Page 94 of Winter’s End

The Reich, in a bid to show how well they were treating the Dutch, had responded with a show of largesse, allowing distribution of the Swedish food and medical supplies they had withheld since the twenty-eighth day of January.

Mila sighed. It was encouraging news. But how quickly would the Allies respond?

Restless, she gathered up the newspapers, crushed them into a heap and tossed them into a wastebasket. She paced once or twice around her bedroom, pausing only to ruffle Hondje ‘s topknot.

Pieter was right to return to Amsterdam without her, she decided. What could she have done to help him?

On the other hand, if he found himself in trouble, who would he have to turn to? What would happen,lieve God, if he were discovered – or captured?What then?

The thought of losing him…of never seeing him again, was enough to flood her with resolve.

She threw a change of clothing into a shoulder bag, searched her handbags for as many guilders as she could find, and stuffed them into the bag as well. She put her identification papers into one section of the bag and the false Swiss papers Pieter had given her in another. She slipped on her most comfortable walking shoes and opened the door of her room.

It was past eleven and quiet, the household asleep. She would not be missed until morning.

Bu at the sound of the door opening, Hondje stood upright in her bed, tail wagging.

“Hush, now,” she whispered, fingers against her lips. “I will return soon – and Reit will take good care of you in the meantime.”

Hondje slid forward on his two front feet, his little backside in the air. Blowing him a kiss, she closing the door gently and tip-toed down the stairs.

EVI

A sudden rapping at the front door yanked Evi out of a restless sleep. Otto barked furiously. She sat up, pulling the blankets around her, too terrified to move from the sofa.Lieve God,had she somehow led the Germans to the Beekhof farm?

In seconds,MeneerBeekhof bounded into the room, his bare feet slapping at the wooden floor.

The pounding continued, but Evi thought she heard a woman’s voice.

“Behagen! It is Zoe! Zoe Visser! I am so sorry to wake you!

Evi metMeneerBeekhof’s gaze, watched him move stealthily toward the door.

The pounding slowed, and the voice could be heard quite clearly. “Excuseert, behagen! It is Zoe Visser!”

At Evi’s nod,Meneerundid the front door’s three locks, peered out, then opened the door. “Kom binnen,” he said. Come in.

At the sight of her friend, clearly frantic, Evi threw aside the blankets and ran barefooted to the door.

“I am so sorry to wake you,” Zoe was shivering. “I know I must have given you all a fright.”

Her words were directed atMeneerBeekhof, but she nearly collapsed into Evi’s arms as she spoke.

By this time, the rest of the family had gathered behind them, Jacob rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Mevrouwput he hands on her Evi’s shoulders, leading her and Zoe toward the sofa.

The last of the evening’s fire crackled in the hearth, casting each face in eerie shadows. Papa Beekhof moved to light a lantern.

Seated, Zoe took a trembling breath. “I am sorry to alarm you. I was not able to contact Mila. Nor could I reach Johan Steegen – and so, Evi, I come to you. I need help.”

Evi listened as Zoe told them about her father’s arrest by the Germans, that Gestapo thugs had appeared at her family’s door without warning and dragged her papa out the door, just as they had at the home of Daan Mulder,

“My Mam is near hysteria,” Zoe said. “But it is possible she knows where they may be keeping him – for a while, at least, until they are able to move him – who knows where…?”

Zoe’s voice cracked. She was clearly working to hold back tears. Evi took her shaking hands in hers.

“I have no firearms, and anyway, I don’t know how to use them,” Zoe said.” I had thought once that I might learn, but they frankly frighten me –“