by PJ Skinner
‘Don’t they have toilet paper in San Blas?’ said Saul.
‘I don’t take any chances when it comes to my ablutions,’ said Alfredo.
They locked the house and drove to the gas station where they filled the car with fuel and bought supplies of clean water and snack food. They also bought a bottle of whisky to keep Alfredo’s blood alcohol up at normal levels.
‘Have we got a map of the area?’ asked Saul.
‘The roads up to San Blas are not on any map yet. It’s been established for about twenty years and the survey of Sierramar was completed in the 1940’s.’
‘So how are we going to find it?’
‘By asking the locals and aiming the car at the volcano behind the Lago Verde.’
‘That sounds scientific.’
‘Yes, it is a bit haphazard but that’s how we do things around here. We’ll get there. You’ll see.’
They set off on the southern road out of town through the tumbledown, colonial cottages on the outskirts and into the countryside. The roads were lined with dry eucalyptus trees and sisal plants, some of which had been stripped of their leaves whose fibres were hanging out to dry on the wire fencing.
‘This is so exciting,’ said Saul, ‘I haven’t ever been involved in the chase before. I do the research and other people get to hunt the Nazis.’
‘I’ve no idea if we will find anything to chase or not,’ said Alfredo, ‘but it is pretty exciting.’
‘It may also be risky. I’m not paying you enough to risk getting hurt or even killed on this trip. I never asked you why you're doing this.’
‘I want to try and avenge my friend Ramon. We fought a few years ago, because I was drunk and insulted him in front of our friends. It was my fault. I made peace with him before he died. He deserved better. And you, why are you here? I thought you were not Jewish. I find it odd that you’d risk your life to hunt some random Germans in Sierramar. Is there anything you aren’t telling me?’
Saul avoided Alfredo’s glance and stared out of the window. His jaw muscles tightened.
‘Can we talk about that tonight? I need some Dutch courage.’
‘Sure. I know how that is.’
The rest of the day passed almost without incident. A puncture held them up for about half an hour but there were little sheds littering the sides of the roads where it was possible to get the puncture repaired for a couple of dollars. Saul was impressed.
‘Hey, that’s kind of cheap and they are so fast. I don’t think we have anything like this in the States.’
‘You probably have better roads where punctures are a lot rarer.’
‘Well, that’s true I s’pose.’
After driving for most of the day the two men were addled by the bumping and shaking and they stopped for the night in an inn off the main road chosen by Alfredo for its good home cooking and flea-free beds. They ate a substantial supper of goat stew and rice and then they sat beside a fire in the bar digesting their meal with a glass of whisky. Alfredo turned to Saul who was fiddling with his glass. ‘It’s time for you to reveal your motives for coming on this trip. I want to know what we're getting into.’
‘Fair enough. I wouldn’t blame you if you change your mind after what I’m about to tell you.’
‘Okay, so why don’t you start at the very beginning?’
Both men chorused ‘it’s a very good place to start’ and then smiled. The reference to the Sound of Music was ironic but not that out of place.
‘So, as you’ve noticed, I’m a Jew. I was born in Brussels and lived there as a boy with my parents and my sister. My family had money and we lived a comfortable life. We had lots of Jewish friends in our district. The war seemed far away from us when it started in Poland. Belgium had declared neutrality in the conflict but this didn’t stop the Germans from invading. In 1940, they crossed our borders and eighteen days later the fight was over.’
‘How awful.’
‘When Belgium was invaded, we were trapped. From then on, Belgium was run by a German military government who levied the costs of the military occupation on the Belgians through taxes, nearly two-thirds of its national income. For a while, life went on almost as normal but anti-Jewish legislation was enacted in October 1940, and several pogroms took place. Many people collaborated with the Germans and helped them round up the Jews. People started to avoid us and whisper behind our backs. Some other Jewish families had left for America and Britain but my father wouldn’t go because the whole family fortune was tied up in Brussels. Then it got worse. Economic assets belonging to Jews were seized and we were thrown out of our home and ordered to report to the Mechelen transit camp. My father persuaded our neighbours to live in our house and hide me and my sister in the attic. He and my mother hid somewhere else and used to visit us when they could. One day they disappeared and were never seen again’
‘That must have been terrible.’
