Berlin blood

Block by block, Berlin slowly became a different city, like all of Germany. For Ilse, it has ceased to be the country in which Becker grew up. Now everything has changed. The inhabitants of the bunker were waiting. The hour when the Fuhrer would commit suicide was already close. The whole situation was like a failed holiday when the birthday boy, realizing that he will not be able to cope with drunken guests, leaves and leaves everything to chance. Gradually, those who had taken refuge in the bunker were offered to come to the surface, but Ilsa flatly refused, even though she so wanted to take a breath of fresh air and look at the sky. She knew that she would not see that blue, sometimes covered with light clouds, she knew that the air smelled of volleys, blood and was far from fresh. She was sure that the air in Berlin was stale these days. She wanted to leave the bunker with Gunther. Every time she was visited by questions: did he think through everything well, did he plan everything well? Ilsa hoped so. Gunther was her only chance for freedom. Freedom — what a terrible and at the same time sweet word. Ilsa was a little scared of him. She, accustomed to working, accustomed to serving other people, was afraid that she would not be able to take advantage of this freedom, and she really wanted Gunther to show how it was to enjoy independence, liberation. The morning after the wedding, a bad radio message arrived: they were surrounded. The forces of the Soviet Union were on their heels, and there was now no doubt that Germany had fallen. Ilse was waiting for Gunther. He was supposed to show up at the bunker today and bring her up to date. Talk about their plans, tell how they will escape from a losing country. Ilsa was waiting for his arrival, just as she was not waiting for her father from the front. She really wanted to be with Gunther. This strong man exuded safety and warmth. Next to him, Ilsa felt special, as if she were a rose that was protected and loved, as if she were the most beautiful flower planted in the garden. *** At noon the shelling and bombings began again. The electricity jumped and faded, then appeared again, and Ilse almost dropped a glass of water while she was carrying it to one of Hitler’s secretaries. Entering the little room in which the young woman was sitting, Ilsa noticed that she was all on edge. Her blue eyes, like the sea, mechanically clicked on the keyboard. She looked ahead detachedly, already knowing every letter by heart. Ilsa understood that subconsciously the woman was far from the bunker. Becker saw herself in her when she herself sat in the same detached manner on her bed and thought about everything and nothing at the same time. Ilsa was frightened by the unknown. She did not know what to expect at this terrible hour. The unknown lasted too long and too painfully. And all that remained was to wait and understand that you had no control over the situation and could do nothing. It seemed to Ilse that she was hanging over an abyss and could not take a step forward. And time dragged on endlessly, so much so that it seemed that even a minute was counting down too long. Who invented this time? Of course, man. In an attempt to systematize everything that surrounded people, they came up with such a mechanism as time. They made up seconds, minutes, hours. Hours turned into days, and days into days. And who needs this time now, when everything is frozen and frozen? Ilsa silently approached the secretary and placed a glass in front of her. The woman didn’t even blink, and Ilsa, deciding not to distract her from important matters, left. Walking along the corridor, she suddenly noticed the familiar back of the man standing in front of her. — Gunther. “Ilse called out to him excitedly, mentally rejoicing that she saw Gunther alive. Richter turned around, and Ilsa saw that he was not alone. Becker stopped in the middle of the corridor and began to wait for the lieutenant colonel to finish the conversation and approach her. He didn’t have to wait long. Having said a few words to his interlocutor, Richter nodded to him and walked towards Ilse. — You are alive. “She exhaled as soon as Gunther caught up with her. — Yes, I almost died, but I was able to get out from under this hail of bombs. “You’re alive, and that’s the main thing.” — So, Ilse, the Fuhrer will commit suicide today, and that’s for sure. Although you are probably already aware of the latest news. — Ilsa nodded. “After the Fuhrer is dead, his body, like the body of his newly-made wife, will be burned, and from that moment on, everyone in the bunker will be left to their own devices. Everyone will be taken out of here and sent home, given a chance to leave, to escape. Here,” he held out a black bundle, which Ilsa did not notice in his hands, “I brought you other clothes.” It is more convenient and practical for moving around the surface. Ilsa,” he suddenly became worried, “I wouldn’t want this, but for some time we will have to wander through basements or shelters. “It was clear that this news upset Becker, and Ilsa sighed, but in her mind she understood that they had no other choice, and basements were better than certain death in an open field, where anyone could shoot them. Gunther continued to say: “I got the money.” As soon as everything settles down, we will go to Paris using the documents that were given to us, and from Paris we will decide which route we should take next. I thought about both Portugal and America, but we need to make a joint decision. For now, our first goal is to get to Paris. And there, if everything goes well, it will be easier. “What if…” Ilsa didn’t want to think that everything might not go according to plan, but the question kept escaping her lips. — We’ll think about the situation. Now I cannot give you accurate forecasts. If everything goes the other way from good, then we will stay in Germany for now and move to its outskirts. — But we can do it? — Ilsa asked with hope in her voice. — I think yes. “Gunther thought for a moment, then asked: “Tell me, do you have any other relatives in Berlin?” Ilsa shook her head negatively. — Cousin Gretel left back in forty-three, and I don’t know where she is now or what happened to her. There is no one else left. — Fine. — Gunther nodded. “Then we can only wait.” They went to their rooms, and the entire bunker froze, expecting something worse. Ilsa came to the staff room and decided to rest a little before finally leaving these concrete walls. She really hoped