Flight

by Vanessa Harbour

  Propped up on several pillows was a frail old man. Jakob didn’t recognise him immediately. His skin was still parchment-coloured and his eyes sunken, but at the sight of Jakob he smiled. His eyes sparkled silver.

  ‘Good to see you. Are you better? They said you knocked yourself out when you fell.’

  Kizzy slipped out, leaving the two together, closing the door carefully after her.

  ‘Apparently I slept for two days. I don’t remember it. Are you all right?’

  Heinz stared down at the bump in his sheet. ‘They’ve put a cage over my leg. Hurts like hell but it’ll get better.’

  ‘Kizzy says the horses are well.’

  ‘Yes. I think the Director is more worried about the mares now.’

  ‘Why? Where are they?’ Jakob gazed out of the window. The sun was high in a clear blue sky. Beneath him was a stable yard. He saw a uniformed man leading a stallion across the yard.

  ‘Don’t you remember the Führer took all the mares and now the Russians are heading their way?’ Heinz tried to ease himself further up on his pillows.

  ‘Yes of course, will the Germans let us get them?’

  ‘No chance. The Russkies will probably eat them before we get there.’

  Jakob swung round. ‘That’s awful. We rescue our horses only to find the others are in just as much trouble?’

  ‘That’s war for you.’ Heinz closed his eyes. Jakob turned back to watching the horses, lost in despair. Had saving their stallions been a waste of time when the mares were in such danger? Perhaps they could save the others too? Behind him his guardian started to snore softly.

  Chapter 18

  Two days later, Jakob was in the huge kitchen of the Schloss, sitting at the long table, with Kizzy, the Director, his wife, the Countess who owned the Schloss and various other people from the Riding School. He’d been trying to learn their names, but he’d never been very good at that. He kept quiet, watching everyone as they had breakfast. Kizzy, on the other hand, was at the centre of the conversation, as always. He smiled while she regaled them once again with the story of how they’d built the sled and saved Heinz’s life. It seemed to get more elaborate and dangerous every time she told it.

  The smell of warm bread rolls wafted around. Taking a sip of coffee, he glanced across at the Director. Should he ask him if he could ride? He took a bite out of his bread roll, the sweet plum-flavoured powidl dribbling down his chin. Jakob scooped up the escaped jam with his tongue, hoping no one had noticed. Two days of taking it easy was long enough for anyone. He’d had enough of mucking out and cleaning tack.

  ‘Jakob, I think you’re well enough to ride today. I want you to exercise Raluca and Pluto after you’ve mucked out the stables. Nothing testing, just a walk round; stretch their legs gently after that long journey.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ He grinned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kizzy sitting up straight, waiting to be told what to do too. Instead the Director pushed his chair back, stood up, drained his coffee cup and went to leave the kitchen.

  ‘What about me?’ Kizzy’s eyes sparked.

  Jakob held his breath as a flicker of annoyance flitted across the Director’s face. He stared directly at her. ‘Oh yes, you. I forgot about you,’ he sighed. ‘You can clean the tack. Make sure it’s done properly.’ He marched out without a backwards glance.

  Kizzy looked across at Jakob. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ She threw her arms wide.

  Jakob rubbed his face. He knew how tough it was for Kizzy. It couldn’t be easy having lived on your own for so long and done everything for yourself to then find people telling you what you can and can’t do, but he didn’t know how to help her.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry, dear. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. We can find a little job for you in the house if you’d rather,’ said Frau Podhajsky, smiling and patting her arm, missing the point totally.

  Kizzy pushed back her chair with a screech and stormed out.

  ‘Ah, I don’t think she liked your idea,’ the immaculate Countess noted, half smiling as she sipped her coffee. She appeared quite dainty, her dark curly hair peppered with grey. Jakob had heard tales of her escapades throughout the war. The fragile appearance belied the hard woman inside. She didn’t suffer fools.

  Jakob shook his head. ‘I’d better go after her.’

  ‘You’re a good friend, Jakob,’ the Countess said to his back.

  He found Kizzy in the stalls, shovelling muck hard and fast. There was a smell of sweet hay and dung. The stallions shifted in their stalls, nickering a welcome, but for once Jakob paid little attention. He knew he needed to help his friend.

