‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Cibi replies, trying to contain a giggle.
‘I think you know exactly what I am asking of you. Think before you speak, that’s all I’m saying.’
‘Will you be happy if I say I will try my best?’
‘I will. Now, let’s finish packing these suitcases. We need to squeeze in some food.’
‘Surely we’ll be fed!’ exclaims Cibi. ‘We’ll need books, too; I’m going to choose a couple.’ She goes into the living room to examine the books on the shelves there.
‘Bring me some of the linden tree tea to pack; you’ll be able to drink it cold if there’s no hot water,’ calls Chaya. ‘If ever you or Livi are feeling unwell, it’s a miracle.’
Alone in the bedroom now, Chaya again picks up individual items of clothing, burying her face in each, inhaling the all-too familiar scent of her girls. She tells herself that she must be strong: her girls are brave and they will do whatever the Germans ask of them, and then they will come home. Magda will understand why she had to be sent away. The war will end, and life will return to normal. Perhaps even by Hannukah.
CHAPTER 5
Humenné Hospital
March 1942
‘I
want to see Dr Kisely,’ Magda, half out of bed, demands of the nurse treating an elderly woman two beds away.
The two rows of twelve metal beds in the ward are fully occupied. The noises of snoring, coughing, crying and moaning make sleep, for any reasonable length of time, impossible. Magda has worked out what it means to have one of the timber-framed, fabric-filled screens placed around your bed: something unpleasant is about to happen to a patient. On the small bedside table is a photo of Magda’s family.
A small desk sits at the head of the room, where the nurse in charge is now seated, watching over her domain, issuing instructions. ‘Get back into bed, Magda. Dr Kisely will be doing his rounds shortly, you’ll see him then.’
‘I don’t want to get back into bed, I want to go home. I’m feeling fine.’
‘Either do as I say or I’ll tell Dr Kisely you’ve been misbehaving.’
With all the petulance of teenagers through the ages, Magda swings her feet back into bed and sits cross-legged on top of her blankets, sighing heavily. Bored and more than a little confused as to why she is still there – her fever broke the day before – she is longing to get home to Mumma, Grandfather and Livi. Her mother hasn’t visited once, adding to her general sense of unease: something is wrong, but what? Once again, she wishes Mumma had let her join Cibi for Hachshara, but, as the ever-obedient middle child, Magda’s help around the house has been invaluable.
She is still lost in her thoughts when Dr Kisely enters the ward and approaches his first patient. ‘Dr Kisely!’ Magda exclaims.
The nurse hurries over to Magda, telling her to shush and wait her turn.
Dr Kisely watches the exchange, and says a few words to his patient before walking over to Magda. ‘Good morning, Magda. How are you feeling today?’
‘I’m fine, Doctor. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with me and I want to go home now. My mother and grandfather need me.’
Dr Kisely unwraps his stethoscope from around his neck and listens to Magda’s chest. The women in the beds next to hers strain to see what he is doing, to listen to what he is saying. Everyone is so bored of being in hospital.
‘I’m sorry, Magda, but you still have a little infection in your chest. You’re not ready to go home.’
‘But I feel fine,’ Magda insists.
‘Will you just listen to the doctor?’ the nurse scolds.
Dr Kisely perches on Magda’s bed and beckons her to lean in. ‘Magda, I need you to listen to me,’ he whispers. ‘It would just be better for you and for your family if you stayed here a few more days. I didn’t want to have to tell you like this, but I see I have no choice.’
Magda’s blue eyes are wide with fear. To Dr Kisely she looks much younger than her seventeen years: in her thin nightie and braided hair she could be thirteen or fourteen. She nods once, for the doctor to continue; she was right, there is something very odd going on.
‘I don’t want to scare you, but the truth is the truth.’ The doctor sighs and looks at the stethoscope in his hands, before meeting Magda’s eyes once more. ‘The Hlinka are rounding up young Jewish girls and taking them to work for the Germans. I want to keep you with your family if I can, and if you’re in hospital, you’re safe. Do you understand?’