A Flicker of Light

by Roberta Kagan

The boy laid a blanket over Elki.

  “Peter, I am scared,” she reached for her boyfriend’s hand.

  Aaron heard the young man’s name for the first time. Peter grasped her hand, and Aaron began. He had no anesthetic for the pain, and it hurt him to see her suffer. But left with no other choice, Aaron resolved to be as quick and precise as possible, and to keep her discomfort as minimal as he could.

  Sweat beaded upon her brow as Aaron pushed the makeshift instruments inside her body. He had carefully sterilized everything, and swiftly went about his work. A few times she winced and soft cries escaped her lips. But he did not linger, and soon he had completed his task. Now it became essential that she experience no extensive bleeding.

  Throughout the night Aaron watched her. She slept comfortably, and he checked often to be sure she did not start to bleed heavily. He knew he would be missed at the first morning roll call. He could almost hear the guard in his agitated, guttural German calling out, “Aaron Gold! Aaron Gold!” When he did not answer and no one claimed they had deposited him in the pile of the dead, the guard would rush to his superior with the news. “We have an escaped prisoner,” he would report. Then they would begin looking for him. The dogs would be introduced to his scent so they could track him through the countryside. He wished he could get a head start and leave tonight, but he could not abandon the girl until he was sure of her survival.

  When the sun rose in the morning, Aaron had dozed off in a chair beside the bed. Peter prepared to leave for work. Before he left, Aaron reminded him of the medications he must secure from the hospital. These drugs would be necessary to prevent infection. He told Peter that the drugs could be found in the hospital medicine cabinet, which stood behind the door in the doctor’s private office. Aaron told him to look for the key to the cabinet in the upper right hand desk drawer.

  “Be careful,” Aaron told Peter as he departed. If Peter got caught stealing the drugs, Aaron thought he might turn him in. But Aaron realized that if Peter betrayed him, he would need some excuse to explain why he’d stolen the drugs, not to mention how and where he’d found the prisoner. It did not behoove the young Nazi to hand Aaron over to the Nazis. If he did, he risked sharing his fate.

  Chapter 38

  Near Munich

  A

  gainst orders, the soldiers did not detain the two women. Siegland and Petra had shown them the utmost hospitality during their stay, and they demonstrated their appreciation by intentionally failing to notice their departure. Those who knew the circumstances took the side of the gentle, grandmotherly woman and her pretty young niece. They had no idea what had become of the old man - only that he’d been arrested for stealing food - but they hoped he had not been used as an example. For the sake of the two women who went to find him, they hoped he had not met a tragic end.

  Determination gave Petra strength. She set her jaw as she took Siegland’s arm. Together they walked to the train station in town. The trek seemed long and tedious to Siegland. Her age and weight made her slow. She had trouble catching her breath. But Petra supported her along the way by anchoring her arm around the older woman’s waist and helping her along. The walk to the station would have taken a younger duo two hours, but it took Petra and Siegland nearly four. They arrived late that afternoon, just as the sun shone a final bright gleam in the western sky. There they boarded a train headed for Berlin.

  The station master had advised the women against traveling to Berlin. “There is a lot of bombing going on, Frau and Frauline. It seems as if the Allies are hitting Berlin hard. You could be injured.”

  “Yes, we understand, and we appreciate your concern, but my husband is there and we must go to him,” Siegland said.

  The station master, with his silver hair and faded blue eyes nodded with understanding. Quietly he whispered a short prayer for these two vulnerable women. Then he sold them the tickets.

  The train clanged and wobbled along the unstable track on its way to Berlin. Petra held fast to the papers Klaus had paid for which identified her as his niece. She felt she would need these to request information about him. Siegland carried her authentic papers. At each stop, a guard came through the train car to check everyone’s papers.

  The two women were shocked to see the buildings that lay in ruins throughout the city when they arrived. Chaos and terror seemed to grip the entire population. A mass exodus from the city had already begun.