  ‘So it’s all right for me to ride the stallions to bring them here? But now I’m supposed to be some girl who just cleans the tack, if that? It’s not fair.’ She stabbed the fork into the straw.

  Jakob grabbed her arm. ‘Stop! Irritating him will not help. The Director’s old fashioned. We just have to win him round.’ He hesitated, because he knew what he was going to suggest wouldn’t do that either but…

  He took a deep breath. ‘Why don’t you come with me when I ride?’ What was he saying? He couldn’t believe those words had just fallen out of his mouth.

  ‘But the Director didn’t say…’

  Jakob peered around, hoping no one had heard him. ‘He might not have said you could, but he didn’t actually say you couldn’t, did he?’ He grinned at Kizzy, whose eyes lit up. She couldn’t see the knot of panic in his stomach. But it had made her happy. He had never felt so torn.

  ‘Come on then, lazy bones. We better get moving.’ Kizzy bounced across the stall.

  Jakob rolled his eyes. How could she swing from one mood to another so quickly?

  An hour or so later they’d finished the mucking out.

  ‘Hello, Raluca.’ He patted the stallion’s neck before he slipped his bridle on. ‘Ready for a walk?’ He leant into the horse and rubbed the stallion’s neck. ‘Stay there while I tack Pluto up for Kizzy.’

  But before he could do anything, he saw her riding the stallion bareback out of the stall.

  ‘Do you ever ride with a saddle?’ He peered out of the yard, checking the Director wasn’t around. That lump of guilt sat heavy on him. He picked Raluca’s reins up and led him out into the sunlight.

  ‘No, can’t see the point.’

  Jakob mounted Raluca. The two children rode out of the yard, heading towards the fields.

  Leaning against the gate was a tall, unshaven man with a cigarette hanging from his lips. His hair hung down, limp and greasy. A heavy coat swamped him. He looked up at the noise. There was a spark of recognition in the man’s eyes. The refugees who were staying in the grounds of the Schloss had warned them about a man hanging round, Wilhelm Faber, a troublemaker. Some said he came from Ukraine, others said Germany. Everyone told Jakob to keep out of his way. From their description this must be him. Fear rippled through Jakob’s body.

  Faber stared at them as they rode by, puffing at his cigarette. ‘Riding bareback, I see. Once a Roma always a Roma.’ He smirked, then spat at them. A large globule landed on Pluto’s rump.

  Kizzy snapped round, her eyes flashing.

  ‘Don’t…’ Jakob reached across and touched her arm. ‘That’s exactly what he wants you to do. Don’t give him the pleasure.’

  She huffed but looked away, moving Pluto into a trot.

  ‘Keep him walking, the Director said,’ he shouted, but Kizzy ignored him.

  ‘Yeah, listen to your little Jew friend,’ snorted Faber.

  Jakob’s heart missed a beat. How did he know that?

  ‘Reckon there’s money to be made here. She won’t be so cocky soon enough,’ he shouted, before he stalked off.

  Pluto’s hooves clattered on the road as Kizzy rode off towards the field. Jakob looked behind, checking no one else was watching.

  A gentle breeze blew through his hair and the sun beat down on his back. It felt so good to be on Raluca, who responded to the lightest touch. He sat deep in the sa
ddle. The war and the Nazis could have been a million worlds away.

  When the stallions reached the field, they both danced around, skittish in the spring sun. Frothy clouds raced above them. Kizzy and Jakob laughed as the horses lifted their legs high and walked on.

  ‘Let’s canter!’

  ‘But the Director said…’ Jakob muttered.

  Kizzy rolled her eyes. ‘Do you do everything you’re told?’

  ‘Hold on a minute, I was the one who told you to come and ride with me. That’s not fair.’ He felt miffed.

  Kizzy pushed Pluto forward into canter and then gallop. Pluto’s tail looked like silk flowing behind him.

  ‘Kizzy! We’re not supposed…’

  Raluca snatched at his bit. Pulling hard, the reins ripped into the skin on Jakob’s hands.

  ‘Ouch!’

