Nobody's Child by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Author:Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn

CHAPTER NINE

“Hurry!” cried Miss Younger as they stumbled through the outer gates of the orphanage complex. “I was afraid you would never get back here.”

The foursome had managed to convince six urchins from the street to come with them as they rushed through the winding streets back to the orphanage. One little boy had stumbled and fallen, and Kevork had picked him up and carried him most of the way in his arms. Marta had two little girls — each holding one of her hands — and Mariam carried a toddler. Anna carried the younger sister of an eight-year-old boy who followed close by her heels.

Miss Younger pushed them all inside and then locked the gate behind them. Mariam was taken aback by the wild look in her eyes. “The deportations have started,” Miss Younger said. “And not just the men.”

The statement hit Mariam like a blow. It explained what happened to Anahid Baji, Ovsanna, and the children. And it explained what Marta had seen in the distance. She set the toddler down and clutched onto her sister’s shoulder so she wouldn’t fall.

“The orphanage has been given notice that all of the Armenian adults on staff will be deported.”

“You cannot let that happen,” said Mariam.

“I have no choice,” replied Miss Younger. “Death is the penalty for hiding an Armenian adult.”

“What about the children?” asked Mariam.

“The mayor has assured me that as long as we cooperate with the Turkish army officials tomorrow, the children will not be harmed.”

“Thank God,” said Mariam.

“However,” continued Miss Younger, “we must all assemble in the courtyard tomorrow at dawn, bags packed, and ready for further instruction.”

“Even the children?” asked Mariam.

“Yes.”

Aunt Anna could see the fear forming in the eyes of the urchins who had followed them into the orphanage complex for safety. “Come with me,” she said, pasting a brave smile on her face. “I will get you some hot soup, and then a bath and clean clothing.”

As she herded the new children towards the kitchen, she turned her head towards Kevork. “You and Marta and Mariam must prepare for tomorrow. Go.”

Miss Younger followed Anna, carrying the toddler. Mariam, Kevork, and Marta were left standing just inside the locked gate.

“What shall we do?” asked Mariam, a look of desperation in her eyes. “Will the Turks consider us children or adults?”

Kevork didn’t want to say it out loud, but he was certain that they would all be considered adults. And while his father was killed by the Turkish army, there were worse things that could happen to women.

“If we can stay together, we have more chance of surviving,” said Kevork.

“The Turks will separate the sexes,” said Mariam. “That is a certainty.”

“Then either I must disguise myself as a woman, or you two must dress as boys,” said Kevork, “but we must stay together.”

Mariam regarded Kevork’s height, muscular shoulders, and bristled face. “You would make a singularly unconvincing girl.”

Kevork looked from Mariam to Marta and had similar concerns. Marta was tall and solid, and her face was more handsome than pretty.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.