Grigory Borzenko The Mystery of the Amber Room from the series “Time Traveler”

Grigory Borzenko
The Mystery of the Amber Room
from the series “Time Traveler”

Episode one
Thinking about where she would go on a trip to the past, Gloria Evans immediately thought of the Amber Room. She saw in photos and videos this world masterpiece of the brilliant Andreas Schlüter. But the girl understood perfectly well that this was just a copy made by her contemporaries. The masterpiece itself disappeared during the Second World War. Or rather, he did not disappear, but was kidnapped by the Nazis. This was the main intrigue that attracted our time traveler. There was no need to look for a “pig in a poke”, “knock on a closed door”, or look for some unknown paths. Many people know very well which circle of the top leadership of Nazi Germany is involved in this blatant atrocity. It was only necessary to calculate at what exact moment the last traces and mentions of the stolen property of humanity were lost, and what kind of people were near it at that time. When all this will be known and understandable to her, when the girl will clearly understand at what time she will need to go on her visit to the past, and what counterpoints people need to contact. Then it will be possible to start your new unusual voyage to the affairs of bygone days.
In order to better understand all this, she needed to study documents and chronicles from the war. Everything related to the details and facts of the disappearance of the Amber Team. Realizing that she couldn’t do without it, Gloria spent the whole day on the Internet, fishing out everything related to the latest mentions of the fate of the masterpiece. In fact, the history of the creation and life of this brilliant creation is interesting in itself. Once upon a time, Gloria read all this from beginning to end, and was delighted and amazed by the unusual fate of the Amber Cabinet. But now it was the ending that interested her. She wanted to find the end of a thread that she could grab onto.
The more she read and delved into the essence of numerous articles and publications on this topic, the more she was confused by the huge number of versions about where the Nazis hid the stolen masterpiece. It is clear that many people are seized by the temptation to touch the Great Secret that worries all of humanity, and leave their mark, their version there. But in the end, this often did not help, but hindered the matter. Many different hypotheses were expressed, sometimes the most incredible and extravagant, that now the girl had to spend a lot of time to “separate the wheat from the chaff.” To identify, among the vast seas and oceans of idle speculation, that pure drop of truth that is not guided by guesswork, the notorious “anyhow, if only”, but is confirmed by facts. Especially those that were confirmed by several independent sources.
Having compared all this, and analyzed, calculated from a huge list of castles, dungeons, tunnels and caves where the Amber Room could be hidden, our tireless seeker stopped at one place where the loss was definitely located! This is Reinhardsbrunn Castle near the city of Gotha!
One thing was known for sure and unambiguously: the last, generally known place where the Amber Room was kept was the city of Koenigsberg! What followed was such a list of possible places where she could have been secretly transported that Gloria’s head was spinning from the abundance of geographical points where she could end up lost...
There was a lot of idle talk and incomprehensibility in all other versions, where, apart from the chatter of one person, his words were not confirmed anywhere or anything else. In the case of Reinhardsbrunn Castle, words, testimony, and other irrefutable facts testified that the legendary notorious boxes in which the amber slabs were packed, which at one time adorned the walls of the famous cabinet, definitely and unambiguously took place and are in this castle!
The girl determined this from the following facts.
Gloria was very interested in the story about how, in 1948–1949, students of short-term vocational courses located in one of the Thuringian castles played... with amber pebbles! The narrator studied at Reinhardsbrunn Castle near the city of Gotha. While exploring the ancient castle, the guys found some amber slabs in the attic. Separate pieces of amber lay nearby. One side of the stones was polished, and on the opposite side there were remains of plaster or glue. Knowing nothing about the value of amber in general, and especially not suspecting the circumstances of its appearance in the castle, the boys threw smooth stones into the pond, competing to see whose stone could jump better on the water...
Realizing that they could find the loss, the seekers of the Amber Room obtained permission to drain the system of ponds around the castle. However, it turned out that in the early 1950s some chemicals got into the water and the ponds had to be cleaned: they were drained, the soil was scooped out... But where was the soil taken? Unfortunately, the room searchers were unable to find out this.
Then another fact caught Gloria’s attention.
The searchers of the amber room managed to find two eyewitnesses from the staff of Reinhardsbrunn Castle who remembered something specific. The wife of the former gatekeeper said that in the passage under the “hall of ancestors” there were boxes with amber items for two or three weeks. They were brought from somewhere in the east. She found it difficult to say more specifically when they were brought and taken away. But I definitely remembered that even after May 1945, there were still many amber fragments lying on the floor in the castle - in all the cracks between the slabs.
