Burgdorf! Krebs had ran into town, determined to find the broad general after his disappearance from the chancellery. Seeing as he was not there, there was only one place he could be.
Sure enough, when he made his way to the river, Krebs could see him facing away from him, standing at the bank. I knew it! But, just as he was about to follow him, he came across two men he knew he had seen somewhere before.
"How would you like Fritzsche's latest blessing?"
"It's truly a wonderful thing to take the blessings of God! You'll be glad you got your hands on them, trust us!"
The two accosted the people readily, grinning as they gathered around him. The slips of paper were flying out of their hands, despite being hung on every door in town. Fritzsche has more believers by the day …
The true thing to fear may not be the strength of armies … but the strength in the hearts of men. Though a heart can be won with very little … once it is possessed, it can become an unstoppable force. If this continues, what will become of General Burgdorf?
When he finally moved past Fritzsche's worshippers to the river, Krebs could see someone there skipping stones.
"Burgdorf …" Krebs murmured.
"Do not speak to me," Burgdorf rumbled, not even bothering to turn around as he pitched another stone across the water. However, no matter how many times he tried to get them across, they all immediately sink below the surface.
Even though the results were always the same, Burgdorf refused to give up, skipping stone after stone. What is he wishing for? Krebs recalled back to Burgdorf talking about how Günsche would follow him, no matter what. Burgdorf has to have trusted Günsche all this time … I'm sure Günsche must feel the same way about him, too, and yet …
Burgdorf pitched another stone towards the river. But, it too sank, as Krebs had expected it to do. "Burgdorf … I'm sure Günsche did not do what he did simply because he wished to do nothing more than stop you."
"I seem to recall wanting silence," Burgdorf muttered.
All Krebs could do was stand and wait, he realized, as that it wasn't the voice that had ever offered him answers for anything.
After a while of standing behind Burgdorf, the sun set. Finally, perhaps having given up at last on skipping stones, he sat heavily on the riverbank. Krebs wanted to say something to him, but he had the feeling he would not take it well … so he just sat next to him, without a word, until Burgdorf finally began to speak at last, his gaze distant.
"If they say they are going to leave, it is only a matter of time until they do," Burgdorf mumbled. "If he does not go, he will bring shame not only to himself, but the other senior generals who served my father who defended him. I am sure they must know this."
"Burgdorf," Krebs murmured. Günsche had been so desperate to stop Burgdorf from doing this that he was willing to put himself to death. Burgdorf, too, could not allow himself to be so easily swayed by such an act as the pillar at the center of the Third Reich. Krebs' heart ached for the both of them … as he was well aware that they must surely know the other's pain. Günsche said so too … but they should still want the same thing …
"Is laying siege on Cologne really the only way?" Krebs asked quietly.
Burgdorf did not answer him. He just stared down at his right hand. "This will be the end of it. This will bring the dawn of a new era."
What? He said the same thing when he put an end to Rommel, as well. A strange anxiety spread through Krebs, the feeling that they had been here before making things very uncomfortable. He had no idea what Burgdorf was looking for, or what he was expecting the world to become.
Burgdorf glanced at Krebs, and Krebs looked up. The smile on his face, exasperated, but also amused, was just like the one Krebs knew. "I'm sorry … I guess I just lost myself for a minute there. Come on, let's go home. I'll get you some tasty booze." He grabbed Burgdorf's arm a little forcefully, and started to drag him back up the road to the chancellery.
But there was a question at the back of Krebs' mind. Is there really no way he can make amends with Günsche after this? They had been at odds several times before, but they had always made up. This time should be no different, he was sure. Günsche would come to see him once they get back, and things would be how they were.
Or so he thought … but that wish, it seems, was not to be.
When he arrived at the chancellery, Hitler, Goebbels, Jodl, and Fegelein were waiting for their return. However, they looked depressingly maudlin, and Günsche was nowhere to be found. It can't be …
"Did Günsche leave?" Krebs asked.
"Yeah," Fegelein replied, downcasted. "We did try to stop him, though, just so you know."
"No!" Krebs stared at Fegelein, unable to process what he was hearing. "But if we go after him, then maybe we can still …" He turned back to Burgdorf, willing him to say that they would do just that. However, Burgdorf just stepped past him, as if everything was the same as it always had been.
"We will convene our planning sessions to decide how to bring Cologne to heel once and for all," Burgdorf announced.
"Burgdorf, please wait!" Krebs exclaimed.
"Make it quick," Burgdorf snapped.
Krebs bit his lip. I can't believe Günsche actually left … The two of them had fought for unification for so long … and that is what drove them apart. Was it right of Günsche to go? Was it right for Burgdorf to let him go? Honestly, he had no idea anymore.