Chapter 14 The Resurrection

1200 Zulu, Saturday, August 8, 1981, Klaus’s Apartment, Dresden

“Klaus, I succeeded in arranging everything you demanded, or I should say I convinced my network contact to have the arrangements made. We’ve waited so long for the chance to get a source of American intelligence on Europe the network agreed to do what you want.”

“Wonderful Heinrich, I am relieved and happy. I can't thank you enough. Tell me, how is it all going to happen?”

“I can only tell you the first step. Tomorrow you are to leave for the port in Sassnitz. Here are papers authorizing you to attend an engineering society meeting in Stockholm. You are to take a suitcase with clothes for a three-day trip and to board the ferry from Sassnitz to Trelleborg, Sweden. When you are on the ferry ask for Werner. Say he is an old friend. That is all I am allowed to know. I suspect you will be following a plan used before and the network wants to protect it. I am sure you are aware there are luxury goods from the West available to select people here. Since such goods can’t be imported legally I assume there is a smuggling operation that brings them in. So I am guessing the operation can also be used to smuggle someone out that shouldn’t be leaving openly. Don’t tell anyone I said these things. It could get me in trouble.”

“I understand Heinrich and I won’t say anything. If I have papers allowing me to go to Stockholm why would I need to be smuggled out of our country?”

“I don’t know. As I said all I am allowed to know is what is on your papers and you are to ask for Werner on the ferry from Sassnitz. Ah, and I am to tell you not to discuss anything or ask any questions of Werner or anyone else who will be helping you with your travel or new identity.  I suspect the people helping you are being paid and are not part of the network. That’s why I am guessing it’s connected with smuggling. Unless you have other questions let’s go out for a beer and say our goodbyes. I doubt we can ever meet again old friend.”

“Good, I am ready to celebrate with a beer even though I hate to say goodbye, Heinrich. You have been a good friend. Without you, I would never have known about the network and our work.”

2000 Zulu, Sunday, August 9, 1981, Sassnitz to Trelleborg ferry

“Werner? That’s him standing alone by the rail with the black cap.”

“Thank you.”

Klaus approaches the man by the rail and sees he is a big man with a scarred face that looks like he would do about anything for the right amount of money. Klaus says to him, “Werner?”

“Yes.”

“I am Klaus.”

“Good, I have been expecting you. Let’s chat for a minute as old friends might do. Then put papers identifying you as Klaus in your suitcase and leave it with the other luggage passengers have left on the port side by the stern. Go down the stairs to the lower deck. You will see me ahead on the passageway. Follow me discretely. I will show you where to go. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I can do that.”

Klaus follows Werner’s instructions and enters an unmarked door indicated by Werner. Werner follows and says, “Did you leave papers in your suitcase that identify you?”

“Yes”

“Good. Now get into this bin and into this big plastic bag. Stay quiet. We’ll be in Trelleborg in less than an hour. Remain quiet when you feel the ferry dock. You’ll hear people calling your name and coming in this compartment. I am going to add something to this bin that smells really bad to ensure no one will check in or under the bags. Ignore everything and stay quiet. There are enough small holes in the bag to keep you supplied with air.  About a half hour later someone will come in and take these trash bags off the ferry. Just stay quiet and limp in your bag. When you are put down stay still and quiet. In 15 or 20 minutes you will be picked up again and moved. Just remain limp and quiet. When it’s safe someone will open your bag and say ‘good evening Sir’ in French. Then you can get out of the bag and you will be given instructions. Do you need to go to the toilet before getting in the bag?”

“No.”

“Ok. Good luck, I will not see you again.”

“Goodbye Werner and thank you.”

2130 Zulu, Sunday, August 9, 1981, Trelleborg ferry dock

The ferry captain is reporting to the port security officials. “It appears one of our passengers, a Klaus Schultz, has fallen overboard on our trip from Sassnitz. He did not disembark here so we thoroughly searched the ferry. We didn’t find him but we found a suitcase left behind and it had papers in it identifying him. We questioned all of our crew members but no one saw anyone fall overboard. We know he was on board because he talked for a couple of minutes with a crewman who says he knew him. He said after they talked he saw Shultz walking toward the stern and that was the last he was seen.”

