Me and Irina get into the canvas topped kubelwagen and I start the engine in the driver's seat. It is still gray and cloudy and the rain has picked up from a drizzle to a light fall. Irina gets in the passenger's seat and we head off to Kurtz’s grandmother's home though she lives in an apartment. I have only been there once and that was to drop Kurtz off. We head to the northeast side of the city which is not a terribly far distance away. As we drive down the streets of the city we see people in rain boots and umbrellas scuffle about. There are many small businesses on this side of town as well as many medical clinics. We pass the large one story nursing home with its teal green walls and also the two story gray sanitorium that houses the mentally ill.

As we drive a question burns in my mind causing me to ask,” How did you know what was wrong with Kurtz?” She smiles and replies,” I told you Franz I was studying to be a nurse.” “Oh right.” I say a little embarrassed forgot.”And.” she says “I may have picked up a thing or two from my fathers internal medicine books.” Your father’s medical books? You told me he went off to war.” I say puzzled. “He was a physician before the army drafted him. He worked in the field hospitals.”Oh I didn’t know.” I say. “Yeah, he used to have a clinic on this side of town.” “Really, that's amazing.” I reply. “ Yeah, I used to help him in the clinic when I was younger. He use to call me his little nurse.” “ How long did you help him for?” I ask. “For a while, he introduced me to all sorts of people and diseases and medicines.” she says, attempting to stifle her excitement.” “Franz?” she asks, “Did you know that your body has miles upon miles of blood vessels?” I not entirely certain of what she is talking of just replies,” Uh..uh no I didn’t.” She says excitedly,” Oh its fascinating Franz! Each artery has an arteriole and that has a capillary and each capillary has to connect to each cell in your body! It's absolutely amazing!” I, utterly bewildered, just nod and say, "Uh huh.” She frowns,”Sorry Franz, sometimes I get a little carried away.” I chuckle, “ You don’t say.”

After a few more minutes of travel we approach the apartment blocks where Kurtz’s grandmother lives. They are tall four to five story red brick building where each individual apartment has a balcony to it. We are actually not that far from the lake

I stop the car and we emerge from the vehicle into a heavier rain than before. We walk up the concrete steps to the second floor and go to a black wooden door with a large brass nine on it. I knock on the door and an elderly woman answers. She has pale skin with spots and several wrinkles on her face and under her baggy eyes gives away her age. She has short white hair that is tied into a bun with a little golden bow. Her body rests upon a single wooden cane by her right hand. Her gown sways as it is obvious she wasn’t expecting company. She starts in a ginger weak voice. “Ah Franz, It's so good to see you again. And who have you brought with you?” I pause, not sure of how to tell her before Irina steps up and says,” I am Irina, I am here to represent Doctor Zolltoller from the hospital.” “The hospital?” she asks, confused. “Yes misses…” Irina pauses and looks at me. I catching on, blurt,” Von Krieger.” Irina continues without missing a beat, “ Ms.Von Krieger, I regret to inform you that your grandson Kurtz has fallen ill.” “Oh no, that is terrible. With what?” I nervously prepare myself to respond when Irina says,” Pneumonia, he has come down with pneumonia." "Oh no, that is terrible. I have had brothers who have died of pneumonia. Very terrible indeed." Ms. Von Krieger replies. Irina continues," Not to worry mam,he is in stable condition and Doctor Zolltoller is looking after him personally." Ms. Von Krieger replies,"Well I am glad he is alright. Why don't you come in?" I am surprised because she took the news surprisingly well. I ask," Are you not worried?" Irina's smile turns into a glare before smiling again. Ms. Von Krieger replies, "Of course not, my little soldier is in the best of hands." She turns and slowly shuffles with her cane while we follow behind her.

The old woman's home is of the cozy sort with oak wood floors and purple wallpaper with little green shells evenly spaced. Upon entering we see across us a door leading to the outdoor balcony, we see the rainfall as it pours outside. To the right of the front door is a kitchenette with a low bar that divides the kitchen from the living room. We see on the gas stove a teapot boiling right next to an olive green fridge. The living room has a dark purple three seater couch on the far side next to the balcony door. In front of the couch is a coffee table with old newspapers on its dark oak surface. On the right side of the coffee table is a wooden rocking chair. Beside the couch is a gramophone that plays classical music. A tall radio sits against the wall that is currently off. Multiple photos decorate the walls, some even include Kurtz, but what struck me the most was a large portrait of Hitler on the wall. Is she a Nazi? I look to my left down a short hallway that leads to a bedroom and bathroom.

