Angel From Hell, page 4
part #1 of Anna Fehrbach Series Series
‘No sir.’ She was becoming interested despite herself.
‘The initials stand for Sicherheitsdienst, that is, the Secret Service. We are the most secret service in the Reich, far more so than the Abwehr, the SS, or the Gestapo.’
‘And you wish to employ me?’
‘I am employing you. Now . . .’ From his inside breast pocket he took a thick envelope. ‘I want you to read, very carefully, everything that is in this envelope, and memorize it. There is no need for you to burn it. You may keep it to refresh your memory. But I will tell you, briefly, what it contains. We are giving you a new identity. We think it would be inappropriate for you to continue to be an Austrian and the daughter of a convicted seditious newspaper editor.’
‘Has he been convicted?’
‘Now, you well know, Anna, that whether or not he is condemned is entirely up to you, but I have high hopes that he will not be. To continue, we feel it would be appropriate for you to have a rank and a style more in keeping with your looks, and, if I may say so, your naturally aristocratic demeanour. We have decided to retain the given name of Anna, which we feel suits you, but you are now Countess Anna von Widerstand.’
‘That is a name?’
‘Anything can be a name, Anna. And we think this is entirely appropriate for someone of your character. I understand you are fluent in English. Say it in English.’
‘Anna of Opposition? People will laugh at me.’
‘It also means resistance. That is your name, the Countess of Resistance. Actually, I doubt many of the people you will be dealing with will know the meaning of the word, but in any event, here in this envelope is a complete explanation of how you came by the name, which you may use as necessary. As for people here in Germany, we will make sure that no one laughs at you, at least no more than once. You are the Countess von Widerstand; your full background is here. But that brings me to my next point. You are half-English.’
‘I am half-Irish, Herr Colonel.’
‘Well said. But your mother holds an English passport.’
‘She was a journalist with an English newspaper, and found it most convenient to accept that nationality. After settling in Austria, she continued to renew her English passport.’
‘A devious woman,’ Glauber commented. ‘Do you hate the English, Anna?’
‘I have never met an Englishman, Herr Colonel. Or woman.’
‘But all people of Irish blood hate the English. Is that not so? Does not your mother hate the English?’
‘She has never told me so, sir.’
‘Extraordinary. Well, I can tell you that the English are our enemies.’
‘I thought the Communists, the Russians, were our enemies.’
‘You are right. They, and the Jews, of course, are the people that we must destroy, for the future of Europe. But the English, and the French, are very likely to interfere with our plans.’
‘You mean they will side with the Communists?’
‘It is possible. Not because they support Communism, but because they are afraid to let us grow too strong. My point is that not many high-ranking Russian military officers or diplomats visit Berlin, but the city is always full of British and French. As Countess von Widerstand you will attend soirees and receptions, balls and cocktail parties, where you will meet these people. They will be attracted to you, and you will be attracted to them.’
‘And they will want to sleep with me.’
‘They will want to have sex with you. Sleeping will be the least part of it. Fraulein Mayers will explain it to you. But who you accept as a possible partner will be determined by us. And under no circumstances must you surrender your virginity until expressly commanded to do so. Remember that you are the only daughter of a count, not a slut from the streets. Besides, retaining your chastity may prove an asset.’
Anna looked out of the window, at the suburbs of Berlin. Although she would never let this old bastard know it, the conversation, with its suggestion that she was to be deliberately, deceitfully, wanton – at least by all the standards of her upbringing and schooling – under the aegis of the State, was distinctly titillating. Far from hating the British, she hated these people. But as there was no way she could combat them, certainly in her present circumstances, why not enjoy the life they were offering her to the limit? But . . . ‘You say I am the daughter of a count . . . Do you mean I have a new father and mother?’
