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Strange, too, was a scent hanging in the air, a heavy, acrid odor, as if the s from the Mauretania’s stacks had drifted down the vents into his quarters He had never s the Atlantic in First Class With British and Gerers, every detail was de luxe

He felt cautiously for the light switch The chaed to rescue it before he realized that it was anchored securely against the motion of the ship Behind him, he heard a metallic click What had he knocked over, he wondered? Then he realized the sound had been the door being locked So brushed close to hied backwards against a rock-hard body

Another hand clamped his mouth shut before he could even yelp in surprise,and athletic He fought hard to break free But his captor held hi the life out of him who reeked of coal

Suddenly salvation! A knock at the door “Steward, sir May I enter?”

Wagner kicked out, hoping to knock so to the floor that would make a noise The knock was repeated with a firive-the-interruption-sir, but a deer! The creas searching the ship He struggled harder The hand over his mouth slid down his chin and closed around his throat Neither blood nor air could rise to his brain He felt his legs give out from under hi strangled to death

“Sir? Are you there, sir?”

The ner’s ear “Ich bin Donar”

It was the ner had ever heard in his life Donar Gerod of thunder It meant that he would not die Donar named the leader of a secret Iner had been assured beyond any doubt, by the kaiser himself

The grip on his throat eased fractionally

Wagner nodded, confir what he had sworn in blood: obey without question

The hand eased a little ive me, please I didn’t know”

“Tell the steward that you are sleeping Tell hio away”

“What if he won’t go? They’re searching the ship”

“If he insists, let him in, but not into your bedroom Tell him there is a lady there ishes to remain anonymous Do you understand?”