His gaze lingered on her.Our family.It was another confirmation that they were all one family and her tale was true.
‘Family is important. Don’t you all agree?’ he asked his fellow soldiers as he handed out plates.
They all heartily agreed as they reached for the cooked eggs and began to smash the shells against their plates.
The leader broke his and peeled each piece of shell delicately, as if he was expecting to discover a baby bird inside. ‘This war was always about protecting our families and our homeland against foreign aggression.’ His voice quietened as he paused in his shelling.
‘Some people think we are losing,’ said Elsa.
‘They’re right. We’ve been driven out of every country we had under our control.’ He surveyed the shine of his shelled egg as if it was the Earth turning in space. ‘I’ve never been interested in our leaders’ plans for Europe. I fought because I wanted to end what the Great War left unfinished.’ He looked at his friends. ‘Didn’t you?’
They all agreed. He looked at Sam. ‘Look what damage war has done.’
Sam bit into his boiled egg and did not reply.
The soldier smiled sadly at him and copied, taking a large bite of his own. ‘This is good!’ he said enthusiastically as he chewed. ‘I insist we give you a lift. There is room in our truck.’
‘A lift?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t . . . know.’
He frowned and straightened in his chair. ‘Why wouldn’t you want a lift?’
‘It is just... I didn’t expect such an offer. It has taken me by surprise.’
‘I would have thought you would jump at the chance.’
‘Wouldn’t you get into trouble for carrying civilians?’
He lifted his bottle and waved to his brothers. ‘Do we look like we give a damn any more?’ He got up. ‘But orders are orders and we have been ordered to fight. We’ve decided to go west. So I insist something good comes out of the journey and not just the end of our lives in a battle we cannot win.’ He patted Klara’s head. The touch of her soft hair turned his tone to one of whimsy. ‘This little one reminds me of my daughter. She had dark soft hair too. Just like her mother. I would want someone to help my daughter if help was needed. I insist I do this for you.’ Elsa said nothing. ‘I won’t let any harm come to you. My name is Gerhard. I want to do this for you.’ His smile was like Otto’s. ‘You see, I grew up in Bremen. I want to help you see it again. I don’t know if I ever will.’
He must have seen acceptance in her eyes. After all, how could she refuse him? He turned to his squad. ‘Come on, everyone. Take your eggs with you. It’s time to leave.’
Suddenly they all stood, pushing back their chairs with battered muddy boots. Sam, suddenly wary, froze as he realized something was happening. He watched them leaving one by one.
Gerhard paused in the door. ‘Hurry. Grab the things you need. I will not take no for an answer.’
Elsa, dazed at the sudden change in activity, felt she could not resist. All her life she had been taught not to question authority, and how quickly she had reverted. Her fingers fumbled to obey as she hurriedly wrapped the remaining eggs in a towel. The soldier smiled, pleased at her efforts, and left. Only Klara, Sam and herself were in the kitchen, which suddenly felt oddly silent. The soldiers’ conversational voices outside could be heard as they loaded the truck.
Sam watched her put the parcel of eggs in her bag with growing alarm. ‘What are you doing?’ he whispered.
She concentrated on the buckle of the bag. ‘Gerhard is giving us a lift.’
He grabbed her wrist. ‘Gerhard?’ he asked incredulously. ‘You mean they are givingyoua lift? You are leaving me?’
She met his gaze. ‘I meanus. I told you... we traveltogether.’
Unable to bear the disbelief in his eyes, she pulled her wrist away from his grip, lifted her bag to her shoulder and attempted to leave.
He blocked her way. ‘Are you mad? It’s too risky. Refuse.’
‘I tried but he won’t hear of it. Wehaveto go with them.’ The truck’s engine roared into life outside. ‘Besides, Klara is exhausted from so much walking.’ She sidestepped him. ‘Come on, Klara.’
The soldiers jovially called to them by their names as if they were great friends leaving for a late-afternoon outing.
Sam grabbed the crook of her arm so she half turned to him. ‘Andwheredo they plan on taking me? A prison?’
