The Voyage: A Historical Novel set during the Holocaust, inspired by real events

by Roberta Kagan

  “That’s good…”

  “You are not going to die, Papa. Not for a while anyway,” Viktor said. “So you should at least make some effort to take care of yourself.”

  “Yes, yes, I know. Axel has made us very proud. He’s enlisted.”

  “Mother told me.”

  “You don’t approve?” his father asked.

  “It’s not that. It’s just that I’m not sure Hitler is as good for Germany as all of you might think he is.”

  “He is good for Germany. Since he’s come in to power things are much better for us, much better. When I am not sick, and I can work, I actually have some customers. People have a little bit of money to spend now.”

  “Perhaps, but still he is a cruel madman. Do you realize what he is doing to the Jews? To the Gypsies, to the Jehovah’s Witnesses? To anyone he doesn’t approve of?”

  “What do I care about this? I have enough trouble taking care of my family. Now I should worry about Jews and Gypsies? Don’t be an idealist, Viktor. Join the navy and make a career for yourself. Help to rebuild the Fatherland. God knows, Germany needs this.”

  His father began coughing again. Viktor patted his back. He knew that his mother would be in agreement with his father, so Viktor decided that it would be best if neither of his parents ever knew that Elke was Jewish.

  That Saturday as planned Viktor walked the three blocks to the pub to meet Olof. They usually met around noon, had lunch followed by a few beers. Viktor waited all day. Olof never came.

  Over the next several weeks, Viktor did what he could to help his parents while he waited to hear from Olof. He needed those papers, but he’d also begun to worry about Olof. He’d put Olof in danger asking him to see a forger. Had Olof been arrested? Viktor agonized over all the what-ifs, but he dared not mention anything about it to anyone, not even to his mother…

  Remarkably, at his age, and despite the haphazard way he took care of himself, his father’s health began to improve. He regained his color and his strength, and within a couple of weeks he was able to return to work.

  Viktor called Olof, leaving several messages with his family, but received no reply. He had no idea where to begin to look for other avenues to purchase forged papers, and he dared not trust anyone. Time was passing and Viktor had to take some kind of action, so he finally decided that he would return to Belgium without the papers, marry Elke and stay in Belgium where she would be safe. It would be hard to leave his parents, especially with his brother gone, but he could not find another solution. When he could he would visit, but he knew that if Elke did not have papers, he would be forced to come alone. His family would probably never know his wife.

  Viktor packed everything he thought he might need. He spent hours sitting on the floor of his room and going through his old box of memories. His diploma when he graduated from gymnasium. A photo of his brother and him in front of a Christmas tree in the town square when his brother was only ten and he was only eight. The edges of the paper had turned yellow, but Viktor could still see his brother’s eyes, and if he thought hard enough he could still feel Axel’s arm around his shoulder. Oh, Axel, don’t die in the army. Please come back safe…

  There were ribbons he’d won in competitions when he’d been in the Hitler Youth. How little he really knew about the Nazi Party then. He’d spouted the propaganda like all of the other boys, but he’d not realized what it meant. Now he did. And now he knew that he could never truly be a Nazi. He squeezed one of the red ribbons in his hand, and then opened his palm to look at it. In the center of the award was a swastika. Viktor wanted to burn the ribbon, to see it go up in flames before his eyes. But his mother would surely smell the smoke and come into his room to investigate, and he didn’t’ feel like explaining. Once he was fully packed and ready he decided to give Olof one more week before he departed from Germany, leaving behind everyone and everything he had known all of his life.

  Almost a month had passed and Viktor had still received no word from Olof. He began to worry about Elke. He’d left her alone, and they had not had any communication since he’d left Belgium. He prayed that she was safe and hoped that she still wanted him. But things could happen; another man could have come into her life. He wanted to call and tell her that he planned to return without the papers and live with her permanently in Belgium. If he reassured her, then perhaps she would continue to wait, that is if he were not already too late.

