“Well, no...”
“And I’ve never seen him wear a watch, have you?”
Pieces flew together—the odd message, Hemming’s annoyance. Was that a resistance message? If so, she had to help.
“That’s right,” she said. “I seem to remember him saying he’d brought someone’s watch into the city for repair. His uncle’s?” She’d told a whopper of a lie, so she sent up a whopper of a prayer, asking God to see her lie as if she were Rahab covering for the Hebrew spies in Jericho.
Changing the subject seemed wise. “Is Laila home?”
“Thank goodness, yes. She’s listening to the radio. Fool girl was determined to go out this morning to see what was happening. I told her if she wanted to be reckless with her safety and mine, then she could find someplace new to live.”
“Oh, you know Laila. She’s just curious.”
“Reckless.”
“Never.” Else gave her a pat on the arm and trotted up to the living room.
Laila turned from the mumbling radio, her face pale.
Else dropped her suitcase and met her friend halfway across the room in a hug.
“Martial law.” Laila’s voice croaked.
“I know. It’s awful.”
Laila darted back to her chair. “I’ve been listening to the radio all day—Danish, Swedish, the BBC when Fru Riber isn’t around, trying to piece it together.”
“I saw a flyer.” Else drew up a chair and told Laila what she’d read.
“That’s what was broadcast on State Radio. Yesterday the Germans asked the government to impose a state of emergency, to impose the death penalty for saboteurs. They refused. Today the government resigned en masse.”
“Oh my.” The rule of law would be replaced by the rule of the Gestapo. And instead of receiving just trials and sentences fromDanish courts, now saboteurs would be tried in German tribunals—and executed.
Laila’s gaze burned. “And the Germans put the king—our dear king!—under house arrest at Sorgenfri Castle.”
“Oh no.” King Christian X was beloved by the people.
Laila glanced past Else to the door, and she leaned closer. “I wanted to go see myFritfriends, but Fru was suspicious. I’ll have to wait until I pretend to go to work at the Mathematics Institute tomorrow to find out more.”
A question clumped in Else’s throat, and she forced it out. “Do you know how this will affect the Jews?”
A shade fell over Laila’s brown eyes, and her cheeks worked. “Without the government to protect us, the Germans can do whatever they want. Beat us up, ban us from our jobs, make us wear yellow stars, confine us to ghettoes, deport us to concentration camps, line us up and sh—” A sob cut her off, and she clapped her hands over her face.
“Oh, Laila.” Else rubbed her friend’s arm. “I won’t let—”
How could she make such a promise? “I—I’ll do everything I can to help you.” So would Hemming, but to say so would pave the path to questions she couldn’t answer.
“If I have to die, I’ll die fighting.” Laila lowered her hands and revealed terrified courage.
34
COPENHAGEN
MONDAY, AUGUST30, 1943
The Langebro teemed with bicycles as Henrik pedaled to work across Copenhagen Harbor, and hundreds of tires whistled over wet pavement. Clouds streaked and curled across the sky, with gray masses on the horizon promising more rain.
The strike was over. In order to protect men not involved in the resistance, all sabotage by shipyard workers was over. Until further notice, they would advocate only slowdowns and shoddy workmanship. The order came from high in resistance circles, according to Gaffel.