“Thank you, captain. We’ll alert the shore patrol and they can watch for a body. Would you ask your crew to keep a lookout for his body on your next few crossings, please? We will also inform the Security officials in Sassnitz Klaus Shultz is presumed drowned and we will return his papers to them by official mail. They can follow up and notify any family.”

“Yes, we can be on the lookout for his body. Will that be all? I am due to return to Sassnitz.”

“Yes, thank you. Sorry about the loss of your passenger.”

2200 Zulu, Sunday, August 9, 1981, At Sea

Klaus felt a rolling motion and knew he was at sea again. He remained quiet until he heard someone say in French, “good evening Sir”. He got out of the plastic bag with the help of a man dressed in seaman’s clothes. Klaus looked around and saw he was on what appeared to be and smelled like a fishing boat. The seaman spoke in French saying: “After your stay in the bag I’m sure you will want to stretch your legs. We are at sea so you may walk about our boat as you please. There is some food left out in the galley for you when you are ready to eat. What do we call you while we are at sea?”

“Thank you, I am hungry. I didn't have time to eat in Sassnitz before catching the ferry.” Thinking about what he should be called he suspected Klaus was not to have survived the ferry trip so he decided to pick another name and answered in French: “You can call me “Henri”. What is your name and how do I get to the galley?”

“I am Andre, I'll show you the way and where you can bunk when you are ready. We will be at sea for three days.”

“Thanks, Andre, where are we going?”

“We will dock next in a port in France. You do not need to know which one.”

Andre showed Klaus to the galley and set with him as he ate. After Klaus pushed his plate back Andre asked, “Do you play gin rummy, Henri?”

“Yes, although it’s been awhile.”

“Good, I love to play but none of the crew on this boat plays so I have missed it.”

They play cards for a while and then Klaus says, “I am getting sleepy. It’s been a long day for me. I think I’ll go to my bunk. Maybe we can play some more tomorrow?”

“Count on it Henri, see you in the morning. Jean, who cooks for us, will have breakfast ready about 8:00 in the morning. Good night.”

“Good night Andre.”

The next morning after eating breakfast Klaus explores the boat. It is indeed equipped with fishing gear although the gear doesn’t look like it is used much. He notices from the time and the sun’s location they are going north; around Denmark he presumes. As he watches the crew it became obvious Andre is in charge as he gives orders but does no work himself. About mid-morning things are quiet and Andre comes to Klaus and says, “Ready for some more gin rummy Henri?”

“Sure am, Andre.”

The next morning Klaus realizes the boat is heading southwest and the seas are rougher. He surmises they must have passed around the north end of Denmark and are headed for France. Just before noon, the boat slows down and Henri watches as the crew changes the Swedish flags for French flags and replace the boards with the name of the boat on both starboard and port sides. They do this in a way he isn't able to see the names on the boards. While this is being done other crew members put out a fishing net. The boat continues slowly with the net out for a couple of hours. Then the net is pulled in. It contains a dozen or so fish looking like good table fare. After the net is stowed away the boat resumes its’ full speed as the fish are taken below. After that nothing eventful happens until the third day when in the late afternoon after Klaus and Andre quit playing cards for the day Klaus spots land ahead.  Soon he can see the skyline of a town directly ahead. Andre comes to him and says: “Please go to your cabin and stay there until sometime after we have docked. Then I’ll come get you and give you instructions for leaving the boat.”

1700 Zulu, Wednesday, August 12, 1981, A French port

Klaus feels the boat slow and then the bump as it docked. His tiny cabin has no port hole so he can’t see but he can hear the crew talking as they secure the boat to a dock. There is no conversation for a while but he can hear men going about on the boat. About 20 minutes after they docked he hears brakes squeal and a car or truck door slam. Next, he hears Andre’s booming voice calling out in a friendly manner, “Good evening Monsieur Inspector; good to see you.”

