Buried Angels

FJÄLLBACKA 1919

It was a marvellous day to wake up to, and Dagmar stretched her limbs like a cat. Now everything was going to be different. Finally she’d met someone who would silence all the talk and make the laughter stick in the throats of all those gossiping women. The Angelmaker’s daughter and the hero pilot – that would certainly give them something else to chatter about. But it would no longer have any effect on her, because they would be going off together. She didn’t know where, but that didn’t really matter.

Last night he had caressed her as no one had ever done before. He had whispered so many words in her ears, words that she couldn’t understand, but in her heart she knew they were promises about their shared future. His passionate gasps had made desire spread through her whole body, and she had given him everything she possessed.

Dagmar slowly sat up on the edge of the bed. Naked, she went over to the window and opened it wide. Outside the birds were chirping, and the sun had just come up. She wondered where Hermann was. Had he gone to fetch breakfast for them?

In the bathroom she carefully performed her morning ablutions. She would have preferred to keep the scent of him on her body, but at the same time she wanted to be as fragrant as the most beautiful rose when he returned. And she would soon smell his scent again. She had a whole lifetime to breathe in his scent.

When she was finished, she lay back down on the bed to wait, but he was taking his time and she felt her impatience grow. The sun had climbed higher in the sky, and the chirping of the birds was starting to seem annoyingly loud. Where had Hermann gone? Didn’t he know that she was waiting for him?

Finally she got up, put on her clothes, and left the room, holding her head high. Why should she care if anyone saw her? It would soon be clear what Hermann’s intentions were.

The house was very quiet. Everyone was in bed, sleeping it off, and no doubt they wouldn’t be up for a few more hours. The guests didn’t usually appear until eleven. But there were sounds coming from the kitchen. The staff were up early, preparing breakfast. The party-goers always had a ravenous appetite when they finally awoke, so the eggs had to be boiled and ready, the coffee made. She peeked into the kitchen. No, Hermann wasn’t there. One of the cooks saw her and frowned, but Dagmar tossed her head and pulled the door closed.

After searching the house, she headed towards the dock. Could he be having a morning dip? Hermann was so athletic. He’d probably gone down to have an invigorating swim.

She walked faster and then began to run down to the shore. Her feet seemed to fly over the grass, and when she reached the dock, she smiled as she gazed out over the water. But her expression soon turned solemn. He wasn’t there. She took one more look around, but Hermann was not in the water, and there were no clothes tossed on the dock. One of the boys who worked for the doctor and his wife came sauntering towards her.

‘Can I help you, miss?’ he said, squinting into the sun. When he got closer and saw who she was, he laughed. ‘Well, if it isn’t Dagmar. What are you doing down here at this time of day? I heard that you didn’t sleep in the servants’ quarters last night because you were enjoying yourself elsewhere.’

‘Be quiet, Edvin,’ she said. ‘I’m looking for the German pilot. Have you seen him?’

Edvin stuck his hands in his trouser pockets. ‘The pilot? Is that where you were?’ He laughed the same scornful laugh. ‘Did he know that he was going to bed with the daughter of a murderer? Maybe foreigners like him find it exciting.’

‘Shut up! Answer my question. Have you seen him this morning?’

Edvin paused for a long time before replying. He stared at her, looking her up and down.

‘Maybe we should get together sometime, you and me,’ he said at last, taking a step closer. ‘We’ve never really had a chance to get to know each other.’

She glared at him. Oh how she despised these odious men, without class or sophistication. They had no right to touch her with their filthy hands. She deserved better. She deserved a nice life, that was what her mother and father had told her.

‘Well?’ she said. ‘You heard the question.’

He spat on the ground, then looked her right in the eye, unable to hide his glee as he said:

‘He left.’

‘What do you mean? Where did he go?’

‘He got a telegram this morning about a flying job. He caught a boat out of here two hours ago.’

Dagmar gasped for breath. ‘You’re lying!’ She wanted to punch Edvin right in his sneering face.

‘You don’t have to believe me,’ he said, turning away. ‘But he’s gone.’

She gazed out over the water in the direction that Hermann must have departed, and she swore that she would find him. He would be hers, no matter how long it took. Because they were meant to be together.