364 | John W. Warner IV Using the extended gangplank, everyone made their way onto the thirty-meter wide branch, its undulating fibrous bark a challenge to traverse. Cool mist passed by smelling slightly of mint leaves and cloves. Large ice crystals lay in cracks. Schafer examined some of them. Its a theory that ice crystals and snowflakes form sacred geometric patterns from the electromagnetic frequency of a particular environment. Porsche leaned in. Amazing, and so large. Alice took her turn guarding Klemperer. Where you from? she asked sweetly, twirling her hair, the stump of bark a decent bench. She opened a thermos of hot coffee. He sighed. A small town east of Graz in Austria, Koflach. My father and I climbed mountains together, skied too. My mother is Moravian, an excellent cook. Both taught me well. Bernie unlocked his handcuffs. Play nice and well get along fine. Word of honor as an officer? He waved his pistol. Ja, word of honor. Klemperer looked the tree over and quoted from an SS propaganda film. Eternal forest, eternal German volk…we must stand in eternity. Make space for the Fatherland… He then turned to Alice, rubbing his wrists and accepting hot tea from Bea who had made a fire. His demeanor softened. Call me Piter. No need for such formality. He then nibbled a Zweiback with canned butter. Huh, reminds me of childhood. Another seagull pack flew by. Scheisse^ yelled Porsche, covered in a gallon of white liquid excrement, a dive bombers pass made good. What are those damned Pterodactyls eating, anyway? Everyone laughed. Gerlach rolled on the ground, breathless. Bea removed Porsches parka. Easy, Professor. Ill clean you up. She gave him her jacket, having donned a wool turtleneck Kriegsmarine-issue sweater and hat from the storage locker. Gwafa cleaned his Homburg with a cloth and canteen water. Lal Good as new.Then plopped it back onto Porsches head. He patted it. Never go anywhere without a proper hat, son. Serves me well. After some easy chit-chat, Alice asked of Klemperer: How do you feel about our… illustrious passengers in the organ room? Bea sat and translated, but her intermittent tutoring had improved Alices German.