"The German Army still employs a draft," Mathias answers, pausing near the mouth of the cave again. He has to raise his voice a little to be heard over the pounding water, his hand still hold Veronica's. "I didn't know what I wanted to do, so rather than wait to be drafted, I joined voluntarily. It's almost an expectation of all young men and most young women in Germany now. I never saw any fighting, I spent most of my time in school."