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THE LADY IN THE HARBOR

A Novel of Courage and Determination

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By Flemming H. Smitsdorff

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Flemming H. Smitsdorff
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-6972-5

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Chapter One

A chilling wind blew along the Langelinie Quay in Copenhagen harbor. It was December 31, 1939. Lieutenant Henning Larsen pulled up the collar of his dark blue greatcoat as protection against the cold breath of winter and continued his walk. It had been a stressful day for him at the naval Command headquarters building and the fresh air, laced with the tangy smell of sea salt from the Baltic, felt very good.

Two enlisted sailors approached him on the walkway and rendered exceptionally crisp salutes. Henning returned the salutes and walked on with just the trace of a smile on his face. As a senior lieutenant in the Royal Danish Navy, his rank would not of itself elicit an extra measure of military bearing from subordinates—however, the gold braided epaulets adorning his greatcoat had been clearly seen by the two young sailors.

As adjutant to admiral Victor Karlmann, the chief of the Navy, Henning was entitled to additional uniform adornments. If only there was added pay to go with the braid he often lamented!

Today, however, the prospect of a bigger paycheck was the last thing on his mind. On the eve of a new year, a new decade in fact, events in Europe were becoming increasingly alarming. Henning had seen the grave concern on the faces of admiral Karlmann and his staff officers as the European situation was reviewed and analyzed. Germany was clearly on the march with the annexation of Austria and a blindingly swift invasion of Poland. The balance of power in Europe was changing rapidly. And now Britain and France had declared war on Germany due to treaty obligations.

"Who's next on Hitler's list?" had been the unanswered question in the latest series of staff meetings. Henning shook his head as if trying to shake off the thought that his country might already be in the sights of its powerful neighbor to the south.

He stopped in front of his destination, his favorite spot in the city ... the life sized Little Mermaid statue situated on a large rock protruding from the harbor water. This beautiful, but simple little sculpture had become an icon for Denmark and a tribute to her most revered author—Hans Christian Andersen. Henning sat on a nearby bench and admired the weathered sheen of the bronze lady as she caught the fading rays of the mid-afternoon sun. Darkness would come early in these northern latitudes and would do nothing to improve his mood. The growing threat from the south was anything but an Andersen fairy tale!

Just as he wondered if Torben, his younger brother, would be on time for their 3:00 meeting he noticed the familiar stride of a figure approaching about 50 meters down the quay. Although five years younger, Torben Larsen bore a striking resemblance to Henning. Their six foot frames, blond hair and Nordic facial features presented no doubt of their shared paternity. Henning glanced at his wristwatch and couldn't help smiling as his brother drew closer.

"It's a miracle. You're three minutes early," he called out. "I thought you academic types were always late."

"Hold your tongue, big brother. This is one academic who knows when to be on time. Did you bring the air transit documents?" Torben asked as he gave his brother a warm handshake.

Henning responded, "Good to see you, too! and yes. I've got them. They'll get you a free ride to Stockholm on next week's government courier flight. Just wear a suit and look official and no one will bother you. My contact at the foreign ministry was glad to help a cash strapped young scholar. The bottle of aquavit didn't hurt either!"

As Torben took the documents package and began studying the papers, Henning again felt a sense of pride in his chest. He would miss his brother, but the two year advanced engineering program he had been offered at the Swedish Technology institute in Stockholm was a terrific opportunity and one Torben deserved.

Torben was a classic late bloomer having waited until the second year of middle school to turn around a long history of mediocre grades and academic interest. Neither Henning nor his parents had any idea of what had brought about the change. Torben claimed he didn't either. But what a change it was. He quickly rose to the top of his class in mathematics and sciences. It was as if the sum total of information that he had only casually observed over the years had suddenly taken root and blossomed into knowledge.

Having excelled in the national examinations, Torben advanced into academic high school and finally the prestigious royal engineering University in Copenhagen. The doctoral program in Sweden would be the icing on a cake long in the making and would certainly guarantee a rewarding career. Yes, Henning was proud of his younger brother.

"So, I assume you will see Mother and Father before you leave?"

"I'm taking the train up to Helsingor and I'll spend a few days there," Torben answered. "I should be able to get everything in order before the flight next week. Hey, I'm freezing my ass off and starting to feel about as cold as your mermaid looks over there! how about we find a nice little bodega and have a new year's eve drink together? your treat, of course. You look like you could use one."

"Sorry, Torben, I can't. I've got to get back to headquarters for a few more hours. And then Karen and I are going to celebrate the evening at the Tivoli ballroom and bring in the new year in fine form"

"That's alright, Henning. And give Karen my best. I'll miss her and I still don't understand what a knockout like her sees in you. Hopefully, she'll come to her senses and realize how perfect I would be for her! I'll let you run and I'll call next week before I leave. Happy new year and thanks again for the ticket." With that, Torben gave his brother a tap on the arm and headed down the walkway.

