Doctor Blythe cracked open an eye; his deep sleep broken by the sound of loud voices permeating the walls from the hallway. He could sleep anywhere, at any time - and for any length of time - and still he uttered disparaging words to the careless guests.
Anne and he hadn't planned to have a late night. In fact, Gilbert had intended to shoo the both of them into bed early under the pretense that the next day was planned full to the brim. Instead, spontaneity won out and the Blythes spent a large quantity of the evening out and about in Berlin and then a fair-sized portion of the night enjoying each other in bed.
He shifted slightly to face his slumbering wife, who was in the nude and tucked up against his side. Next he tried to surmise the time; noting the sunshine which poured in through the sheer drapes. Gilbert peered in the direction of the clock atop the mantle to discover that he was unable to make out the position of the tiny hands. With an inward groan at what must be his failing eyesight he sat up, slid out of bed and strolled, stark naked, across the room to get a closer look. Gilbert nearly swore when he saw that the clock was already past nine o'clock. Hastily, he begun to pile on his clothing all the while urgently calling Anne out of her sleep and into her outfit as well.
Twenty minutes later Gilbert had re-traced his journey back to the station - this time with a flushed carrot-top woman chasing after him. When the disheveled couple took to their seats, Anne's eyes widened as the train journeyed above the city. Gilbert dropped his stubbled face to her ear and whispered, "This is what I was telling you about. The rail system is above street level, Anne-girl."
"Well, yes," Anne lowly stuttered, "I just never imagined we'd be so high up!"
A toothy grin spread across Gilbert's face as he took in the sight of his wife. Anne's body was twisted in her seat and she appeared to be completely engrossed with the views below.
The Blythes managed to arrive, out of breath, at the doors of the tour office with nary a minute to spare. An intimate group of people had congregated along the lamp post, herded there by the young agent from the day prior. He was issuing instructions as the red-faced Anne and Gilbert sidled up to the group quietly. The guide nodded towards them and thereby announced the start of the tour. All at once they were on the move back to the railway station. The formation stepped onto the train and dissipated to find pairs of seats.
The Doctor and his dear wife found themselves seated across from their guide.
"Good to see you again, Dr. Blythe," the man said, with a smirk playing on his smile. "This must be your wife. Anne, correct?"
"Yes, sir. Pleased to meet you," Anne confirmed and reached her hand across the train to offer a shake.
"My name is Karl," he broached and met Anne's hand half-way, accepting her shake. "First, we are off to our Museum Island. From what your husband has said, I feel sure you will enjoy it."
The three of them struck up small-talk conversation. A short while later Karl stood, clearing his throat, and announced to his party that they were to alight at the next stop: Friedrichstrasse Station. Once on the platform, the group flocked together much like a gathering of chicks following their mother hen. Karl silently took count of his patrons and then with a wave of his arm he lead them back onto street level where a horse-drawn trolley was parked waiting. The curious tourists were loaded into it and transported across the nearby Spree river and onto the island.
"Here we are until one o'clock when we will meet for lunch," Karl announced, after he had arranged his group onto the lawn in front of the new Berlin Cathedral. "You have free time to explore as you choose. For those of you interested in exploring the arts of Berlin you might choose to visit either The Altes Museum, Neues Museum, the National Gallery, or - most recently opened, the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum is at the furthest north. You may also choose to wander the new Berlin Cathedral which only just replaced the Palace last month."
Low murmurs arose from the group as each couple discussed their plans.
Karl continued, "There are cafes and coffee shops on the island. I will remain here to answer your individual questions and offer directions. And, remember, we return to this spot promptly at one o'clock."
As their group began to disassemble Anne and Gilbert hung back to hold their own discussion. Gilbert turned to Anne, "So my love, what is our plan?"
Anne tilted her head up slightly to meet his eyes. "I can't speak for you, Gilbert, but I believe our first order of business is to find one of those cafes. I won't last without food until one."
Gilbert breathed a sigh of relief. "Me neither, Anne-girl. Come on," he urged as he claimed her arm in his.
As they walked the cobblestone pathways they discussed their plans. "Would you care to explore another cathedral? It'd leave time for only one museum though," Gilbert trailed.
