The Daughters of Marburg

by Terrance Williamson

  “You did?” Edith looked at her sister with disappointment.

  “Don’t worry,” Lilly whispered, “I won’t say a thing. I just wanted to see you.”

  “No whispering,” Guenther warned.

  “Can I have a moment alone with my sister?” Lilly asked, but he didn’t reply.

  “Please, sir.” Edith turned and pointed to her dress and, to Lilly’s shock, there was fresh blood around her leg. “I’ve cut myself on the cell bar, I think.”

  “I can’t leave you.” Guenther remained resolute.

  “Well, maybe you can help me then?” Edith walked over to him. “I just need some fresh towels or bandages. I’m bleeding a lot, you see and—”

  “I’m not leaving!” Guenther’s face grew red as he shouted.

  “Alright, alright.” Edith held her hands up as she walked away.

  “My poor sister!” Lilly looked at her with sorrow.

  “I’m fine, silly,” Edith grinned as she spoke quietly. “I was hoping that we could get a moment alone. I have something in my dress for you.”

  “You do?” Lilly frowned as she glanced at Guenther, who was looking away. “Quickly, he’s not looking.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Edith swiftly lifted her dress to reveal a sharp, wooden stick strapped to her thigh.

  “What is that?” Lilly frowned.

  “I made a little weapon.” Edith handed it to Lilly.

  “From what?” Lilly shook her head while she concealed it behind her back as she, again, glanced at Guenther.

  “There was a hairbrush in my cell. I broke off the end, and I’ve been sharpening it on the concrete.”

  “I hope you don’t have to use it.” Lilly handed it back to Edith, but she didn’t take it.

  “I…I think that you might.” Edith swallowed.

  “What do you mean?” Lilly shook her head.

  “The major, he’s been, well, he’s been threatening…”

  “Threatening what?” Lilly pressed and grabbed her sister’s shoulder with her free hand.

  “To visit you.” Edith bit her cheek.

  “He’s been here plenty of times.” Lilly squinted.

  “I believe that he means to take more…intimate measures.” Edith swallowed.

  “He said that I wasn’t his preference,” Lilly whispered.

  “In any case”—Edith patted Lilly’s hand— “I think you’ll need it more than I will. Hide it before anyone sees.”

  “Thank you.” Lilly placed the weapon in her undergarments, by her hip.

  “Don’t thank me.” Edith rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m not sure how we’re going to get out of this one.”

  “I do hope that you can forgive me?” Lilly looked sincerely at Edith.

  “Forgive you?” Edith shot her head back in surprise. “I’m the one who needs forgiveness.”

  “I know you never wanted any part of this,” Lilly pressed. “Now you’re in prison, and we’ll likely not make it out.”

  “Don’t speak like that.” Edith held up a finger. “None of this would’ve ever happened had I simply not tried to hurt Papa over something so petty.”

  “You can’t blame yourself for the major’s actions.” Lilly crossed her arms.

  “But I do.” Edith looked disheartened.

  “The major’s sins are on his head and his head alone.” Lilly looked intently into her sister’s eyes. “Don’t you dare think otherwise.”

  “You’re too kind.” Edith smiled as she looked back at her sister but then noticed the window behind her. “Wait?!” she began in a hushed voice, “the major wasn’t lying? You can escape through that window?”

  “I can, but I think that he placed me in this cell with the hopes that I would escape.” Lilly glanced behind her.

  “Then go!” Edith’s eyes bulged as she spoke through gritted teeth. “Let’s go together!”

  “I’m certain that there are men outside the cell.” Lilly shook her head and shot another glance at Guenther who, she noticed, was growing suspicious at their hushed tones. “They’re waiting to follow us to see if we’ll lead them to the Jewish family.”

  “Then why don’t you mislead them? Take them in an opposite direction?”

  “He threatened to send a guard, also named Wilhelm, into your cell for, well…”

  “They’re going to kill us no matter what!” Edith grabbed Lilly and brought her over to the window. “So go! Don’t worry about me!”

  “You’re my deepest worry!” Lilly stopped Edith.