The second important eyewitness was the maid. She claimed that the boxes of amber were taken away just a few days before the American soldiers arrived, and these boxes lay in the castle for about two months. One box broke while being loaded into the car. The amber slabs lay untidy for some time. She did not know who took them to the attic (where the course students found them a few years later). But she suggested that this could have been done by soldiers or some people in civilian clothes who lived in the castle for some time. She firmly remembered: all the “guests” left the castle on April 5, 1945, along with the retreating troops.
These fragments of amber, which the boys, due to their youth and thoughtlessness, played with, like ordinary pebbles, on a pond, meant a lot to the heroine of our story. In other versions there were just words, but here is proof that there were definitely boxes with amber slabs in this castle that beckoned all seekers of the missing room! This was confirmed by other facts, from which the girl tried to separate the primary from the secondary.
After all, not everything in this story was so simple. After all, the boxes with the amber room did not travel on their own. They were only part of the treasures looted by the Nazis, which then, like streams, spread in different directions... For Gloria of death, such a thing would have been to follow the wrong trail. To then become completely confused. She needed to track down which specific stream the boxes of amber floated away. The girl determined that the amber room was only part of the museum and historical treasures stolen by the Gauleiter of East Prussia, Erich Koch. The list of museum objects stolen by this unworthy man was amazing! These were meetings of extreme importance! They included paintings, tapestries, silverware and other valuable items. Paintings by Rubens and many works from the 16th to 19th centuries were listed. The silver collection included many hundreds of items. There were cutlery, entire sets, many candlesticks, individual items and even a silver house!
All this was initially delivered to Konigsberg, and then began to spread out in the streams we mentioned. The fate of all these important relics is equally valuable to humanity. But Gloria was now only interested in the fate of the Amber Room. And the tip of this thread led to Reinhardsbrunn Castle, and to SS Obersturmbannführer Georg Ringel. Who was a kind of guardian of the Holy Grail. That is, the Amber Room.
Yes, there was also SS Standartenführer Albert Popp, and other people who were concerned about the fate of the priceless cargo. But it was in Georg Ringel that our time traveler saw the one to whom she should go to visit.
Having again and again turned over mountains of documents, extracted the necessary information for herself, once again learned the German language she knew, and tried on the appropriate outfit of that time at the Theater Club of her hometown of Flint, Gloria Evans one fine day recovered from her next visit to the past. .
She understood that she was not heading towards Jack the Ripper, although terrible, but not very mentally intelligent. From which she then, during her previous visit to the past, was hiding all the time. Now she will fight face to face with an intelligent and sensible opponent. She knew what SS was. These guys loosened the tongues of many experienced intelligence officers. They know how to distinguish falsehood in the voice and in the eyes. This experienced SS chief will certainly scan her with his gaze and check for sincerity.
Will she, young and inexperienced, pass this test? Will she be able to cope with such a difficult test?
Gloria was brave and gathered her courage, but she understood that everything would not be as simple as she would like.
A bad feeling tormented her soul... But she insisted so much on this adventure! She really wanted to do what she had in mind!
And she decided!
Set off towards the unknown...

Episode two
- Everything you burn, Frau Gloria, is very interesting and entertaining. Very! But I want to understand your train of thought and the logic of your actions. Why do you need all this? For what? Answer me!
Before the piercing, all-penetrating gaze of the owner of the office, SS Obersturmbannführer Georg Ringel, the visitor felt as if she were in front of the rays of a machine in an X-ray room. This look was creepy, it chilled her to the bone. But the time traveler was ready for this. She understood that her opponent would look at her this way. Therefore, I was mentally prepared for this.
“The thing is,” she answered sweetly and flirtatiously, quite naturally and sincerely, “that I have been interested in masterpieces of world art since childhood.” Their history, value, beauty. Everything connected with them. I understand that each of these creations by brilliant masters of their time is priceless! It is beyond time, beyond nations, beyond politics! Everyone should admire them always! At all times! They need to be protected! They must be preserved for centuries so that many, many generations of people can admire them! That is why I am concerned about the fate of the legendary Amber Room. I don't care where she will be. In which country and in which city. In Russia, Germany, Poland, Saxony or Czechoslovakia. In Königsberg, Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Wexelburg Castle, Kriebstein Castle or Hartenstein Castle. If only the priceless relic called the Amber Room were preserved for humanity! Let it be the private property and part of the collection of Mr. Erich Koch, or any other person! I don't care! Trust me! I say this sincerely! If only the priceless relic was preserved! This is why I offer my help! Let me accompany this priceless cargo and ensure its safety! I said everything!
