Holland 1943. Mieke de Jong is tasked to lure German officers to their deaths. She changes her identity. Infiltrates the enemy. She must lie to live. Fight for her freedom. Be ready to kill. Be ready to die. But love and lust in times of war, is not...
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'It's all so strange isn't it?'
'I'd say odd, unusual, unexpected...' Anneke replied, slightly disinterested
'I wonder what her name is.'
'I don't think that's of any importance. She hasn't said a word since she arrived yesterday and she'll be gone in a week. It's best we do not get involved in a situation we know nothing about. It's better that way.'
'Can't you help, but be a bit curious?' I probed. 'Perhaps she–'
'Curiosity is a dangerous trait Mieke,' she cut me off, placed her knife and fork on the table and began dabbing at her mouth with a serviette.
'I am sorry; I cannot help it. I feel as the two of us have been locked up in this box for the past few months. Having the presence of another being in the office is a bit unnerving.'
'You should stop asking questions. I learned to stop asking questions a long time ago.' She took a deep breath before continuing. 'Before you came here, there was another woman who worked your job. She had wandering eyes. It was as though there was an invisible string which always pulled her towards painful and unpleasant situations, that she could have easily avoided altogether. Then her curiosity became tangled with her emotions. It was as though a red light was blazing before her eyes, but she chose to ignore it. She continued to bury herself further and further in the situation, to the point where she could not escape. I do not wish to see the same thing happen to you.' She said with a serious look.
'I do not believe I know what you are talking about.'
Anneke sighed, 'I shouldn't have said anything. Forget I even mentioned it.'
'Anneke,' I persisted.
'I am done talking about it. Would you like to get desert?'
'Anneke, you cannot just leave me here wondering.'
'Let's just say,' she lowered her voice 'Curiosity kills.'
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed. I excused myself from the table for catch a breath of fresh air outside before returning to my work desk. I could not tell if Anneke had been telling the truth or simply winding me up with some made up story. Nevertheless, I felt as though I was on the edge, as though I was constantly being watched.
Had Anneke began to grow suspicious of my motives?
Had she been attempting to warn me?
My friendship with Anneke and her similarly, secretive deeply held hatred for the Nazi's may have temporarily blinded me. I decided I could not fully trust her. It seemed as though she was more astute than I gave her credit for.
I owed everything I knew and the position that I was in due to my curiosity. Curiosity is what fueled me – to explore the unknown, in search of answers. How could I be of any help, if I was not the least bit curious?
