Righteous Fury: Sequel to The Mistress of Auschwitz (Book 2 of 3) Page 4

  “I want momma,” the girl spoke, but her voice was harsh and raspy.

  “I can imagine that you do,” Eleonore spoke as an immense pity swelled within her.

  “Do you know where she is?” the girl looked intently into Eleonore’s eyes.

  “No,” Eleonore shook her head, wishing that she did, “but the officer will help you find her.”

  “What?” the girl asked, her mind searching for comprehension.

  “The officer that was here with us,” Eleonore pointed at the spot where Hanns had been standing, “he will help you find her.”

  “Do you know where she is?” the girl asked again.

  “I wish that I did,” Eleonore patted her shoulder, and, in that instant, she understood the familiarity. Something about this girl, something not entirely concrete, reminded her of Ella. There was a powerful wrath hidden underneath exotic beauty. This girl was a fighter, she just didn’t know it yet.

  “What’s your name?” Eleonore moved off the cot and knelt before the girl.

  “Hannah,” the girl replied shyly.

  “And your last name?”

  “Kerestesh,” the girl replied.

  “Hungarian?” Eleonore threw her lips upside down. “You speak German quite well.”

  Hannah returned to a blank expression and Eleonore assumed that she was thinking again of her mother.

  “Come up here,” Eleonore returned to the cot and patted the spot beside her as she sat on the edge, but Hannah refused to even acknowledge her presence.

  I’m not sure how to talk to her, Eleonore thought. I feel like there’s some trick or phrase I should be saying.

  “You miss your mom?” Eleonore persisted.

  At this, Hannah welled up and began to sob.

  Now I’ve done it, Eleonore grew crimson with embarrassment. What a stupid thing to say. Of course she misses her.

  “Come here,” Eleonore held her hands out, but Hannah pulled away violently.

  Sighing, Eleonore slapped her hands against her thighs in defeat. They should’ve asked me first before leaving her alone with me, she shook her head. Think, Eleonore, what did you like as a girl?

  “Do you know that I make dresses?” Eleonore leaned in.

  Still, Hannah continued to sob, but she gave a glance of interest and that was enough for Eleonore to continue.

  “I owned my own shop in Berlin. Do you know what it was called?”

  Hannah shook her head as she calmed a little and looked expectantly at Eleonore.

  “La Venezia. Do you know what that means?”

  “Venice,” Hannah spoke through sniffles.

  “That’s right! How did you know that?”

  “Father showed me pictures,” Hannah began but broke into sobs again. “Have you seen the pictures?”

  You poor thing, Eleonore’s heart broke for the child, and for all the children who had been robbed of their lives and their families.

  “We’ll find your mother,” Eleonore whispered and held out her hand to Hannah who looked at her outstretched hand, judging if she could trust her. Eventually, the girl took hold and Eleonore hoisted Hannah onto the cot to sit beside her.

  “Big dresses?” Hannah mumbled.

  “What’s that?” Eleonore leaned in.

  “The dresses, were they big?”

  “The biggest,” Eleonore exaggerated with her voice.

  Hannah smiled a little and Eleonore noticed her leg start to sway a bit. She marveled at how adaptive children were. The bulldozer roared outside the tent, stirring dust into the air. Yet Eleonore was able to distract Hannah and shelter her, to a degree, from the horror just outside the tent.

  Chapter Three:

  Purpose

  “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  “Eleonore,” Hanns whispered.

  “What’s wrong?” Eleonore awoke and opened her eyes slowly as she looked at him.

  “We need to go,” Hanns offered her his hand to help her up.

  “Go where?” Eleonore became confused.

  Although half asleep, she noticed that the medical tent was empty, and she was the only one left. In fact, the tent had been stripped bare and her cot was all that remained. She wondered how everyone had vacated without disturbing her. She felt a chill on her arms, and she shivered as a wind rushed through the empty tent.

  “Come,” Hanns grabbed her hand forcefully and led her out.

  “You’re hurting me!” Eleonore tried to break free, but his grip was too strong.

  “Where are we going?” Eleonore looked up at Hanns as they walked through the camp, which was also deserted, but he didn’t reply as he stared blankly at something in the distance.

