The Far Side of the Sky

by Daniel Kalla

  Franz found the two Japanese colonels waiting in the hallway. Tanaka appeared as hostile as ever, with shoulders squared and eyes glaring. Kubota viewed Franz expectantly. “How did the surgery proceed, Dr. Adler?” he asked.

  “The general survived but …” Franz held out his hands. “His condition is grave.”

  “Now the general gets well!” Tanaka stated. Franz shrugged. “Only time will tell, Colonel.”

  Tanaka grunted, but his icy stare indicated that he intended to hold Franz, not time, responsible for any unfavourable outcomes.

  Franz eyed Kubota intently. “I am certain Dr. Reuben must have given you the same prognosis,” he said evenly.

  Embarrassment darted across Kubota’s face, but he quickly regained his composure. He bowed his head. “Thank you, Dr. Adler. You have done all we could ask of you.”

  “May I go home to my family now?” Franz asked.

  “Of course.” Kubota smiled. “I will have my driver take you.”

  Tanaka shook a finger at Franz. “You will come back later to see the general.” He scoffed. “I will have my men carry you here.”

  Outside, flecks much larger than snowflakes fell steadily from the sky. Franz let a few drift onto his palm. After a moment, he recognized them as ash from burnt paper.

  As Franz rode home in the back seat of Kubota’s staff car, he did not see a single pedestrian on the streets of the International Settlement. Even the beggars had disappeared. Shanghai struck Franz as surreal, as though he was experiencing it in a post-apocalyptic nightmare.

  Kubota’s driver pulled up to Franz’s building and barely slowed long enough for Franz to hop out. As soon as the car sped away, Heng Zhou materialized at the front door. His watery eyes darted around vigilantly. “Franz! What did they want from you?”

  “My help.”

  “Help?” Heng grimaced. “How can you help the Japanese?” “I had to perform surgery on one of them.”

  “Is that so?” Heng asked shakily. “Are you all right, Heng?”

  “I am a defeated old man,” Heng sighed. “Shan is … Shan. He is so angry with the Japanese. I worry that he might do something rash.” “You cannot allow that, Heng!”

  “I might have to solicit Mr. Muhler’s assistance.” Heng’s shoulder slumped. “I believe he has more influence on Shan than anyone.”

  Franz had long suspected that Heng understood the nature of the two men’s relationship, but they had never discussed the subject. “We will all keep an eye on Shan,” he said. “Meantime, I must check on my family.”

  “Yes, please do.” Heng waved distractedly. “Wish them well for me, please.”

  Franz opened the door to his flat to find the four most important people in his life collected in the same room. Lotte and Sunny must have come to sit vigil with Esther and Hannah after his detainment.

  “Franz!” Esther cried as she leapt off her chair in surprise. “Oh, thank God.”

  “Yes, welcome back,” Lotte added with a shy grin.

  Sunny beamed with a relieved smile that meant more to him than words.

  Hannah sat on the couch between Sunny and Lotte, appearing confused by the women’s exuberant greeting. “Why are you back so soon, Papa? Tante Essie said you went away on special business.”

  “I might still have to go away, liebchen.” Franz glanced purposefully at Esther. “But I am home for now.”

  “I hope you stay, Papa.”

  Franz’s heart melted at the sight of his eleven-year-old daughter flanked by his fiancée on one side and the woman he loved on the other. “I hope so too.”

  “Tea?” Esther offered as she headed to the stove.

  “Yes, please.” He turned to Lotte and Sunny. “Is there any news?”

  Lotte pointed to the radio. “We still can pick up the BBC, but there is hardly any news of Shanghai. The Japanese have blocked all transmissions from the local stations.”

  “Of course.” Franz understood that the Japanese were obsessed with controlling communication. “And the ash falling from the sky? Do you know where that comes from?”

  Lotte motioned to the ceiling. “From the tops of office buildings. People are burning all types of documents before the Japanese seize them.”

  Sunny turned to Franz, her expression a blend of affection and apprehension. “Do you think it likely that you will have to leave again on business?”

