Berlin blood

— Damn it, who pulled your tongue? — Paul shushed his friend. — Me? — Francis looked at Paul. “Don’t worry, maybe it’s just a stop.” — Just a stop? Nothing happens for nothing. Okay, let’s not worry. Laura, wake up,” Paul began to push her shoulder, the girl opened her eyes. The train was stopped, and people looked at each other in bewilderment, but no one wanted to reveal their inner experience. Everyone sat quietly and waited to see what would happen next. — Laura, attention! — Paul looked at the girl. — Now we get up and run through the doors of the carriage, jump out of it. Francis, cover us. — Paul turned to his perplexed friend. - Do you think it’s behind you? How will they find you here? - You forgot? This is the Gestapo. Or should I remind you how they shot your father, who had made good documents for himself, and who would have been in Switzerland a little longer? — No, no, I understand everything. — They will now begin to go through each carriage. Your job is to make sure they don’t see us get up and quickly leave by jumping off the train. I didn’t think they were that fast. How did they know about my movements? — Paul, “your death” caused so much noise. I don’t remember anyone being so desperately searched for. I understand that you know a lot, but they don’t even let your enemies kill you. It won’t be easy for you. — Yes, thank you, but let’s put this talk aside for later, okay? If we meet again in this world, now we’ll go. — With these words they stood up and quickly walked to the door, which was located about five meters from the places where they were sitting. Paul looked at Francis one last time, and Francis looked at him. One step, one more, and now they are free. Paul quickly looked around and, when he realized that no one was looking, he and Laura quickly began to move towards the forest. Shouts with threats sounded already on the way: they were still noticed, but it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to run without stopping, as much as you can, and as far as possible. Shots were fired. The man constantly kept Laura, who was running ahead, in his field of vision. Another meter, and they, jumping over tree trunks, hid behind them and, without breathing, began to wait. The people chasing them went in a completely different direction, and when the danger was over, both took a breath, turning over on their backs. We began to look at the sunset sky the color of red roses. They lay until darkness, afraid that they might be searched for. Paul lit a fire, and they began to warm themselves, sitting and looking at its flames. — What are we going to do now? — Laura turned her gaze from the fire to the man. He looked serious and detached from the real world: he was remembering something, delving into himself. The girl sat down next to him and, taking him by the sleeve, tugged lightly. “You’re cold, let me give you my cape.” Laura realized that Paul did not want to answer her question. However, after repeating, she still achieved an answer. Paul planned to walk. Yes, it will take longer, but the likelihood that they will be looked for is reduced to a minimum. Laura listened to him and suddenly in the middle of the story asked a question: — Why ships? Why did you join the navy? — Well, I didn’t want to get married. My parents kept insisting, and in order not to listen to their whining and eternal talk about how their only son did not want to get married, I went to serve: by that time I had just been called up. — Why ships? Paul thought about it: he himself didn’t really know the answer and was looking for it now, sitting by the fire. — I was attracted by the sea: endless, boundless, and most importantly, unknown to anyone. I always thought as a child that the sea was a separate world, another Universe. And we, people, will not soon comprehend it, that’s why I went. The smell of the salty sea and its depth, comparable to the depth of human souls, its unknownness, the understanding that the whole world is very close, at your feet… People do not need to look for other worlds, they do not need other planets: everything they need is already is under their noses. The sea is a real different world, another planet. — Then will you take me for a ride? I’ve never ridden. — Laura looked with sincere eyes. — You’re lying! This can’t be,” Paul sensed a catch. — But I’m not lying! I never went to see my sister and my grandmother, who lived in Portugal. Everyone came to see me. — And why? “This has to do with my family,” the girl fell silent, and Paul didn’t bother to find out anymore. — Okay, I’ll definitely give you a ride as soon as possible. — Paul hugged Laura, and she hugged him back. They sat and warmed themselves by the fire, each thinking about his own. *** We woke up early, with the first rays, and, checking the map, went to the border of Spain and France. The road ahead was long, but they walked and learned something new and beautiful about each other. The forest is quiet, but not lonely. Paul and Laura walked at a fairly fast pace, rarely stopping just to rest, saving food: it should have been enough to reach the border, and there would be people, settlements and cities. — Laura, tell us about your childhood. — My childhood? Well, there was nothing remarkable about him. We didn’t live well, but we had enough of everything. I had friends, I never felt left out or unhappy. “But you only had a father, one parent.” Didn’t you feel lonely when you looked at other children who have mothers? — No, it wasn’t: he replaced it for me, albeit not entirely, but for the most part. As my father said, “When you’re a single parent, you just have to juggle two roles, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible or difficult for men—it’s just unusual.” However, his love was able to replace the absence of his mother in his heart. My grandmother was also nearby: she came a lot and helped my father, she was always special, she didn’t sit at home much, took long walks and always protected me. No matter what I did, be it a broken vase or soil from a flower scattered around the room, she never scolded me in public: we were alone with her, and she talked to me. I was lucky: I was never beaten. My father could not, and my grandmother never used such methods. In general, I grew up as a beloved and only child. — Tears welled up in her eyes, and Paul hugged her to make her feel better. “Sorry,” the man began. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” I’m happy in these memories and I’m sure I’ll be happy in the future, so let’s go quickly. I want to show you the village. You have probably never seen Spain, drunk our wonderful wine and smelled the flowers that bloom there. “I’m coming,” Paul could only increase his pace. The story with Laura made him remember his own childhood, full of bitterness and disappointment. His father, a good merchant, closed himself off after the death of his sister and did not let anyone near him. His mother didn’t pay any attention to him. Throughout his childhood, Paul went out of his way to get at least a minute of his father’s attention, but he locked himself in his office, and his mother left for the next party. The father did not appreciate his efforts and his son himself, and throughout his childhood he did nothing but blame the boy. Paul, unable to withstand his humiliations and claims, and a little later, orders to marry, ran away and handed his father over to the police for keeping books objectionable to the government. Their last meeting took place in the cell when the guy was giving evidence. And no, he didn’t feel sorry for his father: he deserved everything he was owed. *** Evening came, and darkness descended from the heavens and swallowed up the forest. My legs hurt from walking all day. They were not far from the border: a couple more days and they should have arrived. Laura spent the whole evening talking about the main square, which could be compared to several ships, and the flower fields, breathing in the aromas of flowers from which the soul came to life. She talked about people who were better than any doctor and treated with conversations and fine wine, which they did themselves, and also with hugs. Then she talked about how she wanted to bake bread with him and then, looking at the moon in the sky, admire it while eating that same bread; about the coffee that they drink in the morning — real fresh coffee, which cannot even be compared with the mud that the soldiers drink. Paul did not dare to interrupt her, but listened to everything, and slowly he was put to sleep by the warmth of the fire and the voice that calmed him. Yes, it seems that he is ceasing to be a stern soldier, but he doesn’t mind letting himself be a man who also feels something and wants something, feels the taste of life on his lips, who only has enough strength for pleasure. The moon was rising in the sky, the fire was almost extinguished, and the smoke was smoothly rising.