"Can I interest you in tea?" Asks the aged woman. Irina answers, "No thank you mam." I respond the same. The elderly woman says, "Suit yourself." As she hobbles to the kitchen. She suddenly speaks," Did you know my little Kurtz is a fighter and has been since he was born?" "No we didn't." Irina responds curiously. "Ah yes he had some complications during birth but he has turned out to be a strong boy. He was the eighth one after all. Did you know he was removed from the Hitler Youth because they thought he was too slow?" "Too slow?" I ask curiously as well. "Yes, his father wanted to have him join as soon as possible, so he would look good for his position in the party, he is one of the Reichs top information officials and one of the Fuhrer's personal favorites. After all, all of Kurtz's other brothers are army officers." Kurtz's father is a Nazi?! "Kurtz's father was so angry with him when he was removed but he spoke to your Lieutenant and had made a deal to have him assigned as a flak helper even at his young age. How kind of your Lieutenant." Wait! How does the Lieutenant know Kurtz's father? Is Lieutenant Sprieg a Nazi?! Now that I think of it, he has never denounced the Nazis but he never said he was for them either. I ponder this for a second.

Suddenly not comfortable anymore, I find an excuse for us to leave. “Well, Miss Von Krieger, we really should be heading back.” I say. Irina looks at me confused. The elderly womans faces turns to one of disappointment and she says,” Oh really, you just got here.” I point my eyes to the door and Irina, obviously catching on, says,” We would really love to stay mam but we were only here to deliver a message.” The aged woman sighs,” Aw well that's really too bad, be safe because this storm is getting worse. I can feel it in my bones.” Me and Irina take our leave by exiting her home and waving her goodbye.

We step down the concrete steps and have found that the storm has indeed grown worse. The rain pours from the darkened sky, flooding gutters and drains, running in a swift stream down the road. Me and Irina re-enter the Kubelwagen attempting not to get soaked in the process. I start up the engine and the vehicle growls to life. As we make our way back to the hospital, Irina suddenly speaks,” I wonder what she meant about Kurtz being too slow?” “I’m not sure.” I reply. “Well my father and other physicians were talking about this cognitive disease called autism." "What's that?" I ask. She responds, "It is some kind of disease where their brain growth is not natural. The causes are uncertain but it is seen in both children and adults. In severe cases, patients may not be able to function normally. Kurtz must have some high functioning type of it. It's probably why he acts younger than he is but unfortunately we still don't know that much about it." I ponder this and wonder what if Kurtz has a cognitive disease. Now to think of it, I wonder I'd Kurtz even know if a war is going on. This must all be a game to him. He never mentions war, and he does act far younger than his age. " You might be right." I say. "Do you think he will be ok?" I ask. "Doctor Zolltoller is a good doctor. Kurtz is in good hands." She says, trying to reassure me. "I hope so, he is such a good kid."

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We arrive back at the hospital, a heavy rain pours down from the heavens. We rush inside to find Lieutenant Sprieg and Obrenski waiting in the lobby. "Good you two are back." says the Lieutenant. Obrenski blurts,” I hope you two weren’t getting all hot over yourselves.” Irina looks at him stunned, she then jeers,”More than you’ll ever get old man!” The Lieutenant tries to keep himself from chuckling. My jaw drops, I’m shocked she would say something like that. Obrenski grins,”She got spirit, you better tame that Franz.” Irina rolls her eyes. I ask Lieutenant Sprieg,”How is he?” “Recovering, he will be here for a couple of days. We need to be heading back.” Irina looks at me and says, “I’ll keep an eye on him.” “Wait, I won’t be able to go to the festival. It falls out of our leave date.” I say. She looks incredibly disappointed, and utters,”It's alright, I’ll write you” She comes closer and kisses me quickly on the lips, I blush. She then glares smugly at Obrenski, He grins sharply as she leaves us. He turns to me and says, “I wonder what that spitfire sees in your sorry ass.”

We leave and step out of the downpour into the Kubelwagen. The Lieutenant sits in the passenger's seat while I sit in the back seat, Obrenski blurts from the driver’s seat,” At least it doesn’t smell like ass. Franz, I’m disappointed in you. You had the perfect opportunity.” I snapped back,” I told you she is not that kind of girl.” “That will change.” He replies. Obrenski puts the vehicle in drive and we rove through the heavy downpour in which the windshield wipers struggle to keep up. After a few minutes Obrenski breaks the silence,” Is she a virgin?” “Obrenski!” snaps Lieutenant Sprieg. “ I …. I don’t know.” I reply flustered. “Well you better find out.” Obrenski says. Even though I can’t see his face, I can feel the Lieutenant rolling his eyes. “Well Franz.” the Lieutenant says, “I think you have found a nice girl. And I wouldn’t recommend following Obrenski’s example.” “She is fine looking Franz, I’ll give you that. I could look at her for hours.” Obrenski says. “Franz.” the Lieutenant says, “ Definitely do not be like Obrenski.”

