A Flicker of Light

by Kagan, Roberta

  “I feel bad, Aaron. I killed my baby. I had to, though. My parents would never have approved of this. They hate Peter.”

  “You will have other children; this is just the wrong time. You are very young. Wait a little, and then you will marry.” He patted her back.

  “Can I tell you a secret?” Elki said.

  “Only if you want to.”

  “Do you promise never to tell anyone?”

  “I promise,” he smiled reassuringly.

  “My parents hate the Nazis - my father especially. That’s why they hate Peter. Don’t tell Peter I told you, but he only joined the party because he needed a job that paid him decently. He really isn’t such a bad person.”

  “I understand. Your father has a point, though. You know the Nazis are cruel, more than a young and innocent girl like you could ever realize.”

  “Do you hate gentiles?”

  “No, not at all. I don’t hate anyone,” he laughed. “There is good and bad in every race. You learn that with age, my dear. In fact, the woman I love is not a Jew.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is she?’

  “On a farm in the country. I pray every day that she is safe.”

  At the camp, Peter learned of the hunt that had begun for Aaron, but as of yet, no one suspected him of the escape. Things could become unsafe. Spies could be found everywhere. It would be best to be as far away from the Jew as possible. Tonight, he would send Aaron away. The more he could distance himself from the prisoner, the less likely he was to be suspected. Elki had recovered completely, and therefore they best be rid of the Jew. After all, he had only promised Aaron that he would allow him to go without turning him in. He had not vowed to hide him or protect him any further.

  “You must leave tonight,” he told Aaron once he’d arrived home.

  “Very well,” Aaron looked at him, relieved that Peter was going to keep his word.

  “They are searching for you. We must get you out of here. Go off into the countryside and stay out of sight. The war is almost over. Germany is done for. The Allies are bombing Berlin. Anytime now they will enter the city, and all will be lost. Hitler has gone underground. I think you will be all right if you stay off of the main roads. It is just a matter of time now. The Fuehrer is in real trouble here.” Peter said.

  “Take him in the auto, Peter, as far as you can out of this area. Help him that much for all he has done for us.” Elki said as she held Peter’s gaze until he dropped his head and agreed.

  Dressed in civilian clothes, Aaron was once again loaded into the back of the automobile and he lay upon the floor, covered with the blanket, as they headed out into the country. Peter wore his uniform, which enabled him and Elki to be out after curfew without drawing attention. If they were stopped by the Gestapo, the couple would claim to be lovers on a romantic rendezvous. Unless the officers were especially vigilant, Aaron would be invisible in the darkness.

  “Aaron,” Peter said, “We are taking you as far from Dachau as we possibly can. They are looking for you nearer to the camp, but they will never assume you could have gotten this far on foot.”

  “I thank you for everything,” Aaron said.

  “We have been more than fair with you. Now you must promise us that if you are caught you will never reveal where you have been and what happened. Elki and I must never be brought into this, do you understand? You must realize that it will do you no good to condemn us. We have been kind to you, so be sure that you never tell them how you escaped.” Peter said.

  “I understand. And you have my word.”

  The ride out of the city stretched Peter’s nerves tight, and he remained silent the entire trip. He gripped the steering wheel with sweaty hands and shook Elki’s fingers from his arm when she tried to comfort him. He was putting all of his trust in a Jew. Aaron seemed to be a good Jew, but he was still a Jew. But what choice did he really have? If he brought Aaron back to the camp, then there would be questions he had no answers for that would not implicate him. If he shot Aaron, then there would the mess of a dead body to explain, and he had never killed anyone. The thought of this man’s blood on his hands after all he had done for him and Elki sickened him. No, it was best to take Aaron as far away as possible, where they would never find him, and then let him go to fend for himself. Peter knew that he must pay close attention to the speed limit; if he drove too fast, they would surely be stopped and questioned. It took all of his self control to drive slowly. He wanted to rid himself of this burden as soon as possible. The muscles in his back and neck felt as if they were tied in knots. When, at last, they reached a wooded area, Peter stopped the car. His hands were trembling as he looked around; the area was completely unpopulated, without even a farmhouse within sight. Elki had packed Aaron a small bag of food and a thermos of water. She had come to care for him, and she held his hand tightly for a moment. Then she wished him well as he left.

