paulhager
01-02-2006, 03:17 PM
23 July 1944, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
19 July 1944
My dear Miss Svensen,
I am glad to hear you are well.
Thank you so much for your offer to charge German officers a reduced rate for your summer tours. If they are half as enjoyable as your winter ski tours they will still be a bargain. As you are aware, my love is cross-country skiing but I€ll see that your offer is made known to the right people.
I look forward to seeing you again, this coming winter, if not before.
Best regards,
Hans
Cmdr Hans Cohausz
11th Flotilla, Bergen
€Not bad,€ thought Inger and her mood brightened for the first time in days. She was not depressive by nature but had been unmotivated to leave her apartment or, for that matter, her bed the entire weekend. She had only just picked up her mail €" the note from Cohausz had probably been sitting in the box since Friday.
The tone of the note was friendly. Perhaps €˜the right people€ Cohausz mentioned would suit her needs. As for seeing him in the winter, Inger hoped he and the rest of his command would be out of Norway and the war over by then, though she was starting to have doubts. After the June invasion, Inger had allowed herself to believe the war might end soon. That was a month and a half ago and she was finding the slow progress of the British and Americans increasingly depressing.
Equally depressing was the continued social drought. That was what prompted her to write Cohausz. These days she would be happy to meet any €œpeople€, not just the €œright€ ones.
Inger had not heard from Gustav Unterhorst in over eight weeks. He was probably dead. Thinking about Unterhorst caused her careful compartmentalization to break down. She felt an odd mixture of sadness and elation. He wasn€t a bad man when viewed strictly as a lover. War is such a stupid waste of young men. But, sad to say, there was a war going on and Gustav was a young man who had picked the wrong side. The more wastage there was of young men on the German side, the better.
Reflecting on dead lovers was not the only time her different lives bled together. More and more over the last several months it would happen during lovemaking. Awareness that the man she was with would likely be dead soon injected a certain frisson to the physical act that heightened her pleasure. €It must be some new species of necrophilia,€ she thought, €Sleeping with the soon-to-be dead.€ Inger shuddered involuntarily. What was she becoming? €God, I hate this war.€
Now that she was up and finally moving, Inger realized how tiring it was to mope around in her apartment. What she needed was a brisk ten-kilometer hike to restore her natural physical and mental vitality. She also needed to come up with a new strategy for how to build a stable of officers. It was a second good reason to get out because Inger€s most creative thinking usually happened during strenuous exercise. €I€ll do twenty kilometers,€ she vowed as she began to collect her hiking gear.
24 July 1944, Bergen
Eight PM was a busy time in the €œSea Dragon Tavern€. The €œSea Dragon€ was owned and operated by a German named Schwartz, who also owned a brothel in the next block. Both were upscale establishments that catered to officers and, because of their proximity, generated business for each other. Unattached women were assessed a 50 Krone cover to discourage €œindependent operators€ €" prostitutes who trolled bars like the €œSea Dragon€ for customers.
Inger had been to the €œSea Dragon€ many times but never before by herself. Now she sat at the bar and downed her second akavit since arriving a half-hour ago. Her strategy for meeting officers was working too well. She had already rejected the advances of three very young officers €" Ensigns all. In fact, every officer in sight was young and of low rank €" not a single U-boat commander among any of them.
When she went to the market this morning, Inger learned of the failed assassination plot against that madman Hitler. She€d probably have to wait until her next visit to Stockholm to read an accurate account of what happened. Based upon the rumors, a German officer had placed a bomb right next to Hitler but he had €œmiraculously€ survived the explosion. The story didn€t ring true €" it sounded embellished for propaganda purposes. The Germans treated their leader like a god €" now he had performed a certifiable miracle. And the war, of course, would go on. That made her angry €" angry and depressed. €œBartender!€ She rapped the countertop with her glass. €œAnother!€
As the bartender filled her glass, Inger concluded she was being far too picky. She had been trying to find the equivalent of Grand Admiral D¶nitz €" one man with lots of information. But, bits and pieces of information about a new sub €" if it existed €" had to have spread throughout the Kriegsmarine. It would be a mix of fact and rumor dwelling in the minds of thousands of young officers just like these. She realized that it might be necessary to go through dozens of low-ranking officers to assemble enough information to be of use. €I best get started.€ She drank glass number three and tapped the counter again.
Inger left glass number four sitting in front of her and followed the patrons€ comings and goings in the mirror. Men entered the bar through a brightly lit foyer, which silhouetted them in the doorway. It was only when they were in the room that she could make out their features. After watching for some minutes, two men appeared in the doorway €" one tall and the other short. At first, Inger thought the tall man might be Herbert Altmeier. She swiveled on her stool for a better look but saw the tall man was too thin to be her submariner. The short man said something to the tall one and they walked into the room, toward her.
The short one spoke. €œGood evening, Fr¤ulein. My friend and I were wondering why such an attractive girl was sitting here all by herself.€
Inger observed that the two young officers were both Ensigns. The short, cocky one who had addressed her was wearing an immaculate, perfectly pressed dress uniform. Between his pencil mustache and jauntily angled cap, he looked more like a movie actor pretending to be a submariner than the real thing. The contrast with the tall officer couldn€t be more stark. He was wearing a rumpled service uniform that had items sticking out of his shirt pockets. In fact, everything about the tall officer seemed rumpled, including his hat. He was looking at her with the slightly unfocused stare that accompanies excessive drink.
€œWhy alone?€ Inger laughed. €œI turn down three men want my company so far - they not meet my standards,€ which was essentially true.
€œI can assure you that we - well, maybe not Franz €¦
€œHuh?€ the tall officer reacted to the sound of his name.
€œ€¦ that I am a high class gentleman,€ finished the short officer.
Inger made a show of looking the men over. €œYou find table €" I join.€
€œExcellent,€ said short officer. €œWhat are you drinking?€ He didn€t see the glass sitting on the bar behind Inger.
€œCoffee, please.€
As the two men looked for a table, Inger downed akavit number four €" then immediately regretted it. She had exceeded her limit and didn€t really know why. Maybe it was the fact her brain was sluggish from the drinking she€d already done. €Stupid. Stupid to have drunk so much in the first place.€ Undoubtedly the depression she couldn€t seem to shake played a role in that.
The men were at a table in the corner. As Inger walked up, the short officer gestured toward an empty chair rather than pulling it out for her. €œGlad you decided to join us, Fr¤ulein. I€m Ensign Horst Seehofer. Franz over there has the forbidding name Franz Josef von der Leyen but he€s really quite harmless. Franz, say hello to the lady.€
The tall officer, who had been staring agog at Inger since she arrived, blurted, €œYou are the most beautiful girl I€ve ever seen. Like a Viking princess€¦€ and he ran out of steam.
€œI think Franz likes you, Fr¤ulein €¦€
€œSvensen. Inger Svensen.€
€œWell I€m happy to meet you, Inger. Very happy,€ said Seehofer. €œFranz is right, you know. You are beautiful. So, tell me, what was wrong with the €" three wasn€t it? €" three guys you brushed off?€
Inger had uncharacteristically volunteered too much earlier. Best to play the ice princess now. €œNobody here meet standards so I relax them little bit.€
€œFranz, I think we just got insulted,€ laughed Seehofer. Von der Leyen didn€t respond €" his eyes remained fixed on Inger.
€œWhat you men do?€
€œWe€re on the U-390, out of Saint Nazaire. That€s in France,€ Seehofer added. €œI€m the Weapons Officer.€
€œ€¦ and I€m the Navigator,€ von der Leyen interjected.
€œSome U-boat from France come before. Not often. I hear about invasion. That why you come now?€
€œI suppose so. It was Altmeier€s suggestion, wasn€t it Franz?€
€œHuh? Oh€¦ yes.€
Inger didn€t visibly react to the name €œAltmeier€ but immediately wondered if it was her Herbert Altmeier. This would bear investigating.
The waiter came to take the drink orders. €œSchnapps all around.€
€œI wanted coffee.€
€œOh, so you did. But, schnapps is so much more sociable. Waiter, schapps.€
Inger spoke to the waiter in Norwegian, €œIgnore him. Bring me coffee. I€ll pay for mine.€
€œWhat did you say to him?€
€œI said, €˜Bring me coffee€ and €˜I€ll pay for mine,€€ Inger responded. Then she realized that she was starting to speak grammatically correct German. €I must be more inebriated than I thought.€
€œSuit yourself.€
€œI must visit the head,€ von der Leyen suddenly proclaimed. €œI think I may vomit.€
€œYou do that,€ muttered Seehoffer. He turned to Inger as von der Leyen walked unsteadily off in the direction of the bathroom. €œGood. Now we can talk business. How much do you charge?€
€œYou make offer, then we talk.€
€œFine €" 100 Krone.€
Inger responded by laughing.