“Good evening Andre, did you get a good catch of fish this week?”

“Good enough, we sold the catch in Denmark except for a few for our families and a couple for your dinner of course. And we brought you a case of the Danish beer you like.”

“Wonderful Andre, good of you to remember me. How long will you be in port?”

“Just long enough to get provisions for our next trip and a couple of nights to see our families. We’ll leave early day after tomorrow.”

“That’s good Andre. Well, I’ll take a couple of those nice fish and the beer and go home to a wonderful dinner. No need to inspect your boat this time Andre.”

Klaus hears the car speed away and a few minutes later he hears another vehicle arrive and stop. He thinks the next sounds are several men walking around on the boat or coming onto and off the boat. After about 20 minutes Andre comes for him carrying a long white coat and a cap. Andre says, “Put these on and follow me to the deck.” On the deck Andre adds, “Pick up some empty boxes and put them in the delivery truck on the dock close to the boat. Stay there until someone tells you can get out. I won’t see you again. Thank you for playing gin rummy with me. Good luck and goodbye.”

Klaus carries the boxes to the truck and gets in as instructed. On the way, he glances about for any indication of where he is. The only thing visible that helps is a sign on a corner indicating one of the streets is the road to Paris. Then he notices the delivery truck has the name of a grocery supply company, the word Calais and a telephone number. As soon as he is in the truck someone closes the door and he hears the truck engine start up and the truck begins moving.

There is just enough light coming in around the door that he can make out some of the labels on the empty boxes he carried into the truck. Some have the names of frozen meats and cans of vegetables but a couple have the names of French luxury perfumes and leather goods. Klaus thinks to himself Heinrich was right. He has been traveling with a smuggling operation taking goods to East Germany not legally available there. He wonders what they bring back into France. Then he realizes he is the cargo they were paid to smuggle into France.

The truck continues traveling for what Klaus gathers is several hours. It becomes dark and he can’t read the time on his watch. The truck slows, makes several turns and comes to a stop right after a slow turn. A minute later the truck back door opens and a woman’s voice says in gruff French, “Come with me.”

It is dark and as he looks around he can’t see anything suggesting where he is. He follows the woman into a house. As soon as he enters the house he hears the truck leave. He hasn’t seen the driver. When he is inside he sees the woman is elderly, perhaps in her 70’s. There is still dark hair among the gray, her eyebrows are dark and she has a very Jewish nose. She has a hard look about her as though she’s had a difficult life. She turns to face him and inquires, “Are you hungry?”

“Yes, I haven’t eaten anything since lunch.”

“Is bread, cheese, and soup ok, with some wine of course? What shall I call you?”

“Yes, that sounds good and you can call me Henri. What can I call you?”

“You may call me Marie, Henri. The bathroom is in the hall on the left. After you wash up come sit down at the table and I’ll get your dinner.”

Marie says nothing as she prepares and serves his dinner. While he eats she picks up a newspaper and reads an article or two. When Klaus finishes eating she puts down the paper and clears the table as he finishes his wine. Then she sits down and says: “You are to stay here for a day or two. A man will come and give you instructions. While you are here you must stay inside the house. I’ll show you your room and please take a bath. From your smell, you haven’t bathed in a few days.”

“That will be good. I sure could use a bath. Do you have any books or magazines I might read while I am here?”

“Yes, I’ll put some in your room while you are bathing. If you want I can wash your underwear, socks, and shirt after you go to bed. Just leave them outside your room when you go to bed. I’ll put the clean ones back there before morning.”

830 Zulu, Thursday, August 13, 1981, A safe house somewhere in France

In the morning Klaus goes to the kitchen and finds Marie sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. He sees the paper is Le Monde. She says, “Good morning Henri, would you like coffee and bread?”

“Yes Marie, I would love some. I take my coffee black. Thank you for my clean clothes, I feel much better. May I look at the paper?”

