Page 34 of The German Mother

Edmund shook his head mournfully. ‘With the four months he’s already served, it won’t even be that long. The whole thing is a farce.’

Outside the courtroom, thePost’s journalists stood mutely together – almost in a state of shock.

Edmund finally broke the silence. ‘It’s unbelievable…five years for Hitler and his co-conspirators, one year for the others, and one acquitted completely. And you know what makes it even more disgraceful? By law, here in Bavaria, treason should result in a lifetime sentence – but somehow Neithardt and the other judges have bent the rules.’

‘What sickens me is the hypocrisy,’ added Martin. ‘Do you remember, last year, the case of that left-wing Jewish journalist Felix Fechenbach? He was convicted of treason and sentenced to eleven years with hard labour. I’m ashamed of the legal system in this country.’

‘Well, there’s nothing we can do about it,’ said Edmund. ‘I suppose we’d better get back to the office. The ban should be lifted on thePostby tomorrow morning, and we need to be ready. Are you coming, Leila?’

‘Yes…in a moment. Minki, are you staying in town much longer, or going straight back to Nuremberg?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Minki said, looking nervously at Peter.

‘And what are your plans, Peter?’ asked Leila.

‘I’ll come back to the newsroom shortly,’ he replied.

‘All right then, I’ll see you both soon.’ Leila strode off, leaving Peter and Minki alone together.

‘Shall we go somewhere for lunch, Peter?’ Minki ventured.

‘I can’t really spare the time.’

‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ said Minki, trying to hide her disappointment. ‘Perhaps we can meet later, after work.’

Peter flushed. ‘I’m not sure that will be possible, either.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, I’m leaving Germany tomorrow – I have to get back to New York. I need to pack…and so on.’

Minki felt the blood draining from her face; her legs began to buckle beneath her.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Peter, grabbing her arm.

‘Yes…It’s just I had thought we were…’ She paused, unsure what to say. Everything she had imagined about their relationship now seemed absurdly unrealistic.

‘Minki,’ he began, ‘I think there may have been a misunderstanding.’

She turned to him, her blue eyes flashing with tears, her voice pleading but strident. ‘What can I possibly have misunderstood? We’ve been together for the last month – sleeping together almost every night. We’ve even discussed me visiting you in America. I thought we had a future together…’

‘Oh, I see. Oh dear.’ Peter ran his hands nervously through his hair. ‘I hadn’t realised you felt that way. I had assumed – what with me living in America, and you in Germany – that you would understand. It’s been fun being with you, but…’

‘But what?’ The tears were now spilling down her cheeks.

‘Minki…I’m so sorry.’ He wiped the tears from her face. ‘Come on…Let’s go and have a drink.’

He wrapped his arm round her shoulders and led her to a favourite bar. He bought her a glass of brandy and set it down in front of her. He lit a cigarette and placed it between her lips.

She wiped her eyes, sipped the brandy and inhaled deeply on the cigarette. ‘I feel an absolute fool,’ she said at last. ‘I’ve fallen in love with you, you see. I’ve never felt this way before. You’ve altered my whole view of the world. You’ve changed me.’ She reached across the table, and took his hand. ‘Please don’t leave me now…I need you.’

‘Minki, sweetheart…the thing is…I already have a girl back home.’

‘What? I don’t understand…’

‘Yes, she’s called Mary. We got engaged a few months back.’

Minki stood up suddenly, and threw what was left of her brandy in his face. ‘You bastard! All these weeks we’ve been together, and you never mentioned another woman. The things you said to me…I believed you loved me.’