The Green Trabant flew around the corner of Friedrichstrasse, taking the turn on two wheels as it bumped along the cobblestone street. The darkness and misty October East German rain helped outrun the Stasi that were close behind. The driver skidded down alleys and up and over deserted concrete sidewalks, desperate to get to the final destination and beat the secret police and the shrieking waa was of their sirens. Shifting hard and pushing the gas pedal to the floor, the car picked up speed as it approached the border. East German police carrying heavy Soviet rifles began to line up to prevent the crossing, to keep these citizens from defecting to the West. The West Berlin border in sight, the driver reached over and grabbed his wifes hand, hit the clutch hard and shifted up to squeeze one more ounce of power out of the engine as he plowed through the border to freedom.