€œWhy are you laughing? That€s five times what the girls charge down the street.€
€œI ten times better €" more.€
€œYou expect to get that much?€
€œUsually much more.€
Seehofer paused a moment. €œI could go for 150 €" but that€s all I have.€
Inger didn€t need the money and didn€t particularly like Horst Seehofer. Her read was that he was both a narcissist and a misogynist. She was confident that he could be managed but the amount of effort required wasn€t justified by the likely payoff. On the other hand, inside of five minutes she could have his buddy Franz dancing a jig if she so desired. Rather than immediately rejecting Seehofer, Inger decided to temporize and play to his vanity.
€œYou look like man with expensive tastes.€
€œWell, yes, I am. But we were talking about how much you charge.€
The waiter made a timely interruption, serving two schnapps and a coffee. Seehofer paid him and returned to ****ering. €œSo, 150 Krone. But you better be worth it.€
€œ200 Krone.€ Inger was sure he couldn€t or wouldn€t pay that amount and she€d be rid of him.
€œDidn€t you hear what I just said? I only have 150.€
€œI hear. Not enough.€
€œWell, f*** you!€
Inger looked at him coldly. €œWell, you not.€
Seehofer stood. €œWhen Franz gets back, tell him I went to where the girls only charge 20 Krone. He can meet me there.€ And he marched out.
Von der Leyen returned just moments after Seehofer left. €œWhere€s Horst?€
€œI believe he go brothel. You can join him. Or, you can keep me company.€
€œOh, I€ll stay with you. Definitely.€ He sat down.
Inger reached over and took him by the hands. €œAre you feeling better?€
Von der Leyen looked at her with an expression of gratitude mixed with adoration €" rather like a little boy who just developed a crush on the pretty nurse ministering to his skinned knee. €œYes. Yes €" I drank too much.€
Inger leaned close and said in a conspiratorial voice, €œI drink too much also. You take my coffee €" I order another.€
€œOh, I couldn€t do that.€
€œNo €" you take.€ She turned and waved at the waiter who came over and took her order.
€œTell about yourself, Franz.€
€œI€m the Navigator on the U-390. You have to be good at mathematics to be a navigator and I [/I]am[/I] good at that. Herbert€s supposed to be pretty good, too. He was a navigator before becoming an XO.€
Von der Leyen was a na¯f and apparently prone to logorrhea, at least in her presence. She could extract information from him at her leisure.
€œYou have girlfriend?€
€œNo. No girlfriend,€ he said ruefully. She noticed when she spoke to him directly now, he wouldn€t make eye contact.
€œI don€t believe. You tall, handsome man.€ He wasn€t unattractive. €œYou must have many girlfriends.€
€œNo. Never.€ He took a sip of coffee.
€œFranz?€
€œYes.€ He answered but looked at the table top.
€œFranz, look at me.€
He looked up. €œWhat?€ For a brief moment their eyes locked €" then he dropped his gaze again.
€œFranz, you say I beautiful but not look. Look at me. Is alright.€
He looked up again but couldn€t sustain eye contact for long.
€œLet€s go my apartment. Is close. We talk better there.€
Outside the bar, Inger took von der Leyen€s hand but he hung back €" almost like a little kid being led by an adult. She stopped. €œFranz, put arm around my shoulder. Yes, like that.€ She put her arm around his waist. €œThat better. Now we walk.€
24 July 1944, later, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
€œThat was quick.€
Von der Leyen had just rolled onto his back. €œDid I do something wrong? The girls in €¦"
€œThe brothel?€
€œYes. They like me to €¦ finish quickly.€
€œThey do volume business. Customer finish quick, go to next customer. More customers is more money. They do for money, not pleasure.€
€œI€m sorry.€ Von der Leyen had the sad-eyed look of a puppy scolded for messing on the carpet.
€œNo need to be. Your problem is you trained by wrong women.€
€œYou€re saying I€m a lousy lover.€
€œI saying you can be trained to be good lover by right woman.€
€œI€m hopeless,€ wailed von der Leyen.
€œFranz. Stop that! Training not bad thing. Answer question €" they send you out in U-boat with no training?€
€œNo,€ he said in a quavering voice. €œBut it€s not the same.€
€œOf course is same. People not born knowing about U-boats €" not born knowing about lovemaking either. I show what I mean. You tell me about your training.€
€œFor U-boats?€
€œYes.€
€œWell, I€m in a modified Type VII-C U-boat. It has the most advanced anti-radar and anti-sonar coatings €¦€
€œCoatings? I not understand.€ Inger actually understood in general terms what he was describing.
€œI don€t really understand it myself. Herbert probably does. He€s our XO €" Executive Officer. He reads and studies and writes things down all the time. I€m a Navigator so I don€t have to know much outside of that.€
€œSo, you in modified boat €" you get same training as others in €¦ what you call it? Type VII?€
€œYes, Type VII-C. And, no, the training is different.€
€œWhy different?€
€œWell, it also has better sonar, radar, and radar detectors. So, I had to learn about those systems, which are all different.€
€œWhat if were totally new U-boat. Could you go to from Type VII without training?€
€œNo. Interestingly, I knew €" or knew of €" some men who went for special training. The rumors were it€s a new type €" a €˜wonder weapon.€€
€œAre all women same, Franz?€
€œNo?€
€œOf course they not same! Just like U-boat. You need special training for new U-boat even though you know about old one. Same is true with women. All women you know before like old Type VII. Franz, I teach you about women €" I teach you about lovemaking.€
€œWhy would you do that? You think you can teach me?€
€œFranz, dear. I am expert. And €˜why€ is because I like you.€ To emphasize both points, she began to rub his belly and along his inner thighs in a manner designed to tantalize but not stimulate directly. €œYou like?€
€œMmmm €¦ yes.€
€œMen different too. A few things all men like. Other things €" they vary.€ Inger suddenly straddled von der Leyen. €œFor example, some men like me purr in ear, and play with earlobe with my teeth. Like this,€ and she leaned forward to demonstrate and was rewarded with an involuntary moan from von der Leyen.
€œI see we get other reaction now. Good. I think, Franz, you ready for first lesson.€
25 July 1944, late morning, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
Inger was still in her robe, preparing breakfast while von der Leyen was dressing. He had proved an enthusiastic student and possessed remarkable stamina. The last time €" number four €" he demonstrated reasonable competence and had overcome much of his self-consciousness.
Dressed now, von der Leyen came up behind her, kissed he neck, and began making love-growls in her ear. €Not bad.€ She turned and tongue-kissed him. Breaking the kiss, she said, €œFranz, sweetheart €" this nice but eggs ready. You sit now.€ He dutifully did.
While Inger served von der Leyen, she thought back on last night and marveled at how easy it had been to extract information from him. She had expanded on the U-boat training, sex training analogy and turned it into a game, coming up with erotic equivalents of various things he had learned in U-boat school. It was inspired, even for her. €The €˜Improved Alberich€ was especially delicious.€ That memory provoked a warm tingling sensation.
€œInger?€
€œYes.€
€œThere€s something I need to say €¦ I don€t know €¦€
€œNeed to say, then say it. You can tell me anything.€
€œIt€s so soon €¦ I only just met you €¦ I €¦€
€œYes?€
€œInger, I€m in love with you.€
€œFranz, dear, I love you too.€
Von der Leyen€s verbal dam finally burst. €œNo, no. I really love you. I€ve never felt this way about anyone before. I want to be with you €" always. I want to marry you.€
€œWhat I teach you, Franz?€
€œUh €¦?€
€œGo slow. Take time. Remember? Romance same as sex. You trust me, yes?€
€œOf course.€
€œI never lie to you. You believe?€
€œYes.€
€œWe go slow.€ She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. €œWhen we finish breakfast, you go back base, change clothes. Come back here €" we go out eat tonight then you spend night with me. You like?€
€œYes.€
25 July 1944, afternoon, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
Inger was awakened by knocking. She had fallen asleep on the couch, still underslept from last night.
€œFranz?€
€œNo. Horst. Seehofer.€
Walking to the door, Inger anticipated trouble and began rapidly running scenarios through her head.
