Page 11 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"It's a special night. They're having a contest. Anybody can play. The winner gets a chance of a regular gig."

"I didn't know clubs did that."

"They don't usually. This is a one-off."

Grandma Maud said: "Don't you have to be older to go to such a place?"

"Yes, but I've got in before."

Lili said: "Walli looks older than he is."

"Hmm."

Lili said to Walli: "You've never sung in public. Are you nervous?"

"You bet."

"You should play something more cheerful."

"I guess you're right."

"How about 'This Land Is Your Land'? I love that one."

Walli played it, and Lili sang along.

While they were singing, their older sister, Rebecca, came in. Walli adored Rebecca. After the war, when their parents had been desperately working all hours to feed the family, Rebecca had often been left in charge of Walli and Lili. She was like a second mother, but not so strict.

And she had such guts! He had watched with awe as she threw her husband's matchstick model out of the window. Walli had never liked Hans, and was secretly glad to see him go.

All the neighbors were talking about how Rebecca had unknowingly married a Stasi officer. It had given Walli status in school: no one had previously imagined there was anything special about the Francks. Girls especially were fascinated by the thought that everything said and done in his house had been reported to the police for almost a year.

Even though Rebecca was his sister, Walli could see that she was gorgeous. She had a fabulous figure and a lovely face that showed both kindness and strength. But now he noticed that she looked as if someone had died. He stopped playing and said: "What's the matter?"

"I'v

e been fired," she said.

Grandma Maud put down the newspaper.

"That's crazy!" Walli said. "The boys in your school say you're their best teacher!"

"I know."

"Why did they sack you?"

"I think it was Hans's revenge."

Walli recalled Hans's reaction when he had seen his model smashed, thousands of little matchsticks scattered across the wet pavement. "You'll regret this," Hans had yelled, looking up through the rain. Walli had regarded that as bluster, but a moment's thought would have told him that an agent of the secret police had the power to carry out such a threat. "You and your family," Hans had screamed, and Walli was included in the curse. He shivered.

Grandma Maud said: "Aren't they desperate for teachers?"

"Bernd Held is frantic," Rebecca said. "But he was given orders from above."

Lili said: "What will you do?"

"Get another job. It shouldn't be difficult. Bernd has given me a glowing reference. And every school in East Germany is short of teachers, because so many have moved to the West."

"You should move west," said Lili.

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