The narrator blurted out all this emotionally, in one breath. She spoke for so long and without a break that in the end she even began to swallow her words. It was clear that such a bright speech tired her. Now she was silent, and at the same time she was breathing heavily, catching her breath.
Not a muscle moved on the listener's face. He did not offer her a glass of water to wet her throat, nor did he compliment her, admiring her patriotism and love of art. He simply glared at her. He, as they say, scanned her. This young lady said very unusual things. And for his age, and in general. Her phenomenal knowledge regarding the Amber Cabinet and everything connected with it was also alarming.
The silent pause dragged on. There was a feeling of uneasiness in the office. Gloria wanted to say something else in order to maintain the conversation, but she understood that this could harm the matter and anger the owner of the office. Who, in business too, without a doubt, loved and wanted to be the master. She answered his question, now it’s his turn to speak. She waited.
Ringel sighed, rubbed his chin, remained silent for a while, and then said, slowly drawing out the words:
“You said that you were frank with me, and I, Frau Gloria, will be just as frank with you.” It really, really confuses me that you, such a young person, at an age when you should be more interested in representatives of the opposite sex and everything else that goes with them, show such deep knowledge in matters that are distant to you. Only representatives of secret intelligence services and other similar structures could afford such erudition and outlook.
The girl smiled sadly.
- The fact is, Mr. Obersturmbannführer, that I am the owner of a unique gift. Well... Clairvoyant, this is probably a strong word, but the Creator still rewarded me with some abilities. I consider you a very intelligent and reasonable person, Mr. Obersturmbannführer. That’s why I turned to you, hoping that you will not only appreciate my talent, but also use it for the benefit of the cause that interests us. Don't brush me off! Please! Appreciate me! You know what kind of people are interested in personalities like Wolf Messing! The first persons of some states! And I came to you myself! Exactly to you! Appreciate it!
The owner of the office's eyes narrowed.
- Do you want to say that you have at least a small fraction of what Messing is capable of?
The guest smiled slyly.
- Of course. Since I told you about it, that means it is so. Do you seriously believe that I would dare to lie to such a person as you?!
And the girl’s words looked convincing, and the same was demonstrated by her sweet face, glowing with sincerity and ease.
Ringel looked at her without blinking.
- Can you prove it?
- Of course!
The very fact that she answered this very provocative question so quickly aroused confidence in the interlocutor. At the same time, she behaved so confidently that even an experienced SS man, who had seen through more than one enemy and traitor in his life, was now amazed at how this girl behaved so naturally, to whom the ironic definition of “pigalitz” could be applied.
- Well... And how will you do this?
The SS man looked as if he had just caught a liar or a thief lying or stealing, and now he looked at the offender with irony and reproach. But the girl withstood this gaze. Her gaze was no less eloquent.
“I could now give you a lot of facts that no one should know about.” But I really don’t want you to remember me as someone who pokes his nose into other people’s affairs and finds out other people’s secrets. I really, really don’t want to be one of those people about whom someone might say that “she knew a lot.” I don't want to be your enemy! I want to be your friend! I want to help you...
- You still haven’t answered my question! – Ringel interrupted her sharply. – I don’t need verbiage, but a concrete fact! The fact of what we talked about. Point it out to me! Now!
It was not anger yet, but it could well be called irritation. Gloria realized that now only specifics were needed, and nothing more, so she immediately got down to business.
- Fine! Listen! But I beg you: don’t let what I say now scare you. This is not my invention! And it's not something I would want to happen. But it will happen! Soon a telephone call will ring in your office... On the phone you will hear news that will amaze you... I will now repeat what you will hear on the phone. I ask you: do not pour out your anger on me! After all, I will not be the reason for what you hear! I'm just a fortune teller! Clairvoyant! I foresee what will happen. Did you doubt that I have the gift of Messing? Then listen!
The more Gloria spoke, the larger the listener’s eyes became in surprise.
When, after some time had passed in the conversation, the telephone suddenly rang annoyingly in the office, it seemed to Gloria that SS Obersturmbannführer Georg Ringel, always calm and strong in character, even shuddered slightly.
He reached for the receiver with some hesitation, but, of course, picked it up.
