CHAPTER 19 - OLDENBURG, GERMANY—DECEMBER 12, 1916
Max, standing on a snow-covered street with his coat pockets filled with an assortment of Norbie’s repaired watches, patted Nia with a gloved hand. “Are you up to making a few more stops?”
“Are you talking to Nia or me?” Anna asked, standing beside him.
“Both,” he said, his breath misting in the frigid air.
“I’m okay.” She put down her bag—which contained several small clocks and timepieces, as well as four beets and two turnips—and examined Nia’s paw. “She hasn’t limped much, and her pads look to be all right.”
“Good,” Max said, feeling relieved. “Perhaps you could direct me to the homes with the largest gardens.”
“Straight ahead,” Anna said.
“Forward,” Max said, gripping the harness.
Nia padded ahead.
For the past few days, Max had worked with Anna and Nia under the close supervision of Fleck on the school grounds.
He’d diligently worked to improve his skills, not merely for himself but to show Fleck that Anna and Nia were worthy of being on the training course.
Elfriede and the dogs with kennel cough will soon recover, and Fleck needs to see that Nia and Anna are doing a superior job.
Each day, his dog handling techniques improved, and his bond with Nia grew.
At times, it felt effortless for him to be guided by Nia, as if the dog could sense his thoughts before he gave a verbal command.
Today, he was eager to continue working with Nia and Anna on the obstacle course, but Fleck had surprised them and the entire class by giving them the afternoon to train in town.
Each group—comprised of a trainer, veteran, and shepherd—spread out through town.
Some traveled to parks or gardens near Oldenburg Palace, while others made their way to the train station or the marketplace.
But when Anna had asked him where he wanted to go first, he surprised her by saying, “Home.”
Due to the dwindling supply of rations, Norbie had spent much of his time trying to barter his timepieces for food.
He’d had little success for the past two days, save a bronze pocket watch that he’d traded for a half-loaf of molded bread.
With little to eat, Max had dug up more winter leeks from the garden for soup.
He hated that he was eating what little food they had and, even more, that he had no means to contribute, other than his military-issued lunches, toward their nourishment.
So, when Fleck gave them the afternoon to work independently, he’d convinced Anna that they should offer to help Norbie with bartering his timepieces.
While Norbie took a break from the bitter cold to tinker in his workshop, Max, Anna, and Nia canvassed the more affluent streets of Oldenburg.
They’d knocked on dozens of doors. Most of their solicitation ended in failure, but they’d managed to sell a woman’s silver watch in exchange for a few beets and turnips.
“Maybe we should go to the train station,” Anna said. “I haven’t seen any of the other trainers, and I’m worried we might get in trouble.”
“We won’t get in trouble,” Max said. “We’re training—we just happen to be carrying a few of Norbie’s timepieces to trade for food while we practice our drills.”
“Norbie appreciates your help, as do I,” Anna said. “But what if Fleck catches us? He’ll think we’ve abandoned our work.”
“It won’t be a problem,” he said. “Think of how pleased Norbie will be when we come home with food.”
“You’re right,” she said. “But we’ve already collected more than Norbie did in two days.”
“It’s my salesmanship,” Max said, nudging her coat.
Anna chuckled. “Are you sure about that?”
It’s good to hear you laugh. “Perhaps Nia is the better peddler. Without her, I doubt people would warm up to the idea of parting with their food, even if we were offering gold bullion.”
“She’s irresistible,” Anna said, rubbing the dog’s head.
Nia swished her tail.
“Let’s keep going,” he said.
“All right,” she said. “But not much longer. The sun is setting and it’ll be dark soon.”
They knocked on the doors of several more homes, all with no success.
Either the residents hadn’t yet returned home from work, or they refused to answer the door.
Climbing the steps to a large row house, Anna rang a mechanical bell.
As footsteps grew from inside the house, Max and Nia nudged their way forward. The door cracked open.
“May I help you?” an elderly woman’s voice asked.
Max removed his cap. “Hallo, I’m Max, and this is Anna. I realize that rations are scarce, but we wanted to inquire if you might be willing to trade a bit of food in exchange for a clock or watch.”
“Nein,” the woman said.
“They’re quite exquisite,” Anna said. “They’ve been refurbished by my vater, Norbie Zeller.”