  He held her gaze for a long moment. “I wish I knew, Sunny. The next few days will tell, but yes, I think there is every chance I will have to go.”

  Franz had trouble breaking off the eye contact, until he sensed Lotte’s gaze upon them. He forced a smile for his fiancée. Conflicted as he felt, he realized that his focus had to be on protecting his family. An idea occurred to him. “Sunny, I wonder if I could impose on you for an enormous favour?”

  “Of course,” she said.

  “I need to host a meeting tonight. A very private and discreet one.” He lowered his voice. “Even Esther and Hannah cannot attend. I wonder if you might find space in your home for them to spend the night?”

  “Papa, I want to stay here!” Hannah said.

  “Liebchen, it will only be for a night or two,” Franz said.

  Picking up on his urgency, Sunny turned to Hannah with a smile. “You know what, Hannah?” She squeezed the girl’s hand. “It could be fun. We will make a girls’ night of it!”

  Heart aching, Franz studied Sunny with silent admiration. In the wake of the Japanese takeover and Reuben’s betrayal, none of Clara’s threats mattered any longer.

  If the general survives, then maybe, just maybe, Sunny, there will be hope for us yet.

  CHAPTER 35

  In the back seat of the Buick, Sunny sat on one side of Franz, and Lotte on the other. Sunny had offered the other woman a ride home, and Franz insisted on joining them. The awkwardness between the three of them that Sunny had anticipated had no chance to materialize. As soon as they had loaded into the car, Franz explained the real reason why the Kempeitai had dragged him away.

  “I am sure you did all that anyone could do for the general,” Sunny said. “Do you really think the Japanese would hold you responsible for his death?”

  His gaze fell to his lap. “Colonel Tanaka will, yes. Without question.” “It seems so unfair,” Lotte murmured. “Surely they should be grateful.” “I doubt Colonel Tanaka is capable of gratitude,” Franz said. “You think the Kempeitai would go after Esther and Hannah too?” Sunny asked.

  Franz shook his head. “I am not willing to find out.” “Of course not.” Only Lotte’s presence prevented Sunny from reaching for his hand.

  Franz turned to Lotte. “I think it would be too risky to keep Hannah and Esther at your aunt and uncle’s home. The Japanese are bound to look there.”

  Lotte smiled tightly. “It only makes sense that they stay with Miss Mah. I just hope Hannah isn’t too frightened by all the upheaval.”

  Fai slowed the car to a stop in front of the Reubens’ building. “Franz, are you staying here with Miss Weczel?” Sunny asked.

  He shook his head. “I will just see her to the door.”

  “We will wait.” Sunny leaned past him and nodded to the other woman. “It was nice to see you again, Miss Weczel. I only wish the circumstances were happier.”

  “Yes, I feel the same. Goodbye, Miss Mah. Thank you for the ride and … and all your generous help.”

  Waiting for Franz to return, Sunny stared at the seatback ahead of her. Temptation finally got the better of her and she glanced over to the entrance just in time to see Franz embrace Lotte and kiss her on the cheek. Irrational jealousy racked Sunny. She turned away and checked herself in the rear-view mirror to ensure that her expression showed no trace of it.

  “Thank you for waiting,” Franz said as he climbed back into the car. “There is no hurry,” Sunny said. “Fai and I can wait longer if you would like to go upstairs to visit with the Reubens—”

  “I never want to see that man as long as I live!”
Franz spat. “Oh, I … I had no idea,” Sunny stammered.

  “I am sorry, Sunny.” Franz skimmed his fingers across her cheek. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s Reuben. That cowardly devil!”

  She had never heard Franz speak with such vitriol. “What did Dr. Reuben do?”

  “He sold me out. Not only me, my whole family!” Franz went on to explain how Reuben had offered him up as a replacement scapegoat. “That snake!” Sunny blurted.

  They lapsed into a short silence until Sunny spoke up again. “Since my father died, there is only my housekeeper and me at home. It’s a waste, really. The house is too big for the two of us.”

  The anger drained from Franz’s face. “You are terribly generous. Thank you. I hope Esther and Hannah will only have to stay with you for a short while.”