We arrive back to the gun pit and quickly scurry to our places. The Lieutenant to his shack and me and Obrenski to the barracks. I lay there on my cot for a while and ponder if the Lieutenant is really a member of the Nazi party. I attempt to stifle this thought by reading, but the question burns in my mind like an irritating splinter. The rain lightened up a bit and It is now dark outside. I leave and knock on the Lieutenant’s shack door. The Lieutenant answers and asks,” Franz is something wrong?” “ May I come in?” I ask to get out of the rain, my garments partially soaked. “Certainly, is Obrenski harassing you again?” he asks. I step inside and notice how incredibly cramped it is here. To the left is a well made cot, hanging from the ceiling in the Lieutenant’s many crisp, clean uniforms. Rain patters off the tin roof of the wooden shack, The floor is made of old wood that looks worn unlike our concrete floors. The Lieutenant sits down in his chair next to a desk with the radio set and a stack of papers on it. A warm light flickers from an oil lamp that sits on his desk.

I hesitate trying to figure out how to ask without being offensive. “What is it Franz?” I decide to just say it, I stammer,” Lieutenant Sprieg, are …. are you a Nazi?” The Lieutenant looks surprised, “Where did you hear that from?” “Kurtz’s Grandmother said you made a deal with his father.” I reply “Yes, this is true, but I am not a Nazi Franz.” I state “But you never say…” before I am interrupted,”This is a day and age when you keep your opinions to yourself.” he says “But, but.” I stammer. “Yes I know Kurtz’s father. He was at my award ceremony. He was disappointed in Kurtz and his performance in the Hitler Youth and worried he would disgrace the family. Did you know Kurtz's family comes from a long line of wealthy nobles?" “Uh no sir." "Franz" he says sternly," What you are about to hear must never be repeated. Am I understood?" "Yes sir." I say both frightened and intrigued. "Did you know that there is a secret euthanization program?" "What?" I say shocked. He continues," It started in the early days when the party came to power. They would take in the disabled, the ill, and insane to special hospitals and would kill them. Then they would send letters saying they died of pneumonia or heart failure or whatever the excuse." He says this to me as if he is thinking of a saddened memory. I am baffled to think there is a program to do this sort of thing. I ask still shocked, "Lieutenant Sprieg, why are you telling me this?" He speaks soberly," Because Franz, Kurtz's Father wanted him to be euthanized." "What?! Why?” I exclaim. He continues,” Kurtz’s father saw him as a failure and wanted to be rid of him. I intervened and this deal I made with him was to have Kurtz be tutored by me. He has made fine help so far and from the letters I have received, his father seemed well pleased.” “So you secretly saved Kurtz?” I ask. “I guess you could say that, I also have to take time embellishing the letters I send.” he replies. “But I don’t understand, why would Kurtz’s father have him killed?” “Some men cannot get past their egos Franz. And those in higher power will do anything to keep from sullying their reputations." He suddenly changes the subject,"Anyway, is there anything else I can help you with?". “Uh, uh no sir.” “Then you are dismissed.” he says. As I turn to leave, he says,”And Franz, not a word of this to Obrenski and especially Kurtz.”

I return to the barracks and change into a clean uniform. Obrenski reads a letter by oil lamp light. I lie on my cot and look at the Lieutenant in a new light. Had he not intervened, Kurtz might not be here. And the thought of Kurtz dying is shocking to me. I still worry about him as he sits in the hospital. Why would a father want to have his son killed? What drives a man to such action? I wonder about this secret euthanization program and just how exactly did the Lieutenant know about it. I wonder just who is this Lieutenant Odel Spreig, A veteran of North Africa who was awarded a medal which enabled him to meet high party officials yet he is not a Nazi. And yet he secretly saved Kurtz from a doomed future and seems so humble about it. Just who is this man, and why is he here of all places?

A few days have passed and the rain still continues, turning our gun pit into a muddy trench. It has been really quiet without Kurtz and even Obrenski hardly jokes.

No orders have been given and the Lieutenant keeps to himself with the radio. I miss Kurtz a lot really, sometimes I wake in the night expecting him to be sleeping in his cot. I hope he is getting better.

A day later the rain stops and the sun returns revealing the dew on the grass this morning and the mud in our trench produces so much humidity. A truck drives by and stops. I try to scrub off the mud splattered on the gun’s gears. Out of the passenger’s seat jumps a short man in uniform. Its Kurtz! “Franz!” he shouts as he dashes in the mud towards me. He smashes into me, hugging me tightly. “ Franz, I missed you.” he says muffled with his head in my chest. I, now splashed with mud, hug him back and say, “ I missed you too.” Obrenski emerges from the barracks, “There you are you little shit, I thought I heard you.” Kurtz releases his hold on me and smiles. The Lieutenant joins us and says,” Good to have you back Kurtz.” Kurtz smiles gleefully. I find joy with his return. Then I look to the gun to find it spattered with fresh mud. I am now annoyed because I have to clean the gun yet again, but I am happy he is back.