They walked for several minutes until they were sure that they were alone. A secluded spot was the perfect place to finally sit down to eat.
‘What did you talk about?’ he asked as she tore the bread and shared it out.
‘News from the front,’ said Elsa. ‘Mostly sourced from rumour and third parties.’ She encouraged Klara to eat with a smile and began eating her own.
He studied her as she stared at the distant road. ‘And what did you say about me?’
‘Nothing.’
‘They looked as if they were talking about me.’
‘Are you worried that I told them you are British?’
He remained silent for a better answer.
‘They thought you were my husband.’
‘And what did you say?’
‘I told them you were my brother.’
‘Klara’s father?’ He looked at Klara. The idea of a familiar link to her niece hadn’t occurred to him.
‘They wanted to know why you hadn’t joined me to speak to them.’
‘What did you say?’ He bit into his bread and chewed as he waited.
‘That you were mute and—’ she tapped the side of her head — ‘damaged from a bad experience during a battle.’
He swallowed the dry lump of bread down with some effort. He already felt guilty about not being on active service. He didn’t need a reminder.
Elsa shrugged. ‘What could I say? I had to give an excuse as to why you are not fighting.’ She winked at Klara and spoke in German. Klara looked at him then back at Elsa.
‘What did you say to her?’
‘None of your business.’
‘I think it is.’
‘You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to tell strangers who you really are.’ She offered Klara some water. ‘I should have told them you were dim-witted from birth. It would explain your silence and lack of understanding better.’ She turned to look at him and smiled brightly.
It was the first time he had seen her smile and for a brief moment he wondered if it was genuine. He had not seen the point where this serious conversation had turned to teasing, yet here was the evidence in the form of a pretty smile, which lit up her eyes in a way he could not have envisaged. ‘Did they believe you? That I was mute and brain-damaged?’
She feigned seriousness. ‘Mute — I’m not sure. The other... well, they seemed convinced.’
Sam had the sneaking suspicion she was enjoying herself. ‘Is that how it is going to be from now on? I’m to be mute and not right in the head?’
‘Yes, unless you want to learn German.’
‘I would rather not.’
‘Then you will have to be a mute and not working in the head. If it’s any consolation, I think you are rather good at it.’
Sam tore at his bread and popped a small piece in his mouth. ‘And what was the news from the front?’
Her smile faded. ‘The Russians are advancing unchecked all along the Eastern Front. There are more stories of rape. Lack of clean water for our soldiers. But this is good news for you, is it not?’
‘Rape? Who is raping who?’
