by Mary Wood
‘By, that’s the rub of it. I might have guessed. Elka and Ania, bless them. But you have to hold on to the hope that they’re not in Poland. Remember you told me that they are Jews, so the family could have moved to America. Many Polish Jews have, according to the news. And you can’t blame them, either.’
‘Yes, Laurent said something similar, but I have this gut feeling. You see, Petra once talked at length about her own daughter. She said that her husband and his father refused to leave when trouble broke out at the beginning of the last war. They did go over the border to Russia, but that was as far as they would travel. They have a jewellery business and the father wouldn’t leave that, and neither would the husband of Petra’s daughter.’
‘And yet, knowing what we do about the family, the various investigators you’ve employed have never found owt out about where the girls are and what they are doing. You’d think it would be easy just to go round all the jewellery firms in Poland.’
‘I know, I used to think that, but without knowing a surname, it seems much more difficult. Oh, I don’t know. I have asked myself many times: why haven’t they been found?’ She sighed. ‘Anyway, enough of worrying about that. Is Leah all right? Has there been any news on what is happening at that house she was kept in?’
‘No real news. That copper came round yesterday afternoon and said that plans were in place, but he didn’t tell us much. He now believes everything Leah has told him, and the police are acting upon it, but we can’t get that across to Leah – perhaps you could talk to her before surgery opens? Mind, my Ginny is helping, bless her. The girls mime a lot to each other, and I have even heard Leah giggling, so there’s hope yet. Poor lass, she has a lot on her plate.’
‘Yes, she has. I’ll ring the sergeant and see what I can find out, then go and explain everything to Leah. You know, I’m still amazed at how Ginny turned up. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have Jimmy’s daughter here, in the house that honours him. And she’s a lovely girl. A capable and talented nurse, and a godsend. She has a lot of your ways as well.’
‘Eeh, she’s another poor lass, then.’
‘Go on with you, Ada. If I had an ounce of what you’re made of, I would be a million times better person than I am. But, as it is, I have you as my best friend and that keeps me sane.’
‘Aw, that’s a nice thing to say, but enough sloppiness. You run along to Leah while I get everything ready for your surgery – you’re under me feet and holding me up.’
Edith didn’t miss the catch in Ada’s voice and smiled to herself.
With surgery completed, and hearing from Ada that Leah was now fast asleep and not so restless, Edith wrote a note in French and gave it to Ada to give to Leah. ‘It explains that I will see her first thing in the morning, as I won’t be able to come back later tonight. She still seems to want me to be with her every minute, but that is because when she’s with me she can communicate.’
‘I’ll see she gets it afore I go. Now get yourself off, or you’ll not have time to eat before you take over your shift at the hospital.’
‘I know. Thank you. Dear Ada, what would I do without you? I thank God for our friendship.’
‘You’ll never know what you’d do without me, ’cause I’ll allus be here for you.’
They smiled at each other and then, on an impulse, Edith took Ada into her arms.
‘Eeh, Edith lass. What’s got into you? You’ll crush me pinny.’
They both laughed.
Edith’s heart was heavy when she sat down at her desk in the office of the hospital ward and listened to the surgeon from whom she was taking over. He was updating her on the patients in their care, but not much was going in, because her mind was elsewhere. Leah’s continued fear had stayed with her. As had her row with Laurent. But nothing compared or weighed her down like the fear for her daughters. She could do something about the first two, but knowing what had happened – or was happening – to her daughters seemed to be a lost cause.
Hope, she thought, was a good thing; but also a bad thing, as it kept pain alive. Would her pain ever diminish?
6
Elka
France, Early August 1939 – A Painful Decision Followed Through
The battle between them had raged for days, as Elka tried to persuade Ania to leave Poland with her. Turning from the sitting-room window, she decided to have another try. A heavy sigh escaped her as she looked at Ania sitting on the sofa, her attention consumed by a pile of school papers that she was wading through. How can Ania carry on life as if nothing has changed?
