwig then bid the general goodbye, assuring him that he would take care of the rest.

Later that day, Ludwig pulled the cart to the cemetery and buried Kurt in a grave alongside his mother and little sister. He then walked down to the River Elbe and threw himself in.

Meissen was not far away. The general had one last task to perform: he would take Gabi home. He drove past the town and out into the Saxon countryside bursting with blooming fruit trees and multi-coloured field flowers, the air sweet with the scent of spring. The exhausted lorry travelled past the elm forest and up the driveway, dodging potholes and grumbling disapproval as it hobbled along the final stretch. The general glanced briefly at the old oak in the distance, imposing and steadfast as always—they would talk later.

He entered the manor and made his way to the kitchen where Chef was preparing a soup from vegetable scraps—parsnips, potato and a deformed carrot—while Helmut offered advice on how to instil some flavour. The general walked up to his old employees and embraced each one warmly.

“Have you news of Gabi?” Helmut asked, peering through spectacles that were cracked and held together with string.

The general’s shoulders sank, his gaze fixed on the pot of soup bubbling away on the stove. “Gabi’s outside.”

Helmut rushed along the corridor to the front of the manor, down the steps and onto the drive, but he saw no one in the vehicle so he called out for Gabi. The lorry stood silent.

The general and Chef followed Helmut, standing beside him and staring at the lorry.

“Where is she then?” Helmut asked.

The general spoke as if in a trance. “She was shot as a traitor.”

Helmut shook his head, fighting back tears. Chef sobbed openly, blowing his nose and wiping his eyes with a tatty tea towel.

They carried Gabi’s coffin into the manor and placed it on the desk in the drawing room. The general removed the lid and lifted Gabi, carrying her up the stairs to the master bedroom. Helmut looked on, his face ashen, his gangly, arthritic-riddled limbs trembling. He took the small pink cushion from the coffin—it was grubby; he would clean it.

The general gently placed Gabi on the bed. She was wearing RAF clothing, stained and ill-fitting. He would not bury his daughter dressed as a traitor. Making his way to her bedroom, he returned with a Luftwaffe uniform. He removed her clothing and sponged his daughter’s body down.

“It won’t hurt anymore, my little soldier,” he whispered and his eyes drifted down over the slight mound of her abdomen and he dwelt on what might have been; the little one would have called him Opa and he would have bounced his grandchild on his knee just as he had done with Gabi a lifetime ago.

He carried Gabi down to the drawing room where Helmut had finished lining the inside of the coffin with some curtain fabric of rich burgundy velvet and replaced the princess cushion after sponging and brushing it clean. Her body was returned to rest.

* * *

A butterfly fluttered over the remains of the garden, once manicured and splendid, now sadly lost to neglect. Untamed ivy had claimed the urns and statues, the lawn a meadow of dandelion and thistle. Helmut had long given up on the roses, leaving them to fend for themselves. Only the vegetable patch was still tended by Chef, whose futile efforts to prolong its usefulness had left it sparse and infertile.

It was noon on a warm, sunny day in May. General Richter walked to the stables to find a spade and ambled up the hill to the oak tree where they had buried Saxon. He recalled how tenderly she had wrapped the dog in a blanket and placed him in the grave, tending to it with flowers and a prayer. And how she loved the old oak, to lie beneath its branches and watch the clouds drift by.

He studied the cracked and undulating earth surrounding the tree, a partially exposed but robust root system restricting his options. Settling on a plot littered with brown acorns but free of obstruction, he dug deep and hard, the sharp edge of the spade cutting into the dry soil like a dagger to the heart.

Not long after the general’s first cut, Helmet appeared shovel in hand. The two men worked in turn, excavating the soil, resting and watching the hole widen and deepen with each exchange. Finally, when the tree cast a lazy shadow to the east, Helmut cast a studious eye over the grave’s dimensions. He bowed his head and sobbed; the task was complete.

The two tired men took a moment’s solace in the shade, reflecting on the many carvings that adorned the tree’s vast trunk. Helmut ran his finger over the inscription Gabi had carved on the day of Hans’s funeral—Hans—My Love… My Life and smiled sadly.

The general looked up at the canopy of the old tree, catching the sun as it flickered through swaying branches. “You have seen much over the years. Tell me old oak, is it ever worth it?” The oak stood silent, and the general nodded. “I thought so….”

He and Helmut wandered back to the manor, picking field flowers that grew in abundance like never before.

The twilight sun still glowed in a blushing sky when the general, Chef, and Helmut carted the coffin up the hill to the oak tree and lowered it into the grave. No eulogy was said, no words were spoken. The general, so overcome with grief, simply stared down at the coffin as Helmut and Chef filled in the hole.

He listened as clumps from a spade laden with misery pounded down on the wood and with each thump, his heart cried out. The bouquet of flowers was placed on the mound and a crudely fashioned wooden cross cobbled together by Chef was hammered into the ground. It read ‘Gabriele Richter 30.3.1922 – 7.5.1945.’