‘Not so much. I was young and for me the whole thing was an adventure. I didn’t know what was going on until the day when both my parents vanished. I think they were picked up by the Gestapo. The people who lived in our house were risking their lives to save us. There was ferocious rationing and we were eating some of theirs. We were starving by degrees. Then one day the partition concealing us was torn down and we were dragged out to the street over the bodies of the people who had hidden us. It was April 1943. People hissed and spat at us as we were taken through the streets to the railway station.’
‘How old were you?’
‘Nine years old, and my sister was fifteen.’
‘Christ wept. You must’ve been terrified.’
‘Yes, I think it was then that it became real. We knew that people were taken away all the time but we did not know where, only that they were never seen again. The same as my parents.’
Saul drained his glass and asked for a refill. He seemed to gather himself.
‘Anyway, we were packed onto a freight car with about fifty or sixty other people and one bucket in the middle of the floor. It was frightening but we managed to get to the corner where it was safer and received some air from the crack in the door. There were some desperate people there and whispers about a place called Auschwitz. A man told us that this was the twentieth convoy of Jews to be taken to the camp. The train moved off after standing for a couple of hours in the station heading for Poland. It crawled along the track. There was no food or water and almost no air. People were fainting.
Sometime during the night, three members of the Belgian Resistance stopped the train using a red light made from a lantern covered in tissue paper. It caused the train driver to brake. This was the only time during World War II that any Nazi transport carrying Jewish people was intercepted. While his friends created a diversion by shooting at the train drivers, one of the resistance fighters opened the door of our freight car by cutting the wire binding it shut. He slid it open right opposite to me and my sister. He shouted at people to jump. They were unsure and hesitated, but my sister pushed me through the crowd and I jumped down into his arms. She came to the door but she was afraid, she wouldn’t, couldn’t, jump. I begged her but she was pulled backwards as other people leapt to freedom. The train started to move again. I screamed and screamed for her to jump too, but she had disappeared into the wagon and I never saw her again.
‘The men took me with them and put me in a safe house where I stayed until the end of the war. I was sent to New York by the Red Cross in 1945 because I had an aunt who was living there. I’ve since found out that my parents and sister died at Auschwitz within a couple of days of their arrival.’
‘I don’t know what to say. It’s too awful to contemplate. What a harrowing experience for a child. I’m so sorry.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever got over it. I still prefer to sit with my back to the wall if I can.’
‘I’m surprised you’ve managed at all. What a terrible tragedy.’
‘I’m not finished yet. There was a Gestapo officer in charge of th
e searches in Brussels. A real sadistic monster. He was a medical doctor who ended up going to look after Hitler in his last days in the bunker. When the Russians took Berlin, he fled to South America and came to Sierramar.’
‘What was his name?’
‘His name was Doctor Kurt Becker.’
‘Becker? Isn’t that the name of the man we are searching for?’
‘The same. So now you know. You’re not the only person who’s looking for revenge.’
‘Hence the gun? Jesus! I forgot the gun. You have it with you, don’t you?’
CHAPTER 13
September 1988
Sam decided that it was time she alerted Simon to their predicament. Of course, it was possible that she was mistaken and that she wasn’t pregnant. She didn’t feel any different. But she didn’t want to leave it too long and reduce her options for action in the case of a positive test. She couldn’t imagine his reaction although she had fantasised about telling him numerous times and he was always thrilled in her daydreams. They had been through a lot together and come through it as pair. He was the one who had asked her to try again so she assumed that he was now serious about them. Serious enough to have a baby? She sighed.