It all happened again. Just like when Gloria told him the essence of the call. This time with even more force. The look of the SS man, who had changed in his face, was amazed not only because of what he heard on the phone, but also because of incredible surprise: how could this girl know what he was now being told over the phone as urgent, incredible, and still a secret to everyone else news?!
Gloria, on the contrary, behaved very, very calmly. For Ringel, the fact of such a call came as a surprise. It is not difficult to guess that for the girl he was a fact of history, which she knew about in advance. Even the call time. It was under this that she planned her visit to the SS chief. She arrived neither earlier nor later, but precisely before this bell, which went down in history, was supposed to sound. She really hoped that before this time she would have time to tell the owner of the office not only about the essence of the matter, but also about her clairvoyant abilities. What the SS man heard in the telephone receiver will be a kind of trump card for our heroine, which will greatly help her in the fight with her difficult opponent.
Her guesses didn't let her down. The agitated Obersturmbannführer quickly picked up the phone a second time, literally shouting into it:
- Connect me with Colonel Rudolf Kühn! Immediately! Hello! Colonel! Listen to me carefully! Now a certain Frau Gloria Evans will be brought to you. Include her in your expedition! From now on, the three of you work together! You, Chief Lieutenant and Frau Gloria! That's all for now! I'll call you back later with details. I have a lot to do right now! Something incredible happened! See you in touch!
The SS man literally threw the receiver on the telephone and immediately hurried to the door. As he walked, he said to Gloria:
- Sit in the waiting room, wait! Colonel Rudolf Kühn will come for you! Or Chief Lieutenant Erich Strauss. I'll give instructions to the secretary!

Episode three
The Horch 830 passenger car, which Gloria jokingly called “The Ferret,” slowly bounced on the uneven roads, patiently covering the kilometers of the path destined for it. There were three people sitting inside the car: Gloria Evans, Colonel Rudolf Kühn and Chief Lieutenant Erich Strauss. The chief lieutenant was driving, the colonel was sitting next to him, and Gloria was in the back seat. This state of affairs suited her quite well. For her now, the main goal was one thing: to follow the road, to remember where they were going, what places they passed. Being in front, the two had no way of keeping an eye on her. Otherwise, they would have paid attention to the way she gazes so intently at the inscriptions on road and other signs. The girl clearly wanted to remember everything and document it in her memory. She tried very hard to record the place where they were now taking the amber room, and where it would eventually be hidden.
It was not the first day that she had been stewing in all this mess, delving into the essence of what was happening. And the longer this went on, the more she realized how cunning the Nazis were playing. Sometimes it seemed to her that they were deliberately sending false cargo to different places in order to further confuse possible followers and seekers of the Amber Room. True, no one, anywhere, has ever let slip anything about what she was only guessing about. Perhaps these were trucks with other valuables also stolen from museums in the occupied territories. But she knew one thing, however, the main thing: it was in those boxes that they were now carrying that the legendary and priceless amber collection was located! One day she had the opportunity to look into one of the boxes and verify its contents! There really were amber slabs!!!
This fact inspired her! From that moment on, she realized that she was chasing some ghostly mirage that no one had ever seen! She saw everything! All! With my own eyes! Here she is! The Amber Room! Hundreds of books, thousands of documents, millions of articles are written about whose fate! Many researchers have devoted years, or even their entire lives, to finding it! Without ever seeing her in the eyes! And Gloria, here she is! He’s sitting in this Ferret, driving behind a convoy of trucks carrying boxes of amber!
She didn't know much about truck brands, especially the old ones belonging to the Third Reich. But now I specifically tried to remember them, just in case. In case you need it for a story, or for Mr. Oliver Grant's newspaper. The convoy included: a Henschel, Borgward, MAN ML truck, a Büssing-NAG diesel all-wheel drive, and a heavy Mercedes-Benz flatbed vehicle. She noticed that in the back of the latter there were also boxes of dynamite. This prompted our smart heroine to certain thoughts. But she didn't want to think ahead. She guessed what this cargo was for and what was planned in connection with it, but decided not to guess what would happen, but simply follow the development of events.
Suddenly the Ferret jumped sharply, causing all three to hover for a second in a kind of weightlessness.
- What a devil! – The driver swore. - We ran over a rock... How could anyone not notice it?
- Be careful, Chief Lieutenant! – Kyun grumbled. “We don’t need any trouble or stops along the way.” We have an important mission! We must move forward! We are obliged to deliver the goods!