  He dialed the number of the hotel where he had left her. He expected the girl Lara to answer, but instead a man answered and claimed he did not know anyone by the name of Elke Berman. Now Viktor was even more distressed. Either she was using an alias, or she had gone off with another man, or God forbid, she could be in trouble. Perhaps, she’d been forced to leave the hotel. Where would she go and how would he find her? He went to the telegraph station and sent a wire, being careful not to reveal anything illegal. When she did not answer the wire, he knew he must make his way back to Belgium immediately. He would not wait another minute.

  Chapter 126

  .

  Walking back to the hotel, Elke caressed her belly. If she had to rely on her savings it would diminish fast, but she couldn’t help the situation. If she wanted this child, she must quit her job. When she’d told Dr. Moens what she did for a living he’d said that the work was far too heavy for a woman in her condition.

  Elke arrived back at her room, out of breath and still bleeding badly. She lay down upon her bed and stared at the ceiling. Where was Viktor? Would he ever return?

  In the morning, her face pale as an Easter lily, she went downstairs and quit her job, and then she paid for the room for the next month. As she peeled the bills off, her small pile of money looked much smaller.

  The entire day she stayed in bed. The cramps increased and grew more painful.

  Chapter 127

  The morning Viktor planned to leave, Olof knocked on the door of his parents home.

  “Olof, where have you been? I’ve been waiting and trying to reach you.”

  “I was trying to get the papers for you, but my friend was arrested. The Gestapo caught him working with some underground agency. I don’t know where they’ve sent him.”

  “So you should have come by and told me.”

  “I should have. But I was afraid, considering I’d just met with my friend the night before he was caught. I thought they might be watching me and since you are trying to get papers, I decided it would be best you have as little association with me as possible until all of it settled down.“

  “So I am assuming that you cannot help me find anyone else to draw up papers?”

  “The strange thing is I can. One of the men who work with the organization that my friend was affiliated with has contacted me. He said my friend had asked him forge these papers for you before he was arrested. He is willing to it, but he wants a great deal of money. Viktor, are you sure this is what you want? You are home now. You will find another girl, and you will fall in love again. This one is too much trouble. You could end up in a work camp. And certainly you will end up broke buying these papers. He wants 200 Reichsmarks. That’s a lot of money, and we didn’t earn anywhere close to that amount working on the last two voyages.”

  “I’m sure. I want the papers. I will get the money one way or another.”

  “Viktor?” Olof looked at him. Their eyes connected and then Olof shook his head, grabbing Viktor’s shoulder. “If this is what you want… You’re 100 percent sure?”

  “It is. I am sure of it. How soon can it be done?”

  Viktor borrowed money from his parents, from every friend he had, including Olof, and even from the priest he’d known all of his life, to whom he confessed the entire operation. The priest was kind and understanding, willing to help, but very concerned about Viktor’s safety. They prayed together. Then Viktor took all the money he’d put together and went to see Olof.

  “I have the money.”

  Olof took the envelope. “I’ll bring this to him to
night. Then I’ll come by your house tomorrow.”

  The following day Olof arrived early in the morning. Viktor’s parents were still asleep when the knock on the door awakened Viktor.

  Olof came in.

  “Her name will be Edda Beckenbauer. She will be a Catholic.”

  Viktor nodded.

  “I will have the papers tonight. It might be late, but as soon as I get them, I will bring them to your home. I’ll come to your window and knock, so that I don’t wake your parents. The way we used to do it when we wanted to escape and go fishing when we were kids.”

  “I remember, and I will be waiting.”

  True to his word, Olof arrived at a little past eleven the following evening, papers in hand. “God be with you, my friend. Please be careful,” Olof said. Viktor reached through the window and took the papers; then he tucked them inside of his socks, burying them deep within his suitcase.

  “I will, and Olof, I don’t know how I can ever thank you. But as soon as I find work, I will pay back every penny you gave me.”

