Flight

by Vanessa Harbour

  ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ she snapped back. Then she thought better of it and lowered her voice. ‘I double-checked that no one was following me. I even went back on myself a few times to make sure. And I rode all over your tracks so no one could follow you.’

  Herr Engel looked surprised. ‘Hmm.’ He moved over to Pluto and patted his neck. ‘He looks all right. I thought we’d never see him again.’

  ‘Don’t worry, you don’t need to thank me.’

  Herr Engel ignored her. ‘Where’s his tack?’

  ‘I took it off and threw it in the river. I can’t ride with it.’

  ‘Threw it in the river!’ he shouted.

  ‘I thought you’d rather I did that than the Germans find it.’ She was rubbing Pluto’s neck the whole time.

  Jakob was impressed by her spirit. Now she was out in the clearing he could see her properly. She looked a bit shorter than him; her hair was dark and cut very short like a boy’s. She was wearing boy’s clothes which made her look younger than she was at first glance. She must be about his age, he thought.

  Herr Engel noticed her makeshift bridle. ‘You’re Roma?’ It sounded almost an accusation.

  The girl nodded. ‘So?’ She held her head up high.

  Jakob wondered if she was bracing herself for abuse because he saw her relax when Herr Engel put his gun down and said, ‘Pull your weight and you can stay. Hungry?’

  ‘Yes.’ Her voice was a hoarse whisper, heavy with emotion. The eyes Jakob had stared into only a couple of nights before were full of tears.

  ‘Get down and put him to rest with the others. Once you’ve done that, build the fire with Jakob.’

  Herr Engel hadn’t bothered with any pleasantries so Jakob tried. ‘Do you have a name?’ he asked.

  ‘Kizzy.’

  ‘I’m Jakob.’ He pointed at his guardian. ‘That’s Herr Engel.’

  ‘I know.’ She dismounted and led Pluto down to the river.

  Jakob was intrigued. ‘How do you know?’

  ‘I’ve been watching you for a while.’ She turned to him. ‘I saw Bauer murder your horse. The one you used to practise dancing with.’

  Herr Engel raised an eyebrow.

  Jakob looked away. He didn’t want to remember.

  ‘What’s the matter with that horse?’ Kizzy pointed at Raluca. ‘He’s lame.’

  Jakob shook the image of Allegra’s blood-splattered beautiful head out of his mind. ‘He had a thorn in his leg.’

  The girl knelt down by the stallion’s knee. ‘It’s infected.’

  ‘I know, but we forgot the medicine so we can’t treat it.’

  Kizzy gently stroked the horse’s leg and Raluca nuzzled her head, his ears flicking to and fro. ‘I can help. Wait here.’ She hurried off into the woods.

  ‘Why’s she run off?’ asked Herr Engel.

  ‘She’s going to help Raluca, apparently.’ Jakob dragged his hand through his hair.

  ‘You all right?’

  Jakob shrugged, ‘Yes, just tired.’

  Kizzy came back into the clearing. ‘I need to boil these up so I can make a poultice.’ In her hand was a collection of what looked like weeds.

  ‘What are those?’

  ‘Only herbs, nothing dangerous, I promise. But they’ll draw out the poison.’

  Herr Engel looked closely, then nodded. ‘Jakob, get some water.’

  He did as he was told, then sat and watched as the girl boiled up the herbs before she ground them to a paste with a stone.

  ‘I need something I can use as a bandage.’

  ‘Use one of my shirts,’ said Jakob. He went over to his bag and pulled one out, taking care not to dislodge his treasures. Pulling at the shirt, he ripped it into strips and handed them over.

  Kizzy spread the paste on Raluca’s leg before wrapping it with the torn shirt, tying it into a knot. She stood up and put her hands on her hips. ‘There, by tonight the poison should be out.’

  ‘Now eat,’ said Herr Engel. Jakob hadn’t noticed he’d been cooking while he’d been watching Kizzy.

  They all sat and consumed a bread roll and some reheated smoked meat with potatoes. It felt like a feast. Herr Engel even made some hot chocolate.

