The Washington times., 1931-10-23
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CHAPTER II

CHAPTER IL
what makes you so fidgety,
Ernst?" asks my father. You
haven't sat stfll for 10 minutes
together"
Perhaps he Is overtired."
suggests my mother.
mo" I answer, a little en-
barrasSed, "it's not that. I
think perhaps I've forgotten
how to sit on a chair for so
long at a stretch. We didn't
have them out at the front;
there we Just lay about on the
floor or wherever we happened
to be. I've lost the habit, I
suppose, that's ALL"
Funny" says my father.
I shrug my shoulders. My
mother smiles. Have you been
to your room yet?" she asks.
'Not yet" reply, getting up
and going over. My heart is
beating fast as I open the
door and catch the smell of the
books in the darkness. I switch
on the light hastily and look
about me. Everything has been
left exactly as it was," says
my sister behind me.
Eyes, yes" I reply in self
defense; for I would rather be
left alone now. But already
the others are standing there
in the doorway, watching me
expectantly. I sit down in the
armchair and place my hands
on the top of the table. It is
smooth and cool to the touch.
Yes everything just as it was.
The brown marble letter weight
that Karl Vogt gave me-there
in its place beside the compass
and the inkStand. But Karl
Vogt was killed at Mt. KENNEL.
Room Is Small
Don't you like your room
any more?" asks my sister.
"Oh, yes" I say hesitatingly;
''but it's so small"
My father laughs. ''It's just
the same size that it used to
be-"
"Of course, it must be-"
agree, "but I had an idea it
was SO much bigger, some
how"
"It is so long since you were
here" says my mother.
nod. THE bed is freshly
made" she goes on-"but you
mustn't look there yet"
I feel for my tunic pocket.
Adolf Bethke gave me a packet
Of cigars when he left us.
must smoke one of them now.
Everything around me seems to
have come loose: as if I were
a bit giddy. I breathe the
smoke deep into my lungs and
begin to feel better already.
Smoke cigars, do you?" asks
my father in surprise and al
most reprovingly.
I look at him with a certain
wonderment. But of course"
reply. "They were part Of the
ration out there. We got three
or four every day. Will you have
one?"
He takes it. shaking his head
meanwhile. You used not to
smoke at all, before"
"Oh, yes. before" I say and
cannot help smiling that he
should make such a story out
of it. There are a lot of things
I used not to do before, that's
O. fact. But up the line there
one soon lost any difference be-
fore ones elders. We were all
alike there.
Stealthily I glance at the
clock. I have only been here a
couple of hours, yet it feels like
q couple Of weeks since I last
saw Willy and Ludwig. For my
part I should like to get up
and 60 to them at once. I am
quite unable to realize that
now I must stay here in the
family for good. I still have
the feeling that tomorrow. or
maybe the next day, but surely
sometime, we shall be march
ing again, side by side. curSing
or resigned. but all together.
At last I get UP and fetch
my greatcoat from where 1t
hangs in the passage.
Aren't you going to stay
with US this evening?" asks my
mother.
III at Ease
IT have to 60 and report
myself yet" I He. I have not
the heart to tell her the truth.
"she comes with me to the
stairs. ''Wait q minute" she says.
"It is very dark. I'll bring a
light"
I stop in surprise. A light!
For those few steps? Good
heavens, and through how many
shell holes, along how many
gloomy blackboard walks have
I had to find my way at night
all these years without light and
under fire? And now a light
for a few stairs! All, Mother
Put I wait patiently till she
comes with the lamp and holds
the light for me, and It is as II
she stroked me in the darkness.
BE careful, Ernst, that no
harm comes to you out there," I"
she calls after me.