Part 22 (2/2)
Ghoya's eyes widened in fury. ”I will stand you in front of a firing squad right this instant!”
”It's not true!” Sunny exclaimed. ”My husband didn't know. I swear to you. We both only found out minutes ago. The children planned this themselves.”
Ghoya's face calmed and he nodded to himself. ”The girl told me the same.”
”For G.o.d's sake, she is only a child,” Franz murmured. ”You can't put her in front of a firing squad.”
Ghoya raised his arm and slapped Franz across the cheek so hard that Sunny winced. ”Who do you think I am? I do not shoot little girls!” he screamed. ”Still, examples must be set. Yes, they must be set!”
Franz recovered and stared at Ghoya. His face bore an angry welt and a long scratch left by Ghoya's ring. Sunny resisted the urge to reach out and stroke his cheek.
”What kind of example, Mr. Ghoya?” Franz asked.
”Tomorrow at noon.” Ghoya's tone turned conversational. ”Your daughter will face her punishment in the street.”
”What kind of punishment?”
”She will be flogged.”
Franz wiped the blood from his cheek. ”No . . . please. Lash me instead.”
Ghoya raised his hand, ready to strike again. But a moment later he dropped it back to his side. A smile crossed his lips. ”Yes, of course. Why not both of you? That would be a better example still.”
CHAPTER 32.
The windowless cell reeked of sweat and urine. Franz crouched in the corner, as far from the filthy pail that served as a toilet as he could get. At least an hour had pa.s.sed since the soldiers had tossed him into the concrete box. He a.s.sumed that they planned to hold him until the flogging.
Ghoya had let Sunny go-that was some consolation-but Franz's concern for his daughter consumed him. He kept picturing Hannah terrified and alone, cowering in a cell of her own.
Franz didn't fear the whipping, not after the torture he had lived through at Bridge House. But the idea of having to watch as they flogged his daughter in front of him broke his heart. No father should have to endure that.
”d.a.m.n that Herzberg boy,” Franz said under his breath. But he was just as upset with himself for not having kept a closer eye on his daughter. Esther had always predicted that Hannah's spirit and curiosity might lead her into trouble. He'd already caught Hannah sneaking out of the ghetto once; Franz cursed himself for not paying more attention since.
A key turned in the lock. Franz rose to his feet as the heavy door creaked open.
Colonel Kubota stepped into the room and heaved the door close behind him. Leaning heavily on his cane, he made his way toward Franz.
”Thank you for coming, Colonel.” Franz bowed deeply.
But the resigned look on Kubota's face dimmed Franz's hope before it could even take shape. When Kubota finally spoke, his tone was subdued. ”Dr. Adler, I am afraid that Mr. Ghoya is perfectly correct in this instance.”
Franz said nothing.
Kubota tapped his cane on the floor. ”We can no more turn a blind eye to unlawfulness in the Designated Area than we can tolerate subversion.”
”I understand, Colonel, I do.”
Kubota's expression softened. ”You are looked upon as one of the leaders in your community, Dr. Adler. It reflects poorly on you for your daughter to be caught smuggling. On us as well.”
”Of course, but Hannah is only thirteen. She doesn't know better. I only ask that you punish me instead.”
Kubota closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. ”I would not interfere with your punishment even if I could, Dr. Adler.”
Franz nodded vehemently. ”But surely Hannah . . .”
Kubota turned clumsily and hobbled back to the door. He pulled it open. ”You may come in, young lady.”
Hannah took a tentative step into the cell, stopping just inside the doorway. She hung her head.
Franz rushed over to her with arms extended. ”Hannah, darling!” he said as he enveloped her in a hug.
She trembled wordlessly against him like a puppy in a cold rainstorm. ”I'm so sorry, Papa,” she murmured into his chest. ”So very, very sorry.”
Franz inhaled her hair's familiar scent. ”Everything will be all right, Liebchen.”
”You are in such trouble,” she said. ”It's all because of me. I had no-”
Franz held her face between his hands. ”We are together again, Hannah-chen. Nothing else matters. You understand?”
”If only it were so simple, Papa. What have I done?”
Franz stared into his daughter's eyes. Something had changed in her. He could sense the difference but could not quite put it into words. It was as though she had lost something.
She reached up and eased his hands away. It was then that Franz spotted the welts on her cheeks. Rage ripped through him at the thought of Ghoya hitting his daughter. He caressed her wounds delicately while he imagined tearing Ghoya's limbs out.
Hannah removed his hands from her cheek again. ”They don't hurt, Papa.”
Franz kissed the welts. ”You are brave.”
Kubota coughed. ”You and your daughter may return home now.”
Franz turned to him with a grateful smile. ”Thank you, Colonel.”
Kubota shook his head. ”Tomorrow, Dr. Adler, you will be required to report to Mr. Ghoya shortly before noon.” His gaze s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably to Hannah. ”You as well, young lady.”
”But . . .” Franz began.
”The girl will not be lashed. I have seen to that.” Kubota's eyes found Hannah's again. ”However, you will have to witness your father's flogging. I'm afraid it is . . . only fitting.”
Her lips twitched as she fought off the tears. ”I understand, Colonel.”
Franz stroked her hair. ”It will be all right, Hannah-chen.”
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