Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Author:Jennifer A. Nielsen [A. Nielsen, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2018-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

February 19, 1943

Road to Warsaw

We had a particularly bright moon tonight, and it was a little warmer than before, a whisper of spring in the air. We walked farther and faster than usual before we finally decided to take shelter in a barn similar to the one where we stayed days ago. The nearby home looked abandoned, and no animals were in or around the barn. It should be a good shelter. As always, I checked for all possible exits before settling in for the night. There were doors on both the front and back of the barn, and in the loft above, a rope dangled from a hook and extended almost to the ground.

“Let’s sleep up there,” Esther suggested. “There’s more hay for warmth and then if we need to look out and see if anyone is coming, we’ll have a better view.”

It was a good suggestion, though by now, I was beyond exhausted. I would’ve gladly slept on thorns if that was all we had.

Once we were folded beneath warm layers of hay, we faced each other with the radio between us and turned the volume low. The broadcast hissed out the same propaganda as before, all the victories the Axis powers were enjoying, how their areas of control were expanding, and how the Allied forces were certain to crumble any day now. I didn’t know how much of it was true, and I was careful to explain that to Esther as I translated.

Then my ears pricked up as Warsaw was mentioned. I stopped translating.

The broadcaster said, “German forces are preparing for a massive assault on the Jewish Quarter in Warsaw, following resistance during a resettlement campaign last month. Military leaders have promised a fierce response to the Jewish bandits and have assured the Führer that all resistance movements within the General Government will be crushed. The White Rose Movement …”

“What are they saying?” Esther asked. “I heard them mention Warsaw.”

I switched off the radio. “It’s nothing we don’t already know. Let’s go to sleep.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“What aren’t you telling me?” I was tired after a long day of walking, and irritable after hearing news about the deathtrap I’d walk into within the next few days. Still, I softened my voice to add, “Where’d you come from before joining us in Krakow? What’s your story?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it, then rolled away from me. “You’re right, Chaya. Let’s go to sleep.”

Truly irritated now, I rolled away too and fell asleep immediately, only waking up an hour or two later when I heard noises from below. “Esther?”

She called up. “I needed a bathroom break. Everything’s … wait!”

The sounds were coming from outside the barn. A crunch of snow, spaced evenly apart. Calculated, timed steps.

Faint light seeped in through the barn slats, though I thought it was still predawn. It might be an animal. I hoped it was an animal.

But I didn’t think so.

I wanted to tell Esther to hide, but as quiet as this early morning was, I didn’t dare make another sound.

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