The Berlin Paradox by Alain Xalabarde

Author:Alain Xalabarde [Xalabarde, Alain]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781096068587
Published: 2019-10-25T22:00:00+00:00

XIV

Staying at the hospital has turned out to be a good idea. I was able to talk with the veteran soviet soldiers and hear their tales of the war. I kept asking if any of them knew my father. The chances are slim, but it’s worth trying. It’s also good to speak Russian again. It’s like being back home. I wish I could have had a chance to get out of the premises and visit my sister, but even I know that’s not a bright idea. I just feel bad that she hasn’t seen me in ten years. Then again, has she? How can I be so sure there’s not another version of myself from the future out there right now? Maybe I did return to her after all. Maybe she’s with me right now. Or maybe I never did return to her. That sounds more akin to something I would do. I would be too ashamed to show my face after so long, and the longer I spent not seeing her, the harder it’d be for me to gather the courage. I wonder if she’s married. Hopefully to a nice man. She deserves a good man. Someone better than her selfish brother. Maybe she has kids. In fact, maybe she’s completely moved on. Maybe she’s too busy to keep looking for her brother. I hope that’s the case. On the other hand, I also selfishly do hope she tells my nephews about me.

What am I saying? I don’t even know if she has children at all, and I’m already behaving like an uncle. Besides, she’s always been a free spirit. Most likely, she’s still single, focusing on her career rather than getting involved in mindless love affairs. All I really hope is that my superiors at Wünsdorf gave her a good explanation for my disappearance. Best explanation they could have given her is that I am dead. It’s the only way she’d be able to move on in the long run.

Stop talking bullshit. Focus. There are more important things to worry about. We’re back in the booth. Remember. Salt. Salt. What else? Salt… Seeds. Yes. Oh, the map. Map.

Her beautiful face pops into the porthole. She’s smiling. She winks. It’s hot inside here. It’s getting hotter every instant. It seems different than the last time. It’s too hot now. I’m burning. And then, out of nowhere, a rush of ice cold air blows my body against the back wall.

I am crawled up like a wounded animal. I feel even weaker than in the last trip. I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are too heavy. I look up at the porthole above me. I see some light coming in. At least this time there’s someone waiting. Wait! Who’s waiting?

The door opens and a cold breeze dries the sweat on my naked body. Two white coats stand before me. I look up. It’s blurry. I don’t recognize their faces. One of the figures speaks in German. Wait. Is that…? I recognize the voice.

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