Chapter 9

January 1942.

"I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth."

Ryo looked up and faced Shiromiya. I saw the boy with tears in his eyes, looking as if he were in a trance under the words of Emily Brontë.

"It's over, Shiro," he said in a morbid tone.

Kazue nodded, lowering his face.

"It's a very sad story, without a doubt."

"Well, I can't deny that the book is fascinating," Ryo agreed. " Heathcliff is one of the best characters created by the human mind."

" I am sorry that Mrs. Catherine did not fall in love with sweet Edgar."

The words surprised Ryo.

" You must be the only person who knows the work to think so."

"Mr. Edgar was a good man, affectionate and kind. He would have made her happy if Catherine had been willing to do so. But somehow, she refused to forget Heathcliff."

"She loved him."

"I agree that the fact that I never loved disqualifies me from judging you, but I think it is foolish to refuse the love of a man like Mr. Edgar."

"Why does he remember Aiko? " Ryo reacted, nervous.

It took Ryo a few seconds to realize that the realization irritated him too much. He was about to lift the book and toss it on the floor, demanding explanations.

"It's true, Edgar remembers Aiko " Shiromiya agreed, seeming not to notice the other's condition.

Ryo bit his bottom lip. He ordered himself to be calm, but everything there infuriated him. Both Shiro and his feelings that insisted on confusing him.

"But what I thought was that revenge was more important to Heathcliff than Catherine's love."

"Heathcliff suffered a lot. Anyone who has suffered like he would desire revenge"

Shiro lowered his face, refusing to reply. But, in itself, came the certainty that Heathcliff had not suffered as much as he did, and he had no trace of hatred in his fragile personality. Even if one day he met every person who had hurt him, he would do nothing to harm them.

"If one day I loved someone and was returned, that would be my priority," he said simply.

Something manifested itself in Ryo's core, further unnerving the merchant who stood up, ready to go. He took the usual bills out of his pockets and walked away towards the door.

"Ryo-san?"

The call made him turn.

" Yes?"

" I think it's the last time we'll see each other in the mornings, right? " Shiro bowed. " I am very grateful for telling me this story."

Ryo opened his mouth, amazed. Yes, with the end of the book, his justifications for the visits, both to Aiko and himself, also ended. The realization made him realize that he did not want to stop coming. That time spent with the other was extremely pleasant. Even if they didn't talk much, Kazue's mere presence seemed a relief.

"Goodbye, then," he tried to sound cold.

But only Kami-sama knew the emptiness he felt at that moment.

***

May 1942.

Shin expected to be in Berlin at night. He looked up at the clear day sky and rubbed his arms away from the cold. Although protected by a thick velvet coat, the day was very cold. On the eve of his meeting with Hitler, he had landed in Sobibor, Poland, alongside officers Hiroshi and Takako. They were, at that moment, standing at the entrance to the Nazi labor camp, waiting for a member of the Japanese army who had been living in Germany since January and who would serve as a translator for any conversations with the Germans.

Sobibor was a beautiful place, a big field, but not too much. There was a small train station where, Shin imagined, supplies were brought, as well as people who were supposed to work for the progress of the Germans. He smiled when he saw a cat, running and running through the forest that surrounded the place.

"You like cats a lot, don't you? " Takako commented, following the look of the Empire member.

"I love cats. One day I will have many. But at the moment, I can only have Minikui."

"It resembles Adolf Hitler in some ways," the other observed. " Hitler also loves animals. Did you know that he does what he can to defend them?"

"I didn't know " Shin was interested. " Some family members who met the Führer told me that he is a charming person. Attentive to the elderly and children, pleasant, born artist, and beauty lover. But nobody commented that he liked animals."

"Mikako-san " Hiroshi commented, quoting another officer that Shin knew superficially, "said that the Führer's mouth stinks."

What the hell did that comment have to do with the conversation they were having?

"Measure your words to speak of this great man," Shin spat angrily.

" I'm sorry " Hiroshi bowed.

" Think before you open your mouth!" He stammered.

Noticing the irritation of the imperial family member, Takako dismissed it.

" Returning to the subject, Hitler has dogs, and they say he abhors hunting. He doesn't even eat meat."

" All the more reason to admire this man."

" But " Hiroshi couldn't bear to keep his mouth shut ", I heard that this week he had been sacrificing all the animals of the Jews.

" What?"

" The latest Nazi decree says that Jews and those who live with them are prohibited from keeping animals. Animals cannot be donated to third parties either. Then, everyone will be sacrificed collectively."

