The Gestapo likes to come early in the morning. This way their victims are too sleepy to offer serious resistance. Early in the morning, a person isn’t savvy enough to put up a fight, to run, to risk it all. Such a fateful occurrence at so early an hour, you simply don’t believe it’s happening, and this is your undoing. Morning is the time for breakfast, a cup of coffee, the newspaper—a peaceful time.
The fishermen come home from last night’s run; their wives meet them, pulling little wooden wagons behind them for the catch. Arvid Harnack is standing in the courtyard in his shirtsleeves and speaking to a man who wears an ill-fitting suit. Close by, three more men are loitering by the garden fence, which is painted oxblood red. Two black cars are parked behind them.
Arvid hesitates a little before he speaks. In his calm way he says to Egmont Zechlin, who has stepped out into the courtyard: “The gentlemen have a breakfast date with a lady and can’t remember which house is hers.” Beneath his words is a faint note of scorn. One of the officers pulls out his badge: “We’re from the border police. We’re here to conduct a search of the village.”
Zechlin still doesn’t suspect anything and says, as Arvid and the officer go into the Harnacks’ room: “Well, I guess I’ll just go run and get our papers then.”
One of the men accompanies Zechlin to his room at the back of the house, looks at the documents, and says, almost casually: “We’ve also been told to let Senior Councillor Harnack know that he is needed at the ministry. Did you actually plan to meet here?”
“Yes of course,” Zechlin answers, taken aback, and runs out front through the garden and knocks on his friends’ door. When no one answers, he opens it and sees Mildred and Arvid inside, packing, watched by the three officers. Arvid steps toward him: “We are going to accompany these gentlemen back to Berlin. I am needed in the ministry . . .” And after a short pause he adds with suppressed anger: “It is a disgrace what people in Germany have to . . .” Immediately one of the Gestapo men steps between them and cuts Arvid off.
“But they haven’t even had time to have breakfast yet,” Zechlin objects and tries to get close to his friend in case Arvid wants to whisper something to him. But the officers, moving almost nonchalantly, make sure to always place themselves between them. Even when Egmont tries to help Mildred pack, one of them steps forward: “Oh please, let me do it!” The policeman offers Mildred a cigarette, and when she hesitates, he goads her on: “Take it, it’ll do you good.”
“I insist that we at least wait till we’ve all had coffee together,” says Zechlin, playing along with the charade about the drive to the ministry. “Come along out here with me,” he urges Arvid.
“The gentlemen are very friendly,” Arvid replies. “They haven’t had coffee either. You all go ahead, and we’ll come join you after.”
The professor leaves the room and hurries over to the inn. He and his wife get the coffeepot and cups together, and come back and place everything on the table while the Harnacks continue to pack. A horrible silence prevails in the room. Mildred covers her face with her hands: “What a disgrace, oh, what a disgrace.”
“I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding and will soon be cleared up,” says Egmont to Arvid, trying to point out his friend’s innocence. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
Mildred is finished packing the two leather suitcases. Arvid’s umbrella lies on top. She strips the beds and makes sure everything is tidy so that their departure doesn’t cause any unnecessary bother for anyone. As for the flowers that Arvid picked for her, she doesn’t know what to do with them at first. She takes the pitcher by the washbasin, gives them fresh water, puts the vase back on the table, and plucks at the tablecloth, smoothing it out.
“Herr Professor,” the leader of the Gestapo squad says to Egmont Zechlin, who has started to accompany Arvid and Mildred as they are being led outside: “You strike me as being too intelligent not to know what’s going on here. I have orders to handle this matter and to draw as little attention as possible. Owing to your presence here, things didn’t quite work out that way. But I must now inform you that you are not to speak of anything that you have seen or heard. Otherwise we will have to come back and see you again.” To Egmont’s wife he adds: “Gnädige Frau, the same goes for you.”
“These are my colleagues,” Zechlin responds: “You cannot prevent me from informing the faculty of the matter as soon as possible.”
“You will do no such thing,” says the officer, his tone suddenly harsh. “If you attempt to, by telephone or by telegraph, we will intercept it.”
Egmont kisses Mildred’s hand. As he says goodbye to Arvid he looks him in the eye. “Dear Egmont,” says Arvid, who doesn’t usually address his friend by his first name: “I thank you for everything, including for today.” They shake hands. All the things that Egmont still wants to say he can only put into this gesture.
Separated from each other, Arvid and Mildred Harnack are driven off in the two Gestapo vehicles.