The Botanist's Tracks (Beyond the Tracks Book 3) by Michael Reit

Author:Michael Reit [Reit, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Sabina was mindlessly sorting papers. The prisoners’ names registered only far enough to know where to file them. The table in front of her was littered with paper, and as she finished the last pile she stood up to cross the short distance to the cart across the room. Another clerk had parked it there an hour ago, wisely leaving the room without interrupting the women. Stacked on the cart were at least twenty large cardboard boxes containing the short files of the new arrivals. Sabina sighed; Tosia and she were running behind by a couple of days, and the full carts only seemed to increase in frequency.

“We’re never going to get a break, are we?” Tosia stood from her chair and stretched her arms out in front of her, then walked to the small coatrack next to the door. “I need some fresh air. Want to take a short walk?” She already had her coat on and was halfway out the door.

Sabina caught up with her in the hallway, quickly pulling on her own coat. They climbed the short flight of stairs to the first floor, greeting familiar faces as they made it through the hallway. Sabina’s legs felt a little stiff, and she was pleased Tosia had suggested the short break. Her head was a little fuzzy as well, and she looked forward to the cold September air.

The two women stepped outside and onto the small square in front of the building. The air was slightly warmer than in the morning, but it was chilly nonetheless. They passed a small fountain that was splashing cold water. Sabina looked up at the gray skies and wondered how long it would be before the first snow arrived.

“How about over there?” Tosia pointed at a wooden bench on the other side of the square, facing the municipal building. The women sat and Tosia took out a piece of chocolate. She broke it in half and handed one half to Sabina.

“Where did you get that?” Sabina held the chocolate in her hand. It was a rare treat she hadn’t seen for months. “Are you sure you want to share it?”

Tosia took a bite and smiled, closing her eyes. She was silent for a good ten seconds, savoring the bitter taste. Sabina did the same, taking only a nibble. The chocolate was sweeter than she’d expected given its dark color. It had a full taste, and it reminded her of home, of Rajsko, when her father would bring home bars of chocolate every Friday.

“One of my friends traded for this a while back, and he gave me a few pieces.”

“From the camp?”

“Yes. A lot of the new arrivals carry all sorts of treats. They’re forced to hand over their belongings, and that’s when the guards scoop up all the valuables. They hold all their ill-gotten bounty in a row of warehouses in the back of the camp. Some of the prisoners manage to smuggle a bit of food out, and use it to trade.

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