€œHello Horst. What you want?€
Seehofer pushed past her and walked in. She didn€t resist the intrusion, instead pointedly saying a superfluous, €œCome in.€ He took a sheaf of bills out of his pocket and threw them on the coffee table.
€œThere €" 100 Krone. Count it if you like.€
Seehofer was not going to accept a refusal. Inger knew she was in better physical shape and larger than he but it was a sad fact that men were amazingly strong. Even a small man like Seehofer could physically overpower her. She had already considered the full range of possible outcomes from this encounter in the couple of seconds it took for her to answer the door. Worst case, she€d have to kill him and escape to Sweden. Killing Seehofer would be easy: just maneuver him into falling asleep, then slit his throat with a steak knife. But, that shouldn€t be necessary. She was certain the strategy she was going to employ would work.
€œHorst, I tell you last night, that not enough.€
He advanced on her and pushed her roughly against the wall. €œI€m not interested in an argument. I€m willing to pay. Besides, I heard you gave it for free to Franz last night. You know, that€s personally insulting to me.€
Inger switched from ice princess to insatiable tigress. €œYou tough man. You like rough,€ she nipped him hard on the neck.
€œOw!€ Then he smiled. €œNot that hard.€
Inger laughed in response. €œYes, Inger know what you like.€ She switched her attention to his ear, biting and purring. Then, in a husky voice, she breathed, €œCohausz.€
Seehofer pulled back. €œHuh?€
€œSomething wrong?€ She attacked him again, biting and nibbling from neck to ear. €œCohausz.€
€œWhat the hell are you talking about?€ Now he was getting angry.
€œHans Cohausz. You know him?€ Back to ice princess.
€œHe€s the Flotilla Commander. What about it?€
€œI know Hans Cohausz. I know very well. You understand?€
Inger could see that Seehofer did understand but was resisting the implication. €œSo, you know Cohausz. So what?€
€œI know Hans personally. He very good friend. You lowly Ensign. Horst, I know you not stupid man. It not good you make me angry with you.€
€œYou€re lying. You don€t know Cohausz.€
Inger laughed and shoved the now indecisive Seehofer out of the way so she could retrieve Cohausz€ note from her writing desk. €œHere. Read.€
Seehofer read it and gave it back. €œI can talk to Hans any time I like. What you think €˜see €¦ if not before€ means? Is open invitation.€
€œWell €¦ uh €¦ but why won€t you take my money. And why didn€t you charge Franz?€
€œI not like you for lover is why. Franz you underestimate. But, Horst, is good you here. You, me €" we sit and talk.€ Inger directed him to the sofa and she took the easy chair.
€œHere, take back money,€ she handed him the bills from the coffee table. €œI have business proposition.€
Seehofer looked bewildered. €œBusiness?€
€œYou good talker €" social. I think maybe you good at meeting, knowing people. Is true?€
€œWell €¦ yes.€
€œI like to meet higher rank officers €" men with more money. You find €" send to me. I give percentage.€
€œHow much,€ Seehofer was interested.
€œTen, twenty percent. I decide.€
€œTen or twenty? That€s not enough!€
Inger€s musical laugh turned mocking. €œI offer deal. You take or leave. Could be ten or twenty Krone for you, which is one visit brothel.€
Seehofer sat quietly for a moment. €œI just got to Bergen €" I don€t know anybody. But, when I do, suppose I send a bunch of men your way. I should get more than 10 or 20 Krone.€
€œYou prove you can produce, maybe we renegotiate.€
€œI may be able to get you someone now €" or soon. My XO. I€ve only known him about 2 weeks €" name€s Herbert Altmeier.€
€œI remember Franz speak about him. Tell me more.€
€œHe€s a quiet, studious type. Reads a lot when off duty. Writes in a journal, too €" very secretive about it but I€m pretty sure that€s what it is.€
€œHorst, you make good spy, I think.€ Inger laughed.
€œMaybe. Anyway, he€s newly married €" French woman. Rumor is she€s pregnant. He€s pretty religious and straight-laced but, well, there is the pregnant French girl €¦€
€œYes. I see point. You arrange meeting. One thing. You never talk money to men you send. Say only I very expensive. Leave money talk to me. You understand?€
€œSure.€
Inger wrote her phone number of a piece of paper and then stood. €œHorst. Here my phone number.€ She handed it to him. €œThank you for visit.€ Seehofer, realizing he was being dismissed stood also. Inger took him by the arm and led him to the door. €œHorst, man who know way around Bergen €" who know best woman in town €" he become big man with other U-boat men. And you make money on side. You smart man. This could be good deal for both of us.€ And she let him out.
She leaned back against the door and considered for a moment the scenario where she would have killed him. That would have been if he hadn€t taken €œno€ for an answer. In the event, as the insatiable tigress she would have exhausted him and later killed him in his sleep. Some men she might allow to overpower her but not Seehofer. He was a despicable little man. Actually, she thought, for a €œworst case€ it wouldn€t have been that bad of an outcome. She would have gone to Stockholm, her career as a spy over. There would be no impediment to being with Harold. On that thought, Inger retired to her bedroom.
25 July 1944, late afternoon, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
€œFranz, darling.€ Inger kissed him as he walked through the door. €œYou sit €" I finish dressing. Then we go restaurant.€ Inger went to the bedroom closet. €œAh, the print dress.€ Nice memories were attached to that dress - she wanted to leave them pristine and uncomplicated by others. €Something simple €" solid color€¦yellow €" the yellow dress with the ruffles.€ Inger removed it from the hanger.
€œFranz, your friend Horst come over today,€ she called into the other room as she put on the dress.
€œHe did?€ von der Leyen called back.
She picked up the open-toed yellow shows with the five centimeter heels and walked into the living room. €œFranz, zip dress, please.€
Von der Leyen came over and fumbled around with the zipper and finally got it to go up.
€œI not want come between friends but Horst jealous I spend time you and not him.€
€œIs that what he said?€
€œHe not say but that what he mean. He very upset I refuse 150 Krone sleep with him last night and sleep with you free.€
€œThat swine!€
€œFranz,€ she said as though to a wayward child. €œYou calm down, you listen. Who teacher?€
€œYou.€
€œFirst, is good other man jealous you. You get girl €" you bigger man. Tonight, I take you to restaurant many Germans go. You come in with me on arm €" what you call me €¦ Viking Princess, Viking Goddess?€
€œBoth. You€re both.€
€œYou come in and all other men turn and look. They say, €˜He must be some man to be with Viking Goddess.€ They all be jealous. This you should enjoy.€
€œWell €¦ but Horst insulted you. He was saying you were a prostitute.€
€œFranz, dear, I like to call myself €˜escort€ but fact is, I sleep with men for money.€
Von der Leyen looked stunned.
€œI very expensive. But, that make you even bigger man €" you get me for free.€
€œI don€t care about that. I love you. I don€t want you to €¦ see other men.€
€œI see only you now,€ she kissed him. €œLet me put on shoes then we go.€
€œThere, I ready,€ she kissed him again. €œYou ready?€
€œYes.€
€œGood. Now we go make every sailor in Kriegsmarine jealous of you.€
29 July 1944, evening, a restaurant, Bergen
Tonight, for the first time, Inger selected an out-of-the-way restaurant with a mostly Norwegian clientele. She instructed von der Leyen to wear civilian clothes so as to be unobtrusive. After several nights of going to German hang-outs last week, she needed a more salubrious, Teuton-free environment and the €œCafé Edvard Grieg€ fit the bill.
Her ardent lover - €œyoung Franz€ as she now thought of him €" was sitting across from her in the booth finishing his second meal. Inger wasn€t surprised that he was famished €" he was utterly indefatigable in bed. €Too much for me.€ Being with young Franz these past five days was probably like being on a honeymoon. The irony of it all was that she was unused to so much lovemaking. From talking with her sisters she learned that, in terms of frequency, being married meant having lots of sex €" probably between 100 and 150 separate acts per year based upon averaging from one to three times per week with their husbands. She never had come close to those numbers. The main difference was her sisters each €œknew€ only one man in the biblical sense €" Inger had known scores.
Young Franz was a freak of nature. Yesterday was nothing short of an orgy. After six sessions of penetrative and oral lovemaking, Inger was both sated and sore. When young Franz wanted number seven, she begged off saying he was €œwearing out the equipment.€ Feeling experimental, she serviced him orally eight more times that day.
There was nothing he wouldn€t do to please her and he quickly learned what she liked. The one thing he couldn€t master was strength and firmness. During their sessions, Inger had taken to imagining that she was with Harold. Young Franz had delicate hands and fingers that could be exquisitely sensual but never powerful €" when she wanted the latter, the fantasy would evaporate.
