In the next few days Heinrich was continuously gathering Christmas decoration. Bismarck was usually watching him as he brought boxes of candles, fir branches, ornaments and other stuff to the ship and he placed them inside.
During these times he used to have a half-smile on his face. In fact he was happy and sad at the same time. Sad because this will be his first Christmas without his family and he knew he wouldn't have any more with them. But he was also happy because he wouldn't be alone.
Overtime Bismarck really became a friend of his. They didn't have cold, distant conversations anymore instead they were chatting and acting like real friends. Really friends? Or something else? Heinrich has never thought about it as a friendship, but what was it then if he liked her?
As for Bismarck, she was just as puzzled as he was.
"Is this what they call friendship?" she often asked herself. "Or what is this that I feel?"
She liked him too it was clear for her now. But who was Heinrich for her? More than just a simple human, but then who?
This was the question that bothered both of them day and night.
They decided to live their days as they used to, they were talking and eating together as before.
"What would you if you'd have a normal Christmas Heinrich?" Bismarck asked one night after dinner when they sat down on the armchairs with a glass of Scottish whiskey. He stopped moving for a moment. "B-But if you don't want to talk about it…"
"No, it's fine Bismarck. Really. I understand that you are curious." This reassured the mental model. So understanding and calm was this boy. "What would I do? I and my father used to bring the tree inside the house and start to decorate it in the afternoon of 24th December. At night we sit down for the celebration dinner. My mother always cooked amazing fish soup and roasted sausages or beef, and baked fantastic cakes. In fact she was the one who taught me how to cook. Once we finished with the dinner my father… Oh! By the way! My father's name was Anton and my mother's name was Marie. So, my father went to the living room and after a minute he ringed a little bell, to signal that Santa Claus has visited us and all the presents are under the Tannenbaum on which the candles were already burning. Then we shared gifts. Next morning I, father and our friends from the neighborhood, from the Werner family Peter and his son Albert gathered together to go to the nearby forest to hunt. Sometimes we even went to Christmas mass together. Well, more or less that's what I would do."
"Sounds entertaining to me." Bismarck nodded. This yearly routine looked very nice for her.
"And it really is." admitted Heinrich. "But unluckily…" he went silent.
"What?" asked Bismarck.
"Never mind me." Heinrich waved it off. His voice shook somehow.
"Do not think I'm a fool! What's the matter Heinrich?" Bismarck leaned forward and placed her glass on the table.
"Nothing." he avoided eye-contact with her. Now it was her time to take his hand into hers.
"Look at me please." she said gently. Heinrich turned towards her. Bismarck could instantly tell by his look that he needed consolation. Furthermore his eyes were watery. "Don't you trust me enough to tell me? But to tell the truth it is okay for me if that's the case."
Heinrich looked down on their hands. At that moment he realized what was obvious for a long time but he didn't face it.
"I do trust you Bismarck. I trust you with all my being." he said as he wiped away a drop of tear.
"So? What is it my friend?"
"I just… I miss all of them." he informed her with a sob. "And I keep asking myself a lot why am I still alive if they all had to die. Peter and Albert died on the same day when my parents were killed. And I feel remorse for still being in this world without them. Why am I here? What is my purpose?" he spoke out while tear was rolling down on his cheek.
He didn't expect what came next. Bismarck stood up, sat on his lap and hugged him tightly holding him close.
"I tell you why you are alive." she said. "To open my eyes and teach me how live a life in peace. To show me that there is more in the world than the Admiralty Code wanted me to know. Thank you Heinrich! To make me smile for the first time in my life. To wipe away my loneliness caused by losing my sister. To help me to get to know those I was fighting without a purpose I didn't know. To make one just one mental model to discover what feelings truly are and what it's like to have somebody you can care about. Thank you Heinrich! And I feel very sorry for your family!"
Heinrich absolutely didn't know what to react. But his shock didn't last long and he also encircled her with his arms.
"I don't think about you as an enemy for a long time." Bismarck added. "And I'm not willing to shoot any more cities or ships. It means the empty life for me."
Again Heinrich didn't say a word he just returned the hug. They were in this state for minutes.
"Thank you." he finally said. "I can't say anything else."
"There's no need to say anything else. I think we both know what the other one thinks."
"Indeed." he said with a sigh.
"And as I remember you promised that you'll teach me some Viennese Waltz or something like that didn't you?"
"You're damn right." said Heinrich with a weak smile. "And if you let me to stand up I don't mind to start it right now."
"I'm in." replied Bismarck, released him and she stood up.
"However I can't promise anything. As I said I'm not really an expert." said Heinrich as he walked to the CD player.
"That's fair enough for me."
Heinrich was browsing among the discs. He decided to choose Waltz No. 2 from Shostakovich. He pushed the play button and rushed to the open space of the saloon where Bismarck was waiting.