  Raluca reared, snorting, throwing him off balance. Jakob grabbed onto chunks of mane.

  ‘All right, let’s go!’

  It was thrilling. The rhythm of the stallion galloping beneath him was amazing. ‘Go, Raluca!’ shouted Jakob. Kizzy turned and waved at him. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed just riding. Laughing out loud, he chased after her. Dropping the reins, he threw his arms wide, standing up in the irons. ‘Kizzy!’ he shouted, balancing in the saddle. She turned to see what he was doing. Raluca galloped faster. Jakob couldn’t stop grinning. She would not be beaten and did the same.

  ‘I’ve got an idea. Here, have Pluto.’ Kizzy jumped down, thrusting his rope at Jakob. ‘Have you got a handkerchief? The Countess keeps giving them to me.’

  ‘What?’ Jakob pulled a slightly grubby one out of his pocket and threw it at her.

  Kizzy took it between two fingers, wrinkling her nose and holding it at a distance. ‘Ew!’ She ran off. ‘Watch and wait.’

  Jakob was intrigued. A few moments later she raced back, having stuck two long sticks into the ground. Each one had a fluttering flag attached to it.

  Kizzy leapt back onto Pluto. ‘Right, race you to the bottom. On the way you have to grab the flag as you fly by. Yours is on the left.’

  ‘Ha! That’s easy. Go on three?’

  Kizzy nodded.

  ‘One … two … three!’

  Both horses charged off at full gallop. Jakob kept an eye on his flag. He put his reins in one hand and moved down so he was in line with Raluca’s neck. ‘I can do this,’ he whispered to his horse. However, when he got to it, he was too far away and so was Kizzy. They both missed their flags.

  ‘Damn it!’

  They pulled the horses up and swung them round.

  ‘Let’s do it again,’ said Kizzy, trying to regain her breath.

  ‘You’re on!’

  Kizzy counted this time, ‘Ready … steady … GO!’

  They flew up the field. Raluca’s mane whipped Jakob’s hands. He manoeuvred the stallion as close in line to the stick as he dared. Leaning right down, he pushed the horse on. Putting his arm out, this time he grabbed the white cloth with ease. Standing in his stirrups, he yelled, ‘Yes, I got it!’

  As did Kizzy, shouting at the same time. They were ecstatic.

  Both were hot and sweaty, their cheeks flushed pink. Neither saw the Director striding across the field towards them.

  ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ He grabbed Raluca’s bridle. ‘I told you to walk them.’ He snapped round so he was facing Kizzy. ‘And I don’t even remember telling you you could ride.’

  Jakob looked down. ‘I…’ The white cloth hung limply in his hand.

  ‘Don’t! Take these horses back. They’re overheated, so you’d better rub them down as if your life depended on it. Then I’ll see you in my study. I can’t believe you’ve been so stupid.’ He stared straight at Jakob. ‘I’m really disappointed, and with you in particular.’ The Director strode back the way he came, shaking his head.

  Jakob’s head dropped. All the joy of the moment gone.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Kizzy. ‘I was the one who pushed you. I’ll explain, I promise.’

  ‘But I could have said no.’

  Jakob was devastated. How could he have been so stupid? The world had just cracked and shattered in front of him. There was no way the Director would ever let him be a Cadet now and all because he tried to make Kizzy happy. So stupid. ‘Come on,’ he snapped. The frothing clouds now looked bruised to match his mood, and it had grown cold.

  The pair rode back to the yard in silence.

  Jakob slipped off Raluca’s back and pulled his saddle off. The stallion’s coat was dark with sweat. ‘I’m sorry, boy, I should’ve thought and I shouldn’t have let a girl make me do it.’ He put a bucket of water down in front of him. The horse drank thirstily while Jakob rubbed him down with straw.

  No, that’s not fair. I can’t blame Kizzy. It was my fault. I just wanted her to be happy. He hugged the stallion and turned to go. ‘Are you ready, Kizzy?’

  ‘Yes.’ She emerged from Pluto’s stall. There was straw in her hair but Jakob didn’t remove it. ‘Maybe we’d be better off if the Nazis came and took us.’

