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It meant that the government could not borrow more than 0.35% of Germany's gross economic output, while the country's rail and bridge infrastructure creaked from years of underinvestment and ministers tried to boost military spending.

All too familiar with the psychic weight of secrets, the Antidote remarks that “Memories are living things. When you house as many as I did, your bones begin to creak.”

Water companies in England and Wales have said the increases are needed to invest in creaking infrastructure, including sewage, and to build more reservoirs.

And then he smiled bright and exhaled his huge, creaking “Ahhhhhh” laugh and said, “I’m good,” repeating the words twice for extra assurance.

He promises to fix most problems in four years - a tall order for Europe's biggest economy and a creaking infrastructure.