The Daughters of Marburg

by Terrance Williamson

  “There’s one thing that you’re forgetting,” Lilly continued in her stubborn determination.

  “What’s that?” the major tilted his head.

  “You don’t understand the strength that is found in empathy or the courage that is brought on by doing what is right rather than what is expedient.”

  The major looked at her curiously, and Lilly thought that he was, genuinely, attempting to understand.

  “That’s silly.” He waved in his dismissal, but Lilly knew that she had found a way into his conscience. “Back to business. There is still one mystery that alludes me. I know the diary mentions where the previous family is. Sergeant Wolf, that little rat, gave it back to you. If it wasn’t so important, he wouldn’t have cared where it was. So, where are these Jews hiding?”

  “As I said before, the diary was nothing more than the romantic ramblings of an adolescent girl,” Lilly lied.

  Again, the major struck Lilly’s cheek, and she could feel her flesh burning from his leather glove and the cold, winter air.

  Sitting tall, Lilly refused to offer the major any sense of gratification for the pain he was inflicting on her.

  “Lilly,” the major sighed as he looked at her with regret, “I hate doing this to you. You remind me of my niece.”

  Ursula! Lilly frowned.

  “And I hate that I’m going to kill you. No matter what happens, you will be executed.”

  Lilly’s breath was stolen from her. To hear him confirm it so plainly was a cruelty she didn’t know that she could accept.

  “Either I kill you slowly, or I kill you quickly, and you alone are in control of that. So, you can tell me where these Jews are hiding, and you will be executed swiftly. Or, you can drag this out, and you will be starved, beaten, raped, and tortured.”

  Lilly began to shake in her seat. She knew that she couldn’t condemn a family to death, especially if she was about to be killed anyway.

  “Lilly”—the major placed his hand high up on her thigh— “make the right choice.”

  “I meant…what I said before…about Revelations…not being a fantasy,” Lilly spoke as her jaw seemed to freeze from the terror.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” the major asked softly.

  “When John wrote Revelations, he wrote it while under Roman custody. The Romans were killing Jews and Christians in the thousands. He used imagery that the people of his time would be familiar with.”

  “Such as?” The major squinted, unsure where this conversation was going.

  “The beast’s seven heads represent the seven hills that Rome was built on. The beast, you see, was Rome.”

  “How do you know this?” The major crossed his arms as he leaned back.

  “Edith,” Lilly chuckled as she shivered, “thinks that I don’t pay attention, but I do.”

  “It’s all very interesting, but I—”

  “The beast and the false prophet were real,” Lilly continued, “and this should make you afraid.”

  “Afraid?” he shot an eyebrow up. “How?”

  “In the end, they were thrown into the lake of fire.”

  “And what is the lake of fire?” he scoffed.

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out. I know where my soul is destined. Whether you…kill…me slowly”—Lilly nearly fainted at the admission— “or quickly, I know where I’m going. And I sure as hell know where you’re going. I will suffer for a moment, but you will suffer for all eternity.”

  The major studied her for a moment, and Lilly tried to gauge his reaction, but then he burst into a laugh and began clapping.

  “I will suffer for all eternity?” He stood and ripped the jacket off of her shoulders. Immediately, she felt the cold surrounding her again.

  Then, leaning over, he grabbed her chin roughly and brought her face close to his. “You will suffer, Lilly. You will suffer more than you can imagine.”

  With a yank, he released his grip and stormed out of the cell.

  Chapter Eighteen:

  Trap

  “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

  Winston Churchill

  Sunlight struck Lilly’s eyelids and, slowly, she pried them open to find that she had somehow slept in the cell. She had cuddled into the corner for warmth and, fortunately, the day promised better weather than the bitter night she endured.

  I don’t know if I can keep going. Lilly rubbed her eyes. I believe the shock was fueling my resolve yesterday. Now, I’m afraid that I’m too tired. If the major comes again to visit, I don’t know how long I can resist his questioning.

  Closing her eyes again, Lilly rested her head against the concrete wall and wished, with all her heart, that she was back in her own bed in Berlin. She missed her previous life and felt such a fool for ever complaining about it.