  “Why don’t you join them? I …”

  He cocked his head in puzzlement. “You mean to hide me in your home?”

  “I suppose so.” She cleared her throat. “Yes.”

  “I could never!” He shook his head vehemently. “I am already exposing you to far too great a risk by asking you to board Hannah. I know Tanaka’s kind. He would only hunt me down. Hannah and Esther are in far greater danger in my presence. Oh, and how Tanaka would punish you.” He winced. “No. Absolutely not.”

  “What are you going to do, Franz?”

  “Nothing. You have given me the peace of mind I need by protecting my girls. The rest?” He shrugged. “Is in the hands of God.” “I thought you didn’t believe in God.”

  He mustered a faint smile. “Can you think of a better time to start?”

  They gazed at each other for a long moment without needing to fill in the silence. Finally, Sunny admitted in a near whisper, “I thought I saw him today, Franz.”

  “‘Him’?” His jaw dropped. “Oh, you mean the man who …?”

  “Killed my father. Yes.”

  Franz reached over and took her hand in his. “But it wasn’t him?” She gripped his hand tightly. “Not until he marched right past me did I realize it wasn’t the same man. I was so terrified, Franz.”

  He clutched her hand tighter. “He will not find you, Sunny.”

  “And what if I want to find him?”

  “Sunny, it is best if you never see him again.”

  “I hate him more than I ever thought possible.” Her voice quivered.

  “Whatever happens to that creature, your father will still be gone.”

  She looked away but left her hand in his. The contact between them felt so right. If she let go of his hand, she knew it would only be to throw herself into his arms.

  Fai pulled up to Franz’s apartment building. Esther and Hannah were already waiting out front with bags packed. Reluctantly, Sunny slipped her hand free of Franz’s.

  Franz reached for the door handle. Before opening the door, he turned back to her, at a loss for words. She motioned to Hannah and Esther. “I will keep them safe, Franz. I promise.”

  He ran his fingers over her cheek again. “I know.” Then he was gone.

  Sunny watched him hug Esther goodbye, but she had to turn away during his long embrace with Hannah.

  The girl was crying as she climbed into the car beside her. Even Esther was red-eyed. They spent the ride back to Sunny’s house in subdued silence.

  Yang was waiting anxiously by the door. Sunny explained that the Adlers would be staying for a while. “I will prepare the guest room,” Yang said. “Girlie, Dr. Huang has telephoned three times for you. And he has visited once.”

  “Is Wen-Cheng all right?” Sunny asked.

  “He worries so much for you, that good doctor.” Yang had always held a soft spot for the handsome physician. And now that Wen-Cheng was a widower, the housekeeper had launched a relentless campaign to see Sunny marry him. The news of Wen-Cheng’s proposal would have overjoyed Yang, but Sunny had yet to inform her.

  “I will ring him as soon as we settle our guests,” Sunny said.

  Within minutes of their arrival, the phone jangled. Sunny rushed to answer it, hoping that it might be Franz.

  “Where have you been, Sunny?” Wen-Cheng’s tone verged on frantic.

  “I had to visit the hospital and run some errands,” Sunny said.

  “Run errands?” Wen-Cheng croaked. “Shanghai is being overrun by the enemy. The Rìben guazi are everywhere. You should only leave the house for absolute emergencies!”

  His patronizing tone grated. “I am home now,” she said coolly.

  “Let me come over, Sunny.”

  “You had best stay where you are.”

  “I should be with you at this time.” “It is not necessary, Wen-Cheng.”

  “I want to be there, Sunny,” he said. “To comfort you. And to protect you if need be.”

  A few years before the same words might have melted her resistance, but now they bounced off her like a rubber ball off a wall. “I have house guests.” “Guests?” he sputtered. “During an invasion?”

  “It’s complicated, Wen-Cheng. I will explain soon. Right now, I need to attend to them.”

  “Oh, I see,” he sulked.

  No, Wen-Cheng, you do not see at all.

  The scents of sautéing ginger and garlic permeated the house, and soon Yang summoned Sunny, Esther and Hannah to dinner. Despite the lack of fresh supplies, Yang had still somehow whipped up a small feast of fried rice, noodles and vegetables. But none of them had much appetite, and most of the food went back into the icebox untouched.

