Sunlit oak tree

Augustine listened to reprimands about his carelessness for an hour and suffered humiliation. The reason for this turned out to be a captured communist, a Pole, whom Julius tortured and shot in his cell, without providing the headquarters with the necessary information. Augustine, listening to abuse directed at himself, became tense. Arthur did not spare choice curse words. He did not filter his speech at all and did not respect subordination. Augustine did not understand why he held the answer to Arthur when Julius was to blame. Of course, this was not the first time Augustine had heard about some mistakes in his work, but it was the first time he had encountered being so openly sent down and belittled. He felt ashamed for receiving a bad grade as a student. “Augustine, I thought you were doing a much better job,” he said, having cooled down a little. — At least, when I was appointed here, they asked me not to clean up your department. Everyone hoped that you were doing a good job, but it turns out that the opposite is true. “Augustine was even glad that Arthur had calmed down a little, and now it became possible to talk with him. — Mr. Standartenführer, in any profession there are problems, and my department has always dealt with them with minimal inaccuracies, besides, you must understand that not everything that happens here is under my responsibility. — Augustine paused, seeing that Arthur was hanging out somewhere and that his boss had a serious problem with quickly understanding information. — I just keep statistics and compile ready-made data, so why are you telling me off? Moreover, the plan for this operation was outlined to you several days ago, and you approved it. I remember that in the documents a different name was written in the responsible person column. — Arthur frowned, beginning to realize his own mistake. Augustine realized long ago that he was the same person who did not like to admit his mistakes, and now much about his character becomes clear. “Moreover, why don’t you reprimand…” He didn’t have time to finish. — Do you even understand that by your actions you are putting your department at risk? There is no need to shift responsibility. “Arthur went seriously wild. Augustine responded to his emotions with cold prudence, bypassing the emotional waves; This strategy made Arthur choke even more. — How do I expose my department? Standartenführer, that commie wouldn’t say anything, Julius and his team took their informants. And you understand that this was not my responsibility — at least not only mine, but also other departments. Why don’t you ask them? Arthur slammed his fist on the table. — Be silent! — Arthur gets up from his seat and approaches Augustine, who is slightly taller than him. “You disappointed me, Hauptscharführer.” They told me something completely different about your department, but instead of doing your job, you sit at your workplace and dream about something. During the last operation, we lost three people because you did not fully compile a report about the person whom your colleague decided to shoot. You had to be aware of what they would ask of you first, because you are the superior person. And if there are any inaccuracies somewhere, you should have clarified them! And now it turns out that you are trying to shift responsibility for yourself onto others! The fact that the operation was not failed by you does not negate your responsibility. And I’ll get to the others, don’t worry. Augustine understood perfectly well that things were bad: if this went on, he could be kicked out, and what awaited him in the future was unknown. He will obviously be put on trial, and he will drown up to his neck in bureaucratic red tape. And Arthur, with his ability to embellish the situation, will clearly not leave him a chance to rehabilitate himself. Augustine understood that Arthur could completely cut off his oxygen and leave him without a means of subsistence. If Arthur breaks up, it will be impossible to convince him to ruin the lives of those around him — he will definitely try to mix personal anger and envy of Augustine into the matter. Augustine tried to find words. Arthur looked straight into his eyes angrily, standing two or three centimeters away from him. Augustine was disgusted by the smell of fumes coming from his mouth. Augustine gathered his strength and continued to defend himself and his department: - What should I have done? My people have collected all the information. The fact that we did not collect a complete picture is the result of the fact that another department of Conrad also conveyed false information to us, hence the overlap. Julius was also never distinguished by any accuracy. These people are more murderers than bureaucrats, but it’s not their fault, according to you, but why should we be responsible for their mistakes? Conrad incorrectly calculated the number of people initially, and Julius decided that there were not so many informants. — Arthur began to turn white with anger before his eyes. He clearly intended