Page 62 of Flight of Dreams

Commander Pruss motions them into the room. “Fräulein Imhof has been keeping me company for the last few minutes. I’ve been quite interested to hear of her experience on our airship so far. A little over a year, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“And to think I was rather under the impression that you enjoyed being part of this crew.”

“I do,” she says.

“And yet we have this.” Pruss lifts the papers and the envelope from Max’s stiff hands and sets them on the table before her. “Herr Zabel was kind enough to collect them for us.”

A sound escapes Max’s throat. Something like a mewl. Emilie does not acknowledge it.

“Yes. I’m sure he was,” she says.

Commander Pruss begins looking through the documents. “Is there anything you would like to explain?”

“Forgive me, I mean no disrespect, but I doubt explanations would do much good. The papers speak for themselves.”

“See,” Captain Lehmann says, looking at Max, “I told you she was not ignorant.”

“You plan to leave Germany?” Pruss asks.

“I did.” She offers him a small shrug and a resigned smile. “I very much doubt that I will be allowed to do so now.”

“That would be correct. Though I must inquire as to why you would feel such a compulsion to begin with.”

“May I speak frankly?”

“Certainly.”

“I have no desire to live through a war. Or to die in one.”

Lehmann laughs. “Have you received word of an invasion? I certainly have not.”

“I have eyes. And ears.”

Emilie can feel Max’s gaze burning, probing her face. She will not give him the satisfaction of meeting it.

“What is to be done about this?” Lehmann asks.

“I would assume that I am to be dismissed from my duties, Captain?”

“That would be the obvious answer,” he says, “though not the correct one.”

She did not expect this. “I can keep my job?”

“It’s rather a matter of you having to keep your position. We have made something of a fuss over you in the press. Your sudden departure, regardless of the reason, would make the Zeppelin-Reederei look quite inept. So you will keep your position and you will be delighted to do so.”

This is too easy. She is frightened by the simplicity of the solution. “And when we are not flying? What then?”

There is a note of admiration in Captain Lehmann’s voice when he says, “Ah. Not even the slightest bit ignorant.” He chooses his next words carefully. “That has yet to be determined. There are others who must be consulted before we will know the answer to that question. I expect there will be discussions when we return to Frankfurt.”

There is no need to give her any further warnings. She has no means of escape. “You are dismissed,” Commander Pruss says. “I trust you will return to your duties in the morning in a timely fashion.”

“Of course,” she says, rising from the table. She makes sure her legs are stable before stepping toward the door. “Guten Abend.”

Max reaches out a hand as she passes him, but she drops her shoulder, evading the touch.

“Emilie.” His voice cracks with emotion.