Gunter watched as Walter walked over to Gottberg's corpse and announced that he was wearing something that would stop bullets. Gunter didn't realize at first what that meant. "So what? We killed the bastard." But then it dawned upon him. Why would he wear something to save his life if he thought he was immortal? "No..." Gunter rushed to Abigail's side, leaving Walter with his grief. "Abigail - Abigail, stay with me. I'm here for you. Just don't move and put pressure on the wound, and..." Gunter closed his eyes and let a first tear fall. "For God's sake, stay alive!"

It was cold. Ash drifted in eddies on the ground, and through the dry air rang the sound of sirens and bombs and guns. People ran through the streets in panic, and many fell and did not get up again. In the middle of all the turmoil was a small center of quiet, the eye in a hurricane. In this spot of silence knelt a boy. He wore a uniform but not proudly. It seemed to sag on his small figure, bringing him down with its weight. He knelt over a young girl whose uniform did not sag. It was proud and noble though it shuddered with the shallow breathing of the wearer. "Bleiben mit mich, meine Liebe." the boy breathed, tears running down his face. The girl shook her head softly. "Ich muss gehen." The boy shook his head, but she held up her hand to his mouth. "Ich starb für mein Land. Unser schönes Land." The boy hung his head in sorrow, but she lifted his head up. "Erinnere dich an mich, Gunter." The boy nodded, and then the girl's hand fell from his chin limply. "Nein!" The boy's body was wracked with sobs as he lay on the body of his friend.

It all came back to Gunter now. Anna was, indeed, dead. She never made it past the first day of the Battle of Berlin. He had watched her die, just as he was watching his friend die now. He had blocked the memory, but now it came back to him with startling clarity. He broke down and wept. He wept for Abigail, for himself, for Anna, for all the soldiers that died fighting this horrible war and for their families.

'Walter?'

Gunter opened his eyes. Abigail was alive! The flag did work! He took Abigail's hand and Walter took the other. The boy watched in joy as the horrific wound began to heal. Abigail would live. Gunter walked over and grabbed the flag and rounded up all the pieces. Now they could relax. At least for a little while. Until some new duty called.