“Eat a large meal now, for you will find that our evening meals are much lighter than the customary American dinner.” Ruth’s brow furrowed. “I do not think I answered your question properly.”
“Sounds like you’re reading from a manual, How to Impress Your American Athletes,” Helen said.
“I enjoy the schnitzel.” The German woman’s smile revealed perfectly straight white teeth and her eyes darted around the café before she leaned in toward Helen and spoke quietly. “We were trained on our duties and I received a great deal of written instruction. Am I doing anything wrong?”
“Not at all,” Helen said, holding her gaze. “You’re perfect. I can’t get over how much I’ve learned about these Olympic Games since meeting you.”
Ruth nodded shyly before swiveling to the waiter at her side.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” Helen said.
Ruth ordered in German for the three of them. Though Helen had always believed German to be an unattractive language, it sounded much better when spoken by Ruth.
“So how did you end up with this job?” Helen asked. “Are you from Berlin?”
“My father works as an administrator for the city. He’s an engineer by training. I’ve been studying English for many years and passed an exam that allowed me to apply for this job.”
“I’m impressed. You speak English beautifully,” Helen marveled. “How lucky we are to have you as our guide.”
Their waiter reappeared to place three tall glasses in the center of the table.
“Ah, our beers. You will enjoy these. Prost! I hope your upcoming races are a success, but more importantly, may I be so bold as to wish for the blossoming of new friendships?” Ruth smiled, lifting her glass in a toast.
“Meeting you offers promising possibilities, that’s for sure.” Helen lifted the beer closest to her and took a long swig, savoring the cool nip and fizz of the lager. Over the rim of her glass, she and Ruth locked gazes, and it felt as if everything and everyone else dropped away and they were sitting at the café by themselves.
Betty cleared her throat. “So, Ruth, where do you live?”
Ruth turned to Betty, and as she pushed one of her blond braids over her shoulder, Helen felt a sudden desire to reach out and gently wrap one of the silky long plaits around her wrist.
“Charlottenburg, not far from the zoo. Are you familiar with Berlin?” Ruth asked.
“No, not at all,” Betty admitted.
“Over the next few days, when your presence isn’t required at training, I can take you on excursions and show you the best of Berlin. Of course, I mean both of you.” She glanced back at Helen shyly. “Do you have any special requests?”
Helen blinked. As long as they spent time together, she didn’t care where Ruth took them. “I just need to be careful not to do a lot of walking.”
On the final evening aboard the Manhattan, Helen had finally gone to Dee to tell her about her shin splints. Dee had surprised her by taking the news without making a fuss. “Go to the infirmary each day for massage, use ice, and don’t let any of the press catch wind of this. Keep it a secret from everyone. We don’t want anyone detecting any weakness in you,” Dee had said.
At the reference to her leg pain, Helen felt Betty’s gaze land on her. She knew she was supposed to stay quiet on the subject, but what was wrong with saying something to Ruth? After all, she was their guide. Helen looked from side to side to see if any of the surrounding café patrons appeared to be paying them any attention, but everyone seemed consumed in their drinks and conversation. “I’m having some trouble with shin splints,” she confessed.
Ruth’s expression grew serious. “I see. Have you booked appointments for every morning at your team’s infirmary? I can save you the trip and do it for you.”
“Helen—” Betty’s voice held a note of caution, but Helen cut Betty off by raising her hand slightly.
“That would be wonderful, Ruth, thank you.” And she lowered her hand onto the back of Ruth’s chair.
Ruth didn’t miss a beat. “I will do everything to help you perform at your finest.”
For the rest of the meal, Helen set out to charm Ruth with stories of shenanigans aboard the Manhattan. Betty remained quiet.
It wasn’t until the two of them were back in their room alone that Betty said, “I know you were quite taken with Ruth, but Dee told you not to mention your shin splints to anyone. Aside from Stella Walsh, the Germans are our biggest competitors.”
“What? Do you think she’s a spy or something?”
“I don’t know what to think, but don’t tell me that everything seems normal here.”
“Ruth’s fine,” Helen snapped, turning away from Betty to busy herself with setting out her practice clothes for the following morning. She couldn’t believe her good luck in discovering Ruth, but was it too good to be true?
49.
July 26, 1936
Berlin
LOUISE AND HER TEAMMATES SAT AT A SMALL TABLE amid the whirling and twirling masses filling the dance floor of the Resi, one of Berlin’s most talked-about nightclubs.
Annette giggled. “Send one to Jesse.”
“He probably gets the most messages of anyone in here. I’ll send it to Mack instead.” A mischievous grin spread across Tidye’s features as she grabbed a pencil and bent over the small piece of paper before sealing it into the capsule, dropping it into the pneumatic tube, and yanking the handle. The women all watched as the paper disappeared, whisked off through the hidden network of tubes running throughout the grand dance hall. The place’s glitz and excitement were beyond any the women had ever seen. The dance floor alone was rumored to hold one thousand dancers. And the ingenious method for sending messages between tables? Unbelievable. The women could have spent hours sending messages around the room to the numbered
