Berlin blood

- Is everyone ready? “August asked, hoping to calm his heartbeat. — Yes all. Let’s go out, they are already waiting for us,” Charlotte pointed to two people who were standing on the threshold of the house, hatred and coldness were heard in her voice. “Come on,” Agnet was also worried, so she was in no hurry to go out, but everyone understood that this could not be avoided. Franz opened the door, and first Agnet came out with him, when he offered her his hand, and then Charlotte, holding hands with August. The short path along the cobblestones caused the girls to stumble several times, as if because of their heels. August and Arthur were shaking and, despite the fact that they tried to hide it, they admitted it and did not want to appear any stronger than they really were. The house was striking with its strange combination: two large semi-columns and an arch entwined with ivy stood out from the generally small building. Flowerpots with plants are located symmetrically on the right and left. The three-step staircase leading to the narrow veranda is empty. Closer to the front door, apparently not wanting to move beyond the boundaries of the clean, cold floors and go down the stairs, they stood — an elderly man and woman, subtly similar to each other. There was no hostility on their faces, contrary to August’s expectations; they smiled affably, patiently waiting for the guests to approach at the appropriate distance for conversation. The man is wearing a gray shirt without a jacket. Strict black trousers. The hair is dark, the eyes are brown, diluted with age: if Franz has a dark woody color, then his father is more likely to have rusty tap water. His proud posture did not allow him to tilt his head towards those who came, which is why he looked down, and, coming closer, Augustus realized that he had only imagined the friendliness in a moment of hope. Both old men’s smiles oozed hatred. August turned his gaze to the elderly woman. Charlotte borrowed a lot from her, many features were easily recognizable in her mother’s rough, wrinkled face. There is a hard fold at the mouth, the hands are confidently clasped at the level of the solar plexus, the elbows are set back from the body. This is how his sister was once taught, it helped to maintain her posture and, in fact, was considered the only position befitting a lady to stand without relying on anything nearby. The impeccability of clothing and hairstyle indicated perfectionism: the dress was perfectly ironed, the brooch was pinned as if there was only one possible place for it, and gray hair was cut just above the shoulder line as if along a ruler. It was easy to read that it was the woman who ruled the family. The husband looked back at her subtly, checking how she should behave and react to the guests. At this time, the procession stopped a step below the surface of the veranda, because the cold gaze of the married couple did not allow them to approach even a meter. Silence reigned. No one moved, and Augustus felt himself transported to adolescence, to formation, when you want to itch, but you have to stay in line and therefore burst into nervous laughter. The hostess interrupted the pause: — Good evening. Come in,” she stepped aside, inviting them into her house, but they could not move. Franz and his sisters looked at their parents silently. The man grinned, gave his hand to his wife and led her into the house, only after that the children followed their parents. All that can be said is a wonderful interior, modest but tasteful. As if these hate-filled people weren’t the ones who furnished the rooms. The space is full of air, no unnecessary furniture, light and clean. The door to the living room is open and a corner of a cozy armchair is visible. Simple lamps, in the corridor there is a small dressing room, where you can only enter one at a time, but designed for an average social reception. The living room turned out to be more spacious, two beige armchairs opposite the fireplace, on which books were neatly arranged — clearly purchased for the collection, in identical bindings — several photographs of the owners of the house and not a single one with their children. The fireplace area was separated from the refectory by a small threshold and a different color of parquet and wallpaper. There was a large oak table covered with a clean tablecloth, chairs and cutlery arranged exactly according to the number of people present. The door to the kitchen was also slightly open — as if they didn’t like locked doors here — but little could be seen, the room was not lit. In the center of the table there are dishes, all from one set, with steaming hot dishes, snacks are beautifully laid out, and wine is placed in neat buckets with ice. Everything looks as if just recently these plates and saucers were collecting dust in the closet, overgrown with shaggy cobwebs, and now they have been shaken and filled with the best dishes so that their deplorable abandoned state is not so noticeable. August would not say that Charlotte’s house evoked any feelings in him, but it was somehow reminiscent of his house, he could not understand why until he discerned that same indifferent silence, speaking of one thing — the absence of love. Everything