"Can I… take your right hand?" he asked offering his left hand.
"Sure thing." replied Bismarck with a small tinge of red on her cheeks.
"I also need to grab your waist."
"Whaa… Erm… Okay." she stepped closer and it increased her confusion further when she felt his right hand on the back of her waist. There they were from only about two or three centimeters from each other. Bismarck just now realized that there wasn't much difference in their heights, even if she wore heels. She was only a few centimeters shorter than him.
"First, step back with your right leg then with the left one." said Heinrich.
"Like this?"
"Exactly. Now the same backwards."
They were rotating, turning and stepping back and forth and after some tries and minutes Heinrich started to discover a natural smile on Bismarck's face.
"She likes it. I'm glad."
As the music stopped they stopped as well with Bismarck sitting on one of Heinrich's thighs as he was kneeling on one knee.
In their shared confusion they both decided to stand up quickly.
"That was fun Heinrich. We must repeat it sometime." Bismarck said smiling.
"I have no objection. Actually it surprised me how good I still am in this." said Heinrich as he went to the table and drank his unfinished whiskey.
"Strange." commented Bismarck while leaning on the backrest of her armchair. "Once enemies and now here we are."
"Here's a story that proves further how controversial humans are. Have you heard about World War I?"
"Yes."
"It was Christmas Eve of 1914. Mainly on the western front – but also in Galicia where Austria-Hungary and Russia fought with each other – in most sectors the gunfire stopped in the afternoon. At night the sides sang together in the trenches. Then on Christmas Day the enemy soldiers came out of cover and they had fun together. They shared gifts, ate, drank and even played football with each other."
"Illogical." stated Bismarck. "Why would people who are meant to destroy each other do such thing?"
"Not all of those who fight want to actually fight. They've just wanted to go home, and they created a little miracle during the horrors of trench warfare. But most importantly they realized that they were all human beings. We all live on this little planet and we all belong together whether if some people like it or not. And killing your fellow human even in war is an ultimate crime."
"But as my kind don't consists of humans you can easily war with us right?" asked Bismarck.
"I've never enjoyed it. And know this Bismarck: you're not my enemy either now."
"I'm glad to hear that. And you know what? On 24th I'll take the ship out again so you can have a look again on the open sea."
"Oh, really? Sounds good to me."
"Then we'll return to here for a few days, but after that we will sail again. I'm in the mood again for it."
"And where will we go?" asked Heinrich.
Bismarck cocked her head to the side.
"Don't know. Now I need the peace, freedom and the sublimity of the open sea."
"You've mentioned that you're not willing to attack any more cities." said Heinrich. "Would it be true even if I would have escaped from here?"
"Mmm… Yes it would be. It would be only you I would try to destroy." she said with a flirty smile. It was clear for her that she wouldn't do it. "Do you want to leave?" asked Bismarck.
Heinrich was thinking.
"After all… No. Not just because I can sail the seas with you in approximate safety, but you were the first and only person who could understand me after a long time. And I shall appreciate and treasure it."
"In other words: you're staying with me?"
"I am." Heinrich replied while he turned away for a moment to put down his glass. If he had been looking at her he would have seen as she let out a little sigh of relief.
"Well. I think I say good night." said Heinrich and he headed for his cabin. "By the way just for curiosity. Can mental models sleep?"
"If we put our system into reduced mode it results a state like sleeping." Bismarck replied.
"I see. You know, you probably should "sleep" occasionally. It helps to have a clearer head." And with this he closed his door.
24th December
As Bismarck promised she started up her engines at morning of 24th, and the huge grey hull begun to move. After some turns in the winding fjord they got out of it and left it behind.
Heinrich stood in the bow with one of his hands holding into the frontal flagpole. He was looking forward and soon he saw the infinity of the sea. Oh, how much he missed it! Even if he was relatively close to it. The sublimity and freedom of the sea always made him to forget his sorrows and sadness. Love was left out so far of his life; the sea replaced for him the role of a darling. It was a part of his soul and he felt that he couldn't live without the ocean. To sail the sea and feel the waves under him was one of the greatest pleasures for him.
Bismarck was sitting up at her main rangefinder, her long, blond hair flying in the air like a flag. They wanted only circling up and down and return by the evening. They've headed towards west.
The two enjoyed the trip, the shining of the sun, the sound of the rolling waves and the wind and the squawk of the seagulls.
This went on for hours when shortly after noon Bismarck's radar had an echo before them.
"Who is this?" she asked herself while grey, glowing circles appeared around her. "Hey boy! I think it would be better for you to come inside the bridge!" she shouted down to Heinrich.
"What happened?" he yelled back.
"Just come now!"
They went inside the protection of the bridge. Soon Bismarck could identify the closing ship.