Henning sat for a few more minutes looking at the mermaid as the sun descended for the last time in 1939 over free and peaceful Denmark.

* * *

As the electric trolley rumbled down Vestergade toward the city square, Karen Henneberg had a few minutes to collect her thoughts. She had left work early and was heading home to her small apartment to prepare herself for tonight's festive event. At least she hoped it would be festive. Henning had seemed so distant lately, she thought, so maybe a party and celebration was what he needed.

The day had gone by quickly. Karen worked for Dr. Valdemar Rosenberg, a former professor and now successful businessman, and his wife Sofie and tutored their two children in both the German and English languages. The family lived in a grand, three story house in one of the city's finest neighborhoods. Karen enjoyed her surroundings in the stately home. She worked with the children in the afternoons after their school day as well as helping Mrs. Rosenberg manage the many affairs of the household. The position, a combination nanny—secretary—teacher—housekeeper-confidant, paid reasonably well and allowed her both independence and time to pursue her interests.

Karen had left her hometown on the west coast of Denmark fourteen months earlier. Two years of foreign language training in a regional technical college had been enough. She needed to stretch her legs and see for herself what a large city such as Copenhagen had to offer. An uncle, and friend of the Rosenbergs, had arranged employment for her and it had all worked out quite well.

Earlier in the year, she had met Henning. An unusually warm May afternoon had brought out many of the city's residents eager for sunshine and assurances that summer might be on the way. Karen and her girlfriend Lisbeth were enjoying coffee in one of the many outdoor cafes along Stroeget, Copenhagen's fabled walking street. She noticed the young man sitting alone reading a paper a few tables over. He was wearing some type of maritime uniform—Navy perhaps. Karen wasn't sure but he certainly was an eyeful!

Several times he caught her glances and, a little embarrassed, she would quickly look away and resume her conversation with Lisbeth. A short time later, as she watched him settle his check and walk out towards the street, he suddenly turned and flashed a brilliant smile directly at her. Karen couldn't help but smile back at this sudden and unexpected gesture. he was smiling at her, wasn't he?

Ten minutes later, she and Lisbeth left the café, hugged and promised to see each other again soon. She set off down Stroeget towards home.

"I thought you might like these," he said as he came up behind her and placed a colorful bouquet of flowers in her arms. "Before you become alarmed or angry let me just say that I normally don't meet girls like this. but I wanted to meet you. My name is Henning and I'll be back here tomorrow at the same time. I hope you'll come, too."

With that said, Henning turned and walked away. Karen watched him as he looked back and threw another one of those damn smiles at her.

Of all the nerve, she thought. And he could take that line of his and use it to catch fish! With his fancy uniform and good looks he must think I'm some sort of pushover, she mused. As Karen resumed her walk home it gave her some satisfaction knowing that the flowers were expensive this time of year and had cost him a lot. They would in any event brighten up the apartment.

The next day Karen was back at the café having coffee with Henning.

They never looked back. The next seven months were a blur of activity as they began to know each other with an energy neither thought they were capable of. They explored Copenhagen's museums and castles, found cozy restaurants after the cinema or a concert, enjoyed the beautiful parks and took walks along the labyrinth of canals flowing through the city.

It was a wonderful time for them both and the charms of the city provided the perfect setting as their relationship deepened. Oh how she loved this new life of hers.

This would be their first new year's eve together and Karen could only imagine that the next year would be even better than the last. Nothing could possibly change the happiness she and Henning had found and the future that she knew they could build together.

The trolley jerked to a standstill as Karen prepared to step off at her stop. She squeezed past two rather large women engaged in animated conversation, stepped down from the car and headed home.

Chapter Two

"Two hours until midnight," declared Henning as he poured another glass of the crisp German Riesling for Karen and himself. "Maybe it's the wine but I'm really enjoying myself. and if you start looking any more gorgeous I just might have to forget that I'm an officer and a gentleman later tonight!"

"Thanks, since I think that was a compliment," she answered with a knowing smile that signaled a happy anticipation of the evening's later possibilities. "I'm enjoying it, too, and they really have dressed up the ballroom beautifully."

As Henning sipped the Riesling, he couldn't help but consider the irony of enjoying German wine in light of the developing situation in Europe.

The ballroom was in the center of Tivoli, Copenhagen's delightful summer park of gardens, restaurants, concert halls and amusement concessions. Although the park closed in the winter months, the ballroom had hosted gala new year's parties since the turn of the century. Tonight, the ten-piece Willi Thorning orchestra had serenaded the guests with a wide selection of popular European and American music. As the wine flowed, Karen and Henning had feasted on an assortment of salmon, shrimp and fresh seafood dishes. Karen had remarked that the fish was so good it must have come from the north Sea. Probably through the port of Esbjerg, her hometown, by the way.

