***
The drive took us over an hour, and we dropped off Ernest and Lucien as planned. Before noon, we were taking in the view of Reims’ rolling hills and bountiful vineyards. The city was nestled next to the Vesle River and looked splendid beneath the morning sun. I could see why it attracted many people, and this worked to our advantage. No one took particular notice of us as we pulled up to a quaint hostel called Le Fleur and asked for rooms. We gauged our surroundings and noted some German military, and even a few SS officers, moving about the city, but there were so few that I began wondering if we had chosen the right place.
My stomach rumbled with hunger, so I decided to enjoy a nice meal and let one of the guys do the fretting. I thanked Claire, the waitress, who brought us chilled wine and set a large platter of fruit and cheese on our table. With a warm smile, she urged us to take our time browsing, pointing out that the menu listed both German and French dishes. As she left to give us time to decide, I leaned into Brande.
“When you’re done with your meal, go to the smoking room and see how Lucien’s doing.”
“He looks fine, so far.” Brande glanced at Lucien as he sat at the bar and started up a chat with an attractive blonde. Ernest ordered drinks.
I drummed my fingers on the table. “We need him, but we don’t need him being a wreck.”
“He says he wants to fight, and since we can only anticipate what’s waiting for us at that lab, I think we’ll need both him and Ernest.” Brande drank some wine.
“Yeah, well a soldier who wants to go in with blazing weapons, not caring whether he lives or dies, will likely get himself killed.” My knuckles turned white from gripping the menu so tightly.
“Is that your concern? People grieve in different ways.”
I frowned. “Just find a way to tell Ernest to make sure Lucien doesn’t pull a kamikaze on us.”
“Then perhaps I should speak with him.” Gabriel stirred his coffee.
“Fine, I don’t care who does it...God, my lunch is already going to be ruined.”
“Language, please.”
“Sorry...Father.”
“What will you be having, then?” Claire brought out a pitcher of cold water and stood ready to take our orders.
“Well,” Gabriel took one last look at the menu, “I’m looking forward to the rabbit stew. We’re all going to have the rabbit stew, and some Château would be nice. I hope you both don’t mind me ordering for you.”
I set my menu on the table. “Well, never mind what I might want...continue.”
“We’ll have crepes, and more coffee too. That will be all.”
“My, you must be starving!” She collected our menus. “Where are you from?”
Gabriel spoke up. “I’m leading these two postulants on a retreat. They’re deciding whether or not to enter a monastery. This young man is a good friend of our family, and the young lady here is my cousin.”
Claire’s smile widened. “Well, bless you! I wish you luck. I’ll be back soon with your entrée.” She left to fill our orders.
Brande grunted when I gestured for him to go follow Lucien and Ernest to the smoking room, where men congregated and smoked their cigars. Once again, I tasted the sour tinge of cadmium in the air, and I spotted Lucien fondling something in his pocket. As I feared, he fell into a mood swing, and became sullen and irritable. I groaned at the prospect of several more mood swings that were sure to come. I was headed over to the bar when I saw a middle-aged SS officer enter. His belted tan jacket, black pants, and immaculate dress shoes, all clued me in to who he likely was.
“Good afternoon, Stellenleiter Vester. How are you today?” The balding man at the bar smiled and began mixing a drink for him.
A Stellenleiter was an SS local office head. He was most likely the highest-ranking officer here, and if anyone would know about the laboratory, it would be him.
“You know, the usual.” Vester took off his cap. “But I must admit, this is far more pleasant than sitting in that moldy office back in Nuremburg.”
Several Masters of the Order believed Nuremburg Castle housed the famous occult items and relics Hitler had been collecting, such as the Spear of Destiny and the Grand Grimoire. That belief was reinforced when several attempts to infiltrate the castle were thwarted by over a dozen Black Wolves. Vester must have thought himself important to work out of Nuremburg, and wore his uniform with an irritating arrogance.
I also noticed that he wore a talisman ring with the image of an owl on it, it guarded against body magic. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was Veit Heilwig’s ring. I wanted to punch him right then and there, but I decided not to miss my opportunity, since he would be my key to finding out where the lab and Heilwig were. I hopped onto the seat next to the blonde and gave her a subtle nudge.
“Hey sister, beat it.”
She turned and faced me with an offended look, but I stared her down and she stormed away. The bartender came over and asked what I’d like to drink.
“Just a water please, thank you.” I spoke loud enough to draw Vester’s attention. He eyed me for a few seconds before closing the gap between us.
“Usually, when people sit at a bar, they want liquor.” He stared at my chest.
“Well, I’m not much of a drinker. You see, I’m here with my cousin—that priest over there. He’s leading me on a retreat so I can decide if I want to join a convent. I’ve read about Saint Joan of Arc and what she did here, and I must say that I already feel inspired.”
“That would be a waste. You look no older than twenty five.”
Suddenly my urge to punch him returned. I expected him to say twenty, at most. “Should age determine desire?”
“Not at all, my dear. In fact, I find that with age comes much experience. Perhaps, I can teach you a few things.”
Not in a thousand years, buddy. “Well, my food is ready.”
“How long will you be in town?”
“Less than a week, Monsieur—”
“Vester...Simon Vester. Well, I have a prior engagement for the rest of the day, but tomorrow evening I would be happy to escort you and give you a private tour of the city.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to tour during the day?”
“You don’t know this city like I do, darling.”
“I don’t think I would be allowed to.”
“There’s no need to worry. I’m not like those other officers. I’m in charge, and I love being here...the food, the countryside, and the pretty girls. I love it! This is so much more amusing than sitting in a stinky old office. I swear I am a gentleman, and you will be safe with me.”
“Well, perhaps a small tour wouldn’t hurt.”
“Not at all, I swear it. Do you like shopping? I think all girls do.” He pressed the back of my hand to his lips. “Shall we meet tomorrow at 6 o’clock?”
“Yes...and my name is Noelle.” Resisting the urge to gag, I headed back over to my table. Brande had returned from the smoking room, and I took my place between him and Gabriel.
“What was that all about?” Brande left most of his plate untouched.
“I have a date.” I fondled the case of garnet lipstick in my pocket. I was saving it for when I really needed it. The talisman ring didn’t protect against red garnet, so I would use it on Simon Vester tomorrow evening so I could find the lab and rescue Heilwig.