‘Of course not!’

‘How can I be sure? Why do you make an exception for me?’

My skin feels hot.

‘You haven’t misunderstood me. The truth is, and I want to be entirely truthful with you…’ I place my hand on top of his, but he pulls it away. ‘I don’t agree with everything Hitler says. But, if you think about it, lots of it makes sense too. To put the good of all before individual self-gratification. Our nation, our future, is the most important thing. Isn’t he, being “married to Germany”, the very epitome of that? No class divisions; prosperity for all; law and order – they are all good, aren’t they? Taming the chaos in the world; eradicating disease and mental illness. Controlling it. Science to make us better, to further our advancement. How can any of it be wrong? Besides, he is the first man in history to recognise the equal importance of women, to recognise the mother and housewife as a profession in the highest order.’

‘But these are just words, Hetty, manipulative, deceitful, duplicitous words. Look at his actions, at the consequences. Don’t listen to his poison. Think about it. It’s all too simple!’

I don’t know! I want to scream at him. I don’t know anything anymore!

‘Think of what is happening in reality,’ Walter presses on. ‘All this fear, the informing, nobody trusting their friends. There is no freedom. Freedom to speak, to think, to feel. He wants to control it all. He insults “the masses” by doubting any capacity for intellect. He sees only one way: to crush; to force; to divide; to dictate. And you women? Oh, he celebrates women. He speaks of your crucial role in the Thousand Year Reich – and yet, that role can only be as mother and homemaker. You are not permitted to be anything else. You are certainly not expected to use your mind. Preferable if you don’t have one at all. And you, Hetty, with your deep thinking, your quick wit and your independent spirit. You will be utterly wasted.’

‘Stop it!’ My head is swelling. Hotter and hotter. The thudding in my temples is growing to a thunder. ‘Just stop.’ I put my head in my hands.

Walter is watching me. Waiting. His face twisted. He’s angry with me.

‘I don’t want to hear any more of this,’ I say. ‘I’m leaving.’

He grabs my hands. ‘Just imagine how it would be to live in a free country. One where nobody watches you to see if you are having un-German thoughts. Where you could say anything you like.’

‘It would be chaos,’ I spit at him. ‘There would be violence and street fighting, like the mobs who used to roam the streets before the Führer—’

The door jangles and an elderly couple come in. Walter and I freeze in silence, bodies stiff with conflict.

‘Good evening, Lena, my dear,’ says the bespectacled lady as she removes her hat. ‘We were hoping for a nice slice of your apfelstrudel if you have some.’