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✲꘏ ꘏ ꘏ ꘏✲
"Here. Eat before I change my mind," the soldier said in a commanding tone. He set the bowl of soup on the small table beside the bed and began untying my hands.
"Aren't you afraid I'll hit you over the head with something heavy? Or pull the pistol or knife from your belt and at least try to wound you before escaping?" I asked, first nodding toward the bowl of soup, then toward the belt fastened around his waist, where several holsters hung—one holding a pistol, another a hunting knife.
"I don't think you're foolish enough to run straight into enemy territory only to be riddled with bullets within the same minute," he replied, raising one eyebrow with infuriating composure.
He picked up the bowl from the table and pushed it into my hands.
No matter how badly I wanted to throw the warm liquid into that parasite's face, I restrained myself.
After eating, I handed the bowl back to the German soldier and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"Now that you're fed, it's time for you to meet someone," he announced.
Setting the bowl back on the table, he untied the ropes binding my ankles, seized me by the elbow, and began dragging me toward the door through which he had entered earlier.
"Where are you taking me?" I demanded through clenched teeth, struggling wildly.
Without hesitation, he slapped me across the face.
This time it wasn't as hard as before, but my skin still burned from the blow.
"Say one more word, and I'll tear out your tongue," he threatened.
When we stepped outside, an almost unbearable wave of heat struck me.
All the way to the next building, the soldiers stationed along the front line stared at us.
Some grinned as though entertained.
Others watched with hostile, angry eyes.
The rest wore expressions so blank they seemed almost inhuman.
Only the first kind of stare wounded me.
I couldn't understand what they found so amusing.
My captor, however, seemed untouched by it.
He didn't react to them at all.
When we entered the next building, the first thing I noticed was the low ceiling.
I was not particularly tall—only around one meter and seventy centimeters—but even I had to bend slightly.
I could only imagine how uncomfortable it must have been for the taller soldiers.
Although, truthfully, not all German soldiers were tall.
