Retirement

[Kismet]

Von Stalhein was certain he had never before met anybody who was more away with the fairies than this
woman. That she was actually talking to them didn't surprise him in the least.

I love this bit.

I like the Pink Fairies, a band no one else has heard of. Will that come in useful?

I'm enjoying this story, hc. Keep it coming.

[HostileCacti]

I like the Pink Fairies, a band no one else has heard of. Will that come in useful?

Oooooooooo I wish I had known that earlier..... But yes, useful. Most things are useful, one way or another.....

[Tracer]

I especially love the under-the-breath "Donnerwetter"

The misapprehension about "work"

The way an Intelligence worker never retires

The way EvS maintains his manners under severe provocation

Looking forward to the next instalheinment

[kylie_koyote]

I concur - looking forward to more!

[HostileCacti]

Thank you, all of you

It's not that much left of my story now. I'm not really pleased with the ending. There are some bits that doesn't really fit I think. But writing this has been an experiment and not everything works out the way you want...

[HostileCacti]

Retirement

Part V

She looked bemused at him:

"Are you going to be stern with me now, Hauptmann?" Her extraordinary blue eyes twinkled.

Von Stalhein bit back a curt reply, and said coldly:

"How about talking some sense, for once. ... Who are you and what are you doing here?"

It was clear that he was tired of the whole situation, and that soon he would feel it necessary to
talk some sense into the young woman.

"Have I still not told you?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh golly, I surpass even myself
today!" She nodded happily.

She interpreted von Stalhein's thunderous facial expression correctly however
and quickly continued:

"It is the 60s now, so we simply must be on first-name basis!" she twittered rather
breathlessly. Then she continued:
"I'm Gertie. How d'you do?" She smiled, rather inanely.

Must we?, Erich thought sourly to himself. But he was too well bred to protest.

"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Gertie" he said, and winced inwardly at being on
first name basis with a maniac he had never met before.

"Can I now finally be told the reason that you are here?" he added
in a rather exasperated tone.

"Oh golly, mater would be most upset! She giggled inanely again. Her luminous blue eyes
twinkling.

Erich leaned back in his chair, pressed his fingertips together and said in a cold voice:
"how exactly may I be of service, young lady?"

Her eyes glittered and she opened her mouth, as if to say something.

"No, I mean it" Erich cut in. "No more of the English humour. .... Tell me!"

"Oh, you are simply no fun!" she said, pretending to be insulted.

A hard look cut her short.

"Oh bother, I'll simply tell you".

The girl who talked to fairies poured more tea for the both of them.

"Milk and sugar?"

"Yes, please."

He sincerely hoped that her playing hostess didn't mean that she was beginning to feel at home.

"It's a long story" she began. "No wait", she said and held up a well manicured hand when
he tried to say something. "I need to tell it my way."

TBC

[Kismet]

Of course she needs to tell it her way!

This is fun, hc. Poor Erich.

Keep writing. It gets easier as you do more, or at least that's what I found.

[HostileCacti]

Retirement
Part VI

She cradled her cup delicately in her hands, frowned slightly and when she spoke her voice was
softer and she talked slower.

"As I said I'm a journalist" ..... "And as so many of us, I have literary aspirations".
She smiled deprecatingly. "I want to tell the stories never told." She shook her head slowly.
"I'm sure you've heard this many times before."

Erich watched intently as she spoke. Now she seemed sincere. She still didn't make sense but
she seemed sincere.

"No. I have not heard this before. My friends" he coughed a little "my friends do not
in general have literary aspirations."

She seemed to find this pleasant because she laughed:

"Oh how splendid! Maybe I can really do it then!"

He felt his head start to pound again.

"Please, just tell your story."

"Well, Biggles...." Erich frowned at her. "Well, Bigglesworth then if you prefer. ...
But I know that you are on first name basis with each other." She looked rather upset.
"I know...." she muttered. "I know .... because I consider him a dear friend of mine. ...
And ... he's told me so much about you. They all have. ... It's ... it's almost like
I know you."

TBC

[Kismet]

Get posting, HC. I need to know what happens next.

