Berlin blood

Several weeks have passed since those events. August had already settled into his new place, and the position came in very handy; with the money he had saved, he was finally able to move out and rent a small one-room apartment next to work. Now he didn’t have to get up an hour earlier so as not to be late. Every day he went to the site and inspected it. He gave orders and watched, watched as several hundred prisoners built themselves a prison, with more stringent conditions than it was before. Summer was coming and everything was blooming and smelling in Berlin. But he didn’t even have the opportunity to get somewhere far away from his workplace and the corners of the apartment; he was tired and had no time left for leisure. He often remembered Charlotte, who now worked for the Gestapo. I wonder how she is? The last time they met, she did not leave a phone number and the only thing he knows is her home address. However, it would be indecent to show up at her house. Besides, as who? He is nothing more to her than a former boss and, perhaps, a good friend. Sitting on the balcony of his apartment and looking into the distance, he imagined that the sun would never set, but would always illuminate their path: both day and night. Sometimes you won’t be able to see it because of the clouds, but it will still stand high in the sky. He poured himself more wine and, taking out a cigarette, began to think about everyday things. About what temperature the coffee is served in the coffee shop across the street, about what it’s like to fly? Whether he should still call Charlotte or not? Tomorrow is a new day and he will have to take a report to Himmler’s adjutant in his personal office. I wonder what he looks like? Even whiter and even more swastikas than theirs? He thought about how fate was still favorable to him, and remembered his friends who had been there for quite a long time, but they had no chance for promotion. He needed to check the documents again. And finish the reports. **** Charlotte’s first few weeks at her new job were very difficult. Not only was her new boss now none other than Walter, but she also had to work in constant noise, since the building had just been opened, and the offices had not yet been fully allocated. At first, they, along with other signalmen, worked in a semi-basement room that looked more like a warehouse. However, later, when they finally got their offices, she managed to grab a corner in the back of the spacious room, so that no one would distract her. Charlotte still didn’t understand why management thought she was more useful as a communications operator. However, she did not look into it. Perhaps the situation would not have been so strange if it were not for Walter, who pestered her forty times a day with other tasks. Charlotte, who did not want to attract unnecessary attention, was especially embarrassed by his company at lunch. So much so that she even tried skipping lunch breaks by eating an apple or a pastry at work. This diet did not affect her figure in any way, so the girl continued to avoid unwanted company. Always reticent, Charlotte disliked not only the lavish, noisy holidays, but also the less intrusive company of her colleagues during lunch breaks. On Wednesday, when everyone was leaving their offices to eat again, she pretended to be terribly busy and stayed. Finding herself in silence, the girl moved the equipment on the table, threw her slender legs onto the surface to rest from the heels, put out the cigarette and took out a bun. “I didn’t think you were eating at work.” Charlotte could barely resist sighing in disappointment. “Walter, please let me eat in peace.” The girl looked away with a rather theatrical gesture, with which Walter expressed amazement. — Don’t you want me to join? “Of course not,” the signalwoman answered without expression. So that it is not clear whether she is against it or for it. She smiled slyly. — You are the boss and you can afford to eat in a restaurant. — And deny myself the opportunity to be with you? — Walter! “Charlotte got up from the table and, unable to stand it, walked up to him. “I understand that you are my boss and you like me, but when will you understand that you are the only one who gives meaning to the intimacy that happened between us?” None of this matters to me! You broke me, now because of you I can’t even talk normally with other men! Do you understand how you disgraced me?! — she muttered through her teeth. — Yes, I know, I thought that during the time that I was at a distance, you realized that I would be the best match for you. I even ordered that you be transferred here. I want to see you every day. — You are a preoccupied maniac, can’t you really find a girl who will satisfy your ego with sincere pleasure, without betraying herself? — Why do I need “someone”? — the man grinned unpleasantly. — I need you. — I’m not yours… I never have been and never will be! — She turned around and went to her desk. She sat down defiantly and took a bite of the bun. — You’re an idiot. If you really liked me, you wouldn’t have transferred me here, you would understand that I’m much better there. You would know how much I dislike the work of a communications operator, how difficult it is for me to sit in this room, surrounded by other people. — She