‘Your mother is dead, but we will provide a father when it is necessary. As we will provide your country estate, when it is necessary. For the time being, you will live in Berlin, in your apartment with your faithful maidservant. It is all in that envelope. But you will obviously have to be an acceptable age to be living alone. I understand that you have just turned eighteen.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Fortunately, you look older.’ He chuckled. ‘That is an asset in a woman, up to, perhaps, twenty-five, and then it gradually becomes a liability. As of now, you are twenty-two years old.’
‘I do not think I know enough to be twenty-two, sir.’
‘But we are going to teach you. We are going to teach you to be the most sophisticated young woman in Germany. You will have men falling in love with you all over the place. As I have said, we will tell you which ones to humour.’
‘What happens if I fall in love with one of them?’ she asked.
‘I would strongly advise against it,’ Glauber said.
*
The car stopped on a side street off the Unter den Linden. Anna was impressed, but not overwhelmed. Berlin could not compare with Vienna for beauty; the absence of any large, majestically flowing river determined that, quite apart from the architecture. But she had to appreciate the luxury of the lobby of the apartment building into which Glauber ushered her.
‘Is this where you live, Herr Colonel?’ she asked.
‘No, no, Anna. This is where you live.’
Anna swallowed, suddenly aware that her very plain uniform was the reverse of chic. But the concierge seemed pleased enough with her appearance, and when they entered the elevator, the operator – a boy not much older than herself – couldn’t take his eyes off her, and some of her confidence returned; she was beautiful, even if dressed like a schoolgirl.
They ascended five floors before entering another lobby. Here there were three doors. Glauber chose the centre one and gave a brief, sharp knock. It was opened almost immediately by a woman.
‘Herr Colonel!’
‘Elsa!’ He embraced her.
She looked past him. ‘And this is Anna.’ The apparent warmth of her tone was reassuring, which was more than could be said for her appearance. She was at least as tall as Anna herself, but powerfully built rather than slender. Her face was a series of granite ridges, embedded in which were two dark eyes, while her mouth was a flat gash. To complete the general harshness of her appearance she, too, wore the uniform of black skirt and white blouse. Anna almost felt that she should stand to attention. Instead she watched the woman come towards her, take her hands, and draw her into an embrace. ‘I shall enjoy working with you,’ she said softly.
Oh lord, Anna thought. She did not feel like she would be able to break this woman’s arm.
*
But again her apprehensions dwindled as she was shown around the apartment, which was quite the most luxurious she had ever seen, or even imagined. Her parents had lived in some comfort, but this was almost sybaritic. The floors were covered in soft-pile carpet, the walls with a variety of prints, mostly of classical scenes. The furniture in the lounge was mainly covered in polished chintz, the dining table in the small alcove was mahogany, the kitchen flawless. But best of all was when she was shown into a bedroom.
‘This is yours,’ Elsa explained. ‘Mine is across the hall.’
‘You mean . . .’ Anna bit her lip. She had never expected to have a room of her own again.
‘It has an en-suite bathroom,’ Elsa added.
Anna’s breath was taken away; a bathroom of her very own!
Glauber had been following them. ‘I will leave you two to get acquainted,’ he said. ‘How soon, do you think, Elsa?’
‘One month,’ Elsa said.
‘That will be satisfactory.’ To Anna’s consternation, he kissed her hand. ‘I look forward to our next meeting, Countess.’ He clicked his heels and left the apartment.
Anna looked at Elsa, who winked. ‘I think a glass of schnapps.’ She led the way back into the lounge, opened an elaborate sideboard-cum-bar. ‘You have lunched?’ she asked over here shoulder.
‘We stopped . . . I did not know the name of the town.’
‘It is not relevant.’ Elsa handed her a small glass of clear liquid. ‘You have tasted schnapps before?’
‘I have never tasted any alcohol before, save for communion wine.’
‘Ah. In that case, I suggest you position yourself above that chair, and the moment you have drunk, sit down. Now, schnapps should be taken in a single gulp, like this.’ She raised the glass to her lips and drained it, then put the glass down. Apart from a little added colour in her cheeks, it did not seem to have had any effect. ‘Now you.’
