Berlin blood

January 30, 1933 A light January morning, which in Germany was marked by Hitler’s rise to power. His party won, and now he officially became the Fuhrer in the country. On this day, everyone had a day off, people applauded the new leader and bowed before him, his speeches were like an explosion. Women went crazy about him and his voice, although he was ugly in Augustus’s opinion. Of course, on this day he saw Hitler when he drove past their headquarters in a car. They gathered in the main square of the city. There was a lot of military equipment that was customized specifically for this purpose. The entire Reichstag was preparing for a new Fuhrer, and Germany along with him. When the noise of the day died down and people from the square moved into pubs and bars across Germany, there was a rush in Berlin. Swastika flags were hung everywhere. And absolutely everywhere there were SS soldiers. They were allowed in even without documents, and any girls were at their feet. Now their organization has become popular, and many people asked about it. On this day, Augustus put on a black uniform with a red armband, which he loved very much, and an overcoat, since it was a little colder outside in the evening. I went for a walk away from my friends, who were in the company of several charming girls. The girls, having learned that they were in the ranks of the SS, wanted to marry them in order to provide themselves with a better life. Probably, it was precisely this way of life that Augustus disliked more than anything else in the world. He didn’t like it when people live at the expense of others and, if there is love there, it is fictitious. He rejected Rudolf’s entreaties to stay and, leaving the house, went for a walk in the park. The winter air was very refreshing and invigorating, clearing my head. August recalled his childhood when, after Mia left for Austria, they went skating as a family. It turns out that his mother was also a good actress: for so many years she pretended to love his father. August remembered how his father first gave him skates and how he taught him to skate. Yes, these were really warm memories, but now they have no place in August’s heart. Today he took the oath to the Fuhrer and, although he himself did not yet fully understand the meaning of everything he said, he felt proud of himself, and that fate had promptly shown him the direction and a saving way out of the impasse. I wonder how Mia is doing? She may already be in prison. How long was she sentenced for debt? Now this did not interest him. Walking through the park, Augustus looked at the lanterns that burned alone here, illuminating the path for someone unknown. He sat down on a bench and lit a cigarette — smoke was coming out of his mouth. In the evening light the picture was quite attractive; Augustus would have called it romantic, but he hated love and romance. He always preferred easy and quick sex. The first time happened to him at the military academy, when he and a friend went out to a local cafe on the weekend. There was a brothel with her. August would not say that it attracted him then, or that he, like other boys, wanted to learn it quickly. He was fifteen, and the prostitute turned out to be twice his age. She dragged him into bed and taught him a lot. Oddly enough, August liked it. After arriving from the academy, you could forget about sex. Strict parents rarely allowed her to go out anywhere, but when her sister arrived from Austria, they turned all their attention to her. August ran away from home for the night, and he and Jens had a great time. August recalled how Jens brought two girls from somewhere and said that they had asked for a visit. Augustus experienced a lot then, and he was able to master and understand a lot. Yes, he was not a fan of the classics, although he preferred it. And he always started with her. Once he even fell for a young maid, but after his parents found out about it, it all ended in disgrace. August never understood his father’s view that you should only have sex with one. Maybe for girls — yes, but why this rule also applied to guys, he did not understand. Rising from the bench and walking deeper into Berlin, he noticed a familiar figure — Franz, who, leaving the pub, could barely stand on his feet. Next to him was his sister and another girl whose name he did not know. Realizing that the ladies could not cope with a very drunk soldier, Augustus went to them to help. — Good evening, ladies… do you need any help? “Hello,” Charlotte was the first to start the conversation, since he didn’t know Agnet yet. — You know, it wouldn’t hurt us. How strange that we encounter you on such a day. Franz got pretty drunk, and my sister Agnet and I couldn’t drag him home. — I will help you. Hello, Agnet,” he greeted her sister, who looked almost like her, only she had shorter hair and brown eyes, like Franz. Having shouldered him, the three of them walked towards their house, which was not nearby. — Excuse us, we didn’t want to spoil your holiday today. “You didn’t bother me at all.” Besides, how do I know you and I will meet at work? — Yes, it is true. Do you think the country will change with the advent of the new government and Fuhrer? — I think yes. We need to believe in the best. — I think yes. So they reached their apartment. Having brought the absolutely drunk Franz home, they laid him on the bed. And then Charlotte and Agnet began to treat August to tea and cookies. “You are a very pleasant and amiable young