Official Report

British Intelligence

Code: 3986                 

Kathleen Winfred       

June 24, 1944: the end

We awakened in the morning, and watched the sun rise, tinging the horizon with pink and orange as the sky began to turn blue.

We remained silent, hand in hand, as we watched the fiery orb rise higher and higher.

Finally, Freidrich sighed, squeezing my hand for a moment. “Today’s…the day…” he said, faintly, his voice sad. I closed my eyes, and nodded.

We walked downstairs, not holding hands in case we should see Schwab, but remaining close enough that our shoulders touched.

I could feel the sadness and regret radiating between us; it felt almost palpable.

Eventually, we had to part at the third floor. He had things to do, and I had to pack my few belongings.

Freidrich had given me a small briefcase. He believed that any sort of suitcase would attract suspicion, but a briefcase might not.

Besides, the case was big enough for the few things I actually cared to bring along. I could not take any clothes other than the ones I was wearing. I was lucky it was summer, so I did not have to worry about wearing or carrying a coat.

I packed all of Virginia’s letters: hers to me and mine to hers, as well as the tag with her name and prisoner number on it. I also packed Jessica’s letter to me. I packed the short note I had received from Freidrich when he sent Virginia’s letter with Andre. I packed the watch from Albert and the earrings from Pirot. I packed the hat and gloves Pirot had made for me at Christmas time.

I was packing the locket I had received from my mother, but changed my mind, setting it aside.

Once I finished packing the few things that mattered to me, I went back downstairs.

According to plan, I was to perform my duties as Freidrich’s secretary as if nothing were different about today.

Schwab came in in the morning as he usually did, but he seemed even more sadistically cheerful than usual.

After he left, I went in to Freidrich’s office.

“Freidrich?” I said, hesitantly. My voice quivered somewhat.

Freidrich stood and crossed the room, closing and locking the door. He pulled me into his arms, and held me, kissing me occasionally. He rested his forehead against mine and I brought a hand to his cheek, brushing away a tear.

“Freidrich…” I said. “Don’t cry…” My own voice was breaking. He took my hand, closing his eyes as he held me.

“Kathleen…” he said. “I love you…I love you. I love you, Liebling.”

“I love you, Freidrich,” I said. “There will not come a day when I will stop.”

Eventually, he pulled back, as necessity forced us to move on with our day and the things that needed doing.

“Pirot is waiting up in your room; you should go and…say your goodbyes. Be…cautious. Speak quietly. No one else can hear.”

I nodded, gave his hand one final squeeze of reassurance, and left the room, making my way back upstairs to see Pirot.

As soon as I entered the room, she threw her arms around me, tears beginning to make tracks down her face.

“Kathleen…” she said, using my real name. “I’m…I’m going to miss you ever so much. I will not forget you. I…I can’t believe you’re leaving. I guess I knew this day would come but now that it’s actually here…I feel almost as though I can’t bear it. I guess I’ve grown so used to your being here. This…this doesn’t feel real.”

She pulled back, sniffing. “I’ve gotten you a small present to take with you…” She crossed to her bed and pulled something from beneath her pillow.

“It’s a journal,” she said, handing me a small, leather-bound book. “I thought that since you enjoyed reading…you might enjoy writing…I suppose you could write about your adventure to get home,” she said, forcing a smile. “And I’ve written you a note on the first few pages. You can read it once you’re gone. If you miss us…”

“There’s no ‘if’,” I said. “I am going to miss you entirely too much.”

She sniffed, and then she was crying again, and I was too.

I added the journal to the things I was taking with me.

Later in the day, when it grew closer to the time I would have to leave, I made my way downstairs to see Freidrich once more.

Again, he closed the door to his office, and turned to face me. “Kathleen…” he said, his voice steady, but sad. “I’ve some things for you to take with you, as well as an update on our plan.”

He took my hands, kissing the top of each and sighing sadly, before beginning to speak. “You’ll be leaving a few hours earlier than normal.”

I looked at him in surprise, ready to protest.

“I don’t like it,” he said. “But we’ve heard that Schwab may have relayed his suspicions about you to his commander. As a precaution, you’ll leave early. Christof is driving a car towards a small town nearer to the coast where he’ll be part of an effort to stop resistance. He’ll drive you there, and you’ll have to go by foot to my sister’s house, where you’ll be put in touch with a ferry pilot.” He sighed. “Christof has been confidentially informed as to your situation, and he will do his best to help you.”

