Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 57

At dinner she tried to behave normally, despite cutting herself At dinner she tried to behave normally, despite cutting herself
while opening the bottle of wine. ”Everything okay ?,” he asked. while opening the bottle of wine. ”Everything okay ?,” he asked.
She simply smiled and nodded. He too has studied tone of She simply smiled and nodded. He too has studied tone of
voice and she was certain her voice would betray her if she spokevoice and she was certain her voice would betray her if she spoke
at that moment. She wore camoufl age gear under her pant-at that moment. She wore camoufl age gear under her pant-
suit. When he left the apartment, she pulled on her boots. Thensuit. When he left the apartment, she pulled on her boots. Then
she ran to the garage and came out again on a motorbike. Duringshe ran to the garage and came out again on a motorbike. During
training she had learned how to ride fast without any lights.training she had learned how to ride fast without any lights.
She followed him on his way out of town, the high-rise build-She followed him on his way out of town, the high-rise build-
ings made of glass and concrete gave way to thick forest. Then ings made of glass and concrete gave way to thick forest. Then
her partner’s car disappeared suddenly, just as she had expect-her partner’s car disappeared suddenly, just as she had expect-
ed. She turned o the engine to avoid any sound, and listened ed. She turned o the engine to avoid any sound, and listened
into the night. She could hear a mechanical buzzing in the air into the night. She could hear a mechanical buzzing in the air
which a less well-trained ear wouldn’t notice at all : a ventilationwhich a less well-trained ear wouldn’t notice at all : a ventilation
system. She hid the motorbike between the trees, found the system. She hid the motorbike between the trees, found the
concealed ventilation duct and dropped down into the depths concealed ventilation duct and dropped down into the depths
of the mountain, landing almost silently on her supple knees of the mountain, landing almost silently on her supple knees
in a tunnel lit up by dim neon lighting. Afterward she followed in a tunnel lit up by dim neon lighting. Afterward she followed
the voices. She found a metallic structure, which supported the voices. She found a metallic structure, which supported
the tunnel that was home to the laboratory. She climbed on the tunnel that was home to the laboratory. She climbed on
top of it and …top of it and …
… saw him. … saw him.
She crosses the tunnel searching for a way out through which She crosses the tunnel searching for a way out through which
she can escape this nightmare. This time it’s not about work. she can escape this nightmare. This time it’s not about work.
This time she’s scared of losing her mind.This time she’s scared of losing her mind.
Behind her she hears a noise, but it’s too late to look for some-Behind her she hears a noise, but it’s too late to look for some-
where to hide. She turns around and is enveloped in a light where to hide. She turns around and is enveloped in a light
she has never seen before. Absolutely amazed, she looks around, she has never seen before. Absolutely amazed, she looks around,
the tunnel looks as if it’s bathed in daylight. But what is it ?the tunnel looks as if it’s bathed in daylight. But what is it ?
Suddenly the darkness returns. She hears a dull noise, like Suddenly the darkness returns. She hears a dull noise, like
a car door closing. And then she smells it, far away, horrible … a car door closing. And then she smells it, far away, horrible …
the perfume !the perfume !
With the instinct of a wild animal she lunges at him, aiming With the instinct of a wild animal she lunges at him, aiming
for his face. Then she hears him. He shouts : “Darling !” Hearing for his face. Then she hears him. He shouts : “Darling !” Hearing
this word, she loses control. She kicks him frantically in the this word, she loses control. She kicks him frantically in the
darkness, grabbing him around the collar of that damn suit. Her darkness, grabbing him around the collar of that damn suit. Her
partner is unconscious. She puts him on the car’s front passenger partner is unconscious. She puts him on the car’s front passenger
seat, ties his hands together with the seat belt, gets behind seat, ties his hands together with the seat belt, gets behind
the steering wheel as if an injustice had fi nally been put right, the steering wheel as if an injustice had fi nally been put right,
and races in the dim light from the neon lamps down the tunnel. and races in the dim light from the neon lamps down the tunnel.
He regains consciousness. And still has the gall to speak ! What He regains consciousness. And still has the gall to speak ! What
did he say ? “What did you say ?,” she asks. “The light – turn the did he say ? “What did you say ?,” she asks. “The light – turn the
light on …,” he mutters. “Of course, so the friends of your light on …,” he mutters. “Of course, so the friends of your
blonde will see us.” “My blonde ?” blonde will see us.” “My blonde ?”
PHOTOS : Bernd Kammerer