  I would’ve liked to have been married, Lilly lamented. Though I suppose I’m fortunate that I found love, true love. Many go their whole lives without finding someone special. Odd thing is that I can’t exactly explain my feelings for him. There seems to be a connection that I’ve never felt before. Something elusive as if it were disguising its intentions. Almost feels like something else is at work in the world.

  “Speaking of Wilhelm,” she said to herself as she began to stand, “I should see if he’s at the bridge.”

  Now that the major knows it was Wilhelm that attempted the assassination, I can imagine that he arrested him last night as well. If only there was a way for me to get a message to him that he should get as far away from here as possible. I do hope they’re sparing him from any serious suffering. I can’t stand the thought of him being beaten like they beat Papa. Even the thought of Papa in his state still bothers me.

  The bright daylight from outside struck Lilly, and her eyes ached as they adjusted to the surroundings.

  “Oh my God!” Lilly threw a hand over her mouth when she spotted a horror she wished to forget.

  Hanging over the side of the bridge were the bodies of Sergeant Wolf, the merchant, and the guard whom Edith had given the Hemingway books. Around the sergeant’s neck was hung a sign that read Traitor, and around the merchant’s neck was a sign that read Jew lover. Still more horrific, Edith’s two books were nailed to the guard’s hands.

  Gripping onto the bars with all her strength, Lilly could barely contain her rage. She wanted to scream, and she wanted to kill the major with her own bare hands for this atrocity.

  What an evil, wicked man! Lilly rested her head against the bars as she began to weep. No, he’s not a man; he’s an animal, or worse still, he’s a beast. The guard read books, for goodness’ sake. He was even one of their own. I’m going to kill the major. I’m going to die anyways, so might as well get some revenge!

  “Oh, no,” the major spoke from behind her, and Lilly turned to see him standing by the cell. “I’m sorry you had to see them. I was hoping to be the one to tell you.”

  Lilly didn’t say a word as she shook with rage and clenched her hands into fists. She knew that he had hung them on that bridge with the intention of her spotting them.

  “I’m surprised you’re still here, actually.” The major leaned against the bars. “Wilhelm, my Wilhelm, is disappointed as well. Aren’t you, Wilhelm?” He turned to his guard and, with his back to her, Lilly espied the Major’s SS knife. With every fiber in her being, she wanted to grab his weapon and use it on him repeatedly and without mercy.

  Slowly, Lilly crept towards the major as he continued to mock her sorrows with his guards. She didn’t hear what he was saying, and she didn’t care. Her mind was on a singular focus, and she would make the major pay.

  “Sir.” Guenther nodded at Lilly as he warned the major of her approach.

  “Are you trying to sneak up on me?” the major asked after he turned towards her.

  Lilly didn’t reply as she continued to walk towards him, building up her courage.

  “I know that look.” The major grin
ned cynically as he studied her. “You want to hurt me, don’t you?”

  Leaning against the bars, Lilly’s breathing labored as she could scarcely contain her hatred. Then, swiftly, she reached through the bars and latched onto the major’s knife, but it wouldn’t budge from its holster as it was clipped in securely.

  Exploding into a laugh, the major put his hand through the bar to gently touch Lilly’s face. Like a wild creature, she lashed out and bit his hand.

  “Shit!” The major tried to wrench free, but Lilly grabbed onto his hand and pulled his arm further into the cell. His recent wound had weakened him severely, and Lilly used that to her advantage.

  “Guard!” he called to Guenther, who was already unlocking the cell to subdue Lilly.

  Eventually, the major tore himself away and fell backward as he held his bloodied hand. The greatest sense of satisfaction washed over Lilly as she watched him turn crimson with embarrassment at being made a fool in front of his men.

  “You’ll pay for that.” He gritted his teeth as he stood, but at a measurable distance from the cell.

  “What’s wrong? Are you afraid?” Lilly spat his own blood at his face.

  “Go get her fiancé,” the major ordered as he wiped the blood off with his handkerchief.

