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

glanced at Frau Mayer.Then he turned to Anja; her eyes were red. Finally, he looked at Mayer.

From the drawing room he couldhear the wireless playing music. Manfred recognised it as the prelude to ‘Lohingren’. Therewas purity in the melody, a nobility that made Manfred’s heart swell.

Mayer continued to look atManfred and then slowly he lifted his hand and held it out to the young manbefore him. They shook hands. Finally, he spoke.

‘Well said, young man. Thefuture of Germany is safe, I know, because we have young men like you to carrythe vision of our Führer forward.’

Manfred looked at Mayer andrealised something had been decided. He would tell his father that he was notgoing to the university. It was a conversation he had avoided for too long. Thetime spent with Mayer had shown him where his heart lay. Over the previousmonths Mayer had never asked him directly what he wanted to do but, inconversation and without words, Manfred had revealed himself all too clearly tothe older man.

‘What will you do?’ askedMayer, after a short pause. He emphasised ‘you’.

Manfred looked at him and saidsimply, ‘I would like to join the army.’

From the corner of his eye,Manfred could see Anja looking down. But his eyes were on her father.

‘Have you told your family?’asked Mayer.

Manfred shook his head andadmitted, ‘I don’t know how to. My father wants me to go to the university. Hisheart is set on this.’

‘I can understand,’ said Mayer,‘But it is your life and you must decide what is best for you. I can help youif you wish. I have many contacts. Someone like you, Manfred, could be movedtowards officer training quite quickly. More quickly than you imagine. You’resmart and I think you have leadership qualities. I’ve watched you with theboys.’

‘Thank you, Herr Mayer. Itwould be a dream for me to do this.

‘Have you given any thought towhich branch of the armed services you would like to join?’

-

It was late in the evening whenManfred returned to the family house. His mother was in the drawing room butdid not look up from her book when he entered. Manfred looked at her for amoment. Finally, she turned away from her book.

‘Do you want something?’

There was vagueness in hervoice. Uncertainty. She seemed to be lost. More and more these days a fogsurrounded Frau Brehme. She seemed to have little will or energy to find herway through it.

‘Where’s father?’

‘Your father?’ She lookedconfused for a moment and then said, ‘I heard some noise from the room overthere,’ indicating his father’s office. She looked at Manfred to see if theanswer meant anything before returning to her book.

Manfred left the room and hisfootsteps echoed along the wooden corridor. He knocked and waited for a reply.

‘Enter.’

Manfred walked into the room. Hisfather glanced up from the large wooden desk. He had taken to wearingspectacles. He looked over the rim of his glasses and said, ‘You’re back late.You seem to be spending a lot of time at the Mayer house.’

‘Yes, Father, they invited mefor dinner.’

Manfred stood still and therewas a brief silence. They looked at one another and then his father asked,‘What do you want, Manfred?’

Manfred looked his fatherdirectly in the eye and said, ‘I want to join the army, Father.’

Brehme took off his glasses andlooked at his son. There was neither shock nor anger. If anything, it seemed toManfred, there was resignation. Or recognition of the inevitable. The onlysound in the room was the clock ticking. Manfred waited for his father toreply.

‘May I ask why you don’t wantto go to university?’

‘There’s no point, Father.There will be a war. We both know this. The fatherland will want me to fight.It is better I join now and can, at least, influence where I go and what I do.’

Brehme nodded but did not lookhappy.

‘Has Mayer put you up to this?’There was anger now.

‘No, Father. It’s my decision.’His voice was barely audible.

‘Decision?’ Now a hint ofcontempt.

‘Yes, Father. Decision.’Manfred walked forward and stared back at his father daring him to raise anobjection. It was a fight that his father must know was unwinnable.

‘I knew a lot of boys your agewho went to fight last time, Manfred. Most never came back. Those that did werenever the same. You think that war is glorious. It’s not. Trust me, I know.’

How? wondered Manfred. Youdidn’t fight. There may have been a look on Manfred’s face but all of a suddenBrehme stood up and roared at his son, ‘Get out!’

Manfred reddened and then spunaround, walking out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He walked intothe library and switched on the wireless. It was the news. For the first fewmoments, Manfred was too angry to hear what the announcer was saying. Then, ashe calmed, he heard the word ‘war’. He stopped and turned up the volume. Thevoice of the announcer was mocking as he revealed that Germany was now at war.Manfred collapsed into the seat. His heart began to beat rapidly, and his breathing became laboured.

The door to the library opened.It was his mother. She looked at Manfred and said, ‘Oh, it’s you. I thought itwas your father.’

‘We’re at war, Mother.’

‘Who with?’

‘Britain, France. They’ve justannounced,’ said Manfred glancing at the wireless.

His mother did not seem toregister what he was saying. Her face a mask, impenetrable, or perhaps,uncaring. Manfred couldn’t decide. Later he knew.

‘I see,’ she said absently.‘Have you eaten?’

Manfred looked at his mother inincredulity. He then answered slowly, ‘Did you hear what I said?’

‘Yes, we’re at war. It happenedbefore I think.’

‘Mother, I’m going to join thearmy. I’m going to fight. Do you understand?’

Frau Brehme looked at her son.Her face was a mask, neither approval nor disapproval. She nodded and left theroom. This was no fit of pique, or anger. Manfred stood alone in the room, theannouncer on the wireless had stopped and music was playing. It was the HorstWessel Lied. Manfred sat down and listened.

 

For the last time, the call to arms issounded!

For the fight, we all stand prepared!

Already Hitler's banners fly over all streets.

The time of bondage will last but a little while now!