Snippet #1873376

Gunter was heading toward the front desk when Ella rounded the corner. Gunter saw the distrustful look on her face and thought it was directed at himself, but then another man came around the corner with Ella. He was wearing a stiff, black trenchcoat that seemed to hang on his tall, bulky figure with a sense of foreboding. He had a black leather case to match, and he was talking to Ella in a thick German accent.

"We don't provide telegram services, sir, but the office is right down the street." She replied with grudging politeness. "You'll have to deliver it there yourself."

Gunter was annoyed at Ella. For a start, she was ignoring him completely - he was their telegram-boy. Second, she was treating this man impolitely simply because he was German. Gunter almost forgot himself and offered to deliver a telegram for the man, but his paranoia vitally slipped back into his demeanor. This man was German. That meant that he was either a refugee to Austria like Gunter, or he was a Nazi. Deciding to play it safe, Gunter ducked his head down and passed by the man.

He walked into the front room and saw Albert standing, looking at the doorway. Walking over to him, Gunter whispered, "Who is the new guest? The tall German man?"