  “No!” Lilly turned to panic. “Punish me, you coward!”

  “Oh, I am.” The major squeezed his hand into a fist.

  A few tense minutes passed as Lilly listened anxiously for the sound of Wilhelm’s arrival and watched the major with terror as he imagined an array of cruel tactics.

  Eventually, a door could be heard further down the corridor, and Lilly’s heart shattered as a beaten and bloodied Wilhelm came into view.

  “Wilhelm!” Lilly stretched through the bars as she tried to touch her love, yet the guards held him just out of reach.

  “Let me touch him!” she screamed with all her might.

  Slowly, the major walked closer to her cell and whispered, “You can have him, here, in this cell, if you only tell me where the Jewish family is.”

  At this, Lilly began to weep, and she hung her head in despair. She was desperate to end the suffering. Every ounce of reasoning was begging her to relent, but Lilly couldn’t utter a word.

  “You like my knife?” The major removed it and stood behind Wilhelm.

  “No! Please! Stop! Stop!” Lilly pressed against the bars.

  “I told you!” The major pressed the knife against Wilhelm’s neck. “I told you that you would suffer! Tell me where they are!”

  “Don’t say a word,” Wilhelm encouraged through a swollen lip and looked at Lilly, barely able to open his eyes from exhaustion and pain.

  “Shut up!” the major screamed in his ear.

  “Don’t let them win,” Wilhelm continued, undeterred by the major’s threats.

  “Quiet!” The major kicked the back of Wilhelm’s legs, and he fell to his knees. “Tell me where they are!” He pointed the knife at her as he held a handful of Wilhelm’s hair.

  “I can’t!” Lilly spoke through sobs. “I’ll never tell you.”

  “Then why should I let him live?!” The major pressed harder on Wilhelm’s neck as he drew blood.

  “Mercy! Please! Have mercy!” Lilly spoke through sobs.

  “This all ends the moment you tell me where they are.” The major looked sincerely at Lilly, but her focus was entirely on Wilhelm, who was shaking his head, begging her to remain silent.

  “As I said”—Lilly swallowed as she still stared at Wilhelm— “I’ll never tell you.”

  “My sweet Lilly, you haven’t learned yet,” the major spoke calmly as he returned the knife and waved for the guards to take Wilhelm away.

  “No! Please!” Lilly watched with tears as Wilhelm was led away. “I love you!”

  The door slammed and, again, Lilly was cut off from him. Falling to her knees, Lilly sobbed as she couldn’t stand the cruelty any longer.

  “For a moment, I thought that you really didn’t know where the Jewish family was.” The major dabbed the sweat off of his forehead with his handkerchief. “Your refusal, though honorable, has revealed the truth: you know where they are.”

  Lilly didn’t reply as she rolled over and laid on her side on the concrete. She wanted nothing else but to sleep, to escape consciousness and all its terrors.

  “Hey,” the major knelt down outside the cell and spoke gently, “I told you that I don’t enjoy this.”

  Still, Lilly remained silent. Her heart felt rotten for seeing her love in that state, and she was beyond angry with herself for falling, again, for the major’s tactics.

  “I’ll make you a deal,” the major began, and Lilly heard him unscrewing his canteen.

  Turning towards him, Lilly looked at the canteen, desperate for water. Her throat turned hoarse, and she could scarcely think of anything else.

  “You want this?” he asked, and Lilly knew he would attempt to exchange it for information.

  Instead, Lilly regretfully shook her head and lay back against the concrete as she stared longingly at the canteen.

  “Death by thirst is terrible.” The major took a generous sip before pouring some over the wound on his hand that Lilly had inflicted. “Every muscle and joint become unbearable to move. Your throat begs for even just a drop.” He gulped as he drained the canteen. “Just say the word, I’ll get you all the water you want.”

  “’If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink,’” Lilly quoted Christ.

  “You say you’re not religious, yet you know scripture.”

  “I’m not religious.” Lilly looked up at the major with red eyes. “But I know how much it bothers you. I remember, Major, your accounting, when you came for dinner, of your religious past. I believe that you’ve closed that avenue off in your heart, and every time I speak to it, I remind you of your eventual destiny.”