Shin was shocked.

" That's true? " he turned to Takako.

" As far as I know, yes. But what is the death of animals in the face of so much death for men, women, and children in this accursed war?"

"Why," Shin grunted. " Humans can always defend themselves. Animals don't!"

It seemed immoral, but Takako would never contradict the Emperor's protégé. Shin, incidentally, had not gone to the front yet, did not know how terrible the war was. Within the official parties, where the heads of that banquet massacre were shameless, he was protected from any trauma. Even the Korean woman of months ago had already been forgotten, and erased victim of evil.

The sound of footsteps interrupted the conversation. Shin turned back. Two members of the SS approached[27] and a Japanese man who, by uniform, was an officer in the imperial army. Sakamoto's eyes widened when the other one got close enough to be seen.

He was young, twenty-one or twenty-two years old. Maybe a little less. Even so, he sported a metal medallion close to his chest, indicating that he already had some time of war. On the lapels of the new uniform, two red badges in the shape of a horizontal rectangle symbolized the rank of Sergeant Major. But what instigated Shin was his impressive beauty.

There was an air of royalty and mystery about that boy. It was so beautiful that the eyes hurt. Certainly, in other times, would be disputed by the samurai. At that moment, however, he owned himself and seemed to make a point of demonstrating this only by the way he had a straight nose.

"Sergeant Saito," he introduced himself, bowing to Shin. " Should it be the nephew of our beloved Emperor, Sakamoto-san?" He asked.

"The Emperor is my mother's distant cousin, but I indeed call him uncle," Shin explained, a smile forming in the corner of his mouth. "Will you be my interpreter? How do you know German?"

" I'm from Okayama Prefecture[28], and my parents plant rice. A few years ago a German priest was there and taught me the language."

" Okayama? So you are a descendant of Miyamoto Musashi[29] ?"

It was clear that Shin was trying to praise him by comparing him to a legend. Even so, Saito didn't seem to understand and just shrugged, still smiling. Shin then looked around the slim body and imagined him without that ugly uniform. Certainly, a man to make anyone else lose their head.

" How long have you been to Germany? " Shin continued.

" I moved in January."

" Where were you before?"

" In China."

Sakamoto acquiesced. Then he turned to members of the SS who had been poorly educated enough to allow the Japanese to be properly introduced.

"Tell them that I am proud to be companions in battle in this quest for a better world," Shin murmured.

Saito turned to the Germans and said a few words. Shin m foresaw the smile on his face, fascinated by what he saw.

The men held out their hands to Sakamoto, who, despite his custom, shook them firmly. Then there were more words, but Sakamoto was unable to understand.

"They say it arrived at a good time," Saito explained.

" Really? Why?"

The answer was not given. Even before the sergeant opened his mouth, the loud whistle sound caught the attention of Shin, who looked at the train tracks.

"You will understand," Saito said, enigmatic.

The four Japanese, then, silent, stood aside, watching the movement that was taking place. Some members of the German police, wearing black, ran towards the tracks. All of them imposed large, threatening weapons, and, in order, they stood beside the tracks waiting for the arrival.

The train came shortly after. Dark and dirty, he stopped slowly between the tracks, in a sinister sound that resembled an agonized scream. In the tiny windows, outstretched hands seemed to seek protection, help. There were wailing and crying, pain, and suffering. Shin was shocked.

" Who are they? " asked Sakamoto.

"Jews," Saito replied passively. " There are also homosexuals, perhaps some dark-skinned, communists or gypsies. But the vast majority are undoubtedly Jews."

At the sound of a loud cry from a member of the regiment, the doors opened. Screaming, men, women, and children were ordered to leave the wagons. Some tripped on the ground and were trampled. Children cried, women tried to help their elders, and some men looked delusional. Terror was in everyone's eyes. Pushed to the front of the platform, the officers soon separated them into groups.

On the right side of Shin were women and small children. On the left side, men. Away from them were the elderly.

��� What are they going to do?"

Shin started to worry. He was not prepared for that. He knew only superficially about the labor camps, where Jews were separated from the rest of society.

The Nazi officer then approached the Japanese. He started to speak, and Sakamoto looked at Saito.

" He is saying that the elderly, the most fragile women and children go to the bath, and then they will rest."

It was a courtesy and Sakamoto smiled relieved. He had to contain the urge to laugh in the face of his fear. Why, and people were still whispering about the Nazis! They should learn civility from that grand example.

