Missing

Chapter Forty

Interlaken, Switzerland — Saturday 12 June 1915

After warm farewells and an early start on Saturday morning, David and Maria had enjoyed a leisurely drive along the southern shores of Lake Zürich then over the low pass to Lake Zug and onward to Lake Lucerne. They stopped in the city of Lucerne and found a jewellery shop, where they selected simple gold rings for each other. Mary had mentioned there were still traces of religious prudery, and she suggested wedding bands would ease their hotel registration.

They had paused often to enjoy views of peaks up mountain valleys and to explore ancient villages along the way. Shortly past one, on the way down off Brünig Pass, the horizon ahead filled with tall, snow-capped peaks. "Those are the mountains of the Bernese Oberland," Maria said as she looked back and forth between the view and the map. "Lake Brienz is at the bottom of the hill, and Interlaken is at its end. Looks to be another twenty-five kilometres."

David slowed as they descended from the pass. "Look for a place to pull off the road. One with a good view of the peaks where we can pause and have lunch." A few hundred metres along, he pulled into a viewpoint, stopped and set the brake. "The perfect place to stop. This is spectacular."

They took the picnic basket Murielle had prepared, spread the blanket on a patch of level grass and sat. "You seem sad, David."

"The thought of leaving so much behind. You, your wonderful family, the pleasant, relaxed lifestyle, the great food and great wines, this magnificent scenery... So much." He pulled her down on top of him as he lay back on the blanket. They merged in a tight hug and kiss, then continued cuddling and caressing for a long while before they opened the picnic basket to begin eating.

After lunch, they continued the descent, then drove around the lake's shore to Interlaken. It was nearly two thirty when he set the brake on the lorry in front of the hotel and helped her down from the cab. He picked up their satchel, and she took his arm as he escorted her up the steps.

"We're onstage again, but much less tense this time than when we were fooling the Germans. This acting as though we're married is simple after that." She giggled. "I don't even have to act. It has felt like we're married for many weeks now. We're wearing wedding bands, the only thing we're missing is the ceremony."

She squeezed his arm as they approached the reception desk, where they were quickly registered then escorted to their room. Its top floor corner position gave it an unobstructed view of Jungfrau in one direction and across the city to Lake Thun in the other.

They stood for a long while looking at the view up the valley. "I can see why this was your Grandpa's favourite room." He put his arm around her waist and nodded toward the bed. "This is the last safe day before your fertile period begins. We should take advantage of it."

He had undone the lacing of her bodice, and his hands were inside her blouse caressing her breasts when there was a knock on the door. She scurried into the bathroom as he went to answer it. "Yes, who is it?"

"Room service, Sir."

David opened the door a crack to a man with a tray, so he opened the door wider.

"Compliments of Oberstleutnant Smeaton, Sir. A bottle of Champagne to welcome you."

David motioned him into the room and watched as he placed the ice bucket and tall crystal stems on the table, then turned to ask, "Shall I open it for you, Sir?"

Maria came in with her bodice rearranged and retied, and she smiled at the sommelier. "Yes, please. It'll settle the dust from the road."

They watched as the bottle was opened, the two flutes were poured, and a stopper was clicked onto the neck of the bottle. David thanked the sommelier, closed the door behind him and locked it. "This is so thoughtful of your Grandpa."

"I've not had Champagne before, though I've certainly heard and read a lot about it. The famous celebratory drink." She picked up the glasses and handed him one. "What shall we celebrate?"

"Us — I cannot think of anything finer to celebrate than us."

They clinked glasses and watched the steady stream of fine bubbles rising from the bottom of the wine, then took a sip. "Like soda water, but with a much finer bubble and a far finer flavour. I like this." He lifted the linen that covered the bottle in the ice bucket and read the label: Veuve Clicquot. "We'll have to remember this. Use it for our future celebrations."

He took a larger drink of the Champagne, then smiled at her. "Come, let's undress, I want to celebrate you." He moved the ice bucket to the night table. "We'll use this to quench the thirst from our exercises."

Shortly after six, David clicked the stopper off the bottle and poured the last of the Champagne into their glasses. They sat leaning against the gathered pillows with glistening bodies and broad smiles.

A while later, Maria got up to go pee, and she came back with a handful of brochures and leaflets from the table. "Let's see what's around us." They glanced through the small pile, then she held up one. "This is the cog train Grandpa mentioned — up to Jungfraujoch."

He leaned over and read it with her. "The highest train station in Europe, 3466 metres on the col between Jungfrau and Mönch. Wow! Over eleven thousand feet. Fast way up into the mountains."

"Look here. It tunnels through the mountains, through Eiger and Mönch. Seven kilometres of tunnel. Fifty minutes to go up and only thirty-five to come back down. You want to do it?"

"That's a silly question. You know very well we both want to." He leaned and kissed her. "Let's read through the details, then have another go at each other."

"You don't tire of me?"

"Another silly question. Do you tire of me?"

"No, how could I?"

"You've answered your previous question." He reached across to play with a nipple.

"We'll not get through this brochure if you..." She moaned a soft sigh and trembled.