"Call Wolfram in, Coxswain"
I rubbed my forehead. It had all happened too quickly from a table with Heidi, back to the sea.
Much too bloody quickly.
"Cap off! Stand to attention!" barked the Coxswain enjoying himself.
"Wait outside, Cox, and be ready to bring in the unteroffiziers"
Wolfram stood before me. He coughed nervously. In fact he couldn't help coughing all the time.
"Hello Wolfram. How is it going with you?"
"Very (cough) well, Sir, (cough) Am I in any trouble, Sir, Because if it's about that oil valve check, I...?
"No, of course not, Wolfram. Just a chat. Tell me, you live in Magdeburg don't you?"
"Yes, Sir"
"The Cathedral there is quite something isn't it?"
"Yes, Sir, (cough) Magdeburg is a beautiful City and..."
"...And you have quite a family back there, nicht wahr?"
"Oh yes, Sir, three girls (cough) and two boys. They both want to join the Army and..."
"Quite so, Wolfram. How would you like to spend more time closer to them? Get some fresh air for once, and go home to them more often?
"I would like (cough) nothing better, Sir, but I belong here, Sir, on the U-46!"
"Yes, Wolfram, but you have done your duty, nobody could have done more. I'm recommending you for your outstanding service to take up a training post back in Germany. We need good men like you, and so does your family. I know we're at sea now, but next time we put in at St Nazaire, I want you to be ready with your kitbag and rush off home home to your wife and kids. We'll deal with the paperwork. What do you say?"
"Thank you , Sir!
"Good. Now look to those engines, because we're not home yet"
"Yes, Herr Kaleun"
"And another thing, Wolfram, I wouldn't like to hear that this had got about amongst the boys who are staying on, otherwise I might have to rethink my decision. You'll do you're duty while we're still on patrol or the Chief Engineer will want to know the reason why, and so will I!"
"Yes (cough), Yes, Sir!"
I looked at my watch. I'm hoping to surface soon.
"Next, Coxswain!"
Lt de Bunsen, U-46
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