My German Lover : Part 16

Paul had never looked at it that way. To him, Will and Lutz were non-combatant soldiers... so why would they be sent to the Russian front? The more he tought about it, the more he convinced himself that that didn't make sense... Things would have to take a very bad turn on that front, before soldiers like Will and Lutz would have to be sent to fight over there... The Wehrmacht is so powerful, Paul thought, the Russians are no match: Before long, this campaign will be over... and Hans will be back! Paul was sure about that!

"... What are you thinking about?" Ludwig asked Paul...

"...Oh... I was thinking about that campaign... I'm pretty sure it won't last long...", Paul answered, smiling at Ludwig...

"Yeah... But Russia is a vast country you know... I wonder what the military objectives are...", Franz asked...

"I don't know. Russia is such a backward country... I suppose the Wehrmacht will want to take Moscow though...", Paul answered.

"..."Moscow" It's so far away...(...) Didn't Napoléon take Moscow back then?", Ludwig asked Paul...

"...Yeah..." Paul answered, thinking about how catastrophic the Russian campaign had been for Napoléon's armies... Yes!, Paul thought, Napoléon had taken Moscow, but only to see the city burned to the ground by the Russians... Then winter had come, and hundred of thousands of French soldiers had starved to death...

"...Wasn't Napoléon defeated by the Russians?", Franz asked...

"No!" Paul answered... "He was beaten by "le général hiver!"

"Who was that?", Ludwig asked...

"... Winter... He was beaten by a General called "Winter"! All the Russians had to do was to wait and let winter do its job...", Paul answered.

"...Well, that was then... Nowadays, things are different, aren't they?", Ludwig asked...

"I suppose they are...", Paul slowly answered... "I suppose so..."

"Hey! Let's play cards...", Franz joyfully said...

"Good idea", Ludwig answered, smiling...

After a long trip, but before they had reached Paris, Paul said to Ludwig:

"...Now, I've got to tell you about a few rules... and we expect you to go by those rules obediently..."

"...What are they?", Ludwig asked...

"First, remember you're from Strasbourg. I've already explained that to you..."

"Yes!"

"Second rule: You'll speak German only with Will, Lutz and me... If someone else is present, never ever say a word in German... Now, your French is good, but not that good. So for now, keep your big mouth shut as much as you can... It's better for people to think you're shy than to discover you're German..."

"...Me?... Shy?", Ludwig answered, laughing...

Paul looked at Ludwig with very threatening eyes, but before he could say anything, Ludwig said:

"...Okay, okay... I understand..."

"Third rule: I've told you about "La Vacherie" at Bagatelle... This place is secret... and it's the only place where Will and me feel free and totally at ease. It's our place, and unless we invite you, we don't want you to go there... When we go to Bagatelle, you'll be staying at the Château, understand?"

"...Yes... No problem...", Ludwig answered, grinning...

"Fourth and last rule: You don't make fun of Franz's Swiss accent..."

Hearing that, Ludwig burst out laughing and said:

"...Ah shit Paul: That's not fair!"

"Yes it is", Franz answered, grinning... "And if you don't obey that rule, I'll call the Gestapo, and have you arrested!"

"... And I'll tell them you're a spy...", Ludwig answered, laughing...

"Though luck my friend! I'm covered by diplomatic immunity: There's nothing they can do against me, except send me back to Switzerland!", Franz answered, laughing...

"...Too bad!", Ludwig answered, grinning...

"So those are the rules...", Paul concluded... "And as long as you go by those rules, there will be no problem, and we'll have fun all summer long..."

"Fine with me!", Ludwig answered...

When their train stopped at the Gare de l'Est in Paris, Paul said to Ludwig:

"Bienvenue à Paris Louis!"

"Louis?", Ludwig asked...

"Yup! We left "Ludwig" in Germany, when we crossed over to France..."

"Get use to it...", Paul said, laughing...

When they walked out of the railway-station, Will was waiting for them.

Ludwig was very happy to see his big brother, and as they hugged, Will looked at Paul and asked:

"...How was your trip?"

"Not so bad, under the circumstances...", Paul answered.

"...Of course, we heard about Russia... We were all stunned here...", Will said...

As they were driving through Paris on their way to Avenue Foch, they dropped Franz at his place, and as he left his friends, Franz said to Paul:

"Thanks a lot Paul... Thanks to you, I feel much better now... You were right: That trip really helped me. Thanks again!". And, looking at Ludwig, Franz said to him: "... Have fun Ludwig during your stay... and don't forget the rules..."

"See you soon Franz! And don't worry: I swear I won't make fun of you because of your accent... Oh!... But Franz?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have a French dictionary?"

"Yes..."

"Well... If I were you, I'd checked the meaning of the word "suisse"...

"Swiss? ... Well... it's someone from Switzerland..."

"Yeah... But in some other French-speaking countries, it also means something else...", Ludwig answered, laughing...

"What?"

"I wonder if you have stripes on your back?"

"... Stripes? What do you mean?"

"Ahhhhh... it's for you to discover pal! If I can't make fun about your accent, at least, I'll make fun about your stripes!"

"Go to hell!", Franz answered, laughing...

"...I'll give you a call...", Paul said to his friend...

"Okay... and thanks again...", Franz answered.

And as soon as he got home, Franz checked his French dictionary and realized the word "suisse" was also the name used in some parts of the world to describe a squirrel-like rodent called chipmunk... and that indeed, a chipmunk does have large white stripes on his back!

"The little devil!", Franz thought to himself... "He'll pay for that joke..."

Needless to say Will and Paul were laughing too, when Ludwig told them what a "suisse" meant...

"He's gonna kill you...", Paul told Ludwig, laughing...

"...But before he kills me, I'll have a lot of fun teasing him about his stripes...", Ludwig answered, laughing too...

"Oh boy! Summer will be long...", Will sighed out...

When they got to Paul's mansion, Ludwig said:

"...Shit Paul! Shit! I knew you were rich... but I never thought you were "THAT" rich... This is not a mansion: It's a palace!"

"... Don't exaggerate...", Paul answered, smiling...

"...And that's where I'll be staying all summer long? I can't believe that..."

"... You'll get use to it... I did!", Will answered, laughing...

"...And don't forget: We'll go to Bagatelle too...", Paul added...

"I can't wait to see that place...", Ludwig answered.

That night, after Ludwig had gone to his room for the night, Will and Paul found each other again in their bedroom...

"...I've longed for you so much...", Will tenderly whispered into Paul's ear...

"...Me too! And what's that, that I feel down here?", Paul asked, as he put his hand on the impressive bulge Will had in his pants...

"...Ohhhhhh, it feels soooo good! Keep rubbing it...", Will sighed...