  Together they left the train, shaken by the destruction, but resolved to find Klaus. Petra approached strangers, asking for directions to the Nazi Headquarters. Berlin seemed like such a massive city to them, frightening and ominous. Debris from bombed out buildings was scattered all over the sidewalks. Automobiles sped by as aggravated drivers honked frantically at each other. Dust from the rubble hung in the air. Bombs rained out of the sky, bringing the smell of death and near-constant fear. The enemy was coming. At last, after much frustrating navigation, Petra and Siegland entered the Nazi Headquarters building. A man was speaking to the group of people there as they walked in.

  “Hitler has gone to his underground bunker. It is only a matter of time before the Allies reach us. Get out now if you can.”

  Petra went to the man.

  “I am here looking for my uncle. Klaus Bruchmeier?”

  A loud crash sounded somewhere outside, but close to the building. Petra gripped the side of the desk so she would not be knocked to the ground.

  “Frauline, that was a bomb. I don’t know where your uncle is. Get out of Berlin. The Allies are coming. The city is under siege. When they get here, they will kill every German. I am sure of it. They are vicious. Get out.”

  “Please, I must find my uncle.”

  “We know nothing of him here. For your own sake, leave Berlin.”

  Then he hurried away. Petra tried to find someone to help her, but everyone she spoke to rushed by, caught up in their own efforts to flee and save themselves and their families.

  “Sit here and wait, Mama. I will try to find the jail area and see if I can find Papa.”

  Siegland felt her chest tighten. A sharp pain shot through her arm and her jaw tightened, but she did as Petra asked. Petra ran through the headquarters. Everyone was too caught up in their own troubles to even notice her. When she found the jail cells, she saw that they were empty. Where could they have taken Klaus? A guard approached her.

  “What are you doing, Fauline?”

  “The SS arrested my uncle. We believe they brought him here. He is guilty of nothing. Please, he is just an old man and not well. I implore you, please, help me.” She felt fairly confident that the officer would not arrest her in the midst of all the turmoil going on around them. For once, the Nazis did not have time to engage in persecution. Instead they tucked their tails and ran like cowards.

  “All of the prisoners are gone, released. Go home. He is probably on his way there right now.”

  “Do you recall an older man, heavy-set, with thin white hair? His name is Klaus, Klaus Bruchmeier.”

  “I don’t know, Frauline,” he paused looking at her. “I think so. I think we released him,” he lied. “Go home.” Poor young girl, he thought. Pregnant too - it is best she leave Berlin immediately. He assumed her uncle had died somewhere. At this point he cared little for the crime the old man may have committed. He wanted to leave the headquarters quickly in order to find his wife and children and exit the city.

  “Oh, thank you so much, officer. Thank you. Thank you.”

  Her heart raced as she ran up the stairs, back to where she had left Siegland. “Mama, they’ve released him He is on his way home. An officer told me. Let’s go.” Another loud explosion came from outside as a building across the street collapsed.

  “Come, Mama.” Petra took Siegland’s arm and led her to the door. But the stress proved too much for Petra. She felt the warm water run down her legs. She had only just entered the middle of her eighth month of pregnancy. Too early! But even so, her water had broken, and the baby would enter the
world on its own terms.

  Chapter 39

  Berlin

  W

  hen Peter returned from the camp that night, he felt relieved to see Elki sitting up in bed, drinking some soup Aaron had prepared for her.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Good - a little weak, but good.” She smiled at him, “This doctor saved my life, Peter. He is a kind person and a very good doctor. It is a blessing that you brought him.”

  Her words helped to convince Peter to honor his agreement with Aaron. He had weighed the pros and cons of returning Aaron to the camp as he had initially intended. After all, he had pledged his allegiance to the party, and his duty as a Nazi would be to honor that oath, but how could he do that now? First, he considered what explanation he might give for taking the Jew in the first place, and could think of none. Of course, Peter thought, he could always tell them that he had apprehended Aaron when he had seen him in his camp uniform after his escape. For this he might even receive a medal. But as he gazed at Elki, sitting up in bed with the blankets tucked around her, he resolved that he would keep his promise. Aaron would go free.

