Chapter 3

Dark clouds hung in the sky over London as the afternoon rolled in. It was only two o’ clock in the afternoon, yet you could have sworn it was later. The weather had been threatening rain for days now, yet nothing had fallen. The airbase was not far from the city, which allowed Chris quick and easy access to it. He had made his way into the city and was heading towards a small park where he had arranged to meet with Emma. It had been a long time since he had seen her, and he could not necessarily just call and arrange to meet with her. In fact, as far as his comrades knew, they were no longer together. Chris had heard about what happened in the United States after Pearl Harbour, all the Japanese people in the country were rounded up and taken to internment camps. Chris was glad that the British were not so harsh, yet his fear was that if his comrades knew they were together, they would suspect her as a German spy. But even if they did, what could they actually do. Chris was afraid to find out.

As Chris entered the park he looked around for Emma. He slowly strolled along the paths, watching the other families, those who were innocent and were the true victims of the war.

“Flieger, there you are.” Emma’s voice broke his thoughts.

She ran over to him and embraced him affectionately.

“Long time no see. Did you miss me?” Chris asked as she released him.

“Of course, I did.”

Emma stood about 1,6 meters tall. She had long brown hair, which she kept tied back in a ponytail and light brown eyes. After the Great War, things went downhill in Germany, that is why Emma left the moment she could. She had come into Britain in 1937, at the age of 27. A year later, she met Chris and though their relationship had a rocky start, after a few months it “took flight”, as Chris would put it. Back then, Chris would always tell her about his time in the sky and his love for flying. This is why Emma gave him the nickname ‘Flieger’ which is German for ‘Airman’ or ‘Aviator’.

The two began to walk along the path, deeper into the park.

“How is it like out there? Are things getting any better?” she asked.

“I am afraid not. We are doing all we can but at this point there is no end in sight. Besides, we have no idea on what they might try and pull on us.”

They found and empty bench and sat down next to each other in silence for a bit.

“How are you holding up?” Chris asked.

“Scared. Ever since The Blitz everyone has been scared. Too scared to even sleep. I know they ended more than a year ago, but you cannot root out that fear.”

Chris remembered one of the nights right after a raid, his squadron managed to pursue a bomber squadron. Chris had overflowed with rage and recklessly took down one of the bombers, almost being shot down himself. That was the same night when the bombs fell close to where Emma stayed.

“I just hope that with the extra help we can bring a swift end to this all. To be honest, I am tired of fighting.”

Heinrich wondered into the park, changed out of his uniform and into civilian clothes. Nobody could have said he was a pilot, just another man who lived a regular life. He casually strolled through the park. From the letters his sister had sent him, he knew she usually came to the park during the afternoons. She usually expressed her fear for him, and wished he would drop out of the war. But Heinrich could not do that, even if he wanted to now. He walked along the path, carefully searching. It had been years since he had actually seen her, but he was sure he would recognise her.

Chris took Emma’s hand in his.

“Listen to me, we are going to get through this. I will promise you this, whenever this war ends, I will come home and then we can take the next steps and start our life together. I promise you.” Their eyes met, and then over Chris’s shoulder, Emma saw someone. He almost looked lost, or like he was looking for someone. Not just that, but he looked familiar.

“Are you alright?” Chris asked.

“It is just that man over there.” Chris turned to see where she was looking. “He looks so familiar.”

Just then, the man turned towards them and looked over them from a distance before coming over to them. Emma stood up and then, as he got closer, she recognised him.

“Hein.” She said, going over to him. Chris got up as she left.

Heinrich smiled as he saw his younger sister, Emma, approach him and embraced her.

“I cannot believe it, is it really you?" she said.

“I missed you. Is all going well?"

“Jawohl.” she half joked with him.

Just then, Chris approached them.

“Chris, this is my brother, Heinrich. Heinrich, this is that guy I wrote about, my boyfriend Chris.” Emma introduced them.

Heinrich was immediately put off by Chris’s uniform, still he forced a smile.

“I have heard a bit about you, but I did not know you were a pilot.” Said Heinrich.

“Emma told me a bit about you as well.” Chris replied, a bit uneasy. It was not just because this was Emma’s older brother, who was slightly taller than him. Something else seemed off. After fighting in the air for almost four years, Chris could see through a facade of someone who had experienced many things on a battlefield. He could even see it in the mirror, every time he tried to hide it on his own face. He could see it in a person’s eyes, and that was exactly what he saw in Heinrich.

“Are you alright?” Heinrich asked.

“Yes, just a little shaken from today.” Chris responded.

“Why, what happened?” Emma asked.

“A Messerschmitt almost got me down. I have never faced someone with those skills, I could not shake him. I finally lured him towards a sinking destroyer, which accidently shot off his tail.”

As Chris finished, Heinrich reacted, without even thinking. He grabbed Chris by his jacket aggressively.

“Heinrich, what are you doing?” Emma asked, concern setting in.

“You almost killed me out there you English dog!” Heinrich’s entire tone changed as he remembered the aerial battle. Who knew that he would have met the very pilot he had fought earlier.

“Hein! Let him go!” Emma yelled, hearing his anger.

“You are one of them, one of their pilots. Why are you bloody here!” Chris yelled, trying to break free. Heinrich threw him back and Chris caught his balance. Heinrich turned to Emma.

"Seriously, this English mess? He almost killed me today." Heinrich said to Emma.

"Look who is talking, you swastika wearing co..."

"Chris, calm down!" Emma yelled, getting between them as Chris tried to go for him.

"This asshole almost shot me out of the sky." Said Chris.

"Well, he almost sent me hurtling into a destroyer."

"Serves you right for following a maniac clown who copied Charlie Chaplin's moustache."

Heinrich attempted to go for Chris but Emma pushed him away. Chris attempt to do the same thing but Emma too defended her brother.

"Why defend this man who is allowing innocent people to be killed?"

"Soldiers are not innocent people, nobody who fights in war is." Heinrich replied.

"What about those in those camps."

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"Do not play dumb, Nazi scum."

"I am not part of them, I just follow orders and I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Concentration camps you idiot, people die there!" Heinrich did not respond and that is when Chris realized that he, and many other soldiers, may not know what actually went on in there, he himself was not even one hundred percent sure.

It was if the air around the three of them grew thick with tension. Finally, Chris spoke.

“I am sorry, I need to be alone.” He said turning away. “And you, I never want to see you here again!” he quickly turned to Heinrich before leaving. Emma and Heinrich both watched him leave, slightly shocked by what he had said. Finally, Heinrich turned to Emma.

“I came to warn you. Tomorrow we are sending under cover forces into the city. What you decide to do with this information is up to you, just please get out before they get here."

Emma just looked at him and nodded. Heinrich hugged her and she hugged him back. Then Heinrich left, leaving Emma to try to piece together everything she had just heard. Heinrich’s mind was also racing with what Chris had said. He had heard word of these camps but never bothered to pay attention. Suddenly he felt uneasy; what other cruel plans did his ‘leaders’ have that he was unaware of?

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