Tony stood straight and adjusted the fit of the German infantry uniform in the mirror with a sour expression. The dark grey fabric clung uncomfortably and seemed to restrict his chest. Pinned to the pocket, the Eagle insignia appeared to mock him with its glaring eye.

  “It’s a perfect fit, sir. You’ll pass easily, for the small amount of time required,” the middle-aged man in the black suit, standing behind him, replied in an over-polite tone. “We’ll be ready to transport you in another ten minutes. In the meantime, you might like to glance at the briefing notes one last time. To make sure everything goes smoothly.”

  “Yes, of course”. Tony picked up the tablet and scrolled. The face of a dark-eyed, elegant 19-year-old Italian girl, with high cheekbones, and long dark brown hair, appeared on the screen, smiling enigmatically back at him. Tony’s eyes fixed on the jewelled intricate silver brooch pinned to the lapel of the fine black cotton shirt that she wore and hung there for a moment. Subconsciously, his left arm dropped to hang by the pocket of his tunic.

  “Beautiful, isn’t she?” the man observed. “This photo was from before the war, of course. Before the Gestapo took their time with her. Expect someone a bit… less glamorous when you meet her.”

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  Tony frowned. He didn’t need the reminder. Rosina Barrichello, communist partisan, executed by a German firing squad in 1941. “Yes, she is very beautiful,” Tony agreed.

  “She’s the perfect candidate. Young, passionate, tragically romantic.”

  The man walked over to a desk and checked the computer. “Our Assistant, who you saw leave twenty minutes ago, would have arrived a week before you and prepared the ground for your arrival. You’re a recent transfer from another regiment – rest and recuperation deployment. You’ll only be there for the day of the event, of course. He will monitor you constantly and initiate any appropriate safety procedures if required.” The man raised his head from the screen and took on a more serious expression. “This may require your being brought back early, you do understand?”. Tony nodded. “Good. This disruption allows only one insertion. We can drop you, and only you, into this event one time.”

  Tony’s jaw tightened. “Once will be enough.”

  In the far corner of the room the light above the door changed from red to green, accompanied by a short bell.

  Both men glanced towards the door. “Well, this is it Sir. Good luck”.

  Tony stepped through the door without another word.