- Nothing! – The driver responded in a cheerful tone. – Nothing will happen to either the cargo or our car! After all, our guardian angel is with us! Obersturmbannführer said that Frau Gloria is a kind of guardian of what we are carrying. I hope that it will save not only the cargo, but also our car and all of us. Isn’t that right, Frau Gloria?
- Certainly! – The girl answered cheerfully. “If the Obersturmbannführer said so, then that’s how it should be!” What are you doing?! Do you doubt the words of the Obersturmbannführer?! Otherwise I’ll complain to him about you!
At the same time, the girl laughed loudly and good-naturedly.
- You have such a pleasant laugh, Frau Gloria... And your voice too... - The driver continued to speak, without turning his head, vigilantly watching the road. – I’ll tell you a secret! Almost all the guys from our team secretly fell in love with you!
The speaker apparently expected a stormy joyful reaction to his words. But in response I heard something completely unexpected:
- You upset me... Why “almost everyone”? And I would like it all!
All three smiled.
- Yeah... You, Frau Gloria, are really suitable for the role of guardian of our cargo. - The colonel responded. - You are a real guardian angel! Thanks to your patronage, we covered such an important path without problems and without incident! We are actually already there! Here we are! Overtake everyone, Chief Lieutenant! Drive ahead of the column!
Before this, the car was driving at the end of the column. The colonel and chief lieutenant tried to keep everything in their field of vision and control the situation. Now the tactics have changed. Strauss pressed on the gas pedal. The Ferret began to overtake the trucks. Overtaking each driver, having caught up with him, Kühn shouted loudly:
- We're almost there! Follow us!
Having overtaken the entire column and leading it, “Ferret” drove along the main road for some time, and then turned into the mountains.
Although the journey did not take long, the road, more like a wide mountain path, was very difficult. Sometimes rocks hung over this peculiar path, and Gloria thought that this mass of stone would collapse and crush them. Sometimes we had to drive through a narrow gap between two rocks. But in the end they soon stopped in front of one of the steep cliffs.
Due to the abundance of thickets, the girl did not immediately notice the main thing. But soon, among the thickets of bushes and trees, she noticed the entrance to a cave...
From the darkness yawning ahead, it commanded not only a chill, but also an ominous mystery...

Episode four
- Everyone, attention! – Colonel Rudolf Kühn’s voice sounded loud and firm. – Prepare the torches. When you enter the cave, light them. For now, you don't need them. The headlights of your cars will illuminate the way ahead. The entrance to the cave seems narrow, but trucks will pass. Do not doubt! I've already looked at everything here. And inside the cave too. All our trucks will fit there. There is no need to unload the boxes yet. We will unload only some of the boxes from the last car at the entrance. Come in! Wait for us there. We will come to you now.
The “ferret” stood to the side, and the convoy slowly, one car at a time, began to enter the cave. No one was talking, silence reigned around, broken only by the measured rumble of working engines.
When the last truck began to enter the cave, the colonel began to regulate its movement. She walked forward, raised her hands, and, like a traffic controller on a freeway, began waving her hands to indicate that the driver should move forward.
When the car drove about ten meters inside, Kühn signaled to stop, called the driver and the soldier sitting next to him to get out of the cab. The chief lieutenant joined them, and the four of them began to quickly and quickly unload boxes of dynamite and reels of wires. Having connected the wires to stacked boxes, they brought the ends of the wires outside, away from the entrance to the cave.
- Great! – Kün grunted with satisfaction, turning to the driver and his companion. - Come inside. We will come to you now.
Both soldiers hastened to follow the orders of their commanders.
Kühn and Strauss approached the Weasel, took out machine guns, hung them behind their backs, and headed towards the entrance to the cave.
- Come with us, Frau Gloria! - The colonel said as he walked.
“Thank you, but I’ll wait here...” The girl answered, alarmed by forebodings.
- And yet I ask you to follow with us! “The colonel said in a firmer and more urgent voice, stopping.
- But I'm terribly afraid of the dark...
Our heroine tried with all her might to come up with something, just not to go there. Bad premonitions never let her down. She could not get out of her mind about the machine guns that these two took with them! Why did they do this?!
- And yet I insist, Frau Gloria, that you come with us! – The colonel said even more decisively. - We were together all the time. Why should it be different now? You are a treasure keeper! You should be there for them!
From the gloomy and almost evil face of the colonel, the girl realized that she had no choice but to obey.