to remove him from office. And here no one was a hindrance to him — it was useless to prove that he was right. — Do you want to be thrown out of here? “I want to defend the honor of the department,” Augustine said firmly. “Even if I am removed from my position, other people should not be involved in this.” — I am removing you from this position! — Arthur shouted. Augustine was taken aback. — You are not coping with your responsibilities — I realized this a long time ago. I shouldn’t have let this happen. — Augustine didn’t even raise an eyebrow. He was still able to bring it to the boiling point. — And what should I do now? — Augustine was trembling. He was wondering what they would now offer him instead of his old position. Exhaling, Arthur straightened his jacket and sat back down in his seat; Now he was clearly exhausted: it was clear how the veins on his neck, which had been swollen until that moment, turned a little white — the blood had drained away. “You will have the same rank, but you will work for me and my family.” — Augustine silently exhaled: it could have been worse, much worse. His salary will not be cut, but it is unlikely that he will be able to keep Yuma and Yunna in the frantic rhythm of life, however, they can always be sent to the State Judiciary, but this was an extreme measure, which I did not want to resort to. — Is everything clear to you? — Yes all. — Free for today. Tomorrow I will wait for you at my house. After listening to further orders, Augustine slammed the door and left the office. Life once again drew a line under him. The worst outcome passed him by. Now, maybe he will see Irene more often, maybe this is for the better. At least he was no longer left without work. *** The early morning sun calls the inhabitants of Berlin to get up: kiosks with newspapers and ice cream open their shutters, tobacco shops and bakeries open, and people queue up with cards for things and vegetables. Augustine drives past them — today is his first day at work in a new place. As he picked up all his last things from the department yesterday, he felt pitying glances on him — something he couldn’t stand. But nothing, the main thing is that he was not removed from work at all. You might even be able to change something in your schedule and organize your life differently. He turns off the main street and finds himself in the suburbs — the rows of houses are the same painted, they have the same fences and the same cars. Everything is perfect, everything is in an expensive and sophisticated style, everything is just as he once had. A mixed feeling comes over him when he drives up to the fourth white-walled house and stops the car. The morning of the first day hit him with a not very good wave, he turns off the ignition and goes out. Both on the left and on the right there are the same cars and the same drivers as he now. He goes into the house and calls, notifying him of his arrival. A young girl comes out to meet him, Augustine greets him briefly and asks him to inform the owner that the car has already been delivered. The girl invites him into the house. Augustine, embarrassed, comes in. Luxury and sophistication make him forget who he is now and remember those times of distant childhood when he lived in the same way in his house with his family. Augustine, standing in the hallway, awaits further instructions. The minutes drag on for a long time; upstairs you can hear commotion in the kitchen, the clinking of some utensils and plates. It’s about nine, breakfast time. He is invited to the dining room. Walking carefully and modestly, he enters the living room, furnished with luxurious furniture and soft sofas, but, of course, all this fades when he sees Irene, and his heart beats wildly again, and a blush appears on his cheeks. White tablecloths, chairs and ceilings, azure armchairs remind Augustine of the past, but the sight of the uncouth Arthur — his current boss — makes him come to his senses. On the right side sits Irene, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper, there was clearly a quarrel between them — you can feel it in the air, it is permeated with thunder and electricity; It seems that if you approach any of them now, you will get an electric shock. Irene is so fragile, so tender and so exquisite; how could she marry this uncouth Arthur, who looks more like an uneducated scum than a man from high society. The owner greedily eats breakfast and, wiping his mouth with a napkin, looks up at Augustine, leans back in his chair and watches. Irene does not look up from her morning reading. She cares little about her husband’s work, and even about himself; Today, because of his snoring, she again slept poorly and is now trying to save the situation by reading, so as not to fall asleep at the table. “So, Hauptscharführer, you will be completely left to my wife, your duties will be to take her wherever she asks, and also to fulfill all her requests.” Meet her name is Irene. — Arthur points to her; she slightly raises her gaze and holds it, as if remembering