The Far Side of the Sky

by Daniel Kalla

  “You believe we could get rid of these Nazis ourselves?” Franz asked.

  Simon folded his arms across his chest. “Sounds to me like it might just come down to us or them.”

  Sunny remembered her own ambivalence as she held a lethal dose of morphine over her father’s murderer. “Violence is not the answer, Simon.”

  Esther nodded. “Darling, if something happens to Meisinger and his men, the Nazis will only send more men, who will be even more determined.”

  “The women are correct, Simon,” Franz said. “And no doubt it would only strengthen the Nazis’ argument with the Japanese as to the subversive risk we Jews pose.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Simon said. “Either way, it might buy us more time.”

  Esther grabbed her husband’s arm again. “Simon, it’s not what I had in mind.”

  Her touch had a soothing effect on Simon. “What did you have in mind, sweetheart?”

  Esther cleared her throat. “Perhaps Meisinger and the other brutes like to bet on horse or dog races?” she suggested. “Maybe they carouse in the nightclubs? Or better still, for our purposes, perhaps they frequent the opium dens or brothels here in Shanghai?”

  Simon nodded enthusiastically. “Maybe we could catch the rats in the act.”

  They brainstormed for the next hour, agreeing only to reconvene in the morning after the Saturday Sabbath service to discuss further.

  After Simon and Esther left, Sunny and Franz sat together on the sofa. Sunny nestled her head into Franz’s shoulder, inhaling his scent.

  “Sunny, I need you to do something for me,” he said.

  She looked up at him. “Anything.”

  “I need you to take Hannah away from here.” His jaw tightened. “Away from me too.”

  “No, Franz. Anything but that. I will never leave you.”

  “Listen to me, Sunny,” he said. “Ever since the Anschluss, Hannah’s life has been in near-constant jeopardy. And all because of me.”

  She stiffened in his arms. “Franz, you can’t blame yourself!”

  “I can and I do. If her mother were still alive, life would be so different for Hannah …”

  “Not only for her,” Sunny said, shrugging off the slight. “You are the only parent Hannah has ever known. You have protected her from terrible circumstances, all of which have been beyond your control.”

  Franz would not be swayed. “In Vienna, right after Kristallnacht, I had the opportunity to send Hannah off to safety in London. But I selfishly chose to keep her with me. To drag her to Shanghai with all its dangers. I came so close to losing her to cholera. Now the Nazis want to finish the job that the bacterium could not.” He shook his head. “I will never allow that to happen. Never.”

  She caressed his cheek. “Of course not.”

  “That means I have to let her go.” His voice faltered. “And, aside from Essie, there is no one else in the world I would trust to take her.”

  Even as her eyes clouded with tears, Sunny held his stare. “I won’t leave you, Franz.”

  “You have to.” He held the back of her hand against his face. “Take her. Protect her. I am begging you, Sunny. For me. Please.”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Jia-Li can help. I would trust her with my life. She has more connections than anyone. Yes, Jia-Li can get Hannah to safety.”

  “I trust Jia-Li too,” Franz said. “But think of the life she leads. With gangsters and other … elements. I do not want Hannah immersed in that world.”

  “Jia-Li’s mother lives a simple life in Hongkew,” Sunny pointed out. “And if not Jia-Li’s family, then maybe my friends Stacy and Meredith, from the Country Hospital. Or even Yang. We will find someone, I promise. Just don’t make me leave you, Franz.” She paused to get her voice to co-operate. “I would rather die.”

  “Oh, Sunny.” He ran his lips along her cheek, kissing away her tears. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”

  The phone rang and they both froze.

  “Shall I answer it?” Sunny asked.

  “I will.” Franz broke free of her and rushed down the corridor to grab the receiver.

  Sunny heard him say, “The sooner the better, Colonel Kubota. One hour would be fine.”

  CHAPTER 47

  Even under the long shadows of early evening, the streets of Shanghai still baked. Franz sweated profusely under his best wool suit, but the humidity and temperature were only partly to blame. Outside Astor House, Captain Yamamoto stood waiting between two sentries. He escorted Franz and Simon directly to Kubota’s office. The colonel rose from his seat to greet them, but Samuel Reuben remained seated in his chair.

