Irena's War

by Shipman, James D.

  It became obvious from the start that it would be no easy task. There was often a German guard at the entrance to the Aryan side. He would check the papers of each person who came out of the sanctuary and left by the Polish side of the church. This was not an insurmountable problem, so long as she secured her proper paperwork. However, she did not know this man. Did he pay close attention to who came in? Did he watch who entered from the ghetto side? If so, paperwork or no, they would be caught.

  There was also the problem of the worshippers themselves. Were any of them spies? Gestapo? How about the priests? Were they collaborating with the Germans? One thing became patently obvious to Irena. While she might with some luck sneak her small party of five through this route, there was no chance they could move the entire orphanage with hundreds of children through here. Still, Julian had said that was egota’s problem, not hers. She, Jolanta, was to focus on obtaining the paperwork.

  Jolanta. She thought of her code name and couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. It sounded like something out of some bad spy novel. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little proud of herself. She was a soldier now, for the socialist cause. She was attempting to save the lives of others, to craft a new, free Poland for Poles and Jews alike. She thought of her father. She hoped he was watching her from on high. The image made her immensely happy.

  After two days of observation, she felt she knew enough about the church to attempt an escape. She would never be able to handle all the variables. Now for the difficult part. She hadn’t seen Jan since their confrontation in his office when she’d demanded he produce the paperwork she needed. Now she must return to him and see whether he had come through for her, refused, or worse yet, set her up for arrest.

  Irena stepped into his office. Jan was there on the telephone. He motioned for her to sit down. A good sign, she hoped. He talked for a few more minutes and then hung up. He looked up, his face unreadable.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “You know why I’m here.”

  “Oh yes. The paperwork you’ve demanded. The rules you want me to break that put all of us in jeopardy.”

  “You know this is bigger than that at this point.”

  He nodded. “I don’t like you, Irena. I don’t like your politics and your actions. I think you’re doing this for yourself, for your own ego, rather than for the Jews, the Poles, or anyone else.”

  “You don’t have to like me,” she responded, hot emotions swirling through her mind. “You just have to help me.”

  He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a folder. “Five sets,” he said. “All with valid stamps and my signature. You can fill in the blanks.”

  She took them. “Thank you,” she said. “I need hundreds more. Soon.”

  He looked at her in surprise. “What are you talking about?”

  “I can’t tell you much,” she said. “There is a plan afoot to bring out the entire population of Dr. Korczak’s orphanage.”

  Jan whistled. “That would be something. But it sounds impossible. How would you do it?”

  “I don’t have to worry about the logistics,” she said. “I just need the paperwork. Can you provide them?”

  He hesitated. “Look, Irena, giving you five sets of these is dangerous enough. But hundreds? Someone’s going to get caught and they will be coming to me for answers.” He shook his head. “That’s asking too much.”

  “There’s no such thing as too much when lives are on the line,” she responded.

  “You’re right,” he said after a moment. “If they come for me then they come for me. But hundreds,” he said, raising his hands as if overwhelmed by the prospect. “It will take weeks.”

  “That’s all right,” said Irena. “We have a little time. My people are working out their plan. I just need to make sure when the time is right, you’ll be ready.”

  “I’ll do everything I can.”

  “Thank you,” she said, rising to leave.

  “Just be careful, Irena. You can’t just throw this together. If you make a mistake, we both will die.”

  Irena returned to her office. Maria was there, sitting across from her desk. Irena hadn’t had time to talk to her yet since she’d found out about her role with the resistance.

  “I guess I owe you an apology,” she said finally. “I had no idea you were part of—”

  “I’m not part of anything that needs to be discussed here,” snapped Maria.

  Irena stared at her for long moments. “Well, I’m sorry I misjudged you.”

  “I don’t need your apology,” she said, but Irena saw a softening in her eyes. “Just tell me what the plan is. And keep your voice down, for God’s sake.”

  An hour later Irena was in the ghetto. Today would be the day. Now she had to convince her friends to leave with her. She traveled first to the Umschlagplatz. Ala was there, still working in her little corner of the platform, with the rows of bodies pleading for medical attention, for water, or just to die.

  “Hello, Irena,” said Ala, not looking up.

  “I have the paperwork,” whispered Irena.

  Ala turned to her, her face a surprise. She looked like she was going to say something, and then she stopped herself and returned to her work.

  “I’m going to take you out today. You, Rami, Adam, Kaji, and Ewa. Will you come?”

  “I told you, I have work that must be done.”

  “Nachum is here,” said Irena, pointing to the man who stooped over another body a few meters away. “He can carry on without you.”

  Ala shook her head. “I cannot leave him. I refuse to leave them.”

  “Rami then. Will you let me take Rami?”

  Ala kept her head down, refusing to look at Irena. “We’re protected.”

  “Look, Ala, we’ve been through this before. You can’t survive here forever. Now is your chance to get out. Maybe your only chance.”

  Ala rose, turning to Irena. She took Irena’s hands in her own. She smiled and it seemed to Irena that the sun shone behind her, a glimmering shimmer as if she was an angel. “Their lives are bigger than mine. I’m happy for you, Irena. Take your Adam and your Kaji out. Ewa too. I have to stay here, and I cannot bear to be parted from my Rami.”