whether the person in front of her is the same or whether she has mixed it up. — Very nice, Hauptscharführer Augustin. — Irene shakes his hand. — Mutually, Irene. — Arthur gets up from the table and, saying something to Irene as he goes, leaves the dining room; Augustine stands motionless, unable to let go of Irene’s hand. “Hauptscharführer,” she begins with modesty. She did not expect to see him again, and now she is bursting with happiness and joy that her savior has appeared; She already thought that she would die in this house, sitting under seven locks, but now they will at least take her somewhere. — Call me Augustine. Irene, looking into his eyes, smiles. — Fine. — She takes a sip of coffee. — Augustine, wait for me in the car, I want to take a ride through the galleries, then stop by the seamstress and that’s probably all. I won’t bother you too much, it’s just that my husband doesn’t want to devote time to me, so he pushed me onto you. — Augustine nodded in agreement and, saying goodbye, walked to the car, got into it and began to watch Arthur leave with his adjutant for work. Augustine was overcome by heavy thoughts about his beloved: “Irene, Irene, how I feel sorry for you, you don’t even know who you got involved with; He probably has more than one mistress, but he doesn’t want to bother with you, that means. Yes, indeed, he humiliates you and hurts your pride. Although, maybe he once knew that you and I were friends, that’s why he demoted me… but no, that’s not true. Oh, Irene, how beautiful you are, you are still the same as you were several years ago. Even your tastes in art have remained unchanged…” Augustine waited nervously in the car. He opened the front door. It was not at all hot outside, but Augustine’s cheeks were on fire. He took off his cap and put it on again, but did not stop fiddling with it in his sweaty palms. Oh, does she remember him? Does she remember that very evening when he, as a boy, confessed his feelings to her? Does she even remember that time? Hardly. Now she looked callous and distant. Maybe this is just her new mask, behind which is that same sweet girl? Irene left the house with a light gait and headed towards the car with a slow and smooth step. Augustine’s breath caught. He politely opened the back door for her and, trying not to breathe, sat in the driver’s seat. Excitement covered him completely. They set off and Augustine drove the car as smoothly as he could. He kept looking in the rearview mirror and kept making eye contact with her. — I’m glad we met. — Having collected herself, she said easily and naturally. A lot of emotions were seething inside her. She didn’t know how Augustine looked at her now. How about a married woman? And besides, he clearly did not choose the profession of a driver. Augustine must be very embarrassed. “Irene, I’m glad to see you too.” — He hesitated a little. — Tell me, why didn’t you write letters? “Irene, hearing this, raised an eyebrow. She felt very awkward. — No, no, I haven’t forgotten. It’s just…” She paused. Explaining all this to Augustine was more difficult than she thought. — You don’t need to make excuses. Let’s just assume that you wrote to me all this time, and I didn’t receive them because I was an idiot. The rest of the way they didn’t talk about anything except work matters. Irene did not know how to justify herself to Augustine. Their meeting after so long was so awkward. They quickly took the painting and drove home in silence. Augustine brings the purchased painting into the house and places it in the same hall in which he stood today. He is well versed in art — and Irene has good taste in paintings. — Where do you want me to take the painting? — he turns to Irene when she, having taken off her summer coat, passes by. — Take it to the second floor, fifth room on the left. — Irene rises first, Augustine follows. His nose is filled with the scent of her perfume, which smells great. Having placed the picture, Augustine briefly says goodbye and finally asks a question: — What time should I arrive tomorrow? Or at the beginning of the day? — Irene hesitates. - I don’t know yet, it’s not necessary at the beginning of the day, but I think that by three o’clock it will be normal, I’ll go to my friend. Thank you, you are doing a great job. — Augustine thanks her and leaves, getting into the company car. Having driven about five meters, he wants to turn around, but does not dare, guessing that Irene is watching from the windows of the house as his car drives away. For the first time in a long time, Irene felt something, being under pressure from a man who had been in her life for four years. She completely forgot that there was such a simple and at the same time complex concept — feelings. Irene looks at the painting: a lonely girl is sitting on it; Yes, she didn’t plan to go anywhere today, and she had nowhere to put the picture, but she really wanted to be with Augustine. Irene smiles, realizing that now she can get a breath of fresh air and Arthur won’t care. Although when did he not care about it?