Chapter 27: Guided tour, part 1.
2.00 pm
After lunch Hilda led her guests into the corridor adjacent to the dining room.
"Schwarze Sonne was founded in then West Germany on January 30, 1983 by my grandmother, Claudia. As you can imagine, unfortunately, the theme chosen for the school caused many problems and controversies, both at home and abroad. On the domestic front, the SPD, the Jewish communities and various members of the CDU sharply criticized this decision, and the RAF ... "
"What does the Royal Air Force have to do with it?" Orange asked.
Hilda looked at her badly.
"I was referring to the Rote Armee Fraktion, a communist terrorist group active from 1968 to 1998." She explained.
"Ah understood…"
"I said: the RAF threatened my grandmother with death, but she was not intimidated. On the foreign plane, however, several nations (primarily East Germany, Poland, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Albania, Greece, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Israel and the United States) declared the students of Schwarze Sonne unwelcome people, and this ban lasted about a decade."
"Why then was it revoked?" Maho asked.
"Our popularity, gained thanks to numerous victories first in the German tournament and then at the European level ... Of course, this did not completely quench the controversy, which continues today."
"Okay ... But now could you explain how the hierarchy works?" Erika asked her.
"At the top there is the führer, that is, the undersigned. It is assisted by two deputies, one of whom will take her place if he can no longer perform her duties. The new leader will in turn have to appoint another deputy."
"In how many branches does the bureaucratic apparatus develop?"
"Public relations, economics, propaganda, security. The latter is divided into two sections: the SS, our regular police force, which maintains order among the students, and the Gestapo, our Intelligence, which has counter-espionage functions."
"Not espionage?" Momo asked.
"What?"
"Don't you ever spy on other schools?"
"We are loyal people, we don't like poking our noses into other people's affairs."
"I understand…"
"But now let's start the actual tour. Please follow me."
The first room they visited contained three long tables on which 6 computers were placed each, for a total of 18, in front of them several students were sitting.
"This is our computer room. Here the students learn to use computers and various programs, such as Word, Excel etc. Nowadays everything depends on computers: hospitals, power plants, airports, stock markets ... And so we take care to train our girls in their use, so that they can find work in that field, if they wish." Hilda explained.
"Do you also have internet on board?"
"That's right, Katyusha ... the Internet is one of the miracles of the past thirty years. It has made the world more united, in a sense. Thanks to social networks like Facebook or Twitter it is possible to communicate with other people, at a great distance. Thus, the English student can make friends with one of her Japanese peers, or an Ottawa resident can meet a Buenos Aires resident, staying in her room. Also you can watch films, TV series, anime, publish stories, watch all kinds of videos. Isn't it wonderful? "
"Yes it is." Miho admitted.
Hilda smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, embarrassing her a little.
"Now come on, the tour has just begun."
"This is the library, where our students can read all kinds of books, from novels to historical texts."
Miho looked closely at the room: rows of shelves laden with books stretched far and wide, and here and there were girls sitting at tables reading. A sign attached to the back wall invited visitors to silence, so as not to disturb the readers.
"Do you have ... some famous tomes?" She asked.
"Let's have a look ... The adventures of Robinson Crusoe, the treasure island, 1984, Jurassic Park ..."
"But Jurassic Park is a movie, not a book!" Kay exclaimed.
"The 1993 film comes from Michael Crichton's novel of the same name, ignorant!" Himmler replied, annoyed.
"Don't be too severe ... After all, the novel is much less known than its cinematographic transposition."
"Right, mein führer ..." Admitted the bespectacled.
"Anyway I said: the war of the worlds, various novels about Sherlock Holmes, some of Lovecraft, the travels of Marco Polo, the Koran, the smell of India by Pasolini, the art of war by Sun Tzu, the Kogiki of Yasumaro etc."
"Is this Marco Polo by chance a science fiction writer?" Anchovy asked.
"He was a Venetian merchant who lived in the thirteenth century, who left us a detailed account of his long journey to Asia! GOAT!" Himmler exclaimed furiously.
"Do you have to be so aggressive?" Carpaccio asked, surprised by the aggressive reaction of the dark-haired girl.
"I can't stand the ignorant!"
"Not all bookworms like you!" Göring intervened.
"They are an Italian team, they should be informed about the history of that nation!"
"True ... They were an Australian or Bulgarian team I would understand, but their school promotes Italian culture! How can they not know such a well-known character?" Hilda supported her.
Anchovy, although irritated by those arrows, preferred not to reply.
"This is the art room. Here our students are dedicated to painting and sculpture. "
The girls observed carefully: some students were busy working on canvases, others were gathered around a block of marble that one of them was chiseling with care and patience.
"As you well know, these arts require some natural talent, in addition to concentration and patience." Hilda explained.
"Mein führer! I was just looking for you! " A girl with short black hair and blue eyes exclaimed.
"For what reason, Rossella?"
"See for yourself!"
She handed her the canvas in her hand, and Hilda watched her carefully. The portrait portrayed her in front of the school gates, while she looked ahead with a proud expression. At that sight she smiled pleased.
"Really beautiful ... I'm proud of you!" Comment.
"And I'm proud to be at your service!" Replied the painter, smiling.
"Göring, hang it in my office."
"Immediately?"
"Obvious…"
The stocky girl nodded, took the painting and left the room.
"You are very popular, I see."
"Exactly, Miho. I treat my companions with affection and respect, as if they were my sisters or cousins. And they reciprocate me, showing me loyalty and deep friendship."
"In this regard, what can you tell us about a certain Eva Raubal?" Kay intruded.
Hilda paled as she heard that name as her smile faded.
"It was ... It was my deputy, until a year ago."
"And where is she now?" Mika asked.
"She's gone."
"Have she changed school?"
"She's dead." To answer was Sheska.
Everyone turned in amazement towards her, except for Naomi, Kay, Hilda, Himmler and Rossella, who remained impassive.
"Dead?"
"Falling into the sea during a storm."
"I'm sorry ..." Miho said, while the others remained silent, sad.
In response, Hilda clenched her right hand into a fist.
"If you knew me ... Anyway I would ask you not to talk about it anymore. Eva and I were very close friends, and her disappearance left a great void in me."
"I imagine…"
Hilda shook her head, as if to drive away a troublesome thought.
"Better to resume the tour ..." She said, with tears in her eyes.
But couldn't she keep her beak shut?
Himmler thought, glancing at Kay.
