Christmas Diamond, a Novella: Inspired by The Jewel series and the Virtues and Valor series by Hallee Bridgeman Page A

war zone.
    While the German went behind the screen and began to disrobe, Marie looked through her jar of buttons and found a few that should work on his uniform. In a matter of seconds, he flipped his pants over the top of the dressing screen. As she reached for them, she couldn't help but glance up at the ceiling. Above the German's head, the case containing her wireless lay hidden in the ceiling.
    "I am very happy that you were in this afternoon," he announced from behind the screen.
    "I'm sure you would have been resourceful if I hadn't been," Marie answered, threading a needle with dark gray thread.
    "Are you curious to know how I lost a button on my trousers?"
    "Dare I ask?" Uninvited images raced through her imagination.
    He laughed. "I wish I knew myself. I left my room this morning in a perfect state of dress. Now, right before this important ceremony, I find myself out of uniform."
    "One hopes this is the only time you lose your fly button before a military ceremony. I'm not going to be around all the time after all," Marie said, deftly sewing on the button that most closely matched the others on his uniform. He laughed again while she sewed. It took her less than a minute. With small scissors, she snipped the thread and lay the trousers over the screen again. "All done. Here you go,
Leutnant
."
    "
Bitte
," he said enthusiastically.
    "Please, don't mention it." She crossed her arms over her chest and waited, listening to the rustle of clothing as he put the trousers back on. When he came from around the screen, he carried his boots. She gestured toward the chair facing her sewing machine.
    "I will be out of your hair in just a moment," he said, sitting down. "I can't be late, after all."
    "After he made the trains run on time, I imagine the
Führer
looks down on any officers who are less than punctual." her voice remained very monotone.
    He looked up at her sharply, staring at her with very serious eyes for a moment, his jaw set to speak something in anger before he apparently reconsidered and quietly said, "Yes, I imagine he does." He finished fasenting his boot strap and stood. "How much do I owe you,
Fräulein
?"
    Marie waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing. I'm happy to help,
Leutnant
."
    "I insist on paying you for your work."
    "I'm afraid I must insist on accepting nothing from you,
Leutnant
." She walked to the open door and gripped the handle. "Congratulations on your promotion,
First
Lieutenant. I hope I have not delayed you too long and that you make it to your ceremony on time."
    He stopped at the door and looked down at her. "At least accept my gratitude. Thank you,
Fräulein
, from the bottom of my heart."
    She felt her cheeks flush with color as he rushed from the room. When she was certain he was gone, she shut the door and locked it, pressing a shaking hand to her suddenly nausiated stomach. She stared at the ceiling, where the wireless machine sat hidden.
    "Dear God," she prayed in a whisper, thankful for whatever protection He'd just granted her. "Thank You, God. Thank You."

    &&&&

    MARIE pushed the headphones tighter against her ears. "Come on," she whispered urgently.
    After several seconds of silence, she retransmitted the message and waited. A bead of perspiration trickled down her forehead and she closed her eyes and prayed. It was taking so long. The longer she transmitted, the more time the Germans had to do the arithmetic. They would intercept her signal, intersect her frequency, triangulate the origin from more than one angle, and resect her exact location. The computations could be made within minutes. Say what you wanted about the German Army but no one could criticize their math skills.
    Suddenly, a reply sounded in her ear. "That a girl," she uttered, guessing the identity of the operator on the other end.
    Marie wrote as fast as she could then quickly dashed off a confirmation. With nimble fingers, she packed everything up into the bag, hid the equipment in the false bottom, then