Len Gilbert - The Furred Reich

“What they try to get from you?” Asked Peiper.

“Dietrich. Those Ami’s still can’t find him, thank god.”

“If so they’re no worse than the Gestapo.” Jochen sat in the bottom bunk and looked back at his former officer.

“It’s funny,” he said. “Dietrich’s disappearance is one of those mysteries that I never got to think about. Even though I was the last one to talk to him.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I was on the phone with him when he was back at HQ. The line just went silent and he was gone. No shots. No explosions. Phone didn’t even disconnect. Just silence.”

“That’s… weird.”

“I know. And since then it’s been Budapest, Balaton, Vienna. You know. So I never got the chance to really think about it.”

“So what about you? What’d they want from you?”

“The same.” Peiper answered. “But more about the murders at Malmedy Crossing, or the ‘Malmedy Massacre’ as they say. They knew I was already well ahead when the shooting happened. Obviously there was no order for that kind of thing. I’d just like to know who did it, to be honest.”

“It was Poetschke, sir.”

“Werner Poetschke?” Peiper snorted. “I know he’s dead now, but do you know why he’d do that?”

Fischer shrugged. “The whole thing was bad. An American got confused and started yelling during sound off, and Felps in his infinite wisdom shot the man. Some of the Ami’s started running. Poetschke wasn’t in the mood for it. Now the Ami’s are out for blood. I just wonder why they don’t get it over with and shoot us all right now.”

“Because they’re not British,” Peiper scratched his head. “That’s the thing with Americans. They’re just like they are in the movies. They have this need for justice. Due process. Or at least the appearance of it. I still can’t tell which.”

“All I’ve seen is Jewish revenge wrapped in an American flag.”

“You might be right, but I’ll tell you what bothers me. My men have signed confessions against one another. I don’t care if my men have to implicate me for their own plea bargain. I’m their commanding officer anyway, and I’ve already taken responsibility for Poetschke and everyone else.”

Arndt watched as his commander hung his head and stared at the floor.

“The only support left for us is the comradeship formed on the front lines. I’ve seen all the confessions. My comrades have betrayed me. And I’ve lost faith in loyalty, altogether.”

Jochen filed under the bottom bunk and disappeared from sight.

“It’s not that bad. Most of them are just young and scared right now.”

“It’s alright Fischer. I still trust you.”

Jan Hillce had been caught, a result of her own curiosity. Standing on the other side of those bushes was the first human she’d ever seen. She picked her way over the ground to avoid stepping on the sharp brier bushes and stood in front of the camouflaged human, hands clasped in front of herself.

Somehow, pointing out the obvious, that he was a human, didn’t seem the smartest thing to do.

“Good evening.” She smiled to him, showing the human her sharp teeth.

“Hi, nice to meet you. Uh, could you help me?” he asked.

The cat was a silky gray, with a swash of fire red hair atop her head. The rest was hidden under a red waistcoat and pleated white skirt to her mid thigh. The human walked up to her, but faced her with his shoulder.

“Have you seen any other humans here? Ones that are dressed like me?”

The cat shook her head, fluffy orange tail swishing behind her.

“No, you—you’re the first one I’ve ever seen, actually.”

The human didn’t seem dangerous, even though she wasn’t sure how this human got here.

“I see. I just looked for some help in the nearby town but nobody seems to be there.”

“I know. That’s why I followed you. Um, just to see if you needed anything?”

“Oh!” the human finally smiled. “Uh, yes I do. See, I came from east of here. From the Foxen. I’ve been looking for the cats. It’s nice to finally see one.”

Jan preened at that. “I’m Jan. Jan Hillce.” She held out her paw, claws in, and smiled brightly to the man.

The human reached out and accepted.

“Nice to meet you Jan. If you see any others like me, please tell them about me. I’m really looking for them, even though I’m pretty happy to be here.”

Her tail swished behind her again. The human still held her paw in his hand. “I’m glad you like it. I don’t think it’s so bad here…”

Jan’s voice trailed off and she took a step closer. The man’s clothes carried the scent of sunflowers, dust and mud from a far-off land.

“Are there cats where you’re from?”

“Yes. But our cats walk on four legs. And they don’t talk.”

“But are they nice?” She asked, as if inquiring about a very distant relative.

“Ya, but much smaller. I even had one that slept in my helmet sometimes. Couldn’t take him with me, though.”

Jan smiled at the idea of a little cat sleeping in his helmet. She liked the smell of this human, too — kind enough, trustworthy and very sweet. Some of her favorite things. She came a little closer. When he didn’t back away, she pressed her cheek against Hans’ shoulder.

The human looked down at her. He slowly put his arm behind Jans’ back, then pet her down the fabric of her waistcoat. At first she startled, but soon she relaxed, then looked up at Hans and met his eyes. He smiled at her again, and then rubbed the back of her ear. She began to purr for him and rubbed her cheek on his shoulder.

The two glanced briefly at each other again and nuzzled. Hans pet her sides through the fabric of her waistcoat and she curved her body against his with each prompt of his hand.

She pressed herself onto him for warmth and draped her arms around Hans’ shoulders. Jan was naked beneath the waistcoat, and as soon as the human found out, his hands made their way toward her chest. Jan arched her back and pushed her breasts forward, but only gave him a second of that before backing away with a giggle, her tail curling around his wrist.

“Are you staying here?” She squeaked quietly.

Hans felt a little embarrassed to bring Jan back to his very humble tent quarter in the forest, but she gracefully slipped under the tarp without much thought. Hans slid off her waistcoat and set it off to the side.

“Hope this is comfy.” He said in a whisper.

She felt his arms envelope around from behind and felt his hands begin to explore. Just like a housecat, a purr rumbled through Jan’s chest. She relaxed and settled back against him but didn’t answer back. Instead she made a soft meow and pushed her breasts back into his hands.

Hans practically tore off his tunic and moved down to her skirt, unclasping it. Jan giggled and tucked herself against his skin, as if to hide from his prying hands. “Are you always this fast with your own women?”

Hans smiled sheepishly and put his hands down onto her thighs. “Just too curious maybe. Does it feel like I’m going fast?”

Jan chuckled and curled her tail against him. “Eager, maybe.”

“This… might be true.”

Jan wrinkled her nose and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Turning around, she reached down, paw smoothing over the front of Hans’ trousers.

She giggled and pressed on his cock through the fabric, and leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose. With her paw she unfastened those trousers and slid her paw inside, the pads of her fingers stroking over the head of his cock.

“Have you been with someone here already?”

He shook his head right away. “No… And it’s… been awhile back in my own world as well.”