  “Thank you, doctor. I will pray for you. You saved my life.” Elki said.

  “Goodbye, Elki. Goodbye, Peter. May God be with you both.”

  Peter did not answer. Instead, he continued to look around to assure himself that they were alone.

  The sound of the car door slamming broke through the silence of the night. Then the engine roared and the couple disappeared in a cloud of dust. Alone in the darkness, Aaron stood in the center of the dirt road. He looked around and then made his way into a heavily wooded area.

  Freedom - the taste of it - lingered on his lips as he spoke the word, “Freedom. I am free.”

  He walked deep into the forest, listening as a night bird called out to its mate. The fragrance of fresh air engulfed him and he sucked it deeply into his lungs. Aaron lay on the ground and fixed his eyes on the stars.

  “Petra, darling, my love - soon the war will be over, and I will come home to you.”

  He found it difficult to determine which direction he would have to travel to find the Bruchmeiers’ farmhouse and the woman he loved once again. For the moment, he was content simply to be free once again. He drifted off to sleep smelling the clean, earthy scent of the soil.

  When he awoke, as he looked above him he imagined the tree branches reaching up to the heavens, their arms extended, as if to caress God. To be alive! He had survived Dachau. For a moment he saw Saul’s face in his mind and heard his voice, “You made it, Aaron. It’s almost over now. I did not see the end of this terrible Third Reich, but you will. Remember me, Aaron. Remember me always, and I will not have died in vain. God be with you, my friend.” A single tear slipped down the side of Aaron’s face.

  Chapter 41

  S

  ecuring a taxi was an impossible feat. Petra stood on the side of the road, her contractions doubling her over with pain as Siegland tried unsuccessfully to flag down a cab. Finally, a civilian took notice of the old woman and the young girl standing on the sidewalk. He pulled his car to the curb.

  “You need a lift?” A man smiled out of the window of his automobile. He sported a full head of silver hair that he’d combed away from his forehead into thick, dry waves. A light yellow film covered his soft blue eyes.

  Siegland felt unsure. She had never been in a car before. Now here was a stranger offering to take her and Petra where they needed to go. Perhaps he wanted something from them. Her fear of the Nazis had made her distrust everyone. She did not mind if he would accept money, but what if he had an ulterior motive? The hair on the back of her neck stood at attention. For a moment she thought to refuse him. She glanced around once more for a cab as the man waited. Petra groaned as a contraction wracked her body and a thunderous explosion in the distance rocked the ground around them. Black smoke wafted up from the area filling the sky. Petra coughed and bent further forward. Siegland made up her mind.

  “Yes, we need a ride to the hospital,” she heard herself say.

  The man meant only to help. He had seen the older woman and the girl, and offered what he could. Soon they arrived at t
he hospital. A nurse helped Petra into an examining room. Since the bombing had escalated, most of the personnel had left, and the hospital was operating with a skeleton staff. Only the extremely devoted medical professionals remained. People injured in the explosions lay in the rooms, many unattended.

  White walls and white sheets surrounded Petra. A nurse wearing a white uniform entered as the doctor examined her. The nurse smiled, gently wiping the perspiration from Petra’s face. “I am Nurse Kuefer, but you can call me Erna. This is Dr. Fiedler. He is a very good doctor. You are in good hands.”

  Petra managed a wry smile. She longed for Aaron. Where could he be? She prayed he was not dead, but she could not be sure. Would he ever know about the birth of his child? So many questions filled her mind. Closing her eyes she saw his face.

  Siegland sat in the waiting room, but she could not remain still. Shuffling back and forth, she watched the clock and prayed for Petra and Klaus. She never asked much from life, only her family, the cottage she lived in, with its warm fireplace, and plenty of good food. Her simple, comfortable world was gone now.