  Aaron knew it would have been better if he started Elki on the medications the previous night, but he’d exercised special care with sanitation to prevent infection. Now he relaxed as Peter handed him the pills. She would begin the treatment immediately.

  For the next two days Aaron stayed with Elki. He checked her periodically to find she had healed without incident. She ate solid food and displayed no elimination problems. On the second day he helped Elki to shuffle around the room slowly. The following afternoon she was able to walk at a normal pace. Except for her feelings of guilt at having destroyed the baby, which she discussed with Aaron, she had mended beautifully.

  “I feel bad, Aaron. I killed my baby. I had to, though. My parents would never have approved of this. They hate Peter.”

  “You will have other children; this is just the wrong time. You are very young. Wait a little, and then you will marry.” He patted her back.

  “Can I tell you a secret?” Elki said.

  “Only if you want to.”

  “Do you promise never to tell anyone?”

  “I promise,” he smiled reassuringly.

  “My parents hate the Nazis - my father especially. That’s why they hate Peter. Don’t tell Peter I told you, but he only joined the party because he needed a job that paid him decently. He really isn’t such a bad person.”

  “I understand. Your father has a point, though. The Nazis are cruel, more than a young and innocent girl like you could ever realize.”

  “Do you hate gentiles?”

  “No, not at all. I don’t hate anyone,” he laughed. “There is good and bad in every race. You learn that with age, my dear. In fact, the woman I love is not a Jew.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is she?’

  “On a farm in the country. I pray every day that she is safe.”

  At the camp, Peter learned of the hunt for Aaron that was in progress, but as of yet, no one suspected him of the escape. Things could become unsafe. Spies could be found everywhere. It would be best to be as far away from the Jew as possible. Tonight, he would send Aaron away. The more he could distance himself from the prisoner, the less likely he was to be suspected. Elki had recovered completely, and therefore they’d best be rid of the Jew. After all, he had only promised Aaron that he would allow him to go without turning him in. He had not vowed to hide him or protect him any further.

  “You must leave tonight,” he told Aaron once he’d arrived home.

  “Very well,” Aaron looked at him, relieved that Peter was going to keep his word.

  “They are searching for you. We must get you out of here. Go off into the countryside and stay out of sight. The war is almost over. Germany is done for. The Allies are bombing Berlin. Anytime now they will enter the city, and all will be lost. Hitler has gone underground. I think you will be all right if you stay off of the main roads. It is just a matter of time now. The Fuehrer is in real trouble here,” Peter said.

  “Take him in the auto, Peter, as far as you can out of this area. Help him that much for all he has done for us,” Elki pleaded as she held Peter’s gaze until he dropped his head and agreed.

  Dressed in civilian clothes, Aaron was once again loaded into the back of the automobile, and he lay upon the floor, covered with the blanket, as they headed out into the country. Peter wore his uniform, which enabled him and Elki to be out after curfew without drawing attention. If they were stopped by the Gestapo, the couple would claim to be lovers on a romantic rendezvous. Unless the officers were especially vigilant, Aaron would be invisible in the darkness.

  “Aaron,” Peter said, “We are taking you as far from Dachau as we possibly can. They are looking for you nearer to the camp, but they will never assume you could have gotten this far on foot.”

  “I thank you for everything,” Aaron said.

  “We have been more than fair with you. Now you must promise us that if you are caught you will never reveal where you have been and what happened. Elki and I must never be brought into this, do you understand? You must realize that it will do you no good to condemn us. We have been kind to you, so be sure that you never tell them how you escaped,” Peter said.

  “I understand. And you have my word.”

