The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Thirty-One

Hans stood on the patio, looking out at the loch below. Daniel's house was entirely impressive, set on many acres of land which happened to back onto a loch. Hans closed his eyes, enjoying the biting, January breeze.

Daniel had returned just before Christmas and had been inviting them over every day since. Hans kept declining, even after Klara and Kai had accepted. Finally, his friend had managed to drag him over. Hans knew that Klara must have told Daniel how worried she was about him, and Daniel would do anything to brighten her day. They were already thick as thieves, and it had barely been a month since they had reunited. She maintained she was simply practicing her English, but Hans was no fool.

Daniel heralded him inside, and Hans did as he was bid, closing the patio door behind him. He removed his coat, hanging it on the coat stand. The fire was crackling away, the snug warm and inviting. He went and stood beside Daniel who passed him an ornate glass of whiskey.

Hans accepted it, eyeing it up. "Still couldn't get your hands on any cognac then?" sighed Hans, taking a sip, Daniel laughing throatily.

"Afraid not old boy," he said, "you'll have to put up with this perfectly aged single malt."

Hans smiled at his friend, then went back to looking out of the window at the scenery. "I see why you stayed up here after school. What is London compared to all of this?"

"My thoughts exactly," said Daniel, ushering him to the leather arm chairs in front of the fireplace. "Perhaps we could go hunting when the season begins?" offered Daniel. "There is always a plethora of pheasants to be had."

"That would be nice, thank you," replied Hans.

Daniel sighed heavily. "Klara is right. You really are not yourself."

Hans shot him a look. "I'm perfectly fine," mumbled Hans.

"No, you're not. You look dismal, Hans. I have never seen you like this. Not even when you came here after Ursula-"

"Please do not bring her into this."

"Do you want me to simply ignore the fact that you are wasting away here?" he asked, his words biting. "You look gaunt. After you discovered what Ursula had done you were so angry... there was still life in you. But this..." He trailed off, sucking in a breath.

"That's probably because I didn't really care about Ursula," Hans pointed out calmly, taking another sip on his drink. "And because the break-down of that relationship was not my fault."

"Hans, you cannot beat yourself up over your mistake forever. Anna has clearly moved on, old friend. You need to as well."

"How do I know if she has?" asked Hans, his voice wavering. "I never spoke to her... I have no idea what their plans were... I don't even know where she is now."

"I do." ventured Daniel.

Hans eyes widened. "You do?!"

"Yes."

"Then why the hell haven't you said anything?"

"Because until now, I wasn't sure that it would help you!" explained Daniel. "But hopefully now, you can set your mind at ease."

"At ease?"

"Anna married the American fellow back in July," he said.

"She did?" he managed, his heart pounding in his chest.

Daniel nodded. "He then went on to serve in Austria for a month or so when he was discharged. He returned to her, adopted the child and they left for America in November."

Hans was stunned, breathing heavily. "How on earth do you know all of this?" he asked in barely a whisper.

"Klara rang me," he said, Hans supressing an eye roll. "She was worried about you Hans! And so was I. So I rang that chap Hatcher, the one who had you detained. He put me through to a Lieutenant Whiting, who told me in no uncertain terms that Anna was very happy, and I was never to ask after her again."