The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Twelve

Karl had been avoiding Hans even more so since Anna's news. He was so angry at him, for so many things. He knew he could do nothing to help her, and it was killing him inside. He finally decided to confront Hans when he knew that Ernst had left that morning. He strode into Hans' office, the door slamming behind him. Hans looked up, trying to keep his composure.

"Do you always have to make an entrance?" he said, snippily. Karl ignored him, and came and sat in front of him, glowering at him. "Why do I get the feeling you want to talk about Anna?" he murmured. Still, Karl said nothing. "I know you're angry with me for speaking to her," began Hans, "but I needed her to know how I felt..."

"She's pregnant," cut across Karl. Hans looked like he was going to be sick.

"What?" he whispered.

"She's pregnant," spat Karl. "And it's Ernst's." Hans didn't respond, simply burying his face in his hands. "She's terrified," continued Karl, hoping it would hurt him, "and desperate. She hates herself, and now has something to tie her to that monster forever." He leant forward. "And even then, she still told me I should tell you gently. She was still worried about you, and how upset you'd be. Personally, I don't give a fuck. This is, after all, your fault." Hans looked up at him, tears welling in his eyes. Karl sighed heavily, making to leave.

"You are like a son to me," said Hans quickly, Karl looking at him. "Please," implored Hans, "would you just talk to me?" Karl sat back in his chair, his breathing slowed to keep him calm.

"You think I like being like this with you?" asked Karl, the two men looking at each other. "You think I don't miss the way things were before?" There was a long silence, Karl's jaw clenched. "But I also know exactly who's to blame, Hans. And being stuck here with you day in day out whilst Anna is stuck there makes me sick! And Freddie..." His words trailed off, Hans' head hung low. "You know how hard it is being away from the person you love more than anything. But you chose to leave... You never offered me a choice." Another horrible silence fell. "Make this right," ordered Karl, then got up from his chair and stormed out, leaving Hans to be consumed by his despair.

Hans waited a moment, then picked up his telephone, waiting to be put through, his breath ragged as he choked back the last of the cognac in his glass.

"Frau Stumph speaking?" said the voice at the other end.

"Hello Klara," he mumbled.

"Hans!" she said relieved. "Hans, I've been worried sick! All I had from you is that damned letter telling me not to come to Berlin. Have you any idea how scared I've been? What's..." Hans choked out a sob, Klara immediately ceasing her angry rant. "Hans?" she said again. "Are you crying? What's wrong?"

"Please," he begged. "I just needed to hear your voice."

"Tell me what's going on?!" she demanded.

"I've been such a fool, Klara," he admitted. "I've done something awful."

"What have you done?"

"I can't tell you all of it. Not over the telephone, at least."

"Paraphrase," she ordered.

"Anna and I, we're no longer together."

"What?!" spluttered Klara. "Why?"

"It's my fault. I made her choose between me and her family... and she chose her family."

"Her family..." said Klara slowly. "Why would she have to choose, Hans? Why would you do that?"

"I can't explain!" he snapped. "But I left her behind... where I was posted. And she's got tangled up with another man."