“He’s the finest clockmaker in Deutschland,” Max added, recalling stories of Norbie’s accomplishments. “He’s worked on the town’s most prized timepieces, including the clock towers in Oldenburg Palace and St. Lambert’s Church.”
The woman paused, her eyes peeking around the door. “Are you with that dog school?”
“Ja,” Anna said. “Max is a veteran in training, and Nia is a guide dog.”
The woman opened the door and tightened a black wool shawl around her shoulders. “She’s a beautiful shepherd. Would it be okay for me to pet her?”
“Of course,” Max said, despite that they were not supposed to allow people to pet shepherds while they were working.
The woman, her veined hand quivering, stroked Nia’s fur. “Such a gorgeous dog. I had one like her when I was a child. Her name was Herta. She’d walked with me to school every morning.”
Nia peered up at the woman.
“Herta sounds lovely,” Anna said.
“I’m sorry,” the woman said, rubbing Nia’s back. “What are you selling again?”
“Timepieces,” Anna said. She removed a small mantel clock from her bag.
Max plucked a pocket watch from his coat and extended his hand.
“I don’t have much need for timepieces,” she said.
Max’s shoulders slumped.
“But they are beautiful, and I think I have enough food to get me through winter. Would you consider a couple of pickled preserves for your clock?”
“Ja,” Anna said.
The woman slipped away and returned with two jars of pickled beets. She gave them to Anna and took the clock.
“You are very kind,” Anna said.
She nodded, and then looked at Max. “Good luck to you, young man.”
“Danke.” Max extended his arm. He felt the woman shake his hand and slip away.
The woman entered her home and closed the door.
Max clasped Nia’s harness and descended the steps to the sidewalk.
Although he was thankful for the woman’s food, a swell of indignity rose within him.
He hated charity, even though they were technically bartering for food.
Someday, when I return home to Leipzig, I will find a way to support myself, no matter what I have to do.
Anna joined Max and examined a jar of pickled beets. “I’m so glad we came. Norbie will be—”
“What?” Max asked.
“You’re supposed to be working, Fr?ulein Zeller,” a gruff male voice said.
Waldemar. Max’s pulse accelerated.
“I—” Anna stashed the jar into her bag.
“We are working,” Max said.
Waldemar gripped the harness to his dog, Gunda. “How can you be training when you’re hawking for food?”
Damn it. Max’s mind raced. “It was my idea. I insisted on bartering a few items while practicing guide dog maneuvers. Anna and her vater are out of rations, and I was trying to help them.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Waldemar said. “You’ve violated Fleck’s directive—and his trust. Instead of training, you’ve been going door to door for the entire afternoon begging for food.”
He’s been following us. Max’s skin turned hot.
Anna swallowed. “I can explain—”
“Take it up with Fleck.” Waldemar stroked his wooly gray mustache. “I expect that he’ll dismiss you when you arrive at work tomorrow.”
Anna crossed her arms.
Max shuffled forward. “It’s all my doing.”
Waldemar smirked. “If I were you, Max, I’d pack my bags tonight.” He turned and walked away with his dog.
“Oh, God,” Anna breathed.
“I’m sorry,” Max said. “It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not,” she said. “I agreed to it.”
Nia nuzzled Anna’s leg.
“He’s probably on his way to see Fleck,” Anna said. “I’ll likely be terminated, and you might be kicked out of school.”
“Nein.” Max shuffled to her. “Fleck will do no such thing.”
“How do you know?”
“Waldemar is just trying to cause trouble. He resents having less responsibility in the class, and I think he’s lost much of his credibility. Fleck will not dismiss you.”
“Are you sure?” Anna asked.
“Ja,” Max lied, hoping to alleviate Anna’s concern. “I’ll talk with him and clear things up for us.”
“Maybe we should locate Fleck’s home and speak with him tonight,” Anna said.
“Do you know where he lives?”
“Nein.”
“Then we’ll talk with him in the morning.” He extended his arm and found her shoulder. “In the meantime, I don’t want you worrying about things.”
“All right.”
Max slipped his hand away, clasped Nia’s harness, and said, “Forward.” He felt a tug from Nia as she padded ahead.
The sound of boots crunching snow filled his ears, and the weight of timepieces jostled in his coat pockets.
He spoke little as they traversed the cobblestone streets toward home; his thoughts steadfast on finding a way to convince Fleck not to reprimand Anna.
If someone needs to be blamed, it will be me.
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