  Curious as to what had stolen his attention, Eleonore looked in the direction of his gaze when she noticed that they had suddenly left the camp and were walking in a dry, vacant wasteland. The sky above was darkened with black, wrathful storm clouds and the earth at their feet was coarse, gray sand stretching for miles in all directions. They were isolated from the world, and a loneliness began to crush Eleonore’s soul.

  Then, in the distance, Eleonore noticed a single building situated on a hill. In her heart, Eleonore knew what it was, but she prayed that she was mistaken. It was Cell Block 11 and she understood that she would spend eternity suffering in that standing cell.

  “Hanns!” Eleonore panicked. “Stop! Please!”

  She looked up at him for mercy, but her heart gave out when Hanns looked back at her and his face transformed into that of Commandant Hoess. A wicked smile grew on Rudolph’s face knowing the torment that he would bring her.

  Eleonore tried to run away, but her legs were locked on some sort of track and she had no control over her movement. Then, in an instant, they were before Cell Block 11 and Rudolph grabbed her by the arm as the metal doors opened by themselves to reveal a dark, bottomless pit. Screams and wailing arose from within and the terrible clanking of metal against metal echoed from the inmates trapped inside.

  Rudolph grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her towards him as he looked at her with a lustful gaze. Repulsed, Eleonore turned away, but he grabbed her by the jaw with a coarse, blood-stained hand and forced her to look at him. Then, with one hand gripping the back of her head, Rudolph took his free hand and clasped it over her mouth and nose. Eleonore looked up at him with fearful eyes, but there would be no clemency as he began to suffocate her.

  Eleonore shot awake.

  Sitting upright, Eleonore looked around to see that she was still in the medical tent and the dream was nothing more than a fabrication, however real it felt. Apart from the pale orange light hanging from the entrance, the tent was completely dark, and Eleonore noticed only a couple of nurses quietly checking on the patients.

  Pondering as to the meaning of the dream, and wondering what time of night it was, Eleonore laid back down but was surprised by a lump beside her which groaned slightly at being disturbed. Hannah! Eleonore recalled and gently inspected the girl to see that she was still sleeping soundly.

  A smile crept onto Eleonore’s face as she watched the sweet girl. Eleonore ran her hand over the girl’s bald head as she slept peacefully, glad that she found her as a source of comfort. A part of Hannah reminded Eleonore of Rudolph’s daughter and she marveled at how different their existence was. Because of the coincidence of birth, one lived in paradise while the other was forced to endure hell.

  “Can I help you?” a nurse called, and Eleonore looked up to see that Hanns had slipped into the medical tent.

  “No,” Hanns spoke in a hushed tone and pointed towards Eleonore, “I’m here for her.”

  “For what purpose?” the nurse crossed her arms and examined Hanns guardedly. She spoke so loudly that Eleonore was surprised that she hadn’t disturbed the other patients.

  “That’s classified,” Hanns replied
briefly as he brushed past the nurse.

  “Classified?!” the nurse huffed and then walked briskly to the exit. “I’ll go call the doctor.”

  “No, wait!” Hanns turned towards the nurse but she had already left.

  “What are you doing here?” Eleonore asked.

  “We have to go, now!” Hanns whispered harshly and looked around to make sure no one else would question his purpose.

  “Where?” Eleonore asked, not entirely awake yet, and the image of Rudolph was still lingering. Her body was tense, both from the disturbing sleep and from the stress of her recent and forced abortion.

  “Where do you think?” Hanns grew impatient and pulled Eleonore to sit upright as she winced at the sudden movement. “Can you carry her?”

  Eleonore shook her head apologetically and Hanns grunted as he picked up Hannah who stirred and whined but fell back asleep with her head on his shoulder.

  “The truck is waiting,” Hanns held open the flap to the medical tent and Eleonore noticed that the sun had not yet risen.

  Truck? What truck? Eleonore frowned, but then she spotted a military transport waiting near the gates. A man was sitting in the driver’s seat with his hands gripping the steering wheel and his eyes were wide and panicked.

