CHAPTER 27 - OLDENBURG, GERMANY—JANUARY 28, 1917 #2
“I have no doubt that you will graduate,” Emmi said. “Soon, you’ll be taking Nia home to live with you.”
A wave of indebtedness washed over him. “If it wasn’t for both of you, Nia and I wouldn’t be together. I’m grateful for what you’ve done for us.”
“You’re welcome, Max,” Emmi said.
Anna blinked her eyes, as if she was fighting back tears.
As Max adjusted his hand on Nia’s harness, he heard approaching footsteps.
“Is that him?” Emmi asked.
“Ja.” Anna ran ahead.
“Who?” Max asked.
“Bruno,” Emmi said.
Max’s elation faded.
“You came to see us,” Anna said, stepping to Bruno.
Bruno nodded. “I was planning to view you from afar, of course. I wouldn’t want to make you nervous, or draw unnecessary attention to you from your supervisor.”
It’s good that he came out in support of Anna, Max thought.
“We’re training in town for the remainder of the day,” she said. “I’m glad I caught you on our way there.”
Bruno placed his hands into his coat pockets. “You look surprised to see me.”
“Nein,” she said. “I’m happy that you came.”
“Gut,” Bruno said.
Anna gestured with her hand. “Do you remember Emmi?”
“Ja,” Bruno said, looking at Emmi. “You worked at the hospital with Anna.”
Emmi nodded. “Welcome home.”
It’s wrong of me to be envious, Max thought, feeling a bit ashamed of himself. He seems to care for Anna, and I want what is best for her. He buried his thoughts and said, “Bruno, how about you follow Nia and me back to town, and you’ll see what Anna has taught us to do.”
“Lead the way,” Bruno said.
Max gave a command to Nia, and the dog pawed ahead.
For the remainder of the afternoon, Anna, Max, and Nia trained on the sidewalks and street crossings of Oldenburg.
He and Anna spoke little with Bruno, who followed a dozen or so paces behind them, as if he was making an effort to not interrupt their training.
But Bruno’s presence did, however, stall conversation between Anna and Max.
Instead of carrying on their usual banter, which was often the case when training away from Fleck and the others, Anna once again turned quiet, with the exception of training dialogue.
And Max’s glorious day, of being awarded Nia, turned bittersweet.
At home, they found Norbie tinkering on a pendulum clock in his workshop, and Anna told him news of Max and Nia’s official partnership.
Norbie set aside his tools and hugged Max. “Outstanding work, my boy!”
“Danke,” Max said.
Norbie released him, and then kneeled to Nia. “I’m proud of you, too!”
Nia licked his nose.
Norbie chortled and wiped his face.
After a dinner of diced turnip with specks of leftover sausage, everyone settled into the living room.
Max sat at the piano, Anna and Bruno claimed spots on the sofa, and Norbie hunkered in a chair.
Max played several folk songs, which Norbie sang out of tune with excessive vibrato.
And all the while he was playing, he wondered if Bruno had the same affinity, as he and Anna, for Norbie’s beautifully bad vocals.
He received his answer after the third piece.
“Max,” Bruno said, “it might be nice to hear something other than folk music. Do you know any marches?”
An impulse to perform another round of “H?nschen klein” surged through Max, and he fought away a smile.
“Max is a classical pianist,” Anna said to Bruno. “Maybe he should select a piece that he would like to play.”
“I don’t mind,” Max said, feeling appreciative of Anna’s attempt to prevent him from hearing more military marches. He placed his hands over the keys and played one of the marches that his comrades had once enjoyed. Finishing the piece, he turned on his bench and faced them.
“Well done,” Bruno said.
“Danke,” Max said, staring toward the sound of Bruno’s voice.
“It reminds me of the songs in the taverns near the front,” Bruno said.
“Where are you stationed?” Max asked.
“Lille, France,” Bruno said. “But my position keeps me on the move along the western front.” Bruno glanced at Anna, sitting beside him. “Unfortunately, my frequent change of location creates delays with the delivery of letters between Anna and me.”
Anna folded her arms.
“I understand from Anna that you’re an oberleutnant,” Max said. “Infantry, calvary, artillery?”
“At the beginning of the war, I was with an infantry pioneer regiment, but now I’m in artillery.”
“Oh,” Max said, thinking it was unusual for a soldier, even an officer, to move from an infantry to an artillery division. “What pioneer regiment were you in?”
Bruno shifted in his seat. “Thirty-six.”
Pioneer Regiment 36. Max’s mind raced, struggling to recall where he’d heard the name.
“I think that’s enough discussion of the war,” Anna said.
“I agree,” Norbie said. “I suggest we talk about something bright, like our futures and how good our lives will be after the war.” He grinned and patted his belly. “When the fighting is over and food is plentiful, I’m going to eat sauerbraten and sp?tzle until I bust out of my clothes.”
Anna chuckled.
It’s good to hear you laugh, Max thought.
“How about you, Max?” Norbie asked. “What will you do after a peace treaty is signed?”
Max extended his hand toward the floor. Nia padded to him, and he rubbed her head. “I’ll live in Leipzig with Nia, and I’ll indulge her with treats and belly rubs.”
“That’s the spirit, Max,” Norbie said. “What else?”
“I’ll find work as a pianist.”
“And as composer,” Anna added. “You’re going to be a famous pianist, and we’ll come to see you perform in the Great Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna.”
Max smiled.
“And what about you, Bruno?” Norbie asked.
“Anna and I will marry,” Bruno said. “I’ll work at my family’s manufacturing business in Frankfurt, where we’ll purchase a grand house and—” He paused, rubbing stubble on his chin. “We’ll have lots of children.”