gestured around the room filled with tables with her free hand. “I was in my place, I was free, until I ended up here. And you…” she took a breath. — You chained me to you. This is not love, Oberscharführer Walter Sachs, this is slavery! — She looked at the wall clock and he followed her gaze. The break will end soon, and he must leave now so that no one will catch them quarreling and rumors will not spread. — Okay, I hope when it comes to you it won’t be too late. Having said this, he left. How could he be so attracted to a girl that he, an almost thirty-year-old, self-confident man, runs after an eccentric, proud girl? Walter walked towards his office, growing gloomier with every step. He just wanted her to accept his feelings for a moment. Be the reason for her smile. Reality stubbornly denied Walter this pleasure. He thought that the girl would give up, but Charlotte, apparently, did not even intend to give up. As soon as Walter had gone a sufficient distance, Eva, one of the working girls, came out from around the corner. She heard everything down to the smallest detail and now leaned dejectedly against the wall. She knew that her feelings for Walter were unrequited, but to receive further proof of this… If only Charlotte, with whom Eva became friends only to be closer to her lover, knew what it was like for her! Life is terribly unfair. At this time, Charlotte sighed tiredly. He took more energy out of her than work. Which she actually doesn’t like. And why did all this fall to her lot? In about fifteen minutes the other girls would start coming back, so Charlotte quickly ate the rest of her bun, brushed a couple of crumbs off her lap, and applied some lipstick. No one should know who she is and what is going on in her soul. I don’t want any whispering, no laughing behind my back, no feigned sympathy. No one here cares about her position, which means it’s better to just work. “Charlotte Brown, please see your superiors,” a semi-familiar soldier nodded to her as he handed out papers to the signalmen. He seems to be sent on missions more often than others. “I’m coming,” she stood up under the gaze of her colleagues in surprise and headed down the narrow corridor of the headquarters. It smelled of paint and new renovations, everything sparkled and sparkled. Climbing the stairs to the third floor and turning right, she found herself at the office of the Sturmbannführer, who was in charge of everything. Having knocked and received an invitation to enter, she opened the door. — Hello, did you call? — Yes, I called. Charlotte, you will need to go to headquarters and hand over these documents to Himmler’s adjutant. — He placed the papers on the table in front of her. She unfolded the folder and, perplexed, asked: — I? Maybe you’re scaring me with someone? I’m an ordinary radio operator. — They asked to send someone inconspicuous, I will provide you with a car there and back. After completion, you can rest, I’ll call Walter, they won’t look for you at your workplace. Get ready, the car is already waiting for you. “Okay,” she left the office in complete bewilderment, however, since this is the order, it must be carried out. She picked up her purse and, enduring surprised glances for the second time, headed to the car. **** August was returning from the site when a private ran up to him and said that Himmler had called and needed reports, so he was going to headquarters. He got into the car, although he was terribly tired; since six in the morning he had been rushing around three different objects that required supervision. He was sentenced to more than one concentration camp, so sometimes he didn’t have time to have a snack during the whole day. There was already a commotion in their organization: everyone was divided into those who were at the disposal of Himmler and were subordinate only to him, and those who were under the command of Hitler and were at his disposal. These two parts never crossed. In addition, the SA were very much outraged by the fact that now they were not the main force in Germany, they rebelled, and the work was primarily because of them. August was annoyed by this, but he could not do anything. Therefore, he got into the car, taking with him documents and reports, and went to headquarters in person, although before that he had given all the papers to the adjutant, who either came himself, if he was nearby, or sent a secretary, Hedwig Potthast. Going to headquarters for the first time was unexpectedly exciting. Why was he called? Arriving at the Reichstag building, which was surrounded by soldiers no less than theirs, he presented his documents and, having received permission, entered. The inside of the building turned out to be quite bright, it was easy to breathe in it. Having asked the guard where Himmler’s office was, he headed towards it. All the highest ranks of the SS met in the Reichstag, everything was decided here, and therefore the corridors were filled with hurrying people. Having reached the right place and opened the door, he encountered three secretaries, among whom was Joanna, whom he had seen several times. I wonder how she is? How is her husband? “Hello,” he came up and politely, so as not to distract her too much from her work, knocked on the table. — Hello. Are you going to Heinrich Himmler, are you assigned? “He