Chapter 4: Good things come in threes, bad things come in three.
"Who is Ludmilla?" Kay suddenly asked, turning to Sheska.
"Ludmilla Balalaika is a student of the Kursk school, a Russian-style school ... Let's say Soviet-style." The latter answered.
"Are she a boxer too?"
"Boxer and deputy commander of their sensha-do team. Some have nicknamed her Behemoth. "
"Why do her fists have biblical power?"
"The Behemoth was a super heavy tank designed by the Soviet Union in 1941. It was 15 meters long, 4 wide and 3 meters high. It had three turrets."
"Madre de Dios ... A self-propelled fortress!" El exclaimed, stunned.
"Yes, but with clay tracks. Three prototypes were produced, and they were one more unlucky than the other. "
"What do you mean?"
"The first prototype was completed in December 1941 and was used urgently in the defense of Moscow. In its first action during thick winter fog, the rear turret accidentally fired into the center turret. The resulting explosion completely destroyed the vehicle. "
"And the second?"
"It was completed in January 1942 and was sent to the Leningrad front. This one had indicators installed to show when another turret was in the line of fire. In its initial attack on the Germans, the tank broke in half crossing a ravine. A spark ignited the fuel leaking from the flamethrower and the resulting explosion destroyed it completely. "
"And the third?"
"The third prototype had a reinforced hull and was also sent to the Leningrad front in early 1942. It managed to shoot down three German aircraft. In its first ground engagement, the KV-VI was firing on German positions when, coincidentally, all guns fired at 3 o'clock at the same time. The tremendous recoil overturned the tank into a ditch and the strong impact caused the 152mm ammunition to explode, which destroyed it completely. After these disasters the project was canceled on the orders of Stalin himself. "
"I understand ... So this Ludmilla is actually a sucker." Kay stated.
Sheska slowed down, giving the blonde an enigmatic glance before returning to focus on the road.
"You will see her in action during the match against Maus." She said simply.
The Black Sun school library was a smaller version of the Stabi (Staatsbibliothek, state library) in Berlin, from which it copied the architectural style.
"Here we keep books of various types, such as novels or historical texts, which students can consult at their leisure." Sheska explained.
"But they can't take them home, right?" El asked.
"No, it is expressly prohibited. There is a risk of theft, loss or other. "
"Okay, but now lead the way." Kay urged her.
Once inside, Kay and El looked around. in front of them stretched rows of shelves loaded with books, as well as tables on which some of the students were reading.
"Ok, here we are. But where is Himmler? " El asked.
"Here she is!" Sheska replied, pointing to a girl with short black hair and gray eyes, wearing a pair of glasses and a gray school uniform. She was absorbed in reading a book.
"HIMMLER!" She shouted.
The bespectaled girl winced, whirling in their direction. The concentrated expression was gone, replaced by a furious one. The others had also turned to them, glaring at them. Himmler approached the trio.
"Sheska, what part of: In the library you don't scream didn't it enter your brain?" She asked, pointing to a red sign stuck behind them next to the door. It read:
IN DER BIBLIOTHEK IST SCHWEIGEN OBLIGATORISCH
(SILENCE IS MANDATORY IN THE LIBRARY)
"Excuse me, but they would like to talk to you." She justified herself, pointing to El and Kay.
"Ah, Eva's saviors ... Do they need anything?" She asked, calming down.
"We would like to become our students, and join the sensha-do team." El explained to her.
"You mean the Panzerfahren? For what reason? "
"We are passionate about tanks." Was Kay's reply.
"What do Hilda and Göring say?"
"They gave their assent."
"Well ... I have known you recently, but having saved Eva you have already earned my respect." The dark-haired girl said.
"So do you agree with our admission too?"
"Of course. The admission ceremony will take place tonight, which will take place in the gym. Obviously then you will undergo various medical tests. "
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?"
"Yes, as a rule and rule it is like this. But in your case we will make an exception. Firstly because you saved a dear friend of ours and secondly because you seem healthy. "
Kay breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank god…
"But where will we stay?" El asked.
"We will discuss this detail later. In the meantime, I advise you to take a tour of the school, so as to settle in. "
El nodded, while Kay remained silent. In her heart she was worried, she didn't feel like spending the night out in the open. But in that situation her hands were tied, she could only hope that Himmler and the others would get her and her colleague / lover a roof.
"Okay ... Let's go, El-chan."