Obelisk - Georgina Fatseas

The Obelisk.

This World War Two story was inspired by three Austrian deserters.

Oskar, with his sister Kianna and their friend Jaro, are the only survivors of their mascaraed Austrian village. They escape into the mountains. They are later joined by two other run-aways, Paul and Lori who desert the German army after being enrolled at gunpoint. They too witness murder of their villagers. They decide to escape to Italy to avoid the German army.

They travel extensively through Italy, become Italian soldiers assigned to Albania. Kianna is assigned to hostess duties in local bars and eventually to the Vatican. The men desert the Italian army and rescue Kianna. They travel to Switzerland where they settle down. They are enlisted into the Swiss army. Oskar, Lori and Jaro are required to go undercover into France and Germany.

After two years in Switzerland, Kianna is kidnapped. Oskar leaves the group and travels through war-torn Europe to find Kianna. To cross borders he changes uniforms. Just how far does a brother go to save his sister who is his only surviving relative?