Jacob's Oath: A Novel by Martin Fletcher

Author:Martin Fletcher [Fletcher, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Thrillers, Jewish, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781250027603
Google: 6dXfsnvHAYoC
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2013-10-08T05:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

Heidelberg,

May 26, 1945

Jacob stared at the closed door in disbelief. No. No! What an idiot! Why did he say no? What did he actually say? “Oh, uh, that’s all right, you go first.” What a cretin! “Oh, uh…” And then he’d closed the door.

In her face. She’d never forgive him. That was it, he had had the chance, and he’d blown it. She’ll be hurt, insulted, who wouldn’t be? She’ll think I don’t really like her, not in that way, but like a brother. My sister knew your sister. You nincompoop!

Would you like to have a bath with me? Yes. Yes! A thousand times, yes!

Jacob backed away like a supplicant in a Turkish court, never taking his eyes from the shut door, and fell onto the bed.

Get up, you moron. Knock on the door, say you’ve changed your mind, yes please, actually you would like to share a bath after all. Do it, you cretin! Get up. Take your life in your hands for once. Don’t be a victim anymore. She’s waiting for you. She’s insulted you didn’t jump on her and hug her and kiss her, that’s what she wants.

That’s what you want.

Oh, so much.

Jacob lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. What’s wrong with you! Shy? He sighed at the memory of washing Sarah, her surrender in her weakness. The calm thrill of her silky skin, oily with soap. The gentle undulations of her sleek, firm body.

And now, shy? Is that it? You infant.

Or afraid. Of what?

You know what.

In the camp nudity had been so commonplace it had no meaning, no value, it was more a sign of bestiality and cruelty and abuse than anything else. There was no such thing as beauty there, just pathos and pity. There it was better for a girl to hide her beauty, for it would only lead to immediate violent rape. There girls rubbed dirt into their hair and faces, not that they needed to, hunched their shoulders to look flat, walked in feces to smell bad, anything to keep the beasts at bay.

He put his hands behind his head and sighed. The worst feeling was of being so helpless, so useless, so unmanned. But that was then and this is now. If I want one thing right now, he thought, it is to get up and open that door.

Not that it’ll do me much good. Or her.

Jacob tensed. His heart sped. He raised himself to one elbow and looked at the bathroom door. It began to open. How? he thought: How do I always sense things?

He heard Sarah say, “Now you listen to me.” She was standing naked in the doorway, dripping on the floor. His eyes popped. She had his full attention. “I have considered the matter, and I must make the following demand. You will take your clothes off and you will get into the bath with me. Now. Come along immediately. Be a good little boy.” With that she turned around, slowly, leaving the door wide open.

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