The Last Glass (standard:Suspense, 1196 words)
Author: Hulsey	Added: Jan 29 2004	Views/Reads: 4584/2425	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The last moments together of an SS Colonel and a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz.

The ashen-faced man tried to muster a smile, and proceeded to uncork a
bottle of vintage wine. Colonel Anton Gruber was the same age as the 
man who faced him across the battered table, but that is where the 
similarities end. 

Levi Rosler stared through sallow eyes at his adversary, his hatred for
the SS Colonel strong. Levi had been imprisoned in Auschwitz for four 
years, since the age of twenty-four. In that harrowing time Levi had 
witnessed the murders of his father, mother and two teenage sisters. 
Why not me? He often asked himself. 

Colonel Gruber had forbidden his personal slave from speaking unless
asked to do so. A slip of the tongue or an accidental utterance was 
usually met with a beating or a blow to the head with Gruber's beloved 
eagle-headed cane. 

The gaunt shaven-headed Levi sat head bowed, not daring to look at his
master, the stench of the Nazi's burning cigarette teasing him. Gruber 
produced two crystal glasses and proceeded to pour the red wine, the 
barrage of gunfire now not too far away. 

The door opened, the swirling snow invading the already cold drab room.
A craggy-faced Sergeant appeared, his face registering concern. 

“Herr Colonel; the Russians are very close. We should leave.” 

“Get out you snivelling fucking coward! Go on; join your fleeing
comrades and run.” 

The door was slammed shut and the young German officer fashioned a grin.
“Now Levi, will you join me in a glass of wine?” 

Levi remained motionless, his head still bowed. 

“Come come Levi; did we not grow up together?” 

Still there was silence, until the loud boom of the ever-nearer
artillery unsettled the Colonel. 

“You ungrateful Jewish bastard! The only reason you survived this war
was because of me... Look at you. You are healthy are you not?” 

Levi raised his head, and a sneer appeared on his face. He picked up the
glass with trembling hands and savoured the delicious wine, swilling it 
slowly around his ulcer-riddled mouth. Cold tears streamed down the 
tormented man's unshaven face. After placing the empty glass on the 
table he rose, before removing his tattered striped shirt. 

“Look at me Gruber! Yes look at my supposed healthy body... You murdered
my family and friends, and expect me to be grateful? I'll spit on your 
corpse when the Russians hang you.” 

The Colonel was visibly shaken, and regarded his slave through shameful
yet sincere eyes. He took in the protruding ribs, the emaciated limbs 
and the rotten yellow teeth. 

“Do you recall when we were children Levi? The time when we found that
old bicycle? Your feet hardly reached the pedals, and you fell off 
breaking your arm... Your parents forbade me from seeing you after 
that, do you remember Levi?” 

“My childhood is obliterated from my memory Gruber. The boy I knew was
proud and kind... What happened to you? How could you have done those 
awful things to so many women and children?” 

Gruber picked up the bottle and refilled the glasses. “You must
understand that I was merely following orders. The Fuhrer commanded us 
to eliminate the growing Jewish population. Don't you see?” 

“I was Jewish when you shared my bed as a teenager, and more recently
when you sexually abused me. Weren't you ever afraid that I would 
betray you?” 

“You never betrayed me because of the same reason that I spared your
life. You still love me Levi.” 


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