ch3

--3
Ed entered the building as he looked around.
“Hey, Ed!” Roger shouted. “Over here!!”
Ed looked at the sound source. Roger walked downstairs as he waved his hand. “Hey, long time no see,” Roger said as he hugged Ed. “Hahaha. How are you?” Ed asked. “Pretty fine,” Roger asked. “So…” Ed said. “What do you want my help for?” Ed asked. “A lot,” Roger said. “Follow me, my friend.”
Roger walked upstairs, followed by Ed. “What’s wrong?” Ed asked. “You’ll know pretty soon,” Roger said.
Maurice was walking around in his office when Roger arrived. “Hey, sir,” Roger said. “I bring the man.”
Maurice looked at Ed, then he sat down. “Ah, boy… nice to meet you,” Maurice said. “My name’s Maurice. Maurice Buckmaster,” he said. “I see. I’ve heard about you before, sir,” Ed said. “And you must’ve heard about us, too,” Maurice said. Ed thought for a while. “To set Europe ablaze, isn’t it?” he guessed. Maurice smiled. “Sit down. We’ll just get straight to the point, ok?” Maurice said.
Ed sat on a chair. “Will you help us?” Maurice asked. “I’m not sure,” Ed said. Maurice laughed out loud. “Of course, this is too sudden. I know that. It’s Roger who suggested you,” he said. “But… let me give a few advices to start,” Maurice said.
“Now… we’ll start with something that surely won’t sound to nice,” Maurice said. “The Gestapo… Geheime Staatzpolizei. Secret police of Nazi,” he said. “Let him know how we work first, boss,” Roger said. Maurice nodded. “So in the SOE, you will work as a group… or at least we call it so. A radio operator, an agent, and the postman,” Maurice said. “What will I be?” Ed asked. “Oh… about that… you’ll be the… postman, I guess,” Roger said. “I see. What will I do?” Ed asked. “Kind of easy, actually,” Maurice said. “The operator receives an order from me, and it’s your job to tell the agent about it. And of course, if an agent has something to tell me, you tell the operator about it,” he said. “So you know the position of 2 men, the agent and operator. But however, you can never tell a side how the other side looks like, or where the other lives, and everything. You become the moderator, and no telling,” Roger said. Ed nodded. “How long will the training take?” he asked. “No practice, actually. Roger said you’re already pretty good on your own, so… I guess we’ll drop you tomorrow. Surely if there’s a Lysander,” Maurice said. “This is your identity… the fake one. Study it with heart,” he said. Ed looked at it and nodded. “Your ration book, and the budget. We’re not giving you too much. In case you need more, borrow from a French,” Maurice said as he gave an envelope. “If you feel followed, don’t look back. That catches the most attention. Find a shop with window and look at the reflection,” Roger said. “How to differ a Gestapo from civilians?” Ed asked. “You’ll know when it’s your turn<” Roger said.
“And about that Gestapo you told me?” Ed asked. “Now, now, I’ll tell about that. Something that surely won’t be too fun,” Maurice said. “The 3 sides of the agents in France. The reason you must not tell the agent an operator about the other side to prevent leakage. So if an agent was caught, the first thing the agent will face is Gestapo’s questions about the other agent. If… the Gestapo asked about the operator, the agent won’t be able to answer because you haven’t told him a word. But, if it’s you they caught,” Maurice said as he pointed at Ed. “Tell them something, and we’ll kill you.”
“Once you’re caught, you have 3 choices. Kill yourself, let Gestapo kill you, or let we kill you,” Roger said. “Gestapo tortures you hard, trust me. In the beginning they will be soft, but their tortures turned more and more inhuman from time to time,” Maurice said. “What if I tell them?” Ed asked. “They will let you go, but please note… we’re waiting for you to be executed,” Roger said. “Make sure you don’t make them notice you. You know… Himmler’s kids are usually tough. Someone who is suspected to work against the Germans, although it may not be true…” Maurice said. “They may kill you, you know.”
Ed gulped. “You can take this,” Roger said as he threw a small plastic container. Ed caught it and opened it. “Is this cyanide?” Ed asked. “Yes. Hold out for 48 hours… if you can stand it, more,” Roger said. “48? What for?” Ed asked. “At least enough for the others to run away,” Maurice said. “Usually Gestapo uses everything to make an agent speak. Whatever it takes. Not just some physical tortures,” Maurice said. “Sometimes… emotional tortures, too.”
“If they take out the syringe please make up your mind that you won’t live,” Roger said. “It’s possible that they use some bloody serum or something. That cyanide will react in 5 minutes once bitten,” Maurice said. “Speak up and we kill you, shut up and Gestapo kill you, or bite that and you die happy. 3 choices for you.”
Ed took the things Maurice gave him, stood up and walked to the door. “Will you help us?” Maurice asked. “The Germans killed one of my students. I won’t forgive them,” Ed said. “Come tomorrow at 3 a.m. To the field 100 meters to the east from here,” Maurice said. “I’ll come,” Ed said.
“You’re leaving?”
Karl didn’t answer. “When will you come back?” Mr. Von Werner asked. “I’m not sure. I can come back quick, but I may not. It depends on the situation,” Karl answered. “But I’ll be back, don’t worry.”
Karl stood up and walked to the door. “Bis spater, vater,” Karl said.

Ed held his parachute tight. “Okay, boys, we’ll soon be flying above Calais. Prepare yourself,” the pilot said. “Don’t be too afraid, the worst is to fall a few hundred meters from the spot,” Roger said. “This is my first time, so of course I will be a bit afraid, Ed said.
The pilot let he Lysander went through the clouds, and then he looked down to the ground. “Safe. You may jump now,” he said. Roger stood up and opened the door. “Ed, stand behind me,” Roger said. Ed nodded.
Roger opened the door and let the wind got into the plane. Roger quickly jumped, followed by Ed. The pilot activated the autopilot and quickly ran to the back of the plane. He took a few packages tied to a parachute, and quickly threw it out of the plane.
“Ok, good luck, kids,” he said as he walked back to his seat.