The Daughters of Marburg

by Terrance Williamson

  Lilly wasn’t sure if she could rely on any of his reassurances. He was a dishonest man, after all, and she thought that maybe he was luring her into a false sense of security.

  “I have another use for you, actually.” The major rubbed his chin. “That diary you said you disposed of, you still have it, don’t you?”

  “What diary?” Lilly feigned ignorance.

  Swiftly, the major grabbed her roughly by the jaw and squeezed so tight that Lilly thought he might break the bone.

  “Don’t you ever lie to me!” He brought her face close to his, and she gagged at the stench of his breath. “Do you understand me?!”

  Lilly nodded as she tried to wriggle free from his grip, but her strength paled in comparison. Eventually, the major released her but remained close, and she could feel the warmth of this body against hers.

  “Now, you see, I enjoy this game,” he began as he brushed his hands along his uniform, fleshing out the fresh creases. “I really do. But it’s detestable if you don’t at least make an honest effort. Because now that you’ve lied about your knowledge of the journal, I, in turn, realize that you do still have it and, furthermore, it is more important than you initially led me to believe.”

  Shocked into silence, Lilly didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t give the diary over, no matter what he did to her. She would be condemning the Lilly in the journal to certain death. She was unaware if it did refer to their whereabouts or not, but she couldn’t take that chance.

  “I need Sergeant Wolf to analyze the diary so that we can determine where the family is.” The major grew calm. “Do you understand that the family is a danger to Germany?

  Sergeant Wolf is part of the resistance! Lilly thought. Surely the officer won’t betray Lilly, will he? What’s the right thing to do?!

  “Lilly, please.” The major pressed, again calmly. “Your father is a good man. I don’t want to kill him, but I will.”

  “If I give you the journal, you promise to leave us alone?” Lilly trembled as she spoke.

  “You have my word.” He nodded.

  “Alright, wait here.” Lilly inched away from the major as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed the diary.

  As she held onto the book, it felt heavier than she remembered it. There was a weight as if it discerned its secrets were about to be revealed. It was as if the girl in the attic and the journal were the same spirit, and both were aware of their fate.

  “Here.” Lilly grudgingly handed it over to the major.

  “Oh, no, no.” The major threw his hands in the air and wrinkled his face in disgust. “I don’t dare touch it. It’s riddled with disease. Wrap it in a cloth.”

  “As you wish.” Lilly complied, thankful that the major’s bias would keep him away from reading it.

  “Thank you, my dear.” The major lifted his hand and stroked her cheek as though she were his sweet niece. “Also, if you were wondering if this is all because you didn’t salute at the Society orientation, then yes, I can confirm that whatever is about to happen is entirely your fault.”

  Then, opening the door, the major walked out into the street where Lilly saw her father on his knees with blood running down his face.

  “Papa!” Lilly ran out and embraced him, but he was barely responsive as he had been beaten senseless.

  “What did you do to him?!” Lilly stood and screamed at one of the guards.

  “Piss off!” The guard pushed her back, and she fell onto the pavement.

  “Hey! Hey!” the major scolded the guard as he helped Lilly to her feet. “She’s only a girl.”

  Glancing at the major, Lilly didn’t understand what to make of his statement. He was so unashamedly vicious to her only moments ago, and his unpredictability was frightening.

  “Let’s get him to the prison.” The major signaled for the guards to stand him up.

  “You said you’d leave us alone!” Lilly became irate that the major would go back on his word so quickly.

  “You should have specified who ‘us’ was,” the major spoke over his shoulder, and Lilly watched as her father was dragged into the black of the night.

  Shivering as she stood in the cold, Lilly felt utterly alone. It was then that she became acutely aware of the silence that was enveloping her. There was no noise. No sound of any sort. Her mind was lost to a petrified panic, and Lilly couldn’t even contemplate the correct course of action. She simply stood, alone, in the dark street of Marburg.

  Breaking the silence and at once becoming the sweetest sound Lilly had ever heard, her neighbor’s door opened, and Mrs. Baumann peeked her head outside, making sure that the soldiers were gone.

