Heinrich looked past Harald and counted, frowning. “No, no, this isn't right. We were told there would be six new passengers only.”
“I'm sure you'll be able to make room. One of us can sleep in the wheelhouse if we have to.”
“You don't understand,” Heinrich said, putting a hand on Harald's chest. “Our weight and rationing only permits the addition of seven passengers. One is already on board, which leaves six open spots. It is exact.”
“You can't make an exception?”
“The deal I made was for one passenger who arrived yesterday, and six of you today. That's it.”
Harald leaned forward and whispered. “And if we agree to pay you five hundred extra?”
“Don't bullshit me,” Heinrich said. “You can't promise this, and even if you could, I wouldn't take it. It's a matter of safety. The rationing will be too tight. You should know that.” He looked at the others. “Who is staying?”
“Sergeant Eichmann and I have been ordered to accompany the Lieutenant,” Seiler said. “It will have to be one of them.”
All heads turned to Dominik. He looked at his wife and his daughters, feeling the weight of their gaze. On some level, Harald knew, they blamed him for everything that had happened tonight, but the lieutenant could testify to the absurdity of that notion. It was Seiler who had found their friend in Sweden, and it was their friend who had given them up.
“So we can't all fit,” Maggie said. “What does that mean? You'll shoot one of us?”
“Let it be me,” Dominik said. “If it's my fault, take them and let me be the one.”
Harald turned to them. “I'm afraid not. Mister Kaminski is the reason why we are here, so he comes with us. But if the captain says he cannot take one of you, then one of you ladies will have to stay behind. Provided you cooperate, no one will be shot.”
“And the young boy who was with us at the hotel?” Maggie asked, her eyes red and wild. “Did you tell him the same thing?”
Harald shifted uncomfortably. “Well, allow me to say no one else will be shot.”
“Where will we go if we stay?”
“It depends on which one of you it is. One of your girls would be a ward of the state until you all are released. If it were you, Missis Kaminski, you would likely go to Neuengamme until your husband is released.”
Dominik tried to step closer to his wife, but Private Gantte shoved him back with the butt of his pistol. Dominik settled for leaning over the young man instead. “What is Neuengamme?”
Maggie shuddered. “It's a new prison yard, isn't that right? It's where they take communists and homosexuals. You wouldn't take me to a normal prison, is that right Mister Dietrich? Am I such a horrible person that you would take me to a den like Neuengamme instead?”
Harald sighed. “If you were the one to stay, you would not be processed in the usual way, Missis Kaminski. You would be at the government's disposal.”
“What do you mean?”
“I'm afraid I can't say.”
Anxious to extricate himself, Heinrich caught Harald's attention with a wave. “This is not my affair. I'm headed below deck to finish. Call me when you are ready to leave, aye?”
Harald nodded, and the man bowed himself out.
“Why pick one of us at all?” Maggie demanded. “You can't separate the girls from both of their parents. Why not let us all stay? They… they need me.”
“I can't do that.”
“And the other man on board? What about this other man the captain spoke of? Why not leave him behind? Would you break up a family instead of sending another prisoner off ship?”
“I'm afraid I can't do that either,” Harald said. “Dominik and the other man are very special to this affair. Our orders are to transport Dominik and his family. I am truly sorry the count was wrong for the transportation. I was not involved in that aspect directly.”
He did feel bad about the error, but it was not one he could have foreseen. When he had chosen The Adalgisa, no one had bothered to point out there was a passenger limit. He had simply assumed seven new passengers would not matter. In light of this oversight, he considered what would happen if he did allow all three girls to stay. His contact at Neuengamme would likely accept one new prisoner as a favor, but three? That would certainly be a black mark in his column of favors. And what of leverage? If Mister Kaminski was transported to the base with no family members present, then there would be nothing to guarantee his cooperation. This was a hard conclusion, but Harald had been put in charge to make hard decisions. “One of you stays, the rest go,” he reiterated.
3
Zofia clutched her stuffed bear to her chest and sucked fiercely on one thumb.
Dominik himself was shaking. He couldn't remember a time in his life when something so meticulously planned had gone so far awry. He looked at his wife and his mouth opened, but no words came out.
“You know it has to be me,” she said. “It has to be you or me, and they won't let it be you. They want you for something. Whatever it is, it scares me, Dominik.”
“I'm scared for you,” he managed.
“It will not be as bad for me. I can deal with prison. But I can't bear the thought of Zofia or Lucja being alone. Can you?” She put a hand to his cheek, and welcome as it was, he felt the desperation in her. Not to escape, but a desperation to love and to be loved. The desperation to know that the last twelve years had not been in vain. In that moment, he saw her as he had the first time, the butcher's daughter who used to stare at him from her second story window. She had been so beautiful then, was still so beautiful now.
A dark curl of hair fell in front of her eyes, and he brushed it aside, just as he had done the very first time they kissed. He pulled her close and kissed her then, a dozen years of fire and memory passing between them. When they broke apart, he saw Lucja's cheeks were stained with tears. How very much alike they look, Dominik thought.
“It's his fault you have to go away,” Lucja said. “I'm not staying with him. I'd rather leave than go on this stinking… damnable ship.”
“I don't want to go either,” Zofia said.
“Lucja honey,” Maggie said, bending down, “I want you to listen to me. Your father loves you very much. And you will do what he says. Do you hear me? You are going with him.”
“We're not,” Zofia said, and sniffled.
“Yes you are. I have to go away and it's no one's fault but the men with the guns. Do you hear me? It's no one's fault but theirs. Your father is the head of this family and I want you to listen to him when I'm gone. He will keep you safe. I promise.” She knelt next to Lucja. “You remember when you were just a little girl, and we went to see Grandma? We spent all day riding the bus, and it was dirty and noisy because we couldn't afford anything better. But we got there and you were so happy to see your Grammy. The next day we went to the riverside, and I brought a picnic lunch. Do you remember? You played in the grass and climbed the trees, but you wanted to go swimming. Your father told you no because the water was too cold. You kept looking at the river all day because your little sister was just a baby and you had no one to play with. So you got bored. And what happened?”
“I jumped in the water,” Lucja said.
“You jumped in the water. And it was cold, wasn't it? You splashed and sank. We thought you were still playing with your kite until we heard you scream. Your father jumped in after you, didn't he?”
“He jumped in with all his clothes on,” Lucja said vacantly.
“That's right,” Maggie said. “He jumped in, and five seconds later, he dragged you to the surface and saved your life.”