A Flicker of Light (11 page)

When she reached the main room, adjacent to the kitchen, she saw no one, only large packages on the kitchen table. Still hidden behind the wall of the hallway, she watched for several minutes, waiting. Nobody came. Curious, she went to the kitchen, but did not turn on a light. Barefoot on the hardwood floor, her feet cold and trembling, she turned the edges of the brown paper that
contained the parcels and looked inside. There she stood, aghast, as she uncovered coffee, onions, apples, flour, and fabric. Once again she heard a noise, this time from outside the window. She quickly moved back behind the wall, just as the baby began to wail again. She raced back to the child’s side, picked him up, and held him close to her. She put him against her bare breast, and for a moment he sucked the air as he searched for her nipple. Frantically moving his head about and still crying, the infant demanded that Petra help him. Soothingly, she placed the nipple in his mouth, and as she tenderly stroked his cheek, the baby started to nurse.

Unsure of what she might encounter, this time Petra stayed in the nursery. Somehow she knew what she’d seen should not alarm her, regardless of the fact that the large quantity supplies she’d observed had been forbidden by the Nazis. Peace came over little Hans’ face, and by the light of the moon he looked like an angel as he suckled, making sounds of pure satisfaction.

Petra vaguely wondered where all the forbidden food had come from.
What had she just seen?
It did not behoove her to entertain these thoughts. She must mind her own business, she thought, as she sat rocking slowly and stroking the baby’s soft, bald head. Perhaps the
Bruch
meiers
stole and hoarded food. She didn’t care. She just did not want them to be caught. Hiding food from the Germans was considered treason and carried a severe punishment. She could not conceive of what that punishment might be, but from what she’d learned about the Nazis, she had no doubt it would be cruel. So now she knew where Hans disappeared to at night. But the details remained a mystery. The baby’s grip on her bosom released as his little hands opened. He slept. Petra experienced a tingling in her arm from holding him, as she carefully placed him back into his bed, then left to go to her own. For a long time she lay awake, unable to forget what she had seen. She cared so much for this family; she could not bear to think of their suffering. Still, she would not confront
Siegland
with the question.

T

he baby changed and matured with each passing day. A glimpse into his strong-willed personality was
apparent in
his tiny, determined jaw. When Petra tried to put him down to sleep, his fists balled up and his face reddened as he cried out in protest. But the child loved
Siegland
and quickly came to recognize every line on her kind, familiar face. When he reached for her, which did more frequently than for his own mother, she responded with a fierce, protective adoration that she had never known before.
Siegland
enjoyed every moment, and she spoiled him. Hans could not so much as whimper before she lifted him out of his cradle and gently rocked him until he closed his eyes and slept. At night by the fire, Klaus played with Hans with the toys that he had made for him, and the old dog licked the baby’s face.

By mid-summer, Petra had grown strong and in desperate need of a change of scenery.
Siegland
offered to watch little Hans while she went out to help Klaus on the farm. Grateful for the break from routine, she agreed. Petra learned to milk the cow, gather the eggs from the hen house, and feed and tend to the plow horse. She helped
with the crops to the best of her ability, and informed Klaus proudly that she would be there to assist in the harvest as well. Never having had any help from anyone, the old man welcomed this new daughter in a way that surprised even him. He enjoyed teaching and showing off his expertise in his work, and she learned quickly. Klaus soon discovered what
Siegland
had always known: children filled a household with tremendous love. At first, fear of the Nazis had made him consider sending Petra away, but now he delighted at having the mother and child living with them. The bond had progressed to such a degree of intimacy that often the couple forgot that they did not share bloodlines with their adopted daughter and grandson.

That summer brought the smell of lilacs. The fields were bursting with wildflowers in shades of magenta, lilac, plum, and bridal pink, interspersed with patches of hardy yellow dandelions. Raspberry bushes sprung up, randomly scattered amidst the other plant life, offering their fruit to all who passed. Grass covered the forest-green hills as far as the eye could see. Warm weather and bright sunlit days found
Siegland
and Petra sipping cold lemonade as they sat on the porch, rocking Hans in his cradle. In June, the
Bruchmeiers
’ strawberry patch blossomed, bursting with
sweet berries they ate right from the vine.
Siegland
baked pies and canned jams with the succulent wine-red fruit. Life had slowed to a comfortable pace. Petra had taken on a healthy glow, and her golden locks floated about her head, streaked by kisses from the sun’s rays.

Fall arrived, ushering in harvest time with it. The last of the strawberry crop sat in bushels along the side of the barn beginning to rot. Tonight, the women were determined to boil and preserve the remainder of the fruit for the coming winter. Petra helped Klaus to ready the farm, for soon the workers would come to help with the harvesting of the other crops.
Siegland
sat outside, her face blissful as she rocked the baby in the fresh air. She’d covered his head with hats she’d knitted to protec
t him from the sun and weather.

T

he countryside outside Munich is a magnificent sight in autumn. The leaves are an array of color - some a rich burgundy, others pumpkin orange, and still others a warm burnt umber. Across the land lays a thin, painted blanket where gusts of wind had distributed the foliage. Thick beds of grass cover the hillsides, turning from vivid shades of green to an aged golden hue. Many days are still sizzling as the summer sun makes her final exit to allow for winter’s arrival. But even on the warmest days, an occasional cool breeze blows through as a gentle reminder of what is to come.

