Berlin blood

August, putting on his cap, was the happiest on the planet. How did it happen that fate was on his side again? He adjusted his uniform and walked proudly in front of Hedwig and Joanna, who looked at him as if he were crazy, but Franz… he knew everything, the bastard, he knew everything, he had, like his sisters, some amazing ability to see some things in advance. — What happened to you? — Franz asked as soon as August approached him. — Well, how can I say… Success! Franz arched an eyebrow. He understood, and a twinkle flashed in his brown eyes. So he was right when he assumed that the vacant position would be given to Scholz. — Understood. So where do we go now? — Of course, to the now former chief of security. — I wonder why he was fired? “Franz was really interested.” He had never even heard a version of this from anyone. “Because he’s an asshole,” Augustus blurted out, proud of his superiority over him. Franz opened his mouth slightly. Yes, his boss’s self-esteem is growing quickly, you can’t say anything. “Well, you’re up, let’s go,” August noticed how Franz slowed down a little. He wanted to sit in a new chair, get a new uniform, and also feel power. Oh yes, he began to love this feeling — power over other people. No, he was not cruel to others, did not abuse his powers, but now he began to understand why his father, when driving past poor people, never tried to somehow help them or at least show sympathy. When they entered the office, in front of them was an old man of about seventy, already almost dying, judging by his shaking limbs. August chuckled to himself: how was he not removed from his post earlier? “Oberscharführer August Scholz,” the old man, despite all his appearance—gray locks, white-blue eyes, trembling hands, and a slight hunchback—despite this, he was full of strength, which was expressed in a confident commanding voice. “Yes, it’s me, Obersturmbannführer,” he drew himself to attention, and Franz did the same. — I was informed that you will take my place, it’s really time for me to retire. I left all the necessary documents on the table, you can begin your duties and familiarize yourself with the affairs. In the papers that I left, everything is spelled out quite well, so I think that you will do everything correctly. “Of course,” August said this with some pride. “That’s good, well, I’m going to retire,” the old man looked around again and left the office. August exhaled. Franz began to look around the room. It was big and bright, not like before. The tall windows looked directly onto the street, and there was a lot of light. A red carpet lay in the middle, a black table and a leather chair, in which August immediately settled down. Two chairs — to the left and to the right of the table -, a typewriter, a telephone — everything was as it was. There was a door on the right, August was interested in it, he walked up and looked inside. There was another office there, smaller in size, but no worse. “This is my office,” this sound came from somewhere behind, diagonally from August, and he was scared, but quickly pulled himself together. — Hello, excuse me, who? — He turned to an unfamiliar girl. Green eyes, blond hair, slightly rough features. Dressed modestly, but tastefully, in a jacket and skirt. She was somewhat reminiscent of Charlotte, only the image was paler. — I’m Gretel, your secretary, I’ll do all the paperwork for you. Your adjutant can also stay here. By the way, I forgot to congratulate you on your promotion. Obersturmbannführer August Scholz, you are still in your old uniform, why? “I haven’t had time to get a new one yet.” “Well, have a nice first day then,” the girl smiled and went into her small office. August looked at Franz, who was following her with his eyes, and he, seeing that he had been noticed, turned away and pretended that nothing had happened. *** Franz returned home in his usual way. With Charlotte’s departure, the house was empty, she remained cheerful, despite all the sorrows, he loved and appreciated his sister. He could not be offended by Augustus for the fact that Charlotte left him and Agnet, but a certain uneasiness still grew in him. He entered the apartment and immediately lay down on the sofa, the first day of work turned out to be difficult, they ran away. — Will you have dinner? — the sister suddenly came out from around the corner. — Yes, I will, what do we have? — Franz lazily began to take off his jacket. — Chicken with vegetables. Agnet was an excellent cook. It was completely dark and cold outside. “I’m coming,” he rose from his seat and sat down at the table. Agnet served dinner and looked out into the darkness outside. — Do you miss her too? “Franz asked this question, but Agnet, sitting down in her seat, pretended not to hear him. “Agnet, answer me,” Franz hated this sister’s habit: pretending that something unpleasant doesn’t exist. — Agnet! — Franz raised his tone. “Yes,” was all she could say. Agnet took this outburst calmly. She knew how to calm her brother down, but sometimes she could just wait it out. — Is that all you can answer me? — What else should I tell you? — the sister was calm, not a single muscle on her face flinched. — I don’t know! She might not come back, doesn’t that bother you at all? — Are you serious now? — Agnet raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I’m serious,” Franz poured himself some wine. — She will be back. — Where such confidence? — Franz, you don’t know what love is. Agnet measuredly brought the spoon to her mouth. She liked the taste of food, and she considered it blasphemous not to give the dish its due. — And what? What connection? Her family couldn’t hold her, how could a stranger do this? — Well, my brother, how can I tell you… she needed to leave in order to appreciate how much she was attached to both us, her family, and August. — Damn, this Augustus, if it weren’t for him, everything would be fine. “Franz, don’t you dare blame him for everything,” the sister began to raise her voice, she was simply tired of the attitude with which Franz looked at this situation. She intended to put an end to this issue before Charlotte returned. — Who should I blame for her departure?! — Why did you put all the blame on him? You don’t know their relationship, you don’t know anything about love, because you’ve never fallen in love…” Agnet spoke almost thoughtfully, in a sing-song voice. “You think he doesn’t get bored or regret it.” Leave this situation. “Yes, you’re probably right,” Franz immediately fell silent. His sister stirred old worries in his soul. Franz could not understand what love was and at times tried to evoke similar feelings in himself. Perhaps he is