Out of prudence, Inger had eliminating U-boat terminology from their erotic activities. It has served its purpose and it wouldn€t do to have young Franz swapping tales with the boys and making revealing admissions. Not that Inger thought it at all likely he would be swapping tales €" he wouldn€t talk about his €œgoddess€ that way and, in any case, he was shy and socially awkward. Young Franz was €¦ young. Inger had taken it upon herself to help him €œgrow up.€ Developing quiet confidence, learning how to how to impress other men without directly boasting, was one skill she was teaching him. His squiring her to the German night spots was part of the training. Now he was ready to show-off in front of his comrades. She had an ulterior motive, naturally. Horst Seehofer had not delivered Herbert Altmeier to her so she would have to take matters in hand herself. Young Franz would be her instrument.
€œFranz, dear €" you done?€
€œUh-huh,€ he answered, his mouth still full with the last morsel. He swallowed and added, €œVery good.€
€œYou not see much of crewmates, no?€
€œUh, no. I€m not interested in seeing them. I€ll be seeing them all the time soon enough.€
€œFranz, I think you should ask friends come to dinner with us.€
€œI don€t think I have any friends €¦ anymore.€
€œThat nonsense. Horst Seehofer €¦€
€œI€m still mad at him.€
€œFranz. I not mad €" no reason you should be. Remember, what I say: you need show me off. You get new respect from €¦ comrades. Is good thing.€
€œI suppose.€
€œWhat, €˜I suppose€? Is true. You talk lot about Herbert Altmeier. You invite him. We go €¦ Berliner restaurant. Very fancy. You pay. Make sure invite him first. Then invite Horst. Tell him Herbert Altmeier come €" he be there, I bet.€
€œWhat if Herbert doesn€t come?€
€œThen he not come. But, from what you say about him, if you tell him important to you €" he come.€
€œShould I say I want him to meet you?€
€œThat up to you. If you keep secret can surprise.€ She thought a moment, €œSurprise might be fun €" useful too. Keep secret if can.€ She switched to logistics. €œNeed to get you ready. First thing tomorrow, get dress uniform. I clean, iron. Make you look sharp. Then you invite friends.€
30 July 1944, Bergen
€œWe€re late.€
€œYes, we are,€ Inger agreed. €œTonight you learn to be €˜fashionably late.€ Others must be there so we can make grand entrance.€ Despite her assurance, young Franz continued to fret on the walk to the Berliner.
He handled the entrance well, just as they had practiced it. When they reached the table he introduced her with all due formality. She was really quite proud of her pupil€s achievement.
€œEnchanté,€ said Jr. Lieutenant Altmeier.
€œLieutenant Altmeier.€ She extended her hand and he bowed formally and kissed it. Young Franz seated her and she turned to Seehofer, €œHorst, how very nice see you again.€
€œInger.€ Seehofer nodded. She could see he was uncomfortable. Somehow, the arranged meeting with Herbert Altmeier had happened and he had nothing to do with it. Inger had instructed young Franz to not tell Seehofer she was the inspiration for the dinner. Seehofer was utterly transparent. She could see he was trying to figure out if there was a way he could convince her that he was responsible for Altmeier€s presence. There was a word she learned from Harold that perfectly encapsulated what kind of man Seehofer was. €Putz.€
It was strange to be sitting directly across from Herbert Altmeier, the €œtall submariner.€ This close she could see that Herbert was very young €" he couldn€t be much older than young Franz or Horst Seehofer, Inger realized. Impressive that he was an Executive Officer. She still considered him a strikingly handsome man but, since meeting Harold, she found Herbert more resistible. As he talked to young Franz, he exuded a quiet confidence €" a man sure of himself and of his ability to handle other men. Harold had the same quality but he must be at least ten years older.
Herbert turned and spoke to her. €œSo, Inger €" may I call you Inger?€
€œYes, sure.€
€œWhat do you do here in Bergen?€
€œI am teacher.€
€œWhat sort of things do you teach?€
€œMany things. You want lesson?€ Herbert looked puzzled. He obviously didn€t catch the sexual innuendo implicit in the way she said it. Seehofer did €" she could tell. So did young Franz, though he thought it was intended only for him.
€œI€m not sure €" not without knowing more.€
€œI was wondering,€ young Franz interjected. €œDo you know when we€re leaving?€ He wanted to change the subject.
€œTwo weeks or so, I should think.€
Young Franz said, €œThat€s excellent,€ and turned to look at Inger.
€œInger, are you a Bergen native?€ Herbert was intent on pumping her for information about herself.
€œNo, I from Oslo. Came Bergen before €¦ war. Here since.€
€œWell, you picked a beautiful place to live. I€ve done some hiking. Been to the summit of Haugavarden €¦€
At that point the waiter came up to take everyone€s order.
Inger didn€t specifically avoid talking to Herbert during the meal. But, since her intent on this outing was to be a decorative appurtenance of young Franz, she devoted most of her attention to him. As a consequence, Herbert was left to talk to Seehofer, which he did in a perfunctory fashion. Inger could see in her peripheral vision that when Herbert wasn€t occupied by Seehofer he would watch her. She would look his way every now and then to catch him and he would invariably smile and return to his meal.
During the show after the meal, Inger was well-positioned to observe Herbert with minimal interruption. The cabaret-style program had a master-of-ceremonies who told jokes between acts. The man was quite funny €" Inger laughed €" but Herbert never even smiled. He evinced no emotion that she could see so it was impossible to ascertain what he thought about the show. She€d seen this stoic façade of Herbert€s crack before €" ironically in this very restaurant €" after he had drunk excessive amounts of what was probably akavit. He was vulnerable when he was drunk €" Inger was certain she could make him do anything she wanted then. €I€d like to read that diary.€ Sooner or later, her opportunity would come.
Herbert left early and, shortly after, Inger made it known to young Franz that she was ready to go home. Tonight, she had decided once was going to be enough. It was time to start weaning young Franz and begin teaching him another important lesson: the woman decides when, where, and how frequently to make love.
4 August 1944, on a train, one hour from Stockholm
It had been over two months since Inger had seen Harold Greenbaum and, all during the train trip, she had been fantasizing about the upcoming meeting. Inger had nominally accepted Harold€s ground rules for their €œprofessional€ relationship but that didn€t mean that she wouldn€t try to subvert them. Her problem was she didn€t know how. She could continue to dress and undress in front of him but she knew that wasn€t going to get him into bed no matter how much he enjoyed the show. He had made a decision and he was going to hold to it. The traits she most admired in Harold €" such as his strength of character - were simultaneously the traits she found most frustrating. €The man needs to bend a little!€ How could she make him do that? Inger had a sudden epiphany. €The truth! I€ve used many techniques to seduce men but never the pure, unadulterated truth!€ The audacity of the idea gave her an almost sexual tingle of pleasure.
Her plan began to coalesce. Inger would provide her usual written report €" it would give the bare details of the improvements on the U-390 and the rumors about the new sub that she had obtained from young Franz. This time, however, she€d tell Harold the story of how she met and seduced young Franz, along with the bizarre erotic game she used to find out about the U-390. She would give him every detail. Inger€s challenge would be to present the details in a way to make them both exciting and erotic. €Harold already sees me as €œDrakkar€, the master spy, so that€s what I€ll give him: the Saga of Drakkar. I can tell him how close I came to reenacting the biblical story of Judith and Holofernes with Horst Seehofer.€ Perhaps she should inject a little bit of self-mocking into the heroic story of Drakkar: €Inger Svensen €" Allied Prostitute. I f*** for freedom!€ Almost any reaction she got from Harold €" jealousy, admiration, sympathy, whatever - could be exploited. She would read him and adapt the story accordingly.
One item of unadulterated truth would include the sailing date of the U-390: 18 August. She was going to recommend that no special action be taken. Her contacts with its officers might prove useful in the future so she preferred they exit from Bergen unmolested.
Inger€s thoughts turned to practical and logistical matters. She would take money out of the bank €" she hadn€t earned any in weeks €" and use some of it to buy presents for nieces and nephews. After meeting with Harold, she€d go to Oslo and spend time with her family whom she hadn€t seen in months. Then, back to Bergen in time for the U-390€s departure. She had promised young Franz she€d be on the dock to see him off. That would give her the chance to note what submarines were in the pens and pick up other operational details.
Inger decided to start rehearsing her story. She would have the rest of today and tomorrow morning to perfect it.
