––––––––
It was dark and the city stood quiet. Somehow a plan had already formed in my mind. I slipped quietly from the bed, lighting a candle to illuminate my path, past Henryk’s room from where I could hear him lightly snore, to where I had that previous afternoon stumbled across the delivery schedules.
I paused only to listen should anyone stir, then rifled through the papers until I found the sheets I wanted to study. By the candle’s scant light I struggled to make sense of the detail. It was clear enough Henryk was bound for Auschwitz-Birkenau that very morning, as I had initially supposed. Further study revealed he would first go to Plaszow to collect a consignment of enamelware before going on to Auschwitz itself, there to deliver these goods and return with a cargo of clothing. My heart leapt at this news, for it was possible the very clothing he would collect might be in part Mama’s handiwork.
Any residual doubt or hesitation was dispelled at this prospect. It was the light of hope that flickers eternal, driving me on now to pursue my bold plan.
I selected a blank sheet of paper and procured a pen, then sat down and wrote a brief note of gratitude to Henryk, thanking him for his kindness, but explaining that, if he would not take us to Auschwitz himself then we had no choice but to make our own way there. Thanking him a final time I promised to return to see him when the war was over, if at all possible. I signed my name, folded the sheet and placed it carefully on the table where he could not miss it in the morning.
Creeping back to the bedroom I roused Nicolae and Elone, urging them to be silent and, ensuring they were warmly dressed, escorted them through the house and out of the door into the dark night.
Only once outside could I offer any explanation. I said simply, “Nicolae, I think I know where Mama is, though I urge you not to raise your hopes, for I could be wrong.”
Nicolae’s eyes lit up. “Really, Anca? Will we see her soon? Please tell me we will.”
“I cannot promise, Nicolae, but I hope so. I very much hope so.”
Elone looked up at me, eyes imploring. “Anca?”
I brought her to my breast and hugged her. “It would be wrong of me to encourage false hope, Elone. It may be we will find your parents too, but I cannot with honesty say we will.” I added, as if to offer consolation, “Henryk believes the war will soon be over, Elone. Then, perhaps, we will know for sure. Until then, my friend, my dear friend, you have Nicolae and I, and we you.”
“I understand, Anca,” Elone said quietly, fighting back the tears.
We huddled by the side of the house while I scanned the road, quickly sighting Henryk’s truck. As I had hoped, the wagon was of an open construction with a canvas cover and I pointed out the vehicle to my charges, adumbrating my plan.
“Henryk is to drive to a camp later today to deliver and collect goods. I believe we will find Mama there. He will not have us ride with him so we have no alternative but to become stowaways on his truck and let him deliver us unawares.”
Nicolae was open-mouthed at this news. “We are going to ride in that big truck? That big truck right there, Anca? That one there!”
“Hush, little one, hush,” I chided. “Do you remember how we played in the forest, before that nasty wolf came upon us? How we pretended to be invisible, so no-one would know we were there? Well we are to play that game again. But this time we will be hiding in the back of Henryk’s truck!”
“Without him knowing it, Nicolae! In secret!” Elone added excitedly and at first I thought she too had fallen for my story, but her eyes revealed her true thoughts and I realised once again she was play-acting, for my little brother’s benefit.