  “I don’t…I…” Lilly tried to speak, but her mind was running in so many contradictory paths that she couldn’t form a complete sentence.

  “I know! Go get your sister!” Mrs. Baumann pointed wildly back at Lilly’s house. “You two are staying with us tonight.”

  Chapter Eight:

  On Vengeance

  “The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

  Seneca

  “You should get some rest, my dears.” Mrs. Baumann put a blanket over Lilly’s shoulder and then placed one over Edith’s as the two girls sat in their neighbor’s living room.

  “I don’t think I can sleep knowing what my dad is enduring.” Lilly shook her head before shooting a crooked glance at Edith.

  She was glad, at least, that Edith was feeling an overabundance of guilt as she stared vacantly at the coffee table with tearstained cheeks.

  “You will need to have your strength when your father returns.” Mrs. Baumann sat beside Edith and rubbed her back gently.

  “If he returns,” Lilly spoke bitterly, which made Edith burst into another fit of tears.

  “Miss Sommer!” Mrs. Baumann looked crossly at Lilly. “That was unkind.”

  “It’s her fault.” Lilly delved further into her resentment of Edith.

  “How could you say that?” Mrs. Baumann frowned.

  “No, she’s right.” Edith wiped away the tears as she sniffled.

  “So, it was you who beat your own father, then?” Mrs. Baumann asked sarcastically. “You fired the gun in your own house?”

  Edith shook her head slowly.

  “I didn’t think so.” Mrs. Baumann again rubbed Edith’s back.

  “It might as well have been her,” Lilly mumbled clear enough for Edith to hear.

  “She wasn’t aware of the major’s deprivations!” Mrs. Baumann defended.

  “She witnessed him murder five people in the market!” Lilly stood and pointed at Edith. “Then she accepted his request to attend dinner at our house without any reservation or proper concern for the people he killed.”

  “They were traitors,” Edith spoke softly as she shook her head. “What was I supposed to do?”

  “You’re supposed to know right from wrong and not believe whatever they tell you to think!” Lilly argued as passion overtook her.

  “Then why didn’t you stop him?!” Edith screamed. “You stood by when he pulled the trigger. What makes you so righteous?”

  “Because I would’ve refused his request and not allowed him within a hundred yards of our house!” Lilly took a step closer to Edith.

  “He picked me out of the crowd!” Edith pointed at her chest as the tears flowed. “I didn’t choose him; he chose me!”

  “That’s the problem!” Lilly shouted back.

  “What is?!”

  “They all choose you!” Lilly shook with rage.

  “I get it.” Edith bit her lip as she studied Lilly. “This isn’t about anything other than jealousy.”

  “You harlot!” Lilly reached over and grabbed a fistful of Edith’s hair, and began striking her. “Our father is in prison because of you!”

  “Ladies! Ladies!” Mrs. Baumann jumped in between them and pushed them apart. “Fight under my roof, and I’ll kick you out! Both of you!” She looked between them with a steely warning. “Do you understand?!”

>   Neither girl replied as they looked at each other with all the hate they could muster.

  “Lilly,” Mrs. Baumann continued in a softer tone, “if Edith had refused the major’s request, you would all have been imprisoned under the suspicion of treason. He doesn’t need you to be seditious; he just needs the appearance of sedition. It’s been nearly six years since we’ve had our rights stripped by the Nazis. If the major imprisons you, there is nothing which would protect you.”

  The front door swung open, and Wilhelm walked in to find the ladies in this shockingly suspended violent state.

  “What did you find out?” Mrs. Baumann broke away from the girls as she looked eagerly at Wilhelm while Lilly glared unforgivingly at Edith, warning her that the quarrel was not concluded.

  “They took him to the prison,” Wilhelm replied as he removed his coat and hung it up.

  “Thank heavens.” Mrs. Baumann rubbed her forehead to relieve the stress.

  “Why?” Lilly asked.

  “Yeah, I don’t understand why that is a good thing?” Edith frowned, and Lilly glanced at her sister with slight sorrow for her reaction but was too prideful to apologize.

