Twins Torment of War

Mark Goodhand

Description

This is a novel about twin boys who are separated after the divorce of their parents, a German mother, and an English father.One son joins the German army at the outbreak of World War 2 and the other joins the British army.Their paths finally meet at the end of the war. In a desperate search to find his brother before the Americans and Russians find him, Albert is sent to Germany to bring his brother, Alfred, home to England to stand trial for war crimes and to prevent Alfred from receiving the death sentence.

Sujets

• Thriller

Informations

• Publié par: Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
• Date de parution: 06 janvier 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781398469709
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Twins Torment of War
Mark Goodhand
Austin Macauley Publishers
2023-01-06
Twins Torment of War About the Author Dedication Copyright Information ©
About the Author
I am a Social Care Worker, a Military Veteran of 22 years, I am a single parent with parental responsibilities to 2 teenagers.
I live on the beautiful Island of Shetland which is 120 miles north of the Scottish mainland.
I enjoy sport of any kind especially football and rugby.
I enjoy long solo walks into the hills of Shetland which gives me the peace and tranquillity of a fast-paced world that I live in.
Dedication
For Marcus and Zoe
Copyright Information ©
Mark Goodhand 2023
The right of Mark Goodhand to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781398418998 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781398469693 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781398469709 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published 2023
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd ®
1 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5AA
Heidi Smiths screams could be heard from across the corridor; she was heavily into labour and not enjoying the pregnancy. It was May 1920 in a warm Berlin maternity unit, and the nurses were reassuring Heidi that all was well and the birth of her child was near. Heidi held her husband Mike’s hand tightly wishing for the pain to go away; his encouragement did little for the pain that she was in.
Heidi never imagined that she was about to become a mother at 20 years old. She was an up and coming artist with skills beyond her young youthful years and her work was highly prized and the future was bright, she was studying at Berlin University and was deep into her third year when she found out that she was expecting!
Heidi loved university life; she was from a middle-class Bavarian family and spent her early years enjoying all the comforts that life gave to families with money in Southern Germany. The outbreak of the Great War never stopped Heidi from having a privileged lifestyle. Her father was a factory owner who made steel pots and pans and enjoyed the richness from war. She was the only child and her father adored her and gave her all that she ever asked. Even from a young age Heidi knew what she wanted and how she would achieve her goals, she was aware of how lucky she was but she worked hard and succeeded at most things that she did.
At 17, Heidi was accepted into Berlin University to study art, she was young but her determination to gain a 2:1 degree was never in doubt. Heidi was a natural blond, 5 foot 4 inches with a slim figure that women would die for and beautiful blue eyes. For Heidi was a looker and had many admirers, she looked like a model actress and had numerous offers of dates but resisted all takers as she wanted an arts degree before any romance.
Come on girl, one more push and it will be all over. Heidi was tired and was longing for it to all be over but the labour was going slowly. Mike was looking worried as he loved and adored his young bride and the pain of watching his wife suffer was too much for him. Matron was encouraging Heidi with each breath, Heidi, come on girl, let’s have this baby out of you girl.
Heidi was a teenager during the Great War but the war had little effect on her as the south of Germany escaped most of the atrocities so life was near as normal, her father owned the steel factory so he was not enlisted to fight and he would spend most of his time either at work or socialising with important ministers who required his equipment in an effort to win this battle with Europe. Heidi would go to the factory and sit and draw whilst being close to her father. Heidi’s father, Hans Muller, was a quiet but effective businessman who did not believe in what Germany was doing but he knew that his country needed his pots so he worked long hours to help his country in their times of need. Hans also had business affairs with England but the war had temporarily put a halt to this, his English counterpart was Eddie Smith, a big player in the world of steel pans, they used to meet up regularly on business meetings in Munich and London. Eddie was a typical Londoner, he worked hard but enjoyed the social side of matters, Eddie too was married and had a son called Mike.