  “What are you doing?!” Guenther tapped his baton against the cell bars.

  “Nothing.” Lilly shook her head.

  “Stop whispering,” Guenther ordered.

  “I’m trying to have a private conversation with my sister.” Edith spun around as she looked indignantly at the guard.

  “Keep that up, and I’ll bash your teeth in.” Guenther pointed the baton at Edith. “You can have all the private conversations you want after that.”

  “I’d like to see you try!” Edith pressed.

  “What are you doing?!” Lilly grabbed Edith’s arm.

  “I’m going to distract him,” Edith whispered. “You can escape while his attention is on me.”

  “I can’t,” Lilly also whispered as she shook her head.

  “Why not?!” Edith’s eyes began to well.

  “I can’t condemn the Jewish family to death.”

  “Then don’t go to them. Get away. Run. I can’t let you die for my mistakes!”

  “I’m not dying because of you!” Lilly scoffed. “This is because of the wicked regime. If I go, they’ll follow me.”

  “You’ll have a better chance than staying in here!”

  “That’s it!” Guenther moaned as he began to unlock the cell.

  “What would they do to you or Wilhelm or Papa?” Lilly shook her head. “I can’t have that on my conscience. I can’t escape and live my life while my family died.”

  “Damn your stubbornness!” Edith shouted. “Do you have any idea of how relieved we would all be knowing that you were alright?!”

  Suddenly, the door swung open, and Guenther rushed inside with his baton at the ready. Charging towards Edith, who was backing into the corner, Guenther raised his weapon and brought it down against her head swiftly.

  Screaming, Edith fell against the concrete wall as Guenther stood over her, repeatedly beating her on the arms, legs, and back. Lilly couldn’t help the tears from flowing as she watched, helplessly, while her sister was struck without mercy.

  “Stop!” Lilly ran over and stood between Guenther and Edith.

  Still, Guenther landed a few more strikes against Edith as he breathed heavily, and Lilly understood that his heart was full of hate.

  Eventually, Guenther ceased his onslaught and raised a finger to Lilly and Edith as he warned them that he would not hesitate to return.

  “Edith!” Lilly wept as she helped her sister sit upright and inspected her wounds.

  “I’m alright, silly.” Edith tried to smile, but her attempt fell flat. “You hit worse than he does.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that!” Lilly grew cross. “That was foolish!”

  “You’re the best of us, my sister.” Edith looked at Lilly. “You should’ve taken your chance.”

  “I think I have a plan.” Lilly took a deep breath.

  “You do?” Edith frowned. “What is it?”

  “I can’t say it without whispering.” Lilly looked at Guenther, who was now pacing menacingly outside their cell.

  “So, have they fed you?” Edith looked around, hoping that maybe some food was available.

  “Not a bite.” Lilly shook her head.

  “Waiter!” Edith called to Guenther, who pursed his lips with rage, “what are the specials today?”

  Edith giggled at Guenther’s expense, and Lilly looked at her in shock, wondering if she had been struck mad. But when Edith continued to laugh, Lilly couldn’t contain herself any longer a
nd began to giggle as well.

  It was an odd thing, Lilly thought, to recognize their victory. Guenther had beaten Edith severely, yet he had failed in crushing her spirit, and it enraged him.

  “Speaking of food, that dish I made at the Society was awful.” Lilly sat beside her sister. “Hard to believe that was my last meal.”

  “It was an offense, really.” Edith chuckled. “What I would give now to eat it, though. I’m starting to feel the hunger, and it’s only been, what, a day?”

  Lilly remained silent as she watched her sister. She thought of the trials they had endured together over the years and the wound they both carried in losing their mother.

  “What are you thinking about?” Edith asked as she looked at Lilly curiously.

  “Mother.” Lilly gave a brief, sorrowful grin.

  “If she was still here, I doubt we would have left Berlin.” Edith looked at the ceiling as she pondered.

  “I would’ve never met Wilhelm.” Lilly also mused on the differing possibilities that life could’ve presented.