  “Prison means there’s a chance he’ll come back. Even if there’s an inkling of treachery, they don’t hesitate to shoot,” Wilhelm replied. “If they believe that he has information, they will question him. If he answers correctly, they’ll release him.”

  “I see.” Lilly grew faint and sat again on the couch.

  “What is all the fuss about?!” a man from the second floor shouted.

  “It’s nothing, Walter!” Mrs. Baumann shouted back. “It’s under control.”

  “Alright then,” he replied, and Lilly could hear his feet shuffling away.

  “Did you fix that leak yet?” Mrs. Baumann called, but there was no answer.

  “How little do you think of me, Walter?” Mrs. Baumann stormed up the stairs. “You heard my reply only a couple seconds ago, but when I ask you about the one thing I’ve requested you investigate, you’ve suddenly gone deaf again.”

  “You really don’t have to stay here.” Wilhelm sat on the chair beside the couch as he spoke to Lilly. “My grandparents are always like this. You won’t have much peace.”

  “I prefer it to being alone at the house,” Lilly replied.

  “You’re not alone. You have me,” Edith spoke gently.

  “I’m alone because of you.” Lilly’s lips trembled.

  The room became silent as the girls’ loathing of each other lingered thick in the air. Not entirely sure what to say to ease the tension, Wilhelm simply endured the awkwardness.

  “Where are we sleeping?” Edith asked after a minute.

  “How can you even think about your own needs right now?” Lilly glared at her.

  “I just want to forget.” Edith stood and impatiently waited for Wilhelm to show her the way.

  “There’s a guest bedroom. Second door on the left.” Wilhelm pointed down the hallway.

  “I appreciate your hospitality,” Edith spoke politely though her voice wavered as she left the two in peace.

  “I think you’re being too hard on her.” Wilhelm offered a light squeeze on Lilly’s shoulder.

  “I’m not being hard enough.” Lilly shook her head. “You heard her remarks after the market.”

  “She’s not like you, Lilly.” Wilhelm shook his head. “You don’t behave as you’re told. You don’t blindly believe that might equals right.”

  “She should know better.” Lilly glanced at Wilhelm. “That’s the problem.”

  “We all should’ve known better,” Wilhelm shrugged, “but just like Edith, it’s too late now for wishing.”

  “I don’t believe that I’m capable of forgiving her.” Lilly stared at the table.

  “I fixed the damn leak!” Mr. Baumann’s muffled shout permeated through the ceiling, and Lilly chuckled slightly at their quarreling.

  “Do you think that you can sleep?” Wilhelm asked.

  “I can’t.” Lilly shook her head. “How can I sleep when my father is being tortured?”

  “Should we take a walk then?” Wilhelm asked but in a more cheerful tone than Lilly appreciated.

  “A walk?” Lilly raised an eyebrow.

  “I didn’t mean it that way.” Wilhelm looked apologetically at her. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  “I’m not in the mood.” Lilly began chewing her nails nervously.

  “It’s about your father,” Wilhelm whispered as he leaned forward.

  “What do you mean?” Lilly frowned.

  “I can’t tell you,” Wilhelm glanced around the living room, making sure no one was within earshot, “but I can show you.”

  “Will it help my father?”

  “Not really,” Wilhelm paused, “but it may help you.”

  “I don’t underst—”

  “Can you just come?” Wilhelm grew impatient.

  “Fine.” Lilly reluctantly agreed, not entirely sure if she should accept his proposal.

  “I’ll need my Hitler Youth uniform if we are to avoid suspicion.” Wilhelm stood. “Fortunately, you still have yours on. I’ll be right back.”

  With that, Wilhelm darted up the stairs as Lilly put her jacket on and stood in the foyer observing the Baumann residence. The house was about as quirky as Mrs. Baumann was, and Lilly assumed that her host hoarded every trinket she could get her hands on. Apart from a portrait of Hitler near the foyer, prominently displayed for anyone who entered the property, there was no other Nazi paraphernalia.