‘Speak to him,’ said Gloria, ‘you need to know.’
‘Okay, wish me luck.’
Sam went out into the hall and took a few deep breaths. The enormity of the situation had hit her now that she had to share it with Simon. Perhaps this wasn’t the best time? But in her heart, she knew that she had to tell him sooner or later. It was his baby, too.
She rang the operator and asked for a call to England. Five minutes later the phone rang.
‘Hello, you are connected to England.’
‘Thank you, operator. Hello?’
‘Hello? Sam, is that you?’
‘Yes, hi darling, how are you?’
‘Oh, I’m fine. Missing you, of course.’
‘I’ve just got here. You’ll have to be a bit braver than that.’
‘Missing you in general. How’s Gloria? Still bonkers?’
‘Yes, she hasn’t changed a bit. Still driving as fast as Santa on Christmas eve.’
‘And Alfredo? Any sign of him?’
‘No, he’s disappeared. It’s quite strange.’
‘You don’t think he’s gone on a bender? You know that’s common for alcoholics?’
‘I think it may be more sinister than that. Gloria told me that his friend Ramon was killed in a fire the day after Alfredo went to get some information from him about some fugitive Nazis.’
‘Wow, that’s a nasty coincidence. Did you say Nazis? The line’s quite bad.’
‘Alfredo didn’t disappear alone. He was with an investigative journalist from New York. They went to look for a village in the mountains and haven’t come back.’
‘That sounds as if it should be a job for the police.’
‘Well, that’s the problem. The police are not a lot of use.’
‘Sam, this doesn’t sound safe. Are you sure you should be getting mixed up in it?’
‘Don’t worry about me. Gloria has a lot of powerful contacts. We’ll be safe enough. I promise not to be reckless.’
‘Well, you’d better not because I was thinking that we should move in together when you get back. You know, share a flat.’
‘Wow! You have been missing me. Are you sure that’s what you want? It’s a big step.’
‘I think that we should be making more permanent arrangements.’
It’s now or never,’ thought Sam. ‘Say it, woman.’
‘I’m glad you feel that way, because the fact is, I think I might be pregnant.’
Simon went quiet. Sam couldn’t hear him breathing. Was he shocked or thrilled? His reaction was neither.
‘Are you sure it’s mine?’
It was Sam’s turn to be silent. Stunned, she couldn’t think of a retort. How could he? How could anyone be so callous at such a moment? Was there anyone on earth as self-centred as Simon?
‘I’m not as free with my favours as you, Simon,’ she said in a whisper, ‘I know it’s yours.’
She put the receiver back on the telephone and slid down to the floor, trying not to cry.
After about five minutes of silence, Gloria came to look for her.
‘I hate him.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He asked me if it was his.’
‘What? The bastard. Oh my God, I’m so sorry. How could he even ask that? He’s the one with the wandering dick.’
Sam smiled despite her distress.
‘Yes, he is a complete bastard. But he always has been. I don’t know why I keep going back for more. Am I some sort of masochist?’
‘It’s love, I’m afraid.’
‘It’s not love, it’s something far more addictive. Drugs would be a relief compared to this. And what am I going to do about this baby?’
‘We can share it.’
‘What?’
‘We can share it. I can have it while you work and you can have it when you are not working. It could be the perfect solution.’
Sam was so astonished that she was rendered speechless. Gloria was serious. Her forehead furrowed in concentration as she imagined the mechanics of her plan. ‘I need a cigarette,’ she said.
***
Simon was horrified at Sam’s news. The fact that she had only suggested that she might be pregnant had gone right over his head. He took it as read that he was going to be a father. A horrible chill crept up his back as it sunk in. Of all the scenarios that he had imagined, being a parent was not one of them. He was not ready. Panic set in and he felt trapped. It was Sam’s fault. It had to be. She was the one taking the pill. The silly fool must have forgotten to take it. It was obvious to him that she should get rid of it. She was pragmatic about most things but he knew that if he told her what to do there would be pushback. What could he do with her so far away? There was no one he could turn to for advice. But then he knew.
