Countyhumans | Astrantia English Version (RusGer)

-11-

The following two days, the two young countries tried to use the time for themselves as often as possible. Their fathers tolerated this because they still believed that their children were hearing each other out. They had no idea of their secret furtive touches, kisses and other little love affairs.

Germany briefly panicked when he noticed Russia's hickey on his neck. Fortunately, the love bite was positioned so that it could be covered by the shirt collar. The two of them were careful not to show anything of their feelings around their fathers. Even if Germany had the feeling that his mark continued to burn when he faced his father.

When the day was coming for the Slavs to leave for their homeland, the Third Reich and Germany were saying goodbye to their guests at the airport. Germany quickly pulled Russia to his side and whispered to him: "I put something in your suitcase. I wanted to make sure that it was only for your eyes, so I went to your property without your permission. Please excuse my action."

Russia raised his eyebrows questioningly and before he could answer anything, his father stood next to him and gave him a gentle push on his arm to indicate that he should enter the airplane. The whole way back, Russia racked his brain about what Germany might have put into his suitcase. After landing and traveling the rest of the route by vehicle, the slavs finally arrived at the familiar property. Russia hurried to the trunk to hastily pull out his luggage.

"Россия, let the servants do it. It was a long trip home. Aren't you exhausted?"

"Нет! (No)" was Russia's quick answer and he hurriedly entered the large estate with his suitcase. Iljin greeted him warmly and his younger siblings also ran towards Russia. But Russia had only one thing in mind. He wanted to know what was in his suitcase and he replied to Iljin with a hurried nod, quickly hugged each of his brothers and sisters, only to get to his room as quickly as possible. Once there, he slammed the door with a loud bang. He immediately opened his suitcase and found a letter in it. He took it and opened it quickly, accidentally tearing open one side of the paper and immediately regretting opening the letter so quickly. But now it was too late anyway. He pulled two neatly handwritten pages out of the envelope, and another, repeatedly folded small piece of paper fell to the floor. He picked up the smaller piece of paper and read the contents of the letter.

Dear Russia,

I hope that your trip to your home country was pleasant and without complications. If you are reading this, then you have surely arrived safely at home.

I would like to thank you in this way for everything that I was able to experience with you. I don't know anybody in this wide world who causes such wonderful emotions in me except you.

There is nothing that can make me happier.

I've never felt like this in my life. And I only let you go again with great regret.

I can't put it into words because words are unable to express my feelings appropriately for you. All the words in the world would be a simple understatement.

I also put a small gift in the envelope for you. It's simple, but the meaning (at least for me) is more valuable and sacred than all the riches in the world.

For me it means the meaning of our connection and I will always carry it close to my heart.

I count the hours, days, months that I have to last before I can see you again.

Until this eternity is overcome, I remain with a heart filled with longing.

Germany

Russia read the letter again and then pressed it against his chest. He was not a romantic, but the letter stirred his emotions more than he wanted to admit. When he then opened the small folded paper, he had to laugh, embarrassed, but he couldn't stop the tears of joy that were already running down his cheeks.

There was a small pressed star umbel in the paper.

- Winter 1938 / 1939 -

The snow had a firm grip on the land of the Soviet Union and was falling steadily and silently from the heavy, cloudy sky. It colored the world in pure, soft white. Soviet loved the sight of freshly fallen snow. He sat on the porch of his wooden hut and lit a cigarette while his eyes were set on the sky. He watched the dancing snowflakes and was glad to have taken the weekend off.

With his eldest, he wanted to check the traps that Russia had set up without him a few days earlier. He hoped that, unlike the previous time, Russia had remembered the position of the traps better, or even better: noted them. At that time, Soviet almost stepped into a bear trap that Russia hadn't recorded. Certainly he had drawn Russia 's attention to this, almost fatal, carelessness with beating him. Soviet didn't want to think about what could have happened if the trap had been triggered. Sometimes Russia's carelessness was a mystery to him.

Soviet ran a hand over his head. The past few weeks had been so exhausting for him. With a long breath he pulled on the cigarette and inhaled the smoke, which settled quietly in his lungs. In his mind he was at the numerous meetings with his advisors and officers from the Red Army. They heatedly discussed the daring proposal of the Third Reich. They weighed up the pros and cons and fictionally went through all the options that came to mind. Unfortunately, it was not always factual and Soviet had to hit the table several times with his fist so that calm returned. It was really exhausting.

But the thought of being able to take in the eastern part of Poland tempted him very much. Of course, Soviet had informed Russia about the conversation with the Third Reich and had let him also take part in the domestic conferences with the Red Army. Russia was old enough to attend important political decisions and to express his opinion. Especially since he was always up to date as a small "mini spy" and was therefore indispensable.

Russia had only one answer, which he confidently represented when asked about an alliance with the Third Reich: "I have complete trust in the Germans."

The initial doubts of Soviet had slowly evaporated, but a lean remnant stubbornly stuck in the back of his mind. There would always be cause for concern, 100% certainty was utopia. His son's opinion was important to him, and Russia did not provide any disturbing or alarming new information which could have made his doubt grow bigger again.

No new information could immediately be good information.

Soviet knew at that point that he would enter into a pact with the Third Reich.

He just wanted to string him along for a little more time.

With a creak, the front door of the log house opened and Russia came out, who immediately lowered the cheek protection of his Ushanka. In his hands he held a map, the end of which fiddled slightly in the wind. Soviet could see that Russia had made several notes on this paper.

Satisfied, he took a last puff of cigarette.

"Ну что, готов ехать? (ready to go?)"