father - home

At the Anhalter train station, I suddenly discovered spring.

At the corner by the station, there are a few cherry trees that are in bloom.The sky was pure indigo, and against the blue sky the branches seemed to be covered with snow.The wind that shakes the branches is still cool.The wind shakes the white petals, but cannot destroy them, cannot even crumple them.They swayed dreamily, as if they were about to fall, but they were firmly nailed to the long, shiny, straight branches.The branches seemed metallic, like the trunk itself, long and smooth and gleaming gray and purple.Sunshine penetrates the thin petals, revealing the clear, delicate, intersecting and scattered veins in the white petals, adding a bit of vitality to the weak and delicate petals, the vitality of human beings, including the vitality of fragile and strong people .Among the white bouquets are young leaves, small and long; tender green in the shadows, covered with silvery down; pink again in the sun.

This visit to Berlin was not in vain. Although Babel rejected me, I accidentally met Lieutenant Shilakov and Zhen Yu. Zhao will be happy. I want to go back as soon as possible and tell him the good news.Of course, first tell Ernst that he will pick me up at the station.

Ernst was not at the station.

All the passengers who got off the bus left, and I was the only one left on the platform.Nothing will happen, just be delayed on the road.I comfort myself.In the night, I was smoking a cigarette standing under the street lamp on the platform, and I seemed to see the original scene again: the heavy rain was pouring, and Zhao stood barefoot in the muddy water, bending over with some difficulty to help the old man beside him.It was completely soaked, and the white shirt could no longer be seen clinging to the body, and the breeches on the shoulders highlighted the beautiful figure with wide shoulders and narrow waist... 15 minutes have passed, and I can't wait any longer. Should we find another way to return to camp.

"Sir! I'm sorry I'm late."

It was Walter, and I was not only disappointed, but also puzzled, with worried doubts.

"What about you? Where's Ernst?"

Walter lifted my bag. "Lieutenant Rauscher went to a meeting. I heard that a big man is coming to inspect the camp. The commander, Captain Piolkovsky, took them to the Munich headquarters for a meeting."

"They?" We walked towards the off-road vehicle outside the station.I asked.

"Yes. All the lieutenants. Left at noon."

"So, none of the battalion officers above lieutenant are here. Is there anything wrong?" I became worried.

"Of course it's okay, what could happen? At least it didn't happen when I came out." Walter was a little disapproving.

"That's good." I relaxed a little.It was a 20-minute drive from the concentration camp to the train station. It was impossible for anything to happen in such a short time.Besides, how could it be such a coincidence. "Have you eaten?" It was already very late, and my stomach was screaming "cuck, cluck".

"Not yet, sir, I'm going back to the camp to eat later."

"I'm sorry, Walter, in order to pick me up, you don't even have time to eat. After returning to camp, there probably won't be anything delicious left in the dining room." I really felt a little guilty.Walter's tendency to get so absorbed in one thing that he loses track of time seems to me to be one of his limited strengths.

"Oh, no, sir, it's not your fault. I was researching information in the university library, and I forgot the time for a while, which delayed my pick-up."

After hearing Walter's sincere apology, I suddenly became nervous: "What did you say? When did you come out?"

"Afternoon, I'll be out this afternoon. What's the matter, sir."

"afternoon?!"

We are walking to the car.

Walter opened the car door and threw the luggage on it. "Yeah, I think I just have a car, so I'll go to the library of the University of Munich to check some information."

I got into the cab first, stretched out my hand, and shouted, "I'll drive!"

Walter hesitated for a moment, a little bewildered, but handed me the car keys anyway.He has developed a habit: for my order, whether he understands it or not, he will resolutely carry it out.I usually don't give an explanation on the spot.

I drove like crazy and got back to camp in just 10 minutes.I was going to drive the car straight to the hospital.But in that case, the car had to pass through the gate and guard post between the management office and the prisoner's barracks.According to the regulations, this is not allowed, you must go there, and you must have a dispute with the sentinel.It would look a little ridiculous if nothing really happened.

I got out of the car and ran to the prisoner's barracks.When passing by the restaurant, I suddenly heard someone shouting: "Sir! Sir!"

The cry was not loud, a little timid and urgent.It's past 9 o'clock now, there are not many people outside, and there is not much noise, so the call is very clear.

I turned my head and saw a man in a white uniform holding a mop at the entrance of the restaurant.This person is a prisoner who serves in the restaurant. He usually sees him, and he doesn't say anything except ordering food.

Although I was anxious, I knew that it was me he was looking for, and I knew even more that it took a lot of courage to call an officer like this, and he must have the most sufficient reasons.According to regulations, prisoners are not allowed to face the SS guards, let alone officers.Greeting like this is a capital offense.

So, I walked over quickly. "What's the matter?" I tried to ask gently, but because of the anxiety in my heart, the other party still trembled in fright.

"Sir! Yes... Karl told me to tell you to go to the club immediately."

"Carl? Who's Carl?"

"Yeah, who is Karl?" Walter followed up.I don't even know him, and he certainly doesn't know him.

The prisoner's face suddenly turned pale. Obviously, he thought that Karl knew me, so he dared to risk his life to spread the word.But now, the situation turned out not to be like this. As a result... If he hadn't been leaning on a mop, he would definitely not be able to stand up.But after a moment of fear, the prisoner actually controlled his emotions and looked at me again. "Anyway," he swallowed, and collected himself. "Sir, Karl told me that it was extremely urgent, let me watch here, whether I saw you or Lieutenant Rauscher, I told you to go to the club immediately. He said you will understand."

I seem to understand that this can't be true.I stared into the prisoner's eyes, timidity and courage, and... He didn't dare to lie to me, and he didn't need to lie to me, it must be true.I shook my head, took two steps back, and immediately turned and ran towards the club.I've never had this feeling of being on the verge of an enemy.On the way, I even touched my waist, regretting how I never carried a pistol.