Panzerfaust

Chapter 31 - Bastard

May 10th, 1945, Berlin, Greater German Reich

It's been more than a week since Sophia Skorzeny arrived in Berlin since her little detour to the Soviet Union, then so Czechoslovakia.  The cozy little apartment on Lenné Strasse greeted her just like she left it, in the hands of landlady Greta, who took great care of Rosie and now, of her and baby Armin too. The little boy's eyes were all cleaned up and he was all the way a jolly little fellow now, even after he started teething - and trying to chew everything he can or cannot fit into his tiny mouth. 

There is always a fresh bouquet of spring flowers in the vases and freshly backed snacks on silver trays for her guests as Elvira Gerwitz and Magda Göbbels are lounging on Otto's velvet couch in his vacant office across the Lady of the house, munching on Greta's masterpieces for today - macarons. 

'Sophia, Josef and me have been wondering when you will write a piece about your adventures on the Eastern Front.' Magda says, licking her lips painted redder than the SS flag for crumbs. 'There is so much speculation going on, we should really set things straight.'

'Speculation about what?' Feigning ignorance, Sophia sets her empty plate down, eyeing Armin crawling after the cat, trying to catch its tail in his little fists. 

'Your mission, of course.'

'Magda, I had no mission whatsoever.' 

'But it's sounds so romantic! Wife follows husband to war to save his fallen comrades son! It would be a sin to miss out on a story like that.'

'I don't think that's a good idea. Otto wasn't happy with me going to the frontlines and honestly, I do not think the higher ups will be happy either if my twisted story will plant the seed of misconduct in young wives.' Standing up, she catches the slidding child before he puts the cat's tail into his mouth. 'There will be no article about my trip, but if you want, I'll interview Elvira about the life and hardships of front line soldier's life. I think more women can sympathize with that.'

'Maybe.' The Frau Reichsführer didn't even tried to sound not disappointed as she set her cup of coffee down. 'But that's not news. I must go.' 

Elvira Gerwitz eyes the departing woman before she turns her dark blue gaze to her, like a roentgen beam, looking and her and looking through her.

'You alright, Soph?' 

'Ja, I'm fine.' Pulling a giggling Armin to her chest, she turns to her friend. 'Why?' 

'You seem a bit... off. I'm worried about you.'

'You shouldn't worry. I'm perfectly fine. It's just... springtime tiredness. Besides, I have a lot of things on my mind: I'm in the middle of the process of gaining custody of Armin. Do you have any idea how infuriatingly, terribly slow bureaucracy is? I'm going to the Administration this afternoon to see what they're about for so long.' 

Elvira's raised eyebrows tells her she believed nothing of her explanation, but drops the subject before she leaves.  

The building of the Reichkanzlei is monumental. By the plans of court architect Albert Speer, the building was dominating most of the Wilhelmstrasse and everything around it with its marble walls and vast spaces, loud with the click of her heels as she makes her way to her appointment.