The Heart Of A Gypsy (16 page)

Shivers ran up Nadya’s spine. “I’m so sorry.”

“My husband is gone as well. None of us are related except for Louis and Gertrude, they were married in the camp. Although men and women are not housed together, they met through the fence and fell in love. A rabbi, also a prisoner, performed the ceremony as they reached their fingers through the wire.  The two of them were not actually together in the physical sense until the escape.”

Nadya turned pale as she listened to the story. Hearing this news brought fear of what had become of her family and the others of her
kumpania
. Could they already be dead? She could not bear to think about it…not now, not when she’d just experienced so much joy in her husband’s arms. She tried to change the subject.

“You must be hungry. Come, we have food,” Nadya led the guests to a comfortable place near the fire. Because Ion and Shmul had come back empty handed, there would be no meat today; only vegetables stolen from a nearby farm

Nadya saw the gratitude in their faces as she gave them each a plate of vegetarian stew.  She watched as they devoured the soupy meal.

With the ease and joy of a man in love, Christian strolled over to join his wife.

“It seems as if we have some new members,” he smiled.

“Yes. They escaped from a terrible place called Sobibar. It’s a death camp, Christian. They kill people there with gas and then they burn them,” Nadya said, clearly shaken.

Seeing the terror in her eyes, he turned and scooped her into his embrace.

“Don’t think about it… It’s far away from us… I will keep you safe… Do you believe in me?” he asked. Gazing deeply into her large frightened eyes, he saw her fear subside.

“I do believe in you, Christian.”

“We have no meat today?’ he tried to lighten the conversation as he smiled into her eyes.

“No, not today.”

“Ion!” Christian called out teasing, “How was the hunt?”

Ion scoffed; he could take Christian’s teasing.

“Would my lady like some meat?” Christian bowed in mock formality to Nadya.

“It’s all right. I don’t care.”

“Well… For you, I will go a-hunting, madam,” he bowed again.

“You’re silly…”

“I know. You’re right; I am silly. I am silly man in love…but I think I’ll try my luck at the meat situation anyway. It’s good for you and for Hanzi to have meat as often as possible. And besides, I have to outdo your brother. It’s my obligation to keep him on his toes.”

Grinning, he gripped his rifle and walked into the forest. Returning to camp a little over an hour later, Christian carried two large rabbits and a hedgehog.

“Don’t show me up like that,” Ion laughed as he embraced his new brother. “I see you had quite the kill today.”

“Just luck,” Christian said, handing the animals to the man in charge of tending the soup pot. He set his rifle down in the pile of weapons.

“Well…it seems as if we will have quite the meal this evening. I fashioned some fishing poles out of tree branches, and I thought that perhaps tomorrow you might accompany me to the river,” Ion said as he lit a cigarette and offered one to Christian.

“Of course. I never was much of a fisherman, but I’ll give it a try,” Christian said as he took the cigarette.

“Ah, so there is something that I can do better than you?” Ion laughed aloud; a friendly competition seemed to be in the works.

“Not so fast… Let’s wait and see.” Christian took a puff of his cigarette.

“You should have been born a gypsy… You function in the forest quite well,” Ion observed.

“I have a gypsy soul, I guess. Let’s face it; I love a gypsy girl with all my heart.”

“That I know, brother… That I know,” Ion smiled.

C
hapter
33

With the scarcity of ammunition it was essential to preserve as much as possible, so Christian built a bow and arrows and Ion fashioned sling shots for hunting.

Ion proved himself a more successful fisherman than Christian and gloated in mock self praise as he carried his large catch of fish back to camp the following day.

Nadya took good care of her new husband, washing his clothes carefully at the river each afternoon, and lovingly preparing his food. Then, at night, when the violin music began and everyone gathered at the circle, she danced only for him.

Nadya took it upon herself to teach the new arrivals the rules of the river, the way of the
Roma
. She taught them how and where to wash clothes, bathe and keep drinking water clean by using the different areas of the river so that contamination would not set in. It had always amazed her that the
gage
did not automatically know these rules. She wondered how they managed to get along without them.

“Gypsies have survived for centuries with these rules, so we continue to use them. They prevent us from becoming ill and spreading disease through the camp,” she explained, as Devorah, Gertrude and Clara listened intently

“Here is how it is done.” Nadya went on, “We drink the water from the highest point, then a little farther down we gather water for the horses, then farther down we use the river for bathing,  and at the lowest point we wash our clothes. This way our drinking water is always clean.”

“I have it,” Devorah answered. She was only a year older than Nadya, and they were already becoming fast friends.

“We are so happy to have you join us.”

“You can’t imagine how happy we are to be here,” Devorah smiled.

A messenger on foot brought word for Ion, He said that the Polish underground wished to meet and discuss the next escape venture. They had put all of the elements into place, and they were ready now. Ion took the man walking far from the group who sat in a circle in the center of the camp. Both he and Christian had been expecting this message for weeks, and they’d both been awaiting the messenger’s arrival. Nadya knew the man from the underground because she’d seen him in the past, and she knew what he came to talk about. She glared at the two men as they walked away. If it were entirely up to her, all of these missions would stop.  After the courier left, Nadya found her brother and her husband deep in conversation.

“Christian, I’m scared. I don’t want you to go,” she said as soon as she walked up to them.

“How did you know about this already, my sweet little vixen?” Christian’s face broke into a smile as he caressed her hair.