a soldier — that’s all. Few people can understand him, and he himself cannot. Agnet got up from the table and went to her room. She needed to calm down and put her thoughts in order. Franz remained in an empty room. I poured myself some more wine, Charlotte should call soon. He moved a chair to the phone and began to hypnotize him with his gaze, and soon the phone rang, which he immediately accepted. “Hello,” Charlotte’s voice. How glad he was to hear it. — Hi sister. — Hello, Franz, I didn’t think you’d take it. Usually Agnet… — Well, today I wanted to talk to you. — I’m glad to hear you. — Tell me how you are, we miss you very much. — I? Fine. Every morning I wake up with a calm soul and go to have breakfast on the next street. It’s warm here, though I still need to wear a coat, I don’t work much. And I have enough money, I thought that France was similar to Germany, but the people here are too romantic for me and, to be honest, I feel a little lonely here… — Well, come back, we are waiting for you. And August too. “I don’t think that’s true,” the girl said sadly. — You are not right. Come for Christmas, it will be the best gift. — Tell me… how is he? — Charlotte, sitting in her apartment and looking out the window, shrugged her shoulders worriedly. She never forgot about him for a day. “He has grown and changed a lot, now he is Himmler’s chief of security, Obersturmbannführer, and perhaps now he will be able to protect you.” “Wow…” Charlotte was sincerely happy for him. — Yes. Come, Charlotte, it will be the best gift for him. — Do you think he needs me? I just don’t know, he said that when we were out of danger we could be together, but I don’t know if he climbed high enough to protect us? — Enough, Charlotte, enough, how much higher? Believe me, both of you are suffering without each other, he, despite the fact that he received the position, walked darker than a cloud and lost weight. He becomes more selfish without you “I’ll think about it, but in any case, you made me remember something very important.” — What? Charlotte smiled in the darkness of her apartment. — I will not say. But we stand by each other. They talked a little more, and only when Franz hung up did Agnet appear, apparently dozing off and therefore missing the call. — Charlotte? — Yes. You were right, she will come back for him. *** August woke up at five in the morning, he fell asleep again in the chair at his desk, it turned out that the work and the post he was assigned to were not so simple. He got up, stretched his stiff muscles and decided to take a shower. From the moment he woke up, he was overcome with some kind of excitement, as if something good was about to happen. Water ran down his shoulders, and Augustus tried to bring a joyful thought to the surface of his consciousness, but did not succeed. August began to think that he was going crazy, but a sedative pill dispelled the strange premonition. Franz stood up with full confidence that she would return. He still didn’t understand why he had to run so far away, didn’t understand that distance allows him to look at everything from the outside. Today he entered the office expecting the best, because soon Augustus would regain his composure. “Good morning, Gretel,” the guy greeted as soon as he saw the girl. — Kind. Do you think today will be a good day? “Definitely,” he, having said this, went with a smile to meet August, who had already arrived. “Good morning, Franz,” August began first. — How was the rest of the day yesterday? — Kind. Well enough, you know, I think today is a special day. — Why? — Augustus stopped in bewilderment, how could their premonitions coincide? “The stars are talking about this, I read my sister’s horoscope,” Franz cheated because he didn’t know what to answer. August looked at him like he was an idiot and they started their work day. *** Charlotte was smoking in a cafe. She had already had breakfast and was now thinking about her brother’s words and still doubting whether she should return. It was easy for her to imagine how she stood with a suitcase in front of August, feeling boundless love for him. She put out her cigarette and flew off to pack her things with a smile on her face. She ran into the apartment and for the first time she felt so good, as if she was really going home, she was going to him. She took out a suitcase and began to throw away everything she had brought: a dress, jewelry and everything she had. She even collected the books she bought here. Charlotte knocked on the owner’s next door and said that she was leaving and that she did not need to return the money for the month that she had paid. She asked in bewilderment what had happened, but immediately waved her hand, saying that the guests’ affairs did not concern her. And Charlotte, wearing a black coat and a simple white dress, painted her lips with burgundy lipstick, which she now loved, and snapped on a string of pearls, which she had purchased here and wore almost like a talisman. She’ll be home soon. *** August was finishing his working day. The strange feeling subsided, today is Christmas, Franz and Gretel asked to leave work early, and he let them go. There was nowhere to rush himself; it was hard for Augustus to realize that no one was waiting for him. I wonder how she is? Who is she spending this Christmas with? August took the briefcase and left. It was about six in the evening, the street lights were on, people were happy. Scholz’s dark figure moved through the crowd, causing people to recoil from sudden fear. Charlotte hurried along the slippery streets, forgetting that she was a girl and that her boots were not on the soles. She hurried to him like a Christmas miracle, which happens only once in a lifetime. The girl flew into the entrance and determined from the rug left outside that he had not yet returned from work. Charlotte sat down on the suitcase and waited. Halfway to the house, Augustus was again visited by that premonition and he involuntarily increased his pace. I didn’t want to think about being alone in a large, empty apartment for one. He slowly rose and around the corner he saw a familiar shadow. Can’t be. He slowly turned the corner and saw her. She sat on the suitcase and looked at him with the same beautiful gray eyes. — Charlotte! “August,” she stood up and walked towards him with a soft gait. They froze a meter away from each other and looked into their eyes. Without saying anything. He couldn’t resist being the first one, he stepped out and, pulling him towards him, hugged her tightly as much as he could. “You… you came… you didn’t leave me,” he whispered, inhaling the familiar smell. “Yes, I came home,” she hugged him back.