The three of us all appeared within minutes of each other the next morning. We had agreed to go for a run, and with the temperature holding at -1°C, we decided it would be worth the effort. Klaus had indeed managed to clear enough snow, combined with the few wheel tracks, to create a decent path. Our only real obstacle was the early morning darkness. There were no races or challenges this morning. Occasional light comments were all anyone attempted. The weight of the task loomed ahead of us after our late-night conversations in the library.
After analyzing our options, the previous night, Franz and Henry abandoned the chess games in favor of working through plans. Henry produced a loose outline of steps for moving forward, and we all agreed. Specific details would be worked out after our night's sleep. The quiet of our run confirmed our focus for the day.
Upon our return, we all headed for the stairs, when Klaus appeared with news. "Innsbruck telephoned to confirm your guests will arrive this evening. Shall I plan to retrieve them, Mein Herr?"
I replied, "Thank you, Klaus. Franz or I will retrieve them in the morning." The words had no sooner left my mouth than Franz cut in right behind me.
"We will be traveling together, Klaus. Henry will stay behind to work on our projects here. Please expect all of us in time for supper."
Klaus nodded and said, "Herr Henry will want for nothing in your absence. Everything will be in order when you return." I nodded back and headed upstairs. So, Fritzy still had it in mind to speak with the fortune-teller. We all retreated to our rooms. The hot shower was welcome after the brisk run.
Back downstairs, I took the time to write to my betrothed, Evangeline, before the day took on its own momentum. I found myself often pushing her from my mind. Perhaps she should have accompanied me here to the estate, at least. After all, there would be no one to bother her or even know she was here. Still, something inside made me feel that her safety lay outside of Austria's borders. No, Vaduz was the correct choice. The family would keep her safe at the estate in Lichtenstein. Mother and Auntie probably had her busier than she believed possible. I delivered the letter directly into Klaus's capable hands and requested coffee with Kaisersemmel in the study. Returning, I began rearranging the furniture to provide more room for planning and training.
Elsa brought coffee, quickly followed by Klaus. After assessing what I was doing, he suggested long worktables be brought in from the workshop. The tables had been here since before he and Greta were hired as caretakers. Father had commissioned them during the building of the house. At first, I was skeptical. Klaus reassured me, telling me he would take care of everything. He returned a few minutes later with his three sons in tow. They removed all the excess furniture leaving me the Chesterfield, a desk with a chair, a dry bar, a side table, and some other small items.
It was not long before they brought in one of the long tables. Much to my surprise and elation, the table was in fantastic condition. The craftsmanship was far superior to any ‘worktable’ I had seen. The table was solid Oak, stained a deep rich color. Scrollwork covered the surround under the flat surface. Drawers were built in, also intricately carved, almost hiding them from the eye. The wood was in pristine condition, well cared for by the Bauer’s no doubt.
The table’s height was ideal. However, we would need to be creative with chairs. I turned to address the problem with Klaus, but he and his sons had all disappeared. A few moments later, they returned with chairs in tow. Another trip brought more, eight in all. The chairs matched the table perfectly. The seats and high back were covered in leather, with a comfortable layer of padding beneath. “There are two others if you should require them,” Klaus offered.
“No, just one is perfect, Klaus. It’s almost as if they were made for the room. I believe, if we removed all of the furniture, all three would fit quite comfortably with room to spare,” I replied.
“That was my understanding when the Gräf and Gräfin were still in residence. Just after we were contracted to care for the Estate. Although the Gräf did not specify why they were made for the room.” Klaus excused himself, promising to check in shortly. He took the boys out with him, leaving me to puzzle through what purpose my father may have originally intended they be used for.
I retrieved a few items to write with and placed them in the drawers. They opened smoothly, a perfect fit. The size was exactly correct for paper and writing instruments. Laughter came from the area of the dining hall, distinctly Henry’s. I moved the coffee and rolls to the table. Procuring my favorite pen and paper, I returned to the table and began a list. In no particular order, I added items important to consider in our plans.
It was far from comprehensive but an adequate start. Elsa appeared, taking the coffeepot, and promising a quick return with a fresh pot. The list had captured my attention so much that I had forgotten to even pour a cup. As Elsa left, I heard Franz and Henry’s voices approaching.
“There you are, we gave up on you. Wow, you have been busy,” Henry said as he entered the room.
“My apologies, Henry, I wanted to have things prepared for your tutelage with the radios tomorrow. Or at least have a more appropriate space for five of us working.” I stood waving him farther into the room. Franz followed just behind. He looked at the table, cocked an eyebrow, and began walking around it. Examining the craftsmanship, he ran his hands over it almost lovingly. Then, surprising us both, he crawled under the table. I realized he was looking for the stamp or mark of the creator.
“Uncle Josef, his work is, was unmistakable,” Franz said, crawling out from under the table.
“Your uncle crafted these, Franz?” Henry asked, “They are pieces of art!”
“Yes, my Uncle Josef, the family always joked about his hobby. It was his passion, though, he carved everything from tiny figurines to furnishings. When we visited him, I would spend hours mesmerized. The family considered working with his hands beneath his station in life. He did not share their views,” Franz explained.
