The Helsinki Pact Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the filled bags.
    “Bugger that! I’m not forgetting
it.” said Kai furiously. “I’ve had enough of this country and I’m
getting out. And this tunnel is how we’re going to do
it.”
    “I don’t like it here either but
there’s just too many things that could go wrong. " Klaus objected.
"It’s not just shifting the earth. Alexanderplatz is still used for
the other lines isn’t it? There’ll be people around, passengers,
police, Stasi, everyone you don’t want, till midnight anyway,
probably later. I bet there are guards patrolling when it’s closed
as well.”
    “I’ve been into all this with
Thomas and we’ve checked things out. Yes, the station’s still used
but it’s an entirely different part, different lines. The bit we're
breaking into is really another station completely. No one’s going
to be around in that part, not even maintenance. No one’s been
there for years. It’s completely shut off, deserted.”
    “I still don’t like it.” said
Klaus. “The more I think of it now the more crackpot it seems.
Someone’s going to hear us or see or we’ll get run over by a train
or step on the life rail or something. And you know what happens if
we get caught. If we’re lucky not to get shot trying to escape
we’ll be in jail for ever. The foreman was complaining about
shortage of bags this morning and fussing about the drill not being
where he’d left it. And this thing about getting rid of the earth
has tipped it for me. It’s just too risky.”
    “I’m with Kai.” said Bernard.
“Everything’s risky but I’m getting out, whatever it takes. I’ll
eat the fucking earth myself if that’s the only way we can get rid
of it, just to get out of this shitty country. We’ll work something
out tomorrow. Come on, Klaus. Let’s get these tools back to the van
and you can give me a lift home.”

     

Chapter 3
    Sunday September 3
through to Saturday September 9 1989
    BERNHARD and Klaus returned
together the following day, Sunday. Klaus was reluctant, nervous
and anxious about getting caught and ending up either shot or
imprisoned but Bernhard had insisted Klaus drive him
over.
    “Think about what you can do when
you get there!” said Kai. “Think of the freedom. None of this
looking over your shoulder all the time. None of this thinking
twice before you say anything. And you’re a skilled carpenter,
you’ll be able to pick up a job in no time. Think of the money
you’ll make! Think of all the rubbish you’ll be able to buy, stuff
which you just can't get here!”
    “True. And I do think of that. I
want that. But I also think how really risky it is. And then
there’s Ingrid. You know Ingrid, Bernhard, she's in accounts. Well,
we’ve got together and sometimes she stays over. I don’t want to
lose her.”
    “Well, you certainly can’t take
her, not right now anyway!" Bernhard looked startled. He'd known
vaguely of Klaus's interest but hadn't taken it very seriously.
"You’ve not said anything to her, have you? No hints, no pillow
talk?”
    “I’ve said nothing. What do you
take me for?" Klaus was indignant. He sat down. "Why are you
looking at me like that. Anyway, why would it matter? Ulrike knows
all about it and she’s coming with us. You've not got a girlfriend,
Bernhard, but Ingrid and I are getting close. Maybe I’d like to
take her. Maybe she’d want to come. What would be wrong with
that?”
    Bernhard glanced at Kai. “You
know where her father works, don’t you? Normannenstrasse. He’s head
of the division that controls this sector." He walked over and
stood directly in front of Klaus, leaned close as Klaus stood up.
"I like you, Klaus, I do, but if I find out you’ve said a word to
Ingrid, dropped a hint, anything, anything at all, I’ll break your
fucking neck. Don’t think I won’t. That heavy machinery I work can
cause accidents if I get a bit careless. And if Kai and I get
picked up first, well, I’ve some pretty good mates on the site.” He
laughed.