The Daughters of Marburg

by Terrance Williamson

  “You could’ve set the valuables aside. I would’ve worked through the night to rid the property of the stains of Jewish supremacy.” Wagner threw his fist in the air in dramatic fashion.

  Jewish supremacy? Lilly frowned. What can he see that is so oppressive? Everything I’ve seen would indicate that there is no difference between this family and mine.

  “Did you know that they owned three banks in Marburg?! Three!” The major held up three fingers as if he had read Lilly’s thoughts and wanted to provide further substantiation to his disgusting claims.

  “Dinner should be ready momentarily.” Mr. Sommer walked briskly into the dining room, not willing to entertain the subject.

  “You still have their portraits up?” Wagner delved further into disgust when he spotted the previous owner’s photographs on the back wall.

  “I didn’t think it right to remove them,” Mr. Sommer replied quickly.

  “Well, what a perfect spot to place my present!” Wagner grew excited and returned to the foyer as he grabbed the portrait of Hitler.

  “That really isn’t necessary, Major,” Mr. Sommer spoke softly, realizing it was of little use to resist.

  “Nonsense”—the major furrowed his brow—“it would be my pleasure.”

  Then, rushing over to the back of the room, the major swept the portraits onto the floor. The glass shattered, and the frames splintered, and a startled Lilly covered her ears to block out the terrible sound of the crashing.

  Even Sergeant Wolf offered a quick yet hidden shake of his head, and Lilly understood, in that moment, that he was, in fact, on their side.

  He and Papa are conspiring together on something, aren’t they? Lilly studied the officer curiously. But what was it that he wrote on Papa’s map? And that means it was, in fact, him at the door the other morning speaking with Papa. But why? What are they planning?

  “That should do it.” The major stood back and threw his hands onto his hips as he inspected his handiwork.

  “Is it straight?” the major asked.

  “Not in the slightest,” Mr. Sommer muttered.

  “Pardon?” the major spun around.

  “It’s just slightly tilted.” Mr. Sommer pointed to the right corner, and Lilly was surprised at how quickly he invented the fabrication.

  “Ah, yes, I see it now.” The major straightened out the portrait.

  “I hear you have a new maid,” Sergeant Wolf spoke to Mr. Sommer.

  “I do, and she’s currently preparing the meal,” Mr. Sommer replied, but then cleared his throat and spoke in a deep, stern voice as he added, “and if it is not up to my standards, then she will be out of a job shortly.”

  That doesn’t sound like Papa, Lilly thought. What is he planning? If you ask me, that conversation sounded a bit too rehearsed.

  A knock came to the door, and Lilly’s heart leaped at the thought of Wilhelm arriving.

  “I’ll get it!” she called as she returned to the foyer and, opening the door, Lilly nearly jumped back in surprise.

  Standing sheepishly in the street, Wilhelm was uncomfortably “adorned” in a Hitler Youth uniform. Unfortunately, it was a smidgen too short as it showcased some areas that maybe shouldn’t be showcased, and Lilly had to avert her eyes to spare Wilhelm further embarrassment.

  “Grandma insisted,” Wilhelm explained as he knew how ridiculous he appeared.

  “I’m sure it will please the major,” Lilly chuckled as she ushered Wilhelm inside and was thankful, at least, to get a generous viewing of the backside.

  “Nice dress.” Wilhelm looked over his shoulder, and Lilly glanced up, startled that she had been caught inspecting him.

  “Oh, yes, thank you.” Lilly blushed.

  “Another shade of yellow?” he asked.

  “No, white, actually.” Lilly smiled. “I suppose that means you’re seeing it the same way I’m seeing it.”

  “Possibly.” Wilhelm shrugged. “I thought only brides wore white?”

  “We shouldn’t delay.” Lilly nodded and pointed awkwardly to the dining room.

  “Alright, here we go. Into the lion’s den.” Wilhelm took a deep breath as he entered briskly.

  “Ah, young Wilhelm! Heil Hitler!” the major saluted excitedly.

  “Heil Hitler!” Wilhelm replied with an added extravagance.

  “Just in time for dinner.” Mr. Sommer rubbed his hands together eagerly as the maid brought the food into the room.

