The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Eight

The next week seemed to pass by unbearably slowly for Anna. Maria had stopped talking to her altogether and she couldn't understand why. Whatever the reason, it was tearing her apart. She saw Freddie a lot, but they barely spoke. Now that Ernst could see her whenever he liked, she had no time to herself at all. She could look forward to her conversation with Karl, she supposed. But it wasn't enough. Despite always being swamped by people, she felt desperately alone. Ernst was deeply infatuated. He spent every moment he could with her. He couldn't even hide his affections in front of the children. It was embarrassing for her. She waited until he was tied up in meetings, then she would steal small moments to look at her photographs. Her memories were the only things keeping her sane. She hadn't had an update on Elli yet and had to assume that no news was good news. She missed Karl so much and seeing his face beaming up at her always soothed her. But she found her eyes wandering to the other man beside her in the photograph. It surprised her how looking at that face seemed to ease the pain a little. It helped her imagine him better when she was with Ernst; it made for a more convincing performance.

Soon the day of the weekly meeting arrived. The last one had been when she had first slept with Ernst. She didn't doubt for a moment that Keller would try to start something. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. All she felt was tired of late... probably a mixture of keeping up the charade all the time, and lack of sleep from Ernst and his overactive sex drive. She set about her normal day, settling Freda into her morning's lessons. When lunch time arrived, Ernst came to collect them both. He did this every day. It was suffocating.

"Ready for lunch?" he asked Freda, as he strode into the room.

"Of course, Father," she said, slamming her book shut.

"Run along. We'll follow in a moment," he urged, Freda dutifully following orders. Anna knew he would want to talk about Keller. But she really didn't, so she tried to distract him, pulling him into her and undoing his jacket buttons.

"Alone time already?" she teased, cocking an eyebrow. "What a treat."

"Don't tempt me..." he began, as she started caressing him.

"Come, my love," she whispered, kissing his jaw, "let's skip lunch..." He grabbed her hands, tilting her chin up to him.

"I'm trying to think of you," he said. "We have the meeting today." Anna sighed, stepping away from him.

"I know," she said glumly.

"Doctor Grüber will be here early," he continued, his voice lowered, "to give us an update." Anna's heart stopped and she now whipped round to look at him. "I've asked for pictures in the report so that you can see for yourself."

"Won't he be suspicious if I'm there with you?" she asked.

"My plan is for you to already be there so that you can enquire about what will happen to her after she is cured. Then I can make the promise to you in front of him, so he knows to update you after this."

"That's very clever," she smiled.

"I know," he returned the smile. He leant down and she let him kiss her. "Come," he said. "Let's take our lunch together in the office: That way it won't seem suspicious when you're there." She did as she was told, following him to the kitchen to fetch lunch.

Maria looked up at them both as they entered, quickly averting her gaze. Ernst gathered their plates, bidding Oskar and Freda goodbye. Anna hung back a moment, trying to catch Maria's eye.

"Thank you for lunch," she called to her. Maria nodded slightly but said nothing. Exasperated and sad, Anna trailed after Ernst.

"Why do you try so hard with her?" he asked as they shut the door and took their seats.