"Relax a bit, Lieutenant."
Schönburg pointed to the silver teaware and fine refreshments on the coffee table and gave Pasiphael a smile.
"You see, I really did only invite you over for tea."
Pasiphael couldn't relax at all, his hand involuntarily trembling at the word, "tea".
Schönburg presented himself as a refined gentleman, his every move indicative of his noble lineage and personal decorum. On the surface, he seemed to be a regular department manager, unconnected to any powerful agencies, yet he was indeed a member of the Stasi with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Being invited for tea by a Stasi Lieutenant Colonel was never a good thing; it often implied internal investigation, harsh interrogations, disappearances, hard labor camps and other frightening occurrences. Similar phrases included "checking the water meter", "delivering express mail", "community warmth" - all suggested normal everyday actions, but when linked with the Stasi, they became quite terrifying.