Walking over to her, Elka plonked herself heavily on the chair next to the sofa.
‘Elka, you have that look about you again. Can’t you accept that I want to stay? Look at all this work done by my pupils – they deserve that I stay. They can’t leave. Oh, the rich ones amongst them have already gone, but the children who are left are the sons and daughters of those who don’t have the means to pay bribes and obtain false papers. They need an education.’
‘Ania, please, I beg of you! Please change your mind.’
‘No. Apart from the children, Babcia is not well – she needs me. Why can’t you wait until she is stronger?’
‘She is nothing to me. How can you still respect her, let alone love her? She stole our lives from us.’
‘But she replaced it with a good life. We have had a good life, Elka – you can’t deny that – and a life full of love. I am still grieving for Mama, and Babcia is, too. How can we leave her?’
‘She is asking us to do so. Every day she urges us to go. And we can see what frightens her, for the papers are full of what is happening to the Jews. You will be in grave danger if you stay.’
‘I am not a born Jew. I will tell them. Besides, as I have said, not all Jews can get out, and how can we abandon them?’
‘We must. We must do what we can to save ourselves, and then do what we can from outside Poland. If we are incarcerated or controlled, how can we change things? We will do more good from outside the country. We can bring influences to bear, or work with Resistance movements or maybe with groups that are helping Jews to escape from Austria. Can’t you see that? Besides, if we find this Marianne, we should find our real mother. Don’t you want to do that?’
‘Of course I do. But I don’t want to leave Poland at this time. I need to stay.’
‘Oh, Ania, how can I leave without you? But I must. Jhona is leaving, and I must go with him. He is coming with me to France, and from there we will see what happens.’
‘I am happy for you. Are you and Jhona to be married before you go?’
‘There is no time. And there are difficulties. Legal papers relating to Jews are going astray. We dare not risk losing valuable identification papers in the system. Dziadek Gos is taking the rest of the family to America, so we will join them later and marry then. They will be devastated that you are not coming with me.’
Ania carried on marking her pupils’ work. The rustle of the papers and the scratching of her pen nib as she worked grated on Elka’s already-frayed nerves.
When finally Ania looked up, her expression held disdain. ‘It is strange that, after treating us almost like lepers, Dziadek Gos and Babcia Miriam are now acting like loving grandparents. After all, we were formally adopted by their son, which means they were our adoptive grandparents.’
‘You know why, Ania. You seem to put more store by Petra, who lied to us, than you do by Dziadek Gos and Babcia Miriam, who tried to be honourable and to avoid living a lie. They have told us that they didn’t stop loving us. They were just afraid to show it.’
‘Well, it is nice to have their love. Despite everything, I love them very much. You know, talking of leaving, it is possible that any conflict will be over very quickly. The Prime Minister of Great Britain is saying that if Germany invades us, Britain will wager war on Germany. And so, even if that doesn’t deter Germany, the might of Britain may soon defeat them.’
‘How can we be sure? Hitler has buil
t up massive aggressive and defensive strategies. His army is vast, as are his navy and air force. I am afraid that unless the whole world fights side-by-side against him, he will defeat Great Britain. Jhona says that, to do so, Hitler will have to take France. And that is why there is even more urgency. We need to get to France to find this Marianne, before Hitler turns his attention to that country. Besides, France is the country of our birth.’
‘I know, but I can’t go. Anyway, when did you become such a political animal? I wasn’t aware that you knew so much about what forces the Germans possess, or their aims.’
‘I needed to know. I have been trying to get into medical school – and what has been happening here, and abroad, has had an effect on that. Besides, Jhona is very interested in it all. He and his family have been moving assets and have only registered half of their wealth on the compulsory register for Jews. He has had to keep abreast of all that is happening.’
The door opened and Petra shuffled into the room, supported by her stick and holding a wallet in her hand. The conversation stopped. Elka stood and turned towards the opposite door, as if to leave.
