Hannover – a good place to …

In the evening, I’m invited to a party in Hannover. Sören said I could easily walk there from the hotel; it would be a nice evening stroll and the party was no more than 15 to 20 minutes away. Ten minutes after leaving the hotel, I realise I’ve forgotten the city map. But maps are for wimps anyway.

Dusk has just begun, so I set off to find “Rübezahlplatz”. If I really do get lost, I can always call on my mobile.

Half an hour later

After about half an hour’s walk, I still haven’t arrived. Could I have taken a wrong turn already? Luckily, I meet an elderly woman I can ask. She tells me she’s lived here for 40 years, but she’s honestly never heard of Rübezahlplatz. My mobile has no signal, so I carry on in search of another passer-by. Five minutes later, I come across two women, mother and daughter as it turns out, walking their dogs. The daughter is in her mid-thirties, I’d say. She immediately says she doesn’t know the area because she’s only lived here for five years. But her mother is bound to know, she says.

The mother is standing a little way off and is hard of hearing, but she does indeed know the area. By now, it’s grown dark. She explains that I’m about 20 minutes away from Rübezahlplatz. She asks whether I’m not afraid to walk there alone at night. Smiling, I tell her that of course I’m not afraid. What a lovely woman, worrying about me!

I’m to follow the road, then turn right, then left and go under the bridge. There’s a shortcut through the cemetery, but she says I’d better not take it. Then it’s just a few more metres to Rübezahlplatz.

“At 10, you’re dead”

I thank them both and carry on in high spirits. About 500 metres further on, I reach a bend. Before the bend, there’s a piece of paper lying on the ground. Written on it in felt-tip pen are the words: “At 10, you’re dead.” I smile in amusement – Hannover, city of jokers and cannibals. A hundred metres later, there’s a piece of paper with a large number one on it. Another hundred metres on, I see one with a number two.

This has to be a bad joke, doesn’t it? I pull out my mobile and call the party. Sören answers straight away. I tell him I’ve got lost, but I’m already nearby. And that I’ve just discovered something strange. Then the call cuts out – the battery’s dead, damn it!

Three … four … five … What if there really is some lunatic hiding behind a bush, waiting to attack me? After all, the city also produced Fritz Haarmann. But he only killed boys who were no older than 20. I’m already 32. Why do I suddenly think there’s another Haarmann lying in wait for me?

Six … seven … eight … I could simply turn around, go back to the hotel and call a taxi from there. But would I ever find my way back? And what if there really is some nutter lurking up ahead? In the distance, I can see number 9. The bridge I’m supposed to walk under should be just beyond it.

Oh, come on, it’s bound to be nothing more than a childish prank. I carry on. I hear church bells ringing in the distance and see the cemetery. I’m slowly beginning to feel a little frightened. The street lighting leaves a lot to be desired; it’s very dark. Number nine. Just one more number, I think. At 10, you’re dead.

I stop and look all around me. There’s no one there, I reassure myself. Are you sure? I turn around once more. I could go to the house I can see diagonally opposite; there are still lights on. But perhaps they’re behind this joke? It is a joke … isn’t it?

Under the bridge

I carry on and reach the bridge I’m supposed to walk under. So where is that damned tenth piece of paper? I scan the ground for number 10. No paper in sight. Once I’m under the bridge, I see a poster hanging there that reads: “I can’t imagine a better place to be hung!”

Now terror takes hold of me, and I start sprinting down the road at full pelt.

BANG!

Suddenly, I hear a loud bang and freeze on the spot. This is it, I think. Eyes wide, I try to work out where the bang came from. But I can’t see anything, not even any smoke. Did I imagine it? Definitely not! If only I’d taken a taxi! If only I’d listened to the old woman!

I decide to keep running. Have I even found number 10 yet? It wasn’t there at all! At 10, I’m dead. At 10, I’m dead! I run.

AT LAST, I find Rübezahlplatz! Completely out of breath, I reach the house where the party is being held. Safe.