19 July 1944
My dear Miss Svensen,
I am glad to hear you are well.
Thank you so much for your offer to charge German officers a reduced rate for your summer tours. If they are half as enjoyable as your winter ski tours they will still be a bargain. As you are aware, my love is cross-country skiing but I€ll see that your offer is made known to the right people.
I look forward to seeing you again, this coming winter, if not before.
Best regards,
Hans
Cmdr Hans Cohausz
11th Flotilla, Bergen
€Not bad,€ thought Inger and her mood brightened for the first time in days. She was not depressive by nature but had been unmotivated to leave her apartment or, for that matter, her bed the entire weekend. She had only just picked up her mail €" the note from Cohausz had probably been sitting in the box since Friday.
The tone of the note was friendly. Perhaps €˜the right people€ Cohausz mentioned would suit her needs. As for seeing him in the winter, Inger hoped he and the rest of his command would be out of Norway and the war over by then, though she was starting to have doubts. After the June invasion, Inger had allowed herself to believe the war might end soon. That was a month and a half ago and she was finding the slow progress of the British and Americans increasingly depressing.
Equally depressing was the continued social drought. That was what prompted her to write Cohausz. These days she would be happy to meet any €œpeople€, not just the €œright€ ones.
Inger had not heard from Gustav Unterhorst in over eight weeks. He was probably dead. Thinking about Unterhorst caused her careful compartmentalization to break down. She felt an odd mixture of sadness and elation. He wasn€t a bad man when viewed strictly as a lover. War is such a stupid waste of young men. But, sad to say, there was a war going on and Gustav was a young man who had picked the wrong side. The more wastage there was of young men on the German side, the better.
Reflecting on dead lovers was not the only time her different lives bled together. More and more over the last several months it would happen during lovemaking. Awareness that the man she was with would likely be dead soon injected a certain frisson to the physical act that heightened her pleasure. €It must be some new species of necrophilia,€ she thought, €Sleeping with the soon-to-be dead.€ Inger shuddered involuntarily. What was she becoming? €God, I hate this war.€
Now that she was up and finally moving, Inger realized how tiring it was to mope around in her apartment. What she needed was a brisk ten-kilometer hike to restore her natural physical and mental vitality. She also needed to come up with a new strategy for how to build a stable of officers. It was a second good reason to get out because Inger€s most creative thinking usually happened during strenuous exercise. €I€ll do twenty kilometers,€ she vowed as she began to collect her hiking gear.
24 July 1944, Bergen
Eight PM was a busy time in the €œSea Dragon Tavern€. The €œSea Dragon€ was owned and operated by a German named Schwartz, who also owned a brothel in the next block. Both were upscale establishments that catered to officers and, because of their proximity, generated business for each other. Unattached women were assessed a 50 Krone cover to discourage €œindependent operators€ €" prostitutes who trolled bars like the €œSea Dragon€ for customers.
Inger had been to the €œSea Dragon€ many times but never before by herself. Now she sat at the bar and downed her second akavit since arriving a half-hour ago. Her strategy for meeting officers was working too well. She had already rejected the advances of three very young officers €" Ensigns all. In fact, every officer in sight was young and of low rank €" not a single U-boat commander among any of them.
When she went to the market this morning, Inger learned of the failed assassination plot against that madman Hitler. She€d probably have to wait until her next visit to Stockholm to read an accurate account of what happened. Based upon the rumors, a German officer had placed a bomb right next to Hitler but he had €œmiraculously€ survived the explosion. The story didn€t ring true €" it sounded embellished for propaganda purposes. The Germans treated their leader like a god €" now he had performed a certifiable miracle. And the war, of course, would go on. That made her angry €" angry and depressed. €œBartender!€ She rapped the countertop with her glass. €œAnother!€
As the bartender filled her glass, Inger concluded she was being far too picky. She had been trying to find the equivalent of Grand Admiral D¶nitz €" one man with lots of information. But, bits and pieces of information about a new sub €" if it existed €" had to have spread throughout the Kriegsmarine. It would be a mix of fact and rumor dwelling in the minds of thousands of young officers just like these. She realized that it might be necessary to go through dozens of low-ranking officers to assemble enough information to be of use. €I best get started.€ She drank glass number three and tapped the counter again.
Inger left glass number four sitting in front of her and followed the patrons€ comings and goings in the mirror. Men entered the bar through a brightly lit foyer, which silhouetted them in the doorway. It was only when they were in the room that she could make out their features. After watching for some minutes, two men appeared in the doorway €" one tall and the other short. At first, Inger thought the tall man might be Herbert Altmeier. She swiveled on her stool for a better look but saw the tall man was too thin to be her submariner. The short man said something to the tall one and they walked into the room, toward her.
The short one spoke. €œGood evening, Fr¤ulein. My friend and I were wondering why such an attractive girl was sitting here all by herself.€
Inger observed that the two young officers were both Ensigns. The short, cocky one who had addressed her was wearing an immaculate, perfectly pressed dress uniform. Between his pencil mustache and jauntily angled cap, he looked more like a movie actor pretending to be a submariner than the real thing. The contrast with the tall officer couldn€t be more stark. He was wearing a rumpled service uniform that had items sticking out of his shirt pockets. In fact, everything about the tall officer seemed rumpled, including his hat. He was looking at her with the slightly unfocused stare that accompanies excessive drink.
€œWhy alone?€ Inger laughed. €œI turn down three men want my company so far - they not meet my standards,€ which was essentially true.
€œI can assure you that we - well, maybe not Franz €¦
€œHuh?€ the tall officer reacted to the sound of his name.
€œ€¦ that I am a high class gentleman,€ finished the short officer.
Inger made a show of looking the men over. €œYou find table €" I join.€
€œExcellent,€ said short officer. €œWhat are you drinking?€ He didn€t see the glass sitting on the bar behind Inger.
€œCoffee, please.€
As the two men looked for a table, Inger downed akavit number four €" then immediately regretted it. She had exceeded her limit and didn€t really know why. Maybe it was the fact her brain was sluggish from the drinking she€d already done. €Stupid. Stupid to have drunk so much in the first place.€ Undoubtedly the depression she couldn€t seem to shake played a role in that.
The men were at a table in the corner. As Inger walked up, the short officer gestured toward an empty chair rather than pulling it out for her. €œGlad you decided to join us, Fr¤ulein. I€m Ensign Horst Seehofer. Franz over there has the forbidding name Franz Josef von der Leyen but he€s really quite harmless. Franz, say hello to the lady.€
The tall officer, who had been staring agog at Inger since she arrived, blurted, €œYou are the most beautiful girl I€ve ever seen. Like a Viking princess€¦€ and he ran out of steam.
€œI think Franz likes you, Fr¤ulein €¦€
€œSvensen. Inger Svensen.€
€œWell I€m happy to meet you, Inger. Very happy,€ said Seehofer. €œFranz is right, you know. You are beautiful. So, tell me, what was wrong with the €" three wasn€t it? €" three guys you brushed off?€
Inger had uncharacteristically volunteered too much earlier. Best to play the ice princess now. €œNobody here meet standards so I relax them little bit.€
€œFranz, I think we just got insulted,€ laughed Seehofer. Von der Leyen didn€t respond €" his eyes remained fixed on Inger.
€œWhat you men do?€
€œWe€re on the U-390, out of Saint Nazaire. That€s in France,€ Seehofer added. €œI€m the Weapons Officer.€
€œ€¦ and I€m the Navigator,€ von der Leyen interjected.
€œSome U-boat from France come before. Not often. I hear about invasion. That why you come now?€
€œI suppose so. It was Altmeier€s suggestion, wasn€t it Franz?€
€œHuh? Oh€¦ yes.€
Inger didn€t visibly react to the name €œAltmeier€ but immediately wondered if it was her Herbert Altmeier. This would bear investigating.
The waiter came to take the drink orders. €œSchnapps all around.€
€œI wanted coffee.€
€œOh, so you did. But, schnapps is so much more sociable. Waiter, schapps.€
Inger spoke to the waiter in Norwegian, €œIgnore him. Bring me coffee. I€ll pay for mine.€
€œWhat did you say to him?€
€œI said, €˜Bring me coffee€ and €˜I€ll pay for mine,€€ Inger responded. Then she realized that she was starting to speak grammatically correct German. €I must be more inebriated than I thought.€
€œSuit yourself.€
€œI must visit the head,€ von der Leyen suddenly proclaimed. €œI think I may vomit.€
€œYou do that,€ muttered Seehoffer. He turned to Inger as von der Leyen walked unsteadily off in the direction of the bathroom. €œGood. Now we can talk business. How much do you charge?€
€œYou make offer, then we talk.€
€œFine €" 100 Krone.€
Inger responded by laughing.