‘Don’t go, Elka, I have something important here for you.’
Stiffening, Elka did not reply, but looked over at Petra in disgust.
Petra lowered her eyes. ‘I have papers showing your true nationality. Here.’ She put out a hand containing the cloth wallet. ‘Take them. I haven’t said so before, as I hoped I wouldn’t need to, but you may require these. I had to register you both as English citizens, as you had no country of origin. We registered you again here, and that is why you have Polish papers, but these papers were never rescinded. In here is proof of your dual nationality. You are entitled to be considered a British citizen – and Britain is where you should head for, as soon as you can. And, Ania, you must leave; you must!’
This both stunned and pleased Elka. As dual nationals, they could come and go in each of the countries in which they were registered. Getting into England would pose no problem if the borders were closed to Eastern European residents. She would apply for a British passport the moment she was settled in France. But any euphoria at this new twist was short-lived as she heard the determination in Ania’s reply to Petra.
‘I am not going, and that is an end to it. Apart from not leaving you, Babcia Petra, I have to stay to take care of the children in the school. And, well, neither of you know this, but I am in love. Oh, nothing has been said by either of us, but we know how we feel – and he isn’t leaving. He thinks the invasion will happen and, if it does, then us teachers need to stay, to take care of and protect the children.’
‘You mean Baruch Elburg? But he’s a political activist, he will lead you into danger – oh, Ania.’
‘Yes, Elka, he stands up for what he believes in: that Poland should be a free state, where all races and religions can live freely together. But I believe that is a good ideal and has brought Baruch great respect from many Catholic communities, and from those who are forced to live according to Communist ideals – and that is a rare feat for a Jew to have accomplished. He is forming a Resistance group, who will rise up and fight the Germans if they try to invade. Baruch believes that other nations will back them, and the result will be a free Poland at last!’
Defeated by the sheer conviction with which Ania spoke of her beliefs, and by the power that she knew love could nurture, Elka gave in. Opening her arms and moving towards her sister, she asked, ‘Will you forgive me, if I go? My heart wants never to leave your side, but I am compelled to go in a different direction from you.’
Coming into her arms, Ania held Elka tightly to her. ‘There is nothing to forgive, my darling sister. I will miss you, as a part of me will be gone, but we have to take the paths that are beckoning us. I will be happy knowing that you are safe, and with Jhona. Be happy for me, too, as I will be with the man I love, and where I want to be.’
Tears flowed down Elka’s face at the finality of this comment, and at the thought that she might never see her sister again. Their tears mingled as they clung on to each other.
‘Are you ready, Elka darling?’ Jhona came into the room. He had been waiting outside the apartment door, to give Elka one more chance to persuade Ania to leave. With the realization that the time had come, a physical pain shot through Elka, tearing at her resolve. Ania drew herself from her sister’s arms. Her expression was one of shock. ‘Are you going now? This minute? Oh, Elka, no!’
‘I have to, my dear. You know that I have been packing for days. We must leave now, before the borders close. Jhona, Isaac and Dziadek Gos are all driving. We are heading for Kołobrzeg. There will be a boat waiting for us there to take us across to Sweden, and from there we will all fly to England in a private aircraft. In England we will go our separate ways. Jhona and I will travel to France, and the rest of the family will try to get a passage on a liner to America. Will you come to Dziadek Gos and Babcia Miriam’s house, to say goodbye to everyone?’
‘I can’t. I’m sorry, but it will be too painful to me. I will write a letter to them all. Can you wait while I do that?’
When Ania left the room to write her letter, Elka felt uncomfortable in Petra’s presence, so she gestured to Jhona to follow her. ‘We’ll wait outside, darling.’
Once the door had closed behind them, Elka froze as Petra’s agonized cry reached her. ‘No . . . no, please don’t go. Not without forgiving me, Elka – please!’
