فصل 82

emilia

The knight was gone.

Joana was gone.

The sailor marched us to registration, quietly chanting the phrase Yu-go-slav. He was fidgety and blinked constantly. The knight thought he could dupe the sailor. Maybe he could. But what would that mean for me? We approached the registration area near the water. Lines of applicants snaked in endless turns. Wealthy Germans in luxurious clothing stood in one line, military personnel in another. The remaining lines were full of weary refugees and families.

“I’m not getting in line,” announced Eva. “I want to wait for our cart. All of my valuables are on that wagon. I don’t want to leave without them.”

“But, Eva, dear, your shoes are carrying your most valuable possession—your life. Do not delay. Everything else can be replaced,” said the shoe poet.

“My mother’s silver is on that wagon. I’m waiting,” she insisted.

The sailor continued on, completely unaware that one in our group had departed. He brought us into the line for Party officials. He then changed his mind and took us directly to the front of the refugee line. Others, who had been waiting, protested.

Despite the bitter cold, I began to sweat. I opened my coat and took a deep breath. The soldiers in charge stopped the sailor and demanded an explanation for our jumping the line.

“I have four passengers, direct request from Dr. Richter.”

“I see only three,” noted the soldier. “Can’t you even count?”

“I am quite good at math.” The sailor turned around. “Where is the huge gorilla woman? Well, I have three passengers. Direct request from Dr. Richter. And this one is with child.” He turned to the soldier and sneered. “So that makes four, doesn’t it? Can’t you even count?”

He pulled me up to the counter, squarely in front of the registration officers.

“There we are, Frau. Show them your papers,” he commanded.