€œWhy are you laughing? That€s five times what the girls charge down the street.€
€œI ten times better €" more.€
€œYou expect to get that much?€
€œUsually much more.€
Seehofer paused a moment. €œI could go for 150 €" but that€s all I have.€
Inger didn€t need the money and didn€t particularly like Horst Seehofer. Her read was that he was both a narcissist and a misogynist. She was confident that he could be managed but the amount of effort required wasn€t justified by the likely payoff. On the other hand, inside of five minutes she could have his buddy Franz dancing a jig if she so desired. Rather than immediately rejecting Seehofer, Inger decided to temporize and play to his vanity.
€œYou look like man with expensive tastes.€
€œWell, yes, I am. But we were talking about how much you charge.€
The waiter made a timely interruption, serving two schnapps and a coffee. Seehofer paid him and returned to ****ering. €œSo, 150 Krone. But you better be worth it.€
€œ200 Krone.€ Inger was sure he couldn€t or wouldn€t pay that amount and she€d be rid of him.
€œDidn€t you hear what I just said? I only have 150.€
€œI hear. Not enough.€
€œWell, f*** you!€
Inger looked at him coldly. €œWell, you not.€
Seehofer stood. €œWhen Franz gets back, tell him I went to where the girls only charge 20 Krone. He can meet me there.€ And he marched out.
Von der Leyen returned just moments after Seehofer left. €œWhere€s Horst?€
€œI believe he go brothel. You can join him. Or, you can keep me company.€
€œOh, I€ll stay with you. Definitely.€ He sat down.
Inger reached over and took him by the hands. €œAre you feeling better?€
Von der Leyen looked at her with an expression of gratitude mixed with adoration €" rather like a little boy who just developed a crush on the pretty nurse ministering to his skinned knee. €œYes. Yes €" I drank too much.€
Inger leaned close and said in a conspiratorial voice, €œI drink too much also. You take my coffee €" I order another.€
€œOh, I couldn€t do that.€
€œNo €" you take.€ She turned and waved at the waiter who came over and took her order.
€œTell about yourself, Franz.€
€œI€m the Navigator on the U-390. You have to be good at mathematics to be a navigator and I [/I]am[/I] good at that. Herbert€s supposed to be pretty good, too. He was a navigator before becoming an XO.€
Von der Leyen was a na¯f and apparently prone to logorrhea, at least in her presence. She could extract information from him at her leisure.
€œYou have girlfriend?€
€œNo. No girlfriend,€ he said ruefully. She noticed when she spoke to him directly now, he wouldn€t make eye contact.
€œI don€t believe. You tall, handsome man.€ He wasn€t unattractive. €œYou must have many girlfriends.€
€œNo. Never.€ He took a sip of coffee.
€œFranz?€
€œYes.€ He answered but looked at the table top.
€œFranz, look at me.€
He looked up. €œWhat?€ For a brief moment their eyes locked €" then he dropped his gaze again.
€œFranz, you say I beautiful but not look. Look at me. Is alright.€
He looked up again but couldn€t sustain eye contact for long.
€œLet€s go my apartment. Is close. We talk better there.€
Outside the bar, Inger took von der Leyen€s hand but he hung back €" almost like a little kid being led by an adult. She stopped. €œFranz, put arm around my shoulder. Yes, like that.€ She put her arm around his waist. €œThat better. Now we walk.€
24 July 1944, later, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
€œThat was quick.€
Von der Leyen had just rolled onto his back. €œDid I do something wrong? The girls in €¦"
€œThe brothel?€
€œYes. They like me to €¦ finish quickly.€
€œThey do volume business. Customer finish quick, go to next customer. More customers is more money. They do for money, not pleasure.€
€œI€m sorry.€ Von der Leyen had the sad-eyed look of a puppy scolded for messing on the carpet.
€œNo need to be. Your problem is you trained by wrong women.€
€œYou€re saying I€m a lousy lover.€
€œI saying you can be trained to be good lover by right woman.€
€œI€m hopeless,€ wailed von der Leyen.
€œFranz. Stop that! Training not bad thing. Answer question €" they send you out in U-boat with no training?€
€œNo,€ he said in a quavering voice. €œBut it€s not the same.€
€œOf course is same. People not born knowing about U-boats €" not born knowing about lovemaking either. I show what I mean. You tell me about your training.€
€œFor U-boats?€
€œYes.€
€œWell, I€m in a modified Type VII-C U-boat. It has the most advanced anti-radar and anti-sonar coatings €¦€
€œCoatings? I not understand.€ Inger actually understood in general terms what he was describing.
€œI don€t really understand it myself. Herbert probably does. He€s our XO €" Executive Officer. He reads and studies and writes things down all the time. I€m a Navigator so I don€t have to know much outside of that.€
€œSo, you in modified boat €" you get same training as others in €¦ what you call it? Type VII?€
€œYes, Type VII-C. And, no, the training is different.€
€œWhy different?€
€œWell, it also has better sonar, radar, and radar detectors. So, I had to learn about those systems, which are all different.€
€œWhat if were totally new U-boat. Could you go to from Type VII without training?€
€œNo. Interestingly, I knew €" or knew of €" some men who went for special training. The rumors were it€s a new type €" a €˜wonder weapon.€€
€œAre all women same, Franz?€
€œNo?€
€œOf course they not same! Just like U-boat. You need special training for new U-boat even though you know about old one. Same is true with women. All women you know before like old Type VII. Franz, I teach you about women €" I teach you about lovemaking.€
€œWhy would you do that? You think you can teach me?€
€œFranz, dear. I am expert. And €˜why€ is because I like you.€ To emphasize both points, she began to rub his belly and along his inner thighs in a manner designed to tantalize but not stimulate directly. €œYou like?€
€œMmmm €¦ yes.€
€œMen different too. A few things all men like. Other things €" they vary.€ Inger suddenly straddled von der Leyen. €œFor example, some men like me purr in ear, and play with earlobe with my teeth. Like this,€ and she leaned forward to demonstrate and was rewarded with an involuntary moan from von der Leyen.
€œI see we get other reaction now. Good. I think, Franz, you ready for first lesson.€
25 July 1944, late morning, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
Inger was still in her robe, preparing breakfast while von der Leyen was dressing. He had proved an enthusiastic student and possessed remarkable stamina. The last time €" number four €" he demonstrated reasonable competence and had overcome much of his self-consciousness.
Dressed now, von der Leyen came up behind her, kissed he neck, and began making love-growls in her ear. €Not bad.€ She turned and tongue-kissed him. Breaking the kiss, she said, €œFranz, sweetheart €" this nice but eggs ready. You sit now.€ He dutifully did.
While Inger served von der Leyen, she thought back on last night and marveled at how easy it had been to extract information from him. She had expanded on the U-boat training, sex training analogy and turned it into a game, coming up with erotic equivalents of various things he had learned in U-boat school. It was inspired, even for her. €The €˜Improved Alberich€ was especially delicious.€ That memory provoked a warm tingling sensation.
€œInger?€
€œYes.€
€œThere€s something I need to say €¦ I don€t know €¦€
€œNeed to say, then say it. You can tell me anything.€
€œIt€s so soon €¦ I only just met you €¦ I €¦€
€œYes?€
€œInger, I€m in love with you.€
€œFranz, dear, I love you too.€
Von der Leyen€s verbal dam finally burst. €œNo, no. I really love you. I€ve never felt this way about anyone before. I want to be with you €" always. I want to marry you.€
€œWhat I teach you, Franz?€
€œUh €¦?€
€œGo slow. Take time. Remember? Romance same as sex. You trust me, yes?€
€œOf course.€
€œI never lie to you. You believe?€
€œYes.€
€œWe go slow.€ She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. €œWhen we finish breakfast, you go back base, change clothes. Come back here €" we go out eat tonight then you spend night with me. You like?€
€œYes.€
25 July 1944, afternoon, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
Inger was awakened by knocking. She had fallen asleep on the couch, still underslept from last night.
€œFranz?€
€œNo. Horst. Seehofer.€
Walking to the door, Inger anticipated trouble and began rapidly running scenarios through her head.
€œHello Horst. What you want?€
Seehofer pushed past her and walked in. She didn€t resist the intrusion, instead pointedly saying a superfluous, €œCome in.€ He took a sheaf of bills out of his pocket and threw them on the coffee table.