The doctor was a little concerned that this child was still showing no signs of entering the world, a little help is needed, Heidi, he said, Heidi looked up and saw the ventouse, she gave out a great yell and pushed as hard as she could, sure enough, the cry of a baby lit up the room, it’s a little beautiful boy, said nurse Vera. Mike was holding his wife’s hand, we have a son, Heidi, relieve was overcome with tears of happiness. It was then that nurse Vera told Heidi that all was not finished as it looks as though there is another on the way, you have twins my dear, said Nurse Vera, Heidi slumped back onto the bed exhausted but happy, Mike regained his composure and said come on, Heidi, it will be easier and quicker than the first. Sure enough, baby number two entered the world some ten minutes later, it’s another boy, said the nurse. You have two healthy sons, congratulations.
Eddie and Hans had a great working relationship, business was good but the prospect of war between their countries was looming and family holidays together would soon be suspended. Their children enjoyed each other’s company, they had known each other since they were five years old but 1914 was not great for either family. Heidi was now 14 and Mike was 15, they had become close like brother and sister, they promised to write during the war but it would be difficult. Mike had a dilemma as he wanted to serve his country but he loved Germany and their friendship with the Muller family, Heidi was a sister and his best friend but England must come first.
The Smith family had flown over to Berlin to be with Mike for the birth of their grandchild, and sat in the reception with the Muller family, all were anxious but excited. Hans was speaking to Mike about business to pass the time and their wives Hilda and Mary were both quietly knitting and planning for their future as grannies. No one ever mentioned the war as this was a failure and setback to both countries, the birth of their grandchild gave hope for all.
Mike came into the reception with a smile as large as the English channel, it’s a boy, he shouted in excitement and it’s another boy he said, the silence and shock fell upon all the grandparents, you mean twins, said Hans, yes my dear father-in-law, replied Mike, a boy for each set of grandparents and a boy for Deutschland and England, we are united with two sons.
Heidi loved university life; it was fast and exciting, work hard and play harder was her motto, Heidi excelled in her first year and her artwork was soon on show. Her work was varied, mostly landscape but her colours and attention to detail were outstanding; her talent was there for all to see. She was very determined and wanted her work to be seen by all, she would spend time after studies sitting outside in the university courtyard painting in the knowledge that her superiors were watching from the rooms above. Her paintings were modern and colourful, and her work was fast but precise. Heidi knew what she wanted to draw and rarely changed her rule of thought; it was a natural talent with skills ahead of her young age.
Lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by her family with two new additions, filled Heidi with pride, she loved her family but already knew that her artwork would be her goal. Her boys were blond and bubbly and with Mike by her side, she had everything she required just now. Heidi would get full support from both sets of parents to pursue her dream of becoming Germany’s top artist.
Mike wanted the children to have English names but Heidi wanted German names, Eddie and Hans suggested a compromise of each parent deciding on a name each. Alfred and Albert were chosen, and all agreed that the names were strong and perfect for the family.
Mike loved Heidi from an early age but little happened until 1919 when Mike visited Berlin for a weekend break with Heidi at the university. Mike was now 20 years old and working for his father Eddie as a company director. Mike loved Germany and business was getting back on its feet after the long war. He had a meeting on Friday afternoon and arranged to meet up with Heidi for dinner. He had not seen Heidi since 1914 but they had remained in touch writing to one another every few months, it was difficult as his letters were censored due to Mike’s army position.
Year one of university life was wonderful; Heidi had passed her first year exams with ease, she was top of her year and achieved the highest university score in its history, Eddie and Hilda were delighted and visited Berlin for a celebration meal. 1917 was a difficult year as Hans realised that the war was nearly lost, Germany was in trouble with little time left before it faced financial ruin and years of uncertainty. Hans was a prudent businessman and had moved his finances over to Eddie Smith, his true English friend who he trusted, his own family was safe but what of others, it was tough time