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

so named, hated young people,life and the enemy in roughly that order. Manfred risked a glance at Gerhardtwho was standing beside him towards the back of the group. Gerhardt saw Manfredlook and half-smiled. Seconds later, Drexler ripped through the assembled mento stand in front of Gerhardt, his face inches away.

‘Is something amusing you?’shouted the diminutive dictator.

‘No, sir,’ said Gerhard, eyesfocused somewhere in the direction of Berlin.

With a swift lateral movement Drexlerwas standing in a similar proximity to Manfred. He roared at Manfred, ‘What wasso funny?’

Flecks of spittle sprayed overManfred’s face. He didn’t blink. Drexler’s was tomato-red, except for theprominent blue veins around his eyes. The eyes. Clear blue and full of a hatredthat Manfred had never before witnessed, even in the most sadistic of histeachers, and there had been quite a few. But with this anger there was alsosomething familiar and reassuring.

As quickly as Manfred had feltafraid and uncomfortable, he quickly realised this was what he had been livingwith all his life. Only more concentrated. The next sixteen weeks were toprepare him and the rest of the group for life and death situations. All at onceManfred regretted his immaturity and resolved to become the best he could be.

‘Nothing, sir,’ said Manfred ina clear voice.

Drexler glared at both boys. Hepointed at both, ‘You, you. I will keep an eye on.’

Seconds later, Drexler wasstanding at the front of the group lecturing them on the importance ofobedience. The message was clear. They had now to forget the carefree days ofyouth. Rebellion would not only be considered intolerable; it would be punishedforcefully. The more Drexler spoke, the more Manfred felt at home. He knew thisworld. It was his world.

As the group left the room,Manfred took a risk and went to Drexler.

‘Herr Commander, I apologisefor my actions. I wish to be punished, sir.’

Drexler looked at Manfred insurprise. His eyes narrowed in suspicion and he said, ‘Do you?’

‘Yes, sir. I must learn alesson.’

Moments later Gerhardt was standingbeside Manfred. ‘Sir, I wish to be punished also.’

Drexler nodded to asubordinate. Manfred and Gerhardt were led out of the room to another roomwhere the other young men were being measured for uniforms. As Gerhardt had correctlyforecast, the uniforms were white. They were both handed back packs and told toput them on. Manfred’s first thought was it weighed a ton. He later found outit was around thirty-six kilograms. He glanced at Gerhardt, who smiledruefully. Their first day was not going as they would have liked.

After they received theiruniforms and pack, the same subordinate took Manfred and Gerhardt to the paradeground. They lined up together.

‘I am Sergeant Haag. Over thenext sixteen weeks you will grow to hate me.’

One look at Haag and Manfredfelt inclined to agree. There was, whether intentionally or not, a sly,malevolence about this man that was absent from Drexler. With Drexler what yousaw was a good summary of the man. Haag seemed an altogether differentprospect.

Manfred resolved to beparticularly careful when around him. His arm swept around the parade ground.It was the size of six football pitches.

‘While your fellow recruits areeating, you will run around the outer perimeter of this parade ground. You donot stop.’

The two set off running. It wasaround six in the evening and the light was beginning to fade. It was bitterly cold, butManfred knew the running would soon warm him up. He and Gerhardt ran alongsideone another.

‘Not too fast, my friend,’warned Gerhardt. ‘No talking either. They do not set a time limit. We run untilwe collapse. This is how they do it.’

‘I’m sorry, Gerhardt. It was myfault,’ said Manfred.

‘Enough,’ replied Gerhardt.

After the first lap, Manfredcould feel the straps chafing against his shoulders. He had certainly warmed upand the breath was already clouding around his face. His face was set in stone.He would not give in. Nor would Gerhardt. The two of them plodded on, lap afterlap.

Around an hour later, many oftheir fellow recruits came out to see them. This had been a direct order from Drexler.Word had spread in the base of a punishment and they were joined by otherrecruits who were in the latter stages of their training.

Both Manfred and Gerhardt weresuffering agonies they had never before experienced. Their shoulders werered-raw from the weight of the packs. Their backs were also aching, and themuscles at the front of their legs felt like water. The only sound on theparade was of their steps and their breathing. Manfred no longer felt human. Itwas as if his mindand his spirit had evacuated his body only to be pulled back by the pain ofeach step.

Another half hour passed. Manyof the assembled audience were in shock. This was now beyond punishment. It wastorture. For these men, teachers, accountants, factory workers, shop keepers,it was a new level of brutality they had never witnessed before. The silencebecame a murmur as the two staggered on, no longer jogging. They’re feetdragged drunkenly on the parade ground.

‘Quiet,’ screamed Drexler, asthe murmur had grown louder.

And on the two boys went untilfinally Manfred collapsed on the ground. Gerhardt, himself on the point ofcollapse stopped to help his companion up. Once up, they continued on foranother lap. Bynow they were barely moving forward. Their bodies were awash with sweat. Bothtried to gulp in large quantities of air but the weight on their backs andtheir lungs restrictedtheir airways. The pain from the straps was now unendurable.

Within a few metres of oneanother they bothcollapsed unconscious. Drexler glanced at his wristwatch and raised hiseyebrows to Haag. With some disgust he saw a half smile on his subordinate’s face.

‘Bring them in. Take themdirectly to the doctor. Make sure they are hydrated. Don’t feed them.’

 3

Manfred and Gerhardt were wokenup by the sound of a tray clattering and cutlery clanging against the floor.They were in beds alongside one another in the hospital attached to thetraining camp. Manfred glanced at Gerhardt.

‘I think I’m paralysed. I’llnever move these legs again.’

Gerhardt threw his head backand laughed, ‘Me too. I’m in agony.’

A male orderly brought each ofthem a small breakfast of porridge. He told them that they had twenty minutesand then they would have to vacate