Berlin blood

Germany. Gestapo Wilke has just received a report from one of his men that Paul is alive and is indeed in Italy. He gave the order that they would find him and involve the locals, if necessary, even for a large sum of money. Wilke himself preferred not to personally participate in the search for this man. He just compiled reports and disposed of his people, whom he personally selected. He had no doubts about them. — May I come in? — Heinrich was a big boss, occupying a high position and having enormous power, which he practically did not use. — Well, can I tell you “no”? You are higher in rank than me, besides my immediate superior and you already have one foot in my office,” Wilke put out his cigarette and stood up to greet him. “No, you can tell me no, but then you will have problems,” Heinrich modestly sat down in a chair. — Why didn’t you invite me to your place? If you are reporting, then he… — he did not have time to finish: a hand gesture silenced him. “Well, today I decided to visit you personally,” the higher authorities demanded at least some information, but there was none, so he came directly to Vilka, and did not go through his numerous secretaries, whom he hired and fired several times a year. month. “Well, I see,” Wilke felt a threat that was literally hanging over his head. He understood that he was very popular for his bad interest in girls and drinking, as well as parasitism. Yes, he was a kind of genius, solving complex cases, but a little more, and he could fly straight out feet first, then no one would even look at his genius. The city was already seething with excitement, and only behind the walls of institutions could you feel confident in something and know that tomorrow you would live. The anxiety subsided, you had information and information in your hands, and knowing more means surviving. — You see, we have been waiting for a report from you for a week, but there is none. You understand that this case is your last chance, right? Germany is now in no position to drag out time and endure. You need to act with lightning speed, otherwise a fight will be declared for your place. Explain the reason for the lack of information? — Paul Bernstein is listed as alive and should be in one of the coastal cities, but nothing has been found out for sure yet. There is also unconfirmed information that they are still looking for him… — he stopped short, fearing that they would demand too much information from him, which he did not yet have. — Who? — Heinrich was extremely curious. — Anyone. Maybe the British, or maybe the Italians. Rudolf Wagner was on board the ship that sank. They knew each other, studied at the same school and started their careers together. There is information about him that he was captured, although it is not clear to whom. — And you were silent? — Heinrich stood up from his chair and walked around Wilke. — No! I just didn’t have time to prepare a report because the information only arrived this morning. — So, Wilke. As soon as anything about Paul becomes known, you immediately… Do you understand? Run to me right away! He nodded his head. — Excuse me, can I ask a question? What kind of information does he have that everyone is chasing him? “He knows about one operation that was being prepared under his leadership. That’s all you need to know. — What will happen if they find him earlier? “We are finished, or if he refuses to return, he will be declared a traitor and killed,” Heinrich took out a cigarette and lit it, leaving the office. Wilke grabbed the phone. He urgently needs to find a friend who will persuade him to return to Germany, and he will not have to be dragged by force. Vilka didn’t really want to get his hands dirty. *** England. Platform Moritz was about to leave when a man called to him and, approaching, handed him a letter, saying that it was urgent. He was very surprised, but unfolded it. “We have received information that not only our people, but also the Italians and Germans are hunting for Paul. We don’t know why the Italians needed it, but we assume it was for the exchange of prisoners. You should also remember that if the Germans find him before us, they will most likely shoot him on the spot if he refuses to cooperate, which is quite likely, and then you will be guilty. Your task is to remove everyone and bring him back alive!” — Crap! Crap! Damn that Paul! It would be better to shoot him somewhere in a gateway and never have anything to do with him,” Moritz gathered all his composure and looked at the train, which in a few minutes was supposed to leave for Austria, and from its borders to Italy. *** Italy. Cafe Paul, as promised, worked in the cafe. He agreed to do the heavy lifting: carrying sacks, moving furniture, emptying pots, and fixing things that were broken or looked unsafe. He got up earlier than everyone else and opened the cafe, and then he also left later than everyone else, closing it. It wasn’t clear how much he missed his homeland, but it was better than working for murderers. He prayed day and night that they would not look for him and decide that he was dead. He was afraid of bringing trouble to the family that did not allow him to die of hunger and loss of blood, to the family that gave him shelter. Although most of all he was afraid for the girl who was dear to his heart. Looking at her, with all his heart, still alive, albeit half, he wanted to protect her and see the smile on her lips more and more often. He knew deep down that it was mutual. But I didn’t know when it would be possible to show this feeling. Although the girl’s father was not happy, Paul tried to please her, and he succeeded. Laura responded in kind, flirting with him. “Paul, after the cafe closes, go have dinner,” Laura tried to say as clearly as possible. “Okay,” the man quickly responded. The end of the day comes, and every time, like today, they sat down to dinner. Laura cooked her grandmother’s recipes while she listened to the radio in the backyard. The woman placed the chair under the last rays of the sun, the evening coolness was setting in, and the whole city was drowning in it. Listening to Chopin, she enjoyed life and its gifts. Lianora turned the radio dial when they started talking about the war, then again and again, but still no concerts were broadcast. She stood up and walked regretfully into the kitchen. — I have nothing else to listen to. I’m annoyed by this: just news and that’s it! They don’t even broadcast concerts,” the woman sat down at the table. She turned off the radio, turning the knob. — Well, what did you want? Such difficult times,” Jose addressed her as he sat down, flipping through the latest news reports. “It would be better if they lifted the mood, rather than trying to lower it and destroy it.” Here you learn to see something good in everything and become invigorated, but no! They will definitely say something bad, which will spoil your mood. Jose, put away the newspaper, I can’t stand them. They are dirty not only because they are lying around everywhere. — Lianora, tell me, how did you live before? — I found out the news from my husband. Previously, when Friedrich was still with me, they did not irritate me as much as they do now. “In any case, this has little to do with us,” Laura begins to lay out the food. Politics was an unloved topic of conversation, and only the father was interested in it in their family. — Yes you are right. Paul sat in silence all this time. He never dared to engage in conversation. He didn’t need it. He didn’t want to know what was happening at the front, and why? — Let’s start eating. Full mouths and delicious food always drove away bad thoughts. Before everyone had time to wish each other bon appetit, there was a knock on the door. Everyone turned their gaze to Paul, but he sat and looked towards the door with glassy eyes: now he is definitely finished.