Hidden Yellow Stars by Connolly Rebecca

Author:Connolly, Rebecca
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing

Chapter 14

The Jew is the parasite of humanity. He can be a parasite for an individual person, a social parasite for whole peoples, and the world parasite of humanity.

—Pamphlet for the Nazi Party’s

internal education program, 1943

Ida pinched the bridge of her nose, groaning to herself. “Are you serious?”

“Entirely. I met with her this morning, and Madame von Volden wants her to convert. So, she’s asked to be placed elsewhere.”

“I don’t blame her.” Ida shook her head and leaned her elbows on her desk, moving her hands to grip the back of her neck. “Poor Regina. She was so happy to be there. It was close enough to Charles that they were able to meet up on occasion. They’ve no one else, you know. The parents were taken, the oldest brother is somewhere in the war, a sister is in the camps, a brother went to a work camp to try to help.”

Andrée tsked softly. “It must be serious for her to ask for removal with all of that.”

“Asking a Jewish girl to convert and expecting her to do so is serious,” Ida grumbled, squeezing her neck tightly. “She shouldn’t have to be anything different while being hidden, aside from her name. It defeats the entire purpose of hiding them. If all of the Jews converted, there wouldn’t be much of a problem.”

“I don’t know,” Andrée murmured with a hiss. “I think the Nazis would consider that a false conversion and forbid it. Or exert worse pressure.”

“Probably.” Ida lowered her hands to her lap and sat back roughly against her chair. “If there is worse. But if anyone can find a way, the Nazis would.” She pursed her lips, trying to think of a situation that would best suit Regina. But whatever she thought up would take her further from Charles.

Charles was with Madame Martine, and Ida wasn’t particularly comfortable with that arrangement either. She had three children with her, all told, and there had been reports that German soldiers regularly called at her residence as well. The children were well, according to welfare visits, but Ida had the same feeling of discomfort whenever she thought of that arrangement.

“We’ll find some place,” Ida grumbled, sitting forward and beginning to toy with a pen. “Maybe the cartographer and his family would like to have her.”

“I can check on that for you,” Andrée offered, making a note in her diary. “We already know they are willing to take in Jewish children, so a visit wouldn’t involve too many questions or too much time.”

Ida looked at her operative with a raised brow, smiling a little. “Do you have something else in mind for me to do?”

Andrée returned her smile, looking almost shy. “You said you wanted to visit Yvonne. Why not do it today?”

“She is so busy,” Ida protested, shaking her head and rearranging the papers before her just to make herself seem more occupied. “She’s been working tirelessly since Ghert was arrested. She won’t want to take some time to talk, not with all she has going on.

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