Berlin blood

- This is not about friendship, Paul, don’t get confused. — No, we’re talking about her! You are blind, Moritz, you failed to understand one simple thing: the winner is always left alone and, having tried on the crown and taking the title, he remains alone forever, so none of us wanted to be the best, much less let you into this. Rudolf and I hoped that you would understand this truth. You took the road of pride, and this is what it led to. — But you left me! Paul remained silent: Moritz had touched a sore spot. *** 1942 “Moritz, you will have to go to the British to find out information about their weapons,” Paul said this in a clear, measured voice. — I? Do you think I can handle it? — Why not? You are lively, nimble and speak English without an accent. — What do I need to do? — Get to the headquarters and look at the drawings of the submarines. — And it’s all? — Moritz looked into Paul’s clear eyes. — No, you need to take them and stay alive, of course. The entire operation will last one day. — Fine. “I’ll send you some soldiers to help you.” Getting to the British was not difficult. They gave him their uniform, and Moritz remembered the language all the way. He swam alone and, leaving the boat near the shore, went on foot. His heart was pounding wildly, and the uncertainty that he tried so hard to drown out took over his mind, telling him that nothing would work out for him. Moritz approached the camp and, presenting his documents, entered it. It turned out to be small and quite poor, but favorably located. He immediately saw the commander and, approaching the private, began to ingratiate himself in order to find out the situation, but he did not intend to talk to him: so, he exchanged a couple of phrases. Moritz went on to get to know the camp. After lights out, Moritz joined the company and learned some positions. This was to his advantage. A few hours later, Moritz reached the commander and, grabbing the drawings, rushed away. He ran to the boat faster than the wind, and everything would have been successful if they had not shot at him. *** He spent the next few months in English captivity, and on March 28 he was sentenced to death. A week before, he was given the opportunity to write a farewell letter. Of course, Moritz understood that this letter was an excuse to speak out. They were not going to forgive him, but since such a chance is given, they need to take advantage of it. “I don’t even know what to write about, knowing that I’m going to die. I guess people usually write about regrets, but I won’t regret anything. I will know that we will meet you, Bernstein, in the next world or in this. You are a damn traitor and a coward who did not save your friend, you cannot be forgiven! I know that we once promised each other that we would be best friends, but now it has all turned to dust, and it is because of you that I am here. You know, I was disappointed in this world, but now my thoughts have become even darker, and I understand what kind of people rule the world — none other than traitors, liars and self-taught people. I wish you to burn in hell, although I’ll probably see you there.” On the day he was to be executed, Jerry came to him and, after reading the letter, said that he would get him out, and he kept his word. For the first few months, Moritz was away from prison. *** — Therefore, I will end this story with the words “do not be afraid of your enemies, but be afraid of your friends who abandon you.” “You don’t know another part of the story.” You don’t know that when we swam out, we all had to quickly hide, because we would all be caught. It’s unlikely that you could have been saved. You don’t know that for a long time after that I was looking for you and asking higher-ups for information about your whereabouts. They refused and threatened me with a court martial if I did not follow orders. You don’t know that Rudolf and I, like the whole team, were grateful to you, you don’t know that I wanted to resign, unable to get you out, although I tried my best to do so. You don’t even know the half of it, and you’re already declaring me a traitor. — However, Rudolf also died… “He died because he wanted it.” By the time he was captured, we were already communicating coldly. He frankly admitted that there was no point in fighting anymore for him and on one of the missions he deliberately gave up. Moritz, how can you not understand? You have always been a friend to Rudolf and me, and you will always remain so. I will always remember the days we spent together and treasure the photo no matter how much time passes. I’m sorry that the war divided us and made us cold. What a pity that we didn’t meet you before the war. I’m sure if I had met you earlier, I would have been much luckier. I am immensely grateful to you and Rudolf: you made me understand that friendship still exists in the world. Moritz listened carefully to his friend’s words. The anger subsided, and gradually acceptance and forgiveness began to take its place. He was angry with Paul because he thought that he had deliberately thrown it away as an unnecessary item, but he was looking for it. He slowly listened to his words and wanted only one thing — to return that time back. — Paul, tell me, if we had not put on the uniform, if we had not taken the oath, if we had not wanted to fight and had not succumbed to provocation, our dream of friendship until the end of our days, it would have existed, right? — Moritz, this is too difficult a question. I can’t give an answer right away, and does it even exist? “Do you think we would have met under other circumstances—in peacetime—or were we held together only by the thirst for war and the emptiness of our own souls?” — Maybe so. You know, I’m glad that everything has cleared up like this, and now, if we die, it will be with calm souls. “The three of us would live in different houses and be friends with our families, we would go to a bar every day and drink beer, and in the evening, sitting at each other’s houses, we would talk about each other’s thoughts, and later we would sadly bury each other.” “I think so,” the man presented this picture. “You know, Paul, of the two of us, I will be the first to leave, and just like Rudolf.” We will be waiting for you. Don’t rush to come to us, live your life well. With your beloved. We laid down our lives for you to be happy. — Moritz! — Julian put the gun to Moritz’s head. — No, I think… Now I understand that the true purpose of friends is to make friendship illuminate the path for the two of you, and if there is not enough light, then someone must sacrifice themselves. After all, we, friends, are there to bring happiness in friendship and sacrifice ourselves for the sake of a friend. I wish you happiness, Paul Bernstein. Live this life the way we all should and never forget about us. Let this photo be in your most visible place. At that moment a shot rang out and Moritz leaned back with his eyes open.