Chapter One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Five
5th February 1965
Mitte, Berlin
When Manfred had ended up telling his father about what he had really been doing with Suse, he had found himself in a bewildering situation. For starters, his father was disappointed that he had attempted to go around behind his back, especially because it had to do with the possibility of Manfred meeting the requirements to get into the Panzer Corps. In the past his parents had never told him directly what their problem was with his choices. That changed in Gert’s tavern as his father told him about how he reminded him of the idealistic boys who came into the 140th Regiment. He had not pulled any punches as he described how many of them found themselves sent to the rear because they lost their nerve if they were lucky. They rest found themselves horrifically injured if they weren’t sent home in a box, often in pieces. His parents wanted far better for him because Manfred had better options than his father ever had.
Then there was the problem that was presented by Suse Rosa, something that Manfred had never seen coming.
He had broken off all contact with her after the conversation with his father. He understood the real threat that Kurt Knispel represented and didn’t want to see what a Generalmajor would do to him if provoked, merely driving Panzers over him would probably be the least of it. A couple weeks later he would learn that Suse was outraged for reasons that Manfred couldn’t understand and was refusing to be ignored. The trouble was that Manfred’s scores in Mathematics had improved, from Suse had said very emphatically that it looked to her like if he had gotten what he had wanted from her and then had been trying to avoid her. His parents had joked about how he should be learning an important lesson from this situation and about how in the future he should keep it in mind when the stakes are higher. It hardly needed to be mentioned what they were getting at and why they thought that the thing was hilarious.
That was how Manfred had ended up outside the old von Wolvogle townhouse in his best suit so that he could take Suse Rosa, who wasn’t his girlfriend by any stretch of the imagination, out on a date. “It will make Gerta happy and it is the least you can do to thank Suse for the help she’s given you” was how Manfred’s mother had put it.
Knocking on the door, Manfred stood there half hoping that no one was home tonight. He realized that he wouldn’t be so lucky when a Butler who he had never seen before answered the door.
“The Lady of the house has instructions that you are to proceed to the parlor and wait for the Fraulein” The Butler said. Something about the way he said it suggested that Manfred was some sort of unappetizing insect that had crawled in from the garden.
The Butler led Manfred through the house to the formal parlor. Kurt Knispel was sitting in a relining chair in his shirt sleeves, Manfred realized that this was the first time that he had seen him without the black dress tunic that was worn by the Panzer Corps. Sitting gingerly down on the sofa, Manfred did his best not to be noticed. The television was tuned to the evening news, a story about the new American President giving a speech about a new era of International cooperation. Manfred’s lack of attention during the English classes he had endured came back to haunt him as he could only understand perhaps every third word. He hoped that Kurt wouldn’t ask him his opinion because it would be instantly obvious that he didn’t have the first clue about any of it.
“Good evening Manfred” Kurt finally said after several excruciating minutes. “Gerta is helping Suse get ready and she isn’t having an easy time of it.”
Manfred wondered if he was talking about Suse or her mother.
“I can wait Sir” Manfred said, knowing that being anything other than agreeable would probably be bad for his health.
“Don’t have much of a choice, do you?” Kurt asked. That was another comment that was true on several different levels.
Manfred sat there quietly. Mercifully, the report changed to the day’s sport coverage and that was a welcome distraction to the looming doom that Kurt represented if Manfred stepped out of line.
“I understand you’re a Footballer” Kurt said, something about the look in his eye suggested that question was somehow loaded.
“Yes, Sir” Manfred replied.
“Is that the only sport you are into?” Kurt asked.
“I’m also into track and field” Manfred replied, “In the autumn there is hunting on my grandfather’s estate, I went fishing on the North Sea last year when my family when to Aunt Kat’s house on Langeoog.”
He had probably said too much, but he couldn’t see how Kurt could hold any of that against him.
“So, hunting and fishing” Kurt said, “You must have been in the Scouts?”
“Yes” Manfred replied, his trepidation returning.
“All the times that you had an animal in your sights or a fish on the end of a hook, remember that and consider that you are still near the bottom of the food chain” Kurt said, “Am I clear.”
He was a little too clear with that meaning.
“Suse and I are only friends” Manfred said, “I’m only taking her out tonight to thank her for her help.”
Kurt snorted a laugh. He clearly didn’t completely buy that.
Luckily, Gerta and Suse came downstairs and saved him from further awkward conversation.