  “Mr. Sommer”—Major Wagner looked at him with astonishment—“you didn’t salute young Wilhelm.”

  “My apologies.” Mr. Sommer cleared his throat before turning to the young man and raising his right hand quickly. “Heil Hitler.”

  “Heil Hitler.” Wilhelm again overcompensated.

  “You didn’t return my salute at the door, either,” the major continued, and Lilly felt an apprehension settling on everyone which, she noticed, was much too enjoyable for the instigator.

  “I’m sure that I did,” Mr. Sommer lied.

  “No, you didn’t.” The major shook his head.

  “I’m so used to saying it that I must’ve forgotten.” Mr. Sommer shrugged.

  “You can say it now.” The major nodded.

  “Heil Hitler.” Mr. Sommer saluted.

  “Louder!” The major demanded.

  “I beg your pardon?” Mr. Sommer glanced around the room, humiliated at being the spectacle of the major’s cruel amusement.

  “You heard me.” The major took a slow step towards Mr. Sommer.

  “You want me to say it louder?” Mr. Sommer swallowed, but the major didn’t reply as he simply glared at him.

  “Heil Hitler!” Mr. Sommer spoke slightly louder than before.

  “You must understand, my friend,” the major spoke softly, “that you owe everything to the Nazi Party. Without us, you wouldn’t have a job or this house! How many thousands of jobs were created when Hitler came to power?”

  Mr. Sommer nodded in his agreement, although Lilly discerned that he was mortified to be spoken to in this manner.

  “Now, what has your wonderful maid cooked for us?” The major looked eagerly over the table as if the previous exchange had never taken place.

  Slowly, everyone took their assigned seat, and Lilly anticipated that the evening carried the promise of little gain. She was, however, thankful to be seated next to Wilhelm as she could use his reassuring demeanor now more than ever.

  Clearing his throat as he tried to regain his footing, Mr. Sommer began, “I’m actually quite pleased that the meal—”

  “I want the maid to explain it to us.” Wagner held up a finger as he interrupted, and Lilly caught the glint in his eye that he had some ulterior motive.

  “She’s busy preparing the next course.” Mr. Sommer pointed to the kitchen.

  Leaning forward on the table, Major Wagner’s feigned politeness vanished as he glared at Mr. Sommer with distinguishable menace. It was evident that he wouldn’t ask again, and Lilly watched as her father cleared his throat before slowly standing and walking into the kitchen.

  No one dared to utter a word as they waited for the maid, and Lilly simply stared at the steam rising from the hot meal, wondering how she would ever force herself to eat.

  “My dear,” Mr. Sommer began as he returned with the maid and placed his hand gently on her back, “the major has requested that you describe the first course for us.”

  “I’d be happy to,” the maid replied though Lilly sensed that she was nervous, and rightfully so. She remembered walking in on them the previous day and grasped that she had some sort of scandalous secret.

  “What’s your name?” the major asked as his fabricated courtesy returned.

  “My name?” The maid looked surprised.

  “Yes, you do have one, don’t you?” The major chuckled.

  “Ruth,” she replied as she swallowed.

  “Ruth?” The major glanced at Sergeant Wolf to gather his reaction and then returned his gaze to her. “That’s a r
ather Jewish name.”

  “My parents were quite religious.” The maid began to tremble slightly.

  “And your complexion…” the major again glanced over at Sergeant Wolf, and it was obvious to Lilly that he had already assumed her identity as Jewish.

  “My complexion?” Ruth appeared surprised at the comment.

  “Yes, your complexion is not very…Aryan.”

  “My ancestors are from the Crimean Peninsula,” the maid replied, and Lilly understood that she had rehearsed this fabrication sufficiently.

  “You’re Russian?” The major scoffed. “You don’t look very Russian.”

  “I must protest.” Mr. Sommer attempted to come to Ruth’s rescue, but the major held up a hand to stop him.

  “Or are you one of the Tatars?” The major narrowed his gaze. “You look Jewish to me.”

  “That is enough!” Mr. Sommer grew irate, and his shout stunned everyone, and none more so than the major. “My daughter has invited you into our house, and you have insulted me twice already.”

