Blood Brothers by Ernst Haffner

was gone. Only the case and file could still be retrieved. So back to HQ. He wasn’t to blame for any of it. It said expressly on the transport papers: Cuffing not essential.
    Ludwig rides for three stops. Then he transfers to another line. Changes again. Always stands by the door so that, if an inspector should come, he can get out right away. What now? Back to the gang! You don’t stand a chance alone in Berlin. He doesn’t have a penny. He won’t risk thevicinity of Münzstrasse, where the Blood Brothers hang out, not so close to police HQ. But how is he to contact Jonny or one of the others? He could try calling Schmidt’s, at this time of day there’s bound to be a Brother there. But then he doesn’t have a coin for the phone! The train is really flying now. Ludwig can’t even make out the names of the stations. Where’s he going to get a coin from? On the opposite seat is a thrown-away paper from today. New, barely looks opened. Ludwig picks it up. The twelve o’clock edition of the B. Z. He has an idea. The train is stopping, not before time. Gesundbrunnen station. He quickly gets out. Climbs up to Brunnenstrasse. Heads in the direction of Badstrasse. Looks at the clock, at the newspaper kiosks. No, it’s not here yet. Up here, in the far north of Berlin, it doesn’t usually get here before half past twelve.
    Once again, Ludwig takes a look around in all directions. Policemen? Nope. He chances it. He calls out: “ B. Z . — noon edition!” and waves the paper in front of him. He shouts four times, and then he’s shot of it, and he’s got a coin for the phone. Back to Gesundbrunnen station, to the call box. He knows the number by heart. Even before anyone says hello, he can hear the oom-pah-pah music. His face cracks in a smile. The old days at Schmidt’s. Then a voice, Jonny’s, in person. He listens. Doesn’t ask many questions. Only: where are you? And: where can we meet, I’ll grab a taxi. Ludwig suggests the Vinegar Cinema. Jonny knows. He’ll be there in no more than fifteen minutes. See ya.
    Vinegar Cinema? On the corner of Brunnen and Volta is a big vinegar factory. The whole area has the biting reek of vinegar. People here keep their lips pressed together when they go by on the pavement. The smell makes his mouth water.There is a cinema next to the factory, so what else are they going to call it? It’s the Vinegar Cinema.
    Still feeling very uncertain, Ludwig walks into a doorway and watches from there to see if a taxi draws up in front of the cinema. There it is, and it’s Jonny. He looks around. Ludwig charges across the street. “Hey, Jonny!” He can’t repress his joy; a few tears, wiped away with the back of his hand, spurt from his eyes. There’s no one better than Jonny in a situation like this. He firmly shakes Ludwig by the hand, and steers him into a bar. A small instant calmative, then Ludwig can tell him all about it in some quiet café. After a beer and a short, Ludwig calms down. They walk to a small café. They are the only customers in the back room, and Ludwig has the floor. First there’s an excellent brew, and a torte with whipped cream. Things that haven’t been part of Ludwig’s world for a long time. He talks. Starts off with the fellow outside Stettiner Bahnhof. “We’ll put a crimp in his style,” says Jonny.
    At the end of half an hour, Jonny is fully up to speed. For the next few days, things will be a bit ticklish for Ludwig. He will have the police looking for him. And if he is caught, then that’ll be the end of his probation and he’ll have to do four months. But the long-term outlook isn’t bad. He’s not a serious criminal. And no fewer than five gang members feature on the police wanted list, just because they fled borstals. The authorities would have their work cut out if they were going to chase after every runaway youth. So long as he doesn’t rub it in …

11
    AT 7 A. M. Willi Kludas is woken by his little namesake. “Hey, Willi,