The door opened and he found himself looking into her sulky face. She didn’t look pleased to see him but it was a bit late to change his mind.
‘Hi, it’s me again.’
‘Simon, you are becoming like a bad penny.’
‘Please Hannah, I need to speak to you about Sam. You may be the only person on the planet who can help me right now.’
She looked at him with doubt in her eyes.
‘It’s pretty obvious that you have no idea who you're dealing with. You can come in, but only for a little bit. Do you want a glass of wine?’
Simon was not sure whether she was referring to her sister or herself. He was concerned by the strong feelings of lust she had engendered in him as he followed her shapely figure into the cosy sitting room.
Her flat was decorated in conventional beige and pink colours with tasteful cushions and fresh flowers on the table. A framed poster of Moulin Rouge hung over the fire place. She indicated that he should sit on the sofa and she passed him a glass of red wine before sitting cross-legged on a floral armchair.
‘Cheers,’ she said raising the glass to her lips and spilling some of it down her t-shirt. She didn’t wipe it off. He realised that she was drunk.
‘Cheers.’
‘So, Mr Lonely Hearts. What can I do for you?’
***
The gates to the Geographical Institute were shut and the security guards were in no mood to let them drive up the hill and park outside. Even Gloria’s offer of a cigarette was turned down. They parked as near as they could to the entrance and started up the hill on foot. Sam was wearing a pair of heels that felt as if they had been designed by the Marquis de Sade. Blisters were erupting over her feet as she tottered into the entrance.
‘How can you bear to wear these bloody things? I’m crippled already.’
‘Stop fussing. Compared to childbirth it’s nothing.’
‘A comparison I may soon be able to make,’ said Sam, who regretted it instantly.
Gloria was al
ready storming up the staircase towards the Colonel’s office and didn’t appear to hear her. As usual they were made to wait in the anteroom where Gloria gave Sam some fresh lipstick, and enhanced her own cleavage by shifting her bosoms forward in her bra.
‘This is important, Sam. Don’t forget the sauce.’
‘I won’t. I’m able to do this, you know. I’m not incompetent.’
Gloria sniffed and rolled her eyes to heaven in a manner that conveyed her scepticism. This annoyed Sam who was pretty sure that she could flirt with the best of them.
After a twenty-minute wait, the secretary came out and beckoned them in. Sam’s shoes almost made her cry, but she thrust her chest out and sashayed into the Colonel’s office behind Gloria. The Colonel was signing some documents and took a minute to look up. When he did, he stood up and gestured towards the chairs in front of his desk.
‘Please ladies, sit down. I am so sorry to keep you waiting.’
‘Oh, that’s no problem sir, we know how busy you are.’
‘Miss Sanchez, we meet again.’ He came around the desk and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘And the gringa, Sam, isn’t it?’ He kissed her, too, gazing down her cleavage with undisguised lust. She forced her breasts a little higher with a deep intake of breath.
‘Yes sir, that’s right.’
‘I can hear that your Spanish is much improved. Have you married a man from Calderon yet?’
‘No, not yet.’ Batting her eyelashes, she asked; ‘Are you single, Colonel?’
Gloria squeaked in delight. The Colonel blushed to the roots of his hair and returned to his chair. Sam was stranded by her courage, having no follow up line with which to strike. The Colonel recovered first.
‘So, what can I do for you today, ladies?’
‘We have a problem that only a man in your position can solve,’ said Gloria, swinging into heavy flattery mode. ‘We need some aerial photographs of Lago Verde as soon as possible.’
‘Is this some sort of emergency?’
‘We are not sure. A friend of ours is missing and we want to narrow down the places we have to search. That is why we need the photographs now, to check for farm houses and outbuildings in the area. We need your help to speed up the process.’