Operation Ganymede - 8. Chapter 8 - The Shadow of Unspoken Words

Wow, a real room!
Arnfried let out his enthusiasm as soon as the young pimpf left the room, leaving the two teenagers alone in their new quarters.
"Honestly, impressive," Eisenmann agreed cheerfully.
"Uh… yeah, but did you see? There’s only one bed."
"Well, it’s big. We’ll fit, no problem!"
Arnfried pursed his lips, skeptical, then diverted his attention, scanning the room.
"And the wardrobe? We’re splitting it fifty-fifty?"
"Whatever you want. Go ahead, unpack your stuff first. I’ll do mine after."
Arnfried sighed lightly as he opened his bag.
"Anyway, I don’t have much. Just what they asked us to bring. At first, I wanted to take a bunch of stuff, but in the end, it’s better to wash what I have. That way, I’m set."
As he unpacked, he cast a curious glance at Eisenmann.
"While you’re sorting your stuff, I’m going to explore the area."
"Hey, don’t forget to find the toilets!"
"Got it!"

Troubling Thoughts
Alone, Arnfried carefully set about organizing his belongings. He placed his sports gear on the highest shelf, pausing briefly to take in the scent of polish emanating from the wardrobe. A reassuring smell, but his mind was elsewhere.
Men who… who what, again? He tried to recall what had been said during the lesson. Men who would go with boys… The word echoed in his head: pederasts. It had a chilling ring to it. It was the first time they were given a name, and it disturbed him more than he wanted to admit. Last year, he had heard rumors at school, but nothing so explicit.

Eisenmann suddenly burst in, grinning.
"Guess what? Right next door, between us and the pimpfs’ room, there’s a huge bathroom!"
"Really?"
"I swear! And guess what else… a bathtub, buddy!"
"Huh? Are you sure? You’re not pulling my leg?"
"Nope! Go see for yourself if you don’t believe me!"
Arnfried hesitated, then gestured toward the wardrobe.
"No, I’ll finish unpacking first. Look, I left you the two bottom shelves and the one on the left at the top."
"Perfect!"
"Stop it, you sound like the Oberleutnant when you say that!"

They both burst out laughing.
"He’s not so bad, though, is he?" Arnfried continued.
"Who? The Oberleutnant? Yeah, he seems okay. Even though… I don’t know, he gives off this vibe like he always wants to know everything," Eisenmann replied, glancing furtively at his companion.

Arnfried remained impassive, which seemed to reassure Eisenmann, who concluded with a forced smile:
"Anyway, better than some at the Academy."

Unspoken Words
"Oh yeah, you had real pains too?"
Eisenmann nodded with a grimace.
"Big time. Some of them, as soon as they’re back from the front, it’s all about who can yell the loudest."
Arnfried nodded in understanding, but a heavier silence settled between them. Finally, he dared to ask:
"And… what they told us earlier… Do you think it’s true?"
Eisenmann raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"The thing about… p… peder… whatever," Arnfried stammered, visibly uncomfortable.
"Pederasts?"
Arnfried nodded slowly, a glimmer of worry in his eyes.
"Yeah. I mean, wasn’t that what was bothering you earlier?" he asked cautiously.

Eisenmann froze, his shoulders tense. Holding his breath, he remained silent. His muteness spoke volumes.

Arnfried tilted his head, a gentle smile brushing his lips.
"Don’t worry," he said softly.

His tone calmed his companion, who eventually murmured:
"Actually… yeah. I’ve met some before."

Arnfried widened his eyes in surprise but didn’t respond, letting his friend continue.
"Promise me you won’t tell the Oberleutnant, okay?"

The other nodded seriously.
"Don’t worry. I’m no snitch."

Reassured, Eisenmann went on:
"It was at the Wandervogel. There were some there."
He locked eyes with Arnfried.
"But please, don’t tell anyone! Swear it."

Arnfried raised his right hand.
"I swear."

A silence fell until Arnfried asked, almost involuntarily:
"But… what does a pederast even look like?"

Eisenmann smirked ironically.
"Like anyone. Like you, like me. There’s no difference."

This answer unsettled Arnfried, who lowered his gaze, thinking intensely.
"But… what do we do if we come across someone like that?"

Eisenmann chuckled softly.
"Nothing. They’re not going to eat you."
"Huh? Really?"
"Well… you just walk away, that’s all."

Arnfried gave a hesitant smile, a flicker of curiosity still in his eyes, while Eisenmann, now looking noticeably lighter, turned to finish sorting his belongings. Glancing at his watch, he exclaimed:
"Whoa, look at the time! It’s already 4:40! I need to finish unpacking—I’m the Hauptscharführer, after all!"