January 5th, 1946 - Bavaria, Germany - Estate of retired Erich Von Manstein - Back Garden
The general was working on his rose bushes, muttering obscenities every few moments, when Lieutenant Kessel approached him.
"Sir, you have a guest."
Manstein kept his attention on his pruning. "A guest? I thought I told you that I was not to be disturbed."
"I know sir, but..."
-Snip- A large growth fell off one of the bushes. "Damn! I missed again!" The General, frustrated, through down his gloves. "I swear, everytime I'm working on my roses, something comes up. I wish I could just fly over to Britain, steal some of their varities, and not have to go through this prep work..." He stopped. Lieutenant Kessel was staring at him intently. The General steadied himself. "Fine Karl, who's here to see me."
"Well sir, you'll just have to see for yourself."
The General rose from his garden and dusted himself off. "Alright Karl, I guess the roses can wait till next year, again.
The Lieutenant frowned. "How about I finish pruning this row while you meet with your guest, sir."
Manstein gritted his teeth. "Why yes Karl, that sounds like a wonderful idea." Both men shot daggers at eachother then smiled. They had been good friends for quite some time. "Alright old friend, it's a deal."
The General took off his straw hat and walked toward the front of the house. Manstein stepped out onto the front patio, concentrating on dusting off some stubborn bits of clay from his pants. "I thought that the sign that reads 'Private' on the front gate would have been more than enough to..." Manstein stopped as he looked up. The man before him was no salesman or charity case.
Before Manstein stood the Chancellor of Germany, Erwin Rommel.
"Hello Erich, it's been a long time. I see you've been keeping busy."
Manstein stared at Rommel for a moment. "Yes Chancellor, it has been a very long time. I haven't seen you since the end of the war."
"Please Erich, don't be so formal. I'm here as a friend today."
Manstein smiled. "Yes Erwin, as a friend. I like that." He paused. "Where are my manners, would you like to sit down?"
"Yes I would actually, the drive from Berlin was a long one. I really should raise the speed limit down here." Both men chuckled.
"Come out to the back, I'll have the housekeeper make us something to drink."
Both men sat and made polite conversation for awhile, but soon turned to more serious matters. "So, Erwin, being Chancellor of the Reich must be a demanding job. You obviously aren't here to just catch up on old times. I suppose you want something of me. Something I am probably not ready to give."
Rommel, sat back in his chair and lit a cigarette. "Yes Erich, I am here to ask something of you. In short I am calling in a favor. A big favor." Rommel took a drag of the cigarette and paused. "I'm sure you recall what I did for you back in '41."
Manstein turned away from the Chancellor and looked out over the estate grounds. "Yes Erwin, I remember. The death of three close friends has burned the memory into my mind... Your other three 'compatriots' had my friends at OKH killed and wanted to have my head for trying to cut them out of the power struggle. My popularity among the officer corps and your intervention was the only thing that saved myself and my family."
Rommel cut in. "And the fact that you took Leningrad before winter set in helped to."
Manstein turned back to Rommel. "Yes, it did. Unfortunately, I was forced to retire not soon after the final push."
"You can't have it both ways Erich."
Manstein frowned. "Yes, I know... Alright Chancellor, what is this favor you ask of me."
Rommel reached into his coat jacket and pulled out a sealed folder. "Oh, nothing much. After defeating Stalin's armies I'm sure you will have no problem with this task."
Manstein broke the wax on the folder and opened the cover. His eyes went wide. "KARL! Stop playing in the f****** garden and get over here!
Out in the garden the Lieutenant was nursing a nasty cut on his finger from one of the roses when he heard the General's yell. He rushed back to the seating area and was greeted by what seemed to be two human beings turned wolves. Both men were sharing death head grins. "Heir General, what's wrong?"
Manstein fixed his eyes on his aide. "I might just get the chance to steal some British roses after all."
To Lieutenant Kessel the pain from his throbbing finger suddenly seemed very far away...
Just yell it out, man! 