€œThere €" 100 Krone. Count it if you like.€
Seehofer was not going to accept a refusal. Inger knew she was in better physical shape and larger than he but it was a sad fact that men were amazingly strong. Even a small man like Seehofer could physically overpower her. She had already considered the full range of possible outcomes from this encounter in the couple of seconds it took for her to answer the door. Worst case, she€d have to kill him and escape to Sweden. Killing Seehofer would be easy: just maneuver him into falling asleep, then slit his throat with a steak knife. But, that shouldn€t be necessary. She was certain the strategy she was going to employ would work.
€œHorst, I tell you last night, that not enough.€
He advanced on her and pushed her roughly against the wall. €œI€m not interested in an argument. I€m willing to pay. Besides, I heard you gave it for free to Franz last night. You know, that€s personally insulting to me.€
Inger switched from ice princess to insatiable tigress. €œYou tough man. You like rough,€ she nipped him hard on the neck.
€œOw!€ Then he smiled. €œNot that hard.€
Inger laughed in response. €œYes, Inger know what you like.€ She switched her attention to his ear, biting and purring. Then, in a husky voice, she breathed, €œCohausz.€
Seehofer pulled back. €œHuh?€
€œSomething wrong?€ She attacked him again, biting and nibbling from neck to ear. €œCohausz.€
€œWhat the hell are you talking about?€ Now he was getting angry.
€œHans Cohausz. You know him?€ Back to ice princess.
€œHe€s the Flotilla Commander. What about it?€
€œI know Hans Cohausz. I know very well. You understand?€
Inger could see that Seehofer did understand but was resisting the implication. €œSo, you know Cohausz. So what?€
€œI know Hans personally. He very good friend. You lowly Ensign. Horst, I know you not stupid man. It not good you make me angry with you.€
€œYou€re lying. You don€t know Cohausz.€
Inger laughed and shoved the now indecisive Seehofer out of the way so she could retrieve Cohausz€ note from her writing desk. €œHere. Read.€
Seehofer read it and gave it back. €œI can talk to Hans any time I like. What you think €˜see €¦ if not before€ means? Is open invitation.€
€œWell €¦ uh €¦ but why won€t you take my money. And why didn€t you charge Franz?€
€œI not like you for lover is why. Franz you underestimate. But, Horst, is good you here. You, me €" we sit and talk.€ Inger directed him to the sofa and she took the easy chair.
€œHere, take back money,€ she handed him the bills from the coffee table. €œI have business proposition.€
Seehofer looked bewildered. €œBusiness?€
€œYou good talker €" social. I think maybe you good at meeting, knowing people. Is true?€
€œWell €¦ yes.€
€œI like to meet higher rank officers €" men with more money. You find €" send to me. I give percentage.€
€œHow much,€ Seehofer was interested.
€œTen, twenty percent. I decide.€
€œTen or twenty? That€s not enough!€
Inger€s musical laugh turned mocking. €œI offer deal. You take or leave. Could be ten or twenty Krone for you, which is one visit brothel.€
Seehofer sat quietly for a moment. €œI just got to Bergen €" I don€t know anybody. But, when I do, suppose I send a bunch of men your way. I should get more than 10 or 20 Krone.€
€œYou prove you can produce, maybe we renegotiate.€
€œI may be able to get you someone now €" or soon. My XO. I€ve only known him about 2 weeks €" name€s Herbert Altmeier.€
€œI remember Franz speak about him. Tell me more.€
€œHe€s a quiet, studious type. Reads a lot when off duty. Writes in a journal, too €" very secretive about it but I€m pretty sure that€s what it is.€
€œHorst, you make good spy, I think.€ Inger laughed.
€œMaybe. Anyway, he€s newly married €" French woman. Rumor is she€s pregnant. He€s pretty religious and straight-laced but, well, there is the pregnant French girl €¦€
€œYes. I see point. You arrange meeting. One thing. You never talk money to men you send. Say only I very expensive. Leave money talk to me. You understand?€
€œSure.€
Inger wrote her phone number of a piece of paper and then stood. €œHorst. Here my phone number.€ She handed it to him. €œThank you for visit.€ Seehofer, realizing he was being dismissed stood also. Inger took him by the arm and led him to the door. €œHorst, man who know way around Bergen €" who know best woman in town €" he become big man with other U-boat men. And you make money on side. You smart man. This could be good deal for both of us.€ And she let him out.
She leaned back against the door and considered for a moment the scenario where she would have killed him. That would have been if he hadn€t taken €œno€ for an answer. In the event, as the insatiable tigress she would have exhausted him and later killed him in his sleep. Some men she might allow to overpower her but not Seehofer. He was a despicable little man. Actually, she thought, for a €œworst case€ it wouldn€t have been that bad of an outcome. She would have gone to Stockholm, her career as a spy over. There would be no impediment to being with Harold. On that thought, Inger retired to her bedroom.
25 July 1944, late afternoon, Inger€s apartment, Bergen
€œFranz, darling.€ Inger kissed him as he walked through the door. €œYou sit €" I finish dressing. Then we go restaurant.€ Inger went to the bedroom closet. €œAh, the print dress.€ Nice memories were attached to that dress - she wanted to leave them pristine and uncomplicated by others. €Something simple €" solid color€¦yellow €" the yellow dress with the ruffles.€ Inger removed it from the hanger.
€œFranz, your friend Horst come over today,€ she called into the other room as she put on the dress.
€œHe did?€ von der Leyen called back.
She picked up the open-toed yellow shows with the five centimeter heels and walked into the living room. €œFranz, zip dress, please.€
Von der Leyen came over and fumbled around with the zipper and finally got it to go up.
€œI not want come between friends but Horst jealous I spend time you and not him.€
€œIs that what he said?€
€œHe not say but that what he mean. He very upset I refuse 150 Krone sleep with him last night and sleep with you free.€
€œThat swine!€
€œFranz,€ she said as though to a wayward child. €œYou calm down, you listen. Who teacher?€
€œYou.€
€œFirst, is good other man jealous you. You get girl €" you bigger man. Tonight, I take you to restaurant many Germans go. You come in with me on arm €" what you call me €¦ Viking Princess, Viking Goddess?€
€œBoth. You€re both.€
€œYou come in and all other men turn and look. They say, €˜He must be some man to be with Viking Goddess.€ They all be jealous. This you should enjoy.€
€œWell €¦ but Horst insulted you. He was saying you were a prostitute.€
€œFranz, dear, I like to call myself €˜escort€ but fact is, I sleep with men for money.€
Von der Leyen looked stunned.
€œI very expensive. But, that make you even bigger man €" you get me for free.€
€œI don€t care about that. I love you. I don€t want you to €¦ see other men.€
€œI see only you now,€ she kissed him. €œLet me put on shoes then we go.€
€œThere, I ready,€ she kissed him again. €œYou ready?€
€œYes.€
€œGood. Now we go make every sailor in Kriegsmarine jealous of you.€
29 July 1944, evening, a restaurant, Bergen
Tonight, for the first time, Inger selected an out-of-the-way restaurant with a mostly Norwegian clientele. She instructed von der Leyen to wear civilian clothes so as to be unobtrusive. After several nights of going to German hang-outs last week, she needed a more salubrious, Teuton-free environment and the €œCafé Edvard Grieg€ fit the bill.
Her ardent lover - €œyoung Franz€ as she now thought of him €" was sitting across from her in the booth finishing his second meal. Inger wasn€t surprised that he was famished €" he was utterly indefatigable in bed. €Too much for me.€ Being with young Franz these past five days was probably like being on a honeymoon. The irony of it all was that she was unused to so much lovemaking. From talking with her sisters she learned that, in terms of frequency, being married meant having lots of sex €" probably between 100 and 150 separate acts per year based upon averaging from one to three times per week with their husbands. She never had come close to those numbers. The main difference was her sisters each €œknew€ only one man in the biblical sense €" Inger had known scores.
Young Franz was a freak of nature. Yesterday was nothing short of an orgy. After six sessions of penetrative and oral lovemaking, Inger was both sated and sore. When young Franz wanted number seven, she begged off saying he was €œwearing out the equipment.€ Feeling experimental, she serviced him orally eight more times that day.
There was nothing he wouldn€t do to please her and he quickly learned what she liked. The one thing he couldn€t master was strength and firmness. During their sessions, Inger had taken to imagining that she was with Harold. Young Franz had delicate hands and fingers that could be exquisitely sensual but never powerful €" when she wanted the latter, the fantasy would evaporate.
