Page 74 of The Last Safe Place

“Be that as it may,” Lieutenant Hesse ran his hand over his neck, “I also explicitly instructed you to avoid drawing any attention to yourself. Why on earth did you walk off?”

“I wanted to stretch my legs and look around a little. I’m sorry, but when the woman saw my star… I said it would have been better to take it off.”

Lieutenant Hesse pursed his lips. “So now it’s my fault?”

“Well, actually…” Leonore shook herself. “Of course it’s not your fault. I should have taken it off before walking down the train.”

Hesse’s face looked as though he was about to explode. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up? How would you have explained to the Gestapo what you were doing in an unauthorized compartment?”

Leonore was feeling more miserable by the second as she realized how reckless her behavior had been. One look at his disappointed face made her feel terrible. “It won’t happen again.”

“You’re right, it won’t, because from now on I’m not letting you out of my sight for a single second.” He shook his head. “I thought the two children might cause a problem. I certainlydidn’t expect you, of all people, to put the operation at risk. Now quick march back to our compartment.”

He gestured for her to walk ahead, probably to make a grab for her, if she changed her mind and tried to escape. She walked meekly in front of him and slid into the compartment where the rest of the group was sitting. Herr Lange was dozing with his mouth open. Frau Lange and Frau Seifert were chatting quietly, while Herr Seifert stared out of the window into the passing darkness. Only Michaela, playing Halma with her daughters, seemed to register Leonore’s reappearance, giving her a disapproving look before asking, “Would you like to play?”

“Sure, thanks.” At least she wouldn’t have to sit brooding over what might have happened if Lieutenant Hesse hadn’t shown up at the right moment. She sulked a little at the harshness of his reprimand, although deep in her heart, she was infinitely grateful to him.

37

After the incident with Fräulein Vogel, Knut lit a cigarette and paced up and down the corridor. How could she be so reckless? Once he had calmed down again, he opened the window a crack, stubbed out his cigarette and threw out the butt.

Then he straightened his uniform and pulled the compartment door open. He paused to survey the passengers: the two children, whose misbehavior he had feared so much, were sitting obediently in their seats. Eva was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, and Ilse was drawing.

Fräulein Vogel was writing something in a small notebook. His gaze fell on Frau Kronberg, kneeling next to Herr Seifert. The hairs at the back of his neck stood on end, and he swallowed heavily. Stepping into the compartment, he pulled the door closed behind him and crouched beside them.

Herr Seifert’s jaw was clenched with the effort of disguising the pain. A medical emergency was the last thing Knut needed. After a furtive glance at his watch, he whispered to Frau Kronberg, “Is something wrong?”

“He’s having a gallstone attack.” As she turned to Knut, the tension on her face made him flinch in shock. “Normally, he’d have to go to a hospital right away.”

That would not only endanger Herr Seifert’s emigration, but also the other members of the group. Knut’s mind worked feverishly. How could he get Herr Seifert to a hospital while continuing to escort the others on their journey? He couldn’t divide himself in two. Besides, Frau Seifert would never travel without her husband, and he doubted Frau Kronberg would abandon her patient… and without their mother, the children wouldn’t be allowed to cross the border… the situation was a disaster.

“Do you think he’ll make it to the border?” whispered Knut.

Frau Kronberg rubbed the bridge of her nose with a finger. Suddenly, she looked very old. “I can’t honestly say. Gallstone attacks like this can fell the strongest of men. And after years of deprivation, Herr Seifert’s constitution is not exactly the best.”

Knut understood that all too well. He’d had to witness for himself the slow deterioration in the health of his sister Edith and her Jewish husband. “Is there anything I can do?”

“If you could organize some painkillers?” She gave him a wry smile. “I wasn’t allowed to bring my medical bag with me, since the few medications I had left weren’t considered personal requirements.” She shrugged. “Although there was nothing left in there that would relieve an acute gallstone attack.”

“What do you need?”

“Morphine, if possible. If not, oxycodone, or anything that will temporarily ease Herr Seifert’s pain.”

“What will happen if I can’t find anything?”

Her expression clouded. “I’m worried he won’t survive the journey. You can see for yourself he’s flinching at every little movement the train makes.”

Glancing back at Herr Seifert’s sweat-soaked, greenish pale face, Knut asked, “Would alcohol help?”

“Medically speaking, that would be irresponsible, but needs must when the devil drives.”

Knut stared at Frau Kronberg. “Pardon?”

“Strong alcohol, schnapps for example, does reduce the intensity of the pain. But we’d have to get at least three glasses of schnapps down him to have any effect, which might then cause other problems.” Frau Kronberg chewed at her lower lip as she scrutinized her patient. “Under the circumstances, I’d say anything is better than nothing. So if you can’t find painkillers, then yes. As a last resort, so to speak.”

It was an overwhelming responsibility for this petite woman to carry. Knut felt the urge to hug her to give her courage. After all, Herr Seifert’s health wasn’t her fault, nor was she responsible for him not receiving adequate medical treatment.

Instead, he said, “I’ll see what I can do.”