that her plan with Gunther would come true exactly as they had planned. Paris… It sounded tempting and romantic. She had never been outside of Germany, had never crossed its borders, and it seemed to her that she would be glad to see any other country that had not been touched by the war. *** Ilsa was woken up by Gunther. She fell asleep so soundly that she didn’t hear the shots, didn’t hear people bustling around, didn’t hear the loudspeaker broadcasting from the corridor that an evacuation was taking place. She opened her eyes and saw Gunther’s worried face, leaning very close to her own face. “It’s time,” he said with only his lips, and with his help Ilsa rose from the bed. She was glad that she had time to change clothes before lying down to rest, and now all she had to do was take her backpack, inside which lay her few belongings and a personal diary in which she sometimes wrote notes. A bustling atmosphere reigned around, strange, excited, excited whispers were heard from all corners and crevices. Ilse walked behind Gunther and tried not to lose sight of his broad back. When they passed by the Fuhrer’s chambers, at that moment soldiers blocked their way, and Ilse managed to see how the chief adjutant and one of the servants were carrying out two bodies. As soon as they disappeared around the bend, the soldiers allowed Gunther and Ilse to move on. Walking past the former bedroom of the now deceased Hitler, Ilse glanced briefly at the slightly open door and immediately regretted her curiosity. The walls of the room were stained with blood, which got on the sofa, desk and light carpet. Ilsa almost felt sick from this too bloody sight, and she even covered her mouth with her hand, quickly looking away. She began to look at Gunther’s back again, but the images in her head were too colorful. She stopped after a few steps and began to breathe rapidly, trying to control the urge to vomit. No, Ilse Becker was not afraid of blood, but she had never seen such a huge amount of it at once. Gunther turned over his shoulder and, seeing that Ilse was not following him, came almost close to her. — Are you okay? “He asked affectionately and put his hand on her shoulder. His touch, oddly enough, calmed the young girl, and after a few seconds Ilsa was breathing evenly. Becker nodded. — Yes. — She answered quietly. — Sorry. I just accidentally saw something I shouldn’t have seen. Because of this…” She pursed her lips. — It’s getting bad. “I understand,” Gunther answered her with sympathy, “at first it took me a long time to get used to the mutilated bodies, especially those that were blown up by mines, to the rivers of blood that flowed without stopping, to the cries of crazy pain that the almost killed guys experienced.” Ilsa shuddered. — And how do you live with this? Gunther shrugged. — You get used to everything. And this too, believe me. Well,” Gunther turned towards the exit, which was only a few steps away, “are you ready to meet your new life?” Have you changed your mind about coming with me? Ilsa looked around the walls, the corridor she often walked along, and realized that she was more than ready. This bunker will remain her memory and the place where she met Gunther. “Yes,” Becker said confidently, “I’m ready.” Let’s go. Gunther took her hand. Behind them, they could already hear the voices of others preparing to leave the bunker. Gunther covered the remaining distance to the exit and pushed the metal door. The wind blew across Ilsa’s face, and she closed her eyes for a second. It’s been too long since I felt the tickling of these windy gusts. Gunther took her hand more tightly and led her to another street. Ilsa walked with her mouth almost open. The Berlin she knew as a child and which she saw now turned out to be a completely different city. Buildings were destroyed, roads were broken, mountains of garbage filled the streets, and the smell was disgusting. There were corpses lying here and there, and Ilsa tried not to look in those directions, so as not to add more images to herself in future nightmares. Ilsa did not doubt for a second that she would dream about them. Explosions and shots were heard in the distance, and Gunther, holding Ilsa’s hand in one hand and a weapon in the other, looked around in all directions. — We are almost there. “Gunther broke the silence and pointed to one of the ruined houses. They took a few short steps, and suddenly they were overtaken by a burst of machine gun fire. Gunther shot back and then ran as fast as he could. Ilsa ran with him and did not let go of his hand. She felt scared. She wanted to close her eyes from the stream of bullets that rushed behind them, but she understood that then she would complicate Gunther’s task. Therefore, overcoming her fears, she ran and looked only forward. She trusted Gunther and believed that he would save them. She felt small stones under her feet, and it even seemed to her through the sole of her boots that her heels had passed over several shell casings. They reached the place alive. Gunther quickly opened the door and pulled Ilsa in with him. Both leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. For about five minutes they stood in the darkness and silence, which was accompanied by the sounds of their loud breathing, and then Gunther, apparently realizing that their lives were no longer in danger, chirped with a lighter and found the switch in the darkness. He clicked on it, and the room was illuminated by a very dim, dirty light. -Are you okay? — Richter asked, looking straight at Becker. Ilsa looked with curiosity at the room to which he led her. It was furnished according to minimalism. There was a bed in one corner and a cot in the other. The desk was moved to the left wall, and a kind of restroom was created near the right one. — Yes, everything is fine. “Ilsa answered not entirely confidently. She still felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins, still heard the echoes of gunfire. Gunther walked up to her and hugged her very tightly. Ilsa hugged him back. They stood for a very long time in each other’s arms, and then Ilse simply reached out for a kiss, which Gunther returned to her with special fervor and allowed himself to touch her body. He took off her clothes slowly, smoothly, and in every touch Ilsa felt that she was desired. — Tell me, you will follow me, no matter where fate leads us? “He asked in a whisper and kissed her bare shoulder. “Yes, of course,” Ilsa answered with a breath, “my life is completely in your hands.”