Out of prudence, Inger had eliminating U-boat terminology from their erotic activities. It has served its purpose and it wouldn€t do to have young Franz swapping tales with the boys and making revealing admissions. Not that Inger thought it at all likely he would be swapping tales €" he wouldn€t talk about his €œgoddess€ that way and, in any case, he was shy and socially awkward. Young Franz was €¦ young. Inger had taken it upon herself to help him €œgrow up.€ Developing quiet confidence, learning how to how to impress other men without directly boasting, was one skill she was teaching him. His squiring her to the German night spots was part of the training. Now he was ready to show-off in front of his comrades. She had an ulterior motive, naturally. Horst Seehofer had not delivered Herbert Altmeier to her so she would have to take matters in hand herself. Young Franz would be her instrument.
€œFranz, dear €" you done?€
€œUh-huh,€ he answered, his mouth still full with the last morsel. He swallowed and added, €œVery good.€
€œYou not see much of crewmates, no?€
€œUh, no. I€m not interested in seeing them. I€ll be seeing them all the time soon enough.€
€œFranz, I think you should ask friends come to dinner with us.€
€œI don€t think I have any friends €¦ anymore.€
€œThat nonsense. Horst Seehofer €¦€
€œI€m still mad at him.€
€œFranz. I not mad €" no reason you should be. Remember, what I say: you need show me off. You get new respect from €¦ comrades. Is good thing.€
€œI suppose.€
€œWhat, €˜I suppose€? Is true. You talk lot about Herbert Altmeier. You invite him. We go €¦ Berliner restaurant. Very fancy. You pay. Make sure invite him first. Then invite Horst. Tell him Herbert Altmeier come €" he be there, I bet.€
€œWhat if Herbert doesn€t come?€
€œThen he not come. But, from what you say about him, if you tell him important to you €" he come.€
€œShould I say I want him to meet you?€
€œThat up to you. If you keep secret can surprise.€ She thought a moment, €œSurprise might be fun €" useful too. Keep secret if can.€ She switched to logistics. €œNeed to get you ready. First thing tomorrow, get dress uniform. I clean, iron. Make you look sharp. Then you invite friends.€
30 July 1944, Bergen
€œWe€re late.€
€œYes, we are,€ Inger agreed. €œTonight you learn to be €˜fashionably late.€ Others must be there so we can make grand entrance.€ Despite her assurance, young Franz continued to fret on the walk to the Berliner.
He handled the entrance well, just as they had practiced it. When they reached the table he introduced her with all due formality. She was really quite proud of her pupil€s achievement.
€œEnchanté,€ said Jr. Lieutenant Altmeier.
€œLieutenant Altmeier.€ She extended her hand and he bowed formally and kissed it. Young Franz seated her and she turned to Seehofer, €œHorst, how very nice see you again.€
€œInger.€ Seehofer nodded. She could see he was uncomfortable. Somehow, the arranged meeting with Herbert Altmeier had happened and he had nothing to do with it. Inger had instructed young Franz to not tell Seehofer she was the inspiration for the dinner. Seehofer was utterly transparent. She could see he was trying to figure out if there was a way he could convince her that he was responsible for Altmeier€s presence. There was a word she learned from Harold that perfectly encapsulated what kind of man Seehofer was. €Putz.€
It was strange to be sitting directly across from Herbert Altmeier, the €œtall submariner.€ This close she could see that Herbert was very young €" he couldn€t be much older than young Franz or Horst Seehofer, Inger realized. Impressive that he was an Executive Officer. She still considered him a strikingly handsome man but, since meeting Harold, she found Herbert more resistible. As he talked to young Franz, he exuded a quiet confidence €" a man sure of himself and of his ability to handle other men. Harold had the same quality but he must be at least ten years older.
Herbert turned and spoke to her. €œSo, Inger €" may I call you Inger?€
€œYes, sure.€
€œWhat do you do here in Bergen?€
€œI am teacher.€
€œWhat sort of things do you teach?€
€œMany things. You want lesson?€ Herbert looked puzzled. He obviously didn€t catch the sexual innuendo implicit in the way she said it. Seehofer did €" she could tell. So did young Franz, though he thought it was intended only for him.
€œI€m not sure €" not without knowing more.€
€œI was wondering,€ young Franz interjected. €œDo you know when we€re leaving?€ He wanted to change the subject.
€œTwo weeks or so, I should think.€
Young Franz said, €œThat€s excellent,€ and turned to look at Inger.
€œInger, are you a Bergen native?€ Herbert was intent on pumping her for information about herself.
€œNo, I from Oslo. Came Bergen before €¦ war. Here since.€
€œWell, you picked a beautiful place to live. I€ve done some hiking. Been to the summit of Haugavarden €¦€
At that point the waiter came up to take everyone€s order.
Inger didn€t specifically avoid talking to Herbert during the meal. But, since her intent on this outing was to be a decorative appurtenance of young Franz, she devoted most of her attention to him. As a consequence, Herbert was left to talk to Seehofer, which he did in a perfunctory fashion. Inger could see in her peripheral vision that when Herbert wasn€t occupied by Seehofer he would watch her. She would look his way every now and then to catch him and he would invariably smile and return to his meal.
During the show after the meal, Inger was well-positioned to observe Herbert with minimal interruption. The cabaret-style program had a master-of-ceremonies who told jokes between acts. The man was quite funny €" Inger laughed €" but Herbert never even smiled. He evinced no emotion that she could see so it was impossible to ascertain what he thought about the show. She€d seen this stoic façade of Herbert€s crack before €" ironically in this very restaurant €" after he had drunk excessive amounts of what was probably akavit. He was vulnerable when he was drunk €" Inger was certain she could make him do anything she wanted then. €I€d like to read that diary.€ Sooner or later, her opportunity would come.
Herbert left early and, shortly after, Inger made it known to young Franz that she was ready to go home. Tonight, she had decided once was going to be enough. It was time to start weaning young Franz and begin teaching him another important lesson: the woman decides when, where, and how frequently to make love.
4 August 1944, on a train, one hour from Stockholm
It had been over two months since Inger had seen Harold Greenbaum and, all during the train trip, she had been fantasizing about the upcoming meeting. Inger had nominally accepted Harold€s ground rules for their €œprofessional€ relationship but that didn€t mean that she wouldn€t try to subvert them. Her problem was she didn€t know how. She could continue to dress and undress in front of him but she knew that wasn€t going to get him into bed no matter how much he enjoyed the show. He had made a decision and he was going to hold to it. The traits she most admired in Harold €" such as his strength of character - were simultaneously the traits she found most frustrating. €The man needs to bend a little!€ How could she make him do that? Inger had a sudden epiphany. €The truth! I€ve used many techniques to seduce men but never the pure, unadulterated truth!€ The audacity of the idea gave her an almost sexual tingle of pleasure.
Her plan began to coalesce. Inger would provide her usual written report €" it would give the bare details of the improvements on the U-390 and the rumors about the new sub that she had obtained from young Franz. This time, however, she€d tell Harold the story of how she met and seduced young Franz, along with the bizarre erotic game she used to find out about the U-390. She would give him every detail. Inger€s challenge would be to present the details in a way to make them both exciting and erotic. €Harold already sees me as €œDrakkar€, the master spy, so that€s what I€ll give him: the Saga of Drakkar. I can tell him how close I came to reenacting the biblical story of Judith and Holofernes with Horst Seehofer.€ Perhaps she should inject a little bit of self-mocking into the heroic story of Drakkar: €Inger Svensen €" Allied Prostitute. I f*** for freedom!€ Almost any reaction she got from Harold €" jealousy, admiration, sympathy, whatever - could be exploited. She would read him and adapt the story accordingly.
One item of unadulterated truth would include the sailing date of the U-390: 18 August. She was going to recommend that no special action be taken. Her contacts with its officers might prove useful in the future so she preferred they exit from Bergen unmolested.
Inger€s thoughts turned to practical and logistical matters. She would take money out of the bank €" she hadn€t earned any in weeks €" and use some of it to buy presents for nieces and nephews. After meeting with Harold, she€d go to Oslo and spend time with her family whom she hadn€t seen in months. Then, back to Bergen in time for the U-390€s departure. She had promised young Franz she€d be on the dock to see him off. That would give her the chance to note what submarines were in the pens and pick up other operational details.
Inger decided to start rehearsing her story. She would have the rest of today and tomorrow morning to perfect it.