Mission Summary and Team
Thursday 1 May 1941
- Clara went to register. When she told them she was a doctor, the Oberleutnant invited her to his office. He asked why she came to Betton. She said that she thought that medical aid would be needed in the north, especially in small towns.
- The Oberleutnant was interested in where she would practice and confided that having a medical resource in the village would be advantageous, so he agreed to allow her to treat the villagers in secret to avoid the scruitiny of his superiors so long as she was willing to treat any serious injuries among his men.
- The Oberleutnant suggested that she practice in her house and that he might be able to help her acquire supplies. He stamped her papers and provided authorization for a vehicle.
- The Oberleutnant was also be interested in her and asked to see her socially at the cafe.
- Simon and Marie Claire arrived at the town hall while Antoinette was with the Oberleutnant. He smiled at her as she left. Antoinette went back to the house.
- The sergeant asked how long they had been living at the farm. He said a couple of days. Before that he came from Saint Denis where he met Marie. Marie said that she was from Betton visiting her aunt in Saint Denis before the Blitzkrieg and when she returned to Betton, Simon came with her. Simon nodded in agreement. He asked if the farm belonged to Marie Claire and she said that it was abandoned but still good and would be needed to feed the people.
- Simon asked the sergeant if there were people to pick up dead animals. He offered to do so. The soldier went to speak with the Oberleutnant. He returned with the officer a little later and made his request. The Oberleutnant said that he would instruct his troops not to commandeer necessary tools to conduct work. However, the axe has not been delivered to the town hall yet. Simon asked if there was another axe and the Oberleutnant said he did not have any tools to distribute, but he could claim his axe when it arrived.
- Simon then offered clean up dead animals, plants, dirt and other dead things acting like a mentally disabled person in order to avoid being requisitioned for labor gangs.
- Simon asked if the Oberleutnant had any seed. The officer replied that he would inquire of his superiors for seed so that the farmers could plant something.
- The sergeant gave them their papers and ration books, as well as a permit for the axe and told them to go away.
- While Victor was inventorying the garage, two German soldiers showed up.
- One positioned himself by the pump and the other “inspected” the cot in the office.
- Dupont told Victor that he did not want any trouble from the Germans, who were probably going to take over the garage for their own purposes, but they might hear things of interest.
- Victor had assembled some oil cans of a mixture that would disable an engine. He told Dupont about them so they did not get used accidentally. Dupont asked why he made them. Victor said in case the Germans brought something to the village that they did not want to function. Dupont was surprised by did not make a fuss.
- Victor then went to chat up one of the soldiers. He introduced himself as Lucas Friedmann. He mentioned that the garrison was about two dozen men, he joined the army in 1938 after the Anschluss. He also mentioned that his platoon was the day shift and that another would be coming for the night.
- Victor asked if the private know Gottfried von Laue, but he didn’t. Victor asked if those types would show up in Betton, Friedmann said that they usually stick to the city where it was more comfortable and there was more entertainment.
- Victor found a bottle of wine and offered it to private for him and his mates in the barracks. The private replied that the rules did not apply to private stocks and suggested keeping it on the premises. They went inside and shared it, though Dupont was not happy.
- At the blacksmith, Arnou asked if the smithy had been searched. LeBlanc said that they had not come yet, but they would. He said that since the smithy was open, there was little to hide.
- He mentioned that Marlon had been kicked by a horse as a child and had a slight limp. And since that time, he has claimed to see spooky things in his dreams. Though he did predict the “dark force on the horizon” the day before the Blitzkrieg.
- LeBlanc let Arnou leave early as there was no business. He made his way back to the cafe
- Simon and Marie Claire waited in the café for their axe to arrive in town.
Arnou arrived a few minutes later. The bar maid brought them all coffee cups filled with red wine. - Arnou sat at a different table.
- Another patron introduced himself as Henri and spouted on about the bleakness of their situation.
- Arnou moved to the other end of the table.
- Clara looked over the safe house as a potential infirmary. Marlon’s suggestion of the old doctor’s house seemed like a better option.
- She sought him out to show her that house and found him on the way to the café.
- He was suspicious at first, but she managed to make a friend of him.
- They went to the café to eat. There Marlon saw Jacques and they joined him. The barmaid came and offered Marlon his “usual meal.” He said yes and ordered for Antoinette as well. The barmaid asked if she was sure. Antoinette said yes…