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"However, I have decided not to tell my friends until I have mastered the instrument," Koch added. "Then I will astonish them with my skill."
"Won't that be fun?" said Maud. "Please sit down, Lieutenant, if you have a few minutes to spare." She pointed to the chair on which Carla's basket stood.
Carla reached out to grab th
e basket, but Koch beat her to it. He picked it up, saying: "Allow me." He glanced inside. Seeing the cabbage, he said: "Your supper, I presume?"
Carla said: "Yes." Her voice came out as a squeak.
He sat on the chair and placed the basket on the floor by his feet, on the side away from Carla. "I always fancied I might be musical. Now I have decided it is time to find out." He crossed his legs, then uncrossed them.
Carla wondered why he was so fidgety. He had nothing to fear. The thought crossed her mind that his unease might be sexual. He was alone with three single women. What was going through his mind?
Ada put a cup of coffee in front of him. He took out cigarettes. He smoked like a teenager, as if he were trying it out. Ada gave him an ashtray.
Maud said: "Lieutenant Koch works at the Ministry of War on Bendler Strasse."
"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 counteroffensive 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."
