Playing for the Commandant by Suzy Zail

Author:Suzy Zail [Zail, Suzy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6673-6
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2014-11-23T16:00:00+00:00

The commandant, Karl, and I were in the music room. Vera had been sent to the kitchen to make tea.

“What’s taking her so long?” the commandant grumbled. “For heaven’s sake, go see what the hold up is.”

I ran to the kitchen, turned into the doorway, and slumped to my knees. Vera was lying on the kitchen floor on a bed of shattered porcelain.

“Vera, what happened?” She looked like a broken doll. Limp tea leaves clung to her dress, and her scarf was slick with blood. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. I lifted her head from the floor.

“Vera, who did this to you?” Her eyes flickered toward the window. A guard was pacing the driveway, SS standard issue — cropped blond hair, hard blue eyes, crisp gray uniform — one of a dozen faceless guards who patrolled the grounds. I turned back to Vera.

“What happened?”

“He hit me, I fell backward . . .”

“But why?”

“I couldn’t . . .” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Hanna, I need you to do something.”

“Of course, Vera. Anything.” I reached up, pulled a rag from the bench, folded it, and slipped it under her head.

“I need you to . . .” Vera closed her eyes.

“What Vera? What do you need me to do?” I leaned down. I was so close, I could feel her lips brush the tip of my ear.

“I need you to take over the laundry shift. Tell Karl I said it was okay.” She let out a thin cry. “It hurts.”

“You’re going to be okay,” I said. What I wanted to say was, Please don’t die. And then Karl walked in. “She needs help. Please. Get some help.”

“What happened?” Karl asked without looking at me.

“Yes. What happened?” the commandant echoed, stepping into the room. I looked through the window at the guard, who was now seated on a bench, his head in his hands. It was safer not to accuse anyone and let the commandant work it out.

“Klaus!” the commandant hollered, stepping outside.

“Please. She needs a doctor.” I turned to Karl. He was watching his father guiding the guard back into the house.

“I’ll put a phone call through to Lagerführerin Holzman.” The commandant stepped over Vera as he spoke to Klaus. “She’ll arrange a replacement. Let’s hope she’s better at making tea.” He looked down at Vera, sprawled on the floor.

“Father, shouldn’t she be seen to? Your physician isn’t far. . . .”

The commandant looked at his son. “Dr. Huber has better things to do,” he began, “but perhaps you’re right.” He stopped to consider his son’s suggestion. “She mustn’t die here. Too messy. Klaus, take her back to Birkenau.” And then he stalked out.

The soldier pulled Vera to her feet and dragged her outside.

“Wait!” I called after Karl as he turned to leave. “I have a message from Vera.” I held my breath. Karl swung around to face me. “She asked me to do the laundry shift. She said to tell you it was okay.”

He looked past me to the window.

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