“Russicheja?” (Russian, yes?) The Old German asked.
“Dah,” Vlad responded.
The old man handed the necklace over to Vladimir. Even though he was a Russian the old man knew that his son’s memory would be carried on longer with Vlad rather than with them.
Vlad took the necklace and put it around his neck, to please them as the old man handed him the small picture. The couple held hands as more tears filled their eyes.
Vlad lifted up the picture to look at the young man’s face. A single tear filled his eye. However it wasn’t a tear formed from sadness. He recognized the youth. He had brutally killed their son over six months ago in a stealth operation.
He was an unnecessary casualty, but that never stopped Vlad. He gave a sad smile and handed the picture back to the old man who had no idea that Vlad was their son’s murderer. Vlad shook the old man’s hand and gently hugged the elderly lady. He lifted up the bag of food in appreciation and headed for the door.
He stopped as he stepped outside and took a deep breath. Turning back around he saw the old couple watching and smiling at him. They waved at him, and in return he held up his hand like a gun, two fingers as the barrel, and his thumb as the pin. He motioned as if to shoot his “hand gun” at them and smiled as he continued on his way.
The elderly couple, confused about the strange wave they received went back into their home content with such an emotionally charged moment that required no words. Vlad walked away from their home, a huge smile on his face. That hand motion he made towards the elderly couple was the same hand motion he gave to their son before he shot him point blank in the face.
Vlad returned to Joseph after some time of trying to find his way back. He stopped in the woods to eat the food he was given as well so he didn’t have to share with Joseph.
When he reached the truck he saw that Joseph was already asleep. Tired himself, he decided to join Joseph and fell asleep in the grass right by the truck. The next morning it would be Vlad who would awake first to the warm sun shining on his skin.
He stood up in the completely silent clearing and looked around as he stretched. He enjoyed the peace; it was something he didn’t often get to be a part of. After he’d had enough of the quiet, he threw on his uniform and nudged Joseph. At first, Joseph didn’t wake up. But the ear splitting sound of three German jets screaming overhead did the trick.
“Well, that’s a hell of an alarm clock!” Vlad yelled as he waited out the ringing in his ears.
“We should probably hit the road as soon as we can, Joseph said. “If we travel at a fast enough pace today we could get to Berlin as the sun starts to set.”
“Joseph, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Well, you think you’re different now than you were before you joined the military, right? Like the day you left your girl all the way to today… do you think you’ve changed as a person?”
“I guess I’ve never thought about it. But, I mean I had never killed a man at that point in my life. Now I’ve killed hundreds.”
“Exactly. So do you think Maria will have a different view on you now?”
“A different view on me now? I’m still the man she fell in love with.”
“I know that, and you know that, but I just wonder if she will have the same feelings for a man who has slaughtered men, women, and children.”
“Are you trying to keep me away from her?” Joseph asked, angrily.
“No that’s not it at all; I just want you to be prepared for it.”
“I think it’s best if you just shut your mouth and get in the truck. You’ve already wasted enough of my time.” Joseph’s patience had run out and it was time to get on with the mission.
“Your call.”
Vlad got in the passenger seat and remained silent. Joseph took a deep breath, stepped into the driver side and slammed the door. Before he could start the truck, Vladimir spoke again.
“If we are going to be in Berlin today, we should probably throw on those uniforms in the back.”
Completely aggravated at his friend, Joseph turned to give him a few choice words. When he saw the silly grin on Vlad’s face, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I hate you,” Joseph said, chuckling. Their friendship meant too much to them to let an argument ruin more than five minutes of their time.
“Hey, now that you’re over your period you should let me drive.”
“I don’t care if you drive, just as long as you get us there before night.”
Vladimir jumped out of the truck and ran to the back to get his German uniform. Joseph halfheartedly joined him. After donning the uniforms, Joseph was still skeptical. The uniforms helped of course, but their dark features and the fact that neither of them could even speak the slightest German worried him. Vlad had no reservations whatsoever. He felt like they could go goose-stepping down Berlin unnoticed. They hopped in the truck and drove towards Berlin.
After traveling a few hours, Joseph looked over at Vlad and noticed the new necklace he was wearing.
“Where the hell did you get that?” Joseph asked, pointing at Vlad’s neck.
“Oh, this piece of shit? I don’t remember,” Vlad said as he ripped the small chain off his neck and threw it behind him. Joseph wondered about his response but didn’t question him further.
Chapter Nine
They continued on their way, periodically discussing their plan—or lack thereof. Neither of them really had a clue as to how they would go about the mission. In the silent moments, Joseph would think about Maria and steal quick glances at her picture.
Abruptly, Joseph asked, “So Vladimir, how did you get that scar on your arm?”
“I knew you would want to know! It’s been eating away at you ever since I brought it up, huh?” Vlad said with a large smile on his face.
“No… I just feel bad about denying you of your own story time earlier.”
“You truly are an asshole, Joseph. But I’ll tell you the story anyway. About a year ago I was in camp late at night, sitting by a fire next to a few other soldiers…”
Joseph interrupted Vladimir by pretending to snore.
“You know what, man?” Vladimir asked, slamming on the brakes and sending Joseph into the dashboard, “I hate you.”
Joseph’s head bounced off the dashboard almost giving him whiplash. As he sat back up in his seat, he reached for his face and told his friend, “Ahh man, I was just messing around. Finish telling me your damn story.”
“One of the soldiers sitting around the fire cut my arm open with a bayonet. That bayonet later became known as Sasha,” Vladimir said in a monotone voice.
Joseph smirked, “Great story, I loved the enthusiasm.”
Vlad looked over at Joseph, a disgusted look on his face. He lifted his hand up above Joseph’s thigh, about to bring it down like a hammer but Joseph’s quick apology stopped the potential blow. Not much followed Vlad’s story other than the occasional smart-ass remark from one of the two or the usual joke.
Chapter Ten
For the next few hours, as they closed in on Berlin, Joseph began to sit straighter in his seat. He was getting more excited with each mile they drove.
In direct contrast to Joseph’s elated mood the sky began to darken as they neared the city. Ten miles away, they saw a potential problem. Several yards ahead stood a huge wooden watchtower next to a small radio hut surrounded by several Nazi soldiers.
Approaching the tower they welcomed the familiar tension they both felt just before blood was spilled. As they drew closer, every single pair of Nazi eyes locked on the German truck that wasn’t scheduled to enter Berlin at this time. Vlad slowed down just in time to stop in front of two Nazi soldiers with their hands out ordering the truck to halt.