Page 14 of A Song in the Dark

c hapter Four

Celestia made her way up the fourth flight of stairs to the attic space she’d prepared. The girls would join her shortly. Was she ready? The question resounded time and again in her head.

Once she was in the room, she put a pillow on the floor and knelt.

Heavenly Father, direct my words, my steps, my actions. I don’t wish to scare my granddaughter, but she needs to know. Melanie too. Her fear has been so great since her mother died. Give us all courage in the coming days. Please stop the atrocities. Stop the evil behind all this.

Tears burned her eyes. No person who had a family and loved them wanted to share news that was life-altering and potentially devastating.

Nor would they want their family to have to live in this kind of world.

But could one person—or even a handful of people—make a difference?

If they were caught ... they would surely face the horrors whispered behind hands.

Being made an example as a political prisoner would be horrendous.

Being forced to labor in one of the camps made her shiver.

But wasn’t that what laying down one’s life meant in this day and age?

Footsteps approached so she pulled herself up to stand and lifted her shoulders. Fear wasn’t of the Lord.

Chaisley and Melanie entered.

“Please, close the door.” Celestia kept her voice soft and calm. But she wanted to blurt out everything all at once and send her granddaughter far away where she’d be out of danger.

Melanie did as she asked. “There’s a table in front of you and a chair to your left, Chaisley.”

Her granddaughter sat down, and Celestia stood in front of them. “I asked you up here because I don’t wish anyone else to hear.”

Chaisley leaned forward, her blue eyes steady.

It had been two decades since Celestia had been able to look into her granddaughter’s eyes and find recognition.

But God, in His infinite wisdom, had blessed them abundantly with a wonderful tutor who gave Chaisley the tools to navigate life.

And now, her granddaughter’s talent had brought her around the world.

An amazing accomplishment, but one that could put her in danger.

She would be in the spotlight as she traveled.

Hitler most assuredly already knew about her. Especially since she was touted as the best. He did love being at the top and surrounding himself with others at the same level. He would want her to play for him. That was a given.

Celestia drew a breath. “This last year, we’ve heard many murmurings, and we all knew that there was something below the surface... simmering. I haven’t wanted either of you to worry, but I have been working with a group of people preparing for the worst.”

Chaisley’s chin lifted. “The worst? You mean war? Dr. G spoke of this as well. It’s been quite unsettling.”

Celestia took her seat and shook her head.

With her cane in front of her, she placed her hands atop it and braced for a long, hard conversation.

“This is much more than war, my dearest.” She swallowed against the lump in her throat.

“It has been so lovely the past few days to have you here and to catch up that I haven’t wanted to ruin it by going into the ugliness of the world’s affairs, but I cannot wait any longer. ”

Chaisley’s hand reached forward and Celestia took it. “Grandmother, our time together has been wonderful, but before we retired last night, Melanie and I spoke. A sense of urgency is upon us both. I told you about the little blind girl and her mother. I want to help.”

Such a wise woman, her granddaughter. “I was ignorant to what was happening for too long. In fact, I’m ashamed to admit that I was so glad to be in my homeland that when I first heard rumors, I convinced myself it had to be gossip.

It couldn’t truly be happening. Not here.

But over time, I could no longer ignore the truth.

What the Nazis are doing is shameful. It’s been going on for years, and Hitler has been in power for five. That’s too long in my opinion.”

Tears choked her for a moment, but her granddaughter’s strong grip gave her courage to continue.

“It’s no secret that Hitler despises the Jews and any that are not of his so-called master race.

I have many Jewish friends here who are worried that staying in Europe will put their lives at risk.

They left Germany hoping to find sanctuary here, but after the Nazis took Austria as well, those who can afford to do so are planning to leave.

Since I started to dig deeper, I was horrified to learn that there has been a law the past five years in Germany that orders the Germans to sterilize anyone they deem unworthy of creating life. ”

Melanie gasped and put a hand over her stomach.

“What do you mean? It’s a law?” The young woman began to shake.

Her mouth dropped open. “The letter ... it wasn’t just Mary Beth’s mother.

..” She stood to her feet and paced the room.

“No ... it can’t be. I think I’m going to be sick. ” Her hand went to her mouth.

Celestia bolted from her chair and wrapped Melanie in her arms. “It is sickening, yes, but we don’t have the luxury of waiting or crying over this situation.

” She gripped the young woman’s arms in her hands.

“Your mother was one of the strongest women I knew—leaving the atrocities and hatred that she did—and so are you, Mel. You need to swallow this fear. What the Lord has set before us is a mighty task indeed.”

Melanie’s trembling calmed, and she lifted her chin. Once she was back in her chair, Celestia took the time to study how her granddaughter was taking the news.

Face ashen, her lips in a tight line, Chaisley barely moved.

All right then, she’d continue. “This law means that they have forcibly sterilized people with disabilities, with mental issues, even those they believe are alcoholics by heredity. And it goes further than that. We have someone within Germany—inside the Nazis—who has told us a plan will soon begin to send away children who have any of these afflictions.”

“For what purpose?” Chaisley’s brows drew tight together as color filled her face.

“Under the guise of special schooling—” Celestia allowed the words to hang for a moment while she willed her own stomach’s contents to stay in place. “But the rumblings are that these children will be ... eliminated ... to ease the burden of their care on society.”

Her granddaughter rose to her feet with such force that the chair behind her toppled. “When?”

Celestia shook her head, though her granddaughter couldn’t see it.

“I don’t know. According to our informant, the talks about it have just started.

He has put his life at risk to give us information.

He mentioned the tensions in Germany are rising each day.

More and more political prisoners are being arrested and taken straight to camps.

No trials. No way to defend themselves. All while Hitler’s propaganda is being spread about how Germany is thriving and overcoming the awful unemployment and sad economy.

I hope I never meet the man.” She wanted to spit the words but refrained.

“What he has done to my mother’s country is despicable. ”

The more she said, the more the fire inside her grew.

She longed to take vengeance herself. Every day she had to pray for the Lord to quell her anger, to remind her this was about saving people, not killing the enemy.

“They want to purge Germany and Austria—and eventually everywhere that Hitler takes control—of anyone and everyone that they deem not good enough. The longer Hitler is in power, and the longer the world tries to appease him to keep him at bay, the worse this is going to get. Our informant told us these things so we could help whomever we could—but we haven’t heard from him in a week, so I pray daily for his safety. ”

Melanie’s complexion had turned from green to gray as she went to pick up the chair and touched Chaisley’s arm. After they retook their seats, she put her forehead in her hands.

Celestia’s hands shook as she gripped her cane even tighter.

“I know this isn’t easy to hear. But it’s better to be prepared and to understand what you might be walking into as you travel on this tour.

It’s also best that you don’t know too many specifics of what I am planning here.

My hope is to use the wealth the good Lord has gifted me with to help whomever I can. ”

She glanced at Chaisley. Tears slid down her granddaughter’s cheeks. Melanie still had her head in her hands. Had she shared too much?

Chaisley turned her head toward the group again, her shoulders rounded tight. “Grandmother? Are you all right?”

Oh. She had trailed off, hadn’t she? “Yes, my dear. Just gathering my thoughts. As I was saying, I wish I’d never seen the Great War, but I fear what is coming is so much worse.

I can’t sit by and do nothing or pretend it isn’t happening.

But each time you return for a bit of respite here, know that things will be different.

We won’t talk about it. I’ll keep the details to myself unless a time comes when you must know for your own safety. ”

Chaisley stood again, walked over to the window, and placed her hand on the pane. “That’s why Dr. Grafton gave us the list of his contacts. He already knew. I often wondered why he chose to travel so much the last few years.”