man,” Agnet began the dialogue. — Thank you very much. Drink tea. Sorry that everything is so scattered here, there are three of us living here. — Are you without parents? — this question hit everyone sitting very sharply in the ribs, and silence reigned for several minutes. “We left them because they were absolutely unbearable.” “Charlotte finished her cigarette, threw it away and, having cleaned the mouthpiece, began to take out a new one. — Sorry for my insolence, but why? — Conflict, August… Right? — Charlotte turned to her sister, who was getting champagne. — Yes, a conflict. Can get put the glasses on the table. — How familiar this is to me. And the reason? — Now Augustus was no longer afraid of being tactless or beleaguered. — When the NSDAP party just opened, Franz joined it. Arriving home that evening, he told his father about it. He was against it, and that same evening Franz got ready and left home. Nobody stopped him, he wanted to make a military career and not be in his father’s shadow, basically, like all of us. Then Charlotte left. First, she got a job as a signal operator in the communications department, and then, when the operational headquarters was opened, she moved there. Well, me — after my father rejected my lover and said that I would marry someone he liked. — Yes, even her nerves gave way on this. — I know this. — At what plan? “I had a family, as I thought, but all this time my mother pretended to love my father.” My father accumulated a lot of debts, and my sister was always the favorite of both of them, and they told me to go to hell. — Let’s not talk about sad things? “I suggest we remember something good,” Charlotte poured herself a glass of champagne. “Today Adolf Hitler became the Fuhrer, and I want us to forget everything bad and our old life on this day and start everything from scratch. — Hooray! Let’s have a drink! — the others joined in and drank: Agnet — champagne, and August — tea. Strangely, when he looked at Charlotte, he could not look away. She didn’t seem to be anything special, but the aura next to her was bright and warm. Despite the fact that Charlotte wore almost only black suits with gloves, smoked quite a lot, drank champagne and led a far from healthy lifestyle, like many frauleins, she was good in her own way. Charlotte ate little, had cheekbones, and was slim. Although, according to her own stories, she was involved in gymnastics and equestrian sports, she had to give it up because of her mother, who believed that this was not for a girl. Charlotte was bright, but at the same time mysterious and very beautiful. She smelled of some kind of mystery — could this be exactly what lit the spark of something new in August? What he was afraid of and what he wanted to know. He knew what love was, but not from his own example, but rather from the example of his friends. But Charlotte beckoned him with every movement. After Agnet said she was going to bed, Charlotte pulled August into her room, into her little world, she was not drunk. But this Charlotte attracted him much more than the one who only typed and smoked, occasionally going out for dinner. — Do you like it? — She showed August the room. — Yes very. Tell me, what is this? — He pointed to the cards hanging on a string. “Oh, that’s…” Charlotte thought about it. — These are Tarot cards, they are for attracting good luck and wealth. I can tell fortunes, do you want me to tell your fortune? — No, thank you, I have no questions. Tell me, do you like it better here than in your parents’ house? — Yes, definitely more. It smells like freedom here. August smiled. How familiar he was with this feeling when you try with all your might to open your wings, but it doesn’t work. — I think it’s time for me to leave, tomorrow I’ll go to work with renewed vigor. Besides, you need to get some sleep. — Yes. Let me walk you to the door. — Fine. They reached the very exit. Charlotte stood on her tiptoes and, kissing him lightly on the cheek, said: - Good night. And closed the door. For the first ten minutes, August stood motionless, but then he nevertheless went down the stairs. He went home slightly drunk, although he didn’t drink at all today. *** As she slammed the door, Charlotte thought her heart would jump out of her chest. She didn’t even know why she did it. And what commanded her. What force made her? She exhaled, blaming it all on the alcohol, which had slightly stupefied her head. Standing near the mirror in the hallway, Charlotte looked at her blush, which appeared at the most unnecessary moment. Suddenly the phone rang and she quickly picked it up and winced unpleasantly. The last voice she wanted to hear came from the receiver. — Yes. — Hello, Charlotte. — It’s you, Walter! How many times have I told you not to call here? — I forgot, I wanted to congratulate you. “Thank you, you too,” she wanted to hang up. — Charlotte, I stood under your windows. Tell me, who was it that just left your house? — What difference does it make, I don’t have to report to you! How Walter infuriated her! He was frankly not her type, but Charlotte was flattered by his attention. That’s why she didn’t send him away. This was her last resort. “Yes, you don’t have to,” Walter said more sternly. “However, I think I’ll pick you up tomorrow.” — What? — Before Charlotte had time to say this, he hung up. — Here you go, asshole! Frustrated, she went to the bedroom and, undressing, went to bed. My head was absolutely heavy, and I didn’t want to think about anything.