Read Online Muffled Drum by Erastes - Free Book Online

neighbors Ernst had, or what they’d thought, as Rudolph drove Ernst against wall after wall, then the floor, then on a wood-wormed bed which had collapsed under the onslaught.
    Even now, Rudolph could recall that night. The taste of his mouth, the scent of his pomade… but no…that’s not right. Ernst never wears pomade, his hair needs no control… Rudolph shook his head, cursing his mind, which seemed to be as full of holes as a bullet-riddled Austrian.
    Hofmann’s voice broke through his reverie. “Are you quite well? Your head pains you?”
    “No, just my blasted mind playing tricks on me.”
    “The doctor warned that it might be difficult.”
    “The doctor should try smacking himself around the head with a cart and see how well he does,” Rudolph growled, pushing forward into a trot.
     
    At Rudolph’s insistence, they moved faster than Mathias thought was safe, but despite his misgivings, they made better time than he’d anticipated, and they entered Dresden a full day earlier than originally planned. The city seemed filled with uniformed men, and the streets buzzed with a sense of suppressed excitement. Already Mathias and Rudolph had heard the news of the decisive victory at Koeniggratz. The Austrian army had scattered, and it was generally thought that the war was all but over. With such enthusiasm from the people, Mathias could hardly be surprised at the general euphoria that seemed to travel toward them in waves. Rudolph in particular—wearing a uniform—had many greetings from bystanders, cheers of support and “God bless you, sirs” from passersby.
    “It will be difficult to stay sober here,” Rudolph said as they negotiated their way through the crowd. “But I’d rather not stay longer than it takes to get the horses transported. You don’t mind, do you? You are still coming to Berlin?”
    Mathias was aware of the clip-clop of Goertz’s ride behind them. “I haven’t decided, not altogether.”
    Rudolph fell silent for a while, and finally Mathias looked sideways at him. His erstwhile lover’s face gave no indication as to whether he was concerned at Mathias’s reply or not. But it was the one expression that gave Mathias hope, and one Mathias was thrilled to see. The blank, shut-off look Rudolph wore now was the face Mathias had seen him assume so many times when he was denying his feelings and emotions. The very fact he was pretending not to care one way or the other meant more to Mathias than anything else.
    There was no way he would heed Goertz now. He was staying, no matter what.
    The first thing Rudolph insisted on doing was finding a doctor, who cleaned Mathias’s wounds and pronounced them on the way to recovery, with no need for further interference.
    “As neat a job of stitching as I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Leave them open to the air now, let them dry out and you’ll do fine. Leave a nice scar of course, but something you can show off to the ladies—and your children, eh?” The doctor laughed heartily as he washed his hands, and Mathias joined in, dutifully.
    They put themselves up at a small but elegant rooming house near the station. The very one they’d stayed in once before, although Rudolph showed no sign of remembering the place. Once their luggage was safely installed, Goertz was dispatched to arrange for the horses’ transportation to Berlin.
    Knowing he’d likely not get another chance, Mathias took advantage of Goertz’s absence, and when both he and Rudolph had settled in and were going down for dinner, Mathias excused himself with having left his wallet in the room.
    “You don’t need it,” Rudolph said.
    “Oh, I know, but we might go out somewhere, you never know…I’d feel happier.” He turned and trotted back up the stairs before Rudolph could say any more. He waited for a moment or two at the top, in case Rudolph had decided to follow him, and when he didn’t, he let himself into his room and then through the adjoining door into