  ‘Don’t expect this every night. Not with three mouths to feed.’ Herr Engel stared pointedly at Kizzy. ‘Our provisions won’t last long.’

  Jakob realised how exhausted he looked. The girl – deliberately or not, he wasn’t sure – ignored the implication. ‘I can always hunt.’

  His guardian shook his head before taking the last gulp of his hot chocolate. He stood up. ‘Hurry up, we need to rest now. We ride up to the mountains tonight.’

  Jakob found a flattish bit of grassy ground. Wrapping his blanket round himself, he lay down. It smelt of horses and tobacco. The others had found their own places to sleep. Looking up to the sky, he watched birds swooping and dancing above him. The farm and the stables seemed a long time ago. He sighed deeply, his eyelids drooping.

  Kizzy’s quiet voice joined the birdsong. ‘Where are we going?’

  Chapter 8

  Herr Engel shook Jakob. ‘Oi, we need to think about making a move. Check Raluca’s leg.’

  He groaned as he rolled out of his blanket, sleep still sticking his eyes shut. ‘What time is it?’ he asked.

  ‘About four,’ said Herr Engel.

  ‘In the afternoon?’

  ‘Uh huh!’

  ‘Argh, my body’s so confused!’ Jakob sat with his head in his hands.

  His guardian ignored his moaning. ‘This way we have time to eat and sort the horses in the daylight.’

  Jakob looked across the fire. ‘Where’s Kizzy?’

  Engel followed his gaze. ‘How would I know?’ He growled, ‘Roma never stay anywhere for long. Thought she’d manage at least one day with us though.’ He shook his head.

  Jakob stretched, trying to click his back into place. Lying on the ground had been very hard and cold. He’d missed his bed. ‘She’ll be back.’ He walked over to Raluca.

  ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’

  The stallion was pleased to see Jakob. He pushed the boy with his head.

  ‘How are you doing?’ He rubbed Raluca’s neck under his long mane. The hair was still warm and soft. ‘Your breathing’s a lot calmer. You’re even standing properly.’ All positive signs, he was sure.

  The stallion lifted his front leg.

  ‘Ha! Are you showing me it’s better?’ He held the leg briefly. ‘Steady on, lad, we need to let Herr Engel look at it.’

  His guardian undid the bandage. In amongst the herb poultice, there was a lot of pus on the bandages.

  ‘Ewww. That’s horrible.’

  Herr Engel looked up. ‘Better on there than in his leg. Take him to the river and wash the leg, please.’

  Jakob led him down into the water and stood in the shallows. The river meandered slowly past them. Raluca lifted the leg again, allowing him to splash cool water over it. He let his hand run down the leg. ‘There’s no swelling. It seems to have gone down and isn’t so hot.’ Engel came over to double-check.

  ‘Of course it’s fine. Told you it would be.’ They looked towards the voice.

  Kizzy came along the riverbank carrying three fish and a mass of mushrooms. ‘Hungry? I went fishing.’

  ‘Told you,’ said Jakob to Herr Engel.

  Kizzy looked confused. ‘Told him what?’

  ‘Nothing,’ said Engel, giving Jakob a look he knew too well. Time to shut up. ‘The poultice did a good job. You must teach me what you put in it.’

  Kizzy shrugged. ‘It’s only a few herbs. Shall I get the fish ready?’

  Herr Engel moved back towards the fire. ‘Yes, you should, now you’re back. I’ll get this going properly again. Jakob, get more wood when you’ve finished with Raluca. I want to build it up.’

  Jakob led the horse back out of the river and left him to graze. Wandering into the wood, he picked up small logs and twigs. Snapping the longer branches in
two, he piled them up in his arms. As he decided to go back, there was the terrifying chit-chat of a machine gun.

  He raced back to the clearing, expecting the worst. ‘Are you all right?’ he panted, trying to catch his breath.

  Kizzy sat by the river, seemingly unperturbed. ‘Yes?’ She hung a half-gutted fish in the air. ‘You hungry?’

  Jakob ignored her question. ‘But the gunfire?’ He threw the logs down, feeling a little stupid. He knew his face had gone red.

