فصل 75

florian

I stood behind the shoe poet and the Polish girl, straining to hear the exchange between Joana and the sailor. The Polish girl did her best to conceal me.

The sailor rambled. “I was sent to meet a train that’s due in. I thought I would make use of the valuable time and perhaps reunite some precious items with their owners.”

Instead of questioning us, he was explaining himself. His rank, Matrose, was the lowest for an enlisted seaman in the German navy.

“Certainly,” said Joana. “I won’t take but a minute of your time. Could you tell us where and when registration begins?”

“Ah, yes, that is the question of the day, isn’t it? Registration will begin at oh seven hundred hours on the eastern side of the quay. Of course, as you can see, there are many vessels. But that one”—he pointed to the largest ship in the distance—“that, ladies, is the Wilhelm Gustloff. That is my ship.”

Joana looked carefully at the young man. “Forgive me for asking, but what happened to your hands?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a little skin irritation. Sailor’s hazard. A small sacrifice for Germany.”

Eva rolled her eyes.

“I have a salve that will protect your hands and calm the irritation,” said Joana.

The sailor looked down and mumbled something.

“I have medical training,” said Joana. “I used to work in a hospital.”

The sailor’s eyes brightened. “Are you assigned to a ship?”

“No, that’s why I was asking about registration,” said Joana.

“Well then, consider this your day of good fortune, Fr?ulein. I’m waiting for a convoy of hospital trains and field ambulances. We’re boarding our wounded men onto the Gustloff, you see. We have just one doctor. He’s walking this way and I will introduce you.”

This wasn’t Joana’s day of good fortune. It was mine. This guy was a first-class booby. I stepped from behind the Polish girl to make my move, but Joana spoke first.

“Oh, my. Thank you, sailor. But you see, I have some important patients that I’ve been supervising. I’d have to take them with me.”

“Well, if everyone’s papers are in order we can make a request. Wounded soldiers and members of the Party will of course be boarded first. But I’m told that we will be evacuating many fine ladies . . . such as yourself.” He gave Joana a strange smile, his top lip curling over filmy teeth.

Eva turned to me, annoyed. “Is he the best that’s left? I’m sorry, but I’m not putting my future in the hands of this heavy breather.”