  “I’m not worried about the money. I don’t care about it. Just be careful, and for God sake don’t get caught.”

  “Olof, the first train ticket I was able to get was for the day after tomorrow, would you come with me to the pub tomorrow night? I’d like to buy you a few beers.”

  “How could I turn down a drink?” Olof smiled. “Although I’m surprised you still have any money left at all.”

  “I hardly have any. But I still want to say goodbye and thank you.”

  “Well, maybe you’ll let me buy the beer,”Olof said.

  “We’ll see. I will miss you, my friend. I will miss our days at sea together,”Viktor said.

  “As will I.”

  Chapter 128

  The night before Viktor was to leave for Belgium, Viktor and Olof went to the same pub they had been going to all of their lives. For Viktor, not only was he saying farewell to his friend, but also goodbye to his bachelorhood. They sat at a table with red and white checked tablecloths and drank mugs of thick dark beer. They’d grown up on this brew, so the bitter taste brought back memories for both of them.

  “So, you’re sure you are never going back out to sea?” Olof asked.

  “I don’t think so. I will be a married man now.”

  “She’s a beautiful girl, but Viktor, you’ve been a sailor your entire life. You know how much we have enjoyed our travels together. How can you throw it all away now? My God, you are giving up so much, and for a woman?”

  “Because I am in love.”

  Olof laughed. “Love’s like a disease, my friend. And you have been struck with it. In fact I think you might have the worst case I’ve ever seen.”

  “It’s wonderful. I hope it happens to you someday,” Viktor said.

  “Please spare me. I’m not looking for anything like this. I would rather have several different girls than one permanent one. Too much work.” Olof laughed again. “But I must admit you do look very happy and for that I am truly glad.”

  “I will think of you often, Olof. I’ll remember all the fun we had together”

  “Yes, we certainly had some good times and got into plenty of trouble, too. Remember that girl in France, the one with the red hair? And the night when we all got drunk in her apartment and she did that crazy little dance?”

  “I’m trying not to remember. I’ve gone respectable,” Viktor laughed.

  Olof laughed too. “It was fun anyway.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you for what you have done, getting these papers for Elke,” Viktor said.

  “No need to thank me. I only did what anyone would do for a best friend. If the shoe was on the other foot you would have done the same for me.”

  “You’re right. I would have. No doubt about it.”

  Olof took a sip of beer. “How truly strange life is. When were chosen as the crew for that ship of Jews I would never have dreamt that you would fall in love with one of them.”

  “If you only knew her better, you would understand.”

  “I saw her. She is stunning, but this is your entire life. Sleeping with a pretty girl is one thing, but marriage? I’m sorry, but I have to ask you just one more time. Are you sure about all of this, Viktor?”

  “More sure about marrying her than anything I have ever done before in my entire life.”

  “So,” Olof said, “if you are not going back out to sea what will you do?”

  “Find a job, I suppose. Neither of us has much money, so I am going to have to think of something.”

  “And we always swore that we could never give up the sea…” Olof said.

  “Yes, the sea is like a woman. You fall in love with her depth and beauty. But the only thing that can make you forget one woman is another. And I have found a woman I love far more than the ocean, a woman who makes my heart beat faster, stirs my blood, and fills me with a sense of purpose.”

  “Have you become a poet too?” Olof laughed. “So where is my friend Viktor? Has he been possessed by Shakespeare?”

  “No, Olof, just by love.”

  “Well, who am I to say. Perhaps I will fall in love one day.” Olof shrugged. “Let’s hope not.” Then he took a gulp of beer and smiled at Viktor. “Would you mind if I saw you off tomorrow morning at the train station? I have a little something for you, a gift. I forgot to bring it with me tonight.”

  “Of course not. I would welcome seeing you.”

  “What time does your train leave?”

