Holger woke early the following day. Tatjana was still asleep, her head resting on his chest, and he stayed still to avoid waking her. With a smile, Holger reminisced about their lovemaking the previous evening and again got an erection. Slightly embarrassed, he tried to think of something else, and suddenly his thoughts spirited him away to Kongsøre, under a roasting sun. The combat-swimmer course at the Frogmen Corps had been an arduous three weeks. Long days of swimming, kayaking, running and a lot of time spent with a long wooden beam that had to be carried everywhere without it touching the ground. The night before the diploma ceremony, he had had a sexual experience every bit as spontaneous and liberating as the one he had last night with Tatjana. Back then, he had met a nurse at the midsummer party on Hoeve Beach. He had forgotten her name, but she was from Holbæk. She had invited him back to her apartment. He hesitated initially, as he had to return to Kongsøre early the next morning. It was the last day of the course, when they would receive their diplomas. However, one of the instructors from the Frogman Corps had talked him into going with the girl. He lived in Holbæk too and offered to pick Holger up the following morning, so he agreed. Holger closed his eyes and allowed that long-ago night to play in 396his mind’s eye. That nurse taught me much more about anatomy than I ever learned at school.
‘Do you really love me, or did you just need a woman?’ Tatjana asked abruptly and brought him back to the present.
Holger had not realised that she was awake and was unsure whether she had been watching him for some time.
‘Yes! Don’t you dare believe otherwise. You’re wonderful,’ he laughed and kissed her hungrily as he let his hand slip beneath the covers to caress her bottom.
Holger once again felt emotions roll through his body. Emotions he had suppressed for too long.
‘There’s only one thing more important than us right now. My contact in Copenhagen, I need to inform him about Kaare,’ he said with a smile.
Holger sat on the edge of the bed and uncovered the GSM phone. He paused shortly as doubt about the planned escape route hit him again. He shook it out of his mind and delivered a coded message to Lars Danielson’s voicemail at FE.
Tatjana got out of bed and stood behind him. She started playing with his hair, and he savoured the feeling of her soft bosom against the back of his head. Slowly, he turned to face her, kissing her billowing breasts. Tatjana was aroused immediately, and she began dragging him down onto the bed. He kissed her teasingly but then stood, walked to the window, and punched a number. Tatjana sent him an air kiss, which he reciprocated while waiting for the call to go through.
‘Hi, honey, it’s Dad. How are you? Yes, I’m fine, and I’ll be home soon. I miss you very much! I know I haven’t been able to keep our weekends for a while, and I’m sorry about that. But you 397know I love you. I just have to take care of something, something important. When I get back, everything will be all right. I promise. Do you want to go to the cinema? Louise, I’m running out of battery. I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself now. I can’t wait to see you soon, sweetie.’
Holger squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them to hide the tears. It’s no use focusing on everything I stand to lose. I have to look ahead.