Page 16 of The Last Safe Place

“But that’s prohibited now.” Knut frowned.

Bernd’s soul ached for him, knowing he remembered the traumatic experience his sister Edith and her husband Julius had suffered when they were turned away at the border.

“Hmm. Yes. Unless…” Bernd broke off. “What was the exact wording of the law?”

Knut shrugged and remained silent to allow Bernd to think in peace.

“The emigration of Jews from Germany is prohibited without exception for the duration of the war. But an internal communication from Gestapo chief Müller, published a few days later, states that wealthy Jews can buy their way out in individual cases, and if there’s a positive interest for the Reich.”

Knut’s eyes widened. “So that means we just have to prove it’s in the Reich’s interest?”

“Right. But how?”

“An agent.” Knut skewered a piece of meat on his fork and chewed with relish. The officers’ cafeteria in the Bendlerblockserved superb food. “That would be a convincing reason why the person in question needs to leave the country.”

“The Gestapo will wonder why a Jew, of all people, is required to fulfil such a role,” Bernd pointed out.

“That’s easy to explain: a Jew is above suspicion. No one out there would suspect he is in fact a spy for the German Reich. Because honestly, what Jew still sympathizes with the regime?”

Bernd thought for a while before replying. “Which is precisely the problem. What Jew would agree to work for us as an agent?”

Knut ran one hand through his hair before diving into his dessert. “In return for safe passage abroad? Who wouldn’t?”

“To then defect at the first opportunity and hand over vital information to the local authorities? Possibly even agree to work as a double agent?” Bernd was too much the Abwehr employee to discount such possibilities. “It would cause immense damage: not only to our country if crucial war secrets were betrayed, but most of all to the reputation of our group within the Abwehr.”

“True.” A wink from Knut was enough to indicate he understood that Bernd meant the resistance group within the Abwehr, which had to remain beyond the slightest suspicion.

“What if their activities as agent were purely for show? That would kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, the people concerned wouldn’t have reservations about working for us and secondly, they can’t reveal any secrets to an enemy. The whole thing would be a fabrication.”

“That’s brilliant. I’ll suggest it to Dohnanyi as soon as he gets back.” He was so pleased with such a truly ingenious idea, he wanted to jump up and hug Knut.

Alas, that wasn’t an option. So he contented himself with saying, “We’ll celebrate in style this evening.”

Knut’s delighted expression was reward enough for him. Finally, they were moving forward.

10

When Leonore awoke, she found a leaflet in her mailbox, with the title: “Collection for the Eastern Front.” She was about to put it on the pile of paper for burning when her eye fell on the word “Jews” further down the page.

Anger rose in her throat. She clenched her fist around the piece of paper, crumpling it to a tiny ball, before sinking down onto the bed. In the absence of a chair, it was the only place to sit.

Holding the ball of paper in her fist, she took two deep breaths before she smoothed it out to read.

Jews required to wear the Jewish Star in public have until the 16.1.42 to surrender any fur or woolen items in their possession, as well as any skis, skiing and hiking boots. Compensation will not be provided.

Simmering rage boiled up within her, and she tore the paper to shreds. As they fluttered to the floor, she gazed in satisfaction at the chaos she had created. Let Hitler rage if he wished, she certainly wouldn’t give up her cozy warm coat or her soft feather bed. How else would she survive the nights in this bitterly coldapartment? Since the coal stove was broken beyond repair, she had no way to heat her room. She could put her coal money to good use elsewhere in any case. She had long since sold the few valuables she owned, and was living from hand to mouth. The salary Herr Balsen paid her didn’t stretch to any luxuries, since it barely covered rent and food. The meagre remaining amounts she spent seeing her friends. Due to the lack of clothing cards, she hadn’t bought new clothes for ages. Let the Gestapo come and see for themselves that there was nothing left that they could steal from her.

She hurried out of the apartment, knowing full well she would have to sweep up the tattered scraps of paper once she returned home. Right now she didn’t have time – she wanted to be in the office to make coffee for her boss before he showed up.

Arriving at the office, she fished out the key from under the doormat, unlocked the door, and took off her coat with the star attached before she had even closed the door behind her. She couldn’t wait to get rid of the thing. It was only her imagination, of course, but whenever the star was attached to her coat, her skin itched like crazy under the “plaster”.

Instantly, she felt better.If that’s not bordering on a miracle cure, she thought cheerfully, humming a song as she made coffee. Next she opened Herr Balsen’s business diary and noted his appointments for the day. She was about to start typing up some handwritten letters for him when the door opened and her boss stepped in.

“You sound happy today, Fräulein Leonore.”

“Yes, well the sun is finally peeking through the thick clouds, and there was no air raid alarm last night. Oh, and the coffee has just brewed.”

“Well, that’s certainly a reason to be cheerful. When is my first appointment?”