“Certainly Henri.” She gets up and pours a cup of coffee for Klaus, puts a basket of rolls and some butter on the table and sits down again.

Klaus eats contently as he reads Le Monde and sips his coffee. He thinks this is what it will be like when Maria and I are finally able to live together. When he finishes Marie clears the table, pours Klaus and herself more coffee and suggests he take the paper and his coffee into the adjoining living room. He spends the next hour finishing his coffee and reading all of Le Monde. When he finishes and gets up to take his coffee cup back into the kitchen there is a knock at the door. Marie goes to the door and beckons someone inside without saying anything. She guides the man who came in toward Klaus and says to him, “This is Henri, he is expecting you.”

The man says cheerfully: “Good morning Henri. I have some instructions for you. Can we sit in the living room?”

As they walk into the living room and sit down the man continues, “I hope you have been comfortable here.”

“Yes, Marie has treated me like a prince. What instructions do you have for me?”

“I have a passport, a driver’s license and other identity papers for you as well as a credit card and a Paris Metro card. I will also tell you what you are to do for the next few days.” The man reaches into a thin briefcase he has brought with him, removes a package wrapped in white paper and says, “you may look at these papers but please do not mention the name of your new identity. Neither Marie and I am allowed to know it.”

“Oh cut the caca Nicholas! All this network security is overdone. If the SS and the Gestapo couldn’t break me the DST* sure can’t. We can do our jobs better if we know what’s going on. Maybe I have better advice for Henri, if I know what he is supposed to be doing than some bureaucrat sitting at a desk in Paris with no experience in the field.”

“Marie, Marie, we don’t make the rules. Let’s just do what we are told. Henri, you will have to excuse Marie, she has been in this kind of work most of her life and doesn't like how things have changed since the war. She would tell you her real name just to show how tough she is if she thought I wouldn’t report her.”

“I understand Nicholas. I will follow the rules. I’m in great debt to Marie. I’d like to give her some money for her trouble if it is allowed.  She took excellent care of me so I sure don’t want to get her in any trouble.”

“It is not necessary to give me money for what I do Henri. I am sure what you are going to do, even if I don’t know what it is, is enough compensation for me.”

“As you wish Marie. Nicholas, what am I to do next?”

“Ok, included in the package I gave you is a paper outlining your new identity? You are to memorize it in detail and then give it back to me so I can burn it before we leave here. You are also to study and memorize the entries in your passport. Give me all of the money you have on you that isn’t French and I will give you French money to replace it. I’ll wait two hours while you study and memorize your new background. After I burn the paper we’ll leave. I’ll drive you to a Metro station and leave you there with a suitcase that is in my car. You take the Metro to the Saint-Michel station in central Paris. When you exit the station you will see a sign for a hotel. It’s the hotel Notre Dame. A room has been reserved for you under your new name and there will be a message for you when you check in. You are to stay at the hotel and follow the instructions in the message.”

Nicholas and Marie leave Klaus in the living room to study the paper while they have coffee in the kitchen. After two hours Nicholas calls to Klaus and asks him to fold the paper so no writing is visible and to give it to him. Nicholas burns the paper and washes the ashes down the sink drain. Then says to Klaus: “I am going to position my car so no one can see you when you get in. Please get in the back seat and lie down until we are out of town.”

Nicholas leaves the house by the back door, which he leaves open. When the car is in position he beckons Klaus from his driver’s seat to come out. Klaus says, “Good by Marie and thank you for your kind service.” He quickly closes the door behind him and gets into the back seat of Nicolas’s car. As soon as he has closed the car door and ducked out of sight Nicholas drives away.