  “Mr. Sommer, I—”

  “Now you’re insulting me by insinuating that I would hire a Jew! Under my roof?!” Mr. Sommer pointed to the ceiling, and Lilly spotted the small patch on his neck growing red.

  She is Jewish! Lilly’s breath was stolen from her. She couldn’t believe that her father had placed the entire family in this precarious situation. Not only so, but Edith’s intervention in not refusing the major’s self-invitation had placed them in potentially fatal danger.

  “Do you have her references or her Aryan certificate that I could review?” the major asked slowly. “We can’t be too careful, especially these days.”

  Without a word, Mr. Sommer stormed into the kitchen and, within a few short seconds, returned, holding a couple of documents high in the air before slamming them down on the table in front of the major.

  Slowly, the major held the documents aloft as he took out his glasses and began to read carefully. Then, darting his eyes between Mr. Sommer and Ruth, he began to study the next document.

  “Are you satisfied?” Mr. Sommer asked impatiently.

  “You forget yourself, Mr. Sommer.” The major looked up at him as he folded his glasses and returned them to his breast pocket. “I outrank you severely. If you speak to me like that again, I will have you imprisoned.”

  Lilly’s blood ran cold as the images of the family he had murdered the previous day flashed before her eyes. The thought of that occurring to someone she loved was horrid.

  “Also, I don’t believe that you would be reckless enough to hire a Jew, but I believe that she is crafty enough to forge these documents.” The major glanced at Ruth. “I will be keeping these, and I will have an expert review them for falsification.”

  “As you wish.” Ruth nodded as politely as she was able, but Lilly caught her trembling hand.

  “I apologize.” Mr. Sommer spoke softly, and Lilly understood that he had been shaken by the officer’s threat.

  “Good, now what are we eating?” The major rubbed his hands together as he inspected the food.

  “Eintopf,” Ruth replied.

  “Oh, my favorite.” The major turned towards her as though they were dear friends.

  “Yes, my parents ate it consistently.” Ruth nodded.

  “You know, eintopf was one of the very foods promoted by our government,” the major began, but Lilly sensed that his pleasantness was simply a disguise. “Do you know why?”

  “Why it was promoted?” Ruth asked nervously.

  “Yes, do you know why?”

  “Sir, if I may, the food is getting cold, and I don’t want to burn the second course.” She tried admirably to shift the conversation.

  “It was promoted as part of the ‘Life Reform’ movement. Blood and soil!” He lifted his fist in the air. “It is important that we return to the simplicity of life. We should be taking from the earth around us, eating locally, and learning how to be one with the land. Such a romantic thought, wouldn’t you agree?” He turned to Sergeant Wolf, who gave a quick nod.

  “You see, and I probably shouldn’t be saying this”—the major ran his tongue along the corner of his mouth— “but these reforms were to encourage our citizens with eating simply so that they would be accustomed to living off of rations when war comes again.”

  “War?” Mr. Sommer asked. “Do you really believe that we will be at war again?”

  “It’s already in motion.” Wagner smiled sadistically. “Soon, my friend, we will control the entire world. We will be the largest empire to have ever existed. Then, finally, once the Jews are destroyed, we will have peace.”

  A chill ran down Lilly’s spine, and the room again grew quiet as the major reflected. Then, slowly, the major looked up at Ruth, judging her reaction. Running his tongue along his teeth, the major held his gaze on her, and even Lilly found it hard to breathe.

  “Anyways”—the major cleared his throat— “this eintopf is actually part of our Hitler Youth programs, isn’t that right, Wilhelm?”

  “That’s right, sir,” Wilhelm replied proudly, although Lilly suspected that he was simply exaggerating his enthusiasm to avoid suspicion.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you, young man, about the family that lived here.” The major tilted his head as he examined Wilhelm. “You lived right next door to a Jewish family, yet there is no record of a Baumann reporting this information to the police or the SS. Why would that be?”

  “Major Wagner, the food is getting cold,” Mr. Sommer spoke gently.

  Wagner slammed his fist on the table as he screamed, “You made me food for a peasant! Why would you ever think that I would eat this shit! What do you think of me?”

