‘Indeed!’ That was the headquarters of the Supreme Staff. It was just as well Koch was telling no one there about learning the piano. All the greatest secrets of the German military were in that building. Even if Koch himself was ignorant, some of his colleagues might remember that Walter von Ulrich had been an anti-Nazi. And that would be the end of his lessons with Frau von Ulrich.
‘It is a great privilege to work there,’ said Koch.
Maud said: ‘My son is in Russia. We’re terribly worried about him.’
‘That is natural in a mother, of course,’ Koch said. ‘But please do not be pessimistic! The recent Russian counter-offensive has been decisively beaten back.’
That was rubbish. The propaganda machine could not conceal the fact that the Russians had won the battle of Moscow and pushed the German line back a hundred miles.
Koch went on: ‘We are now in a position to resume our advance.’
‘Are you sure?’ Maud looked anxious. Carla felt the same. They were both tortured by fear of what might happen to Erik.
Koch tried a superior smile. ‘Believe me, Frau von Ulrich, I am certain. Of course I cannot reveal all that I know. However, I can assure you that a very aggressive new operation is being planned.’
‘I am sure our troops have everything they need – enough food, and so on.’ She put a hand on Koch’s arm. ‘All the same, I worry. I shouldn’t say that, I know, but I feel I can trust you, Lieutenant.’
‘Of course.’
‘I haven’t heard from my son for months. I don’t know if he’s dead or alive.’
Koch reached into his pocket and took out a pencil and a small notebook. ‘I can certainly find out for you,’ he said.
‘Could you?’ said Maud, wide-eyed.
Carla thought this might be her reason for flirting.
Koch said: ‘Oh, yes. I am on the General Staff, you know – albeit in a humble role.’ He tried to look modest. ‘I can inquire about . . .’
‘Erik.’
‘Erik von Ulrich.’
‘That would be wonderful. He’s a medical orderly. He was studying to be a doctor, but he was impatient to fight for the Fuhrer.’
It was true. Erik had been a gung-ho Nazi – although his last few letters home had taken a more subdued tone.
Koch wrote down the name.
Maud said: ‘You’re a wonderful man, Lieutenant Koch.’
‘It is nothing.’
‘I’m so glad we’re about to counter-attack on the Eastern Front. But you mustn’t tell me when the attack will begin. Though I’m desperate to know.’
Maud was fishing for information. Carla could not imagine why. She had no use for it.
Koch lowered his voice, as if there might be a spy outside the open kitchen window. ‘It will be very soon,’ he said. He looked around at the three women. Carla saw that he was basking in their attention. Perhaps it was unusual for him to have women hanging on his words. Prolonging the moment, he said: ‘Case Blue will begin very soon.’
Maud flashed her eyes at him. ‘Case Blue – how tremendously thrilling!’ she said in the tone a woman might use if a man offered to take her to the Ritz in Paris for a week.
He whispered: ‘The twenty-eighth of June.’
Maud put her hand on her heart. ‘So soon! That’s marvellous news.’
‘I should not have said anything.’
Maud put her hand over his. ‘I’m so glad you did, though. You’ve made me feel so much better.’
He stared at her hand. Carla realized that he was not used to being touched by women. He looked up from her hand to her eyes. She smiled warmly – so warmly that Carla could hardly believe it was 100 per cent faked.
Maud withdrew her hand. Koch stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. ‘I must go,’ he said.
Thank God, Carla thought.
He bowed to her. ‘A pleasure to meet you, Fraulein.’
‘Goodbye, Lieutenant,’ she replied neutrally.
Maud saw him to the door, saying: ‘Same time tomorrow, then.’
When she came back into the kitchen she said: ‘What a find – a foolish boy who works for the General Staff!’
Carla said: ‘I don’t understand why you’re so excited.’
