Free Marching Through Georgia by S.M. Stirling Page A

Germans, and if it does come we'll have to cooperate with the U.S. Certainly if we expect them to do most of the fighting, and help out in Europe besides."
    Eric nodded, baffled. More reluctantly, his father continued.
    "As part of keeping them sweet, we're allowing in a war correspondent."
    "I should think, sir, knowing the Yankees, allowing a newspaperman into the Domination would be likely to turn them against us, once he started reporting."
    "Not if he's allowed to see only the proper sights, then assigned to a combat unit and, ah, overseen by the proper officer."
    "I see. Sir." Eric said. Now, that's an insult, if you like , he thought. The implication being that he was a weak-livered milksop, unlikely to arouse the notorious Yankee squeamishness.
    The younger man's lips tightened. "As you command, sir. I will see you at dinner, then."
    Karl von Shrakenberg stared after the diminishing thunder of his son's horse, a brief flush rising to his weathered cheeks. He had suggested the assignment; pushed for it, in fact, as a way to prove Eric's loyalty beyond doubt, restore his career prospects.
    The Sefurity case-officer had objected, but not too strongly; Karl suspected he looked at it as a baited trap, luring Eric into indiscretions that not even an Arch-Strategos' influence could protect him from. And this was his reward…
    Behind him, Johanna raised her eyes to heaven and sighed.
    Maybe Rahksan can ease him up for tomorrow , she thought glumly. Home sweet home, bullshit .

CHAPTER FOUR
    Memo: 18/11/41
    ref: 2sm30/Z1
    From: Security Directorate. Alexandria D.H.Q.
    Decurion F. Vachon To: Stevenson & de Verre. labor Agents Attn: T. de Verre Re: Labor Consignment 2sm30
    With regard to yours of the 10th Oct.. please be advised that the shipment in question is now ready for pickup at Holding Pen #17. above address. Standard terms, net 32 aurics per head
    .
    Labor units in question are category 3m72 (unsound elements, liquidated, dependents of) and category 3rn73
    (unsound elements, religious cadre) from the occupied zone in Italy. Milan District Office.
    Service to the State!
    (handwritten postscript)
    Here's the lot I promised: 123 of them. 12-30. wenches and prettybucks. Prime stuff, you aren't going to sell these cheap to wash dishes. The wives and children of the Fascist politicians and university professors won't give you any trouble but I advise splitting up the nuns. Their pen's right under my office, and the bitches have been singing, praying, and chanting fit to give you the heebies. Had to send in the bulls with electroprods twice last week to shut 'em up.
    Anyway, you owe me for this one, good buddy. The bureaucratic bunfights I had to go throughl First, Tech Section tried to grab 'em for that hush-hush uranium refining thing out by the Quattara. then that greasy immigrant Lederman in Forces Morale Section wanted them for his knocking-shops …
    Edgar sends his regards to you and Cynthia. Still on for tennis Saturday?

    Love Felice
    as quoted in:
    Under the Yoke: Postwar Europe
    by Angleo Menzarotti
    Cuba State University Press, Havana, 1977
    OAKENWALD PLANTATION OCTOBER, 1941
    The car pulled into Oakenwald's drive three hours past midnight. With a start, William Dreiser jerked himself awake; he was a mild-faced man in his thirties, balding, with thick black-rimmed glasses and a battered pipe tucked into the pocket of his trench coat. Sandy-eyed, he rubbed at his mustache and glanced across at the Draka woman who was his escort-guard.
    The car was a steam-sedan, four-doored, with two sets of seats facing each other in the rear compartment. Rather like a Stanley Raccoon, in fact.
    It had been two weeks' travel from Washington. By rail south to New Orleans, then ferryboat to
    Havana. The Caribbean was safe enough, rimmed with American territory from Florida through the Gulf and on through the States carved out of Mexico and Central America a century before; there were U-boats in the South Atlantic, though, and even