  Irena realized Ala would not come with her. She’d expected this but she’d had to try. She wasn’t going to give up. “There are plans for more. For something bigger. Can I ask again later?”

  Ala laughed. “You never give up, do you? Yes, my darling friend. You can ask again later. But now I must get back to work. They need me here. Go make your happiness, Irena.”

  They embraced and Irena left her, tears streaming down her face. Ala was so brave. She was sacrificing everything for these people. Irena would not give up on her. She would get her out in the next round or the next. If need be, she might ask egota to abduct Ala. Poland would need women like her when all of this was over.

  She walked the long kilometers back to the orphanage. She was drenched in sweat from the oppressive heat. This summer seemed hotter than any she could ever remember. Just when the suffering of the Jews in this ghetto did not seem like it could get any worse. It was as if nature itself had turned on them.

  She finally arrived at Dr. Korczak’s, already exhausted from a day walking the length and breadth of the ghetto in the scorching heat. Adam and Ewa were waiting for her, along with Kaji. She rushed forward and picked the little girl up, kissing her cheeks over and over. She was surprised by her weight. She was getting older and bigger. “Pretty soon I won’t be able to pick you up at all anymore,” she joked. “Kaji, go play with the others. I need to talk to Uncle Adam and Aunt Ewa.”

  While Kaji ran over to join a game some of the other children were playing, Irena sat down at the table. “I have the documents,” she whispered.

  “Can I see them?” Adam asked.

  Irena reached down into her bag and pulled out the folder. She slid the paperwork over to Adam. “Be careful nobody notices,” she said.

 
Adam opened the folder and scanned the documents, reading each page carefully. When he was finished, he slid the materials back to Irena. “They are perfect,” he said at last. “How do you know the signature for Jan is close enough?”

  “I didn’t forge his signature,” said Irena. “He signed these.”

  “Then he knows what you’re doing?” Ewa asked in alarm. “I thought you believed he’s a collaborator.”

  “He may be,” said Irena. “But he’s afraid of my contacts. He will not betray me.” I pray he won’t betray me. “So you’re both going, correct?”

  “I told you I have to stay with Dr. K,” said Ewa.

  “And he told you to leave.”

  “I won’t leave him. His work here is too important.”

  “There are plenty of adults to assist him. We’ve been through this, Ewa. This is your chance.”

  “Did you ask Ala?” she inquired.

  Irena did not answer.

  “She said no, didn’t she?”

  “Ala has connections here that you will never have,” said Irena. “She is protected. You are not.”

  “That’s not why she stays.” Ewa stood up. “I’m sorry, Irena, but I must refuse. You know I love you more than anything. I want to go with you, just for your sake. But I cannot. I made my commitment to this orphanage, to the doctor. I will not leave them.”

  Irena tried to stop her, but Ewa turned and walked away. She would have followed her, but Adam was still here. She sat back down.

  “I’m not going either,” said Adam.

  “Don’t be a fool,” she said. “I have everything you need right here.”

  “How can I go while they remain behind? How can I leave my family? And these children.”

  “What about our family?” asked Irena. “What about Kaji and me? Will you give all of that up? Will you sacrifice your life?”

  “Ala and Ewa have refused you,” he repeated. His face was a ghostly white and he would not look at her.

  “I don’t care what they’ve decided,” Irena said. “Besides, there are plans to take out everyone.”

  “What?” he said, looking up with interest.

  She told him of egota, Jan, the new paperwork that would be ready in a couple of weeks.

  “No problem, then,” he said. “We can all go out together.”

  “I don’t want to wait for that,” she said. “I want Kaji out now. And you. I’ve waited long enough.”

  He hesitated. He was fumbling, unsure of himself. “You know I’m right,” she insisted. “Please, Adam. I need you. We can leave right now. I have a way out, through the All Saints Church.” She explained her plan, her days of observation.

  “You want to leave this moment?”

  “Yes. I want you to get up, take Kaji’s hand and mine, and save your life.”

  He looked at her for long moments, then turned his eyes downward. “I’m sorry,” he said. “They would not join you. How can I?”

  She felt her heart sink. Still, there was a chance later. “But you will come out with the orphans, right?”

  “Of course, I will. That’s all I want.”

  “Okay then,” she said, partially relieved. She stood up and walked around to him. Putting her arms around his neck, she kissed his head briefly. “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too. Are you going to take Kaji?”

  “Yes.”

  “Right now?”

  “Yes.”

  “You must be careful. In the name of everything holy, you must protect her.”

  “I will, my darling.”

  She squeezed his shoulder and then stepped away from him.

  “Kaji, come to me,” she ordered.

  “Not now,” Kaji protested. “I’m in the middle of a game.”

  Irena stepped over to Kaji and reached down, taking her by the arm. “Now.”

  Kaji rose, still grumbling about the interruption to her play time. Irena chastised her for disobeying, although she was secretly pleased. How wonderful to be innocent, to worry only about your game being ruined when the world was crashing in around you.

