I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

"What I mean is, the wall is up, but there are still paths," Werner said calmly. "They’re just more expensive and more dangerous now, but they exist."

Eva gripped his arm tightly. "Then can I..."

"Once the channels are stable, I’ll try to get you across," Werner said, looking at her. "But you have to understand, it will take time, preparation, and luck. I can’t guarantee success, but I will do my best."

A wave of complex emotions washed over Eva.

Gratitude, reliance...

But at the same time, Anna’s words from that morning echoed in her ears—"Watch Werner. Report everything he does to me."

’Her guilt was growing.’

’This man was going to help her get to West Berlin, and she was supposed to spy on him and report everything to the Stasi?’

"Really?" Her voice trembled. "Can you really do it?"

"I’ll try," Werner said. "But before that, you need to take care of yourself and keep up the good work at the foreign trade store. It’s a safe place, and you can help me from there."

"Okay!" Eva nodded vigorously. "I will! I’ll do anything!"

She meant it.

As long as she could get to West Berlin and bring Hans with her, she would do anything.

’But did "anything" also include betraying Werner?’

’She couldn’t bear to think about it.’

Werner gently patted her hand and turned to look into the distance.

The Brandenburg Gate was completely encircled by barbed wire.

The gate that had once symbolized the glory of Prussia was now a symbol of division. Countless people stood before it, gazing at the arches they could no longer pass through, weeping uncontrollably.

Farther in the distance, a long line snaked before the border checkpoint.

Hundreds of people, dragging luggage, waited under the scorching sun for questioning and inspection.

Werner could see it all clearly. Soldiers at the checkpoint were using batons to push the crowd back. Every so often, someone would be yanked from the line and taken aside for interrogation.

"See those people?" Werner said, pointing toward the checkpoint. "They all want to get across, but most of them will be turned away."

"And the ones who get turned away," Werner continued, "are our clients. They can’t cross over, but their hearts are already on the other side. They want to send things to their families in West Berlin, to let them know they’re okay."

"So..."

"So, we help them." A glint appeared in Werner’s eyes. "Of course, it’s not free."

Eva fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I understand."

She looked out at the sundered city before her, a strange feeling welling up inside.

The sorrow was still there, as was the despair, but now there was also a glimmer of hope.

Werner had given her that hope.

’But how was she supposed to repay him? With surveillance? With betrayal?’

"Werner," she said suddenly, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Thank you... for not giving up on me." Eva took a deep breath and looked up at him. "Last night, when I was standing before the barbed wire, I thought it was all over for me."

She paused, her nails digging deep into her palms. "But you came. You saved me. And you gave me hope."

She wanted to say more.

’She wanted to tell him that Anna had approached her, that the Stasi had their eyes on him, that she didn’t want to betray him.’

But when the words came, they were different. "I know you’re a businessman. I know you might be doing all this for... business. But to me... to me, you’re the one who saved my life."

Her eyes reddened, but she refused to let any tears fall.

Werner didn’t speak, just watched her quietly.

His gaze made Eva feel even worse.

’He looked so calm, so composed, completely unaware of the danger closing in on him.’

She turned away, unable to meet his eyes. "So, I’ll do whatever you ask. As long as... as long as you can get me and Hans to West Berlin."

"Alright," Werner said softly. "I promise."

A sharp pain lanced through Eva’s heart.

’He promised. He promised to help her. And she, in return...’

In the distance, a church bell began to toll. The heavy sound echoed through the air, as if ringing the death knell for the era.

"Let’s go," Werner said, turning toward the stairs. "Time to get to work."

By the time they descended from the bell tower, sunlight was bathing the street below.

The streets were even more crowded now. Werner saw a long line had already formed outside a state-owned shop.

People were scrambling to get inside, trying to buy up whatever supplies they could.

But the shelves emptied quickly, and a clerk, shaking their head helplessly, hung up an "Out of Stock" sign.

"No more coffee!"

"The cigarettes are gone, too!"

"When are you getting more in stock?"

"I don’t know! Go ask the people in charge!"

The crowd grew agitated. People started cursing and shoving. A uniformed police officer hurried over, banging his truncheon on the ground and shouting for order.

Werner and Eva walked past the edge of the crowd.

"See?" Werner said in a low voice. "They can’t buy anything."

"Mm," Eva replied, her mind elsewhere.

"And you work at the foreign trade store. They have Western coffee, Western cigarettes, everything from the West." Werner looked at her. "It’s the only place in all of East Germany where you can buy Western goods with foreign currency."

Eva nodded. "I understand. I’ll keep an eye on their supplies."

They kept walking.

Werner stopped at a street corner.

A young woman stood there, cradling a baby. On the other side of a barbed-wire fence stood an old woman. They were talking to each other through the wire, the old woman reaching out, unable to touch the infant.

"Do you see?" Werner said calmly. "The wall separates families, but the need to connect remains."

Eva looked at the mother and daughter and nodded.

"There will be more and more people like them," Werner said as he started walking again. "They want to send things to their loved ones on the other side, pass messages, find out if they’re doing okay. The official channels will only get stricter, but private demand will never disappear."

"So, there will be business." Werner’s tone was flat, as if he were stating a simple fact. "Where there’s demand, there’s a market. And my channels can help them."

He paused. "It’s not free, but at least it genuinely helps them."

Eva nodded slowly.

She stole a glance at Werner.

He was focused on the street, his gaze sharp and cool.

’But last night, when he had pulled her back from the barbed wire, his hand had been warm, his voice gentle.’

Eva bit her lip. In the end, she said nothing.

"I understand," she said in a low voice. "I’ll cooperate with you in every way I can."

To what extent she would cooperate, and with which side, she herself didn’t know.