"Henning, I don't want to say anything to spoil the evening, but you've been so moody lately. It's like you're always somewhere else. You've been your old self tonight which makes me happy. But there's been something on your mind and I just think you should share it with me. I want to share ..."

"I know. And I want to share with you, too. I just didn't realize how well you can read me. I'm sorry, but you know that much of what I do at naval Command is secret, but it's no secret what the Germans have been systematically doing to their neighbors. And now Poland. Invaded and occupied in only three weeks! You read the papers and hear what people are talking about. Everyone's worried that the same could happen to us."

"Dr. Rosenberg says Denmark isn't on Hitler's target board," she offered. "We're a small country and what would the Germans want with us? Why just the other day he said that with Britain and France now entering the war, Germany will be too busy to even think about us."

"Karen, listen to me. I hope he's right but that could just be wishful thinking. There are lots of reasons we could be in their plans. I can't go into them with you now, but, trust me they're real!"

"I think you and the people you work with spend too much time worrying about things that don't concern us here in Denmark. We should ..."

"Look, we all need to be concerned about what's been happening in Europe. I'm not trying to alarm you but there are things you don't know about." Henning twirled the wine in his glass and decided to share with Karen what he had heard that afternoon.

"I shouldn't tell you this and you've got to keep this to yourself. The admiral told the staff today that the king's brother, Prince axel, is flying to Berlin in a few weeks for discussions with the German foreign ministry people. Minister von Ribbentrob is to be available and possibly Goering, too. He's to present them with a request for assurances that Denmark's neutrality will be honored and that they harbor no intentions of aggression against us. Those were his exact words."

"Well that'll settle it then." Karen remarked. "Surely the prince will hear that there is no threat against us and then you and the rest of the handwringers at naval Command can find something better to worry about." She reached over and took Henning's hand and smiled. "Come on, let's enjoy the rest of the night."

Henning shook his head and forced a smile back at her. "Alright," he said. "Let's dance and then we'll have the champagne I ordered earlier. There'll be no more talk of this tonight. I promise."

After the midnight celebrations, Henning hailed a cab for them. A light snow was falling over the city as the old car maneuvered around the town hall square towards Karen's apartment district. As they passed Amalienborg, the royal palaces, Henning asked the driver to slow the car so they could take in the view of the four lighted buildings sparkling in the snowfall. A magical sight these rococo style palaces were. As always, royal Guard soldiers stood at attention throughout the complex as the snow began to settle on their tall bearskin hats. The Guard had protected Danish regals for over 350 years and had persevered in weather much worse than this.

Karen pulled herself closer to Henning and kissed him on the cheek as the cab resumed its journey.

"I assume you'll be staying the night?" Karen whispered.

"I'd be a fool if I didn't," came the answer as Henning felt a familiar stirring below his waist. "It's 1940 now and it's up to us to start the year off in a proper manner!"

Karen giggled and the cab sped on in the snowy night.

Chapter Three

The formal conference room in Amalienborg Palace was heavy with tobacco smoke as the four occupants engaged in small talk while busying themselves with their papers and folders. Large oil portraits of various kings shared the walls with equally large paintings of generals leading armies in momentous battles from the past. A refreshment service had been arranged at a sideboard and the four men had brought cups of coffee and pastry back to their places at the polished oak table.

Thorvald Stauning, the aging Danish prime minister, puffed on his cigar and cleared his throat. "I'm glad we're meeting again," he announced. "The prince needs the support from all of us considering the importance of his mission."

"I do indeed, Minister," answered Prince axel. "Flying to Berlin tomorrow to meet with this pack of nazis is unpleasant enough. But if we can at least get some assurances that they'll leave us alone we will all breathe easier, I'm sure".

Stauning nodded. He was strongly opposed to a Europe under nazism and abhorred the aggressiveness being undertaken by the Germans. Keeping Denmark out of the growing conflict was of the utmost importance.

The others, Admiral Karlmann and Foreign Minister Henrik Munch, also nodded their heads and offered encouragement to the prince.

A door suddenly opened and in stepped Christian X, King of Denmark and Iceland. The king, elegantly dressed in a dark gray wool suit, quickly made his way to the table as the occupants immediately stood to receive his handshakes.

"Good morning, gentlemen, and please be seated," he offered.

The five men knew each other well and were comfortable in each other's presence despite the often dissimilar agendas of politicians, diplomats, the military and the royal family.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from THE LADY IN THE HARBOR by Flemming H. Smitsdorff Copyright © 2012 by Flemming H. Smitsdorff. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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