  Mr. Sommer swallowed before speaking softly, “We were only trying to show our commitment to Nazi ideals.”

  “With food?! No, Mr. Sommer”—the major shook his head— “you were attempting the bare minimum. Only a Jew, who is trying to avoid detection, would be foolish enough to make this.” The major looked up at Ruth, who began to shake.

  “You’re scaring her,” Mr. Sommer pressed, and Lilly grew terrified that the major would act rashly. “Please, have your expert review the documents. You will see that there is no forgery.”

  “I want the boy to answer why he didn’t tell us of the Jewish family living next door.” The major ignored Mr. Sommer as he glared again at Wilhelm.

  As secretive as she could be, Lilly reached under the table and took Wilhelm’s hand in hers. Again, it wasn’t an affectionate touch, nor did she intend it in that manner, but it was of absolute necessity. Still, she couldn’t deny that a part of her was pleased when he squeezed back. She wasn’t sure if it was, in fact, from fondness, or perhaps from the comfort of knowing she wasn’t alone.

  “We gave an anonymous tip,” Wilhelm replied matter-of-factly, “being that we were neighbors and such.”

  “That was cowardly.” The major shook his head slowly in disappointment.

  “Not in the slightest,” Wilhelm defended, which Lilly found quite admirable. “It wasn’t cowardice, but rather, our penitence.”

  “Penitence?” the major huffed. “How so?”

  “We should’ve notified the police years ago.” Wilhelm took a deep breath. “This way, the state didn’t have to pay us the reward, and the money could be used for other resources.”

  The major examined Wilhelm intensely for a moment, and Lilly imagined that she couldn’t handle the tension for much longer.

  “I don’t believe you,” the major spoke plainly, and Lilly could sense that his words cut deep into Wilhelm.

  “Is it alright if I eat?” Sergeant Wolf asked cheerfully as though he were entirely removed from the stressful situation around him.

  “You are a disgrace to your surname.” The major shook his head in rejection of the officer’s request. “I didn’t come here to eat.”

  “What have you come for, then?” Mr. Sommer asked sheepishly.

  “Information,” the major r
eplied as he looked at Edith who, Lilly noticed, was entirely enraptured with this disgusting man.

  “What does he mean?” Mr. Sommer glanced curiously at his daughter.

  “The maid hid the diary.” Edith’s countenance morphed into shame for her failure. “I wasn’t able to find any evidence on where the previous owners had disappeared to.”

  “I know that you tried.” The major smiled at her proudly. “Still, I’ll need you to find where they are. Failure is not an option. Every last Jew must be accounted for.”

  “I think we should take her in for questioning,” Edith spoke to the major as she glanced at Ruth, and Lilly couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “I don’t know if we need to go down that route quite yet.” The major stood and squared his shoulders with the maid. “There’s a trick, you see, that is fool proof in uncovering lies.”

  “I’m not lyi—” the maid tried to defend herself, but the major grabbed her jaw firmly as he brought her face close to his, and Mr. Sommer stood, ready to come to her aid.

  “Why did you hide the journal?” the major asked with quiet rage.

  “I didn’t!” Ruth began to cry. “I was cleaning the girls’ room when I put the books away. I don’t remember seeing a diary.”

  “I believe Miss Edith is right.” The major released his grip, and Ruth held her jaw as she whimpered. “I’m going to bring you back to the prison while I review the documents for forgery. Then, I’m going to torture you until you tell us what you did with the diary.”

  Ruth erupted into a terrifying sob as she tried to cover her mouth to hide her shame.

  I can’t let him do this to her when I have the diary! Lilly felt her heart beating. But if the major discovers that it was me, he will take me in for questioning instead.

  With a deep breath, Lilly was about to assist Ruth when she caught the slow shake of the head from her father, begging her to keep silent. Tears flooded his eyes as he looked at her with the deepest of sorrows. Lilly recognized that she couldn’t put her father through the terror of his daughter being taken, but she couldn’t let an innocent woman like Ruth suffer, either.

  “I took it,” Lilly blurted, and the major spun around in shock as her father closed his eyes in regret.