That was a very well recognized sign to the locals. It worked to a degree but we decided it needed a booster shot so we picked another mover and shake... and took him and his lieutenants out. Our rep was sealed, and we had few complainers. So, by the time I was done, I had a nice piece of change in several numbered accounts in Switzerland. No one, including Karen, knew about this part of my life and she knew nothing about the money. I had never had reason to touch it and of course, I never talked. "I know," said Wernher. "Here we are, living royally in a ski hotel on amountain plateau, the French below us to the west and the Americans tothe south, and no one even suspects we're up here."I sniffed the air."Is that what I think it is?" I asked."Coffee," Gerda said, eyes wide, "I can smell real coffee!" Where are my manners," said Wernher. "Of course you're all going to behungry and thirsty after your journey. I'll have coffee and pastriesbrought for you, but let's go inside and sit in the. “You can kiss them if you want.” My eyes jumped to meet hers. “Wh-what?” “My feet, you can kiss them. Or were you staring at something else?” I felt a mixture of fear and excitement. A smile spread across my face, I admired her forwardness but was still unsure of if she was serious or mocking me. “Go on, I know you want to, why else would you have looked at them for that long?” “How long was I looking?” I genuinely wondered as I had kind of lost track. “Best part of a minute… from when I. I nuked a mug of milk in the microwave, then watched as Mel helped herself to drinking chocolate powder and sugar in case I needed to replicate her choices.I found myself thinking about Mel as I sat there, studying her while I sipped my coffee. Her deprived upbringing had instilled thrifty values congruent with my own. I had several times guided Mel to spend more of my money to get better quality, eg the plain black leather shoes she needed for school, and none of the items on her shopping list.