Roderich went through the rose bushes, deep inside the garden, to a place where was nothing except the boy. He saw him to stand here, little bit older this time, staring into the emptiness in front of them. Roderich stopped. The boy's figure seemed normal, but Roderich was aware of something strange in his attitude - too much adult and disturbing. That's why he asked him from his place: "What's your name?"

The boy turned at him and Roderich froze. There were no doubts - blonde hair, straight nose, chiseled face, even that small body had something from... "Ludwig," Roderich sighed.

The boy approached with a kind of wise smile. "Hello, Roderich."

Was it the past? Roderich didn't move, completely focused on boy's eyes. Not Ludwig's blue, but light green...

"Roderich," boy repeated and reach his hand to him.

Roderich was suddenly paralysed with fear. He felt a strange cold from that hand and he just knew, that this child is simply -... Evil? The hand was few inches from his own, when Roderich finally succeeded to make few steps back, right to his warm a perfectly save bedroom.

Yesterday's hangover was gone, yet he was feeling way worse now. Hardly he got himself out of the bed and took a clothes, lying on the floor. Then Roderich left his quarter and half sleeping he entered the workroom. It was all empty.

"Czech?" Roderich looked around. "Czech..."

Somebody placed his hand on Roderich's shoulder. He quickly turned. It was one of a low ranked soldiers, who had patronage over Roderich as a task.

"Excuse me, sir," he excused himself under Roderich's suspicious gaze. "She's free from the work today."

Roderich uncomprehendingly winked. "Why?"

"Herr Kommandant's wish."

"And where is he?"

At the main station was calm, almost tired atmosphere. All travelers were with no exception the soldiers, so the space was completely filled by grey-blue uniforms, visible from far as a strange, moving shadow. It was a worst morning in Gilbert's life. His brain seemed like it gonna explode, his eyes were burning in pain, his stomach like on the swing. In that dark, uniformed crowd he felt like a lost sailor in the middle of an ocean and he fought all he could not to drown. Ludwig discreetly grabbed his elbow and led him through the hall to a prepared train. Soldiers were saluting, Gilbert was only trying to not vomit on them. Finally they reached the train door.

During the journey here, they both were completely quiet; only now Gilbert decided to interrupt the silence. He opened his bag and pulled out a small vinyl record, wrapped in a white silk paper. "Reliable soldier shouldn't have any possessions. Nothing to lose, nothing to grief for," said Gilbert, as he gave the record to Ludwig.

Germany unwrapped the paper carefully, to not tear it all. He read the title, then he hid it quickly back. "Marlene Dietrich?" he whispered. "I have never imagined you... Something like this... She's banned."

Gilbert rolled his eyes, shrugging. "I'm not a connoisseur of art. She's beautiful woman with beautiful voice, who sing for soldiers, that's all I know." He bowed his head a little. "Give this to Czech. It's not evident on the first sight, but they are similar."

Gilbert turned to get in the train. Ludwig turned sad.

"Gill," he exclaimed at last. "It doesn't looked like yet, but you did the right thing!"

Gilbert gave him only one last glimpse from behind his shoulder. "Fuck you, Ludwig."

"Ludwig!" Roderich rushed into his office like a thunder.

Germany gave him only one indignant glimpse, before he continued to talk with one of his soldiers as anything would happen. "So, as I said: those are new orders for collaborant governments, those for the east-front division and this is a special report to Führer alone. Is it clear?"

Roderich was confusingly watching them to exchange some posts, then the soldier heiled and set off. Ludwig casually saluted back and he waited until the man leave. When he looked up to Roderich, Austrian took it as a sign and went straight to the object:

"I had a dream."

"Everybody have." Ludwig sat down to his table, opened a first envelope and started reading as Roderich was nothing to him.

"You know how I mean it!" Roderich slowly get to a rage. "This dream was obout our future and I had it twice! Twice the same thing! That cannot be a coincidence."

Ludwig continued in reading of some documents. Just like by the way he asked: "And what about the dream was?"

"About you!" Roderich seriously leaned above the table. "Listen to me, Ludwig! Something terrible would happen, if..."

"If what!?" Screamed Ludwig furiously as he jumped up from his chair. "Something terrible is happening right now! The war! I don't need your dreams to tell me that!"

"No! This is even bi-..." Roderich started, but Ludwig shut him up by one of the envelopes he gave him. Austrian took it suspiciously: "What's that?"

"Order for your return to Austria. I can't keep you here forever."

"What? Why?" Roderich gave him a puzzled look.

Ludwig sat down again and sighed. "I'm going to France."

"When?"

"Soon. Europe is a large battlefield, everybody has their tasks and it would be better to let your government to keep an eye on you. The same with Czech."

Roderich was watching the letter in his hands. Shell he warn him? Is it even worth it? Yes, he probably should... But Roderich felt suddenly too tired to do so. "You don't want to know your future, do you?"

"No," answered Ludwig with the perfect ease, he even smiled a bit. "I'm going to conquer the west Europe, then I'll defeat Ivan and after American capitulation I'll live happily ever after in the new empire I'm just creating. Also with you, Gilbert, Feliciano... Everyone I have saved."

And with Czech, Roderich added in his mind. He could still say it. But as he stared into Ludwig's arrogant, stony face, he changed his mind. After all, they all are sentenced to inevitable extinction.