Berkshire Countryside, England           The Coach and Horses on the Bath Road was an unassuming pub. The locals had been frequenting it since the 1700’s and saw no need to modernize it.           Feuermacht sat in a dimly lit corner and watched as fingers of light and shadow, cast by a nearby fireplace, played against the faded mahogany paneling. The German strategist was meeting someone who obviously had no regard for punctuality.           Feuermacht was taking steps to make sure his reputation and his close relationship with the Astors would not be put in jeopardy. Being linked to Operation CAPQuellwasser could do that. He stubbed out his cigarette with disgust. The plan belonged to him. The idea that he had to bargain with someone to get it back was preposterous.           Now, he was forced to have this meeting so he could hire someone else to do his dirty work and help him avoid being tied to this debacle.           His contact came highly recommended; a person who undertook “specialty” jobs for cash.           When they met, however, he had second thoughts. This was the last person in the world he expected and he wondered if the job would be done, discreetly. *           Later that evening, when the Major contacted Feuermacht, the German laid out his plans for the exchange of the documents.           He wanted Lady Méliès to board the Queen Mary for America and hand off the documents to someone onboard. She would find a message waiting for her in her stateroom, the day the ship left port. Under absolutely no circumstances, was the Major to accompany her onboard ship. It was stressed quite clearly that she must sail alone.           Victoria agreed to the mission.           The Major wasn't happy. The only card he had left to play was that he still held possession of the German papers. He often looked them over, being careful not to damage them. What were the Nazis up to with Switzerland? He took down an old atlas he had in the corner of his library and looked for a Swiss map. It was uncanny. The map appeared identical to the one in the leather pouch. He took out the German map and compared the two. They came from atlases produced by the same printmaker. What if he were to change a few routes? Not by much – just enough to throw the carefully conceived plan off balance a little bit.           He found a pen in his desk drawer. The ink was the wrong color. He went through his entire desk, trying pen after pen, but none of them had the same velvety ink. It was okay to use a slightly different color for the War Office. They would never notice. But the creator of this map – the owner of the pen that drew these lines – would suspect the map if the colors were off.           His valet walk passed the open door.           “Crothers!”           “Yes, Sir?”           “Do you have a pen on you?”           “Yes, of course, Sir.”           “Hand it over man. And go down to the cellar for another bottle of port. This one’s just about empty.”           “Yes, sir.” Crothers handed over his pen.           The Major was almost reluctant to try the valet’s pen. He was finally at a point where he might be able to mitigate some of the guilt he felt — and it all rested on the color of ink in the pen he was holding.           He tested it on an atlas page. It looked a little different, but as he watched the moisture in the ink evaporate, he realized he had a match. *** Share | Code Name: Evangeline is available in its entirety on Kindle Don't own a Kindle? Download a free app to read Kindle books on your iPhone and iPod Touch. Or get the free app to read Kindle books on your PC.