“I just read the paper. My God, what is happening?”
“On a very basic level, it means that Hitler’s power now is absolute.”
“How can we keep putting up with this? How can the people put up with it?”
“The people?” Old Eli said with great sadness. “Why they ignore it, my dear. They look the other way. Their attitude is simple: they cannot do anything about it so they make believe it is not happening. That is why Avrum’s work is so important. He has literally become the voice of Germany’s conscience. He keeps reminding them that what is happening is morally repugnant. Not just legally wrong, morally wrong.”
He leaned back and stared up through the sunlight at the bright summer morning.
“He was one of my students, you know,” Old Eli said rather wistfully. “I’m quite proud of that. To have been a mentor to a voice of dissent, what a sweet accomplishment.”
“It doesn’t seem possible that the chancellor of our country has resorted to cold-blooded murder,” she said.
“Oh, he did that long before last night,” the old man said.
“And now we hear the Black Lily is number one on his list. That is why it is impossible to call Avrum just now. He is on the move. But I am sure he will be calling me in the next day or so. Can I give him a message?”
She shook her head and then explained why she had to go to Berlin.
“Before I left he told me I should always check with you before coming back. He said you would know if there was any danger.”
“You have to do this? Go to Berlin right now?”
She nodded. “I must tell him about my decision. He knows about Francis but he has never met him. Also I have to close up my apartment, see some family. I am leaving for America in a few days. I must say my goodbyes.”
“That can all be done for you.”
“No, I cannot leave without explaining it to Avrum.”
“So? Write him a letter.”
“Do you think I am on the fugitive list? Is that why you are so concerned about my going back?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. I think we would know about it if you were on the list. But, because of your relationship, it may be a dangerous thing to do right now.”
“I know you are thinking that if I am caught they will get information out of me,” Jenny said. “Believe me, that is not possible, Uncle. Avrum told me nothing. All I did was help distribute folders and newspapers.”
“A beheading offense, did you know- that? They take news vendors of The Berlin Conscience to the basement of Stadelheim prison and behead them. Behead them! Can you believe such barbarism? It hurts my heart to see this happening.”
“Will you help me go home?” she asked, pressing the question.
He seemed to be delaying a decision.
“You must admit, it is a bit peculiar, helping someone get back into Germany,” he said, almost as if bemused by the idea.
“Uncle - . .
Old Eli shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I think we Jews put too much on family.”
“I’m not Jewish, Uncle. Avrum is my half-brother. But we were brought up as brother and sister. I admire what he is doing.
It scares me to death, but I admire him for it. The least I can do is explain why I am going away.”
He wagged his hand as a sign of submission and nodded.
“Excuse me a minute,” he said. He hefted himself from his chair and left the room. She sat quietly, listening to his muffled voice in another room. Fear started gnawing at her insides, a small thing to start with but a spark that could grow into an inferno. She tried to suppress it, but her mouth started to get dry and she could feel perspiration breaking out on the back of her neck. It was not herself she feared for, it was Avrum.
Old Eli came back in the room carrying a slip of paper.
“You will fly into Leipzig,” he said, reading from his notes. “Then you will be taken into Berlin by motorcar. It is only a two-hour drive, one hundred kilometers or so. You have a place to stay?”
“I moved into a new apartment before I left. The phone is not in my name. I think it will be safe there.”
Old Eli pulled a chair over in front of her and sat down. He leaned forward as he spoke.
“But not for long,” he warned. “If they learn you are in Berlin and they are indeed looking for you, then you must get out as fast as possible. When you are ready to leave you will come back the same way. Remember, from now on trust no one.”
“Not even Avrum?”
“Of course Avrum. But avoid anybody not involved directly with the Lily. And do not look for Avrum, he will find you.”
“I understand.”
“There is only one flight a day from here to Leipzig. It leaves in two hours. You must use your real name because of the passport. We do not have time to get you a counterfeit. Anyway, they will only be checking the Berlin flights for fugitives.”
“I don’t think they would connect Avrum and me—different last names .
“Dear Jenny, if they learn his identity, they will know you are his half-sister very soon after.”
“Hopefully they do not know who he is. He has evaded them for almost a year.”
“Good luck does not last forever,” Old Eli said.
She smiled and patted his knee. “Do not be so pessimistic,” she said.
“Ha! We Jews are all pessimists, my dear,” he said with a smile. “It is part of the diet. To be anything less would not be kosher.”
A persistent ringing at the door of his suite awoke Keegan. Half asleep, he instinctively reached over to touch Jenny but she was not there. As he reached for his robe he noticed the time: 9:45 A.M. He jumped up. They were going to miss the plane.
“Jen?” he called out.
Then he saw the note propped up on the dresser. He snatched it up and read it as he walked through the living room to the door of the suite.
Darling Kee,
You were sleeping like a child and I hate good-byes. Am taking a taxi to the airport. I will call you tonight.
Five days, my darling, and then we will be together always.
I love you in my heart.
Thank you for changing my life.
Jenny
He opened the door and Bert Rudman, as usual, burst into the room without being invited. He was waving the morning paper over his head and babbling. Keegan had never seen him quite as agitated.
“Where have you been? Why was the phone turned off? I’ve been trying to call you all night!” Rudman jabbered, running all the sentences together.
Keegan stared at him sleepily, then looked back at the note.
“Where’s Jenny?” Rudman asked, looking around the suite.
“She left already,” Keegan said, handing the slip of paper to the journalist.
“Left? For where?” Rudman asked as he read the note.
“Back to Berlin.”
“And you let her go?!”
“Let her go? I don’t own her. Besides, I’m picking her up Thursday and then we’re off for London. What’s the big deal?”
“You don’t know what’s going on?”
“Where?”
“In Germany! Where do you think, on Mars? Goddamn, Kee, the Nazis have gone berserk!”
He handed Keegan a copy of the morning edition of the Paris Gazette, reprinted from his Times story.
“Christ!” Keegan said when he’d finished reading Rudman’s story. He looked up at his friend and his eyes revealed admiration. Admiration mixed with fear.
“I’m going back to Berlin on the afternoon plane for a follow-up.”
“You’re going to Berlin after writing this? They’ll kill you, you silly bastard.”
“I keep telling you . .
“I know, I know, they won’t mess with the American press. Let me tell you something, if they’ll knock off three thousand people in one night, your press pass ain’t gonna mean bopkes. You’re worried about Jenny and you’re probably number one on their hit parade.”