Lion, Tiger, Bear | 283 Luftwaffes best pilots, he had been pilot and cameraman on Schafers 1938 India and Tibet expedition. They laughed and carried on like schoolboys, drinking glass after glass much to the visible annoyance of the sober and fierce Poppel, who then rudely shut them up while they came to attention. Poppel loudly reminded Schafer that his disgustingly inebriated scientific expedition was a secondary mission, despite the fact that Himmler had granted specific permission for it. Two for one. Bea strained to hear them at twenty-meter distance. Ernst doesnt care for the Generalmajor much, now does he? Bernie said softly: Y-y-yup, and the opposite is quite evident. Slowly, five civilians, four additional uniformed Ahnenerbe men, and a handfill of additional Luftwaffe officers exited with hand luggage, some tired, some giddy and excited ftom the 3525-kilometer long flight that had started in the dark of the early morning at Furstenfeldbruck Air Base near Munich. The side door was opened, and cargo crates were lowered down with a crane to awaiting personnel. Two iced crates of live blue lobsters were opened, the smiling cook holding a big one up by the claws for the cameramen. As Poppel greeted the entourage politely, Bernie noticed one man in a three- piece grey suit and hat holding two heavy file cases, two well-dressed young assistants astride him carrying their own. He nudged Bea. No airship, huh? Thats Walter Gerlach, Im sure of it. What? exclaimed Bea. Sneaks! Gerlach vigorously waved to someone still in the plane to come down. A tray of cold champagne was passed; Gerlach took two. An official SS photographer and newsreel cameraman captured the scene for posterity, a gift for the proud Reichsfuhrer Himmler. While their guards looked to the gaggle of dignitaries, Bea bolted like a greyhound. Bea! yelled Bernie, reaching for her and stumbling with his crutch. No-o- o-o!The two SS guards gave quick chase. Halt! As the remaining passenger slowly descended the stairs mopping his brow, Bea barely dodged two swilling Luftwaffe officers in Wycombe football fashionyet still managed to make them spillthen plowed through Schafer and the Generalmajor, grabbing the last man off and kissing him on the mouth to everyones amazement and shock as they both slowly fell to the dust. Hallo Professor!