Sabine enjoyed the morning sunshine of May, her favorite month of the year. The chestnut trees lining the alley were in full blossom: flower umbels in white and soft pink adorned the trees, petals trickling to the ground with every breeze.
The chirping of blackbirds and other birds filled the air, almost like a choir filled the vast nave in a church. A few steps further on, she saw a squirrel scurrying up the trunk and then jumping precariously from branch to branch. Sabine smiled. Lots of life existed amidst the rubble, and neither the squirrel nor the birds seemed to have a single sorrow. One day all of this would end and life would return to normal. One day people could live again and not merely survive.
She arrived at the small and relatively new church: a plain white building, unlike the ostentatious Berlin Cathedral that was reminiscent of the glorious times in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Sabine crossed herself with holy water from the basin next to the door before stepping inside. Rays of sunshine shone through the plain, transparent altar windows – probably replacements for damaged stained glass – and danced across the light brown stone floor. In one of the dark wooden benches kneeled a few old women with gray hair, their head scarves tightly knotted beneath their chins.
But Pfarrer Bernau was nowhere to be seen. Remembering Ursula’s instructions, Sabine left the church again and rounded the building to find the entrance to the small house next to it.
Her heart pounded more furiously the nearer she got to the door. She swallowed down her fear, shame and guilt before she knocked.
A gaunt man in his late forties, with warm brown eyes and dressed in a black suit, opened the door. “Good morning, how can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Pfarrer Bernau,” she said, nervously running a hand across her hair.
“You found him.” He gazed at her for several long moments and then said, “Please come inside.”
His energy was of a man truly at peace with himself, and a sense of calmness overcame her. She had nothing to fear from him. “My name is Sabine Mahler, and Ursula Hermann has asked me to give you a message.”
Worry etched itself into his brown eyes. “Does she feel unwell? Has something happened with the baby?”
“No, no. Ursula and her mother are travelling to visit Frau Klausen’s sister for a few days. She was very upset and urged me to let you know.” Sabine pulled the envelope from her pocket and handed it over to the priest.
Pfarrer Bernau nodded as he opened the envelope and read the letter inside. A frown appeared on his forehead and he seemed very concerned about the content of the message.
A missed choir practice – really? “Is something wrong, Pfarrer Bernau?” Sabine asked.
“No. It’s just a minor inconvenience.” The priest’s expression didn’t match his words, and Sabine decided to make a bold move.
“Ursula was so worried, she almost cancelled the entire trip to Lower Bavaria. I convinced her that was not for the best for her baby and agreed to fill in while she was away.”
Pfarrer Bernau raised a brow, asking, “Fill in? Frau Hermann told you what she’s been doing?”
Sabine nodded, stretching the truth as far as she could. “Yes, and I’m on your side. She told me about helping to hide people seeking refuge and a way out of Germany.”
Pfarrer Bernau stared at her for several long moments and Sabine willed herself to appear confident and trustworthy. “Then Frau Hermann must really trust you. Confiding in the wrong persons can torpedo our entire network.”
“I like to think we are friends,” Sabine offered, tying to conceal the feeling of victory building up inside her.
“The timing of her departing Berlin is not ideal, since we had to postpone a few activities due to unforeseen circumstances,” Pfarrer Bernau said, still scrutinizing Sabine.
“I understand and all I want to do is help.” Sabine prayed she wouldn’t blush at the blatant lie. Her heart squeezed tight. Deceiving a man of God – one more sin piled up on her existing mountain of transgressions.
“There is a young Jewish girl hiding in the Klausens’ allotment. Frau Hermann was supposed to bring her to the arranged meeting place and hand her over to someone else. Are you familiar with the allotment?”
“I am.” Another lie. She knew about its existence and had seen the numbered key hanging on the keyboard in the apartment. “And I’m happy to perform Ursula’s duties while she’s gone. But I have never actually been at the allotments…Ursula deemed it too dangerous.”
“That’s probably right. You two showing up there together might have raised suspicions, but since the family is now on a trip, you can go there to tend the plants. Everyone in Berlin will understand the importance of taking care of the produce.” A slight smile crossed Pfarrer Bernau’s face.
“The perfect excuse – when shall I go there?” Sabine asked, taking an awful chance. In fact she had no idea where the allotment was.
“Not so fast, my daughter.” Pfarrer Bernau looked at her carefully and asked, “Are you sure you wish to take this kind of risk? If you are discovered, you will be labeled a traitor, and we all know the Nazis don’t take kindly to them.”
Sabine’s heart missed a beat or two, only to race at double speed afterward. Either way, she was putty in the hands of the Nazis. She smiled and projected a bravado she wasn’t even close to feeling. “Well then, I’ll just have to make sure I don’t get caught.”
“Good. You’ll receive a letter with instructions tomorrow. Follow them to the T,” he said.
“I will. But one more question: shall I take the bus or walk to the allotment gardens?”
The priest squinted his eyes. “How you go there doesn’t matter, but when you have the girl with you, you must take the underground. The name of the station will be in the letter.”
“Thank you.” Inside, Sabine rejoiced. With the name of the next station she could find the location of the allotment gardens on a city map, and then it would be as easy as counting numbers to find the correct lot.
Sabine all but danced to work and passed the day in utter excitement, blocking out all thoughts of guilt. Soon she would have Werner by her side again.
During her lunch break she walked to the payphone in the hallway and called Lily’s number.
“Hello, Lily. Can we meet tonight? I have exciting news,” Sabine said and for the first time since this whole spying situation had arisen, she felt like she had the upper hand.