Chapter Two
That's Crazy Talk!
The next day was a heartbreaking day for the troops that volunteered to go and search through the remains of Himmel Street. As they made their way down what was once a road filled with children, more than one troop felt a tear come to their eyes.
Broken items that were once of value, littered the street, hidden by piles of dust, ash and rubble. Toys that were once held by little hands were burnt, torn and forgotten about. Bodies, still in their nightclothes were lined, in neat military fashion, alongside the road, in a cleared area. Among these bodies lay sweet Hans and strict Rosa Hubermann. Not to far, Barbara Steiner, her hair swept behind her, her face finally at peace and not grief stricken. Her children lay close, hands folded in front of them. They all looked as if they were in a deep, peaceful slumber. Further down, rude Franz Deutscher lay, never to make it out of Mochling. And among all these were friends and old school mates. Each one's life taken so quickly from them.
Underneath a fallen wall, small white fingers, dusted with ash, slowly moved. They brushed over another's hand, soft, and warm. Jagged breaths, came out gently as blue eyes opened.
It was dark. That's what first registered in Liesel's mind. Pain was the second. She hissed in agony as hot pains shot up and down her arm. Next to her, a boy stirred, with a groan.
"L-Liesel?" Rudy stuttered into the darkness.
"Rudy." Liesel answered his call. Rudy sighed in relief, thankful she was alright. "Rudy, what's happened? The last thing I remember is..." Liesel trailed off as pain shot through her arm again.
"I don't know." Rudy replied. The last thing he remembered was pain, heat and a loud noise. His head hurt something awful. He stayed quiet, his breaths coming out slow as he heard voices above him. "Liesel, I think there are people here." He listened again, footsteps could be heard this time. "Yes, those are definatly voices." Rudy fidgeted around.
"What are you doing Rudy?" Liesel whispered.
"Trying to get their attention. Or do you want to be trapped under this thing forever. Because I know I can't move it, and I'm stronger than you."
"Oh no Rudy, but...we don't know who these people are. What if they are the opposition?"
"Being in the arms of the Russians, would be better than being here no?" Rudy snipped back. "Now hush Saumensch." With those words, Rudy went silent and started to feel around for something he could throw.
"Ouch Rudy, that was my leg!" Liesel cried. She went to hit Rudy back, but her left arm, the one not in pain grazed against Hans' accordion. Her touch on the buttons brought the accordion to life, making it let out a faint tune.
Further down, away from the two children, the noise alerted the attention of one of the troops. He paused in his searching, and looked around for the noise.
"Sir! I hear something from over there!" He called to the one in charge. He walked over to where he thought he heard the noise and looked around. Nothing. He sighed. "Never mind Sir! False alarm!" As the troop made to turn away, Rudy accidently elbowed Liesel which made her cry out in pain.
"Scheiße!" The man swore loudly and bent down to remove the fallen rubble. His comrades soon moved to join. Bit by bit, the debris was removed and blinding light shone into Liesel's eyes.
"Sir! We have two children here!" The man called. The one in charge, Alan Zuckerman, soon joined the rest of the troops. Zuckerman looked down at Rudy and Liesel who were now being supported by the troops.
"What are your names children?" Zuckerman said softly. He was a kind looking bloke, who seemed to fall into the category of mid forties to early fifties. His hair was thinning up top and his beard was grey.
"Steiner, Rudy Steiner sir" When Liesel offered no answer, Rudy answered for her "Liesel Meminger. Our parents are..." Rudy trailed off when he saw the bodies laying in their rows. A whimper threatened to escape his lips, but he held it in, not wanting the tall man in front of him to see him weak for any reason.
"I'm sorry Son. There were no survivors."
Liesel's hand clenched and she shut her eyes. A dozen and one feelings rushed through her body. Guilt. Anger. Sadness. All different, yet all connected. She fell to her knees and started to cry. Rudy and Zuckerman, both lent down to pick her up, and she pressed her face into Zuckerman's jacket and cried for her family and for Rudy's family.
Gone. All gone. No one but her and Rudy had survived.
"Come children. Let's get away from this tragedy." Zuckerman said.
"My book. Where is my book Rudy?" Liesel gasped between sobs. "M-Max needs it." The lemon haired boy looked around and saw the dusty cover of the once proud Mein Kampf book. It was singed in places, and cold to touch, but it was still writable. Rudy picked it up and tucked in into his waistcoat.
"Come. Unless you wish to remain in the cold."
Time, for both Liesel and Rudy alternated between fast and slow that day. Zuckerman brought the two children to Frau Hermann. Ilsa Hermann had immediately pulled Liesel into a hug. When she spotted Rudy, she also pulled him into one.
"Oh Lord. You poor children! Come, come I'll have Marjorie pour some soup to warm your bones."
After the soup, Rudy and Liesel had been separated for a few hours in order to get them cleaned up.
It was gone suppertime when Rudy and Liesel met again.
Rudy's cuts had been cleaned and Liesel's arm had been bandaged. Upon closer inspection, it seemed her arm had been sprained from landed on it in an awkward manner. The Doctor warned her to keep pressure and stress of the muscle for at least a fortnight.
The two survivors, at a loss on what to do, sat in front of the warm fire and watched the flames lick away at the wooden logs. They continued to sit in silence for a good hour, before Frau Hermann called them both into the study.
Sitting in the tall leather chair, was Mayor Hermann. Just as tall. Just as intimidating. Just as stern as the first day Liesel saw him.
"So...Herr Steiner and Fräulein Meminger" He paused. "Or would you prefer your given birth names?"
"Just Rudy and Liesel please Sir. Herr Steiner was...IS my Father." Rudy said, correcting himself because he knew that his Papa was still out there. Liesel had said so, plus no yellow card had been seen.
