Lela had kept her word. She really "hadn't seen" Eva during the big break. Amélie had helped her. They had both retreated to a far corner and Lela had ostentatiously turned her back on the girls walking past. But suddenly she felt herself being pulled by the braid so much that she had to bend her head all the way back. Blissfully, she felt a familiar hand holding her shoulder, and some scent of hair made her feel who it was. Nevertheless, she screamed and fought back, which was answered by a funny laugh high above her. Letting go, Eva said, "That's how it is with people who can't say hello, brazen kid." But she stopped and feasted on Lela's ridiculous embarrassment.

"So, you don't have a crush on me, do you?"

"No," Lela replied steadfastly.

"Then why are you waiting for me? And carrying my books, may I ask?"

"Oh, that, I was just supposed to give you a message from my brother."

Now Eva was puzzled. "What's your brother's name?" she asked quickly.

Manuela lowered her head.

"Berti," she said quietly.

Eva pushed her friends and Amélie aside and took Lela by the arm to far end to be alone with her.

"So, now you will answer me," she said really sternly.

"No," said Lela, strangely angry at the newfound interest that was no longer about her.

The grip with which Eva held her tightened, "You will, do you understand? So go on, what did he say?"

Lela lied, "Nothing."

"That is not true. Out with it. It must have been something really bad?"

Lela startled: "No, oh where . . ."

"Well, then, will it be soon?"

Lela's arm was now hurt severely.

"Let go!" she exclaimed.

"Only if you promise me that you will tell me exactly . . ." Lela promised under Eva's gaze. Her freshly washed dress was all crushed where Eva had grabbed her. Basically, she was happy to take this remembrance home with her. She wanted to drag out the conversation as long as possible. To stand so close and alone with Eva in this corner was bliss that should never stop.

But then the bell rang, and the break was over.

Quickly Eva talked to her,

"Listen, don't you ever come to the powder garden? I'll be there this afternoon. You can meet me at the roundabout. Then your brother can tell me himself what he wants, and I'll not have to squeeze his arm first like yours."

It was high time, the playground was already almost empty. Eva was gone.

The Powder Garden was an enclosure across the river that bordered the city on its side. Somewhere there were powder magazines, and since it was therefore impossible to build in the area, it was only natural that enclosure had been built. Lela did not love this garden very much. She suspected explosives in every small building. Everywhere there were signs with red writing on white metal sheet with the warning, No smoking! A military band played. There was a restaurant where one could drink coffee and many playgrounds for children and adults. Lela had been there many times with her mother, but the fact that Berti, her big brother, deigned to go to the powder garden with his sister amazed everybody. Actually, he would have preferred to go alone, but for the sake of decency he had not gone this time, and Lela would find friends there, he hoped.

They both sat on a narrow wooden bench without saying a word. In front of them was the roundabout. A kind of pole, from the upper end of which four rope ladders hung down on a easily rotable disc. One could hold on to the ladders with one's hands and run straight ahead at a given signal, and one would fly into the air. It was a pleasant feeling to fly like this and swing one's legs high above the heads of the spectators.

Lela and Berti's eyes followed a red dress, flying hair and a cheeky laugh that was in their faces as often as the red bundle flew past them. Lela held the red cap in her lap. The roundabout still had three such rope ladders, but they were occupied by other children. Lela was very keen to join in, and when Eva stopped and called out to her, "Do you want to do it now?" she quickly put Eva's cap on the bench and ran to it.

Eva handed her the device: "But don't pass it on, otherwise we won't be able to reach it at all."

Lela was full of eagerness. She was honoured that Eva was so nice; Eva could have let the ladder go without caring if Lela wanted to spin around. With a grateful gleam in her eyes, she took over the rope. She started running and she flew up, much higher than the other children. Becoming bold, she put her left leg through the lowest rung of the rope ladder and held on only with her left, while her right waved freely in the air at Berti and Eva, but they were no longer there.

Disappointed, Lela stopped. The bench was empty. Of course she couldn't go and look for them now; because she had promised Eva to keep the roundabout for her. So Lela stuck to gymnastics. But she had completely lost her pleasure. She ran, just to stay out of the way of the other children, let herself fly and was back on the ground. The palms started to hurt. It was easy to get calluses on the hand. The ropes were hard, and when gripped tightly, the skin pushed together and was bruised. The place began to empty. It had become chilly. The other children went home one by one.

Lela let the roundabout go and sat down on the bench where Eva and Berti had been sitting. They had to come back. Berti couldn't go home without her. So she waited. The music had stopped. Now one could hear the splashing from the river. A bat buzzed past Lela. She was fond of bats. But she got up now; because she was shivering. At random, she walked along a path and called timidly, "Berti! Eva!" But there was no answer.

The path she had taken ran narrowly between tall bushes. Now she stepped out onto an embankment. Below, the river ran quickly and silently in small rapids. A sleepy duck quacked in the reeds. Far away on the horizon, the sun was setting. The sky was yellow and the meadow on the other bank was unnaturally green like the artificial grass on which the little wooden sheep stand in the Christmas cribs.

Lela had never been alone so late. She shuddered, and suddenly, driven by uncanny fear, she ran away. She ran with her mouth open as if she wanted to scream, but there was no sound. Her mouth went dry. The tears dried on her cheeks. It was only when she was running that she was gripped by true fear. Everything seemed spooky. The houses with powder, the trees, the lattice that enclosed everything. The high bridge over the river and the fortress walls. In the town, the lanterns were lit. They gave yellow light against a greenish sky. Many people prevented her from running. Her knees ached, she was already staggering.

Frau Käte had not yet lit the light. She loved this twilight hour. Her restless activity of the day stopped at dusk. There she sank into a deep, comfortable chair and rested. The house was empty. Meinhardis and Ehrenhardt had gone out for an evening drink, and Luise was shopping. The children should be there soon. Then she heard Lela's steps. Two steps at a time. She pulled the bell that rang loudly, she rushed in, and threw herself at her mother's neck. Too out of breath to speak, she could only nod her head in response to questions.

"Have you left Berti?"

Manuela nodded.

"Did you walk home alone?"

Then Frau Käte asked nothing more.

Vaguely, she had to feel that it was not only the fear of the dark that threw the child so excitedly into her arms. Reassuringly, the hand passed over Lela's head, who buried her face against her bosom as if she should be ashamed. Lela was still short of breath.

"Steady, baby, steady!"

The beloved voice was so gentle and did Lela good. She pressed herself tighter to her mother. Seeking protection from their own pain. She was not allowed to think about what she had to think, Eva and Berti, Berti and Eva. Somewhere in the dark in the garden both of them and she, she, alone. "Oh, Mummy, Mummy!" At last it dissolved and Lela sobbed like a very small child. And the mother—as if she knew everything, and perhaps mothers know everything— stroked her child and quietly told her a secret in her ear.

"Never mind, my beloved, I'm here and I'm always with you and I'll stay with you!"

Then it became quiet in the dark room. The noise of the street only came through indistinctly.