When we emerge from the basement, the scene is like nothing we’d ever imagined. Everywhere buildings are ablaze, and even above ground we’re struggling for breath in the spark-filled air. Chunks of the burning buildings are falling down all around us. We turn back towards the cellar doors, but realise those are alight too. Oma moves as though to try to get into the apartment building itself, to try to rescue her things, but Opa and Mutti hold her back.

‘Don’t be stupid, Wilhelmine. You will get yourself killed. We need to get to the river.’

We try to advance a few metres, but the heat and burning debris beat us back.

We turn and see someone has kicked out the burning doors of our apartment block cellar.

Mutti drags me back there. ‘We will be safer underground,’ she shouts at Opa. But he doesn’t seem to be listening. He in turn is dragging Oma in the opposite direction – towards the river, but also towards the worst of the flames.

That is the last I ever see of them.

I let Mutti take control.

Back in the cellar, we realise there are fewer people here now. It is still stifling, still difficult to breathe. Mutti takes my shawl, dunks it in the bathwater, and then wraps it round my face.

‘You must protect your face, Lotti. Whatever happens, you must protect your face.’

Chapter 24

24

Dresden

February 1982

As Müller perused the apparent suicide victim’s ID card, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she was surprised to see Jäger standing there.

‘Could I have a word, please, Karin?’ His voice seemed totally shorn of menace, as though something had happened in the past three years to neuter him.

‘Of course, Comrade Oberstleutnant.’

‘In private.’ He beckoned her out of the tent, and then wandered some fifty metres from the scene before stopping and lowering his voice.

‘We have a joint interest in this particular death, Karin.’

‘How so?’ asked Müller.

‘He was the director of the elite school which your twins and my son attend.’

‘I know. It’s unfortunate. But I’m not sure it has any relevance to our children. On a day-to-day basis, I doubt they would come into contact with him that much.’

Jäger nodded, thoughtfully. ‘True. But I’m party to information that you may not have. On the face of it, it doesn’t affect the children – I agree. But if you knew what I know . . .’

‘There’s no point being all clandestine about it. If you have some relevant information, you should tell me.’