  She led Kaji out of the room toward the main entrance. Before she stepped through the door, she turned. Adam was still there, watching them. He gave her a little wave. She waved back and then led Kaji into the street.

  On the walk to the All Saints Church, she kept an eye out for Germans or the Jewish police. The last thing she needed right now was to be confronted and sent to the Umschlagplatz. She had Kaji wait behind a building at each corner until she knew that the streets were clear.

  “I’m hot,” Kaji complained. “I’m thirsty too.”

  “We’ll get water in just a little bit,” she said. “Now remember what I said about this church. Remember what Aunt Ewa taught you? Can you make the cross for me?”

  Kaji made the gesture.

  “That’s perfect, my dear. And the prayers?” Kaji nodded.

  “Good girl. Now we are going to be entering the church in just a few minutes. I need you to do exactly what I tell you. Do you understand?”

  Kaji nodded.

  “What are you two doing here?” She looked up. Wiera was standing there, her hands full of shopping bags. She was smiling and hurrying up to greet them.

  “Hello, Wiera,” Irena said. “We are just going for a walk.”

  “In this heat?” she said, motioning with her arms as she lifted her bags in the air.

  “Watch me,” Kaji said, making the sign of the cross. “See how good I do it?”

  “You did that perfectly,” said Wiera, looking up knowingly at Irena. “You must be going for a very long walk.”

  Irena was horrified, but there was nothing she could do. Besides, she could trust Wiera, couldn’t she? She motioned for the singer to come closer and she whispered in her ear. “We’re leaving, today.”

  Wiera looked around her, her eyes finally setting on the All Saints Church. “I understand,” she said. She put her hands on Kaji’s head. “I pray for you both. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Irena shook her head. “Your prayers are enough.”

  “Irena!” She heard the voice but couldn’t believe it. Adam was there, half running down the street after them. His face was pouring sweat.

  “Are you coming with us?” she asked.

  “Yes.” He looked over at Wiera. “Are you coming out too?” he asked.

  Wiera smiled. “I didn’t know there were invitations. But no, at least not yet.”

  Adam looked confused. “Then . . .”

  “Just a happy coincidence,” she said. She stepped forward and kissed Adam on the cheek. “The best of fortune for all of you.” She gestured at her bags. “I have to go. These are getting terribly heavy.”

  They said their farewells to Wiera and then Irena turned to Adam. She was so excited he was here. “Why did you change your mind?” she asked.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. He took Kaji’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  “Do you need to tell your family?” she asked.

  “I left them a note,” he said. “It’s better that way.”

  She felt the elation flowing through her. This was her family. What she’d always dreamed of. A few more steps and they’d be in the church. In an hour they would be through and on the Aryan side, ready to start their new life.

  “Is that it?” Adam asked, gesturing toward All Saints.

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re sure this is going to work?”

  “I’m positive.” This must work.

  “Okay,” he said, taking her hand as well. “Let’s go.”

  They stepped into the All Saints Church. Irena led them to some holy water, and she dipped her fingers, angling herself so they could both watch her. She made the sign of the cross with her hands and then stood while Adam and Kaji repeated the gesture.

  “Follow me,” she whispered. They made their way up the aisle of the sanctuary. Irena kneeled at one of the pews, making the sign o
f the cross again. She stepped into the aisle and Adam and Kaji followed her, again repeating her gestures. Irena lowered her head in prayer. She stayed that way for a few minutes, willing her heart to slow down so she could concentrate. When she felt a little calmer, she opened her eyes a crack and tilted her head, looking slowly to the left and the right. The sanctuary contained twenty or so other people, some in groups, some sitting alone. They all had their heads down in prayer. A priest stood at the front of the sanctuary, moving objects around in preparation for a later Mass.

  “What are we doing next?” Adam whispered.

  “We wait here,” she responded. “Keep your head down and pretend to pray.”

  “I’m not pretending.”

  She kept her eyes closed, thinking through their next steps. The priest had seen them enter from the ghetto side. She could not risk him calling them out if they headed toward the Aryan entrance. She waited another ten minutes. The priest stepped to a door near the front of the sanctuary and went inside.

  “Now,” she whispered, turning to move away. Adam and Kaji followed her. She moved slowly, not wanting to draw attention to them. She drew deep breaths, keeping her eyes forward. You’re supposed to be here, she thought to herself. You came to pray and now you’re going home with your family to Polish Warsaw. The door was a few meters away. The shouts of alarm she expected any moment did not come. They were going to make it.

  “Irena!”

  She froze. Peter was there. His hulking form filling up the entrance to the church. He was flashing his clumsy smile. “I haven’t seen you in so long. How pretty you look!” He turned to Adam, looking him up and down. “And who is this?”

  “I don’t know him,” she said, fumbling for an answer. “We’re not together.”

  Peter eyed Adam closely, still blocking the entrance. He turned back to Irena, stepping forward and leaving a little space for Adam to pass him. “Who is the little one?”

  “This is Kaji,” Irena said, trying to play along. Adam looked back at her, but she ignored him. If she made eye contact with him Peter would instantly know, and he would be arrested. She saw him hesitate out of the corner of her eye for a few moments longer, and then he moved past. Thank God, she thought. At least he is safe.