Elka returned to the room. ‘I will forgive you, if my real mother forgives you for taking us from her. I do feel better towards you, since hearing that it is because of her love for Baruch Elburg that Ania won’t come with me, and not solely out of duty to you. Before that, I hated you for not leaving Poland to ensure that Ania did so. But I will bear no malice towards you. You brought me up, with Mama; you gave Mama to me and you have been an important part of my pretend life. Yes, you gave me love; but the love I gave you, you did not deserve. Ania and I may be twins, but we are very different, and always have been. She may be able to get over and see past what you have done, but I cannot. I hope you keep well. And I beg you to watch over and guide Ania. But that is all I can leave you with. Goodbye.’
Every limb trembled as Elka closed the door. Though she now loathed Petra, that loathing didn’t exclude all the feelings she’d had for her in the past, and parting from her hurt more than she wished to admit.
Petra’s sobs nearly undid her, but Elka could not force herself to return into the room, and Petra did not attempt to come after her. Better to have done with it all.
‘Are you all right, darling?’
‘No, Jhona, I am far from all right, and it will be a long time until I am. It will take until I am reunited with Ania for me to feel completely all right. We are two halves of a whole and we need to be together.’
‘You’re not thinking of not coming, are you?’
‘No, my darling, because – despite what I have said – you are a bigger pull on my heart than my sister is. I can’t live without being near you.’
His arms enclosed her. She could hear his heart beating. Each beat seemed to tick away life as she knew it, and she wondered how her new life would pan out. Would she ever achieve her dream of finding her real mother? And, if she did, what would her mother be like? Would she have another family – half-sisters and half-brothers to her and Ania? Would the time come when she herself would become a doctor, like her mother? Above all, would war come again, as it had done in her mother’s day; and, if so, would they all survive it? Oh, how I hope so. I want to marry Jhona and have his children – I want to live!
The journey had been long and tiring. Elka and Jhona had spent a week in England. Parting from the rest of the family had been painful, but also full of hope, as they had at last felt safe and the future held more security for them all. Now here she was, three weeks after leaving Poland, outside the address she had for Marianne in Nice.
Looking up at the windows above her, Elka wondered if they were the same ones that
her own mother would have looked out of, when she stayed here. And whether her mother still visited. Petra had said that her mother was about twenty-eight when she gave birth to her and Ania. That would make her about fifty now.
Jhona rang the doorbell. Its jangling played on Elka’s nerves, bringing them to a fever pitch of excitement and fear. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs towards the door.
A woman of around sixty years of age opened it, then stepped back in shock, before recovering and saying in French, ‘Oh, I – I’m sorry, I thought for a moment you were . . . No, that is silly of me – how can you be? How can I help you?’
‘Did you think I was Edith Mellor?’
‘What? How is it that you know of Edith?’
There was no easy answer. ‘I am her daughter.’
‘No. No, this is not possible.’ Many emotions passed over Marianne’s face. Elka started to explain, but before she could continue, Marianne gasped, ‘So that’s why Edith disappeared! Oh, my poor Edith. Look, come in. Come inside. We have to talk. I – I am confusing you.’
As they followed her up the stairs, Elka introduced Jhona and then asked the question she hardly dared to ask, as she dreaded the answer. Gos had said it had been a long time since the last investigator had come looking for them. ‘Is my mother still alive?’
‘Yes. Yes, of course. I – I mean, well, Edith Pevensy – Mellor – is still very much alive. Are you sure . . . I mean, does she know about you? Oh dear, I’m not making sense. If what you are saying is true, she will of course know about you. Oh, my poor darling Edith, this explains so much – so much.’
‘Do you speak English?’ asked Elka, when they entered the vestibule of the grand apartment. Marianne nodded.
Elka switched to speaking in English. ‘I have so much to tell you, and you will have questions, but Jhona’s French is not good. He speaks Russian, which I don’t, or at least not well enough, and English, and I want him to be able to understand what we are saying.’