*DST is Direction de la surveillance du territorie (Directorate of Territorial Security, French counter-intelligence)

1500 Zulu, Thursday, August 13, 1981, Hotel Notre Dame, Paris

Klaus checks into the hotel Notre Dame under his new name, Claude Montfort. As he had been told there is a message for him at the desk. He takes the envelope and the suitcase, which he can tell is empty, with him to a tiny room one floor up. He looks out the window and is happy to see views of the Seine and Notre Dame Cathedral. He thinks at least the views make up for the size of the room. After going to the bathroom he sits on the bed and opens the envelope. Inside is a single sheet of paper with a typed message. It reads: “Spend the next few days buying clothes appropriate for a middle-class French businessman and learning as much as you can about Paris, particularly the area surrounding your hotel. Another message will come for you in a few days.”

Klaus, rather Claude, stretches out on the bed and thinks about his situation. He is pleased his new French identity preserves his birth name. There is a certain satisfaction in recovering the name his birth parents gave him. It makes him wish he could have known them or at least they could know he survived the war. He’ll dedicate every effort he can to make sure what happened to them will not ever happen to other Jewish parents in Europe. Then he thinks how much better it would be if Maria were with him. That would make it much more enjoyable to explore Paris.

After a few more minutes of daydreaming, he gets up and looks through his new passport. It confirms what the paper Nicholas burned said. Claude Montfort was born in Algeria in 1947 to French parents. He thinks it is nice to become three years younger. It appears he came to France in 1960, probably to escape the war for Algerian Independence. He remembers the paper said his parents were farmers. He thinks he should go to a library and look up what farmers grow in Algeria, likely wheat but not so many potatoes and cabbages as his German parents grew. He realizes he is hungry; he hasn't had anything to eat since the breakfast Marie gave him. He gets up, adjusts his tie and goes down the narrow stairway to the lobby. He asks the young woman behind the hotel desk, “Are there any restaurants nearby that serve Algerian food?”

“Sir, the Latin Quarter is just behind this hotel. There are restaurants there that serve every kind of food. I am sure there must be one with Algerian food; just ask people you encounter on the street. Someone will know of an Algerian restaurant. But, it’s early so some restaurants may not be open yet.”

“That’s ok; I’ll have a glass of wine in the bar downstairs. By the time I finish my wine the restaurants will probably be open. Thank you for the information.”

Claude does find an Algerian restaurant on one of the narrow streets behind the hotel. He studies the menu and asks if he might sample several of the dishes, which he assumes would be familiar to someone from Algeria. The waiter agrees it can be arranged. Claude enjoys his dinner and tries to memorize the name of each dish and what it tastes like. After his meal, he spends an hour walking around the Latin Quarter. He remembers the address of the apartment the paper said was his residence for the past ten years.

He finds the building, examines it from the street until he is sure he can remember what it looks like and then explores the lobby. He examines the mailboxes and finds the one for the apartment Claude had lived in. The card on the box had the name Claude Montfort on it but it is lined out and a new name written below it. He thinks how thorough the network has been in creating his new identity and he wonders what happened to the original Claude Montfort. He guesses Claude must no longer be alive and he has taken Claude’s identity.

The next morning Claude finds a department store and purchases three pairs of socks, three sets of underwear and three new shirts using the credit card he was given. He thinks about it for a while and finally decides to buy a second suit. The rest of the day and the following days he spends exploring the Latin Quarter in detail and visiting other notable sites someone who had lived in Paris for a decade would have certainly visited. The following Thursday morning as he is enjoying his croissants and black coffee in the breakfast area of the hotel the young woman who worked behind the desk comes in and says, “Monsieur Montfort a message has arrived for you.” She hands him an envelope.

“Thank you, Madame.”

“You’re welcome Monsieur.”

When Claude finished his breakfast he returns to his room and opens the envelope. There are two messages. The first instructs him to book the next available flight on Air France to Dulles Airport near Washington D.C. It gives directions to a nearby travel agency where he can book the flight. The second message says it is from Heidi. It gives the name and address of a diner on Wilson Blvd in Arlington, Virginia and a time of 9:00 am.

Wonderful, Claude thinks, I’ll be able to meet Maria this Saturday if I can get a flight in time; she will be happy I am now Claude and we can be married soon.

He follows the instructions and is able to book a flight that leaves later in the day from Orly and arrives early Friday morning in Washington.