‘Thanks,’ he mutters, when we reach my iron gate.

‘S’all right.’

‘See you tomorrow?’

‘Maybe… Bye, Tomas.’

‘Bye, Hetty.’

I take the steps two at a time and close the front door behind me. I lean against it for a moment, knowing Tomas is still standing outside my gate, looking at the air I just ran through.

Hoping I’m going to come back.

20 April 1934

‘Happy Birthday,’ I whisper to the Führer’s image as I pad across the floor to throw open my shutters and let in the morning sun. The cherry tree has exploded with pink-tipped blossom, reminiscent of candy floss. I open my window wide so I can hear the birdsong, and climb back into my bed, snuggling under the covers where it’s still warm. I lean against my propped-up pillows and lock eyes with Hitler as he stares out from his position above the fireplace opposite my bed.

There’s a bang on my door and I jolt.

‘Hurry up, Hetty. You’ll be late for school!’ Karl yells.

‘Almost dressed. Coming!’ I climb reluctantly out of bed.

Downstairs, everyone is already eating breakfast, the early morning news playing on the radio.

‘… Hermann Göring will today transfer the administration of the Prussian State Secret Police, the Gestapo, to Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler…’

Mutti looks up at Vati. ‘Did you know about this?’

Vati raises his eyebrows and stops chewing for a few moments, listening intently to the radio. ‘… In Austria, eighty-one men, opponents of the government, have been incarcerated in Wöllersdorf …’ Vati loses interest in the story and switches the radio off.

‘There was nothing in Goebbels’ news briefing this morning. It’s all been kept quiet.’

I help myself to a cup of warm milk, salami and pumpernickel, and take a seat next to Mutti.

‘Now things will become interesting,’ Vati says. ‘I wonder what Göring will do next?’ He looks at his watch. ‘I’m late. I must send a journalist to Berlin to get the scoop for the newspaper. If we’re quick, we’ll have something in time for tomorrow’s print run.’ He leans back in his chair. ‘Mark my words, this will be a change for good. There’s chaos out there on the streets, stirred up by Jewish conspirators and communist thugs, but Himmler and Heydrich will bring them to heel. This is good news, Hélène. Good news indeed. Every German citizen should be working for the good of the Reich – and these are the men to make it happen.’

Vati wipes his mouth with his napkin and pushes his chair back. ‘I must be on my way.’ He kisses Mutti and ruffles the top of my hair on his way out.

‘What does he mean?’ Karl asks after he has left. ‘What chaos on the streets?’

I glance out of the window. Fritzschestrasse is all peace and calm. Perhaps the trouble is in Berlin, or Halle, or Munich. I hope it doesn’t spread to the respectable streets of Gohlis.

‘People are starving, Karl,’ Mutti says, her forehead wrinkled up. ‘Even though, since Hitler has been in power, things are getting better, there is still no work for many, many people. Hungry, idle men make for trouble. And worse, they listen to the lies and empty promises of our enemies. We have problems which have been brewing for many years and one man cannot solve them all at once. People must be patient. But some are too stupid to trust. Others simply have evil intentions to be rid of him. A strong leader is what we need right now – and we are lucky we have one.’