5 Intel Through Rum

Loud footsteps echoed as the soldiers marched towards the room. 

Within a few meters was my death if I didn't escape.

*Knock* *Knock*

Essex gave me a choice, to run or to die. And I knew which one seemed more appealing.

"Mr. Essex, the Lord Führer has returned."

Essex kept his smile, pointing at the window. "Your choice, little one."

Considering one of the choices left me unable to make another choice ever again, I had only one answer.

I rushed towards the window and looked back one last time. 

Staring at the smiling man, I nodded. "Thank you."

With that, I ran out of the window.

…

…

Walking down the streets made me nervous. Being spotted by a soldier was still scary, but I had to remember one thing.

"I am now Adam Galler and this is not my timeline."

I was not completely defenceless either. Thanks to the Nosferat— Essex, I now had something that could help me in the time of need. 

I had a piece of cloth sheltering me from the cold and wrapping it around myself helped to hide my face from the public. If not for the cold, I would have seemed extremely suspicious.

Maybe I still was, but all I wanted was to get to safety —which was more difficult than it seemed. 

There were soldiers patrolling the streets as grandfather's return was a big deal and the war was at a difficult situation. 

Was he even my grandfather now? That was a puzzling question. I was linked to him because of my memories and soul but this body had no relation with him. So, maybe kind of? 

Walking for a few minutes, I decided to check my pockets. And as expected, all I found were a few reichsmarks. 

Kind of disappointing but if I were to survive, I had to find a way to make money. Unless I planned to misuse my ability. 

Which I did. 

Gritting my teeth in the cold and wrapping the piece of cloth around my body tighter than before. I walked towards a bar. 

There was no such thing as 'being too young' during war times. 

*Creak*

And a proof of that were the underage kids serving drinks to grown adults. The sight was not too pretty as grown men leered at young girls and mistreated the little boys. However, that was none of my concern. 

I walked towards the far right where the bartender seemed to be serving beer to a man. Similar to me, the man was wrapped in a robe, possibly to hide from the cold.

Throwing the common courtesy out of the window, I sat next to him without a word. And passed a few coins towards the bartender. 

"Rum."

The bartender gave me a hard stare before nodding. Thankfully the coins seemed to be enough for a drink, not like I could afford bread with it. 

"Cold winter, aye?" The man said, still staring at his beer. 

"It is." Came my reply, getting comfortable in the seat. 

"Aren't you a little young for rum?" 

"Old enough to fight, old enough to drink."

The man chuckled at my answer. "Fair."

Getting a closer look at the man made me realise that he was well built, probably a soldier. 

"The Führer has returned." He mumbled, taking a sip from the beer. 

"So I heard."

The bartender came back with a small wooden jug filled with rum, passing it towards me. 

Taking a gulp, I wondered what he was trying to get out of me. 

Why?

Because I have experience working with people good at extracting information. And this guy is no ordinary civilian. 

"I heard the Amsterdamers are getting sugar beets." He said. 

"3 kilos." I mumbled, remembering the amount provided in my timeline. 

It was January of 1945 as shown in the calendar. And grandfather's reign was going to be over in a few months. 

"So, have you seen the Führer before?" He asked, making me chuckle.

"Plenty of times." I said, taking a thick gulp. "I have worked in his factories."

My answer made his brown eyes glitter. 

Give information, take information. A common trick in these situations.

"So, what do you do?" I asked. 

He grinned and showed me his arms. "I am a lumberjack." 

"Oh." 

A well built body with strong arms, perfect for a lumberjack. However, he didn't consider to hide his scars… probably ignorant to the fact because of my young appearance.

He was definitely not a lumberjack and his next question made my suspicions even stronger.

"I wonder if those Howling Commandos can even enter this tight security." He mumbled with a chuckle. 

It was not a slip of tongue, instead, it was a well thought out plan. 

"I do not know about that."

The Howling Commandos are a special force led by an American Freedom icon that I have never heard about before. How do I know this? Quite a few people have been whispering about them in the streets.

The man tucked his long hair back, as he finished his drink.

"So, what do you think about them?" He questioned, adopting a serious look.

"I think you would be executed if you talk about them loudly." 

A light chuckle came as his reply. "Probably, but I find them fascinating. Fighting for freedom while their enemies has way more soldiers in their sides." He mumbled. "But they can never enter his base though."

Interesting.

With a soft chuckle, I answered. "Unless they somehow enter the trucks carrying materials to his factories… there is no way."

This made his eyes go wide. 

"But that's impossible. No man can enter those factories." He said. "The checking for the workers is very harsh and there is no chance for anyone to sneak in."

I nodded, as everything he said was accurate. Other than one thing.

"The shift usually changes at seven in the evening, so if a truck manages to enter during the first three to four minutes… there is a high chance that the contents might go unchecked." I told the things I knew from my timeline, without making sure if those were valid in this timeline. 

Not like it mattered to me. 

But to him, it meant a lot. I could see him trying to suppress a grin. 

"Do you want another drink?" He offered as both of us stared at my empty jug. 

Chuckling at his question, I replied with a nod.

.

.

.

Minutes later the two of us decided to say our goodbyes as the black haired man decided that he had to return. 

"It was a pleasure speaking with you, young man." He said as I nodded.

"Likewise."

None of us exchanged names but what we exchanged was valuable information.

After a few more pleasantries, we said our goodbyes.

There was no doubt in my mind that the man was in the Howling Commandos or at least working for them. And this meant things were going to change quite a lot, and before things went south… I had to make a few moves.

And now that I think about it, why am I so calm? Do these pheromones have some calming effect?

…

…

Meanwhile in the corner of an alleyway, the hooded man took out a small device from his pocket. With a small grin on his face, he said—

"Bucky to Captain, I think I found a way for us to enter the base, sir."