  ‘Stop panicking.’ Herr Engel picked up some of the logs and put them on the fire. ‘It’s a long way off.’

  ‘But it sounded so close.’ Jakob moved near to his guardian and whispered, ‘I thought it might’ve been Bauer killing the horses.’ He realised as he said it how ridiculous he sounded, but it was too late. The words had fallen out of his mouth.

  Herr Engel took hold of Jakob’s elbow and led him to one side. ‘It’s the mountains and the valley,’ he whispered. ‘They make the sounds roll around: a trick of nature. Forget about Bauer. He’d have found us by now if he wanted to, I’m sure.’ He squeezed Jakob’s elbow once and walked away, leaving him there, his heart still thumping.

  ‘All right then,’ he said quietly.

  Kizzy was busy chopping the mushrooms she’d foraged, oblivious.

  Jakob shoved his hands into his pockets and went off to check on the horses. Raluca nudged at his arm. He slipped his hand back out and the horse nuzzled it, flicking his tail lightly. The stallion mouthed at the palm of his hand with his soft lips.

  ‘Hello, boy. I miss your mate.’ The stallion’s ears flicked to and fro as he listened. Jakob’s throat was dry, and he swallowed hard. ‘I know you’re doing your best, but Allegra understood me.’

  The horse pushed into him, almost knocking him over.

  ‘Hey, what’re you doing?’

  The horse did it again.

  ‘All right, I get the message. You do understand me. I’ll stop whingeing.’

  This time Raluca rested his muzzle back on Jakob’s hand and blew softly. Jakob laughed.

  ‘Come and eat,’ shouted Kizzy. ‘It’s all done.’

  Jakob sat by the fire.

  ‘You all right?’ asked Herr Engel.

  He felt his face flush again. ‘Yes, Raluca told me off.’

  ‘Ah, so you’re listening to the horses now. We’ll make a horse whisperer of you yet,’ laughed his guardian. He handed him a plate. ‘Eat!’

  Jakob ate quickly, overcome with hunger. Only when he finished did he look up to see Kizzy staring at him strangely.

  ‘Are you really a Jew? Or did you just say that to get me to come here?’

  Jakob was taken aback. He looked across at Herr Engel, who shrugged. Sitting up straight, he automatically looked around to make sure no one could hear. ‘Yes, I’m Jewish.’

  The girl pulled a face. ‘You don’t behave or look like a Jew.’

  Jakob frowned in confusion. ‘I can’t exactly behave like one anymore, can I, and what are we supposed to look like?’ He didn’t understand what she was getting at.

  ‘I don’t know, but you don’t look like it.’ She picked at her food.

  Herr Engel slapped his leg. ‘Daft girl, of course he’s a Jew.’

  ‘But you’re not.’

  His guardian shook his head. ‘No, I’m not. So?’

  ‘How come he’s here with you?’

  Herr Engel leant forward, tapping his coffee mug against his plate. ‘It’s a long story. Goodness knows how he got to us without being caught. I found him hiding in with Allegra. Normally Allegra would only let me into his stall, but he was quite happy to have this young lad in there. The stallion protected Jakob. I knew he must be a good boy.’

  ‘At the farm?’ asked Kizzy.

  ‘No, back in Vienna,’ Jakob explained. ‘My father’s a doctor and my mother worked with him as a nurse. He was putting a plan together for getting us out but things didn’t work quickly enough. When the Germans first came, we had to move out of our big apartment in Leopoldstadt into one room. Mother wasn’t happy because other people soon moved into our big flat, but at least we were still together. Lots of people weren’t.’

  ‘Go on,’ said Kizzy. She was like a terrier with a bone. He took a deep breath and poked at the ground with a stick.

  ‘On the 9th of November – I know it was the 9th because it was two days after my seventh birthday – there was trouble outside. We could hear glass being smashed and screaming. The smell of smoke came in through the window, so we all huddled together, until Herr Klein, the bookseller from down the road, came banging on the door. He told my father lots of people were hurt and needed his help. Of course my father didn’t hesitate, he always helped people, so he ran out, his coat flying behind him and his bag in his hand. He shouted back at us, “See you in a bit, stay safe.” I never saw him again.’

