He stopped at the entrance. ‘Step out, go to the middle of the courtyard and undress.’ November in such a place is November twice over. It was cold and grey, I was already shivering in my coat, even more when I took it off. The rest followed, until I was naked in the middle of a paved courtyard, near a pole which, in the past, held a flag. Night was falling, he turned on the headlights of the car to cast light on me. The headlights were very white, dazzling. I heard the car door slam, I saw his shadow moving toward me . . . The taste for uniforms, you see: he was dressed like an SS officer, from cap to patent leather knee-high boots, he was holding in his hand a cosh – I didn’t recognize him at that moment, he had become so much himself, the blond hair shaved on his temples, the ruthless, limpid eyes. ‘Schnell,’ he shouted. I didn’t even know he could speak German. ‘Schnell, schnell!’ He lashed at my buttocks, while I stumbled along, moving toward a barrack hut in front of me, slidin
Last Updated : 2025-04-21 Read more