Part 21 (2/2)
”She is Eurasian, sir. Her mother was American.” Hannah was baffled as to why she was explaining Sunny's background to this nosy man.
”War changes things.” Einhorn shook his head disapprovingly. ”And people, too.”
Hannah had no idea how to reply to this, so she stared at the ground, praying that he would lose interest in her.
”Well, Fraulein, you had best hurry home. I am sure your stepmother will not be pleased by your tardiness.” He laughed to himself. ”Not that the Chinese tend to be punctual themselves.”
Hannah could have cried with relief. Forcing herself not to run, she kept her eyes glued to the sidewalk as she hurried forward in a fast walk. As she pa.s.sed close enough to smell his hair oil, Einhorn remarked, ”You are wearing a very heavy coat for this time of year.”
Hannah froze.
”Would you mind just opening up the front of it for me?” he asked.
Dread enveloped Hannah. She considered bolting but realized that it would only make matters worse. Not trusting her feet to cooperate, she turned slowly toward him. ”I have a slight cold, sir.” She repeated the words she had been rehearsing much of the way back from Frenchtown. ”My father-the doctor-suggested that I remain bundled up.”
”Sound advice, yes.” Einhorn nodded. ”But I'm afraid Mr. Ghoya has given me very clear instructions.”
”I have nothing to hide.” Hannah coughed into her hand. ”But there are many b.u.t.tons, sir. It is c.u.mbersome to-”
Einhorn looked at her sternly. ”Please open your coat, young lady.”
Her belly suddenly tensed and she vomited, splas.h.i.+ng the front of her coat.
Einhorn jumped back. ”What is wrong, Fraulein?”
Hannah's legs buckled. She felt as though she were watching from outside her body as she swooned, then fell to the ground. She landed hard on her b.u.t.tocks and then toppled backwards.
The sky spun, then Einhorn's face filled her field of vision. Her nostrils filled with the scent of his pipe tobacco. ”Are you all right, girl?” he asked.
Mouth dry, she nodded weakly into her collar, which had bunched up around her neck. Einhorn reached out to clear it from her face. Suddenly, his eyes widened and his hands froze on the garment. ”What is under this?” he demanded.
She stared at him. ”Cigarettes,” she finally croaked.
”Smuggling?” he gasped. ”This is not good, Fraulein. Not good at all.”
”Please, sir. This is the last time. I swear it.”
”I have to report this,” Einhorn said. ”You have left me no choice.”
Hannah reached up and grasped his bony wrist. ”If my father . . .”
A sympathetic look crossed Einhorn's face, and he glanced around them. ”Do you realize how much trouble I could be in if I do not report this?”
”Please,” she moaned.
He hesitated, then, with a heavy sigh, began to arrange her coat collar around her neck. ”Get up,” he snapped in a low voice. ”Do not breathe a word of this to anybody. And never ever attempt such foolishness again. Ever!”
”Never, I swear to G.o.d,” she said as she struggled up to a sitting position, still feeling woozy. ”Thank you, sir. Thank you.”
As she climbed unsteadily to her feet, she heard the sound of boots slapping heavily against the pavement nearby.
CHAPTER 31.
Sunny nestled her head into the crook of Franz's neck. Her confession had been a relief to her but had resolved little. If anything, the dangers they were facing had only intensified: they had yet to move Simon from his tenuous sanctuary, the j.a.panese continued to search the ghetto, Yang's fate was still unknown and the Underground still demanded Sunny's cooperation. She and Franz agreed that Colonel Kubota had to be one of its targets.
Still, as Sunny nuzzled with Franz on the old sofa, she felt somehow lighter. Her gaze drifted to Jakob, who was fast asleep in his crib. Her thoughts turned to her stepdaughter, who wasn't back from school. ”Where is Hannah?” she asked Franz.
”At a friend's home, I presume,” he said. ”I hope that she is studying, like she said she would be.”
Esther put down the wooden spoon she had been stirring the rice with and walked over to them. ”It is not like Hannah to be so late.”
Franz eased Sunny's head off his shoulder and sat up straighter. ”Perhaps I should go look for her?”
”But where?” Sunny asked.
”She spends much of her time with that boy Freddy Herzberg,” Franz said. ”I know where the family lives. I will start there.”
Esther wiped her hands on her ap.r.o.n. ”Franz . . .”
”Yes?”
”Good, ja.” Esther looked away evasively. ”Go see the boy's family.”
Franz squinted at her. ”Essie, is there something else?”
”No. No. I can't help but worry. I'm just an overprotective Jewish aunt.” She chuckled weakly. ”Old habits die hard.”
”Essie, what is it? What do you know?”
Before she could answer, three soft knocks sounded at the door.
Franz hurried over to answer it. To his surprise, Freddy stood at the doorstep. He was wearing a new bomber jacket, and his hair was slicked back. ”Good evening, Dr. Adler. I am sorry to disturb you, but I was hoping Hannah might be home.”
”No, she is not.” Franz squared his shoulders. ”I was just on my way out to look for her.”
”I'm sorry to have missed her.” Freddy flashed a confident grin. ”When she does come home, Dr. Adler, please let her know that I dropped by.”
Sunny joined them at the door. ”Why are you looking for her, Freddy?”
”She is holding something of mine,” Freddy said. ”It's not so important. I can pick it up tomorrow.”
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