They were unarmed and many
of the women moved constantly among them, ready at a second's notice to
dispose summarily of any man who even scowled his antagonism to the
downfall of monarchy.
Six hundred women, according to the prearranged program, and under
Gisela's direct supervision, were turning such outlying buildings as
commanded the highways leading toward the frontiers into fortifications.
They had little apprehension that their sons and fathers, their husbands
and lovers, would fire on the women to whom they had brought home food
from their rations these two years past, or that the General Staff would
risk the demolition of the cities of Germany. But they took no chances,
knowing that an attempt might be made to rush them. In that case they
were determined to remember only that their husbands and sons, fathers
and lovers, were bent upon their final subjection. Moreover, the term
"brain storm" had long since found its way from the United States to
Germany, and the women thought it singularly applicable to their former
masters when in a state of baffled rage.
VII
1
Mariette's communications by wireless were very brief, and on the second
day of the revolution Gisela went by special train to Berlin. It was
the King's own train, and always ready to start.
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