Berlin blood

Several weeks flew by quickly. Soon Gunther and Ilse had a decent amount of money in their hands, enough to move to another country. The young people were finishing up their visas, which were processed faster than usual because, as it turned out, Ilse’s sister had moved to America, as had Gunther’s sister. Both of them helped with the registration, consulting them by phone. In recent days, Ilsa has been collecting a few things that fit into one small suitcase. “Do you think,” she asked Gunther one late evening, “are we doing everything right?” I suddenly caught myself thinking that we don’t even really know English, how will we live there? “Our sisters obviously won’t abandon us, they said so.” At first, of course, it will be difficult, but then we will definitely be drawn into that life. First we will be settled in a town for immigrants, and later we will be sent to New York. Why were you suddenly so worried? — I don’t know, I remembered my childhood, youth. And, in general, throughout the entire time that I lived in Germany. The thought suddenly came to me that we were lost, that we would never find a place for ourselves in this world, that we would continue to flee from country to country. So we will look for a haven for our souls. And I’m afraid that we may never find him. Is it possible to escape from ourselves? Forget what we experienced? Sometimes I still dream about dead children, Goebbels and Mrs. Brown. — Don’t think too much, Ilsa. Deep thoughts are very dangerous for people. Just live and see: life itself will save you from illusions and prejudices. Don’t be too independent, otherwise you will be abandoned by life. — You see, the Universe is such a strange thing; instead of the champagne you ordered, it pours vodka for you. “Very smart,” Becker Gunther grinned at the statement. — Okay, let’s rest, we have a hard day tomorrow. — Certainly. Let’s. The moon illuminated their last night in Germany, and both were uneasy in their souls. They had to face the very unknown, which still frightened them and made them think about bad outcomes. They were afraid that society would not accept them, but at the same time, with some anticipation, they wanted and were going to set sail for a new life, into another world. *** Early in the morning, Gunther and Ilse left the room with a suitcase in their hands. Despite her fear, Ilse shared with Gunther that she was filled with a desire to quickly get on the ship in beautiful surroundings, look at the ocean they would be crossing, and begin a new life. They got into a car, kindly provided by the hotel for a fee, and the driver took them to the port. — Darling, did we forget our tickets and passports? — Ilsa clarified, reading a brochure with the program of their trip. Gunther patted his left inner pocket. — They are here. Don’t worry, honey. The road to the port was clear, and for the first time in many days the sun was shining. It crawled and rose from somewhere over the horizon, illuminating everything around with its rays, informing the residents that a new day had begun. People opened windows, gradually went out into the street, hurried to work, and some factories were already humming, tearing residents of nearby houses out of their sleep. It seemed that the world had begun restoration according to an accelerated program, life was returning to normal, and everything was returning to normal. Only now have thoughts become more valuable in relation to simple concepts about the importance of life and being. *** They drove up to a rather large port and got out of the car. Gunther took the suitcase from the trunk, and the young people, quickly thanking and saying goodbye to the driver, hurried to find the airliner on which they would go to America today. A couple of minutes later, Gunther and Ilse saw in front of them a beautiful ship with spacious decks, which offered a beautiful view of the waters, and on the decks themselves, in the relaxation area, there were sun loungers. Inside the ship, everything was also beautiful and harmonious: a noble wooden floor that was pleasant to walk on, interesting columns that gave the ship its own unique style, spiral staircases reminiscent of antiquity, and cozy cabins that created a feeling of security. Ilsa was pleased with the interior decoration, and everything was much better than she could have imagined. Their cabin was very spacious and had very comfortable accommodations. Not far from her there was a restaurant where Ilse and Gunther first went for lunch and then for dinner. In the evening, having eaten and indulged in wine, they returned to the cabin and, having changed into more comfortable clothes, walked along the deck. They talked a lot about the feelings that languished in their souls, and about what they would do when they arrived in America. Gunther was most concerned about getting a license in America, but Ilse assured him that since they had relatives, they would not have problems. The main thing they needed, first of all, was to settle down and find a good job. They went to bed long after midnight. But their sleep was not sound from excitement, from thoughts of what awaited them tomorrow. A feeling of adrenaline ran through the veins, and hearts beat strongly in anticipation of something wonderful.