Katerina!” Gerhardt exclaims. Very few get it right the first time.” He walks toward me and takes my hand. “But this was easy. You will be placed in more difficult situations in the days to come.”
I nod.
“Come,” he says. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
Gerhardt is not only my trainer and handler, he has become my friend. There have been occasions where we have talked into the night about life and so many things you would share with a friend. There have been times when I think Gerhardt would like more from our relationship, but I just don’t feel it with him. Besides, after all I have been through, I really don’t believe I could ever love a man who could in any way be responsible for all that I have lost.
After breakfast, Gerhardt says, “You did well this morning, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. We need to fine-tune your awareness skills.”
“And what does that involve?” I ask.
“Grab your things. We’re taking a trip.” He gets up from the table.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
I get up from the table, grab my things, and follow him to main foyer. Then we proceed out the front door. We walk outside, and as I’m about to get into a motorcar, someone comes up from behind me and blindfolds me. They help me into the car and once I am in, the car moves. The blindfold is a common practice, so I am not afraid.
As we drive, I try to keep track of the time we’ve been in the motorcar, but my thoughts keep getting sidetracked, and eventually, I have no idea. It is a long time. I would have to guess more than an hour, but I really cannot be certain.
The motorcar begins to slow and finally comes to a stop. I hear doors close and then the door next to me opens.
“Come, Katerina,” Gerhardt says as he grabs my hand to help me. I get out of the car and wait for direction. “Where do you think you are?”
I wait and listen. I hear people walking, so we are no longer in the woods. A city perhaps? I hear footsteps on the pavement. I smell all sorts of smells, from auto fuel and burning oil to the smell of fresh bread. “We’re in a city,” I state. “And there is a bakery nearby. I can smell the bread.”
“Good, and yes, you are right.” He leans in close and whispers in my ear, “Now comes the hard part. There is someone here who has been given a contract to murder you. They are watching you from a distance. They have a gun, and very soon, it will be aimed right at you.” He pauses. “It’s your job to find him before he fires that gun.”
Panic takes over.
“Katerina, do not panic,” Gerhardt says sternly. “Your fear will only get you killed.”
I nod.
“Now I’m going to remove the blindfold, and you are going to find your assassin.”
He unties the blindfold and removes it from my eyes. It takes them a second or so to focus, then I immediately get to work. We are standing on the sidewalk of a city street, I’m guessing in Berlin. There are buildings on both sides with many windows. He could be hiding in any one of those buildings with a clear shot. My eyes then move to the rooftop of the buildings across the street. It’s flat. He could be on the roof too.
I remember what Gerhardt had said this morning and close my eyes, using my senses to take in the scene. And then, I hear it. I open my eyes and quickly turn. Hastily, I scan the windows of the building next to me and spot one in particular on the third floor. The corner of the glass is broken.
“There!” I say, pointing at the window. Just then, the window opens and one of my trainers waves his hand outside the window.
“Very good, Katerina. Obviously, you knew we would not kill you, so you took your time. When something like this happens for real, you will not have time. You will have to be aware of everything around you in mere seconds of any situation.”
I nod, and he proceeds back toward the car. I follow suit and once we are in the car, he continues. “You will be placed in several situations over the next several weeks, so you will learn.”
We drive for several minutes, and Gerhardt says, “I have to say, Katerina, I am