I nodded, and he continued. “As to the things I’d like to give you to take with you…”

He pulled out a small black box I recognized, and I opened it. “Your Iron Cross,” I said.

He nodded. “I’m sure they’d only take it back when they decide what to do with me, so I’d like you to have it. You can…take it with you…and perhaps you’ll…remember.”

I nodded, closing my hands over the box.

He continued. “I saw that you quite liked Great Expectations when you borrowed it from me.” He handed me the book. “Take my copy,” he said. “I’ll most likely lose all these books anyhow…” he added, looking at the bookshelf. He continued. “Additionally,” he said, his voice taking on an extra note of sadness. He whistled sharply and Schubert came bounding out from beneath Freidrich’s desk, where he had a small bed.

Freidrich picked the dog up, and after giving the small animal a hug and a pat on the head, he handed him to me. “Please take Schubert,” he said. “If you need to, you may leave him with Maddalyn. If you wish to take him all the way to England, do. It’s your choice. I just want to make sure he’s safe no matter what happens to me, and I know he likes you, and you’ll make sure he’s alright.”

I nodded, tears blurring my eyes as I took Schubert into my arms and buried my face against his fur.

Schubert, normally happy, seemed to realize what was going on and gave Freidrich a look of sadness that I did not, until that point, think was possible for a dog.

Freidrich sighed. “That’s all,” he said.

I set Schubert down, and the dog obediently sat by my feet while I pulled my gift to Freidrich from my pocket.

“Freidrich,” I said. “I want you to have this. It’s the most valuable thing I own…and I think you should keep it.”

He looked surprised as I handed him my mother’s locket. “Kathleen…” he said, holding it gingerly. “This is the most precious thing you have…If you give it to me…you likely won’t see it again…”

I closed his hand over it. “I have to believe that I will, Freidrich,” I whispered. “It’s the only way I can keep going.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, and eventually nodded. I did not remove my hand from his, and we stood like that for a while until we were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Freidrich reluctantly broke our contact and went to the door, opening it. It was Christof.

Freidrich greeted him, then asked if we might have a bit more time. Christof nodded. “Of course,” he said.

Freidrich closed the door, and sighed, turning to me. I put my arms around him for a final time. Neither of us said anything; what could we say?

I started crying. “Freidrich…” I said. “I don’t think I can leave. I…I can’t! I can’t do it…I have to find some way to stay here with you…to make sure you’re alright.”

“Kathleen,” said Freidrich, interrupting me. “Please…” He got down on his knees before me, taking both my hands. “Promise me,” he said. “That you will do whatever it takes to escape to safety. Please. I have to know that you will…I have to have your word.”

I was still crying, but I nodded.

Freidrich gave me a weak smile, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. He stood, and took me in his arms, for a few moments, before pulling away and breaking our embrace.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s tell Christof that you’re ready. Schwab is occupied, and won’t notice that you’re gone. Aside from that, it’s past the time when you go off duty so hopefully he will not suspect.”

I nodded, forcing away my tears.

Soon, I had my small case in hand, and Schubert on a leash at my side. I was wearing my uniform to fit in while riding with Christof.

I said goodbye to Freidrich once more. I gave Pirot one more hug.

Freidrich helped me up into the passenger seat of the car, relinquishing my hand reluctantly. He handed Schubert up to me, and the little dog immediately started to struggle to get to Freidrich.

Freidrich bent down and whispered in Schubert’s ear, petting him for a few moments before straightening once more and then giving me a final, sad glance, before shutting the door on my side.

Christof got in and started the vehicle.

We began to drive off.

I looked back, watching the entire time the prison was in sight.

Freidrich and Pirot were standing in the courtyard, watching us drive off.

Pirot was waving the whole time.

Freidrich, just as he became almost too small to see, raised his hand in goodbye.

I stuck my hand out the car window and waved at them, until they finally disappeared from view.

***

image: a goodbye: chris pine as freidrich von steubon; emily vancamp as kathleen winfred

music: this is not goodbye- sidewalk prophets