  The ride out of the city stretched Peter’s nerves tight, and he remained silent the entire trip. He gripped the steering wheel with sweaty hands and shook Elki’s fingers from his arm when she tried to comfort him. He was putting all of his trust in a Jew. Aaron seemed to be a good Jew, but he was still a Jew. But what choice did he really have? If he brought Aaron back to the camp, then there would be questions for which he had no answers that would not implicate him. If he shot Aaron, then there would the mess of a dead body to explain, and he had never killed anyone. The thought of this man’s blood on his hands after all he had done for him and Elki sickened him. No, it was best to take Aaron as far away as possible, where they would never find him, and then let him go to fend for himself. Peter knew that he must pay close attention to the speed limit; if he drove too fast, they would surely be stopped and questioned. It took all of his self control to drive slowly. He wanted to rid himself of this burden as soon as possible. The muscles in his back and neck felt as if they were tied in knots. When at last they reached a wooded area, Peter stopped the car. His hands were trembling as he looked around; the area was completely unpopulated, without even a farmhouse in sight. Elki had packed Aaron a small bag of food and a thermos of water. She had come to care for him, and she held his hand tightly for a moment. Then she wished him well as he left.

  “Thank you, doctor. I will pray for you. You saved my life,” Elki said.

  “Goodbye, Elki. Goodbye, Peter. May God be with you both.”

  Peter did not answer. Instead, he continued to look around to assure himself that they were alone.

  The sound of the car door slamming broke through the silence of the night. Then the engine roared and the couple disappeared in a cloud of dust. Alone in the darkness, Aaron stood in the center of the dirt road. He looked around and then made his way into a heavily wooded area.

  Freedom - the taste of it - lingered on his lips as he spoke the word, “Freedom. I am free.”

  He walked deep into the forest, listening as a night bird called out to its mate. The fragrance of fresh air engulfed him and he sucked it deeply into his lungs. Aaron lay on the ground and fixed his eyes on the stars.

  “Petra, darling, my love - soon the war will be over, and I will come home to you.”

  He found it difficult to determine which direction he would have to travel to find the Bruchmeiers’ farmhouse and the woman he loved once again. Drifting off to sleep, he smelled the clean, earthy scent of the soil.

  When he awoke, as he looked above him, he imagined the tree branches reaching up to the heavens, their arms extended, as if to caress God. To be al
ive! He had survived Dachau. For a moment he saw Saul’s face in his mind and heard his voice, “You made it, Aaron. It’s almost over now. I did not see the end of this terrible Third Reich, but you will. Remember me, Aaron. Remember me always, and I will not have died in vain. God be with you, my friend.” A single tear slipped down the side of Aaron’s face.

  Chapter 40

  W

  hen Peter returned from the camp that night, he felt relieved to see Elki sitting up in bed drinking some soup Aaron had prepared for her.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Good - a little weak, but good.” She smiled at him, “This doctor saved my life, Peter. He is a kind person and a very good doctor. It is a blessing that you brought him.”

  Her words helped to convince Peter to honor his agreement with Aaron. He had weighed the pros and cons of returning Aaron to the camp as he had initially intended. After all, he had pledged his allegiance to the party, and his duty as a Nazi would be to honor that oath, but how could he do that now? First, he considered what explanation he might give for taking the Jew in the first place, and could think of none. Of course, Peter thought, he could always tell them that he had apprehended Aaron when he had seen him in his camp uniform after his escape. For this he might even receive a medal. But as he gazed at Elki, sitting up in bed with the blankets tucked around her, he resolved that he would keep his promise. Aaron would go free.

  Aaron knew it would have been better if he started Elki on the medications the previous night, but he’d exercised special care with sanitation to prevent infection. Now he relaxed as Peter handed him the pills. She would begin the treatment immediately.

  For the next two days Aaron stayed with Elki. He checked her periodically to find she had healed without incident. She ate solid food and displayed no elimination problems. On the second day he helped Elki to shuffle around the room slowly. The following afternoon she was able to walk at a normal pace. Except for her feelings of guilt at having destroyed the baby, which she discussed with Aaron, she had mended beautifully.