THE MADNESS LOCKER

by EDDIE RUSSELL

  “Thank you,” she mouthed quietly.

  Magda looked over at her brother. “I will make you some tea and give you some bread and cheese and maybe a potato or two. That’s all we have at the moment.”

  Martin nodded gratefully. “That’s all I want for now. And to sleep a little.”

  Magda took the torch from her husband and followed its beam into the darkness of the kitchen. With her out of earshot, Helmut turned to Martin and asked the grave question that hitherto was just rumours. “Is it true?” He spoke ambiguously for Anna’s sake.

  “Is what true? That we surrendered?” Martin looked confused.

  “No. About the Jews. What I have been hearing. Cousin Alfred would not return my message, so I am totally in the dark.”

  Martin swallowed nervously, then nodded towards Helmut. “I don’t know what you heard, but whatever you heard, it’s worse, much, much worse.”

  Helmut couldn’t be sure, but he thought he could see tears welling up in Martin’s eyes. Through the sadness in his voice, all he could think to say was what had previously come most unnaturally to him. “Gott im Himmel rette uns. Now that we are no longer consumed by madness, how are we ever going to explain this?”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Eddie Russel has a degree in English literature and Masters in Creative writing. Born and raised in the then English colony of East Africa to English parents, he immigrated to Australia to complete his schooling before moving to San Diego to work in technology. He is now settled back in Australia with his life partner and following his passion to write. His debut historical novel The Madness Locker is inspired by a true crime he researched for an English lit topic.

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