They entered the cave. The light of burning torches could be seen ahead, so they could see where to go.
The drivers parked the trucks almost side by side, as if in a parking lot. Only two soldiers, holding torches in their hands, continued to walk around the cave and inspect it. Others stuck their torches into rock crevices or other recesses, leaving them to burn as a kind of street lamp. They themselves gathered together, talked loudly and even laughed. Everyone understood that the work was actually completed, and they could rest a little, take a breath.
- Well done boys! It is done! “From afar, the colonel shook the walls of the dungeon with a loud and cheerful voice. - I want to reward you in honor of such a significant event! By order of the Obersturmbannführer! Gather everyone together, line up here, I will read out to you the order of the Obersturmbannführer to assign to many of you... However, I am getting ahead of myself! I want a joyful surprise for many of you to sound within these walls! Here is where we put an end to our grand enterprise! Frau Gloria! Go to the others and listen with them to what I have to say.
The girl saw how the chief lieutenant flinched at these words. He slowly turned to his boss and looked at him with a shocked look.
- So she’s with us...
His voice broke with excitement...
Even then, when our heroine saw how these two were taking machine guns with them, she even then began to guess what these two were up to. After Strauss's current reaction to what the colonel had said, she realized that her worst assumptions were confirmed. There was an unpleasant feeling in my chest...
- Don't interfere in something that's not your own business, Chief Lieutenant! Frau Gloria is also on the list of those awarded and who will be awarded the title! Come to everyone else, Frau Gloria! I ask you to! Listen to what I will now read in the order of the Obersturmbannführer!
Kühn slowly took out a sheet of paper folded in four from his pocket and, with a solemn look, began to unfold it.
The girl realized that she had no choice but to obey. But she, unlike everyone else, understood what was happening and did not feel doomed. She was well aware that the soldiers in the twilight of the cave did not see the machine guns hanging behind their commanders. They don't expect betrayal. They do nothing to save themselves. And the time traveler had such an opportunity. You just need to have time to do everything in order to return to the present time in time. At that hour from which she was recovering on this visit to the past. Hurry up before machine gun fire starts! Faster!!!
- Order of SS-Obersturmbannführer Georg Ringel, dated...
When the colonel began to read out the paper in a loud voice, she realized that she had some time to save herself. She was afraid that a burst of machine gun fire would rush after her! Already when she goes to a group of soldiers. But the smug colonel decided to put on some kind of cynical performance, which gave the girl time not only to have time to approach the main group, but to come behind her. This was already a saving place for Gloria. The bodies of the soldiers standing in front would have shielded her from the bullets. But she decided to play it safe. She moved further, closer to the wall along which a line was lined up, lay down on the ground and began to whisper the cherished words: “I want to go back! In my time!"
It was at this time that the ominous trills of two machine gun bursts were heard. One of the stray bullets flew so close that it tore out a strand of hair hanging down from the frightened girl...

Episode five
“It seems that Frau Gloria’s body was not at the scene of the execution...” Strauss’s voice sounded confused. - I quickly examined the place, the corpses of the soldiers... But she, it seems, was nowhere...
- If something seems to you, Chief Lieutenant, then in this case you should always be baptized. That's because they examined it briefly, that's why they didn't notice. Where, one wonders, could she have gone?!
- Although I hurriedly, I looked at everything carefully... But I didn’t find her... How could you do this to her, Colonel?! She was with us! She is so sweet, kind...
- Stop chatting, Chief Lieutenant! Better help me! Attention! Now let's blow up the entrance to the cave!
There was an explosion that echoed through the mountains.
Kühn immediately hurried to the formed stone blockage, Strauss followed him.
- Wonderful! Wonderful! – The colonel purred under his breath with satisfaction, examining the place. - A mosquito won’t hurt your nose! There are no traces! Everything is absolutely invisible! Wonderful! No one will find anything, no one will determine that there once was an entrance to the cave. Even if he looks for him. But for an ignorant person it will be just a mountain. Even in his wildest dreams he wouldn’t be able to imagine what was there inside!
- Yes... The explosion was really successful. – Strauss agreed. - He closed everything...
- I completely agree with you! The rest will be completed by time and her majesty nature. Over time, everything here will be overgrown with grass and shrubs. No one will notice anything... Let's remove the remaining wires and everything else.
While Strauss was rolling up a piece of wire, Kühn carried and placed in the trunk of the Ferret an empty metal spool on which wires had previously been wound. The colonel tried to cover up all traces, and did it in good faith. He walked around the clearing again and again in front of the former entrance to the cave, made sure that everything was fine, and only then got into the car and commanded his subordinate:
- Forward! Go!
