The Mortal Storm

Pre-World War II Ficton. It is rebellious Fraulein Freya Toiler's birthday and she does not want to spend it with her cheeky brothers. She wants to do something special; something exciting and out of character of her. Well, she certainly does that ... as she wanders down the mountain to town, she is attacked, and very nearly raped by a group of town hooligans, only be saved from this disgusting ordeal by a well respected young and handsome Russian, Hans Breitner. As he and she ''... stopped to put on crampons so that they could more freely get through the trees,'' they became better acquainted and she learned the most unbelievable thing about this nice boy: he is not just a Russian, but a Communist Russian preparing to fight against the upcoming Nazi regime. ''People call Communists 'red,' and think of us under bad names--as if we attacked all they held dear, but Communists attack only selfishness. It is Nazis who attack knowledge; degrade women; persecute Jews; and drag their people back into serfdom. All we ask is a share of what our country possesses---for which we agree to work.''

But Communists,'' Freya objected, ''are not perhaps necessary at all---I do not think their way of living as good as **these new Hitler Brown Shirts, of whom my brother Olaf is one. Olaf could not be one unless the Nazis had wise and noble aims.''** What follows for these two young people and the reader, is the horrific catastrophe started by these ''wise & noble Hitler Brown Shirts.'' .... Lest we Forget.