The Lily of the Sky by Terrance Williamson

Author:Terrance Williamson [Williamson, Terrance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Gladiator

“Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.”

Seneca

December 25, 1942

Lily sat at the table in the main area of their little bunker, sewing repairs into her jacket. A piece of shrapnel from an anti-aircraft gun had ripped it, nearly missing her shoulder and again reminding Lily of her incredible aptitude for luck.

Ina and Katya were also sitting with her in the bunker as they wrote letters home or took a moment of quiet reflection to read while listening to the radio.

Swan Lake was playing, and Lily relished in the soft strings, imagining the refined movements of the ballerina.

Suddenly, the music on the radio dimmed, and Lily turned to pay attention as this usually indicated an announcement was incoming.

“Yesterday, Soviet tanks broke through the German defenses and have taken the Tatsinskaya Airfield,” the broadcast began.

“That’s good news!” Kayta threw her lips upside down in surprise.

“The Soviet 62nd Army has retaken the Red October factory in Stalingrad,” the announcer continued.

“More good news.” Ina looked brightly at Katya.

“The following is an address by Pope Pius XII for the Christmas address.”

“Odd that they would allow a religious broadcast.” Katya frowned. “Especially for a Western Christmas.”

The voice of the Pope began over the radio, but Lily couldn’t detect what language he was speaking and looked at the other girls in confusion before asking, “Can you understand him?”

A moment later, a translator began speaking over the Pope’s words, and Lily and the girls giggled at her impatience.

“Humanity owes this vow to those hundreds of thousands who, without any fault on their part, sometimes only because of their nationality or race, have been marked down for death or gradual extinction.”

“He sounds sad.” Katya stared at the radio.

“What’s he talking about?” Lily squinted.

“Probably how the Nazis are treating the Jews, or how they’re treating the Poles, or how they’re treating just about anyone they have deemed as inferior or subhuman,” Ina explained.

“Why doesn’t he say that then?” Lily pressed.

“He needs to stay neutral.” Ina shrugged.

“Why do they celebrate Christmas early?” Katya asked with a frown.

“They follow the Gregorian calendar. The orthodox follow the Julian calendar,” Ina continued dryly.

“How do you know so much about this?” Lily looked at Ina suspiciously.

“I enjoy the subject.” Ina leaned back and crossed her arms. “I find it a shame that our Soviet policy banned Christmas as a religious holiday. We never treated it in that manner. I miss decorating the tree or gathering by the warm fire with my family while my father read stories.”

A knock came to the door of the bunker, and Ina and Katya both glanced at Lily.

“What?” Lily shrugged.

“Everyone knows who it is.” Katya rolled her eyes.

The knock came again as Alexei called through the steel door, “It’s cold out here!”

“Lucky guess.” Lily offered glares at the ladies as she walked over to the bunker door and opened it to find a shivering Alexei with a package in his hand.

“What’s this?” Lily asked as he handed it to her.

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