  “Hey!” the nurse shouted after them. She had made good on her promise and was now returning with the doctor who looked less than pleased.

  “Quickly,” Hanns gripped Eleonore’s arm firmly and sped her on.

  Swiftly, they reached the truck and Hanns let down the tailgate as he checked over his shoulder to gauge the distance between themselves and this persistent nurse. Hanns placed Hannah down gently, and Eleonore marveled at her ability to remain sleeping, and then climbed into the back herself. Sitting on the bench, Eleonore pulled Hannah onto her lap and rested her head on her shoulder.

  “You didn’t say anything about her,” the man in the driver’s seat whispered sternly to Hanns with somewhat awkward German. He carried an accent, but the pronunciation, at least, was accurate.

  Glancing at the man, Eleonore caught his sharp, dread-filled eyes in the rear-view mirror.

  “Just drive,” Hanns whispered back.

  “I don’t like this, Howard,” the driver shook his head. “I need to know what’s going on.”

  “She has agreed to help us,” Hanns explained briskly, “so I’m helping her.”

  “And who is she?”

  “Someone who has invaluable information on Rudolph Hoess.”

  “Is that right?” the driver turned around and faced Eleonore as he studied her with growing interest.

  “Now, can we go?” Hanns pointed impatiently.

  “Alright, alright,” the driver threw his hands in the air and put the truck into drive. “I just want to be informed is all.”

  “Just keep quiet,” Hanns spoke over his shoulder to Eleonore. “Strictly speaking, it’s not permitted for me to take you out of the camp.”

  Eleonore’s heart began to race, and her stomach churned as the truck jumped to a start and made its short trek to the gates. She had been sent to Auschwitz by the deceitfulness of a man she thought she could trust, and she wondered if being captured trying to escape would land her in another prison. Though, she assumed, the Allies would be much more lenient. I just need to get out, Eleonore rubbed her eyes.

  Stopped by the guards at the gate, Hanns handed them some papers which they checked over thoroughly. Straightening her back, Eleonore peeked out the front of the truck and caught the sight of the guard sifting through the documents. Yet, to Eleonore, these guards still seemed shell-shocked by the day’s events and she wondered if they were even conscious of what they were reading. The guard gave a rather unconvinced look up at Hanns and then called to his fellow guard.

  I wish I knew English better, Eleonore huffed as she bounced her leg anxiously. Though I suppose I didn’t believe I would ever have use for it.

  “Stop them!” a distant shout echoed throughout the camp and Eleonore spotted the nurse closing in.

  At this, the guard asked Hanns and the driver a few heated questions which Eleonore gathered by their reactions that the fabrication was quickly falling apart.

  Hanns began shouting at the guards and an intense exchange took place which only increased her anxiety. Then, one of the guards raised his rifle and aimed it directly at Hanns. A small cry escaped from Eleonore and she clasped her hand over her mouth to stifle any further outburst.

  “Go, go, go!” Hanns shouted to the driver who floored the gas pedal and they sped out of the camp.

  “Get down!” Hanns shouted to Eleonore who obeyed without hesitation and lay flat on her back on the bench, waking up Hannah who began to cry at the disturbance and the shock of not knowing where she was.

  “It’s alright,” Eleonore tried to calm Hannah down while she waited for the bullets to pepper the back of the truck.

  After what felt like an age, Eleonore realized that no shots had been fired. She glanced up at Hanns who had turned around in his seat and was looking nervously out the back.

  “I think we’re in the clear,” Hanns breathed a heavy sigh of relief and then began to chuckle and laugh.

  “You could’ve handled that better,” the driver berated Hanns.

  “What was that about?!” Eleonore shouted over Hannah’s crying.

  “I forged some papers for you,” Hanns rubbed his cheeks which were growing sore from laughter.

  “What kind of papers?” Eleonore frowned.

  “Travel papers,” Hanns settled a little but still had a large grin. “They are required to travel anywhere in Europe. I guess they were poor imitations. I really thought they were going to shoot us,” Hanns turned to the driver and burst into laughter again.

  Still, the driver was unamused, as was Eleonore.

  “So, what does that mean for me?” Eleonore sat up again on the bench and tried to rock Hannah who was still crying. “How am I to travel anywhere without papers?”

