Gunner Asch 3, The Return of Gunner Asch by Hans Hellmut Kirst

Author:Hans Hellmut Kirst [Kirst, Hans Hellmut]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-09-27T06:21:26+00:00

* * *

On this night the war lost more of its strength than on any hundred other nights, as the new day slowly began to dawn, there were many people who hesitated to look it in the face. Not a few clung to the sleep which numbed their brains; many more refused to tear themselves away from their frenzied orgies. And many were ashamed, and among these were even some who were ashamed for others.

It was the day which saw the end of Germany.

The slowly dawning day saw more corpses than the previous one, more empty bottles and more lined faces. It saw rumpled beds and exhausted bodies, discarded medals and smashed packing cases. Gasoline trickled away in one place, blood in another, and schnapps in another. Some cursed as they got up; others prayed, and many did so because the words of prayers were the only words they could find. Many had to force themselves not to think.

In the wood lay the body of Major Brahm of the service corps. Old Asch stared with sleepless eyes at the debris left behind by the wedding party. Pastor Westhaus found himself unable to pray, and Freitag, the prisoner, had no wish to. Captain Schulz snored in the Kommandantur. Kowalski and Stamm lay drunk in the cellar.

Several people were converging on the town: Lieutenant Asch and Barbara, both with faces which betrayed a sleepless night; Lieutenant Brack, youthful and deadly serious; General Luschke, who had slumped into an exhausted heap beside his driver and seemed to be unconscious; Corporal Soeft in a comfortable ambulance which contained the last of his consignments of "goods." And also making their way towards the town, though still some distance off, were the American tanks.

The war was staggering with weakness and exhaustion; but it still just managed to keep on its feet.

* * *

James I had become an early riser in these restless times. The urge for action shortened his sleep. And he took it for granted that James II should fall into line with his habits.

"Up you get, Pastor," he cried. "Our colleague Hinrichsen needs us urgently."

"Can't you deal with it by yourself, partner?"

" 'Decisions of importance,' " quoted James I, " 'should only be taken after joint consultation'--according to Captain Boernes."

"But this isn't a business firm, is it?"

"We're taking part in the greatest commercial undertaking of modern times, Pastor--haven't you realized that yet? We've got unlimited credit up to several million dollars. If we want to, we can hawk half the continent."

James II stretched himself sleepily and threw his blankets to one side. "You seem to read only one newspaper, partner--and that the wrong one."

With that he opened his mouth wide and yawned for several seconds.

"We'll give our new ally Hinrichsen a little test. If he comes up to scratch, as I hope he will, it'll be to his advantage; if he doesn't, then he'll get a kick in his behind."

They went to Hinrichsen, who was sleeping in a smaller room on cushions placed on the floor.

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