Go get some popcorn or something!!
We're enjoying the WHOLE movie!!

Heidi!?!?

Happy Christmas, everyone, and many heartfelt thanks.

In answer to the last replies, I'm getting there!

As the title of the story says, I'm anxious to put to sea again myself.

But there's a couple more things to tie up...

LS

"Hello Otto!"

We embrace as old friends do, before I sit down.

"How was it in Berlin, Sir?"

"I wouldn't have wished you there, Otto. It's more crazy than Kerneval. Err..I hear there's a new Eastern offensive underway, but I've been on a train for the last few days. What news?"

Otto grinned.

"They tell us that our Armies are rolling up Ivan at a great pace! We'll soon be in Moscow, and then we can all think about going home for good"

"Yes, well, Otto, my friend, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Otto placed his glass down, and looked at me quizzically.

"What do you mean , Sir?"

"How was Frankfurt, Otto? How his Gertie and the baby she's carrying?"

He beamed.

Fantastic, on all counts, Sir! When she opened the door to find me standing there, well....."

Otto's words failed him for the moment. I could only imagine his homecoming. Only imagine. There is no one waiting for some of us, well not for me; and the only time I have experienced it was a kind old man who lived in fear of a knock at the door from someone in German uniform.

I shuddered and yearned at the same time.

"...And the baby's fine Herr Kaleun, we are hoping for a girl....or a boy...and....."

Otto burbled happily on

"Otto, I've been thinking that you've done more than enough of your bit"

"What, Sir?"

"That you can maybe take a shore-based job, now that you have a child, and it wouldn't be fair for you to go out again."

Otto's eyes opened wide

"What , Sir"

"There's an opening coming up in Flotilla HeadQuarters, and they need someone with some sea experience, let's face it - we've both said the same - and it would be safer, and..."

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Sir?"

"No! No, Otto. I need you on the U-46, you know that, but you also know now things have changed for you, and I thought if I could get you off active duty and spend more time with...

" No! No, Sir! Don't do it. This is my boat as much as yours! you can't discharge me!"

Otto had risen from his chair and dashed his glass to the ground

"Noone knows the engines and the Control Room as well as me. And it's that Reuben isn't it? You're replacing me with an upstart who lost his boat and wants to take mine!"

(Actually mine, I thought, but I admired the sentiment, and me and Otto were a great double act when at sea)

"I just thought you might want to get out of it while the going's good, Otto. It's going to get pretty rough from here on in. And I'm giving you the chance"

"No, Sir!" he repeated wildly, but then looked at me silently for a while, as I impatiently waved curious officers away.

Otto subsided into his seat, and eventually continued

"We're still at war. How could I go home to Gertie with the job half-done. I'm not supersticious like Willi, but I do believe U-46 has one of the best run boats in the Kriegsmarine, at least in my department. And we have a good chance of seeing it out. By staying with our boat, I'll have the best chance of fighting for Gertie and the baby's security and future. You need me Kap!"

"Yes I do, Otto, but I had to offer you the choice. You're still my Chief, my friend, and I'm very glad to hear it if you're sure"

We were bent over the table towards each other as the drinks came, and everyone else was waved away while we discussed who should make way for Francks, who would be a definite asset to the boat and come under Otto's wing.

It was going to be old Wofram (all of 32 years) who had made a couple of minor maintenance mistakes, but was actually starting to suffer from respiratory problems from the confined space of the engine room.

Just as we agreeing on that, Otto looked up from the table. He suddenly drained his glass, and said

"Time for me to go, Herr Kaleun"

I looked up surprised at his sudden departure and followed his gaze.

Heidi

Suddenly standing over my table; and then without a word, bending forward and kissing me....

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

You know how to stop the story in the best part!

MORE!!!
I'M ADDICTED!

:arrgh!: :arrgh!: :arrgh!:

Heidi is back and Otto Stays....

Dude i really Hope you save these up each time you write them...
could be a good nights story for your son, if you happen too have one.

Damn fine reading....
DAMN :up: :rock:

Could'nt have said it better myself!!! (as the moderator would probably banish me anyway!) :rock:

(only copied in the sense that I started putting it on a website:)

laughingswordfish.net

And I still need to get on with the editing and updating of that as it is way behind. The patrol stories are real in the sense that they are real SHIII outings, (except for my invention of a WolfPack), so I really don't know how it will all turn out.

And none of us do.

LS

When Heidi's lips met mine, and held there longer....

