1503954692 by Steve Robinson Page B

set his cap into place and considered that it didn’t matter to him how beautiful Volker’s cousin was. To Johann, no woman could outshine Ava Bauer.

    The Osteria Bavaria was a small, family-run restaurant on Schellingstrasse, close to the centre of Munich to the north. Johann had arrived in good time, and had decided to take a moment to collect his thoughts before going in. He stood at the cross-junction where the main road intersects Schraudolphstrasse and took in the restaurant sign above the arched doorway that told him he was in the right place. He wondered why he had never been to the Osteria before. Volker clearly thought it somewhere special, no doubt because of its connection with the Führer , and yet Volker had only ever taken him to fancy establishments before now. If he had been showing off his family wealth, then it appeared particularly odd to Johann that Volker would choose to dine at the Osteria when Ava, whom he surely wished to impress, would be there. Unless Volker had tuned in to Ava’s sensibilities enough to know that such lavishness did not impress her.
    Unable to keep himself from seeing Ava a moment longer, Johann crossed the street, stepping over the glowing white lines that had been painted alongside the kerb soon after the war began, in an attempt to make the city streets safer in the absence of street lighting. He wondered whether she had arrived yet. Perhaps he was the first. He entered the restaurant and was at once greeted by the smell of wholesome, home-cooked food, which caused his empty stomach to groan.
    It was a warm and dimly lit restaurant, already bustling and loud with conversation, the air hazy with cigarette smoke. The general décor appeared to Johann as the epitome of Bavarian charm, with its wood-panelled walls painted with classical scenes, and tightly packed, thin-legged tables adorned with white lace tablecloths. He removed his cap and placed it beneath his arm as he moved further in, trying to catch the attention of the head waiter, but it was Volker’s attention he caught first.
    ‘Johann!’
    His friend was on his feet, a thin cigarette glowing in his hand as he waved him to their table, which was already set with wine.
    Johann couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his friend. They greeted one another with a strong embrace and a firm slap on each other’s back.
    ‘Volker! It’s so good to see you again.’
    Over Volker’s shoulder, Johann saw that Ava, too, had already arrived, and there was another young woman, a brunette, whom he supposed was Volker’s cousin, Trudi.
    ‘Look at you in that uniform,’ Volker said as he led Johann to their table. He still had his arm tightly around Johann’s shoulders.
    ‘I could say the same thing about you,’ Johann said. ‘I hardly recognised you.’
    Volker laughed. ‘So we’re grown men at last, and it’s no longer make-believe. We’re not toy soldiers any more, Johann.’
    ‘No indeed,’ Johann said, with a degree of sobriety that clearly surprised his friend.
    ‘Then why the long face? This is what we’ve been training for, Johann. Surely you must embrace the chance to fight for the Fatherland—for our Führer .’
    ‘Yes, of course,’ Johann said. He noticed the rank insignia on Volker’s tunic then, and he turned the conversation back to it. ‘But what’s this? You’re a captain?’
    ‘I told you my father could pull strings,’ Volker said. ‘He had me promoted to Hauptsturmführer , which means, my good friend, that for the first time since we met, I have advanced ahead of you—and by two ranks!’ He laughed at the notion. ‘I’m sure you will have the opportunity to climb as high as Brigadeführer by the time the war is over.’
    As they arrived at the table, Volker finally let go of Johann. Both men were still smiling, only now Johann was smiling at Ava.
    ‘Good evening,’ he said, with a slight bow of his head.
    ‘Hello, Johann,’ Ava said. ‘You look well.’
    Before Johann could