فصل 86

joana

In a matter of hours the crowds had doubled in Gotenhafen. The stethoscope around my neck detained me as I walked. People saw it and ran out of bombed buildings and craters, begging for aid and medicine. I tried to help a woman whose face was blackened with frostbite.

“I used to be beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes vacant.

“The scars will fade,” I told her.

“Can you give me a cigarette?”

I shook my head. “I don’t have any.” A cigarette was akin to gold.

Her fingers stroked the cracked, blackened skin on her chin. “I’m so ugly now. Do you have a cigarette?” she repeated.

I put the stethoscope in my bag and pushed my way through the swarm of people to the port. In my pocket I had the boarding pass that Dr. Richter had secured for me. Where was our group? Had the sailor registered them? If Emilia was having difficulty I needed to help her.

“Joana!” Eva’s head towered above the throngs of people.

She walked toward me, alone. “Where are the others?” I asked.

“I haven’t seen them.”

“You didn’t register together?”

“No,” she said. “I walked hundreds of kilometers with that cart. My silver and dishes are in that wagon. I’m sorry, but I’m not letting some peasant family make off with all of those valuables.”

“Eva, there’s no time. The Russians are upon us. They could invade this port at any moment.”

“Once the wagon comes, I’ll register.”

“No, you must register now. The doctor told me the port will soon be overrun with nearly a million people. The Gustloff and other boats are leaving soon. Secure your passage now. Give the cart and horse to someone who needs it.”

She seemed to consider my urging.

“Have you seen the others?” I asked.

“I left them with that strange sailor.” She turned and began talking to another woman.

“Eva, wait. Did Emilia get through?” I pressed.

“I don’t know. The sailor took her, the shoemaker, and the boy to registration. That was the last I saw of them.”

“And what about Florian?” I asked.

She looked at me, confused. “Florian? Who’s Florian?”