“You said ‘was,’ he no longer carves then?” Henry inquired.
“No, we lost him in the war. Near the end, almost his entire command was annihilated.” Franz’s voice almost broke as he said it. I remembered Uncle Josef well; they were favorites of each other. Franz would tell stories of when he went to visit. All the wonderful things he would teach him in his workshop. When Uncle Josef would visit the Von Grünne estate down the road, he would always have a wooden horse or soldier to give me. However, I never had the privilege to visit him and see him at his craft.
“Fritzy, do you have any idea why he crafted these tables?” I asked, even more intrigued knowing who the craftsman was, “This is only one, there are two more, with chairs.” I added.
“Where?”
“Out in the workshop,” I said. Franz immediately excused himself and headed for the vestibule.
“Shall we join him?” Henry inquired, unsure of what exactly was transpiring.
“Yes, but let us give him a bit of a head start,” I said as I winked at Henry. He seemed to take my meaning, and we lingered, discussing how perfectly the table fit our purpose. Finally reaching the vestibule, we changed and stepped out into the brisk morning again. We made our way up and around the buildings adjacent to the kitchen. There was a hothouse, a smokehouse, and a large stone building. It looked much like a barn but contained workbenches, supplies, tools, and equipment. We found Fritzy in a far corner from the entrance. Sheets of canvas had been untied and pulled back to expose another of the tables, which was also pristine.
“Sandy, come here, look under the table,” he said excitedly.
I climbed under the area he was pointing at. It said Franz in strong, bold letters. “It has your name on it, or your father’s.” I climbed out from under the table.
“Yes, and the table in the house says Otto, but I think it was your brother Otto, not your father,” he explained as he unwrapped the other table and climbed under. I went with him, and there it was in strong bold letters. Alexsander, carved elegantly into the wood, the same as the other two tables. Fritzy punched me in the arm. His whole demeanor was that of a boy again. “They are for us, Sandy, he made these for us. I am going to call Uncle Otto. There must be a reason they were made.”
We climbed out from under the table and began wrapping them back up. “I haven’t seen you this excited in a long time,” I said.
Henry came around and began helping us wrap them, but remained the quiet observer as things unfolded.
“When I returned from France after University, Uncle Josef’s estate had been settled. No one placed any value on all the items he had crafted. Therefore, they were sold with the estate or given away. With everyone losing their titles and lands, I am surprised there was anything left. I suspect your father stepped in, though, Sandy. Quite an inheritance was placed in the trust for me. The only thing I wanted, though, was one of his creations.” Franz tied the last knot on the final table and stepped back. He set a hand lovingly on the top of the canvas.
Henry patted Franz on the back, saying, “Seems someone was watching out for your real interests.”
“Indeed, Henry,” Franz gave him a bit of a push.
“Well, let us go place a call to Lichtenstein and solve the mystery,” I offered, meandering around other items. My curiosity was piqued now.
An hour had passed waiting for the operator to ring back. Franz was on top of the world. He now felt that many of the items in the main house had in fact been crafted by his uncle, puzzle pieces he had not been able to fit together. The craftsmanship looked too familiar. There could be no doubt Franz’s uncle had crafted the tables.
“I am telling you, there was a mix-up somewhere. The two of you are brothers!” Henry laughed. “Now we will get the whole sordid story from your father.”
We were gathered in the library. The telephone sitting between us had become the center of attention, as if it could miraculously do more than sit there or ring when the operator telephoned us back.
“We really should be working on the plan in the meantime,” I said.
“Why don’t we?” Franz said, “We will just begin bouncing things around.”
“I like it, I’ll retrieve some paper and keep a summary,” Henry said, heading for the study.
“I have a list on the table.” With that, I left to grab it.
No sooner was I in the study than the telephone rang, and Franz answered. Henry and I hurried back to the library quietly. Listening to just one side of the conversation left things out, but we were still able to get the gist. After about 15 minutes, they ended the conversation with Franz telling my father how much he looked forward to the rest of the story upon our return.
Henry and I looked just like little chicks waiting for momma bird to drop food in our mouths.
“The story is incomplete but here goes. Uncle Otto and Uncle Josef were best friends. They grew up together, much like us, Sandy. Uncle Josef was Uncle Otto’s best man, and when he began building this residence for Auntie, Uncle Josef insisted on lending his own skill to the house. The staircase, banisters, vestibule, much of it is Uncle Josef’s work. In fact, almost all the finished work with wood is Uncle Josef’s. In the beginning, he simply built the three tables to use for the finish workers finalizing the house. Then he added the chairs for the craftsmen doing finely detailed finish work for the estate. The study became the central workshop of sorts. Which is why they seem built for that room. The study was the last room to be completed. Years after the house was finished, Uncle Otto told Uncle Josef he was going to turn the tables over to someone who would use them. Uncle Josef asked him not to and that he had an idea for them. He relocated here for a few weeks. You and I were toddlers at the time. Over the next month, he spent his time crafting what we see now. Each boy was to have his own worktable for whatever he would end up having a passion for. Ornate enough to dine on if we deigned to remain gentlemen only. Sturdy enough to build on should we have the desire.”