Anna obeyed, and did indeed sit down, with a thump, gasping for breath. ‘I am on fire!’ She clutched her throat. ‘All the way down.’
‘It is an acquired taste,’ Elsa said. ‘As you will find with champagne, and wines. But it is a taste that must be acquired; gentlemen will expect it of you. They talk more freely when they have had too much to drink, but they expect to be matched by their partners, as they hope you will become more accessible when you have had too much to drink. What you have to learn is how to appear to drink as much as they do, but remain sufficiently sober to remember what is said to you, or in your company.’
Anna did not see how that could be possible.
‘Now tell me,’ Elsa said. ‘Do you like the apartment?’
‘I think it is fabulous. I had no idea I would ever live anywhere like this.’
‘But is this not where you would expect a countess to live, were you a visiting gentleman?’
‘You mean I am to bring these people here?’
‘Only if instructed to do so. You will be monitored at all times when working, and instructions will be conveyed to you in a variety of different ways. I will instruct you in this.’ She indicated the folder that was lying on the coffee table. ‘I have studied your file. You seem to be extraordinarily talented, as well as courageous and determined. I am referring to the way you handled the attempt to rape you. Do not look so alarmed. I am not going to pry into that, but it is in your record. The point I wish you to understand is that for all your obvious assets, the Reich, which is spending a great deal of money on making you into what they require, will expect results. So will I. That means hard work, both physically and mentally. If you work hard, you will prosper, and, more importantly, you will please me.’ That was undoubtedly the main aspect of the situation, certainly from her point of view. As she now proceeded to underline. ‘If you do not work hard, that will disappoint me, and if I am disappointed, I will punish you, severely. I have carte blanche to deal with you as I please. Do you understand me?’
Anna felt she had to make some kind of a response. ‘Providing you do not mark my face or my body.’
Elsa’s smile was every bit as cold as Gehrig’s. ‘I do assure you, Anna, that you would do far better to be my friend. Now . . .’ She gestured at the full bookcase. ‘There will be a lot of reading. You have read Mein Kampf?’
‘Ah . . . no.’
‘I see. Well, you will start with that, immediately. It is the Fuehrer’s only work. Then you will read the works of Nietzsche, and then Chamberlain.’ She gave a quick smile. ‘I am speaking of Houston Chamberlain, of course, not the English prime minister. Do you know of him?’
‘No,’ Anna said. It was irrelevant to which of the two men Elsa was referring: she knew nothing of either of them.
‘He was an Englishman who became a naturalized German. He married Eva Wagner, daughter of the composer. He died nine years ago. But his works will be immortal; by many they are regarded as the foundations upon which the Nazi philosophy has been built. You will find them fascinating.’
‘Yes,’ Anna agreed sceptically.
‘Now, tomorrow I have arranged a session with the dressmakers. I understand that you have been taught how to behave in good company, but you must have the clothes to go with the behaviour.’
‘Oh, yes,’ Anna agreed, far more enthusiastically than when they had been discussing the books. ‘Will I have jewellery as well?’
‘You will be given jewellery to wear, when it is required. But you will not own it.’
‘Oh.’
‘There are a great many other things you need to learn as well. And there is still work to be done on that dreadful accent of yours.’
‘I can’t help speaking like an Austrian,’ Anna protested. ‘I am an Austrian.’ And then she added, ‘Is not the Fuehrer an Austrian?’
‘The Fuehrer has learned to speak like a German,’ Elsa pointed out. ‘And you must do the same. Now, have you any questions?’
‘I would like to go to church.’
Elsa raised her eyebrows. ‘Whatever for?’
‘It is over two months since I have confessed.’
