‘Enough.’ Old Herr Baumann’s voice was rasping, angry. ‘Our sons made the ultimate sacrifice.’ He groped for his daughter-in-law’s hand and stood up. Frau Baumann pushed herself away from the table, tucked her hand in the crook of the old man’s elbow.

‘Goodbye.’

Bette watched as they walked from the room, along the hall and out of the door, the erect figure of old Herr Baumann, who wasn’t so old really and could have been in the Volkssturm as Mutti said, and young Frau Baumann, shuffling like a grandma. Her mother sat at the table, staring ahead. She didn’t even get up to see them out.

She waited until she heard the front door click shut, then turned to Bette.

‘They are Party members,’ she said. ‘We must be so careful. The night is at its darkest before the dawn.’

Bette knew the SS went from house to house, pulling out the traitors and the deserters. She’d seen them, even in their street. That’s why Mutti covered the chamber pot with an old check towel, grey from use, in case they thought it was white. Surrender. Perhaps they’d shot Otto. On his way home.

Greta pushed her chair free.

‘May I leave, Frau Fischer?’

‘Not yet, Greta,’ her mother said, not even glancing Greta’s way, her eyes fixed on the empty food safe on the other side of the table. ‘Bette, take Greta into the living room. Don’t go near the window. I have to go out.’

Sorry, Bette mouthed, sidling close to Greta and squeezing her hand, walking her into the sitting room where they sat on the floor behind the old Biedermeier sofa, cosy, out of sight.

‘My mother says that Frau Baumann was raped by four Russians.’ Greta spoke into Bette’s ear, covering her mouth with her hand. ‘And the old man did nothing.’

Bette opened her eyes wide. ‘Mutti never told me.’

Greta shrugged. ‘She’s too polite.’ She picked at her fingernail. ‘Your sister has got herself a wolf.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘A Russian,’ Greta said. ‘An officer. To keep away the pack. That’s what Waltraud said. A wolf to keep away the pack.’

One of the Ivans who’d been there in the morning returned that evening, with another, younger soldier. He smiled as he came in, removed his cap and pulled out of the pockets of his overcoat some bread, a bottle of schnapps and a packet of cigarettes. He nodded to the younger man, who carried a knapsack which he put on the table. Bette watched as he opened it and took out bacon, herrings, butter, sugar, a can of milk and some candles. He placed them on the table and sat down.