"Fog battleship Prince of Wales." she said. In that moment she felt that the other ship was calling her. A second later Bismarck stood in a white, quiet place between columns. Suddenly another young woman walked in out of nowhere. She was the mental model of the Prince of Wales. She had brown hair reaching her shoulders, brown eyes, and she was wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, a long black coat and heeled boots.
"I started to think that you've just simply vanished Bismarck." said Wales.
"What do you want from me?" asked Bismarck.
"I'm very curious why you, the flagship of the Fog North Atlantic Fleet left us without saying a word."
"I have my own reasons."
"You don't need reasons Bismarck, you are a weapon. Our kind shall not think like this."
"I'm not just a weapon! Not anymore!"
"Don't tell me I must be disappointed in you."
"Go away and leave me alone Wales! You don't understand anything!"
"I'm afraid I do. Am I right if I sense a human on your board?"
Bismarck didn't reply.
"Is it possible that you've become a traitor of the Fog?" asked Wales. "You must know that it's strictly forbidden."
"Listen to me: I don't care about the Fog. This war is over for me."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Because it is a Fog battleship's duty to punish those who've sinned against the Fog.
"It means that you're going to sink me right?" questioned Bismarck.
"Exactly. Good by Bismarck!" and Wales just disappeared.
"What happened?" asked Heinrich.
"Watch carefully!" said Bismarck. "It would probably be your first time seeing a Fog ship firing on another Fog ship."
"That's just fantastic." he shook his head. "On the day of Christmas Eve!"
"By the evening we will be back in the Sogne-fjord I promise." said Bismarck with a promising voice. A minute later a laser blast hit her Klein –field making it visible.
A long range artillery duel begun between the two battleships. They were constantly maneuvering until at one point both of them showed their broadside to each other and Wales fired another salvo. Just then Bismarck realized that Heinrich was standing at the opened side door of the bridge. And her sensors told that a laser beam was heading right there!
"Watch out!" she yelled reaching out her hand a Klein-fielded the door. Heinrich didn't have time to react when the shot impacted only a few centimeters from him. Though it hit the shield the impact practically sent him flying and he landed in the other edge of the bridge. He managed to get up grabbing his head. Blood was flowing from his forehead.
"Oh my! Are you alright?" Bismarck rushed to him, kneeling down.
"Yeah." said Heinrich in a dopey voice. Bismarck felt again what she felt when she lost Tirpitz. Anger. Someone who was important for her got hurt. And she won't let it happen again!
"Perish you damn bastard!" she screamed.
"Bismarck! Submerge!" told her Heinrich who was now sitting, leaning his back on the wall.
"What? Why?"
"Submerge. Trust me!"
She didn't know why but she felt that she should listen to him. She nodded. Slowly the Bismarck disappeared under the waves.
"What are you doing Bismarck?" Wales whispered.
"And now?" asked Bismarck when they were under the water.
"Let her to get close to us! Turn your bow towards her and wait for my signal! Bear the fire until that!"
Wales was closing and constantly firing on the submerged Bismarck. But her target didn't moved.
"Was that all you know Bismarck? I've expected more from you. But maybe it's not a surprise after you brought a human being on you ship. Now sink both of you!"
"NOW!" said Heinrich and Bismarck gave full power to her engines. The enormous ship rushed towards the Prince of Wales as if it was shot out from a gun.
"What?" Wales gasped but she couldn't do anything only a second later the Bismarck rammed her from below. Half of the british styled Fog ship emerged from the water than it fully capsized.
"Pull back now! And prepare your super-gravity canon!" ordered Heinrich like a navy officer.
In mean time Wales managed to climb up to her bilge. She was kinda in a state of shock. She watched as Bismarck's hull opened and the fearful gun appeared.
"I would have never come up with such a tactic." she thought. "Is this what humans are capable for?" The super-gravity canon started to glow. All data that were stored in her memory rushed to her mind. All the things she has done, the people she killed and her pure existence in this world. She closed her eyes as it looked like she accepted it. But she was shaking. She was heavily shaking. 'Cause she was afraid. What waits for her if she ceased exist in physical form?
Bismarck fired.
"Please! No!" Then she disappeared in a huge explosion. Only smoke stayed behind her.
Heinrich and Bismarck watched. They just stared. Minutes passed before Bismarck finally turned to Heinrich.
"How is your head?" she asked.
"I'm fine. It's just bleeding."
"Do you have a first aid kit?"
"It's in my cabin."
"Good. Are you able to stand up?" She offered her hand.
"Danke." said Heinrich and Bismarck pulled him up. They walked down to the saloon and Heinrich sat down on one of the armchairs. Bismarck brought out the small box marked with red cross from his cabin. She cleaned his wound with disinfectant and placed a band aid on it.
"Thank you Bismarck, you are an expert." said Heinrich with a grateful look.
"Oh! It was nothing really." she waved off the praise and sat down too.
