Hidden Depths Read Online Free Page B

uniformed officers and border guards at the checkpoints who previously would not hesitate to open fire with their shoot to kill policy of anyone trying to escape from the East to the West, started to have doubts. These doubts grew as the guards questioned their role, their job as – supposedly – keepers of the peace, their power to enforce it and ultimately their purpose. The gentle push of the crowd met feeble resistance; the guards opened the borders and looked on passively in amazement, stunned and powerless.
    Klaus, Ingrid and Felix ate their dinner on trays in front of an open fire and watched, in awe, the live coverage on East German television. Ingrid had cooked fricasee with bread, one of her mother’s recipes, and their bellies were warm and full. Life couldn’t get any better watching the events in Berlin unfold on this historic night.
    â€˜I’ve been keeping a bottle of Schnapps for a special occasion,’ Ingrid announced, opening the drinks cabinet.
    The telephone rang. It was Gisela, Klaus’s mother.
    â€˜Mutti. Yes, it’s great news… We’re watching the television coverage right now… Yes, Ingrid’s fine… Can I call you back a bit later? Thank you. Tschuss .’
    â€˜You always get your mother off the phone as quick as possible. Poor Gisela.’
    â€˜Ingrid, don’t nag,’ Klaus told her.
    The telephone rang again. This time it was Bernd.
    Klaus listened a few minutes and suddenly burst out laughing.
    â€˜Poor Ute… she’ll get over it.’ Klaus told his brother. ‘ Tschuss .’
    Klaus returned to the fireside.
    â€˜Bernd said he thinks he’ll soon be made redundant from the Communist party.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly Klaus. And what’s that about Ute, is she ill?’
    Felix was quick on the uptake. ‘I think you mean Tante Ute will miss the privileges of being a functionaire’s wife. Isn’t that right, Onkel?’
    Klaus winked at his nephew. ‘Glad to see you’ve got your brains from Ingrid’s side of the family, my boy.’
    Ingrid gave Klaus a nudge for his cheek. ‘Well, I’d take advantage too, given the option of shopping in Western stores. Maybe soon we’ll all have that privilege.’
    Felix had often been afraid to speak for fear of the consequences at Torgau, realising his politeness, silence and obedience usually kept him out of trouble – except when trouble had knocked on his bedpost at night. Whatever he did or said made no difference then. Now, he was hearing rare praise for his opinions and his confidence grew.
    â€˜Tante, don’t jump the gun,’ Felix warned. ‘They’ll close up the borders again just as quickly as they’ve opened them.’
    Ingrid took Felix’s hand. ‘Don’t worry, life only goes forward and tonight is a big step forward. Whatever happens, you’re safe with us.’
    â€˜I don’t want to leave Motzen ever again,’ Felix told them.
    â€˜You won’t have to. You can live in my mother’s house.’
    â€˜Ingrid! Not now,’ Klaus exclaimed. It seemed inappropriate to bring up the subject now. Ingrid had never mentioned Gertrude’s house in front of Felix before.
    â€˜Oma Gertrude’s house? It’s in the village, near the pond. Susi and I used to visit her there. We loved staying in Oma’s house.’
    â€˜Yes, that’s right,’ said Ingrid, looking at Klaus, knowing she’d now have to explain things to her nephew, if only to appease her disapproving husband.
    â€˜Sometimes, when I’m out running at night, I go there and sit in the garden,’ Felix confessed. ‘It hasn’t changed a bit.’
    â€˜You do? Good job you haven’t been seen, my boy,’ said Klaus. ‘Well, we keep an eye on it, opening the windows a few days a week to freshen it up and tend the garden.’
    â€˜Because the house