Yitzchak leads the way. Chaya loops an arm through Magda’s, needing to feel the solid reality of her daughter.
‘Is Uncle Ivan coming over?’ Magda whispers.
‘Yes, he will be here soon enough, but I don’t know what you think he’s going to tell us.’
The cheese and bread are gone and the last of the tea is being poured when they are startled by a light tapping coming from the back door.
‘It’s just Uncle,’ says Magda, jumping up to open the door. He immediately sweeps her up into his arms.
‘You are safe, you have survived another Friday,’ he whispers into her ear.
Joining Chaya and Yitzchak at the table, all eyes turn to Magda: it was she, after all, who has been pestering him for news.
Feeling the weight of their gaze, Magda looks away.
‘I don’t have any news of your sisters, Magda,’ Ivan says. ‘Just rumours.’
An expectant silence fills the small room. Ivan clears his throat. ‘It’s hard to find out very much. But I did hear one thing about your sisters’ transport – I think Cibi and Livi have been taken to Poland.’
‘Poland?’ Chaya explodes. ‘The Germans took them to Poland? What on earth for?’
‘You forget, sister. The Germans have occupied Poland.’
There is a new light in Magda’s eyes. Yitzchak reaches across the table and takes her hand, shaking his head as she opens her mouth. ‘Do you know where in Poland, Uncle?’
‘No, Magda. And your place is here, with your mother. We will all stay here as long as we can.’
‘And Clive, your friend at the council office – he has always been a great friend to our family, my son. Have you seen him?’ Yitzchak asks.
‘Occasionally, Father. He has done all he can to protect us. Every week he puts our name at the bottom of the list of Jews who live in Vranov, but now .?.?.’ Ivan sighs. ‘Now, there are only a few names ahead of ours. It is only a matter of time.’
‘There’s more, Ivan, I can hear it in your voice,’ insists Yitzchak. ‘Tell us everything.’ The old man lays his hands flat on the table, sits up straighter.
Ivan takes his time to respond, looking from Chaya, to Magda, and finally back to Yitzchak. ‘I have heard they are starting to round up the very young children now, as well as their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles .?.?. everyone.’
Chaya lets out a low moan. ‘What do they want from us?’ she asks.
‘I don’t know, I just don’t know.’ Ivan stands up and starts to pace the small room. ‘There may come a time when all three of you will need to hide on Shabbat. Either at Mrs Trac’s or in the forest.’
Chaya catches Ivan’s hand as he begins another circuit of the room. ‘Is that what you’re planning to do, with Helena and the children? Go into the forest every Friday night?’ Chaya’s despair grows with every word that leaves Ivan’s mouth.
‘Sister, I will do whatever it takes to protect my family and that includes the three of you.’ Ivan smiles at Chaya, but it is a hollow expression. His eyes are as full of fear as her own. ‘How are you for food? Do you need money?’
‘I still have some of our mother’s jewellery, but I don’t want to sell it.’ Chaya’s eyes fill with tears. ‘It’s all I have left of her.’
Now it is Ivan’s turn to lose patience. ‘Don’t be silly, Chaya! Do you think she would want you to hang on to trinkets while your family starves? Promise me you will sell it if you need to.’
Chaya hangs her head.
‘She will do it,’ Yitzchak says.
‘Magda, are you still going into town to do the bartering?’ Ivan asks, moving towards the back door.
‘Yes, Uncle, but only once a week.’
‘I will give you the names of some people who will pay you a fairer price for the jewellery. They’re not Jews, but they are sympathetic to our situation.’
Ivan pulls open the door, and Magda, Chaya and Yitzchak rise from the table. ‘Come for dinner tonight,’ he says, before he leaves. ‘The boys keep asking after you, and Helena would love some female gossip.’ He offers Chaya a conciliatory smile, which she returns.
‘We will, thank you, Ivan. Please tell Helena we would love to share a meal with you all,’ Yitzchak says.
CHAPTER 13
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Spring 1943
‘W
ake up, Cibi. Wake up.’ Livi nudges her sister.
It is dark in the room and everyone else is asleep.