War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 201

Chapter 15: Anna

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nna jumped at the sound of steps and quickly stood up, smoothing her hands down her skirt.

“Both of your patients seem to be fine,” she said to the doctor who approached them holding up a tiny piece of awful-smelling bread.

“That’s good.”

“I should leave,” she said more to herself than anyone else and fled from the barracks.

Her feet barely obeyed her, wanting to return to Peter and drag him behind her to safety. Despite her inner turmoil, she managed to mask her expression and assume a businesslike demeanor.

On the short walk to the commandant’s office, she passed several British prisoners and the faded uniforms reminded her of Tom, the RAF pilot her sister Ursula had smuggled out of the country. If Peter was too stubborn to let her save him, she could at least save his brother. And she already knew how.

When she entered, the professor and the commandant were deep in discussion and barely raised their heads to acknowledge her. She patiently waited until they finished talking, spinning the story she’d tell them. The professor loved a good challenge and she’d give him one.

“Fräulein Klausen, did you get the emergency sorted out?” the professor asked her.

“Yes, for now, but the man is badly injured. He received a gunshot wound to his leg and shows all the signs of fighting gangrene.”

“Gangrene?” The professor’s brows shot up. He’d been researching means to medicate this deadly disease and he’d been close to a scientific breakthrough when all research had been relocated from the Charité to the camp in Auschwitz. Anna knew it still rankled him that a mediocre doctor and scientist like Dr. Mengele now reaped all the recognition for his research.

“Yes, Professor. And I believe that this prisoner has the exact specifics needed to be of great scientific benefit to the outstanding work you’ve done. If we transferred him to a hospital in Berlin, we could study his recovery very closely and hopefully reach the breakthrough you’re looking for to find a vaccine.”

“We’re not officially pursuing research at the moment, as our main priority is to treat patients…” Professor Scherer pushed his glasses up his nose. She could see his excitement mount.

“Which is a well-thought decision of the Führer,” Kommandant Greiner said. “There’ll be enough time for research after the war.”

Anna wanted to yell with frustration, but forced herself to stay calm and neutral. “We appreciate that the Führer always has the best interests of his people in mind and I would be the last person to question his omniscience.” She’d have to lay it on thick to get to her goal. What she was about to say would probably see her hanged if the truth were ever discovered, but since she was already in deep, she might as well forge ahead.

She combined a shy smile with batting her eyes. From underneath her long eyelashes, she schmoozed, “I was reluctant to tell you, because I’m not absolutely certain, but this prisoner looked so familiar.” She took a deep breath. “I took the opportunity to question him to see if I was correct. He was barely conscious and I believe he only gave away his true identity, because of his weak condition.”

“Identity?” the commandant inquired, his attention now fully focused directly on her.

“Yes, sir. Your prisoner is in fact the first cousin of Stanisław Mikołajczyk, the Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile.”

The commandant gave her an incredulous look and then turned to the professor. “What is she talking about?”

“Fräulein Klausen, you cannot honestly believe this?” Professor Scherer gave her an indulgent look.

“Even if he is who he says he is, the Polish government in exile is a bunch of criminals acting up against the German Reich. The prisoner should be executed right away for the revolt his cousin schemed in Warsaw. It has cost us tens of thousands of valiant soldiers,” the commandant said, a bulging vein throbbing on his temple.

The room seemed to shrink in size and Anna felt a heavy weight pressing her down. This was not going the way she’d planned it. The mere possibility of Stan’s being executed because of her lie made her heart gallop.

Anna played up her expression and then lowered her voice as if they were all involved in keeping a secret. “I agree. And I told him such, but the bold man simply smiled and threatened me that Winston Churchill personally would see justice done, since he’s Churchill’s godson.” At the mention of the British Prime Minister’s name, both of the men gave her a dubious look.

“I still don’t believe the prisoner is telling the truth,” the commandant murmured.

“But what if he is? There would be no harm in saving this one prisoner. Should worst come to worst, his godfather will know whom to thank for his survival.”

The commandant nodded thoughtfully and Anna stayed silent, letting the two men work things out between them. She’d tempted them with plump, juicy bait. Bait so good they had to agree. At least that’s what she hoped for.

Prayed for.

Professor Scherer surely wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to endear himself to Churchill personally. A boon he could exploit once the war was over. If the commandant were only half-clever he’d see the same opportunity.

After an endless wait, the commandant straightened his shoulders and looked at her. “Very well, you may take this man back to Berlin with you. I’ll sign the papers.”

A weight fell from Anna’s shoulders and her legs itched to dance around the offices with unadulterated joy.

“That is immensely clear-sighted of you, Kommandant,” the professor said and added, “In this case, we won’t take the other prisoner for translation work, because we don’t want to cause undue investigation.”

Showers of cold water soaked Anna’s heart when she heard the comment, but she consoled herself with the knowledge that she could at least get Stan out of here.

Under normal conditions any doctor worth his salt wouldn’t allow Stan to be transported anywhere, especially not in the back of a vehicle. But not even Anna dared to ask for an ambulance to transport a prisoner of war. If Stan had only half the determination of his older brother, he’d clutch on to his life like a dog to a bone.

“We need to hurry, Professor, since my wife doesn’t like to wait with dinner,” the commandant said. “Fräulein Klausen, I will arrange the papers first thing in the morning. Please enjoy the hospitality in our guest house for the night. My secretary will arrange accommodation and food for you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Anna sighed. She hated to stay here. Now she had to worry the next twelve hours that something might go wrong.