  Franz glared at the other surgeon. “What are you doing here?”

  Reuben adjusted his bow tie. “Helping to find a solution to a difficult situation.”

  “This situation does not concern you,” Franz said.

  “I beg to differ, Adler,” Reuben said. “If the Nazis are allowed to treat the German Jews in such a barbaric manner, it only stands to reason that they will turn on the British Jews next.”

  Franz turned to Kubota. “Colonel, it might be best if the general heard from as few people as possible. Simon and I have rehearsed our message—”

  “See here, Adler,” Reuben interrupted. “This crisis affects all of Shanghai’s Jews, many of whom, I might add, have lived here for generations.

  This threat would not even exist at all were it not for the flood of, frankly, uninvited German refugees that we have seen over the past few years.”

  Simon squinted at Reuben. “Are you blaming the refugees for this?”

  “Obviously, the Nazis are far more responsible.” Reuben brushed a hand through the air. “Regardless, I am more than capable of speaking for the entire Jewish community. Arguably, more qualified than an American globetrotter and an Austrian who has repeatedly turned his back on his own people.”

  “Turned my back?” Franz gritted his teeth.

  “How else would you describe it, then?” Reuben said. “Supporting your queer artist friend in his determination to publicly embarrass the Japanese? Marrying a local half-breed? Encouraging my niece to pursue a relationship with a Gentile? And, perhaps worst of all, trying to sneak a Nazi’s wife into a Jewish hospital for surgery.”

  Gripped by fury, Franz took a step toward Reuben.

  “Gentlemen, enough!” Kubota snapped. “This is not the time for quarrelling.” He locked eyes with Franz. “I invited Dr. Reuben to join us today.” He turned to Reuben. “And I have personally witnessed Dr. Adler’s commitment to the Jewish refugees.”

  “But—” Reuben began.

  “It is decided,” Kubota said. “The general was most reluctant to meet with any of you. You will have only this one opportunity. You would be most foolish to squander it by arguing among yourselves.”

  Franz swallowed his outrage and nodded, while Reuben simply shrugged.

  The four of them silently rode the elevator to the top floor. The guard posted outside Nogomi’s office saluted Kubota and opened the door. The room had high ceilings, ornate wainscotting and a central chandelier. Franz smelled lavender, but he spotted no flowers.

  General Nogomi sat behind a large oak desk near a bank of windows overlooking the Whangpoo River. He glanced briefly at Kubota but said nothing. His face had filled out in the six months since Franz had last seen him. In a pressed green uniform with a row of glittering medals lining his chest, the general exuded power and authority. And he eyed Franz with an expression that verged on contempt.

  Franz and Simon bowed deeply. Reuben hastily followed suit. With a crisp salute, Kubota addressed the general quietly in Japanese. Nogomi sat motionless as he listened and murmured only a few words in response.

  Kubota turned back to the others. “General Nogomi will only spare a few minutes for your visit. What would you like me to tell him?”

  Reuben opened his mouth to speak, but Simon nudged Reuben’s ribs and motioned his head toward Franz.

&n
bsp; Franz cleared his throat. “General, our entire community is most grateful to the Imperial Japanese Empire for its graciousness and generosity in allowing the Jewish refugees to live in peace and safety in Shanghai.”

  Kubota translated. The general only grunted, his stare remained as impassive as ever.

  Franz bowed his head. “Moreover, we respect and recognize the full Japanese authority in Shanghai.”

  Nogomi spoke a few words, and then Kubota said, “Since the Nazis are the Jews’ prime enemies, the general assumes that the Jews must also view the Japanese as enemies.”

  “Not at all, Colonel,” Simon interjected.

  “Indeed,” Franz agreed, feeling beads of cold sweat drip down his sides.

  “We do not associate the Japanese with the Nazis. On the contrary, the Japanese have been as decent to us as the Nazis have been cruel.”

  Unmoved, Nogomi spat several words, which Kubota translated in a monotone. “The Germans say that you Jews would do whatever is required to ensure Germany—and therefore Japan—loses the war. They say that your only loyalty is to other Jews and you would betray anyone else to get ahead. That it would be dangerous to leave you free to roam the city. Colonel Meisinger compared it to leaving foxes free to roam the henhouse.”

