shouted the voice under the steel helmet.“Corporal Schneider.”“You’ll be in charge for as long as we stop here, understand?”“Yessir!”“Good. You there—” he pointed to the blond fellow—“what’s your name?”“Private Siebental.”“Okay: Private Siebental will stand guard outside this car until four o’clock. If we’re still here by then, have him relieved. Also, place a sentry outside the car on the other side and have him relieved too if necessary. There may be partisans in the area.”“Yessir!”The face under the steel helmet vanished, muttering to itself: “Corporal Schneider.”Andreas was trembling. I hope to God I don’t have to stand guard, he thought. I’m sitting right next to him, and he’ll grab my sleeve and put me on duty. Corporal Schneider had switched on his flashlight and was shining it along the corridor. First he shone it on the collars of those who were lying down and pretending to be asleep, then he grabbed one of them by the collar, saying with a laugh: “Come on, take your gun and stand out there, and don’t blame me!”The one who had been picked swore as he got ready.
