“Do you think this is okay?” I asked Charlie once the stranger was out of hearingrange.
“It’s either this or trying to find a way through customstonight.”
“How are we ever going to get through customs?” I asked, having not considered that part of our journey until then. I’m not sure why it hadn’t crossed my mind, but I was more concerned with what we left behind than what wasahead.
“Either we find a way around customs, or we find a way through it.” Charlie’s hand reached toward his pocket where his pistol was, and without a word, I knew what he was thinking. Stealing a car was bad enough, but taking a life was more than I could contemplate at that time. I knew there may not have been a choice in the matter, but it didn’t make it easier to accept. I didn’t want to be like one of them, like the person who killed Mama, or the people responsible for Papa and Jakobdying.
“Amelia, I’m trying to save us. I promise you, that’s all I’m trying todo.”
“Charlie, you don’t need to explain yourself. You have proven your feelings more than enough times. I know your intentions are good and pure.” He looked at me for a moment, and I could almost read each thought swimming through his eyes. I wished he had shared every one of them with me, but Charlie was a man of few words. I cherished every word he offered, but I wanted more. He tugged at my arm, pulling it away from Lucie, and ripped the Jude patch from the sleeve of my jacket. I hadn’t thought to do that, so it was wise that hedid.
“Take off your coat,” Charlie demanded. Puzzled at his stern request, I removed the layer of clothing, and he quickly tore the Jude star off my dress, too.How could I have forgotten?Our clothes, filthy appearance, and state of malnutrition hinted that Lucie and I were from Terezin, but that star would have confirmed who we were. No one could know that truth. As we moved forward, a gas lamp shined through the trees, serving as a guide, welcoming us to the man’s house. Lucie was wide awake at that time and taking in her surroundings, babbling as if she were trying to communicate with us. “I know, baby. Everything’s going to be all right, sweet girl,” I assuredher.
Once we arrived at the house, I found the outside to be odd. The area was covered with trees, which shaded the windows, and there wasn’t a path that led to the front door. It was a log cabin, fully covered in vines, nearly camouflaged against the wooded area. It seemed as if the man was alsohiding.
The moment we stepped onto the cement block leading to the front door, the gas lamp went off, the door opened, and we were hurried inside of the candlelithouse.
Each interior wall was as it was outside, but without the vines. Dark paneling and matching floors held the glow from a small fire in a metal pit along the far wall. There were old, tattered chairs strewn around what looked to be a handmade, wooden table, but beyond that, there wasemptiness.
After the man let us in, he disappeared into another room without a word, leaving the three of us standing like statues in front of the closed door. There was a lot of commotion between the man and a woman, who I assumed to be his wife, but it was hard to tell what they were saying. We waited several minutes before they joined us in what appeared to be their main living area, and it was instantaneously obvious how they felt about ourpresence.
With enough light, I could see that the man was older—maybe around Papa’s age, and the woman looked to be around Mama’s age. She was wearing an old, worn dress, and he was cloaked similarly in gray slacks and a white, cotton shirt. “Your baby, she’s hungry?” the woman asked. She had a strong Swedish accent, and I wondered why she would be there in Czechoslovakia if she were fromSweden.
“Yes, Madame,” I replied. “She is, but our intentions were not to beg forfood.”
“Oh, hush,” she said. “Louis already explained your situation tome.”
I felt very uneasy even though things seemed to be okay, but I couldn’t help wondering what Louis explained to her? I dreaded that it was only a matter of time before they would figure out the truth. Lucie and I were extremely dirty and smelledvile.
“Come,” she summoned us toward her with an inviting nod before gently placing her hand on my back as she led us into her small kitchen. There was a fresh loaf of bread on the counter and a basket of fruits hanging from beneath one of the cupboards. My mouth filled with saliva, dreaming of what it would be like to taste something so tartagain.
I became more curious about their story and why they were in the middle of the woods alone, but I wasn’t there to pry, and Mama always told me it was rude to ask too many questions when invited into someone’s home. Plus, if I didn’t want them asking aboutme, I should offer them the samecourtesy.
“I’m Svaya,” sheoffered.
“I’m Amelia, this is Lucie and—my husband, Charlie,” Ireplied.
She leaned forward and smiled at Lucie. “May I?” She held her arms out, wanting to hold the little girl I didn’t want to release after being freed from that hell. However, after a moment of hesitation, I reminded myself how unbearably tired and weak my arms felt from holding her so long. I handed Lucie to Svaya, watching a smitten appearance take over her forlorn features. Lucie cooed as Svaya tickled her tummy. She even giggled, and it was the first time I ever heard that sweet sound from her. I felt thankful that Lucie would never remember what she was borninto.
With my sweet girl in one arm, Svaya tended to the loaf of bread and sliced up some fruit as if she had heard my thoughts. Drool pooled in the corners of my mouth as she placed the food down on a plate. She sat on one of the carved chairs, and I situated myself on the other as she fed Lucie small pieces of the fruit and bread. I took bigger bites but made sure to leave enough forCharlie.
After a few moments, the men joined us, both quiet and reserved as if they shared uncomfortable words. “Charlie, I saved some for you,” I toldhim.
“Amelia, eat,” he said, sternly. “I want you and Lucie to haveit.”
“That’s nonsense. There’s plenty for all of you,” Svaya said. She stood with Lucie and sliced up more of the food as Charlie rubbed my back. “What happened to your arm, youngman?”
“I was deployed to Prague for a year. I was too close to a mine field when one of our men mistakenly assumed there was a clear path. I was one of the lucky ones.” I had yet to ask Charlie what happened because I couldn’t handle the thought of what took place. It was selfish to be ignorant, but my mind was too bogged down and weak to take in more than I already had to handle. I stopped chewing the fruits as his words sank in, and images flashed through my mind.He must have beenterrified.
“Goodness. I’m glad you survived,” she said. “You’re ahero.”
“No, madame. I was just doing what I was told todo.”
“I see,” she said, appearing to understand that Charlie was not one ofthosesoldiers.
“Can I take your coats?” Louisoffered.
I was becoming quite warm from the fire, so I complied without hesitation. “Please,” I said gratefully, as I shrugged the coat off my shoulders and handed it to Louis. “Thank you for yourkindness.”