"It does sound as if it is a full days affair to see it all. You'd rather the museums, I presume?" Anne responded and to which Gilbert affirmed. She swallowed the disappointment of missing those magnificent domes. "Well, do you know much about them? Perhaps we should circle back and ask Karl?"
"I read through some informational pamphlets yesterday. I've gathered that the New Museum is more of our cup of tea."
"I suppose I'll accept your recommendation, dearest," Anne said simply.
So it was to be that Anne and Gilbert spent the morning viewing and exclaiming over ancient Egyptian relics at the Neues Museum followed by the paintings and sculptures in the stunning Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum. It was nearing twelve forty-five when Anne and Gilbert found their way back to the meeting spot. Both were keen to be early, if not the first to arrive on scene, in a conscious effort to prove that they were hardly the tardy type. Eventually, two-by-two, the tourist group completed itself and Karl spoke.
"For our lunch, I've arranged a restaurant near the Brandenburg Gate. We will pass by it on our way; however it is within easy walking distance for anyone who may wish for a closer look. The tables are reserved until two-thirty and we must continue by three."
The travellers were once again settled into the trolley. Being ardent learners as always, Anne and Gilbert hedged their way into the same row as Karl. Karl noticed this and chuckled to himself as he relaxed into his seat. For a few minutes, the driver navigated the streets with ease; however, the pace was brought to a swift halt when they came to a barricade. Karl muttered something to himself and leaned forward to have a word with the driver. The conversation ended with a nod of the drivers head and slowly he began to maneuver the vehicle backwards, setting the course down a side street.
"What was that about?" Anne asked Karl.
"Oh, it's odd. There must be a military parade marching past our route. Kaiser Wilhelm II was to be on his way to Morocco..." he trailed in wonder.
"Perhaps he ordered the march in honour of his departure?" Gilbert offered.
"That could very well be. I'm not certain of why we didn't have knowledge of it," Karl took up a sigh. "We need to adjust our route to the restaurant. We may miss our glimpse of the gate."
The trolley took its side-streets journey to the restaurant and pulled up along the walkway. True to Karl's hypothesis, the faint sound of marching and fanfare could be heard. The group had disembarked and once again loitered along the curb; each couple questioning the circumstances. Karl took note of the growing interest and after a brief consultation with the driver, he ushered his crew down the street pronouncing that they might as well take in a military parade while on holiday. Later, Anne wrote to Canada about their experience of seeing both a German military march and the Brandenburg Gate as one memory.
After their mid-day meal, during which the Blythes formally met their lovely and engaging fellow sightseers, they were aboard the train once more and headed to the Zoologischer Garten. Anne and Gilbert toddled along behind Karl and their newest addition, the onsite zoologist. Over the last two hours of the tour they learned of all the foreign and native species within the zoo. Sentimental parents remarked at bringing their brood to one some day.
The group had been standing in front of the primate enclosure as they witnessed a labouring female in obvious distress. Their local specialist sprinted behind a nearby closed-off entry, presumably to make a telephone call. Within moments another specialist met him and together they entered into the chaotic enclosure to assess and assist the poor dear monkey. Then, a short while later the infant completed his arrival to the sound of hushed cheers and gasps from his audience. Privately, Anne and Gilbert were both amused by the scene, with Gilbert muttering that he was pleased that it was not him on the other end of the telephone line. Still, it was miraculous and the Doctor thoroughly enjoyed the presentation of primate birth - and of how similar it was to that of an every day homosapien.
By five o'clock the now well-acquainted and friendly group chatted gayly amongst each other at the zoo's exit. For the final time that day, they piled into the trolley and boarded the train. In due course they found themselves back where they started.
"I suppose you will all know how to get back to your accommodations from here?" Karl teased. Laughter erupted and the pairs approached him with trades of cash gratuity for a handshake.
That evening, Anne and Gilbert strolled the dimming streets hand in hand.
"Tomorrow is Sunday, Gilbert," Anne remarked in a foreboding tone.
"So it is, sweetheart. And?"
"Well, what's to be done about church service?"
Gilbert nodded his head thoughtfully. "Ah, yes. There's that problem. Do you suppose we could continue on with the booklet of devotions and Bible study?"