... these were dreams I'd often had on the night bridge watch. Always truly alone as Commander especially when under attack.
Heidi had always been in my thoughts,

For all my bellowing on the Bridge or in the Control Room or wherever, I couldn't think of a thing to say.

She kissed me again this time on the cheek with her hand cradling the other side of my head.

"Welcome home, my hero"

".. well I'm not really a hero, you see..."

"You're my hero you idiot! You always have been. Can I sit with you, Sir?"

Desperately keeping up some semblance and pretence of protocol, as she sat down so close to me, I attempted to introduce myself.

"Well, you know that my name is Kapitan Leutnant de Bunsen, I stammered. That seemed rather stiff, but I was new to these things.

"My first name is Raoul, it's not a German name, but.."

"I know. But everyone calls you Rolley in 7th Flotilla."

"Do they! Why?"

Because of your attempts at skiing on leave from Kiel, when there was more snow on you than on the slope down in Bavaria!"

"Well yes, but my crew never call me that."

"No, Rolley, not to your face"

I laughed.

"Heidi, can I just say how much I have....

"Yes Herr Kaleun?"

"Well I guess you can call me, Rolley"

Heidi laughed, but leaned closer.

"Er..it,s just that I'd really like to take you...

"Yes?"

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. No uncommon occurence at the Black Cat. Couriers from Kerneval fighting their way through drunken sailors to deliver despatches.

Heidi dropped her head.

"I thought we had more time"

She looked up at me apologetically, as yet another brown envelope was thust in my lap for me to sign for.

And placed her beautiful hand over mine that was trying to open the envelope.

I looked at her bewildered

"It means that a major naval operation is underway. and all available u-boats are to join the operation."

"Well I was only with the Fuhrer a couple of days ago, what can it be.

"We both have to go. As she stood up I noticed for the first time the swordfish badge on her coat that she must have got from one of the lads.

"Well what is it, Heidi!"

"My darling, the Bismark is sailing"

Lt de Bunsen, U-46

And then she was gone.

Hell of a night.

Heidi

But our best battleship is coming out to take them on

But Heidi actually kissed me!

I shook my head. It's time to go fishing again.

It's supposed to be an officer's car, but I'm cramming in as many of my men as I can, and taking their beer bottles off them as I can, and then insisting he goes back for the others.

My mind is racing. The Bismark. The greatest, sleekest and most powerful ship the world has ever known. We know she's been biding her time in Norway. Now it won't be us just carrying the fight. Well, she must come round from the North. I guess excitedly that when she breaks out into the Atlantic, whatever scattered convoys, or even better, the odd capital ship may fall into the path of the likes of us.

And Heidi kissed me!

"First Officer, report the Boat and Crew!" I demand on racing along the pens, until we get to ours"

The hasty parade we're having is not quite battleship standard.

"All fifty one men reported in, Sir!"

"The U-46 is ready for sea!"

In an aside, Christian whispered,

"I think some of them might be drunk, Sir"

"I'd say most of them, including me, and this has just interrupted the most ....Never mind Christian, go to see us off properly, but give me at least eight clear eyes upstairs. I''ve got some orders and charts to go through. I want good navigation down the estuary, you know the course. Wake me if you need me but in all events when we come out into the Bay, or daylight is approaching, or any other emergency including the cook making coffee."

And so the U-46 puts to sea again.

Lt de Bunsen

:roll:
and WHEN can he have some time off with her?

not thqai i want to know every detail of what happens then, but good lord, give this Kaleun what he deserves!!

Jeesus, load up the TI s and TII s and here we go again.
good luck, fella. ;)

Awwwww come on Swordfish!!!
You COULD have given the poor guy ONE more night in port!!!
:dead:

You be darn careful out there Mate!!! This "movie" has GOT to continue!! :up: :rock:

SWORDFISH!!!

I am speechless!

God I wish I could buy you a beer.

The way you go about this story is PERFECT!!!

Always do it YOUR WAY!

:rock: :rock: :rock:

Aww! Poor Kaleun! How can you be so heartles? *Sniff :cry: * Lets just hope that it will all be fine for him and Heidi. Oh, and one more thing,

MORE!

Just to say I'm away for 4 days doing the whole Christmas thing, U-46 is alive and well somewhere out in the Bay of Biscay as we speak.

And I'm determined to make it back again.

Thank you so much one and all for your kind responses. I avidly read every one, and it really encourages me to write each episode.

My New Year's resolution is to bring the website up to date, and sink more ships! (and also brush up on my morse code!)

But anyway, you'll read it all here first!

Merry Christmas everybody, and thanks again.

LS