The Heart Of A Gypsy (30 page)

Her question disturbed him. In fact it caught him off guard and sliced him to the core. He couldn’t imagine little Berdine, even once she’d reached Nadya’s age, being forced into a brothel. The thought made him sick and uneasy. When he’d arrived at the soldier house, he’d not even given a thought to who the girls were or where they came from. His face contorted as he considered the tiny gypsy girl who sat beside him. She was sweet and young, and not at all what he had imagined a prostitute to be, and it was then that Rolph began to see Nadya as  a person, someone’s daughter, a sister very much like his own. He was raised to have manners; his mother would be ashamed to think he was forcing a young girl to give him sexual favors. Even if the army and Hitler sanctioned such despicable behavior, his mother would not.
“Where have you been stationed, Rolph?” Nadya asked him.

“I’ve been at the Russian front. I’m worn out from this whole war. It was a very cold winter, even colder than it is here in Germany, and we were short on food. Our boots and clothes were wearing thin and we could not get new ones. So many of my unit froze or starved to death. It was like being in hell. My platoon had been spotting a mine field. Such a strange feeling it is to know that any step you take can be your last. Although I could not tell anyone or they would think I was a coward, I was afraid to place my foot on the ground.  Lots of my boyhood friends, fellows I grew up and went to school with were there right beside me. They stepped just a few yards away, but they had the misfortune of one of their feet landing in the wrong place. It was like a game of Russian roulette, you see?” he said, and she saw the sweat bead on his brow. “I saw them die. I will never forget how horrible it was to see a man that I knew since we were just five years old blown to bits right in front of my eyes. The blood, it was everywhere…the tissue and bloody matter flying through the air, and then there were the body parts scattered around the field like broken toys. Oh, Nadya, it was terrible.” His body trembled as he spoke.

“I’m sure it was, Rolph. You are a good person at heart. I can tell.” She reached out and rubbed his shoulder.

“It’s hard to be a soldier. I am trying to do what is right, what is asked of me. But…quite honestly, I want to go home. War wasn’t what I expected. It’s not at all like playing soldiers as a child. It’s serious business, and it’s scary to know that at any time…any moment, my life could be over. And it hasn’t even really begun. Do you understand what I mean?” Rolph asked.

“Yes Rolph, I do. I understand and I empathize.”

“If you promise you won’t tell them that I failed as a man …you don’t have to have sex with me if you don’t want to. I understand, and I don’t want to force you to do anything. It’s just really nice to have someone to talk to, someone who will listen and not judge me harshly.”

“I thank you for being respectful of my wishes. And please know, Rolph, that you are a man, and a very attractive one at that. You have not failed in any way. But I am a married woman, and that is the only reason why I would like to say no to your sexual advances,” Nadya said, and she smiled at him.

“I understand, and it’s all right. We won’t tell anyone what happened here. It will be our secret,” Rolph said.

Nadya smiled at him. “Thank you,” she said, relieved that for at least tonight she would not be forced to lie beneath a man who was not Christian.

C
hapter
69

The Polish Underground came through for Christian.

“We had a council meeting; I think your people would call it a
Kris
,” the Polish leader smiled as he explained.

“Yes, a meeting of the
Kris
is something like that,” Ion answered, not wanting to take the time to explain what the real
Kris
was. Neither he nor Christian had the patience to make light-hearted conversation. They wanted to get with the mission.

“Well, anyway, everyone was in agreement; we all want to help you, Christian,” the Pole said.

“Thank you…thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

             
The raid was organized quickly according to Christian’s specifications. Vehicles were brought in from various sources involved in the Resistance to be used to transport the men.

             
Christian and Ion both dressed in full SS uniform, and then they left. They were on their way to Berlin in a shiny black automobile that had been stolen from the SS by the Underground the previous year.

As Christian had told them, and they all had agreed, the best time to attack was just before dawn. The customers who had spent the night at the soldier house would most likely be exhausted and asleep in the bed of a woman, and that would leave them disoriented when they were awakened by the attack. But most of the men, especially the soldiers, would have probably left late the night before, already on their way to another battle with the rest of their platoon. It would be too early for new guests to be arriving. So, for the most part, they could expect to find the girls alone, with only the guards, who would be half asleep, present to defend the brothel.

C
hapter
70

When Rolph left, Nadya bid him farewell and good luck. As she watched his young form walk out the door and into the night, she felt a pang of pity. Would he live through the summer? Would he see the end of the war? He was just a child. Rolph had treated her kindly. She knew this, but she also knew that sooner or later she would be forced to succumb to a sexual encounter. Her first night had been nothing more than good luck. Soon, perhaps even later tonight, she would be compromised.  She shivered at the thought, even though the room was hot and sticky.  Then she remembered…the dead man’s ribbon tied to the inside of her skirt. Of course, how could she have forgotten it? The dead man’s ribbon…her salvation. When the Nazi’s had forced her to wear the clothing they’d given her, Yetta had helped her to find a hiding place for her own clothes. Now she would go back and take the ribbon out, assuming the skirt was still there. 

Nadya raced back to the room she shared with Yetta to find Yetta on her bed, crying.

“Are you all right?” Nadya rushed to her friend’s side.

“Don’t mind me.” Yetta forced a smile. “It just gets to me sometimes. I’ll be all right in a few minutes.”

Nadya smoothed Yetta’s hair. “I know. I understand.”

“How was your night? The real question is, ‘Are
you
all right?’” Yetta asked, knowing that Nadya had just spent her first night with a man at the soldier house.

“Yes, I am fine. The boy who took me to the bedroom was just a young soldier. We did nothing; we only talked all night. He never touched me. In fact, when he left I felt sorry for him.”

“Oh…you were so lucky.” Yetta sighed as she took Nadya’s hand. “I had a rough one last night and…well…I just wish this were over, that’s all.”

