The plan begins

“What time is it?” I ask. “How long until seven?”

“Hold still.” Lyudmila urges me, with a makeup brush in my face, trying to make it look like I didn’t just have the piss beat out of me four hours ago.

“We have ten minutes.” Yakovich tells me, looking at his watch.

“Go out the back.” I tell him. “Make sure they’re ready.”

“Yes, comrade.” He says, pocketing his timepiece and slipping out the back door.

“Dear, I don’t know if I’ll be able to cover this one up.” Luda tells me. “It’s bad.”

“Just do the best you can.” I urge her. “I’m still don’t know what I’m going to tell Krueger.”

“Lie to him. Tell him I did it.”

“Then he won’t want to talk to you. Luda, we need him to come inside and we need to distract him for at least a few minutes.”

“Tell him that I was really sorry about it. Tell him that I want to apologize to him.”

“That might work.”

There is a knock on the door.

“That has to be him!” I tell her. “How do I look?”

“Good enough, go and get him.” Luda tells me, gathering her makeup.

I head for the door and open it to see Krueger adorned in his dress uniform, complete with shiny boots and ribbons. It’s sickening. He’s holding a bouquet of flowers and smiling from ear to ear.

“I got these for you, Tatyana.” He says, extending them. “You look… What the fuck! What happened?”

“What happened to your eye?” He asks furiously. “Did she beat you?” He tries to **** my way past me to Lyudmila.

“Fritz please!” I beg him, grabbing onto him. “Please be nice to her!”

“How could she do this? What kind of sick animal is she?”

“Please!” I beg. “I deserved it after what I said!”

“What did you say?” He asks. I freeze up. “What did you say to her?”

“It was…. personal.” I explain.

“I’m sorry, Tatyana. I won’t pry.” He says. “Are you okay.”

“Yes, I’m okay.” I say, taking his hand. “Now come with me, she wanted to apologize to you.”

I lead Krueger to the kitchen table and sit him down, then join Lyudmila on the other side of the table.

“There’s a few things that I wanted to say to you.” Lyudmila tells Krueger.

“Go ahead.” Krueger tells her, a smug look crossing his face.

“I’m sorry for how I’ve acted, for how I didn’t support your relationship. I’m sorry that I hit Tatyana.”

“Anything else?” Krueger asks, basking in the sweet warmth of Lyudmila’s apology.

“I’m sorry for breaking a broom over your head. Look, I’m sure you understand my feelings towards your people, and the feelings of other… occupied persons.”

“I can understand your feelings, but we are the good guys. You must understand that we are fighting to free you from bloodthirsty Stalin and his Bolshevik cronies. Under a German flag, your country will be much safer and more prosperous.”

I can almost see the steam coming from Lyudmila’s ears as she eats his shit.

“Certainly you want what is best for your sweet Tatyana.” Krueger continues. “Inevitably, the Bolshevik regime will crumble under the might of Germany, and your daughter will benefit greatly being wed to a man of my esteem, a full-blooded Aryan and an esteemed officer of the Wehrmacht. She will have higher social status, and a much more comfortable and fulfilling life than she could ever live here.”

“I do want what is best for her.” Lyudmila affirms. “Don’t worry, Mr. Krueger. Tatyana told me all about you. I know just what type of man you are.”

“Good.” Krueger says smugly. “I appreciate that.”

I see Yakovich’s face in the window behind Krueger and make eye contact with him. He gives me the signal and quickly disappears.

“Thank you for talking to Fritz, mama.” I say to Lyudmila, then turn to Krueger. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am.” Krueger tells me, and I get up to lead him out.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day.” I tell him as he opens his car door for me.

“So have I.” He says while I sit down, and then he closes the door. I sit and wait awkwardly while he runs around the front of the car to get in the driver’s seat. He starts the engine.

“Shall I take you to dinner?” He asks. “Back to the bar?”

“How about you take me right home.” I suggest. “I want to be sober this time, that way I can really enjoy it.”

Krueger gives me a confident smirk and shifts the car into gear. “Home it is. You’re going to enjoy it.” He assures me. “I promise.”