For Those Who Dare by John Anthony Miller

Author:John Anthony Miller [Miller, John Anthony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnum Opus - A Next Chapter Imprint
Published: 2019-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

38

Dieter Katz saw Eileen Fischer exiting the East Berlin guard shack and then walking down Friedrichstrasse. Minutes before, she had disembarked from the S-bahn in West Berlin, passed through Checkpoint Charlie, and crossed the border into East Berlin. She looked good, dressed in Western clothes, jeans and a top, a bit of make-up dressing a face that really didn’t need it, but not much – just some eye-shadow and lipstick. He hugged her.

“Oh Dieter, I’m so glad you’re all right,” she said, holding him tightly. “I’ve been so worried.”

“I’m fine,” he said. “It was horrible, very frightening, but I survived.”

“I’ve been frantic,” she said, kissing him.

He was about to reply when he saw a border guard approach, probably off duty. The man walked down the pavement like a handful of other pedestrians, innocently passing by, but Dieter didn’t want him to overhear their conversation. When he saw the guard’s face, he turned away.

“Quiet,” he whispered in Eileen’s ear. He released her, smiled, and spoke loudly, ensuring the guard could hear. “Let’s get something to eat,” he suggested. “And then maybe we can go to that theater in Mitte.”

“That sounds nice,” she said, seeming a bit confused.

The guard walked by, paused, and then turned. “Mr. Katz,” he said. “It’s good to see you.”

“Hello, Mr. Frank,” Dieter replied, and then nodded toward Eileen. “This is Eileen Fischer.”

“Madam,” the guard said, tipping his cap.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Eileen said, forcing a smile.

“You have a fine friend here,” Mr. Frank said as continued on, crossing the street. “We think very highly of him.”

“Who was that?” Eileen hissed.

“One of the instructors at the Industrial School,” he replied.

“He’s a border guard.”

Katz shrugged. “I can’t help that,” he said. “I only know him as a teacher.”

He took her hand and they walked down the pavement. When no one was near them, they continued their conversation.

“The others escaped, also,” Dieter whispered. “No one was hurt, but no one made it to the West, either.”

“We should have been better prepared,” she said, glancing at a couple pushing a baby stroller. “It was too risky.”

“It seemed a good plan,” he said. “And the location worked well, a weak area in the barbed wire. I don’t know how we failed.”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter,” she said. “As long as you and the others are safe.”

“We’re all very fortunate,” he said. “Guards were everywhere.”

“What do you think happened?”

“I’m not sure,” he said. “Maybe our timing was bad.”

“Or maybe you were betrayed,” she suggested.

He stopped, turning to look at her. “By whom?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But doesn’t it seem odd that a searchlight was turned on just as you were about to escape, and the cemetery was swarming with soldiers?”

“Yes, but no one was caught,” he countered. “If the Stasi knew an escape was planned, we never would have gotten that far.”

“How do you know that?” she asked. “Don’t you think it’s all too much of a coincidence?”

“No, I don’t,” he replied. “If anyone betrayed us, we would all be in prison.

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