“Don’t tease me. This is serious. You could be killed. Besides, how did that man find us? I hoped when we moved camp we could be done with all of that and just stay out of sight until this nightmare comes to an end,” Nadya said.

“Shmul went to him and told him where we were going. I told him to tell him,” Ion answered.

“Why, Ion? Why not just let it be as it was?” Nadya asked.

“Because we cannot abandon our cause; you know that. Everything we are and everything we believe in depends upon it,” Ion said.

“I am sick to death of ideals. I just want to live in peace with my husband. Is that so much to ask?
“It is Christian’s choice. He may stay here if he so chooses.” Ion crossed his arms at his chest and looked at Christian.

“I promised your brother. I can’t let Ion do this alone. It will be two days, and then I’ll be back. Trust me, please,” Christian said, and he took her hand, kissing her palm and rubbing the soft flesh against his cheek.

“I do trust you, but more importantly, I love you. I don’t want to lose you…”

Placing his hand gently over her mouth to silence her, he said, “I love you too…so very, very much, but can’t you see that this is something I must do? If I stop now, then what kind of man would I be? I could be a coward, and would such a man be worthy of your love?”

“Please Christian, please be careful. If anything happens to you I will want to die too,” she said.

“Don’t say that. If anything should happen, which it won’t, you must go on. You must do this for me.”

“Christian…” she looked at him, worried.

“Nadya, please…”

“Besides all of that, we need the money that this will bring for ammunition. We have so little left after that attack. Can’t you see, Nadya, that this must be done?” Ion said, but even as he spoke his heart broke for his sister.

Finally she nodded in agreement, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

C
hapter
34

Only a few short hours remained until Ion and Christian would leave to speak to the head of the Polish Underground and find out what their entire mission entailed.  Christian took Nadya’s hand and led her back to their wagon to spend a few precious hours alone together.

Once they locked the door and Christian took her in his arms, Nadya began to cry. She could no longer hold back the fears that consumed her.

“Christian, I am so afraid that you won’t return if you take this on.”

“Shhhh.” he whispered, “You can’t get rid of me that easily.” He buried his face in her hair, trying to capture her floral scent.

“Nadya, I never thought I could love anyone or anything as much as I love you. I will always come back to you.”

“I know that once you have met with the Poles and you agree to do this then you are obligated to follow through. So, if I let you go, Christian, will you promise me something?”

“The amulet?”

“Yes, and…that this will be your last mission.”

“I can’t promise that, my love, but I will wear the amulet. I will never take it off.” He reached for the necklace that was on the table and put it over his head.

“Kiss me, Christian.”

His lips met hers and he tasted the salt of her tears. Softly, he kissed her face; gently, he caressed her hair. Then he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He lay her carefully down, then he got in beside her. She cuddled into his arms. With his finger he traced the outline of her face, wanting to remember every detail when he was away from her, if only for a few hours. He wondered how he would feel when he was gone for days. She closed her eyes and his lips softly brushed her eyelids. Their hearts beat in unison as they held tightly to each other and to the moment. He made love to her slowly and tenderly, savoring the feel of her skin, the sweet taste of her love and the depth of her beautiful eyes. The hours passed all too quickly, and dusk fell upon the camp. The time had come, and Christian knew he must go.

“Darling,” he whispered, “Your brother is waiting for me.”

“I know,” she answered.

“Stay here…comfortable and safe in our bed. Don’t watch as I leave. I will be back as soon as I can, my love.”

“Christian, if what they are proposing seems to impossible, don’t agree to it. I am begging you.”

He did not answer.

She lay there, her heart pounding in silent panic as she watched him dress. Every second that passed, she prayed that he would change his mind, but she knew that he would not. When he was ready to leave, he walked over to the bed and sat down beside her. Taking her hand in his, he kissed her palm and squeezed gently. “I love you, Nadya,” he whispered, “I will be back soon.” Then he kissed her lips tenderly and left.

She lay there, crying softly. Nadya knew that Christian had a mission in life when she met him, and she knew even now that she could never change him. He was a man of courage, character and integrity…and wasn’t that why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place?

C
hapter
35

“Where have you been, Christian? I’ve searched all over for you. We have to meet with the Underground so that you can see what’s planned for this mission,” Ion said.

Christian acknowledged him with a nod, “I’m ready.

“Once again I want you to know for certain that you don’t have to do this, Christian,” Ion said.

“I know that….my only concern is Nadya’s safety while I’m away.’

“She’ll be safe here. The others will watch over her…that I promise. After all, she’s my sister. I love her too.”

As the full moon began to show off her silver sparkle, lighting the sky, and darkness descended quietly upon the forest, the two men prepared the horses that they would ride to the clearing where the meeting had been arranged.

“Please, Christian, be careful. I know this is only a meeting, but no one can say if you will be watched or attacked.” Nadya had left her wagon and came walking over to him as he mounted the beast. Taking the reins in his hand he bent down to kiss her.

“Of course, I will be very careful, but you should not have come out here. I didn’t want you to see me leave. Go back to camp. I will return in a few hours… Sstay with the others and wait for me.”

She turned to walk back to camp, but as she heard the clatter of the horses’ hoofs meeting the dirt, she turned one last time to see Christian’s back as he rode off with Ion.

C
hapter
36

Twelve men from the Polish Underground gathered in the clearing; they were waiting for Ion’s and Christian’s arrival. The temperatures were rapidly dropping, and the men moved about, rubbing their hands together in an effort to stay warm.