‘How was summer camp?’ he asks.

‘It was okay.’ I pause, unsure of how much I should reveal of the BDM to an outsider, a possible enemy of the Reich. We step in time with each other on the path.

‘You don’t seem very enthusiastic,’ he laughs. ‘But that doesn’t surprise me.’

‘Why not?’ I decide to go along with his misinterpretation.

‘Because you always were different. Special different, I mean. Like how you ran out of school that awful day and chased after Freda and me…’ He swallows hard.

‘It was a long time ago, Walter,’ I say quietly. ‘I’ve changed.’

He continues as though he didn’t hear. ‘I always admired that about you. Your independence of mind. Your spirit and passion. The way you dreamed of becoming a doctor, even though it was impossible. I knew you were smart, questioned things. Definitely not a blind follower of rules.’ He pauses. ‘I can tell that you, of all people, see the truth behind the rhetoric.’

I glance at him. His words make my skin feel hot. No one has ever spoken so openly to me. Besides, he makes flaws like independence and questioning of rules sound like good qualities.

‘How could you notice all that, when you never took the slightest bit of interest in me?’ I ask.

‘Who said I never took any interest in you?’

‘You barely noticed I existed.’

He shakes his head and smiles. ‘Well, that’s where you are entirely wrong, Miss Herta,’ he says with a wink. ‘I noticed much more about you than you might imagine.’

I feel my cheeks redden.

‘So, what do you plan to do when you leave school?’ Walter asks, changing the subject.

‘I’d like to go to university.’ I sigh. ‘But Vati doesn’t want me to. Besides, it’s terribly complicated to get to university these days if you’re a girl. And Vati would need to approve. Of course, I’ve had to give up that silly dream of being a doctor. How I wish I’d been born a boy.’

‘I’m rather glad you weren’t.’ I feel his eyes on me and my skin burns even hotter. ‘I think you would make an excellent doctor,’ he adds.

‘And how on earth would you know that? You haven’t seen me since I was twelve.’

Herr Metzger’s warnings flicker through my mind. Should I be wary of these compliments? Is he trying to ingratiate himself?

‘People don’t change,’ Walter is saying, ‘not deep down. You’re still the same girl inside, I’m sure of it. Anyway, do you want to know the thing I really used to like about you?’ He’s smiling again.

‘What?’

‘You laughed at all my jokes, however bad they were – and some were truly dreadful. That’s earned you a special place in my heart.’

I smile. ‘And do you still tell terrible jokes?’

‘Of course!’ He puts his head on one side and looks at me. ‘Did you hear about the dog who used to chase people on bikes?’