The Thirteenth Child: A World War 2 historical novel based upon an enthralling and heart-wrenching true story by Mark deMeza

Author:Mark deMeza [deMeza, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 04 Literature
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-24T04:00:00+00:00

It was around noon the following day when Walter made his way into the theater auditorium. He thought it was desperately sad to see this once-lovely space converted into a grim and ugly refugee camp. Immediately after a deportation, this area might be almost empty of people, but today, there were over two thousand registered, stretched out across the crimson velvet seats and plush carpeted aisles. The stench was so strong that he was obliged to hold his breath as he passed one of the five public toilets that served both as sanitation and a supply of fresh water.

To prevent escapes, the SS had screwed the windows shut, meaning that the only source of fresh air was via the small courtyard to the rear of the building, to which access was severely restricted. Its high walls were topped with barbed wire.

Nobody had given him a description of Wilhelm and Anna Schrijvers, so his only option was to walk among the refugees asking if they knew the couple. After a while, he found somebody who not only knew them but could pinpoint their whereabouts, in the space between the stage and the first row of seats.

They were a young couple in their late twenties. He had black hair and a bushy, imposing beard flecked with gray. She had delicate features and striking, pale-blue eyes. According to the register, they and their two-year-old son had been rounded up two days ago, which explained why their clothing was relatively clean and their disposition positive.

“Wilhelm and Anna Schrijvers?” he asked as he approached.

“Yes,” they replied together.

“Do you have a son called Willy?” he asked.

“Oh my God! What’s happened to Willy?” the mother shrieked.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with Willy.” Walter raised his palms to calm them. “I need to speak with you. In complete confidence. You must promise not to talk to a living soul about what I’m going to tell you.” He knew this was a promise very few people could realistically make. The SS had a nasty habit of making people divulge their secrets.

They nodded.

“I believe we can smuggle Willy out of the day-care center. To a safe house in the country.”

“That’s unbelievable news!” Anna said.

“To do this, I need your permission,” he added. “We’ll remove his name from the registration records and provide him with forged ID.”

“Of course! Of course!” Wilhelm consented.

Walter sensed a cloying, tightening feeling in his guts. His heart was pounding so loudly that he thought it might echo around the auditorium.

“We must act quickly. This evening or tomorrow,” he urged.

“So when do we leave?” Anna inquired.

“I’m afraid it’s only Willy who will be able to leave.” He grimaced. “We can help children escape from the day-care center, but not adults from the theater.”

Walter watched as reality dawned on the young parents’ faces, the transformation of their elation into disappointment, then despair.

“So we’ll be forced to part from our beloved son, our only child?” she demanded, pausing as the truth dawned on her. “Perhaps forever? I can’t do that!” She buried her head in her husband’s jacket and sobbed violently.

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