  He stared at her. Jakob’s stomach tightened and his heart began to race. ‘Don’t you EVER say that! Never, ever. Do you hear me?’

  Chapter 19

  Kizzy’s words kept going round and round in his head as they walked from the stables to the Schloss. An ugly voice was shouting somewhere. It jarred him and dragged him to the present. The voice was familiar. It couldn’t be?

  He grabbed Kizzy’s arm, pulling her against the wall.

  She tried to break away. ‘Oi!’

  He put his finger to his lip. ‘Ssh!’

  He shuffled along, flat against the wall. Each crunching step on the gravel echoed around them. Jakob held his breath. When he got to the bushes, he knelt, pulling Kizzy down by his side, and peered through. He gave out a long, deep gasp. He was right.

  A large black Mercedes was parked at the front of the Schloss. Beside it stood the Director, his arms folded, listening to two Nazis. One was an SS officer, but not any old SS officer.

  Bauer!

  Jakob gulped.

  ‘He’s here!’ whispered Kizzy. ‘How did he find us?’

  ‘Listen.’

  Jakob noticed Bauer had a new scar on his forehead. He wondered if he got that when he fell, dead drunk.

  Someone else stepped forward. Jakob grabbed Kizzy’s arm. ‘Oh God, Faber!’

  They heard him say, ‘I told you, he’s got a Jew boy and a Roma girl here.’

  Without missing a beat, the Director said, ‘Excuse me, are you accusing my children of being Jewish and Roma? Unforgivable. Take it back at once.’

  Faber laughed manically. ‘How can they be your children? They’re too close in age.’

  ‘They’re twins.’

  ‘They don’t look identical.’ Faber pushed the Director.

  The Director held his ground and rolled his eyes. ‘One’s a boy and one’s a girl.’ Sarcasm dripped from every word.

  Jakob felt sweat trickling down his back.

  Bauer poked his gun under the Director’s chin. ‘Are you taking me for a fool?’

  He’d heard those words before and knew how dangerous the man could be. He muttered, ‘We’ve got to do something.’

  ‘What?’ said Kizzy.

  ‘I don’t know.’

  As he desperately tried to think of something, things got far worse. Heinz appeared and hobbled up to the Director, using a broom as a crutch, his face white with pain. Bauer recognised him.

  ‘You! I shot your horse.’

  The Director recoiled. ‘You did what?’

  Faber interrupted, ‘They came with him!’

  Bauer jumped on this and pointed the pistol at Heinz. ‘You said the boy was your nephew.’

  The Director immediately responded, before Heinz had a chance. ‘Yes, this man is my brother and my children were with him to keep them safe from the bombs in Vienna. Wouldn’t you want to protect your children? I sent my daughter down la
ter as she’d been ill.’

  ‘I told you at the time,’ said Heinz, leaning hard on his broom.

  Jakob was amazed at the number of lies tripping off the Director and Heinz’s tongues, but he was thankful.

  ‘They’re lying!’ Faber shouted.

  ‘Get the boy here and make him drop his trousers!’ suggested the other Nazi, who had thick glasses and piggy eyes.

  ‘What? This is ridiculous,’ said the Director. ‘I can go and get their papers if you wish?’

  Bauer pushed his pistol into the Director’s stomach. ‘Don’t you go anywhere!’

  Jakob had a mad idea. He looked at Kizzy. ‘Do you fancy going for a ride again?’

  ‘What? Now? Don’t be stupid.’

  ‘Hurry up, we’ve got to be quick.’

  He dragged her away, whispering to her all the time. A broad grin stretched across Kizzy’s face as she listened.

  Near the stables one groom was leading a tacked-up Flavory and another had Largo in a halter. ‘I am sorry, but we need these horses. We’ll explain later.’

  Kizzy leapt onto Largo’s back in one easy movement, snatching the lead rein from the groom.

  ‘Hey!’

  ‘Ssh – please, it’s a matter of life or death for the Director! Trust me.’

  The young man nodded, looking worried.

  Jakob scrambled onto Flavory’s back, not quite as elegantly as Kizzy. Twisting round, he signalled to her, telling her to go round the other side. ‘You realise we only have one chance?’