‘A friend?’
Johann nodded. ‘He enjoyed the leadership and the power, I suppose. We’ve known each other since joining the HJ academy here in Munich, and we’d made it a competition between us to see who could earn his achievement badges first, and who could move up the ranks before the other. It was always a close race, and one we carried on into adult leadership, even to this day. I was enjoying myself enough to let him talk me into staying on when we were invited to do so, and as Volker always says, it will put us in good stead when it’s time to become real soldiers. I suppose we’re more like brothers.’
‘Do you have any real brothers?’
Johann gazed up into the sky. It now appeared dark against the city rooftops, which were awash with moonlight. ‘No,’ he said, then feeling the need to correct himself he added, ‘that is, I had a brother, but he died before I was born. My mother told me he contracted a lung infection when he was a year old.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Ava said. ‘What was his name?’
‘He was also called Johann. The name belonged to my grandfather—a common man who rose to become quite a celebrated war hero of his time. I suppose my parents were set on honouring his name.’
‘It’s a good name,’ Ava said.
Johann smiled. ‘As good as any, I suppose. You know, I often wonder what my brother would look like if he were still alive, and whether we would be friends, as it is with Volker and me.’ He laughed to himself. ‘It’s silly, I know, but I feel that since I’ve been given his name, I must live up to my father’s expectations of what my brother’s life might have been, as well as my own.’
‘That must be quite a burden for you.’
‘I don’t mind. When I need to push myself to be better than I am, I think of my brother and he spurs me on. In my mind he’s a great hero, like my grandfather. But because he’s dead I can never best him, however hard I try.’ He paused, thinking about his father and recalling how he’d often scolded him for his mistakes, letting him know that he doubted his brother would have made them were he alive.
‘But what about you?’ Johann added, preferring to talk about Ava instead. ‘Do you have any brothers or sisters?’
‘No. When I was a little girl my mother told me that as soon as I was born she knew one child was enough.’ She laughed to herself. ‘I’ve never quite known what she meant by that.’
Johann thought it was because her mother knew she had created perfection, but he didn’t dare say it. ‘I see that you volunteered to stay on in the BDM.’
‘Yes, for my music, mostly.’
‘What do you play?’
‘Piano. My father’s a teacher. Now I’ve started teaching some of the other girls.’
‘I should very much like to hear you play sometime.’
‘Yes, perhaps. Sometime.’
They continued walking at an amble. Johann had become so wrapped up in Ava that he no longer felt the cold. ‘As you’re in the BDM,’ he said, ‘you must be over eighteen.’
‘I’m twenty-one.’
‘Really? You look younger.’
Ava gave him a playful smile. ‘I bet you’ve used that line on girls before.’
‘N-no,’ Johann stammered. ‘I meant it. I wasn’t even trying to—’ He paused as he noticed Ava’s smile begin to drop. ‘That is, you look very nice and I would try to, but I’m sure I could come up with something better to say if that was my intention.’
‘And what would you say?’
Johann felt his cheeks flush, and he thought Ava must have noticed the sudden burst of colour in them. He stuttered and stammered again briefly as he tried to find an answer that wouldn’t embarrass him further. Then Ava began to laugh.
‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘I’m just teasing you.’
Johann laughed with her, glad to make light of his embarrassment. He was about to speak again when the low rasp of a car horn sounded close behind them. They turned to see who it was.
‘It’s my papa,’ Ava said.
The car pulled up ahead of them and a smartly dressed man in his mid-forties got out. He stood by the open door with his elbow on the roof. ‘Ava! Thank goodness! With everything that’s going on tonight, I was worried about you.’
Ava looked into Johann’s eyes. ‘I have to go,’ she said. ‘Can we take you somewhere?’
‘No, that’s okay. I really should find my friend.’
‘Well, stay out of trouble.’ Ava made for the car, and as she reached it she turned back with a smile and said, ‘Thank you for rescuing me.’
‘It was my pleasure.’
Johann watched her open the passenger door and slip delicately into the car. It began to pull away and he wished then that he’d asked to see her again. However was he going to find her in such a big city?
He called out. ‘I’m glad your bicycle has a flat tyre!’