here indicated that these people were extremely selfish and did not love their children, everything here put pressure on you, not allowing you to even think about something beautiful, it is not surprising that they not only left, they ran away from them, like a nightmare. “So,” everyone shuddered as soon as Charlotte’s mother, the commander in this house, said a word. “I think you understand why your father and I invited you?” — She sat down and turned to the children with a snake-like smile. They didn’t even think about answering; apparently, the tactics that had been developed over the years had not been erased from their memory. Charlotte calmly took the napkin, unfolded it, and placed it on her lap. Franz finally calmly took off his cap and, with cutlery in his hands, began to look after the food. Agnet straightened her shoulders, as if her mother was not there, and they were outside the house, and straightened her hair behind her ear. This alarmed the woman; Augustus and Arthur did not know how to behave; they sat on the other side of the table until Augustus realized that this was not their battle and began to eat. Arthur followed suit. They clearly weren’t going to be nice to them, so they wouldn’t observe etiquette either. — Maybe you can introduce us? — the woman took the cutlery and looked at the three of them witheringly. Augustus did not make a sound, Charlotte, who gently put a piece of meat into her mouth, washed it down with wine, turned and asked with slight bewilderment: — For what? — Obviously, we don’t know each other. “I think you already know who he is.” Otherwise, we would not have had the honor of dining in your company, full of love and harmony,” Charlotte helped herself to more vegetables. Agnet looked at Arthur; it was clear that she was looking for support. And she found her, their eyes met and this gave her a little relaxation. — If you thought that you would hide it, then you are not so smart. Yes, I didn’t think, dear, that our daughters would marry murderers and bandits,” the woman mediocrely feigned sadness. — Maybe you can tell us who you are and where you come from? — this time the man turned his head and addressed Augustus and Arthur directly. The men looked at each other and August took the floor: “My name is August Scholz, I…” he didn’t have time to finish, he was rudely interrupted. “We didn’t ask your name, we asked who you are,” the father raised his voice. “I am Obersturmbannführer, head of the guard of Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler,” August said, mincing every word in fear that he would not be allowed to finish. — Where are you from, what family? — I am an aristocrat, from the Scholz family. — Is anyone from your family alive? “Charlotte’s mother said with a grin. This was starting to make August angry, no one dares to speak badly about his family except himself. However, the glance Charlotte met quickly cooled his anger. — No, my father died of cardiac arrest, my mother died of a cerebral hemorrhage, I had a sister, but she had to be killed in 1934. — Your fate is interesting. So you are an orphan. Yes, you have manners, but how much can you give my daughter? Even with his status and rank. “Yes,” he turned and looked at the woman, it was clear that she did not expect this. — Don’t make me laugh, Scholz, you are a young guy and you dream of a career, not a family. “No, you’re wrong, Mrs. Brown,” Augustus, having said this, took a sip from his glass. — Then where is all your fortune now? You obviously didn’t become an officer out of boredom. “The entire inheritance of my family went to pay off debts in which I had not the slightest participation. Everything I have now was obtained in the service, but I am completely provided for so that Charlotte will not need anything. “I thought so, you are bankrupt and an orphan,” the mistress of the house ignored his last words. “Now it’s clear why my daughter chose you, a normal guy is too tough for her, so she’s gathering who knows who,” August boiled. He tried to appear calm, this was not the time or place to show his character, but a little more and he would turn everything around here. Charlotte decided to intervene, although she was going to remain silent all evening. “I have the right to decide who I love and who I don’t.” But the point is not who he is, the point is that you hate us, no matter what we do. If he were more ideal than Frederick III, you would find something to complain about. — What does this have to do with it? Don’t justify your helplessness, our criteria were quite clear. — What are these criteria? — She looked at her mother. — There is no point in repeating them if you did not understand the first time. You were supposed to become worthy wives and mothers, and what do I see? You fell in love with an aristocrat who has nothing in his heart except service, for which he hopes more than expected. It’s not yet clear who Agnet picked up,” she looked at her sister, who could barely cope with her excitement. — You always thought for us! No, you wanted to live our lives for us, correct your mistakes. But we are different. The mother ignored Charlotte, staring heavily at Agnet. — Whom do you have? — She said irritably, putting away the cutlery. “Arthur