The Wall Crossers

Jan 4 Tue - Blue Stones at Potsdamer

Olivia's perspective

Leida is sucking on a lemon mint and asks if I want one. I decline. She sighs and appears ready leave. I will return to work now. But I have a change of heart—I take one of her mints after all. She smiles warmly.

But, as we prepare to depart the café, Leida, without warning, reaches across and takes hold of my wrist. Her expression takes on a very serious look. She says to me with a growing sense of urgency, "O-li..via, there is one more thing we must do, my darling, and we must do it now!" Her eyes blink rapidly at mine, and she shifts them back and forth as though she really wants to be certain my eyes and heart are attentive.

"What, Leida? What is this thing?"

"We must go see someone at Potsdamer."

"Now?"

"Yes, now my darling." She stands, still holding me tight, and I stand too.

"But Leida, I have to get back to work. Sgt Ellis..."

"No! No you don't. I arranged this for you. Maren... she has sent you to McNair! You have a mission to collect some papers there!"

"What papers, Leida?"

She shakes her head vigorously, "Nein! No, No! There are really no papers. She already has these papers. This is just a... a... die Finte. A, ruse? It is an excuse so I can take you to Potsdamer. We must be there exactly at two thirty, my love. Let's go!" Leida puts her bag across her body and then puts on her overcoat and hat.

I grab my field jacket and cap, putting them on. Leida goes to pay our check. As she does this I ask, "Who are we going to see, Leida?"

Leida's perspective

I pay the bill and look at Olivia, and breathlessly I say, "It is someone, so... so special, O-li..via! Ach du lieber! (Oh, my god!). It is someone so, so very special."

We leave the café. We turn and walk quickly toward the bus stop. I check my watch. We are almost running.

She links arms with me. The day is bright now, but very chilly and windy. I look over to her as we dodge throngs of people on the sidewalk and ask, "Where is your stone, O-li..via?"

"What? What stone?" she asks me, her words flowing out on steamy breath. The air is so heavy with cold moisture from the rains.

"Your blue stone. Do you have it?"

"What? Leida, that stone... Anja has it. I don't have it."

I have a sudden fear. "Oh no! I thought you had it with you always."

"Why would you think that?"

"Elisa. She told me this. That you would have it always. Oh no. I wonder now..."

"Who are we going to see, Leida? Why do I need my blue stone?"

I lean to her, our heads touching. I stop for a moment, take hold of her upper arms and turn her to face me, pull her firmly to me, and lean in and kiss her. I pull back slightly, breathing words into her mouth, "O-li..via, you will see soon. I love you. I love you very much!"

Olivia's perspective

Soon we are on the bus to Potsdamer. At one stop, a middle-age gentleman comes up to our deck and takes a seat across the aisle from Leida, who also sits on the aisle, next to me.

This man keeps looking at Leida. I lean forward a bit to see if I can tell why.

Finally, he points to her bag, and they begin talking together, speaking rapidly in German. He hands her his card, and then stands to exit the bus at the next stop.