  Then Lilly spotted a photograph on a small table near the kitchen. It was clearly Wilhelm in the photo, but he was much younger, and Lilly assumed that the man and woman standing behind him were his parents. There was a girl as well in the photo who was older than Wilhelm, but Lilly wasn’t sure who she was.

  “Ready?” Wilhelm asked, and Lilly, startled, turned around.

  “Yes, sorry. I’m ready.” Lilly tried to catch her breath.

  “I think, maybe, you deserve to know some things about me,” Wilhelm began as he closed the door behind them.

  “What do you mean?” Lilly asked.

  “The truth about my parents, for one.” Wilhelm checked over his shoulder, making sure that there were no patrols nearby.

  “Your parents?”

  “Quickly, this way.” He grabbed her by the hand as they scurried down an alleyway under the cover of darkness.

  Lilly stayed as quiet as she was able as her shoes crunched in the snow beneath her. She wasn’t sure what Wilhelm was so adamant about showing her, but she trusted him nonetheless.

  “Stop!” Wilhelm whispered harshly and put his back to the wall when they came to the end of the alley. Lilly could only assume that it was a patrol, and she prayed that they weren’t SS.

  But her prayers went unanswered as the gray uniforms with the shiny black boots came into view with a couple of guards smoking and talking as they walked leisurely by. Thankfully, their conversation was rather captivating, and the two men paid little attention to their surroundings.

  Eventually, when Wilhelm was certain that the coast was clear, he again grabbed Lilly’s hand and led her along other such passageways and alleys.

  “Here we are,” Wilhelm panted when they came to a bridge overlooking the Lahn River. There was a large, spreading tree near the base of the bridge, and Wilhelm leaned against the trunk.

  “Are you sure we’re allowed to be so out in the open?” Lilly looked around with wide eyes, but she couldn’t see any soldiers nearby.

  “Do you see that?” Wilhelm ignored her and pointed to a building on the opposite end of the river.

  It was a modern, one-story building that was little more than a concrete box. Lilly assumed that it was recently built as it appeared bleak and dreary in contrast to the beautiful medieval buildings surrounding it.

  “I do.” Lilly nodded as she wondered as to its significance.

  “Your father is inside.” Wilhelm looke
d at her caringly.

  “In there?!” Lilly pointed and looked eagerly at Wilhelm.

  “The SS made some of the men from Marburg construct it.” Wilhelm shook his head in disgust. “Fortunately, the men of this town had some good sense.”

  “What do you mean?” Lilly frowned but kept her eyes glued on the building, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father.

  “You see how the bars are built on some of the cell windows?” Wilhelm pointed again.

  “What about them?” Lilly asked.

  “The builders took it upon themselves to make the bars with just a touch more space between them than instructed.”

  “Really?” Lilly glanced up at Wilhelm. “But my father couldn’t squeeze through those?”

  “No, but the girls that were arrested got through. The builders called it the bars of freedom.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Lilly asked.

  “Because there may not be hope for your father to escape.” He paused as he spoke tenderly. “But one day, they’ll arrest you.”

  Lilly glanced away as she began to tremble.

  “And when they do, remember that you can squeeze through those bars.” Wilhelm put an arm around her shoulder. “Hopefully you’re placed in the right cell.”

  “What do you mean when they arrest you?!” Lilly’s eyes flew wide. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

  “Do you think that matters to them?” Wilhelm scoffed. “Aren’t you paying attention? Your father is involved with some, well, unofficial organizations that aren’t permissible.”

  “He told me.” Lilly nodded and leaned against the bark as she still looked intently at the prison.

  “I thought he may have.”

  “How did you know about my father, though?” Lilly glanced up at him.

  “Let’s just say that your father is not acting alone in Marburg.” Wilhelm grinned slightly. “And mark my words, Lilly, the men that have done this to us will pay. I promise you that.”

  “Not soon enough,” Lilly grumbled. “I can’t stand this. My father is so close yet so far away. I can’t bear the thought of him suffering in there. And the windows are open to the elements. He must be freezing!”