by Mary Wood
‘That’s what I intend to do. You are safe here while I work out a plan. This house belongs to Hadriel’s family.’
Hadriel, whom she’d known since a child, stood just behind Stefan. His family had lived nearby and his grandmother had been a friend of Babcia’s.
They greeted each other warmly. Ania had always liked Hadriel. Seeing him alive and unhurt, and not condemning her, brought some comfort to her almost-broken spirit.
‘Ania, it is good to see you. Though I’m saddened to see what your work for our cause has cost you. You will be all right now. I have joined Baruch’s Resistance movement. You can come with me; we will be safer there.’
Fighting the tears this evoked, Ania thanked him, before asking, ‘How have you survived? Where is your family? Oh, Hadriel, how did all of this happen? We were all so happy.’
Hadriel swallowed and his prominent Adam’s apple moved up and down. ‘I’ve been working on the rebuilding of Warsaw. I was taken there on a truck.’
‘But you’re a doctor!’
‘I’m a Jew – and that’s all these Nazis see. I was working in the hospital, when they came and dragged me out. My German senior, a heart specialist, protested on my behalf and was hit with the butt of a gun. He turned to me and apologized for his fellow countrymen’s behaviour, so they arrested him as a Jewish sympathizer. I don’t know what happened to him. They dragged me out of the hospital and put me on a truck with many others. I escaped with the help of another Pole of German origin, who was working as a supervisor, but is really one of us, as Stefan is. He does all he can to save at least one of us a week. He knows of the Resistance movement, but not the details of where they are; he told me to seek out Stefan. I have been hiding in the cellar of this house ever since, while Stefan negotiated with Baruch to accept me.’
‘But surely he didn’t have any objections? How could he?’ Once more Ania worried about Stefan and what his real motives were.
‘Baruch has to be extremely careful – we all do. Old friends could be new enemies. No one knows what a man will do to save his own skin, or that of his family. How did Baruch know that I had not been got at, and was being planted as a spy? He wanted Stefan to be very sure of me before he accepted me. I have lived in fear of discovery for many weeks. But I have proved myself to Baruch now.’
Ania didn’t ask how he’d had to prove himself, but understood Baruch’s caution, now that Hadriel had explained, but she hated the idea of not trusting old friends, people they had grown up with. She didn’t express these views; instead she changed the subject. ‘And how are your parents, and your sister Ruth and your babcia?’
‘My babcia has passed away. It was all too much for her. Her heart was weak and just gave out during the bombing. I don’t know where my parents or Ruth are. They were taken away. I haven’t heard anything from them.’
The silence that followed this wrapped them all in an atmosphere of desolation.
Stefan broke it. ‘Hadriel has been acting as a go-between for the movement, taking messages a short way along the exit route, to be collected by another messenger and taken on further, and often bringing information back to me. There is a whole chain of people taking on the responsibility of relaying whatever information we can get. We use this operation to test new recruits. Often what looks like vital information, but is false, is sent along the chain to me. It could contain information that would lead to a collaborator’s death, or something else as specific as that, so that we would know if there had been a leak.’
This appalled her. In their treatment of some collaborators, they had been wrong. To her, the Resistance was often as ruthless as the Nazis; the only mitigating circumstance was that it had right on its side. Unlike Hadriel, Stefan didn’t acknowledge her part in getting information, nor had he ever expressed any sympathy for her plight. In his usual cold manner he told her now, ‘The entrance door to the cellar of this house was bricked up and a new trapdoor was built into the floorboards.’
For the first time Ania took in her surroundings. The room she stood in had its carpet rolled back, from the sideboard on one wall to the shabby sofa that stood in the middle of the room. Behind the sofa, and against a window, stood a plain wooden table and four chairs. Everything was a shade of brown, from the lighter-brown carpet to the dark-brown sofa. The walls she imagined had once been cream, but had yellowed with neglect. A section of the floorboards about two feet long by two was lying beside a hole of the same size.
