The Cross of Iron by Willi Heinrich

Author:Willi Heinrich [Heinrich, Willi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, United States, Europe, General, Germany, Russia & the Former Soviet Union
ISBN: 9780553147872
Google: xURwCwAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0553147870
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1981-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

After supper Steiner decided to take a walk through the town. He strolled aimlessly down the street between the spacious lawns whose scent mingled with the tang of the water. A strange mood had taken possession of him, and he stopped frequently to gaze up at the massive mountain slopes, or over the sea. He had the feeling that he was walking upon a narrow path that led between the heights and depths, between serenity and restiveness, to the intersection of all roads; and he smiled bitterly at the thought that there should be a new road from there, one going in a different direction. There was only one road for him, and it was the road taken by all the men who stopped in this resort for a brief breathing spell—the road back to the front. For a moment he closed his eyes. Better not to think about that, he told himself. Every such thought was like a razor-edged knife cutting another sliver off the little time remaining to him.

From the windows of the houses light flowed upon the dark yards. Steiner turned his steps toward the beach. Like a barrier of black clouds the mountains towered up against the sky. They seemed to be staring westward, breathlessly, where the last embers of the day rent the heavens. Steiner shuddered. He felt an acute need to talk to someone, to make contact with some human being and he was pleased when he saw Towhead coming towards him. At the sight of Steiner, he hailed him excitedly, ‘There you are!’ and broke into a run. ‘I’ve got her, I’ve got her all organized for you,’ he said excitedly.

‘Got whom?’

‘Anne,’ Towhead said hastily. ‘You know-’

At the mention of the name Steiner started. He gripped the boy’s shoulder hard and whispered tensely: ‘Anne? Who is Anne?’

‘The breasty one,’ Towhead said eagerly wrenching away. ‘She’s right on my heels.’ Although the moon was overcast, it was possible to see a long way down the beach. Steiner noticed a figure approaching and recognized the white uniform of a nurse.

‘Listen, I don’t want-’

‘Have fun.’

Before Steiner could finish, Towhead had freed himself and was running off into the night. Slowly the nurse came up to Steiner. He pulled his cap down low over his forehead. It’s crazy, he told himself, there are a million girls named Anne. But when he heard her voice, he suddenly began to tremble. He pulled his flashlight out of his pocket and flashed it full in her face. She closed her wide, dark eyes, but her mouth was smiling. ‘Turn out that light,’ she raised her hand to her dazzled eyes. ‘I can’t see.’

Without a word he switched off the flashlight and thrust it into his pocket. ‘Do you study all girls so thoroughly?’ she asked. Her voice was flat and rather common. Turning his face to one side, he murmured: ‘Excuse me. I always like to see who I’m dealing with.’

She gave a cooing laugh. ‘Are you satisfied?’ He glanced quickly to the right and left.

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