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it’s 1914 – at the train station Hoek van Holland – as a frenchman mounts the steps to the train – he hears “jacques – my old friend” – the french so fluent as to almost hide any residue of the prussian accent jacques knows is there

“ah heinrich – so it’s you” – spoken in native French

as the ticket man examines and marks jacques’s ticket – heinrich asks “to which compartment are you assigned – mine is right here”

jacques names one that is near the end of the car

“have you eaten breakfast yet” asks heinrich

“no i haven’t – and i am famished”

jacques promises to settle quickly into his compartment – then join heinrich in his

any observant passengers who happen to see them would undoubtedly recognize heinrich’s upper class bearing – so military like – so german – though he speaks only in superb French – the other man has the refinement of an upper class frenchman – and speaks flawless aristocratic french

seeing how congenial the two are may cause fleeting confusion to the observer – before recognizing that cross ties between the upper classes of europe are so deep – that even a war struggles to break them apart

after a few minutes – jacques finds heinrich’s compartment door open – he enters and as he seats himself – heinrich calls an attendant and orders coffee in cups – bread – and cheese

“so – what train station are you headed to – and tell me if i am intrusive”

“maastricht” is the reply

heinrich pauses before saying softly – “i wish you good luck on your journey” – to which jacques slightly bows his head

jacques seems momentarily lost in thought – then utters “veluwezoom”

“huh” – heinrich is puzzled at first – “oh – that’s where we met – right in this country”

a smile spreads across jacques face – “it was a beautiful day for deer hunting”

“that poor deer” says heinrich with the same smile and faraway look

both men burst out laughing 

the expository exchange comes fast

“we both saw it – just as it was ready to spring to safety”

“we had no choice but to fire immediately – and it collapsed”

a falling gesture is made

“then we both laughed”

“most hunters would have started arguing over who hit it – but we just laughed”

“you said it was 50 50 – we agreed”

“and then we saw the two bullet holes in the carcass – centimeters apart – near the heart”

a moments contemplation

“best venison i ever ate”

“i’ve never had any to match”

their laughter continues for a few more moments

their repast arrives – heinrich slides the door shut – but they will maintain discretion while speaking – even two officers from powerful families must not draw too much suspicion – when on opposite sides of the war

“i see that you’re now married” says heinrich

jacques glances at this wedding ring – “signe – a fine swedish gentlewoman – her father is a successful businessman”

heinrich nods appreciatively

obviously the marriage happened recently – and war prevented a personal invitation

“and how is your Liselotte” jacques asks – “fine I hope – and your daughter”

“two daughters now – Mathilde and Hedwig”

both admire the photos they hand each other – then return them – they are then replaced in the respective owners breast pocket – and pressed flat against their chests

the reunion ends when jacques departs – both men sit in their respective compartments – seeking to rest a bit before their arrivals at their train stations – but as many snipers will do – their hands stroke their weapons cases – before impulsively opening them – to hold the tools of their trade in their hands – as their eyes keenly examine them – heinrich – his mauser rifle and revolver – jacques – his personal Verney-Carron hunting rifle and Mle Lebel revolver – neither of which would he trade for the british alternatives that he was offered a few days ago while in england

both check the action of their guns – inspect the scopes – wipe any condensation – before replacing the revolvers in their satchels – and rifles in their cases

both take the opportunity to write quick letters – neither mentioning the reunion in case censors from the lower classes read them

in time – the porter comes down the hallway – announcing the next stop – “maastricht”

heinrich moves the weapon cases to the overhead luggage rack – and adjusts his cap – before exiting his compartment – and alighting at the station

he spots jacques right away – a little ways ahead – walking away

“jacques” he calls

jacques turns around – slightly surprised

stuttering a bit – heinrich says “you know – i always admired your shooting”

“and i yours” is the reply

“ah – this is awkward – i must be forthright – what i am trying to say is – if we meet – over there” – he nods in the direction of france – “it will not be the best man who wins – it will be the luckiest”

