The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Fifteen

Freddie kept his head down as he trudged forward. He knew why he was here, and he didn't want to focus on his surroundings. Visiting the main camp site was always awful... so many haunted faces glaring up at him like he was to blame. He understood. All they saw was his uniform. He hated it too. But he'd been given such an important task and he couldn't neglect it. Anna's handling of the situation between Ernst and his mother was a stroke of true genius. She had given Ernst something no other person could; retribution. He was so in love with her that when she had asked for a better update on Elli, he'd immediately given in and allowed Freddie to go in her stead to visit the poor little girl. Anna knew she'd never be allowed to, so Freddie was the next best thing. He felt honoured that she trusted him so much. He'd never had a friend like her... someone he could be so honest with. Not that he shared a lot, but still. If he ever wanted to, he knew she'd be there for him.

Finally reaching the medical wing, Freddie stepped into the quiet building, his heart racing. He took off his cap, tucking it under his arm and wandering through to the main wing.

"Ah, Rottenführer!" exclaimed Grüber as he entered. "You're right on time!"

"My mother was always a stickler for time keeping," said Freddie quietly. He tried not to look at the other patients. It stank of death and sweat in here, and it unnerved him.

"As I'm sure you can see," began Grüber, leading him passed all of the beds, "our other subjects are just as they should be. They're all responding as they ought to."

"As the Commandant expected they would be," said Freddie quickly. "That's why he wants me to check on the girl, just to make sure that she hasn't succumbed and is still useful."

"Of course!" said Grüber emphatically, leading him through to a small room at the end.

Elli was sitting on her bed, fiddling with an old, tatty rag doll. She looked up when they walked in, her eyes widening in surprise.

"On your feet!" barked Grüber, Elli shooting up. Freddie couldn't help but be glad of Anna's absence in that moment; there's no way at all that she'd have held herself back from gutting anyone who spoke to her sister that way. "As you can see, Rottenführer," said Grüber, "she's a perfectly healthy child." Freddie doubted that. She'd put on a little weight, but she still looked tired and drawn. She wasn't particularly clean either, her clothes grubby and too small for her.

"Yes, her hair is certainly growing very fast now," he said quietly, looking over Elli's growing stubble. "You can attend to your other patients, Herr Doctor. I'm perfectly capable here." said Freddie, trying to make his voice as authoritative as possible.

"But won't the Commandant..."

"The Commandant wants me to make the inspection, Herr Doctor. That way he gets an unbiased opinion. I'll call you when I'm done."

"As you wish," Grüber replied huffily, marching out and shutting the door with a loud thud.

The two looked awkwardly at one another, Elli studying him with caution. Despite there being no blood relation, it was clear that she was Anna's sister. They both gave people the same knowing look, standing perfectly still as if they were unbothered by how frightened they were.

"Why don't you sit down," said Freddie, gesturing to the bed. She did so as he pulled up the chair from the corner of the room, so that he might sit opposite her. "Do you remember me?" he asked softly. She nodded. "Then you know, I'm not here to hurt you."

"That's what he says, too," said Elli, pointing to the door where Grüber had just left. "And he lied." Freddie grimaced, going into his pocket and digging something out. He looked at the photograph quickly, then gave it to Elli to inspect. She clutched it tightly, her breathing growing quicker. "My Mama... and Papa," she said quietly.