People Like Us by Louise Fein

Author:Louise Fein [Fein, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781789545340
Publisher: Head of Zeus

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Karl and I are in the treehouse. I can smell his cologne, clean and crisp, mingled with his own warm, oaty scent. He smiles and the corners of his mouth fold up, revealing the white of his teeth. His deep brown eyes wrinkle, just a little, at the edges and his skin is sun-kissed and glowing. He turns slightly and I see the soft fuzz of baby hair at the back of his neck.

‘Let’s play Roman soldiers,’ he says, handing me a wooden sword. ‘Whoever wins can be the Emperor and the other has to obey their orders for the rest of the day.’

‘That’s not fair,’ I say, sulking.

‘Why not?’ He smiles at me, knowing exactly why, but he wants me to say it anyway.

‘Because you always win. You’re bigger than me.’

‘Then fight harder – and cleverer. It’s the cleverest who win,’ he says, leaping up and tapping me with his sword.

I try to hit him back, but I can’t reach him because Karl is at the controls of his bomber. I’m sitting behind him, but he doesn’t seem to know I’m here. I try to shout his name, to warn him, but no sound comes from my mouth. The plane is shaking violently and he is sweating, fighting to regain control. It lurches and rolls, dropping fast. The engines roar. I scream, silently. There is a stench of oil, gasoline and hot metal. And something else – sweat and impending death. The ground rushes and then the dreadful crash and a screeching sound of metal being crushed.

I jolt awake and stare into the darkness, sweating and breathing fast.

I switch on my bedside lamp and peer at the clock. Three-fifteen in the morning.

Karl is dead. The last conversation we had was that awful one, full of distrust and accusation. Karl was the centre of my universe when we were children. Where did it all go wrong? How can I live with that dreadful exchange being our parting words?

Tears slide from the corners of my eyes, dripping onto the pillow. The room is so still and quiet it’s as if time has stopped and the world is no longer turning.

But the clock still ticks on my mantelpiece.

I turn towards Hitler’s portrait hanging above it. He looks smugly down at me, over his bristly moustache.

You did this. How could you let this happen to my beautiful, dear brother?

He stares back, his eyes stony, black, arrogant and taunting.

This is your punishment, Jew-lover. It’s all your fault, for consorting with the enemy. You chose the wrong path. You chose evil and this is your reward.

But Karl was your perfect child. He gave you everything he had. His love, now his life. Not like me. Why didn’t you kill me instead?

We all know what happens to those who make a pact with the devil… A wry smile plays on Hitler’s lips.

A rush of heat and I cannot bear the sight of him any longer. I’ve made my choice. No matter that Walter is leaving and will soon be married to this Anna girl.

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