Anne hummed in agreement. "That does sound more appealing than an attempt to get by in German service, never mind locating our church!"
"What? Are you off of Methodist services already?" Gilbert teased with a squeeze of her hand.
Anne rolled her eyes and released, "I have nothing against Methodists, Gil, but I am off of muddling through German hymns!"
"Alright, so we have our plan. A quiet morning of holy devotion...and then I think I ought to take you to a park that I read about. It's called Tiergarten. I still have yet to etch our initials into any tree here, Anne-girl."
"Sinning on a Sunday! My, my! Gilbert Blythe!" Anne chuckled.
"It's hardly the worst thing I've done on a Sunday," he replied suggestively and thereby caused Anne to colour profusely.
Anne cleared her throat, remembering how public their conversation was. "Yes, so then after we will be off to Prague. Is that correct?"
"According to our plan, it is."
"Gilbert, I'd rather not spend yet another night on a train. Surely there must be an earlier option?"
"Well, my darling," Gilbert started with a tone of mock chivalry, "shall we ask the station master?"
Another laugh escaped his Anne. "Oh, if we can!"
Together they started their own march towards the hauptbahnhof station.
On Sunday morning, a decidedly lazy Gilbert stared at his reflection. He stood in front of the wash basin and stroked the two-day whiskers on his chin.
"Anne," he called across the room to where his wife was completing the finishing touches to her hair. "I don't think I'm going to shave today."
In the very next moment Anne had flown from her seat and now towered by his side. "You must not be thinking at all! Of course you'll shave!"
Gilbert eyed up Anne, momentarily deliberating if her wrath and ire was worth suffering through. He chose to persist.
"No, Anne. I believe I'd like to try on a beard. Shaving on the go is a nuisance and here I won't have anyone familiar to impress with it."
"Anyone but your wife!" Anne spat.
Gilbert jumped back, especially taken by her immediate hell-fire tone. He had thought perhaps she'd be somewhat perturbed but this...
"Anne, that's not what I -"
"Gilbert, you do recall the medical school moustache debacle?!"
"Er, yes.."
"This will be ten times worse!"
"How so?" Gilbert questioned as he recovered some of his intellect.
"Your chin!" Anne reasonably wailed.
Well, now he was confused again. "What about my chin, Anne?"
Anne's face stared at said feature pleadingly. "You know how fond I am of your chin!"
"Do I? Anne, it's a beard. My chin will still be there."
"Yes, but under all the hair!" she countered.
"Listen, it doesn't need to be permanent but I've decided. I am going to grow a beard."
Anne sniffed haughtily. "Very well then, Gilbert Blythe. You can grow your beard but don't expect any affection from me!" A wagging finger drove her point home.
This announcement nearly broke his will but it was too late to collapse into apologies and sweet-talk. No, now he would maintain his manly cause.
The remainder of the morning was charged with an icy energy. Anne sauntered over to the booklet of devotions, announced the chapter and verse to study and pray upon, and stuck to a corner of the room with her back resolutely to Gilbert. He could only guffaw at his wife. It was as if he was in the room with a twelve-year old version of her. From the bed, he opened his Bible and said a silent prayer for his endurance.
By mid-morning, Gilbert had drug Anne to the Tiergarten with determination. Regardless of their childish spat, he still hoped that Anne would enjoy the beautiful surroundings and early spring-time blooms. Fortunately for him Anne's exterior melted somewhat when he presented the park's entrance to her. He walked next to her - not too closely - as they made their way around the garden. Other couples and picnicking families were out basking in the freshness of a spring luncheon. So, when it came time for Gilbert to make use of his excellent knife skills there was a definite concern of being found.
"Anne, you'll stand guard, won't you?" Gilbert asked, more uncertain of her present loyalty. She wouldn't let him be caught, would she? What's the worst penalty he'd face? A fine?
"Yes, Gilbert, I will - but do hurry."
A look of hurt fell upon his face and then he turned to the selected tree, a strong oak, and quickly yet thoroughly carved their initials into its thick bark. When he had captured his work with a heart, he called Anne over to inspect it. Much to his relief, she offered him a small Anne-ish smile.