Lehmann, Hauptscharführer of the Deputy Fuhrer’s personal guard,” Agnet put down her instruments so as not to betray her excitement. “What kind of family, where is it from, can I have more information,” the mother said irritably. “The family is average, there are no parents, I was raised by my uncle, he died recently,” Arthur intervened in the conversation because he didn’t say anything about himself to Agnet, he didn’t want her to know, he was afraid that she would turn away from him. — Even worse than this Scholz… Yes, Agnet, a brilliant match for you. We thought your sister would be a big disappointment, but you overtook her,” the mother took the utensils in her hands again, put some piece into her mouth, and then pointed her fork at Franz. — Why didn’t you pick up anyone? — No, I still work in the SS as a personal secretary… “Shut up, Franz, I don’t want to hear that you still work there,” this time the father spoke, who all this time, following the remarks and conversation, simply sighed and noted to himself that, after all, he raised the children incorrectly. — Yes, father is right, it all started with you. First you, then Charlotte, and later Agne. I didn’t think that my children would look like this in old age, I raised you completely differently and expected something completely different. I have come to terms with the fact that you wanted an independent life, ran away from home, and are working for criminals! But what else would love them. Don’t take it personally, we have our own business to deal with — contradicting herself, the mother turned to Augusta and Arthur. “They are also family members now,” Charlotte looked at her mother. — and if you don’t accept them, then I won’t set foot in this house! I will not allow myself and my choice to be insulted. You didn’t love us all your childhood and sent us away at the first opportunity! Agnet was suffocated in her studies and cried at night, Franz was exhausted, but was never good enough for you. You never heard us, humiliated us, convinced us that we would not achieve anything. I never saw you at all, and all I had time to do was wander around various schools and boarding houses where you sent me. I don’t even know what motherly love is, and not reproaches. Do you think we just left? — She took a breath. “We left because you didn’t want to give us freedom.” — Charlotte! “Don’t you dare talk to your mother like that,” the father shouted at her. Charlotte grinned at him like a hunted animal. — Enough, I’m tired of being silent! I suffered so much as a child that I have the right to never come to this house again until you die, no, even better, both of you! — Having shouted this, Charlotte pushed back her chair with a roar and ran out of the room. Augustus jumped out after her, worried that she would not get hurt in a fit of anger. The mother looked almost satisfied. She became convinced that her youngest daughter was full of ingratitude, that she was a spoiled street whore. She looked around at everyone present and spoke loudly, first of all, to her children: — Do you think so too?! Agnet got up from the table, now she felt supported and, since someone started this, maybe the day has come when it’s really worth expressing everything that has accumulated in her soul. — I just wanted freedom, I always wanted you to accept my choice, so that you would allow me to be myself. You wanted me to be perfect, but I didn’t want to be like that. I wanted to do sewing, although you considered it frivolous, Charlotte always wanted to be a photographer, which you also forbade, Franz wanted to become an officer to make you proud of him, but when he began to fulfill his dream, what did you do? What did you both do? You said that he is not your son, he is a criminal. — He could have gone to the police! Nobody would prohibit this. — Not in this case! We all know very well that you are lying! I think Charlotte is right and this meeting is unnecessary. It would be better if you didn’t know about anything at all, you just spoil and break everything,” after that she looked at Arthur, and they both left the table without saying a word. — What do you say now, dear son? — the mother was still sitting with the same face as at the beginning, she was offended, but held on. “I’ll finish, they said a lot, mother.” You didn’t lose us because we were so terrible or didn’t live up to your hopes, you lost us because you placed too much on us at one time, too many hopes and expectations. And when we grew up, and your picture began to diverge from reality, you began to get angry and try to bend us the way you wanted, but we didn’t want that and you just broke us. Agnet never wanted to be an engineer, she doesn’t understand anything at all in mathematics, Charlotte doesn’t want to be a mother and depend only on men, and I’m not suitable for the role of a protector at all. It’s all your fault, if you had backed down in time, perhaps now we would have had a wonderful evening. I won’t apologize,” he stood up, took his cap and also went out, and, as he had expected, everyone was waiting only for him, everyone wanted to go home. He sat in the driver’s seat of the car, and only heard Charlotte calming down Agnet, and Arthur persuading her to go to him today.