We Are Wolves chapter sampler

Otto drags me back the way we have come, until we are standing in front of the school watching hundreds and hundreds of soldiers march by. They are young and handsome and hold their heads high. ‘Hooray! Hooray!’ cries Otto. ‘Good luck! Good luck against those rotten Russians and the rats!’ One of the soldiers turns his head and winks. ‘We don’t need luck!’ he shouts. ‘We have might and right and Herr Hitler on our side!’ We smile, wave and cheer at the soldiers as they pass. Some ignore us, but others salute and hand us treats – three chocolate bars and a can of condensed milk. Treasure! ‘Heil Hitler!’ I shout as the soldiers disappear down the street. As one, they raise their right arms in the air and reply, ‘Heil Hitler!’ My heart swells with pride and I can feel goosebumps on my arms. This is an exciting time to be German! We eat the chocolate bars on the way home, silently, letting every square melt slowly on our tongues. We should be sharing them with Mia, Mama, Oma and Opa but we can’t help ourselves. It’s so very long since we had real chocolate. Otto’s grin is wide and gooey at the corners. ‘I love the war!’ he cries. ‘Except for Papa being gone.’ ‘If you think this is good,’ I say, handing him the last of the chocolate, ‘ just wait until the war is over!’

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