RANSVESTIA

fright. I heard a key in the lock. I gasped and almost screamed! For an agonizing second or two, I didn't know what to do. I was panicking and that frightened me even more. I realized I had to do something and do it quick. I ducked into the office next to Herr Baumbach's and tried to calm down. The heavy footsteps of a man came down the hall and then another sickening thought hit me maybe it wasn't Herr B —— per- haps it was another underwriter and I was in his office! As quietly as possible, I picked up a heavy glass ashtray and stepped over behind the door. It was Herr B, though. He went on into his office and turned on the lights. He made two phone calls I presumed to East Berlin -- and then made a mistake. As he opened his safe, he mumbled the combina- tion as he did it. I had had time to calm down while he was phoning and realized that if I kept quiet, I had a good chance of not being discovered. I remembered the combination and decided I'd take a look after he left. He stayed about an hour, put the things away he'd removed from the safe and left. I stayed where I was for awhile until I had my nerves under control again. I silently thanked God that I had forgotten to douse myself with cologne as I usually did, because the lingering fragrance would have alerted him that somebody had been in his office.

I checked my camera and had only two exposures left, so decided I'd look in his safe tomorrow night. While waiting for the next police patrol. I had a chance to think. I realized that I had almost been trapped be- cause of complacency. It had never occurred to me that anyone would come back to the offices that late at night. Also, my complacency had almost caused me to panic like an addle-brained woman. I'd forgotten my training for an instant that could have cost me my life. My hands were still trembling a little when the police rattled the door and went on. I waited five minutes and went on home. As I undressed and cleaned my face, I thought about my panic. It had been a purely feminine re- action. Never once did I remember while in that office that I could have used judo or karate to defend my self — no— I had picked up an ash- tray and probably would have forgotten to wipe my fingerprints from it. Maybe I was more woman than man, now, and the thought disturbed me as I climbed into bed.

Over coffee the next morning, I reviewed the events of the night be- fore and made up my mind on two things one, I wouldn't make a good spy; and two, I wouldn't panic again. As I passed the film to Andy at lunch, I told him what had happened, and he agreed that it would be a good idea to take a look in that safe.