We drove in silence for a long time. Both were gloomy. Both were thinking about their own things.
“I can’t understand,” Strauss finally couldn’t stand it. – Why was Frau Gloria killed?
- I earnestly ask you, Chief Lieutenant, not to mention her again! – Kyun’s voice sounded irritable. – You can talk about something else, but not about her!
- Fine. I'll tell you something else. Why do we carry an empty spool of wires with us when we could leave it inside the cave?
- This is a reasonable idea! Commendable! I approve! This is something we can and should really talk about! You're right! We must hide all the evidence! Which we will do soon. When we leave the rocky area and get onto a dirt road.
When the dirt road began, Kühn turned his head for a long time, looked around, examined the area they were passing by. Finally seeing an island of trees and bushes, he nodded his head and waved his hand, silently indicating to the driver to turn there. When the car stopped, the colonel got out and went to the trunk.
- Let's bury the coil and other objects here, Chief Lieutenant, that will put an end to our secret business. Take the second shovel. Together we will get the job done faster.
Kühn took a shovel, went deep into the thickets, and began to dig. Strauss had no choice but to take a second shovel and follow his example.
They dug for a long time and in silence. Finally, Strauss broke the silence.
- Why are we digging such a deep hole? For coils and wires and what have you, this one will do!
- Yes! You're right. – Kyun agreed. - Let's go, let's bring what we have.
With a dashing movement, he stuck a shovel into a freshly dug mound of loose earth and confidently walked towards the car. Strauss followed him.
- Here, take it! Carry it and throw it into the pit! I'll bring the rest!
With these owls, the colonel took a reel from the trunk and put it in the hands of the chief lieutenant. Tom had no choice but to take it and go to the pit. Walking up to her, he threw it into the bottom of his burden, and turned to see where his friend was.
But he saw the barrel of a machine gun looking at him in front of him...
Strauss's face turned gray... He understood everything...
- For what? – The voice of the doomed man broke with excitement. The words got stuck in his throat, parched from excitement. – We are friends, Rudolf... You were visiting me. Have you seen my wife... Children...
The killer looked at his victim with a cold, indifferent gaze. His face did not express any emotion. As if all he had to do now was press the switch, turn off the light, and go to bed...
- I understand everything, Erich... But our service is like this... We both know that such an important secret has been entrusted to us. And a secret only remains a secret when... Well... Then, I think, you yourself know. Have you heard the wise saying that if two people know a secret, it remains a secret only if one of the two is dead?
- For the sake of my children, Rudolf...
A short burst of machine gun fire did not allow the unfortunate man to finish speaking.
He fell like a mown stem of grass sharply knocked down by a blow of a scythe...
Kühn lowered the machine gun onto the grass, walked up to his former subordinate and friend lying on the edge of the pit, and began to examine the pockets of the clothes of the still agonizing corpse. Having taken all the documents and everything he had with him, he pushed the body of the unfortunate man into a hole, took a shovel, and began to throw the earth back, burying the corpse.
When, a few minutes later, the “Ferret”, shaking on the uneven road, disappeared into the distance, a ringing silence reigned in this small grove... Which was occasionally broken only by the sound of gusts of wind and the trills of birds.
Years will pass... This mound of freshly dug earth will be overgrown with grass. Nothing will remind you of the drama that once took place in this place. The wife and children of the kind-hearted chief lieutenant will never know about his fate, nor about the place of his last refuge on this thrice-sinful earth...

Episode six
- Great job, Colonel! Gorgeous! Thank you for your service!
- I tried, Mr. Obersturmbannführer! I followed your orders! I serve you, the Fuhrer and the nation!
Colonel Rudolf Kühn stood at attention, stretched out in front of SS Obersturmbannführer Georg Ringel, imposingly stretched out on a chair, and was all glowing with an excess of emotions. He radiated triumph! He was aware that he had conscientiously and clearly carried out the most important order of his boss, and now, having reported to him about its execution, he quite logically expected well-deserved gratitude and possible rewards. He also thought about promotion. Encouragement must be inevitable! All that remains is to wait and see how generously the Obersturmbannführer will appreciate his efforts.
- Commendable! Commendable! You've done some really important work! Now I will know that I can trust you with equally important matters! And they exist! Very important! I can even show you one of them! Come with me!