“i am in complete accord” says jacques 

heinrich says with a chuckle “therefore it would be odd to wish each other luck” 

jacques says “if i may” – he straightens up and brings his hand to the brim of his hat in a salute

heinrich – without the usual clicking of heels – without snapping his body upright – instead imitates the frenchman’s respectful salute

beneath the hat brims – they calmly and steadily stare into each others eyes – then simultaneously they lower their hands

jacques turns abruptly – and strides away – heinrich watches for a few moments – then turns towards the train

jacques knows where to go to meet his team that will hasten him around the danger zones to get him his destination in france – and altho he told heinrich of maastricht – when his friend wished him luck – the manner of his speech also assured jacques that he will not in any way betray him

he knows heinrich is going on to a stop near german-occupied belgium – guaranteeing him a safe journey across that country – into the war zone in France

—

a high overcast covers the sky – relative silence lies over the blighted city – the distant artillary has quieted – only occasional small arms fire can be heard – and the roar of passing vehicles

jacques reports to a aging bewiskered officer – who seems distant – jacques recognizes the resentment that affects some older officers who detest snipers of any kind – as cowards in hiding – who steal lives of men who bravely walk in the open

that was jacques reaction when he first heard about the practice – but gradually – the hunter in him accepted the necessity of it

at the moment – the hunter in him is trying to accept the tactic that he and other frenchmen learned from the british during their sojourn in england – the british were planning to organize snipers in groups of 2 – alternating the sniping role with a spotter role – it irritated jacques – altho he sensed that like sniping – he could come to accept it too

he is today paired with armand – a very competent man – who’s only weakness is that his presence diminishes the honor of a lone hunter – or jäger – as Heinrich would have called it – but their mission of previous day had somewhat eroded his resentment – they had performed their duty – and are still alive

at that moment – a soldier enters to report a suspected sniper in a contested part of the city – the sniper duo are shown the area on a map – they both remember the area from pre-war visits – but they prepare themselves for scarred remains of those memories

—

heinrich’s uniform is matted with dirt – but that is what he wants – he wants to blend in – now he seeks a position that will serve well as a blind – and will give him quick exit after a shot or 2 – so it must  be close to the ground – he finds a good spot and settles in

he has made 3 difficult shots earlier – dusk approaches – he thinks he can make one more attempt before retiring for the nite

his sharp eyesight can make out french soldiers down the street – rushing from hiding place to hiding place – but he focuses his attention on the higher floors – where some fool – hopefully an officer – will inevitably peer out of a window – before snapping back into hiding – heinrich places the far end of his rifle on a sturdy piece of wood – ready for a quick aim and shoot – and waits

a head slips in front of a window on the 2nd floor- heinrich manages to aim and fire before it disappears – the head jerks back hard – heinrich assumes he hits it – but there was something strange – there wasn’t the usual gush of blood – could it have been struck down so fast that the blood came after falling out of sight – or could it have been a decoy 

—

“there” armand says – “1st floor – third – no – fourth window from the street”

“make a run for that building over there” jacques says – pointing to a building on their right – he hopes to challenge the german sniper with 2 figures running in opposite directions

armand runs like a gazelle – stopping behind each shelter – careful to time his run in the open in irregular spurts – at the same time – jacques runs the other way – in the same cautious manner

jacques arrives at a 5 story building – there are french soldiers around – he quickly ascends the steps – stopping at every floor – surveying each room – the fourth floor room is almost empty of soldiers – he tells those present that he wants to use this room – so he tells them not to show themselves at the window – and ruin this position for him

—

the sniper peers thru his scope – and spots someone aiming at him – altho that person doesn’t appear to have fixed on him yet – there might still be time

then there is a shock of recognition – he quickly places the target in the sight – and shoots – his eye lids squeezing shut at the same moment

his eyelids fly open – he can’t believe he did that – he can’t believe he would be afraid to see his friend suffer the impact of his bullet – his friend – now the enemy

that is the sniper’s last thought – a lead slug penetrates him – his body seizes in shock – and gradually sinks into its final repose