said Klaus.
âArenât you glad?â
âMore than you know,â Klaus replied.
âHey, we could really build this place up for the tourist trade and make a lot of money in the process,â Bernd enthused.
âI think so too. Thereâs a bit of land around here, and the Russian Army recently left their military base about 10 kilometres from here thatâs ripe for development. Iâve been thinking, Iâd be interested in opening up a golf course.â
Bernd laughed. âGolf? My dear Klaus, you know nothing about golf! â
âBut you do. Ask about the possible sites and use your connections. I think thereâs a lot of money to be made in golf,â stated Klaus.
Bernd nodded. âWe sound like capitalists already.â
âIs there anything youâve done thatâll bring repercussions? Youâre my brother and we stick together no matter what, but I need to know, just to be prepared,â Klaus asked.
Bernd knew what his brother meant. âNo. Iâve not shamed you, my family or myself. Nor have I been a part of any decisions made within the party that have compromised the safety and security of any individual. My conscience is clear, you have my word.â
âGood lad,â said Klaus and patted his brother on the back.
âBut you didnât ask me here to talk about golf.â
âNor to discuss what weâre doing with Mutti for Weihnachten. Iâve a confession of my own,â Klaus began. âIâve been hiding a runaway in Das Kino.â
Bernd was flabbergasted. â Scheisse !â
âI know how dangerous a situation it was. Ingrid and I told no one because we had no choice. We had to protect the boy at all costs. Luckily, events have gone in our favour and now is the time the boy can come out of hiding.â
âKlaus! Are you mad? Who is this boy you risked your life for?â
âFelix, our nephew.â
âSofieâs boy?â Bernd was incredulous.
Klaus nodded. âYes. You remember when Ingrid and Sofie fell out at Gertrudeâs funeral and they lost contact? A few years later, that stupid drunk of a father, Jakob, drowned, and then Sofie died in an accident. Nobody told us so we never knew, and the twins ended up in Torgau.â
â Nein ! Fic ! Fic !â Bernd screamed, banging his fists on the hull of the boat.
âAnd the first news Ingrid heard about her beloved Sofie was that sheâd died.â
âThatâs tragic. Poor Ingrid,â said Bernd.
âSheâs not forgiven herself. Sheâs been very brave, hiding her grief from Felix. He was in a state when he turned up here in the spring. Bouts of shaking and nightmares, the poor kid. He needed us to be strong. Heâs on the mend now, thanks to Ingridâs love.â
Bernd admired his brotherâs modesty. âSorry to hear that. How can I help?â
âWe need to know whatâs happened to Susanne,â Klaus told him.
âWeâll go there today.â
âBefore we go, I want you to meet Felix.â
âHopefully heâll remember me,â Bernd ventured.
âHeâs got a fine eye for detail and heâs incredibly bright,â Klaus began. âHeâs gone through a lot, poor kid. We donât want him just to be a Torgau boy.â
Felix was in Das Kino, reading in his room. He heard footsteps down below and Klaus calling his name. Appearing on the balcony, he looked down to find his Onkel was not alone. There was another man with him, similar in looks to Klaus but a better dressed and slimmer version.
âFelix, donât be alarmed. Guess whoâs here to see you?â
âHello, Felix,â Bernd said warmly. âDo you remember me?â
âOnkel Bernd?â
While they all had lunch together in the cottage, Felix was pleased to hear Klaus and Bernd were going to Torgau that very afternoon.
âI want to come with you,â he