“Keeping an Eye” on Europe
While we Americans may understandably be focused on political events in our own country, it is important to also “keep an eye” on events in Europe whose impact sooner or later may spill over into our lives. And, no, I’m not talking about Brexit and the new U.K. prime minister.
I am talking about events happening in European countries that have historically started wars. And I am also talking about cause-inspired violence that, if left unchecked,can have disastrous consequences.
In addition, having been stationed with my U.S. Army officer husband in Munich many years ago, I am always aware that the U.S. today still has military personnel and their families stationed in Germany and other places in Europe. True, the military personnel and dependents (family members) probably do not have the same security presentations we had that focused on topics such as:
- how to be prepared to evacuate if the Russians invaded from East Germany
- how to recognize and report Soviet spies
Yet American vigilance for the safety of military personnel and dependents in Europe as well as other Americans must continue to be on high alert. And the U.S. must work with its current partners such as Germany to maintain the safety of Americans in Europe.
Fiction can serve an important role in reminding us of the need for this vigilance. And in this vein I’ve just published the Kindle thriller short story DEFENSE (99 cents or free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription) that begins:
I. Frankfurt, Germany – International Air Terminal
Jane Meyerson shifted her carry-on bag from her right to her left shoulder, causing her to accidentally bump into the Lufthansa passenger in front of her in the security line.
She eyed the attractive African-American man wearing a well-tailored sports coat and pressed pants. He appeared close to her own age – mid-thirties.
Flashing her most charming smile, Jane said, “Enschultigung Sie mir.”
The man smiled at her and said, “American?”
“Did my atrocious German accent give me away?”
“The way you stand. I can always spot a fellow American even before I hear the person speak.”
Jane nodded. “I’m working on my ability to scare away the men when I get to Nice.”
Jane felt the man’s eyes sweep over her trim figure and blond hair. “Good skill to have,” he said.
Just then Jane’s bag slipped from her shoulder. The man reached to help her grab it and their hands touched.
Moments later they reached the head of the line and, after showing their passports and boarding passes, were directed to different security conveyor belts.
Twenty minutes later Jane sipped tea at a café bar as she appeared to wait for her flight. She watched the man from the security line enter the café bar and stride toward the bar counter. She overheard him say “Kaffee, bitte” as he handed Euros to the server. Then he said in English, “It looks like there’s going to be a storm.”
In the next instant Jane jumped out of her seat, her tea abandoned.
She entered the women’s restroom and surveyed the other occupants before entering a stall at the far end from the door.
A few minutes later she exited the restroom, no longer wearing her pantsuit. Now she wore the clothes of a matronly German woman, complete with feather-topped hat under which most of her hair had been pinned.
Even her gait was different as she slowly walked to an unused waiting lounge. There she ducked behind the counter and tapped into the Lufthansa ticket counter terminal.
Ten minutes later Jane arrived at the gate for a flight to Rome, dressed now in her original outfit. Midway in the line of the people boarding the plane stood the man she had bumped into earlier. His eyes and hers met. He appeared to be indicating a dark-skinned young man at the end of the boarding line.
Jane got in line behind the indicated man. As the man moved forward, Jane’s carry-on bag again started to fall from her shoulder. Jane reached for her bag, knocking over the man’s rolling suitcase.
The man swiveled toward her with anger in his eyes, although Jane smiled at him. “Enschultigung Sie mir. Do you speak English? I must apologize.”
The man’s right hand darted into his pants pocket. In a flash Jane twisted that arm into a hammerlock. “You won’t find this flight to Rome so comfortable,” she said. “Let me make other arrangements for you.”
Before the man could speak she frogmarched him out of line. Her carry-on bag and his suitcase remained behind.
The man with whom Jane had eye contact dropped out of his place in line and retrieved the discarded luggage.