Chapter 12
Rolf's POV
Each step left a fresh, crisp footprint in the snow. It was like no one had been here, and yet Herr Zeller is so certain that the Von Trapps were heading towards Switzerland. For all we know, the family could have already crossed, but no, that doesn't stop Zeller from sending us out in these conditions.
I shivered, arms wrapped around my body, and kicked roughly at the snow. The thought of seeing Liesl again, even if it may only be briefly, made my heart flutter. I wasn't angry, or sad, I was scared. Terrified, even. I mean, the way I treated her because of my urge to join Hitler's Youth wasn't… it wasn't the thing a gentleman would do.
Anyway, I thought, my itchy scarf flapping elegantly in the breeze, she's probably gotten over it…
"What's that?" I heard one of our younger boys, Horst, ask, pointing in the direction of a small black patch at least a day's walk away.
"Looks like a village," my friend, Hans, replied, squinting a little.
"They may have stopped there for a night, or at least to get some food and water," I agreed.
"How long do you think it might take to get there?" Horst asked curiously.
"At least a day," Hans guessed, sliding his bag off his back.
"We don't have enough time to wait, Hans, and it'll take us too long to get back to Zeller and report what we've seen," another boy, Otto, sighed.
Hans looked around, his short, black hair ruffled slightly by the wind, and eyed a small, sheltered area beneath an overhanging rock. His eyes lit up, and his feet trudged thankfully along. I, loyal to my friends as much as my leaders, followed him, regardless of what Otto was saying.
Horst had expertly crafted a fire, which effected the freezing temperature greatly, as we had nothing but our clothes for warmth. I slid my bag under my head and lay there, with my eyes closed, for a few moments.
"Hey Rolf, didn't you say something about you and one of the Von Trapp ladies being in a relationship?" I heard Otto ask, his mouth full of food.
"Briefly," I mumbled. Hans gave an amused chuckle.
"Briefly! You mean two years! I remember you always going on and on about how beautiful Liesl was," he teased me, punching my shoulder.
"All of the Von Trapp girls are pretty, they take it from their mother. Liesl was no exception," I turned away.
"I can see why you liked her, I have to admit, I had a bit of a crush on her," Otto admitted quietly, ignoring what I had just said.
"Which one was Brigitta again?" Horst asked suddenly, and we all turned to face him. In his hand was the Swallows and Amazons book, open on the very first page, with a little note from Maria to Brigitta to it in extremely neat writing.
"The black haired one, the ten-year-old," I replied, retrieving the book from him.
"Why would she read? Why would anyone read? It seems so boring," Otto asked jokingly. I didn't smile.
"She uses it to cope, Liesl told me. Ever since their mother died she's been reading," I explained, biting into a piece of bread.
"You know so much about the Von Trapps that none of us would. Heck, you may even know something that will help us find them easier," Hans replied.
"I doubt it."
The conversation had ebbed to nothingness, now silence was as pure as the wintery carpet around us. Orange and yellow light was painted on the dull stone walls, casting monster-like shadows upon them. I gave a deep sigh, one that shuddered my entire body, and closed my eyes…