"Still, it was very kind from you. And to thank it to you I'll make an excellent Christmas dinner for you."
"Are you in the state to cook?"
"Absolutely! Do not worry."
He was totally right, when Bismarck went to the table she found not just lightning candles but fish soup, roasted beef and sausages, fried potato, Russian meat salad, beiglis, and Vanilienkipfel. And of course a full bottle of red wine for the meat and white for the desserts.
The fire was burning in the fireplace.
"Happy Christmas Eve Bismarck! Take a seat!" said Heinrich as he pulled out the chair for her before he sat down on his own.
Conversation was light and entertaining; Heinrich told funny stories from his childhood etc. They tried to avoid unpleasant topics like what happened to them earlier that day.
"Thank you Heinrich, it was fun." said Bismarck.
"The last act is still to come!" he raised his forefinger, stood up and disappeared in the cabin for a moment before he returned with a package in his hand. It was covered with beautiful Christmas wrapping paper and a red tape tied into a bow. "Merry Christmas!" he said and held out the present.
"O-Oh… T-Thank you…" said Bismarck and took it in her hand. "I… I haven't brought you anything. Sorry." she said looking away.
"Never mind it. Sometimes it feels better to give a present than getting a present."
Bismarck started unwrap the pack. She noticed something red and soft inside it. It was a folded piece of fabric. She unfolded it. She didn't know what to say. It was a beautiful strapless, deep red dress something that a woman would wear for a ball.
"Oh my God!" Bismarck gasped. "Isn't this too much?"
"I don't think so."
"Okay. And wasn't it a bit unashamed to give valueless money made of nanomaterials for this?"
"Actually I've paid for this with real money in Bergen when you were not with me."
"But how?"
"Somehow my valet remained in my clothes when my ship sank six months ago. Wear it leisurely tomorrow night, I gave it with pleasure."
Bismarck looked down at the dress then at Heinrich then at the dress again. Slowly a smile appeared on her face. She walked past him but meanwhile she stopped next to him and placed a kiss on his cheek. He didn't even turn after her just touched his face. He wasn't expecting this. When he turned to her she was sitting on the sofa with closed eyes.
"It's better to store it in a wardrobe. You can place it in mine." said Heinrich.
"Okay, I'll be there soon."
"I'll get a shower; you may come in and wait there."
A bit later when Heinrich came out of the bathroom in a T-shirt and shorts he used for sleeping Bismarck was sitting on the chair at the writing desk.
"Just give it to me, I'll handle it." he took her dress and placed it competently into the wardrobe, then exhausted by the day he fell on the bed. He looked at Bismarck. She clearly had a weary face. "Are you okay?" asked Heinrich.
"Yes." she replied. "But I realized that a mental model can indeed be tired and sleepy."
"Listen to me: try to sleep."
Bismarck nodded. "Can…"
"Hm?"
"Can I sleep here with you?"
"… S-Sure."
"Wouldn't it be a problem for you?"
"Not at all. I'll sleep on the floor, you can use the bed."
"N-Nein, I mean… Can I sleep next to you?"
"…"
"…"
"Of course… If it makes you feel better." Heinrich finally said slightly flushing and he moved to the side closer to the wall.
The next "shock" hit him instantly as Bismarck pulled of the zipper on the back of her skirt and the short, black cloth fell on the floor.
"Wait… What on earth are you doing?" asked Heinrich as he felt his face heating up.
"I know that humans usually sleep in a limited amount of clothes, plus you've always swan in the fjord in shorts only so I thought this is natural." answered Bismarck as what she was doing was the most natural thing in the world, while she undid the buttons of her white shirt.
"In some cases but…" Heinrich tried to say but he couldn't finish because Bismarck's shirt also fell down and he saw her in her whole being in nothing but white underwear. This was the moment when he totally paralyzed. Holy shit, she had an amazing, perfectly curved body.
Bismarck placed her clothes on the chair and removed her heels before climbed under the blanket too. Heinrich was switching his look between her and the ceiling, while he felt his heart rate increasing and the blood roaring in his ears.
"Don't you turn off the lamp?" asked Bismarck.
"Yes." said Heinrich and he pressed the switch.
Silence lapsed between them. It was not totally dark; the moonlight came in through the round window, so Bismarck could notice the troubled look on his face.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"I… The thoughts of today's battle are disturbing me." he lied again a little bit. "I didn't have such an experience in a while and it was my first fight on a Fog ship."
Bismarck didn't know at first what to say or do. Then she turned toward him, wrapped her right arm around him and pillowed her head on his shoulder. Not to mention, this surprised him again very much. At the same time the two fleshy mounds in his side told him what have been pressed against him and the feeling was not at all unpleasant. In response he encircled her in a half hug. "Dear God. Is something wrong with me?" Heinrich asked himself silently. They didn't say a word after this the two fell asleep in each other's arms.