  Jakob gulped and paused. He tried to remember what they sounded like. He screwed his eyes shut but their laughter still wouldn’t come back to him. The only laughter in his memory now was Herr Engel’s, and that was rare.

  Kizzy coughed, urging him on. He shook his head.

  ‘It got late and he still hadn’t come back and Mother was getting fidgety, pacing around the room. The shouting, screaming and glass smashing were getting far worse. It wasn’t long before she grabbed her nurse’s bag and ran out too. She promised she’d find him and they’d both be back. She told me not to open the door to anyone. So I hid under my bed, read by torchlight to pass the time, and tried not to hear what was going on outside.’ He could feel his heart racing as he remembered. He took a sip of coffee, trying to compose himself. It tasted pretty awful.

  ‘Neither of them came back. I stayed there for a few days, but when the food ran out, and I could hear people being taken away, I panicked.’ Jakob took a deep breath, brushing his face with his arm. ‘I looked for them but I couldn’t find them anywhere. The Nazis seemed to have spirited them away. I didn’t know what to do. So I ran to the one place I had always felt safe and happy when my parents had taken me there. I went across the canal to Michaelerplatz and to the Spanish Riding School. I sneaked into the stalls with the horses.’

  Herr Engel nodded. ‘The Director at the time wasn’t too happy initially, but I told him it’d be fine, I’d look after him, and I did. Jakob did odd jobs and worked with the horses, hidden from sight. But it was very dangerous, we nearly got caught several times.’

  ‘Yes, the last time I had to dive into the dung heap to stop being found. It wasn’t fun!’

  Kizzy half-laughed.

  ‘That’s when Director Podhaisk sent us away. Most people didn’t know I was there. At the new place I could really look after the horses.’

  Herr Engel interrupted him, ‘And do your classes.’

  He smiled. ‘And do my classes. He’s strict about education. I’m the best educated groom around.’

  ‘That’s because it’s important, that’s why,’ said his guardian.

  Jakob took a last mouthful of food. ‘Now do you believe me?’

  Kizzy put her head to one side. ‘Maybe. Where are your parents?’

  Jakob gazed up at the sky. A swallow soared by, free. He shrugged his shoulders. ‘No idea. Dead?’ What was he supposed to say!

  Herr Engel shook his head and got up, touching Jakob’s shoulder as he walked by. ‘Enough! It’s the past. We need to focus on where we’re going. Let’s pack up. I want to get started as soon as the sun goes down.’ He threw the dregs of his coffee on the fire.

  Chapter 9

  All three of them scrutinised the map.

  ‘Can’t we go along there?’ asked Kizzy, her finger tracing the line of a road nearby.

  ‘No,’ Herr Engel said. ‘Too dangerous. I reckon it’ll be full of checkpoints.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Kizzy stared straight at Engel.

  ‘No,’ Engel barked back. ‘But do you, a Roma girl, want to take the risk?’ He jabbed his finger at her.

  Kizzy look
ed away. ‘I only asked.’ She pulled at her sweater. Jakob almost felt sorry for her but not quite.

  ‘Well, don’t. Unless you want to take over the planning?’

  Her face flamed red. She chewed the side of her nails.

  ‘Right, I’ll continue then, shall I?’ Herr Engel pointed at the route on the map. ‘I think we should try this way. It goes further along the river and then over the mountain, before we dip down the other side. That’s where our next resting place is.’

  Jakob sighed. It appeared a very long way. The mountains looked pretty insurmountable too. Were they going to be able to do this?

  Not wanting to think about it, he concentrated on the map. A town smudged by a crease caught his eye. Should he say something? Herr Engel was already in such a bad mood but…

  ‘Are we following the river again?’ he asked.

  ‘For God’s sake, yes,’ said Herr Engel through gritted teeth. The enormity of it all appeared to weigh heavy on him too. ‘Weren’t you listening?’

  Jakob ploughed on, ‘Yes … sorry, it’s just … look.’ He pointed to the smudge by the river. ‘Aren’t we going to be a bit close to that town?’ He leant in. ‘Leizmann?’