Kacer Kathy - Masters of Silence

For Aura, Mannie, Raefie, Viv, Sandy, and Allan my wonderful in-laws!

K.K.

CHAPTER 1

April 1940

Helen

The heavy convent door closed behind her with an echoing thud, and Helen found herself standing in a cavernous hall as cold and nearly as dark as the streets outside. She could hear the steeple bell ringing, and she counted twelve loud clangsmidnight. Three nuns stood before her, moving their eyes slowly from her head down to her feet and back again. Helen coughed nervously and placed her small brown suitcase on the floor beside her. Then she removed her hat, smoothing down her short curls.

How old is she? the tallest of the three asked, leaning forward. She had a long, narrow face with dark eyes that Helen felt were staring right through her. She shrank back from her gaze.

Fourteen, Helens mother replied softly. And very mature for her age.

And the boy? The nun stood back up and pointed in the direction of Helens brother.

Henry is ten. Maman stroked his head as she said this. Henry had begun to cry, his sobs echoing noisily off the stone walls of the convent. It was as if he knew what was coming and was dreading it all at once. Hes small for his age, but very smart, and also very responsible, she added. Its just that hes tired. We all are.

Helen shuddered. Everyone was so somber. It made her feel even more afraid than she already was. The journey from Germany to here in southern France had taken daysHelen had lost count of how many. And they had barely seen sunlight in all that time; Maman had insisted that they travel mainly at night, walking long hours, and had only accepted a ride once, in a truck with the kind farmer whose wife had clucked sympathetically when she had seen Helen and her younger brother.

Its good that they both have blond hair, the nun continued, studying the children with pursed lips and crossed arms. It will make it easier if there are ever any questions.

Helen knew what that meantthe part about being blond. It meant that she and her brother didnt look too Jewish, like some of her friends who had dark hair, dark eyes, and prominent noses. These days, looking Jewish was not a good thing.

And its good that they both speak French, the nun continued.

Maman had been born in France and spoke only French to Helen and Henry. They had grown up listening to her stories about her childhood in Paris. Papa had spoken German to them, and Helen could move between the two languages as easily as she could switch from walking to running.

At the thought of her father, Helen shuddered again and squeezed her eyes tightly so that she wouldnt start to cry. How long had it been since shed seen Papa? Perhaps more than a year! She could never forget the day he had been arrested and taken from their home in Frankfurt. It was seared into her memory like a deep scar. Nazi soldiers had run through the streets, smashing the windows of stores and synagogues, setting fires and attacking Jewish men and women who were walking outside, just minding their own business. There had been sounds of gunfire on the streets and people screaming. Papa had locked the door to their home and the four of them had stood together in a corner, clutching one another desperately, as if standing together could keep them safe. But a locked door meant nothing to the soldiers, who had smashed through it like it was paper, barged in, grabbed Papa, and took him away. It had happened in a momentright before Helens eyesand shed had no chance to say good-bye.

He wont be any trouble, will he? the nun asked. Henry was continuing to cry, his echoing wails growing louder.

Hell be fine, Maman said. Her voice sounded strained and not at all convincing, at least not to Helens ears. It may take some time, but hell settle, Maman added. She looked pleadingly at Helen, who moved over to put her arm around her brother. He looked so small and helpless, she thought. But even though she was trying to act like a helpful older sister, she felt just as defenseless.

If he cant adjust, he may have to go somewhere else, the nun said.

Mamans eyes grew round with fear. But there is nowhere else, she whispered.

After Papa had been taken, Maman knew they werent going to be safe staying in their home. The soldiers had arrested only Jewish men, but Maman had said, Families like ours may be next. And so they had packed a few things and left for the town of Kronberg, not far from Frankfurt. Maman knew a Catholic family who lived there, the Webers. Frau Weber had once worked for Papa, and she and her husband were willing to take them in. And there they waited for things to get better. But instead, everything had gotten worse. Adolf Hitler, the evil one, as Maman called him, declared more restrictions against Jewish citizens. Orders, proclamations, rules, laws; they all meant the same thingJews couldnt do anything that others could do. And they could even be arrested if they were discovered, especially if they were found to be hiding with a Christian family.

After a while, Frau Weber spoke to Maman. Were willing to let you stay, Frau Rosenthal, she had said. We can say you are a servant here in the house. But the children She glanced at Helen and Henry as she spoke, lowering her voice and moving closer to Maman. If our home were searched, it would be impossible to explain why theyre here. Its not that we wouldnt like to help. We would. What Hitler is doing to the Jews its dreadful. But you must understand that its terribly dangerous for us to protect all of you. That part was true. Christian citizens were in danger of being punished if they helped their Jewish friends and neighbors.

It was actually Frau Weber who had told Maman about the convent in southern Francea place that took in Jewish children without asking many questions. The next thing Helen knew, Maman was packing a few things for her and her brother, and they were on their way.

Helen looked over at the three nuns. The tall one who had done the talking was clearly in charge. The one on her left had a kind face that reminded Helen of Frau Becker, her teacher back in Frankfurt when she and her Jewish friends had still been allowed to attend school. When Helen looked at her, the nun smiled, and her eyes lit up and crinkled in the corners like a fan being folded up. But the nun on the right looked as if she already hated Helen, even though she didnt even know her. Her nose was scrunched up, and she pressed a tissue against it as if there were a bad smell in the room.

The tall nun was saying something else. Do they have documents? she asked. Thats when Maman reached under her blouse and into the waistband of her skirt, pulling some papers out and handing them over to the nun.

I didnt want anyone to find these, she said. These are their identity documents. As she handed the papers over to the tall nun, Helen could just make out the red letter J that was stamped on each of their papersthe letter that meant that they were Jewish, the letter that had forced them to be on the run.

It was still so confusing to Helen: Why was being Jewish was such a terrible thing? Why had people gone from being kind to being cruel? Why had Papa been taken, along with so many others? Why? Why? Why? None of it made any sense.

Its time to say your good-byes. The tall nun was talking once more. We will take over from here.