  After dinner, Esther and Hannah retired to the guest room. Sunny wandered into the sitting room and pulled her dog-eared copy of the Merck Manual off the bookshelf. She could not believe how much she missed her father’s quizzes. Flipping the book open to a random page, she read the same sentence three times without absorbing a word. Giving up, she slid the book back onto the shelf.

  Distracted with worry for Franz, Sunny switched on the wireless. The local stations were all off the air, but she managed to pick up the static-filled BBC signal. Grimly, she listened to the announcer list the setbacks that the British, and their new fighting American allies, had suffered in a single day. “Japanese ground troops have established footholds in the Philippines, Indochina and Singapore,” he intoned sombrely.

  Esther stepped into the room. “It seems as though the Japanese have attacked the entire Pacific,” she said.

  Sunny switched off the wireless. “I wonder if anyone can stop them.”

  “Power lust has gotten the best of them. They will be turned back.”

  “Do you believe that, Esther?”

  “I have to.” Esther lowered herself into the chair opposite Sunny.

  “I wonder how much things will change for us,” Sunny said.

  “A rumour was tearing through our building that the Japanese plan to round up all enemy citizens and dump them in prison camps.” Esther frowned. “Hitler stripped us of our citizenship. I have no idea how the Japanese will view us.” She tilted her head. “And you, Sunny? What is your citizenship?”

  “Chinese,” she sighed. “I am not too concerned, though. The Japanese could not build camps big enough to house all the Chinese in Shanghai.”

  Esther looked down at her knees. “But they could easily gather up all the Americans.”

  Sunny stroked her arm. “Simon?”

  Esther nodded.

  “Simon is not worried,” Sunny reassured. “His only concern is how to feed and house all the refugees.”

  Esther looked up with a small smile. “That reckless man believes he is invincible!”

  Sunny nodded. “He has a big heart.”

  “To use one of his favourite sayings, ‘it’s the size of Staten Island.’” Esther laughed. “However large that is!”

  “Esther, in Vienna with you … and, um, your husband …” Sunny stammered, “I cannot imagine what it must be like for you now.”

  Esther’s forehead furrowed. “I never dreamed I would find someone after Karl. I expected to live and die as
his widow. And then this brash American comes along with all his flighty charm and impossibly big dreams. Nothing at all like Karl, really.” She paused. “And yet they are so much alike in spirit. Karl would have done anything to help someone in need. Simon is the same. Maybe that is why I love him too.” She laughed again. “Though I could do with a little less conversation about his precious Yankees and all those Hollywood cinema stars.”

  “Do you think you will marry him?” Sunny asked.

  “I know I will.” Esther blushed. “Sunny, can I ask that you please keep that to yourself?”

  “Of course. Simon has been assuring me the same since the day he met you.”

  “He can wear a person down.” Esther sighed good-naturedly. “And you, Sunny?”

  Sunny wondered if Simon had told her about Wen-Cheng’s proposal, but before she had a chance to reply, Esther added, “I know how my brother-in-law feels about you.”

  Sunny could not meet the Esther’s eyes. “Feelings are not the issue. Franz is already engaged to another woman.”

  “Out of obligation, not love.”

  “Does that really matter?”

  “Absolutely!” Esther said. “Particularly now.”

  “What of Hannah’s schooling? Will Mrs. Reuben still not hold that over Franz?”

  “So what if she does?” Esther pointed to the wireless. “What sense is there in sacrificing for a future that we don’t even know will come?”

  Esther’s words struck a chord. “Perhaps you are—”

  The ringing telephone cut Sunny off. She reached for the receiver.

  “Sunny, it’s me!” Franz blurted. “How is everyone?”

  “Fine. Hannah is already asleep.” She hesitated. “Franz, how is the general?”

  “Better. His fever has broken and he is no longer delirious.”

  Esther leaned forward in her seat, staring at Sunny.

  “Do you think he will rally?” Sunny breathed.

  “I cannot be sure, but I think so. I really do, Sunny.”