Round and round went the crank for the mimeograph machine.
Miss Bruun stacked flyers in tens, and Mrs. Iversen brought Else fresh stencils as fast as she could type them.
Kaj Knudsen and Arne Rask entered, and Knudsen grabbed a thick stack. “Every trustworthy person at the institute has stacks of flyers to hand out.”
Rask filled his briefcase with flyers. “We realized we were spreading the word only in academia, so we told everyone to think of shopkeepers or tradesmen—anyone they even think might be Jewish. Knudsen and I are heading out to a working-class neighborhood.”
“How thoughtful.” Else realized she’d stopped cranking, and she resumed. “How about Bohr? Did Wolff find him?”
“He’s already left,” Knudsen said. “Miss Schultz says someone warned him earlier today that he’s on a list of people to be arrested. He’s on his way to Sweden.”
“Oh no.” Bohr was only half-Jewish and didn’t practice any religion. “I hope he gets there safely.”
“So do we all.” Rask buckled his briefcase shut.
“What’s going on?” Laila stood in the doorway and stared at all the people inside.
Else gestured to the stack of flyers. “We’ve printed almost eighthundred flyers. Mrs. Iversen typed up more stencils, and Miss Bruun is helping make copies.”
“We’ve handed out about four hundred to staff here to distribute. Right, Rask?” Knudsen worked his way toward the door.
“Right. If that’s all, we have work to do.” Rask smiled at Laila.
Her jaw dangling, Laila stepped aside so the men could exit. “You—you did this for us?”
“For our fellow Danes.” Knudsen plopped his hat on his head. “Let’s go, Rask.”
Else examined the top copy in the collecting tray. “How many more do you need, Laila? It’s time for a new stencil.”
Laila stared at the pile. “This—this is plenty.”
“Good.” Else removed the stencil from the drum. “Miss Bruun, why don’t you tell Mrs. Iversen we’re finished.”
“I’ll do that on my way out.” Miss Bruun picked up several stacks of ten. “I have a lot of friends to tell before curfew.”
After Miss Bruun left, Else shed her rubber gloves. “What did Hemming say?”
Laila’s gaze narrowed. “He said we could use the house.”
“I’m glad.” What a good man to put the needs of others above his own—even though his own needs served a great good.
Else straightened the piles for easier transport.
Laila cleared her throat. “He said Henrik says you can tell me everything.”
Else snapped her gaze to her friend. “Henrik?”
“That means something?”
It meant Hemming was endangering himself for the sake of the ladies’ friendship. “Everything?”
“Everything. What’s going on?”
She glanced at her watch. “That’ll take a long time, and I have to tell you in private. We have more urgent matters.” She patted the flyers.
Laila rubbed her temple. “Yes. I need to deliver these to the newspaper headquarters, pass them out to everyone I know, tell—”
“First things first.” Else stepped closer to look her full in the eye. “We’re going to the villa tonight. You and your family needto meet me at Nørreport Station no later than four thirty so I have time to return home by sunset at seven.”