  “That is simply not so!” Reuben said indignantly.

  Franz saw that they had reached a pivotal point. His hands felt sticky as he racked his brain for some way to counter Meisinger’s case. He decided to use the pacifist argument that Simon and he had rehearsed.

  “Perhaps the general might be interested to hear how the Jews ended up so downtrodden in Germany?”

  The question seemed to pique the general’s curiosity.

  “We Jews are law-abiding citizens.” Franz chose his words meticulously, pausing to allow Kubota to translate each sentence. “We have no nation of our own. In any country where Jews live, we have always respected the customs and laws of the land. It is true that we are a close-knit community dedicated to family, scholarship and, yes, financial stability. But we have always considered ourselves loyal and productive citizens.”

  Franz waited for the general to comment, but he said nothing.

  “Jews are peaceful people,” Franz stressed. “We have no army of our own and have always relied on the laws of the land to protect us. So when the Nazis decided to blame us for all of Germany’s troubles, we were easy scapegoats. We were defenceless.”

  Franz paused again, but Nogomi only eyed him blankly, so he continued. “We abided by every new law that banned our way of life and, eventually, our existence. We never resorted to violence, subversion or espionage. It is not in our nature, General.” He brought his hand to his chest and repeated, “We Jews are peaceful people.”

  Nogomi clasped his hands together. Finally, he looked at Kubota and muttered a few words.

  Kubota eyed Franz. “The general wants to know why you think it is that the Germans hate Jews so passionately.”

  “Not all Germans, General,” Franz said. “Only the Nazis.”

  “Also, the Nazis hate us because we look different from them,” Reuben added.

  After the translation, Nogomi cracked a trace of a smile and spoke a few words.

  “Different?” Kubota said. “The general says that, swastikas aside, you Jews look identical to the Nazis.”

  The visitors broke into tense laughter.

  “Colonel,” Reuben said. “Please tell the general that we know the Japanese are too honourable to hand innocent people over to the Nazis for their evil purposes.”

  Simon and Franz shared a concerned glance. Kubota eyed Reuben skeptically, then translated the remark. Nogomi pulled his hands from his desk and sat up straighter.

  “Furthermore,” Reuben persisted, evidently unaware of the new unease in the room. “Please tell the general that the rest of the world is very aware of how the Nazis have mistreated the Jews. If the Japanese were to abet them in their proposed criminal endeavour, the world would judge Japan very harshly indeed.”

  “No, Reuben!” Simon snapped.

  Alarmed, Franz swivelled his head to face Kubota. “Please, Colonel, do not translate that last remark!”

  Kubota glanced from Franz to Reuben. “I am inclined to agree with Dr. Adler. I am not convinced the general will respond favourably to such arguments.”

  “The general needs to hear the consequences,” Reuben urged Kubota. “Trust me, my friend.”

  “No, Colonel,” Franz insisted.

  Reuben turned on him. “You have had your say, Adler! Now it is time for mine.”

  Nogomi addressed Kubota in a sharp tone as he wiggled a finger from Reuben to Franz. With a wary glance at the others, Kubota spoke in Japanese.

  The general’s eyes widened and his face flushed. He stared at the others for a tense moment. Suddenly, he pushed his chair back and jumped to his feet. He shook a finger at the door and screamed at them.

  A sense of doom overcame Franz. We have lost our only chance.

  With Nogomi still shouting, the others scuttled out of his office and hurried to the elevator. No one spoke during the agonizing ride down. As Kubota parted ways with them in the lobby, he turned to Franz glumly. “Once General Nogomi has calmed, I will approach him again,” he said with little confidence.

  “Thank you, Colonel,” Franz murmured, realizing that Kubota’s career was in as much danger as their lives.

  As soon as they reached the street, Reuben hastened away from the others. “Reuben!” Franz called after him. “Do you have any idea what you have just done?”

  Reuben wheeled to face him. “All I did was try to open the general’s eyes. Clearly, the man is too proud to acknowledge the truth. Given time, my message will sink in with him.”

