فصل 95

florian

We approached the embarkation officer, the wandering boy between us.

“Well, hello, there.”

The officer spoke directly to the boy. Smart. Children spill the truth.

“Hallo, I’m Klaus.”

“Give me your papers, please, Klaus.”

The shoemaker handed over the boy’s papers along with his own. I thrust mine out as well.

The officer opened the old man’s papers and looked at his pass. He leaned over and specifically addressed the boy. “And, Klaus, who is this?” he asked, pointing to the shoemaker.

“Opi,” replied the little boy.

Grandpa. Yes, he was like a grandpa. That was a good reply.

“And this gentleman?” He pointed to me.

My name. No one knew my name, except Joana. What if he called me what the others did—the Prussian? Or the spy?

“Onkel.” The boy smiled.

“And what is Uncle’s name?” the officer asked.

The little boy turned to me and saluted, as he had on the road. “Herr Beck.”

The officer laughed.

The wandering boy thrust out his rabbit. “Mein Freund.”

“Looks like your friend lost an ear in battle. Might have to send him to the infirmary.” The officer turned to me and gestured to my shirt. “Looks like you lost some blood in the war yourself.”

I nodded. “Shrapnel.” I buttoned up my coat to escape the cold.

“Do you have a medical exemption?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He handed back our papers. “Proceed to the next embarkation point.”

He had looked at my papers, but only glanced at my boarding pass. We walked into the harbor.

Every inch of the dock was covered with soldiers, supply trucks, passengers, and luggage. There were entry lines for each ship and additional lines for each gangway.

The boy bounced on his toes.

“Yes, it’s quite exciting,” said the shoe poet. “And I believe that ship, in basin number nine, the very big one, is ours.”

The Gustloff was the most imposing ship in the harbor. Her build was clearly that of a leisure cruise ship. Several decks, lots of places to hide. I spied anti-aircraft guns positioned on the deck. The ship was armed.

“Hey! Hey, you,” the giant woman yelled, and gestured to us through the crowd.

“Well, hello there, Eva!” The shoe poet waved.

“Boy, you’re lucky ducks. I was just about to throw your bags off.”

The little boy ran and grabbed the shoemaker’s carpetbag.

“Well done, Eva. Thank you,” said the old man.

“You have no idea how I suffered for this stuff, waiting in the cold. And why? None of you cared enough to wait for our wagon.”

“Enough about the luggage. Did you get registered for a ship, dear?” asked Poet.

“Yes, yes. I’m on that one. Hansa,” she said. “Which one are you on?”

The little boy pointed to the Gustloff.

Eva looked at me and laughed. “You too, huh? I wonder how you managed that. I’m going to board. I’m freezing and it stinks like rotten death. Here, take Joana her suitcase. I know she’ll want it. Tell her I said good-bye. She was the only one of you that I liked. Sorry.” She set the case at my feet. “Well, nice knowing you.”

“Wait.” I grabbed her by the coat. “What are the next lines for?” I asked.

“Inspection,” she said. “They’re examining everyone’s luggage.”