[RAAF Spitfire Girl]

Have finally had a chance to catch up with this section. HC, this is simply marvellous. I am eagerly awaiting more...and more...and more...

[HostileCacti]

Thank you!!

My story is almost at an end now. This bit doesn't really work, but I wanted the text finished.....

There's a danger in working on a text for too long, adding bits here and there....

[HostileCacti]

Retirement

Part VII

Pants! It was indeed maddening the way in which she could banter and tease but not tell her
very real and very carefully structured plans, the young woman thought. She knew that there
would be a time, a time when the Cold War was but a distant memory. A time when a series of
reality based, but still fictional, novels about a handsome spy from the wrong side of
the Iron Curtain would have the potential of becoming a huge commercial success,
maybe even a literary success. Yes, most definitely a literary success. Nobel Prize....

The pink apparition with the familiar luminous blue eyes, took a deep breath and continued:

"I can't believe I'm really here .... with you. I feel quite starstruck, and all that."

Erich was trying to figure her out. Starstruck? Annoying though it was he had to admit to being
slightly flattered. But he was not that important. Not now. So the past then.

But who could she possibly be that knew of his past? The eyes, there was something about those eyes.
And her featherbrained persona. He sneered. She was without doubt not daft. But who was she? He knew
that he had the answer if he could just get a chance to think. Her inane chattering was clouding
his judgement.

He'd better get that box of chocolate.

As he excused himself to get his secret weapon he heard a knock on the door. He had not heard anybody
approaching, was she a decoy? Someone sent out to distract him? No, he told himself impatiently.
Once upon a time yes, but not now.

He opened the door, rather more carefully this time, clicked his heels together and bowed smartly:

"Welcome!" he said to the eyeglass polishing man standing outside as he ushered him in.
"Your baby sister is in my drawing-room."

He said this without a moment's hesitation. There was nothing to betray that until he had opened
the door he had not known who the young lady was.

His mind used the temporary distraction to quickly structure the information he had gathered
during the last hour into a coherent narrative. Then, as brother and sister bickered over the last
remaining biscuit and what the other one was even doing there, he said:

"Now, Gertie" He winced slightly at the use of her first name. "It is an interesting idea,
and I'd like to know more. ... But, as I'm sure that you are aware, I live a very quiet life
these days. ... I'm just not interested in publicity."

He knew many effective ways to make an interviewee speak. One was to make them believe
that he knew already. Another was flattery. Flattery worked every time. But subtlety was important
with this one. She was considerably brighter than she appeared, he was certain of that.
As he formed a plan in his head, he smiled and presented the delectable box with a flourish.

THE END

[Or it might not be, this story could potentially be much longer. But I wanted it to end.
I never finish things. I suppose he could kill her. That would be a decisive ending
and it would not (necessarily) make the text much longer. ]

[kylie_koyote]

Well done!

[Kismet]

I'm quite intrigued here. Will Gertie get her stories to make her a best-selling novelist? Whose interrogation techniques will win out - those of a trained interrogator or those of a journalist after a story? This was fun to read, hc. I hope you write more.

[Tracer]

Yes: you have been hiding a considerable talent.

Bertie and Gertie, eh?

[HostileCacti]

Bertie and Gertie, eh?

I had eaten too much sugar....

[Spitfire666]

Very nice work HC

[RAAF Spitfire Girl]

That was vastly entertaining, HC. Thank you. And I, too, would like to know if we'll read more of Gertie's exploits.

[OzBiggles1963]

That was vastly entertaining, HC. Thank you. And I, too, would like to know if we'll read more of Gertie's exploits.

Excellent work! I can see the title now: "Bertie & Gertie Go To Town." I can just imagine both of them simultaneously talking rot to poor old Erich. Would make Erich's eyes pop!

[HostileCacti]

Thank you all for your kind words


I too wonder if the interesting eh.... creature known as Gertie will appear again


If she does I'll let you know...

[kylie_koyote]

Oh yes please.

[Foolscap]

Well done:-)
This truly kept me guessing, and entertained.