  “Sink in?” Simon echoed. “You might have just sealed our fate with your stupidity.”

  Reuben’s face went blotchy. “You think you can just drift into Shanghai and meddle with generations of cultural balance simply because you are an American. You Yanks. A bunch of bulls in china shops. Always thinking you know best.”

  The rage ran through Franz like a current. “You pompous, deceitful coward!”

  “How dare you!” Reuben cried, puffing out his chest. “Deceitful?

  Coward?”

  “Yes, coward,” Franz growled, moving closer. “When the general needed urgent surgery, you served me up to the Japanese because you were too scared of the consequences of failing. Then, out of jealousy, you spread poisonous rumours about my family and me.”

  “Why, you arrogant ingrate!” Reuben spat. “You crawled into my city and threw yourself at my feet for help. Out of the goodness of our hearts, my wife and I took pity on you and your family. We took you under our wings. And this is how you thank me?”

  “No, this is!” Franz swung his fist at the centre of Reuben’s face, hitting his nose with a grinding crunch.

  CHAPTER 48

  Immediately after Franz returned from the disastrous meeting with General Nogomi, he took Sunny aside to tell her what had transpired and to inform her of his plans for Hannah. As heartbreaking as she found the idea, she could think of no safer alternative.

  They sat Hannah down in the sitting room to break the news. For a moment, the girl said nothing as her eyes darted from Sunny to Franz and back. “You are sending me away?” Her face crumpled. “Why?”

  Guilt racked Sunny. She wondered if her stepdaughter held her responsible for the unwelcome news.

  Franz knelt in front of Hannah and took her hand in his. “Liebchen, this is the last thing we want. It’s to protect you. We hope it will only be for a short while.”

  Hannah pulled her hand free of his. “Why will I be safer without you, Papa?”

  Franz glanced uncertainly to Sunny, who nodded her encouragement. “She has a right to know, Franz.”

  “The Nazis have come to Shanghai,” he said. Hannah’s eyes widened. “What do they want?”

  “They are trying to persuade the Japanese to arrest us,
” Franz said. “All of the refugees.”

  “But where would they put us all?” Hannah asked.

  He shook his head. “It will not be any place fit for a twelve-year-old girl.”

  Hannah straightened her shoulders. “I’m not a child anymore.”

  Franz stroked her cheek. “Of course not. But if the Japanese agree to the Nazis’ demands, liebchen, it will be no place for any of us.”

  “Why don’t we all go away together then?” Hannah demanded.

  “You speak the language and will be able to blend in,” Franz explained. “The Japanese know me. They will come for me, liebchen. If you stay with me, you will be arrested too.”

  Hannah folded her arms across her chest. “Then I will be arrested. I am not leaving you, Papa!”

  Franz rose from his knees. “It’s decided.”

  “It was the same in Vienna, Papa!” Hannah cried. “You said I had to go away or terrible things would happen. But we stayed together and it worked out for the best. It could happen again now.” She extended her weaker hand. “Please, Papa, don’t do this.”

  “It might only be for a few days, Hannah,” Sunny pointed out.

  “Or it might be forever,” Hannah moaned.

  Franz turned helplessly to Sunny. She struggled for the right words. “Hannah, darling, none of us—”

  They heard a pounding at the door. “Franz Adler!” a voice barked.

  “So soon?” Franz turned to Sunny. “You must leave with Hannah. Straight away.”

  Sunny shook her head. “I will not leave you.”

  “They are here to take me from you!” Franz exclaimed. “You will not do either of us any good by staying in an empty home. Take care of my Hannah. I need you to do this for me!”

  The door shook so hard that Sunny expected it to blow off the hinges.

  “Open now!”

  Mouth dry, Sunny rushed to answer it. Two Japanese soldiers filled the doorway. Both wore the white armbands of the Kempeitai. One stormed past Sunny, and the other knocked her off balance as he followed.

  Sunny regained her footing as the men reached her husband’s side. “You are Adler?” the taller one demanded. Without even waiting for the answer, he grabbed Franz by the right elbow. The second man clamped his hand on Franz’s left shoulder.