  Siegland worried that the baby had come so early. She wondered if the child would be healthy, or even if it would survive. If Petra should die in childbirth, she would return to the farm alone and await Klaus’ return. Her love for the girl who had become her daughter welled up in her throat. For once in her life, Siegland Bruchmeier did not feel like eating.

  Chapter 42

  The Forest Outside Munich

  T

  he beauty of the forest renewed Aaron with its natural wonder. Since his imprisonment, he found joy in the smallest things. The voice of a hummingbird thrilled him. Watching a bee pollinate the purple wildflowers that grew in bunches fascinated him. A black and yellow spider spun a web on a tree branch, and Aaron laughed out loud at the sight of it. He still lived and breathed. Here he stood amongst God’s greatest creations: the trees, the squirrels, the rabbits, and the flowers, to name a few. His appreciation had grown so strong that he enjoyed every moment, despite the hardships. The only thing missing was Petra. How he longed to share the beauty all around him with the woman he loved. Walking through the forest, he found a small brook. There he saw patches of water still frozen. Bending to drink the fresh, clear water, he watched the small fish swimming beneath him. The water tasted sweet, sweeter than any wine he’d ever tasted, and he drank his fill. Then filled the empty thermos he carried with the fresh liquid.

  Despite the warming weather, the water was still frigid, far too cold to bathe. But he longed to feel it upon his skin. Soon, he thought. The weather has already begun to break. I will wait, rather than catch a chill. His experience at the camp with freezing water had given him a terrible aversion to it.

  Instead of eating the food Elki had packed for him, he decided to catch a fish. The food could be saved for a time. Elki had packed his rations in small cloth bag. He emptied the bag and used it like a net. It took time and patience but he caught a small fish. Without the ability to build a fire, he knew he would have to eat it raw. The fish had a slightly slimy flavor, but it filled his stomach. Then he caught another one and left it dry on a rock in the sun. A few hours later, he placed it into his bag and began to move on.

  He walked; unaware of whether he headed toward the Bruchmeiers’ farm or away from it.

  Chapter 43

  Dachau Concentration Camp

  “D

  r. Rascher, I understand the prisoner who escaped was under your supervision for quite a while. From what I have heard, you seemed to have taken quite a fancy to him.”

  “I wouldn’t call it that, Oberstgruppenfuhrer. I found him a knowledgeable doctor. His talents appeared to be advantageous to the Fatherland, nothing more. Once he no longer served a purpose for the party, I returned him to the barracks with the rest of his kind,” Dr. Rascher answered.

  “From what you know of this man, where do you think he might hide?”

  “I haven’t a clue.”

  “Hmm, very well then, you will join us as we comb the nearby forests in search of your escaped friend. When we find him, you will be the one to shoot him dead as proof of your loyalty to the cause,” the Oberstgruppenfuher said. The doctor nodded in agreement.

  Search parties combed the surrounding forests, some on foot, others on horseback, as they hunted through the countryside. Trained German shepherd dogs were exposed to the smell of the straw where Aaron had slept in the camp, enabling them to trace his sent. Then the animals were sent off with their trainers.

  The search covered a five-mile radius around Dachau. The search parties spent two exhausting days looking for any trace of the escaped Jew, but found nothing. Finally, it was decided that the effort was simply not worth the the trouble, for one insignificant Jew, and the mission was aborted.

  Chapter 44

  Berlin

  O

  utside the hospital, the bombing continued. Deafening blasts shook the building as Petra struggled in labor. Her water had broken, but it appeared that the baby’s head had not descended, and it would be born breech. The nurse squeezed Petra’s hand to reassure her.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Petra nodded, too weak to speak. Outside, Dr. Fiedler held a pair of forceps in his gloved hand.

  “She’s in trouble. The baby is breech and does not seem to be turning. Perhaps we will be forced to attempt a forceps delivery. It is already to be a dry birth. The water broke hours ago. Her contractions are very close together, and I am afraid the baby refuses to get into position,” the nurse said.

