What was he thinking about? Was he reflecting on the war, was he transported away from the Ukrainian forest to Germany and revisiting his home and family, or was he thinking about deep universal things and soaring high in the clouds? Perhaps he was thinking about his present urgent concerns, such as whether he was eating enough, whether his bowels were functioning properly, how he was tormented by itching, and how nice it would be to wash with soap and hot water…
They reached the edge of the area where the firelight gave way to the darkness of the night. “Where are the children?” Olga asked in German.
“They were here,” the soldier answered blankly. “They left not long ago.”
“Where did they go?”
“I don’t know?”
“What did they say?”
“We didn’t talk. I ate and then they left. The food h
