The Fortunate Ones by Catherine Hokin

Author:Catherine Hokin [Hokin, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838881177
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-01-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

March to September 1945

Why does it matter? You’re going where I say.

His tone had been one of utter indifference. Inge sat perfectly still as the Mercedes pulled away. She had to stay calm, focus on where they were going. If she knew the route, perhaps she could find a place to escape. Max had said the window of time was closing. Surely any corridor they could run down was closing too?

The BBC broadcasts had spelled out the war’s progress: the Allies were advancing west through France and Belgium and up from the southern tip of Italy; the Red Army was swarming through eastern Prussia. The two prongs had Germany caught like a mouse between pouncing cats and the final bite was a matter of when, not if. To make matters worse, there were rumours of more heavy bombing raids to come across the Rhine and the Ruhr. Inge couldn’t imagine a place they could go that wasn’t under some kind of siege.

She knew the car had turned south, taking them through the cobbled streets of a still sleeping Oranienburg. Now there were flashes of green that suggested they were driving through countryside, not into the city. At a guess, that meant they were skirting Berlin to the west, on the far side of the river Havel. That route would make sense. The roads in that direction were less likely to be bomb-damaged or used for troop movements. They were also roads that ran easily back to Berlin. All she needed was one chance.

She tried. When they reached the edge of a sprawling forest, she begged for a break, complaining of an aching bladder. Max was one step ahead of her.

‘Go with her.’

Heinz marched her to the treeline and stood guard while her face burned.

‘At least have the manners to turn your back.’

She managed quite a sprint before Heinz’s fingers grabbed hold of her hair and dragged her to her knees.

‘Hold her still.’

Max aimed the blow well. It hit the side of her head and rattled through her cheekbones.

‘I know how to do this, Inge. It won’t harm the child, but it will hurt you. Don’t test me.’

She would rather try to bolt from the car when it was moving than go through that humiliation again.

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