Faith and Beauty Read Online Free PDF Page B

away.
    She wandered over to the window to watch streams of people returning from the parade, their flags turning the street below into a shimmering sea of swastikas. Having spent all day offering rigid salutes at every opportunity, they were relaxed now, drunkenly loud, singing off key. Overhead, the last squadrons were passing, their drone fading into the distance. The crash barriers were being folded away and litter collectors were busy picking up the odd abandoned flag and empty cardboard Wurst carton. More than any city on earth, Berlin liked order. On the surface at least.
    ‘It’s an historic occasion.’
    Clara turned. The man who had been surveying her from across the room had come up behind her. At closer quarters, he was more than merely good-looking – there was a kind of perfection to his features. His eyes were grey as pewter, his silver-flecked hair swept precisely from the kind of face Clara had seen on statues in the British Museum – haughty, aristocratic, chiselled by generations of breeding, and a nose that in relief would fit perfectly on an ancient Roman. The only unambiguously German thing about him was the four silver pips and stripe on his collar badge that marked his rank as an SS-Obersturmbannführer.
    ‘I suppose. We have an awful lot of historic occasions nowadays. Sometimes one longs for a simple, unhistoric day.’
    The Obersturmbannführer raised a dark eyebrow.
    ‘Aren’t you enjoying the holiday?’
    ‘I’m not a great one for holidays. I’d rather get back to work.’
    Close up he smelled of fresh leather. No one, except soldiers, smelled of that any more: the rest of the leather in Berlin was worn, scuffed and long overdue for replacement.
    ‘Personally I’m finding it a welcome respite. But perhaps that’s to do with my current occupation.’ He rocked backwards on his heels and followed her gaze down at the street.
    Clara didn’t ask him to elaborate so he continued.
    ‘Herr Doktor Goebbels has suggested I acquaint myself with all aspects of the Reich Chamber of Culture. I can cope with the concerts, but the Minister thought I should watch as many films as possible and frankly, I’m finding it a formidable job. He’s provided me with a list of movies and I’m having them screened as often as I can bear it.’
    ‘Tiresome for you.’
    ‘Indeed.’ He drained his glass. ‘I’m managing two per evening.’
    ‘Almost as many as the Führer, and he watches movies for pleasure.’
    ‘Well it wouldn’t do to compete with the Führer,’ he replied smoothly. ‘Though watching these films does rot the brain, don’t you find?’
    ‘Considering I spend my time acting in them, I suppose not.’
    If the Obersturmbannführer was abashed by his obvious faux pas, he didn’t show it. A small sardonic smile danced on his lips.
    ‘So you’re an actress! That’s the work you’re so keen to get back to. And what are you acting in at present?’
    ‘A romantic comedy.’
    ‘Tell me about it.’
    Clara kept her eyes concentrated pointedly on the street below.
    ‘Not much to tell. It’s nearly finished,’ she replied tersely, hoping he was not going to ask what her current project was called.
    ‘And what’s it called? Just so that I can look out for it?’
    There was a sarcastic composure about him. It was clear he enjoyed prising the information out of her. Turning, she met his gaze full on and said, ‘It’s called
Love Strictly Forbidden
.’
    His smile broadened slightly.
    ‘Very stirring. And is it your character who is forbidden to love?’
    ‘You could say so.’
    Liebe Streng Verboten
was a romantic comedy of the most frivolous kind. It was set in occupied Vienna and Clara played a ditsy girl who fell for a local hotelier. Although the movie was sure to be a cast-iron success, secretly Clara understood the officer’s disdain.
Love Strictly Forbidden
had as much in common with cinematic art as Kaffee-Ersatz had with a rich blend of Ethiopian Arabica. It would take