“I know… I know. But I have something that will help.” Nadya smiled.

“Oh?” Yetta looked up in surprise.

“Yes.” Nadya got up from Yetta’s cot, then she went to her own bed and sat on the floor, pulling her old clothes out from under her bed. She took the ribbon from inside of her skirt. “This is a dead man’s ribbon,” she told Yetta. “It has magical powers.”

Yetta tried to smile, but she was heartsick. For a moment she dared hope that Nadya had something of value…something that could aid them. She had no faith in superstitions, but rather than hurt Nadya’s feelings she said nothing at all.

Nadya held the ribbon in her small, slender fingers; she held it up to the window where she could see the full moon. “
Shera Rom
,” Nadya said to the stars, “I know you are out there. Help me please. I don’t know how you can do it…but you must get me out of this terrible place; my friend Yetta, too. This is your dead man’s ribbon and I know that I have but one wish. This is my wish. Help me please,
Shera Rom
… I want to go home to Christian….to Ion….to the
kumpania
.” A single tear ran down her face. Then she kissed the ribbon and placed it against her bosom.  Turning to Yetta as she got undressed to go to sleep, Nadya smiled, and then she winked at Yetta. “Everything will work out now; you’ll see,” Nadya said.

Yetta nodded and turned away to face the wall. She didn’t want Nadya to see the disappointment in her face.

C
hapter
71

At two in the afternoon, Christian arrived at the door of the soldier house wearing the SS officer’s uniform. He had shaved and Ion had cut his hair. To the guards at the door, he looked handsome, Aryan and official.

“Heil Hitler. Please sir, who are you?” the guard  asked.

“Heil Hitler. I am Christian Eberhart.” 

“One moment… I believe we received a call from Dr. Eberhart giving you permission to use the facilities. “

The guard checked his documents, and Christian was admitted. Then Christian was ushered into the restaurant and bar area.

“Have a drink, sir, or some food, perhaps.”

“No, thank you… I want to see the women right away.’

A sly smile spread across the guard’s face, and he gestured towards the ballroom area.

Very few of the women had come to the ballroom. It was too early, and they were not required to be there until later in the evening. Christian searched, and then turned to the guard.

“Nothing here strikes my fancy, I like Gypsy girls. Do you have any at this facility?’

“Of course, officer,” the guard winked. “We just got a new one, a pretty little thing. Let me see if I can find her for you.”

“Helmut, where is that little gypsy that just came here a few weeks ago? You know, the one that we put out on the floor for the first time yesterday?”

“You mean the one we had to punish last night?”

Christian cringed; it was all he could do to hold his temper. Had they hurt Nadya?

“No, not that one… The little one with the long black hair… I think her name is Nella…”

“No, not Nella. It’s Nadya. She is a looker. In fact, I had my eye on her myself. She shares a room with the pretty Jew bitch with the red hair.”

“Well…go and get her. Tell her to fix herself up nicely; an officer wants to see her.” The guard smiled at Christian and eyed the bars on his uniform. This was Dr. Eberhart’s son; it was important to make a good impression.

“Sit down, please,” the guard told Christian.

Christian sat in the main ballroom. His hands twitched. He longed to reach for his gun and begin shooting these Nazis who held Nadya captive, but he knew that he had a better chance of rescuing her if he stuck with the plan.

C
hapter
72

Nadya sat on the cot in her room with Yetta, who was teaching her to make dolls out of string. When the guard entered, both girls sat up immediately, stung by fear.

“You,” he pointed to Nadya. “Get dressed. There is an officer here to see you. Make yourself look appealing or there will be hell to pay.”

Nadya glanced at Yetta and saw the sympathy on Yetta’s face.

“
Mach Schnell
!” (Hurry up!) the guard said, and then he left.

“Come on, I’ll help you.” Yetta combed Nadya’s hair as Nadya sat, transfixed with alarm.
“
Yetta, I’m terrified.”

“Don’t be afraid.” Yetta hugged Nadya. “Think of your ribbon… It will make you feel better.”

Tears sprung into Nadya’s eyes. “
Shera Rom
… Help me, please,” she whispered.

“Let’s go! Now!” the guard said to Nadya as he entered the room. With one hand he grabbed Nadya’s shoulder and forced her to follow him. As she was leaving she turned back and glanced at Yetta, who nodded and tried to offer her a smile of encouragement. “Be strong,” Yetta mouthed the words silently.

C
hapter
73

When Nadya saw Christian sitting in the ballroom she almost cried out and ran to him. His eyes told her she must be still and reveal nothing. But he was relieved to see her alive and unharmed. “This Officer would like to spend some time with you. Make sure he is happy. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” Nadya answered the guard.

“Sir,” the guard addressed Christian, “There are private rooms upstairs. You are free to use one. Just turn to your right and you will find a series of open rooms with very comfortable beds. These are the pleasure rooms. The girls’ dorms are on the left.”

“Thank you,” Christian said as he took Nadya’s arm and led her up the stairs.

“Christian, thanks be to God, you are here. The dead man’s ribbon worked.”

“Nadya…shhh…be quiet. Let’s get into one of the rooms and then we’ll talk.”

Once they’d closed the door to the private room she leapt into his arms, and he held her close to him.

“Hanzi is dead,” she whispered. “The Nazis killed him before they took me. I couldn’t stop them.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” He kissed her hair. He wanted to linger, taking in the very essence of her, but he knew he must explain and act quickly. “Nadya, listen, this is important. Your brother is outside with the Polish Resistance. We’ve come to take you out of here. You and I will spend the night together in this room. It will look as if I am a customer. Then at dawn I will unlock all the doors. Within a few minutes the raid will begin. While the Underground is attacking the house, you and I will escape back to our camp.”