  “This is the lake of fire thing again, isn’t it?” the major mocked as he stood. “Please don’t bore me. I have an offer for you. I’ll make you this deal: Tell me where the Jewish family is, and I’ll let you and Wilhelm free.”

  Temptation sunk its teeth into Lilly’s heart, and she knew that the major caught her inflection of hope. Still, she knew that he was lying. Why would he let two people go who had attempted to kill him?

  Despite the begging of her soul, Lilly again turned away from the major.

  “I’ll give you until tomorrow to think it over. I am surprised, though, my dear Lilly, that you didn’t escape. You have the chance to send the Jewish family to safety, but you chose your sister over them. Quite selfish if you ask me. Anyways, think it over.”

  He wants me to leave?! Lilly frowned. But why? He wants me to lead him to Lilly’s family! He put me in this cell, hoping that I would escape so they would trail me.

  “Wait!” Lilly called out before the major could leave.

  “Yes?” The major halted.

  “Bring Wilhelm to my cell. Let me comfort him and help heal his wounds.” Lilly sat upright.

  “Out of the question. Men and women can’t share a cell.”

  “I’m glad to see you have a sense of propriety,” Lilly replied sarcastically. “Edith, then. Bring my sister to me.”

  “Where are the Jews?” The major shrugged.

  “I won’t speak a word until she’s here.” Lilly shook her head. “I want a minute alone with my sister. I want to talk to her, tell her I’m sorry and hope that she can forgive me before you execute us.”

  Removing his cap, the major rubbed his head, and Lilly noticed that he was beginning to bald. She didn’t know why, but something humiliating about him was, honestly, refreshing.

  “You’re fortunate that I find your company amusing.” The major threw his hands onto his hips. “If I bring her to your cell, you’ll tell me where the Jews are hiding?”

  “Yes, but only after I’ve had a minute to discuss, alone, with Edith.”

  “You can’t be alone.” The major shook his head. “I’ll have t
o keep one guard here.”

  “Fine.” Lilly nodded.

  “You understand, my sweet Lilly, that I report to others above me. It is my duty to make Marburg free of tyranny.”

  Lilly scoffed at the irony.

  “If I don’t find these Jews, I could be in serious trouble. We can work out a deal. You and Wilhelm can go work off your crimes in a camp. It doesn’t have to end in death.”

  “I’ll tell you, don’t worry.” Lilly gave a quick smile to reassure him.

  “Alright.” The major sighed and tapped his SS ring against the bars of the cell. “I’ll have Edith sent to you. I’ll keep Guenther here.”

  “Thank you.” Lilly tried to sound as sincere as possible.

  The major and his other two guards left as Guenther remained, silently, outside the cell. Turning again to the window, Lilly looked out at the men hanging and, to her horror, watched as Hitler Youth were throwing stones at them and mocking the dead. She thought of the merchant, who cared so little for politics, and Sergeant Wolf, whose only crime was helping others. It was so unbearable to think that they deserved such a cruel fate.

  “Lilly?!” Edith’s voice called out as she was ushered inside the cell.

  “Edith!” Lilly turned towards her, happy to find that she was unharmed, and the two sisters embraced.

  “I’m so glad to see that you’re alright.” Lilly stood back and checked Edith over, making sure she didn’t have any unnoticed wounds.

  “Same with you!” Edith grinned brightly, though Lilly could see that she was tired and hungry. “The major lied. He said that you had left me and escaped.”

  “He’s the great deceiver.” Lilly shook her head. “He’s caught me in a few of his fibs. I’m surprised that he kept his word and brought you here.”

  “I thought he was taking me to be shot!” Edith chuckled for a moment before bursting into tears and trembling.

  “It’s alright!” Lilly threw her arm around Edith. “I’ve got you.”

  “They didn’t say where I was going. They just took me out of the cell and then brought me here.”

  “I said that I’d inform him of the whereabouts of the Jewish family. That’s the only way I could get you to me.”