Page 81 of Winter’s End

Pieter cut her off. “I understand. I can drive. It is not so long a way.” He paused. “Or perhaps, Mila would be a better choice. Evi knows Mila well. I will talk to her at once. One of us will collect you at the back door of thekliniekin one hour.”

...

Zoe was standing in the alley behind thekliniek, tying a scarf around her head, when Mila drove up in a dark green Daimler.

MILA

“Whatever has happened?” Mila asked, as Zoe slipped in beside her in the front seat of the Daimler. “Pieter told me only that Evi needs help in Rotterdam…Rotterdam?”

Zoe took a breath. “In Vlaardingen, actually. Evi telephoned, totally distraught – and with reason. As I understand it, she and Lotte were on their way to Middleburg this morning when German officers boarded the barge. Evi was able to jump to safety onshore, but Lotte – Lotte was shot – murdered as Evi watched from the shore.”

Mila slumped in her seat. “Lieve god…”

“Evi found her way to a marketplace in Vlaardingen, where a woman took her in. I spoke to her. Her name is Alette. She sounded trustworthy. For Evi’s sake, I hope that is true. In any case, she told me precisely where to find them.Bedanktthat you are able to drive.”

“It is only an hour’s journey, I think…I will make up some story for my father…SchamelEvi. Poor Evi…SchamelLotte…”

She turned to Zoe. “Where is the barge?”

“Afloat somewhere, I suppose,” Zoe told her. “I only know that Evi was frantic.”

She paused. “She said something about a baby…Lotte was moving a baby to safety, I think….”

Mila’s brows rose. “I know that Lotte has transported refugees many times…but where would this baby have come from?”

Zoe shook her head. “I do not know. But the poor child was likely murdered as well…These were German invaders, after all.”

Mila stepped harder on the gas pedal.

Zoe turned to her. “First Daan Mulder. Now Lotte. Who will be next, Mila? The Germans are becoming more malicious than ever. There is no safety anywhere.”

Mila remembered theObersturmfuhrer– Franz Becker of the Deitrich recording – who had warned of Hitler’s threat to murder two Dutch citizens for every German soldier lost in the dual explosions…

Zoe broke into her thoughts. “Mila, are you aware of the hiding families and the others we have sequestered at the hospital inHeemstede?”

“Pieter told me about them, yes,” Mila said. “You set aside food for them that had been rescued from the Gertman train.”

“Yes,” Zoe said. “But I fear the German thirst for revenge is growing. They are now demanding the names of all patients and staff at the hospital where these families are sequestered. I live in fear that stormtroopers will one day storm the building.”

Mila considered. “How many people are in hiding there?”

“Thirty, perhaps…a few Jewish physicians…the hiding families – at least one wanted German patriot…”

Mila stole a sidelong glance. “A German patriot?”

“Ja,”Zoe paused. “His name is Kurt Schneider. He fled Germany early in the war when the Gestapo came after him for helping refugees escape…”

Mila listened.

“Kurt is a kindly person, Mila – a gentle soul who tells stories to the children to keep them quiet and occupied in their shelter.”

Mila smiled. “It sounds as if you know him well.”

“Not well,” Zoe said, looking out of the window. “But I would be lying if I said I do not feel drawn to him. A German, of all people…and yet I confess that in any other world, I would like to know him better…”

Mila nodded, the depth of Zoe’s caring clear to her.

“Not every German is cut from the same cloth, Zoe,” she said. I am sure there are many who abhor Herr Hitler.”