"Fine. Rudy and Liesel. May I first express my deepest sympathies for both your losses. But dwelling on sadness we must not. I understand, that you Rudy, were set to join the Nazi Party Youth right?"
"Yes Herr Hermann Sir." Rudy said, trying not to let the hate for the party enter his tone. After all, Mayor Hermann was high up in that party.
"Do you wish to continue on that path young Rudy?"
"I-..I.." Rudy trailed off. Now he was stuck. But thankfully, Ilsa intervened.
"Liebling, he is just a boy. A boy who suffered a dreadful loss. I think he needs time before he chooses his path."
"Yes. You're right Ilsa. Give it time boy and I'll ask again." His attention then turned to Liesel. "And you, young lady, what is it you do?"
Silence. Liesel just looked at Mayor Hermann.
"Insolent girl, I asked you a question!"
"I..I mend clothes. Mama taught me to. Papa taught me to read." She whispered. Mayor Hermann frowned.
"Mend clothes. Useful. Reading? What do you like to read girl?" This brought a smile onto Liesel's face.
"Everything. Whatever I may find."
"Any favorites?"
"Oh yes, I personally like..." Liesel trailed off. She was about to say The Invisible Man, but she remembered. It was a banned book. So she improvised. "Mein Kampf Herr Hermann." Her mouth tasted horrible at the lie, but it was the safest option. It worked. Mayor Hermann sent a small smile of approval.
"Yes. It is a fine book isn't it? Well, I've decided what to do with you two." He sat up straighter. "Ilsa, show these two children their rooms. I need to send a telegram to Berlin."
"Yes Husband." Ilsa said and ushered the two children outside.
Days turned into weeks and slowly, the trauma that Rudy and Liesel experienced, both mentally and physically healed. However, Liesel still felt unsettled in the big house beyond the bridge. She couldn't place it, but something felt off about the way Mayor Hermann would look at her and Rudy with such difference. Pride at Rudy. Distaste at Liesel.
Late one night, Liesel appeared at Rudy's door, dressed in white and looking like a ghost.
"Rudy. Are you awake?" She whispered.
"Yes. Come in." Rudy sat up and brushed his hair down. "I haven't seen you in days Saumensch." It was true. Mayor Hermann had kept Rudy and Liesel separate for days. His reason was both spent an unhealthy amount of time with each other.
It had bothered Liesel, although she didn't show it much. She just spent her days in the big library, reading.
"I missed you Saumensch." Rudy continued, he then smiled. "Did you miss me?"
"Oh no Saukerl. It was peaceful." Liesel smiled back. The banter continued back and forth for a while until both teenagers dissolved into silent giggles. It was the first time, any of them had proper laughed since the Himmel bombing.
"Lies." Rudy said. "Do you like it here? With Herr and Frau Hermann?" Liesel shrugged. What could she say? She liked Frau Hermann. Mayor Hermann not so much. But they had taken them both in. She could at least respect them for that.
"I don't." Rudy admitted. "I hate it. The way Herr Hermann speaks to me. It's as if...I'm a pawn in some game."
"Oh?" Liesel inquired.
"I mean...you don't know this. I don't think Frau knows either. But last weekend, when I was called into the study...a Nazi official was in the office. He sized me up, checked me over and asked me questions about my heritage, status and views. Afterwards, as I was leaving...I heard him say "Yes, he will make a fine addition in Herr Hitler's campaign."
"Oh. I see." Liesel said, looking down.
"Later on, Herr told me that I should look into Berlin. Said it would do me good to learn about it. It didn't take long to piece what was going on."
"They want you in the Capital right?"
"Yes..they want me in Berlin, to buff up Hitler. Make it look like he took me from the bombing. Saved me. Make him look like he loves Germany and will protect the citizens of this noble country." Rudy hissed in disgust. Then he sighed in defeat and hung his head low.
"I don't want to go. They cannot make me go Liesel. Don't let them."
"But Rudy, we cannot fight Herr Hermann."
"No..but we can run away. We've nothing left here Liesel. No families, no life, nothing."
"Rudy. That's crazy talk! Where would we even go?"
"Anywhere. Russia? Paris? London Town?" Rudy explained. He then stopped and backtracked. "Anywhere the war hasn't touched. I'm sick of it."
"But Rudy...that is everywhere. It's called a World War. No where is free."
"Ah, but that is where you are wrong Saumensch!" Rudy said. "See, all that training taught me something. Who was in Germany's favor and who wasn't. The teacher said, Switzerland has not surrendered to Germany, nor has it gone to enemy lines. We could go there!"
Liesel bit her lip. "I don't know Rudy. We probably wouldn't even get out of Mochling. Never mind Switzerland. We'd be caught and brought back. Besides, enemy lines we would have to cross...I'm pretty sure enemy lines won't be happy to see German children."
"Then we'll have to make sure we avoid them!" A glint was in his eyes now. "I know we said before. But let's make it reality Liesel. I don't want to go to Berlin."
She was quiet for a while. She didn't want to stay her, truthfully she also hated it here. Rudy was the main thing that stopped her from wanting to go. The library was another. But she felt guilty for even thinking about running, after all Mayor and Frau Hermann had done for her. Even if it was with reluctance on Mayor Hermann's part.
"But staying here is doing nothing. You've been shunned for Rudy. They want to separate the two of you. This could be your only chance to stick together. You lost Mama and Papa. Max as well. Imagine if you had lost Rudy?"
This thought stuck in her head, swarming around it like a hive of angry bees. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly. When she opened her eyes, she saw Rudy looking at her.
"OK. I'll do it."
Author's Note: YOU GUYS! I love you all so much for the reviews! I'm glad you're all enjoying this!