‘That is your exit route. You must hurry. I need time to board it up again and to replace the carpet, and then somehow slip out without being seen. Hadriel has put everything down there that you will need.’
‘But how long will we be down there? And what if you are caught and taken? And what of those secretaries . . . ? I think they have already shot one. Oh, Stefan, I can’t bear it – I can’t.’
‘You mustn’t give in now. The Germans will already be looking for you, as you haven’t returned to work. That woman will have told people what happened in her shop. It is likely she will say that you are the informer. People will be outraged, especially the families of those girls. They will help to look for you. If you are caught, then you will face torture until you tell them what you know and then you will be killed. But long before that, you will be begging them to kill you. I can’t let that happen. So many people will be in danger when you break – because you will break. You must both go into hiding now.’
Hadriel put his hand out to her. ‘Come, I will be with you. Let’s get ourselves into the cellar. There is a rope ladder; the steps that went to the cellar door are not within reach. But don’t worry. I will go first, as I’m used to it, and will guide your footing.’
The dank atmosphere added to the sick dread lying like a stone in the bottom of Ania’s stomach. As the last of the light disappeared as the boards were put back into position, a feeling of suffocation came over her.
‘Will you light a candle, Hadriel? I can’t penetrate this darkness.’
‘No. It is better that it remains dark. Here, wrap yourself in this blanket. The Germans will search for you in the houses and gardens near the shop first. People who live around here know of you. You visit the store regularly. Many of them believe you to be a Jew. Even those I trust, and who know of my hiding place, could connect us both and provide information. When it comes to it, there are as many cowards as there are heroes. Now we must keep quiet.’
‘But, Hadriel, everyone knows these houses have cellars. Oh, it’s impossible – it’s the first place they will look. And now I have gone missing, I have confirmed their suspicions of me and that may lead them to you. We should go now. What is the escape plan?’
Hadriel was quiet for a moment. Ania waited, giving him time to think.
‘You’re right. But we would be taking a big risk. There is an escape route leading through the wall between my cellar and the adjoining one. There are some loose bricks. We will work on getting them out and into next door’s cellar, and then put everything back as it was. From there, we can get out and begin the journey on our route to Baruch. Even if they do get down into this cellar in their search for us, they may not find the exit route. Our original plan was to wait it out here, to give Stefan time to get a team of helpers in place, but after what I heard him say, I can’t think why he wanted us to wait here. We will go at once.’
Ania didn’t answer. A feeling of despair filled her. Every part of her body started moving in uncontrollable jerking movements. Fear had unleashed itself inside her and had taken her over. Hadriel, in such close proximity to her, was alarmed and sought to help her.
‘Ania! Ania, no. Hold on, it will all work out. Snuggle up to me. Let me warm you.’
Ania allowed Hadriel’s strong arms to pull her into his body. There she found comfort in his warmth and strength. Relaxing against him, she was conscious of his lips on her hair, pressing gently into her scalp. His sigh held her name. ‘Ania, my little Ania . . . if only things were different.’
; Shock registered within her as her heart lurched. Hadriel loves me! Then her head shook, as if denying this thought and the answering murmur within her. No. I love Baruch, I do. Pulling herself out of Hadriel’s arms, she found words tumbling from her. ‘Hadriel, I am married to Baruch. You must not—’
‘Married. When? I – I . . . Oh, Ania, Ania. I knew that you and Baruch were in love, and that broke my heart – but married! It isn’t possible.’
‘We did it in private, before he left. We had one night together. That’s all. I’m Baruch’s wife, no matter what else has happened, and despite the number of violations my body has endured. I am his wife.’
‘Forgive me. I would never have spoken, Ania – never. I just didn’t know. As he hasn’t got you out of here, I thought you were nothing to Baruch now, after those men . . .’
