Farewell My Lovely

   Farewell My Lovely

Suzanne Marsh

The petite dark-haired man stood watching intently out the window down at the street. He was caught like a rat in a trap; he tried in vain to find a way out of the window of the bistro. He heard the ahooga horn fast approaching, which meant the Gestapo was looking for the radio signal. He had turned the transmitter off. There were two other people in the apartment, where he was hiding. He was a spy, an Englishman whom the Gestapo wanted. He had to get out of there, he was risking not only his life but the lives of two other operatives. He was the one they wanted and feared, he began to think of different scenarios to get himself out of Holland, and back home to England. The sirens were nearing his hiding place, the Gestapo, he knew would knock down the door, arrest them, torture them, then kill them. The information he had obtained was crucial to the war effort. The question was how he would safely get out of Holland, all trains leaving Holland were being closely monitored. He was on the verge of panic when a member of the Dutch underground arrived. Jan Groot knocked two times, then three, then one in rapid succession, the underground had a plan to get David Berwick out of Holland, he wasn’t sure if the plan was viable but it was the only chance they had.

Jan brought a large suitcase with him, in it contained: two dresses, two pairs of high heels, silk stockings, and other female essentials. Berwick could hardly believe that the underground could have concocted such a crazy scheme:

“Let me be sure I understand what you are suggesting, you want me to dress in women’s clothing, that is preposterous!

How is that going to get me out of here? The Gestapo now have an idea where this safe house is

there is little doubt they will be watching even more closely.” Jan gave Berwick a sidelong

glance as he answered:

“There is no choice, we must get you out of here. Would it not be better if you were disguised a

a woman? The documents have already been forged, and the information you have acquired

is vital to a speedy end to this atrocity of war.” Berwick was not a happy man, he might be a small man but he was a man, now these crazy Hollanders wanted to dress him up as a woman, and that was

the final straw. He sighed, knowing now this was the only way out:

“All right, I’ll try this crazy plan of yours I just hope it works. I have my suicide capsule if I

am captured. When do I leave?”

The Hollander felt relief that Berwick was leaving with whatever information he had obtained; the underground would still be intact. The Germans were losing the war but the Dutch wanted to be sure they lost soon.

The gray of dawn broke through the solid darkness, his underground contact arrived with a young woman:

“Berwick, this is Anna she will help your transformation to womanhood. She will work with

you; then when she feels you are ready arrangements to pick you up will be made. Goot

luck.”

Berwick was overwhelmed he just sat quietly wondering how he found himself in this surreal dream, hoping he would awaken and it would all be gone.

Anna, watched him closely, the dresses would fit she knew, they were about the same height and weight. Her main concern was teaching him to walk and speak in a very feminine. The wig was blond, and he would need heavy pancake face powder. She would have to be careful that it was just right, too little his five o’clock shadow would show, too much makeup and he would look like a clown. There were so many things to be done in a very short time, things that would keep Berwick and the underground safe from the Gestapo. Anna shooed her brother Jan out of the room.

Anna stood for a moment thinking about the best way to begin, finally, she spoke:

“Berwick, take off your slacks shoes and socks. Also your shirt, I have to fit the dress to your

figure.” Berwick was not keen on the entire idea but did as he was instructed. Anna took

measurements, hoped the high heels would fit, his feet were longer than they had thought. She sewed into the night to finish the dress as Berwick slept. He was up before dawn, he saw that Anna was still there:

“You didn’t go home last night, you have been sewing.” She smiled up at him:

“Jan sent me a message to get this finished, they are moving you up to the top of the

priority list, we must get you out of here! The Gestapo are like vultures circling their

prey. Now shall we try your dress on?”

Berwick submitted to her help, she had him step into the dress, and pull it up, success it fit beautifully. Berwick frowned at his image in the mirror, he looked ridiculous. Anna produced a razor:

“What am I supposed to do with this?” Anna replied:

Shave your underarms and legs as smooth as possible, it is all the rage here at the moment.”

Berwick went into the bathroom, shaved including his chest hair. When he came into the room Anna stood there with the dress and a bra in her hands. Berwick eyed the contraption:

“What am I supposed to do with this? This garment is something women wear.” Anna attempted to hide a smile:

“That is a bra, we will have to fill it with rags so they are round.” Berwick had very mixed feelings about this whole exercise in futility. She next handed him a blond wig and applied makeup. He put the stockings on under protest, he drew the like when he put the high heels on. Anna stood to admire the transformation; she told Berwick to walk in high heels, this caused him a great deal of embarrassment especially since he had been hiding in the Lady's Room. First Berwick wobbled across the room, then returned to face Anna:

“Not bad but you must sway your hips more. Berwick did as she instructed, and twisted his ankle he looked comical, Anna could not help but smile. Later that evening Jan arrived, he did not recognize the changes in Berwick, the little Englishman had transformed into a rather lovely woman:

“Berwick, come it is time to leave. Anna said to be sure you carry your purse on your arm. It

is dark, the landing field is about twenty minutes from here. Are you ready, your papers are

in your purse, you should not need them but we must cover every detail.” Berwick followed Jan out the door, down the hall, and out into the night. It was cold, but Berwick knew he would be warm enough. The car began to pick up speed, and Jan continued to watch out the window. Suddenly Jan opened his side window, and a car was following. Jan knew it was the Gestapo, so he began to aim and fire at the tires of the other car, finally, the other car swerved going off the road, into a ditch, and catching fire.

The arrived at the open field, several other underground members met them there. They were to use torches (flashlights) once the Lysander was over head. The plane would land, Berwick would climb on board, end of story. The Lysander could be heard on approach to the field, Berwick his suitcase in hand ran for the plane. The door opened, a hand reached out to aid in him in clambering aboard. The plane took off for Tempsford AFB just as quickly as it had landed.

Once over the English Channel Berwick gave a sigh of relief, he was going home finally. It had been over two years since he had left England. The plane landed, quickly, Berwick smiled when he saw his old friend and mentor Major Hornsby. The major walked up to the plane, looking somewhat confused, as he looked inside the plane, where was Berwick and who was the young woman. The major did not have to wait long:

“Major Hornsby, sir.” The woman saluted, the major saluted then listened to the female voice:

“It is good to be home sir, good to put my feet back on English soil.” The major knew the voice, he looked closer at the woman standing at attention:

“Berwick is that you?”

“Yes, sir it is.”

“You make a very nice-looking woman, now if you will come with me I will ah begin debriefing

you.”

“Sir begging your pardon I would like to get out of this girdle, and the other apparel I used

for my escape.” Trying not to laugh the major dismissed him. The information he had smuggled out was of great importance to the allies for the battle of Market Garden.

Berwick, as he grew older often thought about those years, he had kept the entire outfit and had planned to return it to Anna, however, he lost contact with Jan. Then one quiet afternoon around high tea the mail arrived, and there was a letter from Holland. Berwick’s hands trembled as he fumbled with the envelope. The note inside simply read:

“Open the door.” There stood Jan and Anna smiling.