said to come to him now, so we can say yes.” And where…? — He looked at Hedwig’s empty seat. — Him. It will come out now and you can enter. “Okay,” he sat down on the chair next to her and began to wait. ***** In addition to the documents, Charlotte was given a pass, which she had to present at the entrance. She was riding on pins and needles and was very worried. It would be better if they sent Walter instead, he is a man, why should she, a girl who does not stand out in anything except her dislike of noisy companies, do this? It didn’t occur to her to immediately ask where the office she needed was, so she had to stop the soldiers hurrying on errands on the second floor so that she could be escorted out. — Hello, I’m at an appointment with the Reichsfuehrer. — she quietly knocked on the indicated office. — Hello, Charlotte, what fate? — Joanna smiled at her warmly. — I have documents. — the girl answered her tensely. — I don’t even know what’s there. — It’s OK. Sit down next to Augustus, he is also waiting for an audience. Charlotte looked back. — Hello. — She barely recognized him in his new form. — Hello. I didn’t know that the Gestapo also brought reports here. “Usually higher-ranking people do this, but for some reason they sent me today.” — Clear. — I see you have a new uniform. — Yes, I was promoted. — He was flattered that she noticed this. — You now? — Scharführer — Do you like your new position? — Not bad, although I was loaded with work. I’m rushing around three objects like crazy. How are you in your new place? — Not bad, but not good either. — the girl decided to keep silent about the new boss. — the work is tolerable, I got a place in the distance, as I wanted. True, there are twice as many female workers. That’s why it was better with you. — summing up, she said. August smiled, without understanding why. He wanted to ask for the phone number, but Hedwig came out of the office and they both stood up when they saw her. — What issue are you talking about? — she turned to August. — I’m talking about objects. Scharführer August Scholz. — And you? — She turned to Charlotte. — I’m from the Gestapo, also with documents. Charlotte Brown. — Wait, I’ll introduce you now. — She entered the office again. They waited, this time they didn’t even sit down. — Come in, both of you. — Fine. They entered the office and, like any man, Augustus relented. There were many contrasts in the office. White walls and red flags with swastikas. White floor and black furniture. It certainly hurt my eyes a little. — Come closer, you are standing in the very corner. — the office was large and, despite all the contrasts, bright. They approached and August handed out the documents first. — These are the reports and documents on the objects that you asked for, Reichsfuehrer. — Yes I remember. Why do builders delay deadlines? — The workers and half of the construction workers at the sites are members of the SA, they sometimes refuse to work and do not go out because they are oppressed. — I see, as I understand it, there are members of this party at all three sites? — Yes, Reichsfuehrer. — Okay, that’s the only thing that bothered me, everything else suits me. Tell me, August, you look a little pale, did something happen? — No, nothing, I just don’t have time to do reports. I was thinking of asking for a secretary who would take on at least a small part of the work. “That’s the right idea,” he extended his hand to Charlotte. She thoughtfully put the documents into it. — Did the Gestapo send you? — Yes, me, Reichsfuehrer. — Do you like working? Charlotte could not help but answer positively to such a question. However, she didn’t want to lie. The Reichfuhrer noticed a hesitation. — Where were you before this. — I worked at the operational headquarters as a secretary-accountant, together with Scharführer August, and before that at the same headquarters, but as a communications operator. — I see, and for what reason were you transferred? — Under the pretext that I work better as a communications operator. — Under pretext, you say. — the man narrowed his eyes shrewdly. — Don’t you like this place? Answer honestly, don’t be afraid. — No, Reichsfuehrer. — Interesting. Your documents are in order. I’ll call the Gestapo myself. — the man turned to August. — I accept your reports. Regarding the workers: I will contact them and solve the problem, continue working. — Understood. — Since this is how the circumstances are, would you like to take this girl as your secretary? — Reichsführer, I would like to… but now she has been transferred to another department. “It’s not a problem, and besides, a lady shouldn’t do a job she doesn’t like.” — Good, then… “You can both be free, I will give you the relevant documents through Secretary Hedwig.” “Okay,” they left the office and exhaled. They were very tense, the secretary came in immediately after them, they sat down on a bench that stood nearby and began to wait for documents. Apparently, fate decided to bring the two of them together. Charlotte sat and did not believe what was happening. She goes to work away from Walter, and she will no longer have to endure his antics. What a blessing. Augustus thought that his problems had been solved in the most pleasant way, now he could enjoy her scent every day and look again at how she worked.