  “Eight o’clock in the morning. Are you sure you want to come after a full night of drinking?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Chapter 129

  Viktor stood on the platform waiting to board the train. A cool breeze filtered through the station, as the sun had just risen and had yet to warm the earth. He’d arrived at seven in case Olof came early, but there was no sign of his friend. Viktor decided that Olof had probably changed his mind about getting out of bed after the late night they’d had. The large round clock on the wall said five minutes to eight. Viktor assumed his friend wouldn’t make it before he left.

  “All aboard!” the conductor cried out. “Have your papers ready for inspection.”

  Viktor had his papers in his front pocket. He knew there would be no problem. He was pure German, Aryan as they had come to call it.

  “Next!” the man at the boarding desk called.

  Viktor presented him the papers. He nodded his okay, and Viktor lifted his suitcase and stepped up the stairs on to the train. He slid into a window seat and gazed out at the train station. The next time he came to Germany he would be a married man. Strange how life could be… As he drifted off, daydreaming of Elke, the train let out a whistle and then rumbled to life. He prayed that he had not left Germany too late, and that he had not lost Elke by leaving her alone for so long. Soon he would be in Belgium, and if she still loved him, and he hoped with all of his heart that she did, he would take Elke into his arms and make love to her until they both were so worn out that they had to get some sleep. He missed her terribly.

  Outside, Olof came running across the platform. Viktor saw him through the window, and leaned forward as if he could reach out and touch him, but the train was already beginning to move, so he waved. Olof did not see Viktor. Instead, Olof was looking around frantically as is something had gone wrong. Then two Gestapo agents came running onto the platform. They grabbed Olof’s arms. Viktor could not hear the conversation, but he saw the panic on his friends face and jumped up to get off the train. However, the train had begun to pick up speed. Viktor watched in horror as the Gestapo took Olof away, and the train pulled out of the station.

  Viktor sunk back into his seat. His heart was racing so fast he felt dizzy. What had happened? Had Olof been caught? How? Why? What had gone wrong? Now what would happen to Olof? Would he be questioned? Sent to a work camp? Killed? And all of this for me? What if the Gestapo tortured Olof and forced him to tell them about Elke and the papers? Would the
y come as far as Belgium to find both of them, and did Hitler have any power there? He had no answers, only terrifying questions. Perhaps he should never go to back to her, never bring her the papers. Maybe the Nazis were following him, too, to see where he went and who he met. That would be just like them. Sweat began to trickle down his brow. Worse yet, maybe they already knew everything and had arrested Elke. Maybe that was why the hotel clerk did not find her name registered. Could the Nazis arrest Elke if she were in Belgium? He had no idea. He didn’t think that they could, but what if they did or if they just took her? Elke. He couldn’t leave her there in Belgium all alone. He would go to her, and no matter what happened they would face it together.

  Chapter 130

  Every time the train stopped at a station on its way to Antwerp, the guards checked Viktor’s papers. Although he tried to remain calm, he found his hands trembling as he handed the documents over to be scrutinized. Viktor watched the guards’ faces and wondered if they were searching for him, if the guards at the stops had been alerted. A thin line of sweat ran down the side of Viktor’s face. He wanted to grab the papers, jump off the train, and run as fast as he could. The pounding in his ears made him feel as if he might vomit.

  But then the guard just handed Viktor his papers, nodded, and went on to the next rider.

  “Papers…” the guard said. The man in the seat in behind Viktor handed the guard his documents.

  The guard nodded, and then went on to the next person.

  Viktor sighed, his body relaxing for the moment with relief.

  Finally the train arrived in Belgium. The ride from Antwerp to Luxemburg was far less nerve-racking; after all, he was no longer under Nazi rule. He could loosen up a little. However, his nagging worries would not allow him to sleep.

  It was close to midnight when Viktor arrived at the hotel where he’d last seen Elke. He climbed the stairs to the little room that they shared and knocked on the door painted red. She answered almost instantly, as if she had not been asleep at all.