Heroes Without Honour by David Alan

Author:David, Alan [David, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2015-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Kurt looked up eagerly as Max entered the guard-room, and came to attention and saluted in rather friendly fashion, a smile on his face. But the SS guard-sergeant crashed his feet together, snapped to attention and saluted crisply. Max returned the salutes, giving a ‘Heil Hitler’ in response to the guard-sergeant’s harsh greeting. Then he relaxed and permitted a thin smile to touch his lips as he looked at Kurt’s broad figure. But his brother seemed a trifle uneasy in the presence of the SS, and he went forward, hand outstretched.

‘Hello, Kurt. You’re looking well.’

They shook hands briefly. Kurt seemed slightly overawed by his surroundings, but his pleasure at seeing Max was genuine.

‘Max. It’s good to see you.’ He spoke in a rush. ‘When I learned that your regiment was here I just had to come. It’s all right, isn’t it?’

‘Certainly, and I’m pleased to see you. Come with me to my quarters. We can talk there.’

They left the guard-room, and Max tried to think of something to say. His mind seemed strangely blank after all the thoughts that had teemed through it back in the mess. He glanced sideways at the shadowy figure of his brother, and told himself that they had the same blood in their veins. Kurt was as much an Eckhardt as he. It had been childish in the first place to resent Kurt because their mother had died in childbirth, but that childish resentment had retained its grip upon his mind so that he could never consider Kurt a real brother. The barriers between them, from Max’s point of view, had been strengthened by the fact that they rarely met, for Klaus Eckhardt only occasionally visited the farm outside Dettfeld to see Aunt Gretel and his youngest son.

‘How is Aunt Gretel?’ Max demanded, breaking what seemed to him to be an awkward silence. ‘Have you written to her since coming to Poland? I expect she is worried about you.’

‘I managed to send one letter but I haven’t had a reply yet,’ Kurt responded. ‘How was the fighting for you? I suppose you were in the thick of it. I heard that your people took a lot of casualties.’

‘We had our share! But what about you, Kurt? I don’t know how you can fight inside one of those steel monsters! Give me the open air and a trench any time. I’ll take my chances outside.’

‘It was a bit tough at times,’ Kurt admitted.

They entered a barrack block. Max led the way to his quarters and they entered. Kurt looked around and Max relaxed a little.

‘Make yourself comfortable,’ he said, removing his hat and loosening his tie. ‘Would you like some schnapps, or don’t you drink?’

‘Thanks. A schnapps would be fine.’ Kurt sat down, feeling easier. He studied Max’s harshly set face and wondered at the brooding expression which showed. He had always been slightly in awe of his elder brother, and since Max had joined the SS the gulf seemed to have widened. But he

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.