Berlin blood

Siegfried smiled at Becker, but saw hostility and hatred in the sweet face opposite. She squeezed out a quiet “Hello,” and then her companion, taking her by the elbow, quickly said goodbye and took Ilsa away in an unknown direction. Siegfried looked after her for a long time until Ilsa turned the corner at the beginning of the corridor. Siegfried chuckled. But at first he thought that his eyesight had failed him and it seemed to him that Ilse Becker, his old girlfriend from the past, was sitting in the last row. A person for whom he seemed to feel something in his distant youth. Now he was curious what Ilsa forgot at the court hearing. Surely she came for one of the prisoners. But just for the sake of whom? It was worth thinking about. He turned around and walked towards his office. The day was difficult, and Mr. Maya decided that he needed a proven means of relaxation. Entering his office, Siegfried turned on the light, and the room was illuminated with bright light. Maya walked to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down on it, leaning back. My head ached a little from hunger, fatigue and the bad weather outside. Siegfried pushed aside the top drawer of the table and took out a metal flask from its depths. He always kept it in case of difficult days. Unscrewing the cap, Siegfried raised the flask to his lips and took two impressive sips. The cognac burned his throat, but Siegfried adored the taste of this drink. He suddenly remembered his younger self and the very young Ilsa. They met in the same company of mutual friends. Siegrifd was not interested in any relationship at that time, but he saw that Ilsa showed signs of attention to him, he knew that he was attracted to her. And Siegfried, without delving too deeply into the relationship, still allowed himself to spend time in Ilsa’s company. Besides, she was sweet and beautiful, he was not ashamed to go out with her. At first, all this resembled frivolous flirting, which Siegrifd played, but which Becker did not play. Maya was thinking of having fun for a couple of months and bringing everything to naught, when suddenly their relationship dragged on. Siegfried, not accustomed to such a situation, leading the life of a lonely Casanova, did not even notice how Ilse Becker pulled him into her net and tied the knots more and more tightly. And Siegfried decided that it was time to finish with these knots. They spent almost a whole year in a relationship, and on their next night together, when passions had subsided and sleep was already creeping into his eyes, Siegfried was suddenly ripe for a serious conversation. He did not wait until the morning; he unbearably wanted to finish everything here and now. He honestly told Ilsa that he never loved her, that their whole relationship was nothing more than a game for him, and that Ilsa took on too much. He remembered her face when he dumped his thoughts on her. There was no trace left of the happy smile, it was as if it had been erased with an eraser. The face darkened, tears froze in the eyes. Ilsa silently gathered herself and flew out of Siegfried’s apartment like a bullet, not forgetting to slam the door loudly, so much so that the plaster fell from the ceiling. But what surprised Siegrifd more was that she stood firm and did not start scandals. Siegfried knew that he had hurt her, he knew that she would not want to be his friend, after everything that had happened between them, he knew that, most likely, he would never see her again. But Maya believed that he acted nobly and correctly. They had already been playing with non-existent feelings (at least on Siegrifd’s part there were definitely none) for a year, and it was neither possible nor possible to continue this game any further. Years passed. During this time, he met many girls whom he used in the same way as Ilsa, but he had one problem: none of them looked like Ilsa. For some reason, Siegrifd often compared his new passions with Becker and could not find an explanation for his stupid habit. And no one for so many years treated him with the warmth with which Ilse Becker treated him. He opened the first drawer of the desk again. He felt along the bottom, where under a pile of papers lay an old photograph of Ilsa. Siegrifd didn’t know why he kept it all these years, but he didn’t dare throw away or burn the photo donated directly by Ilsa herself. Taking it out into the light, Siegfried involuntarily smiled, looking at the mischievous smile of the still very young Ilse. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen in the photo. Her hair is braided into two funny ponytails, bristling in different directions; a beautiful summer sundress with a print fit her slim figure and looked simply stunning on Ilse, and her heavenly eyes looked straight into the camera, without hiding or being embarrassed. Siegfried, as if spellbound, ran his fingertips over Ilse’s frozen face on the film. He plunged into his thoughts, among which the thought wandered: “why did I do this to her.” Seeing her today, Maya suddenly felt a strong desire to talk to her, take her hand, kiss and hug her. It was as if those youthful desires had awakened in him, to which mature feelings were added. Ilsa looked inaccessible, an ice queen, and from the walls that she built around herself, the excitement of capturing this fortress in which Ilsa imprisoned herself awoke. *** It was not even five in the morning, and the city was already shrouded in fog, as if someone had blown a large amount of smoke: it was so impenetrable. Siegfried woke up early and was already on his feet with a cup of hot black coffee in his hands, watching random passers-by through the window. So, staggering a little, a night butterfly walked past from some very fun party: her legs tangled every now and then, and stupid drunken laughter was heard every second. Following the priestess of love was a drunken man carrying a baggy bag. He was dirty, with torn clothes, and limping. Siegfried watched the street for a long time, thinking about something of his own, and when the clock struck seven zero, Maya began to get ready