The general stood at the grave for an eternity, mourning his loss. What had he been thinking? He had failed as a father to protect his little girl—his selfish, immoral ambition to blame for deserting her time and again. Emotions flowed in waves of fear, denial and regret, his exhausted conscience eventually succumbing to indifference. But then a voice from deep within spoke with clarity so pure that his soul wept.

How could anyone commit such a heinous crime? What possesses a human being to inflict such pain and horror on an innocent child?

The general recognised the voice immediately—he and Yuri were the same.

* * *

The news bellowed from the radio—Germany had surrendered. Helmut also had an announcement to make: the cellar was barren. But Chef found a stash of Chateau Margaux Vintage 1900 in the larder that Helmut had forgotten to catalogue and rack and so, with liberal glasses of cabernet and an over-sized beer mug in hand, they settled themselves at the kitchen table and toasted to the end of the war and Nazi tyranny.

They reminisced about the Germany of old, of good times and loved ones and for a fleeting moment they forgot that Gabi was no longer there; she was in the room sharing a wine and laughing with them, rocking in time to Chef’s humming of Hänschen Klein as wine slopped from their vessels without care.

The general downed the final drops from his glass. “I must do something before it is too late. Please excuse me.” He left Helmut and Chef at the table and the two men refilled their vessels and replenished the meagre food platter with shards of cheese that had come from a neighbouring dairy farmer who bartered all he had left to fund his escape from the approaching Red Army.

What remained of the cheese was assessed and dealt with systematically. A less than appetising sliver of mould was cut away from the wedge of Gouda, and it was decided that the remnants of the Limberger be disposed of altogether, for it smelt well beyond its normal rankness. But the smoked cheese passed inspection and was placed on the platter with stale bread, a few walnuts and a jar of pickled gherkins.

The general eventually returned, clutching a bundle of red textile that he placed on the table and resuming his therapy, sifted a mouthful of wine through clenched teeth.

“This Chateau Margaux could have done with at least another twenty years.” The general eyed his two employees from behind a glass, half empty. “What do you plan to do now?”

“I’m not sure,” said Helmut. “Perhaps I’ll stay here and see what comes.”

Chef shrugged and took another deep swig from his mug.

“Will you take some advice?”

“Certainly, General,” said Helmut.

“Please, all my friends call me Max.”

Helmut and Chef looked at one another, their eyes glistening.

“After all, how long have you both been here at Rittergut Grosse-Eiche—twenty years?”

“It will be coming up to thirty years,” Chef said “For me at least. I think Helmut started a year before.”

“That long…” The general reached for the walnuts, selecting two and pressing them together in his hands. The hard shells cracked and scattered over the floor, leaving Chef and Helmut momentarily bewildered. The general then brushed his palms clean and continued. “The Russians will lay claim to the east. Flee to the west tonight; the Americans will be more forgiving. Pack only what you can carry easily and take this.”

He unfolded a red scarf of high quality that had been worn only once, revealing precious items of jewellery. “You will need this to bribe your way to safety.”

Helmut studied the hoard. He removed his cracked spectacles and rubbed his eyes with curled fingers. “And you, Max, what will you do?”

The general sat quietly, taking another swig from his glass and swilling it around his mouth before swallowing. Chef refilled his mug and took a gulp, wiping his sleeve across his stained lips and burping his satisfaction.

“Come with us,” Chef said.

“No, I will stay here at Manor Grand Oak. This is my home, it was Gabi’s home; I shall not leave her again.”

An unnerving breeze whistled under the kitchen door, sending a chill down the backs of the three weary men. The veil of darkness would soon lift to reveal yet another day in purgatory.

The general smiled at his old employees, his eyes awash with memories; they were all he had left. “Take care of each other—there is nothing finer than the love of family and friends.”

They embraced one last time before Helmut and Chef retired to their rooms to pack what few possessions they could, leaving the general alone in the kitchen.

He heaved a sigh, deep and forlorn. Tired of life and drained of all hope, his eyes drifted aimlessly about the kitchen, its rustic charm and cosiness offering no comfort, nor relief. So he poured the last drops of the bottle into his glass, watching the dark pearls as they rippled the surface. His gaze wandered to a canister of kerosene in a corner and he wondered if it was full. He shuffled over to lift the container, straining under its weight. Yes, it would do.

After pouring fuel liberally throughout the kitchen, the general lit some wooden crates and made his way to the drawing room. On the desk was a pistol.

Chef and Helmut ran outside as the house caught alight. They heard a gunshot moments before the manor was engulfed in flames.

On the morning that followed, the beauty and grandeur that was once Manor Grand Oak were no more. The manor was nothing but a smouldering pile of rubble, the night’s tragic fire attracting the Red Army who now fossicked through the remains for anything of value.

“Look what I found,” a young soldier called out, proudly displaying Chef’s beer mug.

His sergeant turned to study the relic. “It’s a piss pot, you idiot. Give it here, and I’ll show you how to use it.”

Two bold, sprightly swallows that had once nested under the eaves of the manor house flew erratically about the remains. They swooped between the soldiers as if to tease them and darted up the hill, weaving playfully about the branches of the grand old oak before coming to rest on the cross that marked a little soldier’s grave.

THE END

GLOSSARY

Ace: fighter pilot credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

Adler: German for eagle.