‘I have thought the same. I don’t know if I still mean something to him, and it is breaking my heart. He has denied me a chance of escape. My sister—’
‘I know. None of us could understand Baruch’s actions. Yes, you were in hospital the first time, but he forbade us to tell you, when we knew Elka was coming to Poland again. She is here now. I met the second messenger who was to take your information about the ghetto that is to be built, and he told me Elka is here. Baruch has told your sister that you insist on staying here in Poland. But Elka is saying that either Baruch forces you to come with her or she will come to Krakow to see you.’
‘No! She mustn’t. Why is Baruch doing this? The information I give him is important, but there is little in it that would help him, or the Freedom Army, make any difference. Sometimes I know of a train coming in, with troops or arms, but mostly it concerns arrangements for the Jews and who is on the various lists that are compiled. Why hasn’t he saved me?’
A crashing sound, followed by footsteps above them, stopped Hadriel answering. Muffled, angry German voices filtered down to them.
‘What are they saying, Ania?’
‘I can’t make it out. I think one said, “They must be here!”’
‘They?’
‘Shush – let me listen!’
After a moment Ania curled further into Hadriel’s body. The trembling that had settled began again.
‘What is it? Ania, what have you heard?’
‘They said that the man with me had been seen coming out of here. They mean Stefan. They must mean him! But then they said that the man who lived here must be with me. Hush, they’re talking again.’
Amidst the sound of falling furniture and of doors crashing, as if being kicked in, Ania heard an angry shout. ‘The cellar! Where is the entrance to the cellar?’ Then another one. ‘We have checked, but there isn’t one; it must have been bricked up.’ Then Vandrick’s voice. ‘Lift the carpets – there has to be an entrance to the cellar.’
‘Oh, Hadriel, they’re coming down here.’
‘Come on.’ Rising, he moved away from her. ‘Help me, Ania. There’s a heavy cupboard. It goes from the floor to within an inch of the ceiling, and we must shift it to come under the opening.’
The cupboard refused to budge. Ania had so little strength. Hadriel pushed and pushed, but only managed to get it to move by a little over an inch. They needed it to move four feet to get it into position.
‘Take some of the stuff out of it, Hadriel. We can put it back after. Hurry!’ Sweat soaked Ania’s body. It ran in cold rivers down her spine as she worked away. It seemed to take an age to get some of the heavy toolboxes off the shelves, but at last they achieved this and renewed their efforts to push the cupboard. Now it moved when they shoved, making a fearful noise on the flagstone floor. But the sounds of furniture being moved above them must have drowned out the noise, as the Germans didn’t halt for a moment what they were doing.
Having got the cupboard into place, they refilled it. It would buy them some time, as the top of the huge closet would be all the Germans would see when they prised up the floorboards that formed the trapdoor.
Flopping back down, Ania was overcome by exhaustion. ‘We can’t rest. Come on, Ania, we must work away at the loose bricks. Where are our packs? I am disorientated in this dim light, and it is worse with the cupboard not in its usual place.’
‘They’re over there, where we sat before. I’ll get them.
As she rejoined Hadriel and handed him his rucksack, he caught hold of her. ‘Ania, I want you to know that I love you. I have always loved you. I will do all I can to protect you.’
A warm glow made her blush. She felt safe with Hadriel. But the feeling didn’t last long, because voices came to them saying, ‘Roll back the carpet.’
Hadriel guided her to the wall and began frantically removing bricks. Dust clouded around her, making her fight against coughing.
‘Here, take this wrench and help me. Help me, Ania!’
Hurtling through the hole they had forged, Hadriel grabbed her and pulled her through after him. As he did so, they heard the boards above give way. Curses rained down from above. ‘Blast them, this must be the entrance. Get some tools – commandeer them from the neighbours. We have to break down whatever it is they have put there.’
‘What if we set fire to it, Herr Vandrick?’
‘No, you idiot, we want them alive.’
Ania quickly told Hadriel what was happening.
‘Right, that will give us a head-start. We’ll leave the bricks. Come on, follow me.’