  “Very well, then.” The Doctor sniffed the air, “Something is burning.” He looked out the window. A fire had engulfed a large part of the city. “Erna, the city is ablaze. I don’t know if it will come as far as the hospital before it can be contained. If you should choose to go now, I will understand. Gather your things and leave Berlin. Go out to the countryside. The Allies will be here any day. Because we are Germans, we will be considered the enemy. I don’t know how we will be treated. Perhaps it is best if you leave, my darling.”

  “And leave you? Leave all that we have built together? No Erik, we will see this through together. Besides, there is a woman in there fighting for her life and the life of her child. It goes against everything we believe in to leave now. No, darling, we have a baby to bring into the world. And as we always have, we will do this together.” Then, being careful not to disturb the forceps in his hand, Erna reached up and tenderly kissed him. Together they entered the room to inform Petra of what must be done.

  Chapter 45

  The Forest Outside Munich

  A

  s Aaron knelt beside a spring drinking the cool clear water, he heard the trees rustle behind him. Before he knew what had happened, two drifters came upon him. One of the men fired two shots, hitting Aaron in the shoulder and the knee. The ragged men then took the package of food he carried, as well as his shoes. After a short discussion, they decided that since he would undoubtedly die from the loss of blood, they would be wise to save their bullets and not bother to shoot him again to kill him. They bore Aaron no real animosity, but their thoughts were only of their own survival. Now they had enough food to live for another day.

  Aaron lay face down in the dirt. A tear came to his eye. He had almost made it… As he closed his eyes, he saw Saul smile and wink at him in his mind’s eye.

  Aaron lay shivering, chilled from the loss of blood. He had no idea how much time had passed as he tried to endure the agonizing pain spreading through every nerve in his body. He was dying. He knew by the amount of blood spilled all around him.

  His mind went to Petra and how lovely she looked as he remembered her blonde curls shimmering in the sun, her smile beckoning him to join her. He was with her once again as his mind took him back to his love. They lay together, naked in the summer air. Wrapped in her arms, he felt the silk of her skin against his chest. She smiled at him, and he felt her lips on his. “Petra,” he whispered hoarsely, “my love,
you’re here. Dear God, you’re here.” Aaron no longer felt the cold. Warmth infused his heart as the pain that racked his body disappeared and he drifted into unconsciousness.

  Aaron awoke to a stabbing pain in his shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he saw a large, burly man with thick, curly black hair standing over him. The man held a bullet covered in blood. On the ground beside him lay a knife. He dropped the bloody bullet and threaded a needle with thick black thread. Then he poured some whiskey from a bottle over Aaron’s wound. It stung, as if his shoulder had caught fire, but Aaron did not cry out. Instead, he watched as the man stitched the lesion. After he tied the string, the man bit the remainder off with his teeth. Wiping his hands on his pants legs, he got up and stretched.

  “Who are you? And where am I?” Aaron studied the man.

  “You are here among the Partisans. We, my friend, are freedom fighters. Jews, Poles, Russians, Gypsies, Communists - enemies of the Reich, you might say. Some of the people here are survivors of the Warsaw uprising. We have been traveling Europe, avoiding the Nazis and imprisonment. We fight them whenever possible. Now the real question is, ‘Who are you?’”

  “My name is Aaron Gold. I am a Jew. I escaped from Dachau.”

  “Welcome. I am Karl Kohan. I am the head of this camp, and I too am a Jew, a proud Jew who believes that someday soon we will have our own land in Palestine.” Everything about Karl Kohan appeared bigger than life.

  He shook Aaron’s hand. Aaron winced in pain. “Ah, I am sorry. For a minute I forgot your injury.”

  Aaron nodded and smiled, “No harm done. Thank you for treating my wounds.”

  “I found the one in your knee much worse - good thing you slept through that. I really had to dig in there to find the bullet.”