Ringel stood up and walked confidently towards the office door. It is not difficult to guess that for Kühn there was simply no other choice but to obediently follow his boss.
Walking down a series of long corridors, Ringel stepped through the door leading to the dungeons of the SS control building. The series of steps was as long as the maze of corridors. Finally, they stopped in one of the dungeons.
- Probably, I will have to accompany the boxes with the next treasures again? Do you want to show them to me?
Kühn tried to joke, but his voice sounded alarmed. It was clear that he was not laughing.
- You almost guessed it right. – Ringel answered dryly. – The boxes are in the recess, which is located in that corner of the room. Come closer! Look! Don't be afraid! Go to the edge and look down. There you will see them.
The pistol shot was as much a surprise to Kühn as two machine gun bursts were there, in the cave, in the mountains, for the unsuspecting soldiers awaiting the reading of the order for their reward and promotion.
Colonel Rudolf Kühn, struck by a treacherous bullet sent to his back, fell to the bottom of a deep hole, also with the thought of being awarded an order and promoted in rank.

Episode seven
Gloria Evans smiled mysteriously and placed a sheet of paper in front of the owner of the office, publisher Oliver Grant.
- And what do we have this time? – The media mogul said in a playful tone, unfolding the note and glancing at what was written. – Coordinates of Treasure Island? Where did Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, hide the chest containing his pirate treasure?
- No... - the girl smiled. – These are the exact coordinates of the place where another treasure is hidden. Even more important. Boxes with amber slabs packed in them. This is the location of the legendary Amber Room...
The publisher's face fell...
He stood up sharply, stood for a while, glaring at the sheet of paper with a dumbfounded gaze, then sat down... He was silent for a long time... He undid the top button, loosened his tie... Emotions overwhelmed him...
- I understand your feelings, Mr. Grant. – Gloria said in a thoughtful voice. – Exactly the same emotions overwhelmed me when I went on this next visit to the past. But now I'm thinking about something completely different...
She fell silent. She looked in front of her with a frantic gaze for a long time. The owner of the office was the first to see her so detached. He really wanted to ask: “What happened?!”, but he understood that the girl herself wanted to tell him something, so he decided to wait until she was ready and would do it herself.
She was silent for a while and continued.
- I'm not saying that I won't go on my trips to the past anymore. I want to do this, I will do it. But... - She sighed heavily. “But I probably need to think through my voyages more carefully.” It's not just a matter of danger to life. Although the danger is also more than real. Here! Look! This piece of my hair is a bullet mark! They shot me... Like everyone else who was involved in the secret of the treasure... They removed witnesses... Another moment and I would have died...
The narrator shook his head sadly. The listener, seeing her condition, became all ears.
“But here, among other things,” she continued, “there is also a moral side to the matter.” Recovering from this voyage, and realizing that I would be dealing with the SS men, I was preparing myself for the fact that I would be in contact with non-humans. After all, all of them, both commanders and ordinary soldiers, were occupiers, invaders, murderers and marauders. They came with weapons into someone else's territory, they are wrong in any case! I was sure that I would hate them all, and I was determined that I should not show my feelings and not make contracts with anyone. But during our journey we made boners, rested, ate, and communicated with each other. I became friends with many soldiers. And I fell in love with one...
The narrator's eyes became even sadder.
- He’s so cute... He’s so nice... I liked him so much that... Don’t get me wrong, but I was almost ready to give myself to him... I liked him so much... But then... - The narrator’s voice began to break with excitement. “When I went to their group, I understood that we were all going to be shot.” I was sure that during this time I would have time to do everything to return to my time and avoid the bullet. But I understood that he would definitely die... How I wanted to save him at that moment...
A tear glistened in the corner of the narrator’s eye...
- I understood that I shouldn’t have changed anything in the past... I remember... I always remember about the “butterfly effect”... But I definitely need to come up with something so that visits to the past don’t bring me so much mental suffering. On my previous voyage, I felt incredibly sorry for Mary Jane Kelly, who became a victim of Jack the Ripper. But I didn’t know her at all; she was a stranger to me. And Albert became almost close to me... He was such a dreamer! He told me with such enthusiasm about his plans for the future! Which were never destined to come true...
The drop located in the corner of the eye gained weight, poked out of its place, and rolled down... Leaving a wet, bitter mark on the cheek...

Completion date for this story: December 14, 2023
Place of birth of the story: Great Britain, North Wales, Flint, Bolingbroke Street 135.