فصل 60

florian

Owed her? Why did I owe her? I saved her life.

I tried to distract the soldier while he looked at my papers. “A lot of hysteria back there. Their friend fell through the ice,” I said.

“Lucky it was just one,” said the soldier. “Yesterday we lost dozens. Damn Russians.” He scanned my papers. He looked up at me, eyes sharp. “Do you still have the parcel?”

“Yes.”

“This is signed by Gauleiter Koch,” said the soldier.

I couldn’t read his expression. Was he questioning or was he acknowledging? “Yes, I’m in a hurry,” I told him.

“Wait here,” he said. He turned and walked to another soldier. My pulse quickened.

The rest of the group overheard the exchange. “Come along,” said the shoemaker, corralling the others. “Let’s leave the boy to his business.”

The Polish girl stepped away from the group and stood by my side.

It could have been so easy. I could have walked across the ice myself, without the burden of the group. They could have tried to save the blind girl. Maybe they all would have drowned in the process. That would have been so much easier.

And so much harder.

“Bitte.”

The word was so quiet, I wasn’t even sure I had heard it. I looked down at the Polish girl. She wore red lipstick. Her blond hair was released from the captivity of her braids. She pulled her pink hat down over her eyes. “Bitte,” she whispered again. “Please.”

The soldier and a superior were discussing my papers. Had Dr. Lange and Gauleiter Koch made the discovery yet? Did the soldiers have my name on a list of traitors? If so, I’d soon feel the shadow of a gun on the back of my skull.

The soldier returned, staring at me. “I assume you’re going to Pillau?” he asked.

“You assume?” I said with an air of authority, needing him to reveal more.

“I am told Gauleiter Koch may be on his way to Pillau.”

“No, I am not going to Pillau,” I said.

“To Gotenhafen, then?” he asked.

Gotenhafen was in the other direction. “Correct. Gotenhafen.”

“Yes, Herr Beck. But it’s quite a walk to Gotenhafen. There may be a small boat that can take you.” He suddenly saw the Polish girl at my side and raised an eyebrow.

“Yours?” he said with a grin.

“Mind yourself. She’s with that group. They helped me when I was injured. In turn, they have helped Gauleiter Koch and the Führer.” I snapped my papers out of his hand. “Have you met Gauleiter Koch?” I asked.

The soldier shook his head. “No, but I’ve heard about him.”

Of course he had. Koch’s murderous reputation had made him known. And feared.

“Why doesn’t Koch have you in uniform?” asked the soldier. “It would be safer for you.”

“Maybe, but then I’d be dragged by some unit into the field. As you know, Koch doesn’t like his affairs broadcast. This is private business,” I said, staring him down.

He nodded.

“Listen. I need that boat to Gotenhafen. Now.”