for work. He was one of the first to arrive and spent time in his office, thinking about the day. The final hearing will take place today and the judge will sentence the four defendants. Siegfried hoped to sue all four. Intellectually, he understood that they were just victims, that they were not Nazis, that by the will of fate they ended up in the ranks of the exterminators of humanity. But for Siegfried, victory in these matters was important. Firstly, to calm your pride, and secondly, for a good track record. After all, the more Nazis are behind bars or sentenced to death, the higher his chances of climbing the career ladder and earning a salary. The time for the start of the trial was very close, and, taking the necessary documents, Siegfried went to the hall. There were few people in the room, fewer than yesterday, but Maya managed to see Ilsa in the company of the same man with whom she had been the day before. The prosecutor’s heart suddenly skipped a beat at the sight of the lady, and he looked at her, memorizing her unchanged facial features. Ilsa turned her head in his direction, and Mr. May met her eyes, which once looked with tenderness and love, but now instead of these feelings came coldness and indifference. And this made me feel a bit uneasy. Siegfried walked up to the table and began laying out documents, listening out of the corner of his ear to the conversation between Ilsa and her companion, who were perfectly audible. “Ilsa, you’re kind of twitchy,” the man said, “perhaps I should bring you some coffee?” Another half hour before the start of the process. — Oh, yes, thank you. “Ilsa muttered, and the man nodded and hurriedly left the hall. Siegfried watched as Ilse took an empty seat on a chair, waiting for her companion. At first he wanted to approach her, but did not dare to disturb her in public. He watched her furtively, noting to himself that Becker didn’t look very sleepy. Finally, her companion returned to her and handed the girl a mug of coffee. Ilsa thanked him quietly and began to sip the drink with pleasure. A little later, when her cup was empty, Siegfried heard her tell the young man that she would go for a walk before the start of the hearing. This worked to May’s advantage and he decided to follow Becker to talk to her. She left the hall, and Siegfried, after waiting a few minutes, followed. Ilsa stood a little further from the doors, near the window, the landscape of which looked out onto the courtyard. Siegfried approached her, fighting the urge to touch her shoulder. — Good morning, Ilsa. “He spoke clearly and a little excitedly. Ilsa shuddered and looked over her shoulder. — Siegfried. — Becker nodded restrainedly in response. — Why are you here? — Why do you care? — The window is open here, and you can catch a cold. Ilsa grinned. “Are you really interested in whether I get sick or not?” You seem to be here to do your justice, and not worry about some young lady. So go ahead and do it. Siegfried was taken aback by this tone. — Ilsa, I… — Don’t even think about telling me anything. I don’t want to have conversations with you. “Ilsa, I understand that you are angry with me, but let’s put aside all the old grievances and try to be together again.” — For what? Why are you asking me to start all over again when you closed the door yourself? For what? “Then I had my own reasons for this, I was too young and not ready for anything like that. — Maya waved his hand. “And I thought that I still had everything ahead of me.” Ilsa nodded, and then suddenly switched to a threatening whisper: — Let me clarify, does anyone know that you collaborated with the Nazis, supplying information into the hands of the Fuhrer? Or did you cover this moment? — Siegfried tried to remain calm, but his appearance became serious and stern. How the hell did she know this? And then pictures of how he saw Ilsa from the back in one of the bunkers surfaced in his head, but then he was sure that it was his imagination. Not now. It was definitely her. And since she was here, it means that her lover is definitely among the defendants. — No, they don’t know. — Maya hissed menacingly in response. “And they’ll never know about it, besides, now I’m an excellent prosecutor and I’ll lock up your lover for the rest of his life.” But Ilsa just grinned. — Who would doubt that. And what will this give you? Are you stroking your own self-esteem? How pathetic you are. — Does anyone know that you served with Hitler in the bunker? “Siegfried decided to go on the offensive, thinking that this fact would offend Becker. — No, they don’t know, and what does that have to do with it? I was an ordinary servant, I did not serve for the good of the Reich. — Ilsa, let’s not make a joke, I offer you one time. — Siegfried suddenly took her hand in his. — You, after the conclusion of your lover, become mine for life. Why the hell did this Nazi surrender to you? What can he give you, unlike me? And I will fulfill your every whim. Believe me. I have the means for this. And I will give you the love that you needed then and need now. Believe me, I have changed, I am different. I realized a lot. “He kissed her hand and looked at her openly. But Ilsa was not impressed by his words. — Siegfried, you seem to be missing a few small points. “She released her hand from his grip. “I’m not your toy, I’m not in love with you anymore and I won’t stroke your pride now.” I won’t run after you. What can you give me, love? — Becker laughed. — Which one? What kind of love can you give me? Love that depends on your mood, or money that is stained with the blood of those you condemned? Oh, Siegfried, you haven’t changed. When we separated, I thought that you really would change at least a little over time, but no. Time hasn’t changed you a damn thing. It only aggravated and brought to the surface everything that lay inside you. Don’t try to do anything out of spite. You won’t change anything, and now, I’m sorry, but I have to go. Ilsa said goodbye to him and walked towards the courtroom with a quiet step. Siegfried looked at her back, realizing how much he had miscalculated in his time.