Fifteen years in a childhood paradise

the platform opposite the hospital train.

"Your train," he shouted, as he disappeared around a street corner. A sigh of relief.

"Just like our train to Strykowo," I motioned to Bernd. "It has those doors for each compartment, with a runner board connecting them."

"Let's sit together, Dieter." "Sorry, I think we have to stay with our own units." "At least we know that we are not far from one another." It was a long train, all full of FLAK helpers. Suddenly, the engine pulled with a jerk, and our train was moving ever so slowly.

"What time is it?" Someones watch said just on 3 pm. "I wonder whether the hospital train is going to make it?" "It's still being loaded. An officer said, that they are just about ready to leave. I hope they leave soon." After a pause he said: "I'm wondering whether we are going to make it."

The feeling, to leave the fortress Posen behind us, seemed like waking up from a night mare. It was almost too good to believe. But there was still danger ahead.

The train went painfully slow. It stopped about every hundred meters, and then started again with a jerk. We thought that there was something wrong with our train or the steam engine.

"It feels like one of the soldiers is driving the engine," commented Albert, our story teller, who was always witty and ready for a joke.

"Wrong," said the sergeant major, who had just overheard the comment, as he opened the door for a quick check. "The points have to be shifted by hand. All the railway men have already gone."

Gradually, we left Posen behind, and the train picked up speed. There was another stop, however, about 5pm. It was already getting dark. Those near the windows strained their eyes.

"Can you see anything?" "Looks like someone is lying in the ditch right near the embankment." A military guard from our train went to investigate. It was the body of a man, shot dead.

"Maybe the Russians have already been here?" Could it be? We looked anxiously at each other. "There could be some Russian snipers, waiting for our train to move into a trap?"

"Don't be absurd. Just trying to scare us all, eh?" "The guard is looking around now. I told you, there is an ambush." "He's coming up now," and Albert opened the door just a slit, not to let too much cold air in.

Through the opening we heard the guard call out: "It's all right. We're going on."

We were rather subdued for the next couple of hours, but when nothing happened, we relaxed again. We had worried for nothing, as we

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