“No,” Fulmar said, “SS-SD. There’s a difference.”
“What about Peis?” Fine pursued.
“What I thought was my irresistible charm in wooing the fair Gisella,” Fulmar said, “turned out to be this Peis character telling her to be nice to me.”
“I don’t suppose he’s still there, but it should be checked out,” Fine said.
“Have you got a first name, Eric?”
“Herr Hauptsturmfuhrer,” Fulmar said. “He’s not too bright, but he’s a real prick. Think of a stupid Eldon Baker in a black uniform.” Canidy laughed.
“You haven’t told me what you want me to do,” Fulmar said. “That would be nice to know before I tell you to go fuck yourself.”
“What we want to do right now is prove to Gisella (a) that you’re in England, and (b) in a position to send messages over the BBC.”
” Pigeons are pissing in the Seine, that kind of message?” Canidy nodded.
“And something only I could know, right?” Fulmar asked, and when Canidy nodded again, asked, as if he had just thought of this, “And what makes you think she’ll be listening to the BBC? That’s a sure way to get sent to a Konzentrationslager.”
“We’re taking care of that,” Fine said.
Fulmar looked at him curiously.
“Muller’s going to get her a radio,” Canidy said.
Fulmar’s look turned incredulous. Then Canidy nodded.
“Jesus,” Fulmar said, impressed.
“Think of something, Eric,” Canidy said gently. “Something intimate, something she would remember, something they would not, of course, connect with her.”
“In other words, something happened in bed, right?
” Fulmar snapped.
“Anything that will do the job,” Canidy said. “Sex is intimate and private.
That’s why I got into that. And for obvious reasons, we’re going to need more than one message. But we need one now.” Fulmar shrugged.
“I don’t really know why I’m going along with this shit at all,” he said.
He had thought of something. Just before he’d left Marburg, they’d had a picnic on the Lahn. They’d rented a canoe, floated downriver with the current, and stopped and picnicked on the riverbank.
He had been debating that day whether to tell her he was going. In the end, he decided it would be better if she didn’t know.
He closed his eyes and exhaled.
“Eric wants to paddle Gisella’s canoe again,” he said.
“What?”
“”Eric wants to paddle Gisella’s canoe again, “‘ Fulmar said.
“With your filthy imagination, you figure out what it means. She’ll know.”
“Don’t be too clever. You’re sure she’ll know?”
“I said, she’ll know it’s me.” “What’s it mean?” Canidy asked.
“None of your fucking business, Richard,” Fulmar said.
“What about a pet name?” Fine asked. “Something that would at once further identify you, and not use your real name. Or hers.” Fulmar gave him a withering look.
“Bubchen,” he said finally.
” Boobchin’?” Canidy quoted. “What the hell is that?”
“Liale boy, ” Fine made the translation. “With overtones of affection that don’t come across in English.”
“And what did you call her?”
“Fuck you, Dick!” Fulmar said. And then, a moment later, a’bubchen would like to paddle Gisella’s canoe again. And that’s it, Dick. If that doesn’t satisfy you, stick the whole thing up your ass.” Canidy stood up.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said. “Let’s go get something to drink.”
“Are you sure that’s all, Dick?” Fine asked.
His eyes moved, just perceptibly, to the Stars’s Stripes.
“Christ, I for got about that,” Canidy said.
Fulmar misunderstood him.
“Whatever it is, it’s going to have to wait,” he said. “I need a bath and a drink. I have had enough of this shit for one day.” Canidy unfolded the newspaper and handed it to Fulmar.
Fulmar read the story about America’s Sweetheart’s arrival in England.
L.
“What do you want to do about it, Eric?” Canidy asked gently.
“You weren’t listening, Major,” Fulmar said.
“Huh?”
“I just said, I need a bath and a drink. I have had enough shit for one day. “‘ “Captain Fine,” Canidy said. “If anyone should inquire, Lieutenant Fulmar and I will be in the bar at the Dorchester.
When the press of your duties permits, feel free to join us.”