The Vines by Shelley Nolden

Author:Shelley Nolden [Shelley Nolden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Freiling Publishing
Published: 2021-01-12T23:18:50+00:00

November 1938

n the hallway outside the laboratory, Cora inhaled deeply to calm her nerves while keeping her gaze on the watch Otto had given her. Since his disappearance two years earlier, whenever she checked the time, a wave of sadness crashed down on her, quickly replaced by fear.

During Ulrich’s first week in charge, she’d arrived late to her long-standing weekly appointment. That night, he tied her to a chair and forced her to watch as he sadistically dissected Jeepers. Her eyelids held open by a pair of surgical sutures, tears streamed down her cheeks as he sliced the tabby like a melon. Aside from Mary, who was currently suffering from pneumonia, the cat was her only remaining friend. “Next time you’re late,” he said, “it’ll be a child.”

The dial reached twelve with a tick that seemed to reverberate down the corridor. Clutching the brown bag with her urine and stool samples, she inhaled and opened the door.

The stench and chittering of the rodents didn’t greet her as usual.

The hair on her arms rose; something was wrong.

“Stay in the hall,” Ulrich said without looking up from the carton he was sealing. Nor did he consult the clock.

Even more astounding to Cora: he wasn’t wearing protective gear. And the drawers of the file cabinets along one wall stood open and empty. The room smelled of musty paper instead of mouse droppings.

He’s leaving, she realized, and her heart pounded so hard she worried it might crack her sternum. “What’s going on?”

“The Fatherland needs me, but don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

She bit her lip to keep from screaming with joy.

As his praise of Hitler’s ideology had intensified, she’d fantasized about him joining the movement. During his first month on the island, she’d perceived his internal struggle to establish a sense of identity. Cora had understood exactly how he’d felt; she, too, didn’t know where she belonged. Seven years later, when Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, Ulrich swore his allegiance, and in doing so, found himself.

Five weeks ago, the Germans had marched into Sudetenland, and Ulrich’s gait had become almost a goose-stepping march. Yet, still, Cora hadn’t allowed herself to hope that his patriotism would translate into freedom for her.

He lifted the box and let it fall atop another with a thump.

All her lab reports were in those towers. Without them there would be nothing to show for the torture she’d endured. And any new—kinder—doctor she convinced to help her would be forced to start from scratch.

“Where are you taking those?”

Ulrich smiled and rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “They’re going with me to Germany.”

“They should stay,” she said, not daring to raise her gaze from the floor. “They’re mine.”

He made a tutting sound. “You know that’s not true. I’ll return, and we’ll pick up where we left off.”

“But what if you get killed?”

He laughed. “I’m sure you’ll pray for that to happen. Go ahead, beg that God of yours to drop a bomb on me. He didn’t listen to my father; why would he listen to you?”

Cora balled her hands.

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