Awal: absent without authorized leave.

Bienenstich: Bee sting cake German dessert made from sweet yeast dough with a baked-on topping of caramelized almonds and filled with a vanilla custard or cream.

Bounced: to attack unexpectedly.

Dackel: German nickname for dachshund.

Defense of the Reich: strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe over German-occupied Europe and Germany during WW2.

Dresdner Stollen: Traditional Christmas cake. A moist, heavy bread filled with fruit and nuts.

Ersatz: substitute, usually of inferior quality.

Federball: Feather ball. German synonym for going to sleep ie: go to the feather ball.

Führerbau: building that housed Hitler’s office and offices for his closest staff while in Munich.

Gloster Meteor: Britain’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Although operational towards the end of WW2, it did not engage in any aerial combat with Luftwaffe fighters and was used only in armed reconnaissance and ground attack roles.

Gluhwein: roughly translated as “glow-wine,” from the hot irons once used for mulling. A traditional Christmas beverage usually prepared from heated red wine and spiced with cinnamon, vanilla pods, cloves, star aniseed, citrus and sugar.

Grünherz: Greenhearts.

Helferinnen: Women helpers, military support, predominantly volunteers.

Hofbräuhaus: state court-brewery in Munich. A brewery owned by the Bavarian state government. The Hofbräuhaus in Munich was one of the beer halls used by the Nazi Party to declare policies and hold functions.

Horrido: an old greeting and hunting call. Victorious cry of St. Horridusa, the patron saint of pilots of the Luftwaffe.

Ivan: derogatory term for Russian pilot.

Jagdflieger: Fighter pilot.

Jagdgeschwader (JG) 1 Group—Fighter wing 1st Group. A day fighter Geschwader (literally “hunting wing”), typically equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 or Fw-190 aircraft flying in the fighter or fighter-bomber roles.

Jagdschutz: Fighter protection squad.

Jagdverband: specialist fighter unit comprising of Me-262 jets.

Jäger: hunter.

Jägergoulash: hunters stew, usually made with venison.

Jägermeister: German 70-proof (35% abv) schnaps made with 56 herbs and spices. The term was applied to senior foresters and gamekeepers in the German civil service and Hermann Görring was appointed Reichsjägermeister (Imperial Gamekeeper). Thus, when Jägermeister was introduced in 1935, its name was already familiar to Germans—it was sometimes called “Göring-Schnaps.”

KIA: killed in action.

Kommando Nowotny: a fighter Group formed during the last months of WW2 for testing and establishing tactics for the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters. Named after and under the command of Major Walter Nowotny.

Konditorei: the German word for a patisserie and confectionery shop. A Konditorei typically offers a wide variety of pastries and is like a little cafe. In Germany and Austria, it is a very popular custom to go to a Konditorei to have a cake and some coffee or hot chocolate mid-afternoon.

Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (“Swallow”): world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft.

MIA: missing in action.

Muckefuck: a generic term in Germany for faux coffee, possibly from the French ‘mocca faux’.

Onkel: uncle.

Operation Barbarossa: Invasion of Russia by German forces.

Panzer: tank

Pervitin (aka pilot’s chocolate\pilot’s salt): pill made from crystal methamphetamine distributed by the Wehrmacht to its front-line soldiers and pilots.

Reichsführer: special SS rank.

Rittergut Grosse Eiche: Manor Grand Oak

Sauerbraten: pot roast.

Schlampe: slut, bitch.

Schpeck: fatty bacon.

Schicksal: fate, karma, destiny.

Sieg Heil: Hail victory.

Skat: traditional German 3 player card game

Sortie:  Mission. Deployment of aircraft from a strong point for a specific operation.

Special services for the Reich: code for duties connected with the extermination of Jews.

Squadron - usually between 5-12 aircraft.

SS: Abbreviation for Schutzstaffel (“Protection Squadron”), a major Nazi paramilitary organization headed by Heinrich Himmler.

Stille Nacht: Silent Night.

Swarm: 4-6 aircraft formation.

Tommy/tommie: used as a generic name for a British soldier.

Waffenrock: elaborate military coat, a formfitting thigh-length eight-button tunic of fine grey wool, without external pockets. Officers wore a formal belt of silver braid. Trousers were stone grey. In the full-dress uniform, the Waffenrock was worn with medals, aguilette (ornamented braided cord), trousers and shoes, the Schirmmutze (officer’s hat), gloves and sword (officers/NCOs) or dress bayonet (enlisted).

Wehrmacht: (Defence Force) – from German: wehren, to defend and Macht, power, force. Armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force).

Copyright

Copyright © Heidi Fischer 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Content

Heidi Fischer
SWALLOW
A Novel

July 1929

September 1939

October 1939

November 1939

December 1939

January 1940

April 1940

August 1940

September 1940

October 1940

November 1940

March 1941

April 1941

May 1941

August 1941

December 1941

January 1942

June 1942

October 1942

March 1943

April 1943

August 1943

October 1943

March 1944

September 1944

October 1944

December 1944

February 1945

March 1945

April 1945

May 1945

GLOSSARY

Copyright