  “I think I would’ve preferred to remain in my ignorance.” Edith shook her head. “We’re going to die for our ‘enlightenment.’”

  “We had a good life, you know”—Lilly looked tearfully at her sister— “and I got to experience it with you.”

  “Mother would’ve been proud of you.” Edith stretched out and took Lilly’s hand in hers.

  “What makes you say that?” Lilly’s heart nearly burst at the unexpected compliment.

  “You follow your conscience without restraint.” Edith gave a brief smile. “Maybe it’s because you’re merely young and ignorant, but you don’t waver from the path. I think, Lilly, that you’re an exceptionally decent person, and I wish that I were more like you.”

  “Oh, Edith,” Lilly spoke as the tears formed, “that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

  “It’s not sweet. It’s the truth,” Edith spoke plainly as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

  Again, Lilly returned to watching her sister. She wasn’t ignorant as to how little time she had left with Edith, and Lilly didn’t want to miss a moment.

  “Remember that time,” Edith began to chuckle, “when Mother wrecked the vehicle?”

  “Papa was furious!” Lilly laughed heartily.

  “Worst of all, Mother tried to disguise the damage.” Edith smiled. “What was it she ran into again?”

  “Not into, but rather, over.” Lilly shook her head. “It was one of those little concrete pole things that stuck out of the ground on the corner of the street. The woman refused to wear glasses, and she kept nicking the end of it because she was practically blind. It’s a mystery she never killed anyone.”

  “I remember the look on Papa’s face when he saw the damage.” Edith again laughed. “He was suspicious of Mother for a while, and I’m still surprised that she even tried to pass that one off.”

  “What was it she said again, when he asked if it was her?” Lilly squinted.

  “She said…oh, what did she say?” Edith frowned. “Oh, right! She said that if he suspected it was her, she would do it on purpose next time so that there was no doubt.”

  “Ha! She had her witty moments, didn’t she?” Lilly stared at the ceiling.

  Suddenly, the door to the corridor opened, and Lilly and Edith stood quickly as the major returned with his escort.

  “Where are your Jews?” the major asked with waning patience.

  “My sister stays with me tonight,” Lilly demanded.

  “No.” The major shook his head.

  “Then I’m not saying a word.” Lilly stood tall and defiant.

  “Listen.” The major opened the cell door but paused when he spotted Edith in her poor state. “I don’t think you understand how this works.”-

  “I think I understand perfectly.” Lilly crossed her arms. “Your superiors are growing impatient. All I need to do is wait them out.”

  “I’ve played this game before.” The major walked over to Lilly and stood before her as the stench of alcohol oozed out of his pores. “You’re going to make more and more demands and never tell me the truth.”

  “I just need more time with my sister, that’s all.” Lilly raised her hands to defend herself. “I promise, Major Wagner, I will reveal everything.”

  Studying Lilly and Edith for a moment, the major seemed unresolved if he should believe them. The anxious moments passed by as the major simply stared at them, and Lilly felt her throat tightening with apprehension and thirst.

  Slowly reaching over, as if to test if she were permitted, Lilly took Edith’s hand in hers, and the two sisters held on to each other tightly.

  “I’m jealous of you girls.” The major sighed as he looked down at their hands.

  “Pardon?” Lilly cleared her throat.

  “I never had siblings.” The major turned and grabbed the chair as he sat and, by his manner, Lilly understood that he was exhausted. “Well, I did, but I never knew them.”

  Lilly glanced at Edith who, she noticed, was equally unsure of what to do or say. With a man of Major Wagner’s disposition, Lilly didn’t know what to expect.

  “Did you know that Wagner isn’t even my surname?” The major stared off into oblivion. “I can’t even remember what it was, to be honest. My mother, with all her brutality, is dead, along with the name she gave me. Do you know why I changed my name?”

  Lilly and Edith shook their heads quickly.