  “We’ll sort something out,” Hanns shrugged and then pointed to the driver. “This solemn creature is Lieutenant Colonel Genn, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Eleonore said quickly, and Genn gave a quick nod in reply.

  “Where are we heading?” Eleonore asked Hanns.

  “First, to find the girl’s mother,” Hanns answered.

  “You know where she is?” Eleonore asked with surprise. She had assumed that such a feat was impossible and, likely, that Hannah would be in her care for some time.

  “I know where she was sent, so we’ll start there. The mother, along with some others, were shipped out to a camp outside of Hanover called Wolfsburg. Hopefully, that’s where she still is,” Hanns glanced knowingly at Eleonore.

  “Did you hear that?” Eleonore put Hannah upright on her knee, but the girl was in a sorrowful state and simply put her head into Eleonore’s shoulder. “We’re going to look for your mother!”

  “Ya?” Hannah looked up at her through red, swollen eyes.

  “Ya!” Eleonore looked at her excitedly, hoping that she wasn’t providing false assurances.

  “I’m hungry,” Hannah began to cry again.

  “Do you have anything for her to eat?” Eleonore asked Hanns.

  “Do you think she’ll enjoy crackers that taste of sawdust and mold?” Hanns joked and Genn slapped the wheel as he laughed, abruptly changing his mood.

  “That’s not amusing!” Eleonore frowned. He was so callous yesterday, how can he be so dismissive now?

  “Here,” Hanns reached back with a small package of crackers. “They’re actually not too terrible.”

  Hannah nearly jumped out of Eleonore’s lap as she snatched the crackers from Hanns who chuckled at her eagerness. Eleonore smiled as she watched Hannah shovel the food into her mouth, but again, wondered why Hanns was acting so nonchalant. He had behaved solemnly in the camp, but now it seemed as if he was a different person entirely.

  “There’s a uniform for you to change into,
” Hanns pointed to the opposite bench and Eleonore spotted a neatly folded brown uniform. “It will likely be too large, but I didn’t have time to pick out a size.”

  “I appreciate it,” Eleonore smiled slightly as she set Hannah down on the bench beside her, who bounced her leg happily as she ate.

  Sliding to the opposite bench, Eleonore held the uniform in front of her as it unfolded naturally to reveal that it was a one-piece jumpsuit. Glancing at the front of the vehicle, Eleonore made sure that neither man was looking. Satisfied with the little privacy afforded her, and the cover of the dark, early morning sky, Eleonore began to undress.

  But, as she slid her arm out of the sleeve, something happened that Eleonore didn’t quite understand. For whatever reason, she couldn’t rid herself of this dress with the bullet hole. Maybe it reminded her of how close she herself had come to being the one with a bullet through her chest. Maybe she wanted to do some service to the previous owner. Whatever it was, Eleonore kept it on as she slid the jumper over top and rejoined Hannah on her bench.

  Silence fell upon the company as they traveled through the countryside while the sun gradually rose. The truck jostled and swayed on the roads, which brought on a sort of calm. With a big yawn, Hannah leaned her head on Eleonore’s shoulder and fell back asleep within minutes. While the bench was uncomfortable, Eleonore didn’t dare shift her position. She wanted Hannah to have a decent sleep. She couldn’t provide this sweet girl with much, but if she could alleviate some degree of sorrow from Hannah, then Eleonore would gladly do so.

  She only wished that she could afford her with better clothes than the rags she wore now. Spying a small, navy-blue blanket on the floor of the truck, Eleonore judged whether it was too far away for her to grab it without waking Hannah. She tried to lean over, but the strain on her stomach was unbearable. Stretching out her foot, Eleonore nabbed it with the toe of her worn shoe and inched it closer to her. Sighing out of victory mixed with exhaustion, Eleonore covered Hannah and grinned at her success.

  But the blanket must’ve been too coarse for Hannah, or too itchy, and she stirred, grumpily, and tossed it aside before falling back to sleep. Eleonore chuckled and shook her head, considering the effort she went to ease Hannah’s troubles only to discover that she had created another.