I said, ‘What are your nightmares?’
‘I do not have any,’ he said, but something flickered behind his eyes. Then he made an impatient gesture, as if to push away these memories, and began to harangue me about the quality of the bedding on the men’s bunks. When I said the sheets were standard army issue, and the prisoners fortunate to even have sheets, he said, ‘God help the Prussian army.’
I was deeply affected by his description of the English boy’s nightmares, though. Perhaps I shall try to talk to him a little. It is not in my requirements to do so, but I feel great pity. War is a terrible business, Freide. I have sometimes questioned—
[Editor’s note: It appears that the rest of this sentence was heavily scored out, as if Hugbert feared to set down his thoughts about the war on paper.]
I acknowledge, though, that Iskander is right about the sheets, for I find they cause a troublesome irritation in areas which are difficult to reach with soothing ointment. You will forgive my referring to such parts of the anatomy, but we are affianced and should not have secrets.
Ever your devoted,
Hugbert.
Nell thought Hugbert sounded rather endearing. Perhaps it might be possible to track down a copy of his privately-printed letters. Would B.D. Bodkin be likely to help there?
Before she could talk herself out of this, Nell looked out last year’s correspondence with B.D., and was pleased to find an email address at the head of his letter about the Victorian aqua tints. She flipped on the laptop and typed a careful email to him, politely reminding him of their correspondence last year, and explaining that she was currently engaged in some research on the Great War and had found Fragments of Great War Treasures interesting and informative. The letters from the Holzminden officer, Hugbert, had been particularly intriguing, and she wondered if there was any possibility of obtaining a copy of the privately printed collection. Any information about the whereabouts of a copy, or even contact names or addresses that Mr Bodkin could provide, would be very greatly appreciated.
She read it over, thought it struck the right balance between friendliness and professionalism, and sent the email before she could think better of it, after which she closed the laptop and returned to the book. It would be nice if there was more from Hugbert, but it looked as if this particular section was ending.
There was more from him, but it was only a short note:
My very dearest Freide,
It is possible I shall not be able to write regularly after sending this, for I am ordered to special duties, and I will be leaving Holzminden tomorrow in company with Hauptfeldwebel Barth. I am not permitted to tell any details yet, but it is a result of dreadful tragic events that took place here three days ago. I must not say more, but I will tell you that I always knew Iskander would cause trouble, and the poor young Englishman—
[Editor’s note: The rest of this sentence was not readable, although we are unclear as to whether this is because Hugbert thought better of what he had written and crossed it out, or whether his letters were, after all, opened before reaching his fiancée, and this part was censored. Either way, he seems to be indicating that the two prisoners – the Russian, Alexei Iskander, and the unnamed Englishman – were at the root of what he calls tragic events in Holzminden.]
There has come a direct order from Hauptmann Niemeyer which I cannot disobey. The Hauptmann spoke to me most solemnly and earnestly, telling me what was wanted, then saluting my bravery.
I think I am singled out for this task in order that the Hauptmann can receive regular reports of our mission. It is known that I am a frequent correspondent with you, my liebling, and also with my parents, so I am thought able to write letters clearly and sensibly. I am to be accompanied by Hauptfeldwebel Barth, who is not very skilled with composition, although excellent when it comes to the frying of bratwurst, and we cannot all be accomplished at everything.
I should be glad if you will visit my parents as often as you can over the next few weeks. Your loving presence will help them not to worry. But of danger there is not very much, so you should not have concerns.
As always, your very devoted,
Hugbert
Seven
It was six o’clock. Nell locked the shop door, put the security shutters in place, and went across to the annexe behind the shop where she and Beth lived.
She put Bodkin aside and scanned the index of the first of the books lent by the bookseller. Would Holzminden be here? Yes, there was what looked like an entire chapter describing the camp, which had been opened in 1917 for British Officers. It had been a fairly small set-up, but had achieved a modest notoriety by being the scene of a successful escape – ten men out of twenty-nine escapees made it back to Britain – and also because several moderately well-known figures had been held there.