An ache grew in Max’s chest.
Anna glanced to Bruno, then lowered her head.
“How is your family’s business doing?” Norbie asked. “In times of uncertainty, I’m sure it’s been difficult for your vater to keep it afloat while you’re away.”
“On the contrary,” Bruno said. “My vater has gained military supply contracts to keep things running. I assure you, Norbie, your daughter will be financially well taken care of.”
“What is your family business?” Max asked.
“Wahler Farbwerke,” Bruno said. “It’s an ink and dye business.”
What does the military need with ink and dye? Curiosity stirred in Max’s gut. “May I—”
“Max,” Anna said, “I’d love for Norbie and Bruno to hear the movements of Light Suite that you’ve finished. Would you mind playing it for us?”
“Not at all, but you haven’t shared your aspirations,” Max said.
“It’s not necessary,” she said.
“Oh, but it is,” Norbie said. “You must share something that you’re looking forward to after the war, even if it is something small.”
Anna glanced to Nia. “I’d like to continue to train guide dogs.”
A smile spread over Norbie’s face.
“Dr. Stalling has grand plans for expanding guide dog training,” Anna said. “Maybe someday he’ll open a school in Frankfurt.”
“That would be good for veterans,” Bruno said. “But you’ll have no need to work when we are married.”
Max clenched his jaw. It’s her choice.
“True,” Anna said. “However, I may decide to train after the war, assuming I’m given the opportunity to do so.”
Bruno straightened his back. “Very well, if you like.”
She smoothed her skirt with her hands. “Max, could you honor us with your piece?”
“Sure,” Max said, feeling proud of Anna for holding her ground.
He turned to the piano, positioned his hands over the keyboard, and played.
Initially, it felt strange for him to perform his music that was inspired by Anna, who was now sitting next to her fiancé.
But as he continued with the piece, emotions of his time with Anna swelled within his heart.
Instead of ending his performance with the most recent movement that Anna had transcribed for him, he played the next movement, which he had been rehearsing in his head.
And as he finished, he was jolted by the sound of Norbie’s applause.
“Bravo!” Norbie said, clapping his hands. “Bravo!”
Max turned on his bench and gave a small bow.
“That was sublime,” Anna said. “Is it the next movement of the suite?”
“Ja,” Max said.
Anna left the sofa and approached him. “Stand.”
“Why?” Max asked, rising from his seat.
Anna opened the compartment on the piano bench and retrieved her staff paper. “We’re going to record this movement while it’s still fresh in your head.”
“We can do it later,” Max said. “It’s getting late, and you’ll want to spend time with Bruno.”
“Bruno,” Anna said, turning to him. “Could you give me an hour to work on this with Max?”
Bruno rubbed his jowls, then nodded.
“Come with me,” Norbie said, placing a hand on Bruno’s shoulder. “I’ll show you a few antique clocks that I’m working to restore, and a confounded grandfather clock that refuses to strike on time.”
Alone with Anna, Max played the new movement to Light Suite, bar by bar, which she recorded onto staff paper.
And as their hour drew to a close, so did the realization that his time with Anna would soon come to an end.
God, I’m going to miss you. He slipped his hands from the keyboard and placed them on his lap.
“We have a couple more minutes,” Anna said.
I wish it was a hundred years. He took a deep breath, his lungs feeling heavy from the chronic exposure to cold air. “May I share a few thoughts with you?”
“Of course.”
“I’m glad that you shared your commitment to train guide dogs with Bruno.
But when the war is over, and when you’re married and living in Frankfurt, it might seem difficult, perhaps even impossible, to pursue your dream.
You have a gift, Anna. You’re restoring the lives of blind veterans through guide dogs.
And it would be a shame if Bruno’s plans for your life hindered the pursuit of your true purpose. ”
“It won’t,” Anna said. “But I’ve made a commitment to Bruno, which will eventually require me to move away. And the chance of being a trainer will depend upon a school being established in Frankfurt.” She picked at the edge of the piano with a fingernail. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything,” Max said. “I simply wanted you to know that I believe in you. If there is anyone who can create a path to train guide dogs, even if it’s outside of Oldenburg, it is you.”
“Danke,” she said.
He stood. Nia rose from her place on the floor and joined him.
“Stay,” she said. “We have a little more time.”
“It’s best that you spend it with Bruno,” he said. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Good night,” she said, her voice soft.
Max clasped Nia’s harness and they descended the stairs to the workshop, where he informed Norbie and Bruno that he and Anna were finished working on the composition.
He took Nia out to the garden to do her business, and then he settled onto his cot.
Music emanated from the gramophone in the living room, sending a wave of restlessness through him.
Anna and Bruno are together. He slid over and patted the cot.
Nia hopped up and curled next to him.
“We’re partners from now on, girl,” he said, running a hand over her fur. “When we aren’t working, I’m going to spoil you rotten.”
Nia leaned back and licked his face.
Max, his mind racing with thoughts of Anna, struggled to sleep.
He hoped that Bruno would always be kind and supportive of her, and that nothing would prevent Anna from pursuing her ambitions.
Also, he rehashed the evening conversation in his head, in particular a few of Bruno’s comments that ignited a wariness within him.
Pioneer Regiment 36 sounds familiar, maybe it’s a special unit.
Why would an officer be transferred from infantry to artillery?
Does the military have a great need for ink?
Perhaps it’s to dye the uniforms. He fought to bury his newfound unease.
But long after the gramophone music ceased, he remained awake, listening to the ticktock of clocks.
And he prayed, for Anna’s sake, that his reservations about Bruno were groundless.