The Wall Crossers

November - Leida Offenbrücke - Monday - Olivia's perspective

On Monday morning, I am sitting at my desk working. The other girls are heads-down working too. I do not mention Friday night, and Leida, to Maren. And she does not ask. She does not even speak to me, or give me a look. Since she had arranged the meeting between us, that seems strange to me.

Sgt Ellis is at his desk, just outside the door to our detachment's room—I cannot see him, but hear him talking with someone.

Then there is a bustling noise outside. I hear Sgt Ellis say, "Good morgen, Anja!"

But she does not reply and instead barges into our room with a swishing sound and clearing her throat. I look up at her and smile. She is wearing her pretty red A-line with white blouse. She told me once she likes to wear that dress for those times when she wants to impress superiors with her strong woman force.

She does not even look at me and my smile and face turn into confusion as she steps over to Maren's desk, plants her feet slightly apart, and puts balled-up fists against her hips.

The other girls look up to see what is going on. I cannot see Anja's face, but it must be terrifying because Maren's face quickly turns into one of fear.

Anja starts speaking, her voice in a range lower than normal, almost with a very slight snarl, and the volume of her voice grows as she speaks, saying, for all to hear, "Maren, wenn du oder einer deiner Freunde Olivia jemals wieder stören, werde ich dich so hart schlagen, dass du nicht vom boden aufstehst!! (Maren, if you or one of your friends ever bother Olivia again, I'll hit you so hard that you won't get up off the floor!!). Her last word is punctuated almost like a shout—like a warning.

There is now dead silence in the room save for Anja's breathing, which is rapid and obviously matches her thrumming heart. No one says anything. I hear Sgt Ellis move into the doorway and stand there.

Anja, spins around, with her chin up a bit, eyes not wide, like I thought they might be, but narrowed, reaches her hands up from her hips to hold her elbows, looks to the bay room in the distance beyond, now walking toward the door. As she passes my desk, she does not look at me. I cannot see her expression, but I see her right ring finger wiggle at me just a bit where it rests on her left elbow. She is flashing her coral ring at me. She pushes gently past Sgt Ellis, and is gone.

Sgt Ellis never really liked me. He sees me as queer, which he cannot abide. But my record is clean, and I have a campaign ribbon from the hot war, so he is conflicted. Nevertheless, he now looks to me and says, "Reary, is this your doing? I cannot tolerate disturbances like this in my section." He is glaring at me with a look that is part disgust and part hatred."

I open my mouth to speak, not sure what I will say, but Maren finally speaks, before I can. "Sgt Ellis, this was my fault. I caused this, but it will not happen again."

Sgt Ellis jerks his head toward Maren, shaking it No. He adores Maren and will not accept any blame against her.

"Corporal Reary has no fault in this," she adds, as Sgt Ellis mouth hangs open.

He turns back to me and says, "Reary, if we have even one more incident like this, I will write you up on an Article-15 (like a misdemeanor). Am I clear?"

"Yes, Sgt Ellis. You are quite clear."

He looks again to Maren. Her face is impossible to read. She glances at him, and then away. He leaves the room, returning to his desk.

Barb goes over and whispers to Maren, who gets up from her desk, and together they leave the room.

Prasa whispers so we can all hear, "Mensch."

DiDi follows with, "Ach, mensch."

They both look over at me. I look at each and then shrug, and get back to my work. I'm sure if I went to Anja now, Sgt Ellis would follow me and give me Hell.

I am wondering, did Leida call Maren and tell her of her conquest? Because, how did Maren know. And she did know, because she was scared... scared of Anja.

A few minutes later, Anja calls me on my desk line.

Three Weeks Later

Anja and I avoided each other for maybe two weeks, after that night—our last dinner together. But we resumed having lunch together this week, with other girls from the office joining in. I think Anja invites them on purpose—to avoid any meaningful deep discussion with me... or any rapprochement.

She casually tells me she is working on a correspondence course—in computer technology. She is quite busy. Or maybe Jelena needs her this weekend. Or Margot the next. Or I tell her I have duty and then... she says, "I am free. Oh, but you have duty? Ach, mensch!" Then she half smiles, says "We will get back together soon."

I wait.

Lizet's perspective

Now for Anja's perspective of Friday through Monday—that explosive weekend in November.