Berlin blood

The air is familiar, everything around is filled with memories of childhood, of a time that he does not like to remember. Paul at the station. He had just arrived in Austria, miraculously escaping from fire. On the street everything is the same as in Paris: crazy people are everywhere, they have filled the country and the whole world. He quickly walks out of the station building and walks in the direction of the house; he is overcome and filled with freedom and excitement. What to do now and what to do next? You can’t stay here. In order for him to disappear forever as Commander Paul, he needs to steal and destroy documents, and to do this he needs to break into the vault. Although he is considered missing, he certainly was not included in the list of the dead. He walks quickly and stops only at the house. It’s still the same, even the paint hasn’t been freshened. All around are the same beautiful views of the mountains. Nothing has changed except for the people who became strangers during the time he was away. He enters and slowly climbs the stairs, memories of his childhood and how he and his mother, walking along these steps, came up with different stories. Mother was always gentle, although she sometimes got angry for no reason, and little Paul never understood why. It was only when he was older that he learned that his mother had a mental disorder. Psychopathy. She is undergoing difficult treatment, and in her case, causeless attacks of anger and aggression towards a small child can be explained. He goes to the door and rings the bell. A minute or two, and Laura appears on the threshold. First a small slit, then a squeak of joy and a smile from ear to ear. — Paul! — the girl hugged the man tightly, he picked her up in his arms and stepped onto the threshold of the apartment he had not been in for so long. Everything remains the same. “Laura,” he lowered the girl to the ground, “how are you here?” Are you ready? “Yes, I’m completely ready, all I have to do is pick up my coat and we’re good to go,” the girl went into the living room, where the suitcase was. While the man was looking around, Traudel came out to look at him. — How you have grown, Paul! — the woman exclaimed. — You have turned into a real man. — Traudel? How long have we not seen each other? — Enough to forget each other’s faces. — So many years. The last time I left here, you didn’t look so sad. Tell me what happened? — No, nothing, I’m just sad that it all ended so soon, so I’m retiring. If, of course, they let me live in peace. Tell me where will you go with this girl? — Not far. I need to finally get rid of the past that I was drawn into along with my desire to prove that I, too, can make the world a better place. I understood a lot and saw a lot. Thank you for everything. — Take care of yourself. Traudel also got dressed, and all three left the apartment. Laura asked: — What’s the plan? What are you going to do now? “We need to go to Berlin, pick up our documents and get this over with, and then go where it’s safe.” — What if we don’t make it in time? “Laura couldn’t know, but she felt that they wouldn’t make it in time: the news was sad. The girl was afraid that they would fall into a trap. — Must. If we don’t have time, we’ll have to settle in Berlin and pretend to be civilians,” Paul thought out loud. He will quickly get his bearings, but questions may arise for Laura, because she is Italian… — Laura, you will have to change your name. The girl widened her eyes. What to do? Change your name? — Is this so necessary? — I’m afraid so. While I bring out my documents, you need to be nearby. In the worst case scenario, if we really don’t make it out in time, you’ll still need to have a different name. What should I call you… I know. Nora. Beautiful name. — Nora? — Nora Bernstein. Yes, that sounds good. Let’s get on the train, we don’t have a minute to waste. “Yes,” Nora followed, saying to herself her new name and wondering how they fit together. She liked it. *** After standing in a huge line, they board the train, which takes them to Germany. In the thick of it. The girl mentally prepares herself that the German part of her will rejoice at returning to her native land. Paul sat and thought about how to get past the guards or how to deceive them in order to take the documents. The sunset slowly crept across the sky, the horizon seemed eternal, the sun was setting, and the darkness of the night did not take long to creep into the sky.