“Well… no, he doesn’t.” Elaine meekly answered.
A loud flood of laughter broke out from the crowd at Elaine’s comment.
“Karl Ernst! Shame on you! Not letting your wife have the best piece of you!”
An even louder roar of laughter erupted. Karl was beginning to understand the sexual innuendoes from Frau Ney that everyone else thought so amusing. He and Elaine did not share their sense of humor. However, the great mood he was in from the host stroking his ego and the fact these were new – and apparently important – acquaintances, he did not want to appear too stiff natured.
“Maybe I should change that.” Was the only answer Karl Ernst could think of. The group loved his response, and showed it with applause, which put Karl Ernst even more at ease.
“Yes, change, Karl Ernst, change!” The crowd chanted.
A major approached Karl and Elaine and handed them both the largest champagne glasses either of them had ever held.
“Please,” said the major while snapping his heels, “ welcome to the Stettin district and the happiest house outside of Berlin!”
“Thank you.” Karl and Elaine chimed in unison.
“Major Wolf, assistant to the Governor General.” He declared, turning and extending his arm out to a man who then approached them as well.
“Pleased to meet you, Major” Karl Ernst reciprocated, then turned to the approaching man, who also extended his arm and introduced himself in a tone seemingly requesting Major Wolf to cease conversation. The tone in his communication was successful, for Major Wolf took a step back.
“Pleased to meet you Herr Krafft. Dr. Hans Frank, the Reich’s Governor General of Poland, at your service!”
Krafft heard the name of Dr. Hans Frank somewhere before several years ago, yet did not remember how, or in what way the name might mean something. Karl Ernst also did not realize Poland had a Governor General, or that Poland even still existed. Like many other Germans who listen to the radio or read newspapers, the accepted idea was that Poland ceased to exist as an issue – and as a country – after September 1939.
“Governor General of Poland?” Krafft repeated as a half question. “That must be a quite job keeping the lid down on the frontier with the Russians right on the border and the countryside roaming with Polish and Jewish sympathizers.”
The Governor seemed pleased that Krafft had an idea of the difficulty with his new job. Any discussion over Poland usually was had with Hitler, Göring, and Himmler, all of whom felt things were not moving fast enough in eliminating the undesirable elements remaining there.
Frau Ney approached and took Elaine by the arm. “Come with me, dear, I have something upstairs you will just adore!”
Von Wohl walked out of the Baron’s house with mixed feelings. He was amazed what was revealed about his life and character and the other things no one but Von Wohl himself could have known. The first astrology lesson went well, with the Baron being impressed as to how quickly Von Wohl grasped the basic concepts. Von Wohl was eager to continue and happy the Baron arranged to meet once a week. Von Wohl was also happy he was able to arrange another form of payment instead of money in exchange for the Baron’s astrology lessons. During their conversations von Wohl learned Baron Harals Keun von Hoogerwoerd had a liking for marijuana and hashish cigarettes, yet found it sometimes difficult to obtain what he considered good quality. It just so happened that von Wohl knew a Hamburg sailor who regularly set port in Mexico and would usually bring back a large supply of some of the best for himself, his friends, and whoever else filtered into his circle.
The exchange was perfect. Von Wohl was now able to learn an important tool to help him shift through his troubled emotions and perhaps use in his manipulation of others – without having to pay for it. This was a great benefit considering von Wohl’s current rocky financial situation over the past several years.
However, von Wohl was disappointed the information he wanted most was the very information he did not receive. Something stuck a nerve in him when he heard the Baron describe the Moon held the key concerning his emotional need. In fact, for most of von Wohl’s life he thought he had no emotional needs. He now felt his personal philosophy needed adjustment, but he didn’t know how – not yet anyway. If astrology showed him there was an empty hole in his life – could this strange art also show him how to fill it?
When the Baron described how von Wohl’s mind and heart operated on different vibrations, with his mind vibrating to Aquarius and his heart to Sagittarius, an awakening occurred within him. It was as if these words created a flash of light that burst out of nowhere, enlightening a new way von Wohl looked upon himself.
All the past mistakes, the unanswered actions and feelings, the unknown reasons why things had gone wrong in his life were answered in that one statement: “Your mind and heart operate on different vibrations.”
“Herr von Wohl?” a voice came from a parked car just as von Wohl had shut the gate in front of the Baron’s well-kept yard.
Ludwig von Wohl was shaken out of his dream state and looked up to the car window. It was Count von Hoogerwoerd, the Baron’s father. A chill went over von Wohl as if someone had just rubbed a block of ice down his back.
“Oh, good evening, Count.” Von Wohl said politely.
“Do you have some time for coffee, or a beer perhaps?”
“Well, thank-you,” Von Wohl said with the same politeness he had shown at the Holland Ball, “but your son was more than a wonderful host and pretty much filled me with everything I could think of and then some.”
“Then perhaps I may give you a ride home, or to where ever you are now going?”
Von Wohl found it difficult to refuse since it was obvious from the Count’s tone revealed he was set on talking with, and this conversation would was to take place now. Without a word Von Wohl walked around to the other side of the car and got in. Even with a light snow falling as he entered the car, an unexplained sweat began to form around his temples. The Count noticed Von Wohl’s condition and made a mental note. He had not yet decided on how he was going to use this odd character, or if he was going to let him live.
The Admiral had been staring out of his window for the past 45 minutes. Normally his office would have a wonderful view of southwest London, but tonight the fog would not even allow him to see the buildings on the other side of the street. In the Admiral’s hand was a note harboring more bad news. How was it that the Nazis seemed to know every move he was making? What was all this talk that seemed to come from every level that somehow the Third Reich was able “see into the future”, as well as into the plans designed by British intelligence? Was there a connection between the loss of his agents, courtiers, and messages and this form of “black magic” Hitler seemed to have at his disposal?
The Admiral’s office had been full of questions for the last several months, and every piece of information that was brought in from Europe only created more questions, and unexplained results. Unfortunately, by late April 1940, most of the results from his department were poor, even bad – and this pattern had to change. Such a score sheet could bring down the proud military tradition & reputation his ancestors had built up for centuries in the British Empire. He had to find out what Hitler’s “secret weapon” was – and destroy it.
A knock on the Admiral’s door then opens revealing a stern young woman in a crisp staff sergeant uniform who marches into the spacious Victorian room with a folder marked “Top Secret”.