Suddenly, a woman's scream caught his attention. She was a mother who saw her daughter, about four years old, slip out of her hands and run towards the men. Sakamoto smiled at the little girl who had charmingly dark eyes, similar to Mamoru's.

The girl said something and started laughing, pointing at Shin.

" She said you have eyes pulled," Saito murmured seriously.

Shin threw his head back and laughed.

"Go back to your mother, brat," he softened the words with a pat on his dark hair.

The Nazis only observed the gesture, without comment. Saito remained circumspect and impassive.

"The camp chief would like you to join him for the morning snack," Saito warned.

Shin looked at him. The Japanese soldier was overly serious. Not that it bothered him, after all, he had sympathized with him from the first moment he saw him and would love to have his friendship.

" I would love to."

" Then they said they'll see the baths."

" See the baths?"

" Yes " there was disguised disgust in the words that bothered Shin.

"There are children over there," Sakamoto was irritated. " I'm not the kind of man who spies on children. It's okay to see women, but children I refuse to see bathe."

Saito was speechless, not knowing how to pass those words on.

" Tell him! " Shin ordered.

" Sir..."

" It's an order! Say I it absurd to watch children taking a bath!"

Saito knew that Shin had misunderstood the words, yet he decided to pass them on to the Germans. To their amazement, the men laughed.

"They said you don't have to worry, " Saito whispered after hearing the reply.

In acquiescence, Shin finally followed them to a small white wooden house near the tracks. He was hungry and thirsty, looking forward to lunch.

***

The corridor made of green and flowering vines looked like a beautiful dream setting. Sobibor was much more beautiful than usual. The village itself was very reminiscent of those typical inland towns that Shin read in books. It was spring. And spring in Poland is temperate and sunny, with occasional frosts in mid-May. That day in question, it was cold, but not freezing. The sun was warming up and the coat relieved the moisture a little. Shin, Hiroshi, Takako, and Saito walked in a single file behind the Nazis. When the walk stopped, over Takako's shoulder, he saw a huge wooden gate.

"What is your first name?" Shin turned to Saito who was walking behind him.

The other looked surprised by the question.

"Jiro," he murmured.

"Jiro? I'm Shin."

That level of glaring intimacy, both of which had just met, made Saito raise his eyebrows.

The voice of one of the soldiers interrupted the fraternal moment and their attention returned to the entrance. The wooden gate opened and the men smiled. Accompanying them in laughter, Shin entered.

Behind the gate, there was a huge courtyard with two masonry buildings. There was a chimney that blew dark smoke and an unbearable smell of burnt flesh. Shin looked around the crowded courtyard of people and felt his legs fail at the horror he saw.

At the door of one of the buildings, a huge line was forming. Nudes, elderly people, women, and children wept as they tried to keep warm from the cold wind that blew. The bodies without clothes were searching, aching, and the lamentation seemed like an endless song.

"Don't do anything," Jiro murmured over his shoulder. "Do not say anything. It is under the control of the Nazis and anything can happen if any act contrary to their practices is manifested.��

Suddenly, the little girl that Shin had seen an hour before appeared. She escaped again from her mother's fingers, who even tried to follow her, but was stopped by a SS member. Hitting a club on the head, the woman passed out on the floor.

Therefore, she did not see one of the SS members hunt the girl. Within seconds, they reached the child. Pulling her by the hair, they dropped her on the floor. There was not much after that. Pulling a revolver from its holster, the man shot the child's head.

Shin was so astonished that he couldn't move. Saito's hand on his back managed to keep him still, without showing any reaction. But inside, anger and hatred for those men exploded.

"Take a deep breath," Jiro whispered.

Shin did his job. Then he turned to the sergeant.

" Let's go."

" Where?"

"Berlin," he said calculatingly. " I need to get out of here, I'm going to go crazy."

" I see " Jiro nodded. " I'll send you to get a car to take you. I believe the night will be ...��

Shin denied it.

" You come with me."

" My superiors told me to stay ..."

" I am your superior " was firm. " I order you to come with me to Berlin."

Shin held on tightly to his arm. There was some kind of burden between them.

" You know more than I think, don't you?"

The man's inquiry made Jiro lower his forehead.

" Answering your question can lead to death."

" Don't answer, either."

Screams from the nearby building interrupted the conversation. Shin closed his eyes and left that place, feeling the meanest coward ever born.

That same morning, he left for Berlin.