Racing up the stone steps of the neighbour’s cellar to the door above them, Hadriel opened it. It groaned its resistance, as if it hadn’t been disturbed for a very long time. ‘You might have oiled the hinges, Hadriel!’
Hadriel laughed and the sound made Ania feel better.
Before them was an overgrown tangle of bushes. The cellar door led directly to the back of the house. ‘Keep as low down as you can. The occupant of this house is away. I think he was trying to make it to America with his family. He has no idea what we have done to his property to make it an escape route, or that we use his cellar to hold meetings in.’
Pulling some of the bushes aside as if they were a gate, Ania saw there was a door behind them. Once through, Hadriel leaned forward and pulled the brambles back in place. It was then that she saw the bushes were attached to a gated structure. She waited while Hadriel secured the gate. Looking around her, she saw they were inside a shed. Tools hung from the walls, and boxes were piled high in one corner. Taking her hand once more, Hadriel guided her to the pile of boxes. He moved them to one side, revealing a manhole, which he levered open. ‘Get in there. Go on! Ania, there are steps – iron ones, like a ladder.’
As she did as he bade, a cold draught lifted her skirt.
‘Be careful. Hang on to the sides, but go down as quickly as you can. I cannot get in until you have left room for me.’
Ania climbed down without questioning. A cloying darkness engulfed her with every foot of her descent. Now unable to see at all, she sensed that Hadriel was just above her. She heard him shift the manhole cover back in place, shutting out the small glimmer of light that the opening had afforded. It seemed to take him some time. ‘It’s all right. There is an ingenious device that allows me to pull the boxes back into place. The boxes are all stuck together. And there is a wire that comes up through a minute hole attached to them. It is set up so that everything is put back in place. They will not think there is an escape route from the shed. It is how members of the Resistance get in and out of the house.’
‘Where are we? It is so cold, and the stench is awful!’
‘We’re in a sewer. The descent is steep and goes on for a long way. Just keep going. At the bottom there is a lamp, waterproof clothing and wellingtons. There is a route painted on the walls by means of red arrows that we have to follow to get out. It is long and gruelling and very unpleasant. It brings us to the outside of the city, and eventually to the Vistula river, where there are hidden stores in the banks. We will find more clothes and be able to wash in the river before we continue our journey.’
/> Ania was unable to ask further questions, as the disgusting odour made her retch. But it amazed her that such an escape route existed, and to hear that it was equipped with what they would need. She wondered how these things were replaced, but they were just details seen to by others, so that those who worked in the Resistance movement could function properly.
Through the tiredness that enveloped her, her mind teased her with unsettling thoughts. She tried to ignore them, but they persisted. Baruch could so easily have got her out this way, when he learned how badly she was being treated. Why didn’t he? Why? It wasn’t up to him to choose to sacrifice her for the greater cause. Sometimes it had to be admitted that the sacrifice was too great to fit the purpose, didn’t it?
22
Elka
High in the Tatra Mountains, Early June 1940 – Seeing, but Unable to Touch
It had been three weeks since Elka had left England to visit Baruch’s Resistance group – her third trip in eight weeks, as she had made a very quick visit in the closing weeks of April. This had been to collect intelligence on the exact location of the German training schools that were emerging in the area.
Her journey this time had been fraught with danger, and the right moment had to be chosen carefully. Snow now covered only the tips of the mountains, as if they were cakes dipped in icing sugar. Many forms of transport had to be used to get her here. Initially flown from Hungary and parachuted into Serbia, she had been taken by horse and trap along winding mountain passes. The pace was necessarily slow, and the possibility of coming across a German convoy was high. The journey had been done at night to avoid this, with long hours of daylight spent deep in darkened caves. The last thirty miles had to be done on foot, a gruelling climb that put all her skills to the test.
Helmut, the guide assigned to her, had been a pleasant companion and was knowledgeable about what was happening in all parts of the world. This was useful to Elka. When she’d last returned to England she had discovered that Jhona had left England to go on a mysterious mission, and had struggled to pay attention to news of what was happening around her.