And so, on such an afternoon in late fall, a black Mercedes clamored up the road toward the little farmhouse. Klaus stiffened as he saw the automobile approach.
Siegland
gripped little Hans tighter, and Petra stopped working to watch, almost paralyzed with fear as the two men in black uniforms approached.

“Good morning, Herr
Bruch
meier
.”

“Good morning.”

“Good day,” the Nazi said as he smiled at Petra. “I am SS Officer
Schrielner
, and this is my associate Officer Hauptman. We’ve come to inform you that there is a bit of a problem. A murderer is loose in this area, and it seems that he has killed a young man with an axe. It is imperative that you be very cautious and that you report any strange occurrences to the authorities immediately. There is even a possibility that he may be a Jew, although we are not sure. However, as you know, these Jews are very clever, evil and quite dangerous, so you must take great care, especially with such a lovely young woman here on the premises.” His eyes combed Petra’s body before he slowly turned his attention back to Klaus. “I trust that you will be sharing those strawberries with our soldiers. Of course, when your crops come in we would be happy to supply you with free labor as I believe we have done in previous years, providing that you help to feed the German army. I have no doubt that you would be honored to assist your own countrymen.”

“Yes, certainly, we will be happy to.”
Perspiration gathered at Klaus’
temple. He did not wipe it for fear that the officer might detect his anxiety.

“And who is this young lady?
And the baby?
You have no children that we are aware of,” the Nazi said, taking an
embroidered handkerchief from his back pocket and wiping the sweat from his forehead as he studied Petra. “Warm day, yes?
Perhaps one of the last ones this year.
Soon comes the dreaded winter.”

He smiled at Petra. What a pretty thing, he thought, although a bit too slender for his tastes. Unconsciously, he licked his lips as he considered future possibilities. A night of wild abandon, perhaps, something his wife need never find out about. This golden-haired girl tucked away on a farm out in the country might be just the thing he needed to spice up his life.

“We were not so lucky as to have children of our own; she is my husband’s brother’s daughter. Her future husband is fighting at the Russian front, and s
he is waiting for him here,”
Sie
gland
said.

“And where is your home, young lady?” Too bad there is a future husband involved, especially a soldier fighting for the Fatherland, he thought. Even if they are not yet married, it would still be wrong to pursue her. Ah, well, nothing would have pleased him more than an affair with an attractive young girl. Never mind, he told himself, he would visit the women at the
Lebensborn
. There he could engage in extramarital sex and help the cause at the same time. A smirk came to his lips as he considered his own
cleverness. Still, it would be nice to see what she looked like naked. And who knows, she might just get lonely while she waited, and find that she needed a man to keep her warm at night. No harm done if she came to him.  Of course, in that case he would be ready to oblige.

“My father is dead
,
and my mother is in Poland. She moved there before the war, but I wanted to be here in my native Germany.”

“Very wise, good
choice,
and what is your name?”

“Petra.” She hoped that she had done a sati
sfactory job covering her Norwegian
accent.

“Hello Petra.” The other officer, who stood beside him, smiled and nodded his head as he too watched Petra with an intense stare. The thick lenses of his glasses made his blue eyes look enormous, wild, and strange.

Although still slim, Petra’s body had filled out since she had moved in with the
Bruckmei
e
rs
. Her breasts stood firm and full
,
while her hips fell
in rounded curves. This
officer did not miss the budding nipples of her breasts as they strained against her blouse. A crooked half-smile came to his lips; when Petra caught sight of it, she shivered slightly.

“Why don’t we just take a few crates of those juicy berries with us right now? In
a
week or so we’ll bring some labor
to help you with your harvest
. That sounds good, yes? It seems like you have a crop of asparagus quite ready to be brought in
,
” Officer Hauptman said
.

“Yes, take the strawberries; it is my pleasure. The asparagus is almost ready, too. And let me carry these crates of fruit over to your auto.” With his strong arms, Klaus lifted the two large crates and brought them to the car. Then he put them in the back seat, careful not to scratch the leather. Petra cast a glance at
Siegland
as the car pulled away.

Relieved, but shaken, for the moment Klaus stopped working. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the perspiration from his brow. Then he walked to the house. His old heart had pounded so fiercely that he now suffered exhaustion and felt unable to continue his work for what remained of the day. Rest,
he
needed rest. At his age, the exertion of his work
,
coupled with the jolt he’d suffered as he considered possible arrest or detention
,
had caused a sharp pain in his chest th
at surged down his left arm.
Sie
gland
and Petra were worried. His face had turned a dark red, and cold sweat covered his entire body.
Siegland
ran him a lukewarm bath, and he stayed in the bathroom for
more than
an hour, wiping a cool towel across his forehead. For at least forty minutes
,
he had difficulty breathing as he panted like a bird in a cat’s clutches.

Chapter 13

T

ogether, the women prepared the evening meal. With little Hans at play on the floor between them, they chopped, sliced and diced.
Siegland
and Petra worked together as a unit, each knowing instinctively what the other was doing. Watching her tiny son, Petra’s heart swelled. At first she had wanted a girl, but once she saw this child, his defenselessness made her ache with love, and he owned her. Fiercely protective, like a mother tiger, she knew she would give her life for the little boy who sat banging the wooden soldiers that Klaus had made for him.

With a large, serrated knife,
Siegland
cut the onions. Both women knew that possession of these vegetables would be considered a crime, and they looked at each other conspiratorially. When
Siegland
finished chopping, she poured the contents of the cutting board into a large pan sizzling with melted butter. A hearty aroma filled the room as Petra stirred the sauté.