The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (latest ebook reader txt) 📗

‘Yes,Father. I want to join the Hitler Youth.’

Hisfather slammed the palm of his hand down on the desk and roared, ‘Never.’

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Thenext week was governed by silences and looks of recrimination between

Manfred and hisparents. This would have been uncomfortable for Manfred had it not, in hisopinion, represented the usual state of affairs. It was almost funny. Eachnight at the dinner table had been characterised by staged conversationsbetween Peter and Renata on the ridiculousness of the Hitler Youth. Manfredgrew bored very quickly but remained silent.

Hehad a plan.

Thetoppling of Marius would have been the major topic ofconversation in the classroom had not one other even more shocking event takenplace. It happened midway through the week during a chemistry lesson.

From the beginning of the class, it was apparent to Manfred andhis friends when they chatted afterwards, that there had been an atmosphere inthe room. Professor Kahn was particularly ill at ease. Of late, though, healways seemed so. Erich claimed that he saw the looks between Diana Landau andthe professor. He said he thought the two of them were ‘having it off’ whichwas a cue for much ribaldry that made Manfred burn inside, but he smiled alonganyway.

Midway through the class, there was a knock at the door. ProfessorKahn went to answer it. Manfred looked on as he seemed to be having aconversation with someone outside. Although he couldn’t see, he was toldafterwards it was Diana Landau’s mother. When Kahn returned, he asked Diana tocollect her books. Moments later Diana Landau floated out of the classroom.

Manfred never saw her again.

The incident provoked a lot more comment the next day when it was clear that Dianawas not going to return. Klaus Steicher, Manfred’s classmate, provided theconfirmation.

‘She’sgone; the whole family’s flown. The house is empty,’ said Klaus. He added tothis, ‘Pity.’ The smile on his face required little interpretation.

Atthe weekend, the silences had been replaced by lectures from his father on dutyand obedience to family. They came randomly. Anything that Manfred did was usedas an opportunity for Peter Brehme to extract a meaning that Manfred foundscarcely credible, and even pathetic. In the space of a week, his view of his father had transformed from one of fear mixedwith love to one of contempt mixed with pity. In a moment of shock, he realisedhe felt more derision for his father than love.

Even his mother seemed to weary of the lectures and there was alsoa tension between her and Peter. But then there always had been. Manfred oftenwondered if his parents had ever loved one another or was the match borne andpreserved out of a sense of duty.

‘Peter, you’re over reacting,’ said Renata on the fateful Saturdaymorning. ‘It seems harmless to me. Just boys dressing up in uniforms andsinging ridiculous songs.’

Manfred’s father looked at his wife, the rage building up in him.But rage with his wife was pointless. She was as indifferent towards him as shewas towards her son. This was her power and his impotence. In the end he shookhis head and stalked off to his study saying, ‘He will not be going to themeeting tonight.’

Manfred made sure to stay around the house that day. He knew whatwas coming and he didn’t wantto be accused of instigation, but then how could he not be?

Theknock on the door came just before seven in the evening. The family were atdinner. Leni came into the room. She looked very uncomfortable.

‘Yes?’demanded Peter, ‘Out with it. Who is it?’

‘Somepeople for Manfred, Herr Brehme.’

Peterglared at his son and said slowly, ‘Really? Well, we’ll see about that.’ Herose sharply from the table and strode out of thedining room into the corridor. There were muffled voices in the corridor at thefront door.

Sometimes the world seems to stop. Time ceases to exist. There isonly you. Your breathing. Your heart beating.

The conversation seemed to last an eternity. Even Renata Brehmewas, for once, curious about what was going on. She stood up and went to the doorto listen. Manfred did not look at her, although he felt her eyes on him. Hewondered what she was thinking. This was unusual. Normally he spent little timethinking about her. He suspected this was reciprocated. And still the talkingwent on.

At long last, Peter’s father returned to the room. There was nohiding the anger behind his eyes but the slump in the shoulders told adifferent story. He looked at his son. The anger seemed to leave him at thatmoment. His eyes were almost pleading. This time, Manfred felt a stab of pity.It was beginning to dawn on him that something important had happened, but hewas too young to understand what. The lines on his father’s face became moreapparent to him. They seemed deeper almost. The downward curve of his eyes,which previously had an almost self-righteous piety now seemed to whisper oneword: defeat.

Andthen he said, ‘You can go.’

Manfredleapt from the table and left the room without saying goodbye. Peter sat downat the table silently and picked up his knife and fork. He put something in hismouth. After a few moments of chewing, he dabbed the side of his mouth with anapkin, stood up and left the room without a word of explanation.

Renataheard the door of the study slam shut. Leni looked from the table to Renata.

‘Doyou want me to clear up?’

Renatanodded absently, ‘Yes. Perhaps you should.’

Chapter 3: Britain1938 - 39

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LittleGloston: Christmas Eve, 1938

Snowfell softly at first, fluttering in the wind like white butterflies. Soon itbecame heavier, falling steadily, covering the ground outside the forge in awhite blanket. It began to cling to the leafless trees and the houses. The coldhad teeth now. There was a bite to the air. It felt almost like a physicalpresence everywhere except the forge. The forge was its own world. A heatedhaven.

Insidethe shed, Danny was stripped to the waist, sweating madly only a few feet awayfrom the furnace. He was hammering together two pieces of metal on the anvil.Stan walked in smoking a pipe. He looked at his youngest son. Danny was now astall as Tom at six feet two. His wide shoulders were heavily muscled yet