“So, father kept them all this time, even Otto’s?” I asked.
“Those are not the only things. He instructed me to uncover everything in the back of the workshop. He rescued many items from the auction block, including the horse that was set off to the right of the staircase in the grand entrance. I used to dream of riding it when I was small.” Franz finished with a glow of peace he rarely carried anymore.
“Then he rescued the items to hang onto his friend, his brother, as it were?” Henry asked.
“Yes, exactly,” Franz sighed.
Franz looked at me and I knew the thoughts there. That he would do the same, that I would do the same. “He did ask me to have several pieces shipped to Vaduz. Klaus is to take them into town. They had slipped his mind in the rush to get everyone and everything out of Austria. Evidently, he had remembered them just last night and was planning to call tomorrow. Klaus is aware of which ones,” Franz finished.
With that, we withdrew to the study to begin work. The morning was late, but we each had a strong idea of what our priorities were in any plan we produced. Details would require more information from our incoming members. Therefore, our goal became an outline. Although we were not short of human resources, we needed to be frugal. There were many monarchists in Tyrol. Several we would be able to trust enough to utilize without worry of endangering their family. Therefore, we could engage a variety of people here as transportation, couriers, escorts while traveling, and various other roles.
The Eigners leaving Vienna was the priority for everyone, we started there.
“The simplest solution is to contact Golda and have her relay our instructions in their own code. Even if it was found out, it will simply look like they are taking a holiday,” Henry suggested.
“Yes, it is the obvious choice. A ski trip this time of year is more than acceptable. Our information tells us movement within the country is still not heavily monitored. Karl and Wilhelm would have reached out if travel had become too difficult. Shall we have them travel to Offenbach by train?” I asked.
“Absolutely, from there, it will be easy enough to secretly take them away to Britain. In Innsbruck, I will board the train with tickets for all three of us. From there we will go straight through.” Franz moved over to the wall where space had been made for plans. He placed the Eigners in the top spot as he voiced his idea.
“If you gents will excuse me for a moment, I’ll start putting the call through to Golda,” Henry said, leaving the study.
“Henry, the cord will reach well into this room if you like,” I called out after him. He waved his hand in acknowledgment.
Elsa came in to inquire about dinner. I requested it be brought into the study.
Franz turned to me briefly, “We need to set Schuschnigg aside for now. Our priority must be the Eigners. We need information from Karl or Wilhelm before we even begin to plot around contact or rescue. The same for allies in Vienna. We can certainly list out our resources, but we need a current status on them all to make solid decisions.” Franz turned back to the wall of information, wondering what else we were really able to task ourselves with.
“We need to choose codes. More than a few of them. Our group is up to speed, but Henry is not yet privy to anything we use,” I laughed as I said, “nor will he find it easy to catch on to some of them.”
Fritzy joined in the laughter, taking my full meaning, he said, “There will certainly be a learning curve for him.”
Many of our codes were based on fabricated alphabets, pieced together from other languages. They were born out of the necessity of communicating without the brothers at Stella Matutina being able to decipher our notes or speech. Attending our Jesuit school provided all of us with a strong education in more than just sports and academia. We learned early on how to be covert and work in stealth. When we were younger, our plots were often discovered and punished. As we became teenagers, however, our years at the school had honed us. That is not to say we were never found out, but it became rare.
Henry rejoined us and placed the phone at his end of the table. Elsa and Klaus appeared with trays. The empty end of the table was set up in a sort of buffet. Glasses were filled, silverware laid out, and plates and bowls were stacked by the first platters of food. They both went to fetch more, and I chuckled to myself.
Dinner was spent in a relaxed manner. Addressing things as they came. After everything was cleared, we began breaking down codes. We discussed the ones Henry was trained in and gave a general explanation of the way ours worked. As we feared, Henry became slightly overwhelmed with the variations. In the end, we chose two variations to teach him, while he instructed us in his. We would all work together on this with the radios thereby allowing everyone to retain what they were learning.
Golda rang through and Henry relayed the plan to her in a code of his own. The call was brief. She will confirm the date and time of arrival by telephone, also in code.
We chose to tackle a rough plan full of guesswork for Schuschnigg. All of it hinged on who would be available in Vienna, his location, as long as it involved his residence. Of course, the huge unknown was how many troops would be present, assuming they did not just eliminate him immediately. Everyone still agreed it seemed unlikely to happen right away. They would want to get him away. Perhaps a pretense of vacation, needing a rest from the years of strain, something along those lines. Loose ends surrounded it like a frayed rope. At least it gave us an idea, though.
Evening brought the need to break away and take some time to ourselves. Our heads were swimming in information. Franz, with Klaus and his oldest son in tow, went out to the workshop on a mission of discovery. They would move the pieces my father had requested to the front of the workshop and prepare them to be shipped in the coming days. Henry wished to spend time in the library, further researching my father’s personal journals regarding the heating system. There were other references to conveniences he had designed in other properties as well. Henry insisted it would relax him to have a concerto playing on the phonograph and a book in his hand. In that, we were kindred spirits, and I joined him to continue the Fall of Troy.