Elsa regarded her for several seconds. Then she said, ‘You are not in a position to confess anything to anyone except me. But that’s enough for the moment. Now go off and have a bath. As of now you must bathe every day. There are some casual clothes already in the closet. Put them on and come back here, and we’ll start work this evening.’
Anna stood up, a trifle uncertainly; her brain was still swinging from the schnapps. ‘May I ask you another question?’
‘You may.’ Elsa’s tone indicated that she did not feel obliged to answer if she did not choose.
‘What am I really being trained for? I mean, these surroundings, the things you tell me I am going to learn . . . That cannot be simply to engage visiting politicians and soldiers in conversation, in the hope they may say something of importance to the Reich. That does not make sense.’
‘There is a note in your file that says you are inclined to look for answers where you should not,’ Elsa said. ‘It is a bad habit, and, indeed, a dangerous one. Be grateful that you have been selected to serve the Reich, and that your surroundings have so much improved, so much more than anything you could otherwise have hoped for. You will be told in due course what is required of you.’
*
Anna lay in the hot tub and gazed at the ceiling, her hair piled on top of her head. It was the most luxurious feeling she had known for a long time; certainly since before she had gone to the training school. But while enjoying the state of total physical well-being, she was also conscious of a whole jumble of mixed emotions, of which the principal was apprehension. Of what? Elsa was undoubtedly a formidable female. But so had been Frau Gehrig, and Anna had survived her. And Elsa, like Frau Gehrig, although clearly of some importance in the SD, had shown no desire, to ill treat her either. That seemed too good to be true.
But she remained at Elsa’s mercy, or the mercy of Glauber – and, of course, Glauber’s superiors. Who were not, as Elsa had reminded her, doing this with her welfare in mind. One day they would demand a return on their money. And they represented a regime she both loathed and feared, a regime which held her parents’ and her sister’s lives in their hands. And they had taken away even the solace of her faith, left her drifting soullessly through emptiness. She almost burst into tears. Then she remembered a word she had actually learned from Gerda, even if she had no very clear idea what it meant. Bugger them. She would survive. As long as she did that, her family would survive too. And one day . . .
*
‘I am Captain Blassermann,’ the officer announced.
Anna had been seated in the lounge, reading. For all her apprehensions it had been an almost pleasant month. Being fitted for more new clothes than she had ever had in her life had been a treat. Learning to perform various dances, to eat expensive food and to drink expensive alcohol had been even more so. Her morning rides in the park had been totally enjoyable, and her daily work-outs in the gymnasium had been invigorating; she had never felt healthier. It had been irritating to be forced to speak with a high-German accent, but even that had been stimulating. Even Elsa had proved surprisingly congenial company; Anna had taken great care never to oppose her in any way, but to do everything she was told, immediately. That kept the big woman happy. Anna had no doubt that, if to her great relief Elsa had shown no sexual interest in her, she was entirely capable of carrying out the threat she had made on her first day – and would enjoy doing it. But she was a most conscientious member of both the Nazi Party and the Secret Service – to which, Anna often reflected with some surprise, she herself also now belonged – and to her, duty, the successful completion of the task in hand, was paramount. And right now, the task in hand was turning her into what the Reich required.
The pursuit of this single aim apparently dominated Elsa’s every waking hour – and perhaps her dreams as well. She indulged in no social activities, and did not appear to have any friends or even relatives, at least with whom she wished to keep in touch. There was a telephone in the apartment, but it never rang or was used to call out. And all the time Elsa was there, watching her, admonishing her, sometimes – but not too often – encouraging her, above all, dictating every moment of every day.
This meant that she also had to be totally dedicated to becoming whatever the Reich wanted of her. Her problem was that she did not know what they wanted. But suddenly the flutter in her stomach, the tightening in her mind, indicated that she might be about to find out.
She closed the book willingly enough – all the Nazi propaganda she was forced to absorb every day was boring in the extreme – and stood up, looking to Elsa for an explanation.
‘You are to go with the captain, Anna,’ Elsa said.
