Prague, Jungmannovo námesti: The Morning After
Janis Bell sent a courier out with a letter for Nell.
Clara Wieck opened all the mail at the Cultural Mission.
“Good Lord!”
“What?”
“That boy … the nephew …”
She held out the letter to Nell. Nell had been waiting for something like this.
Nell—Jiří is fine. He got into the embassy. And so did twenty-six other kids. They’re all safe for now, but in the long term I’ve no idea what to do with them. Let us keep in touch about this.
Janis Bell
“Don’t,” said Clara.
“I’m sorry?”
“That would be really rather stupid. You’re the consul. If this goes wrong … well, far better to let the StB pick on me. I’m a nobody. Not so much a diplomatic incident, more an irritant. Besides, I don’t live with a known dissident.”
Nell had not told Clara that Petr had left. She might never tell her.
“You may be right.”
“I know damn well I am.”
“I have a plan to get Jiří out of Czechoslovakia, it’s just that it will take time.”
“OK. Put what you want him to know in a letter. I’ll walk over after lunch and try my best to look casual.”