  “After I killed my mother,” the major spoke plainly as he removed his knife and began picking the dirt from under his nails, “I ran away. I found a convent and hid there for a time. I thought I was being sneaky, but the nuns were aware of my presence. They understood I was shy, or running from something, so they allowed me to retain the impression that I was invisible to them. Every day, at lunch, Sister Margaret would play Wagner on the gramophone. She would sing, poorly but heartily, to the magnificent accompaniment.”

  Still, Lilly and Edith remained silent and, truthfully, Lilly was rather intrigued by this story. There was no redeeming quality to this wicked man, but she hoped to find something to use against him.

  “One day, Sister Margaret decided it was time for her to introduce herself to me.” The major closed his eyes, and Lilly felt the weapon by her hip, judging if she could use it against him. With so many guards, Lilly thought she might not be able to reach him in time. Besides, she had an alternative plan and couldn’t possibly jeopardize what she perceived as a guaranteed opportunity.

  “Instead of putting a record on, she stood, patiently, with her hands folded in front of her and staring in my direction, right where I was hiding.” The major narrowed his gaze as he envisioned himself back in the convent. “I knew she was waiting for me. Slowly, I approached her, and she asked my name. I was scared, so instead of telling her who I really was, I glanced at the record on the gramophone, and I told her I was Wagner. Tristan Wagner, to be precise. I thought I was rather clever, but despite the fact that she knew I was fibbing, she called me little Wagner. From then on, she put me to work. That was the happiest time of my life.” The major paused, and Lilly thought that perhaps she saw tears in his eyes. “That was the only person in my life who, truly, was kind to me, unconditionally. She would play Wagner every day without fail, and I would listen to the glorious, triumphant entry of the gods into Valhalla. Then, the war came, and I forgot God, Sister Margaret, and even my real name, but I never forgot Wagner. I expect, when I die, that I shall hear one of his compositions in all its glory.”

  “Major Wagner!” a shout came from down the corridor. “We found some Jews hiding out in St. Elizabeth’s.”

  “Send Captain Becker,” the major called back.

  “He was shot, sir.”

  “Shot?” the major spun and left the cell. “How?”

  “We’re investigating that, still.”

  “Are these your Jews?” the major asked Lilly.

  Lilly paused as she reflected. If
she lied and said that it was, in fact, them, then the major would be unreservedly cruel to her for lying. If she said it wasn’t them, then the major would know that Lilly’s family was still in hiding.

  “I’ll find out soon enough.” The major waved as he grew impatient and then pointed towards her as he stood and began walking away. “Tonight, when I return, you’ll tell me everything, or I’ll kill your family in front of your eyes.”

  Chapter Nineteen:

  Prey

  “Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don’t let our people have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?”

  Joseph Stalin

  “It’s nice to have company for a change, besides our guard, Guenther, here.” Lilly held on tight to Edith as the two cuddled in the corner to try and shelter themselves from the cold winter air. The day had brought on more bearable temperatures, but the night was approaching and, with it, the intolerable conditions.

  “That it is. I wonder how Papa is doing?” Edith glanced at Lilly with worry. “He’s barely healed. I can’t imagine he would be able to endure much more.”

  “Do you think they arrested him as well?” Lilly frowned.

  “I can’t see why they wouldn’t. If what you say is true, and Major Wagner knows about our scheme, then I believe our fate is sealed.”

  Lilly and Edith returned to silence as they held onto each other. The consequences of their actions hung gravely over Lilly’s mind, and she assumed that Edith was consumed with the same trepidation for what awaited them.

  “What do you think happens after death?” Lilly asked bluntly after a moment.

  “I don’t know.” Edith looked at Lilly, full of compassion. “What do you think?”

  “I’m not certain, either.” Lilly shook her head. “Still, I don’t mean to sound too insane, but I’ve felt Mother’s presence lately.”

  “Really?” Edith tilted her head. “In what way?”

  “Ever since we came to Marburg, there’s been this comfort in my spirit, especially in dangerous situations. I first experienced the sensation while we were in the market, when the soldiers surrounded us. I was terrified.” Lilly looked at the concrete ceiling as she recalled what now felt like a distant memory. “I remember this warmth that entered my chest. I’m convinced Mother was consoling me.”