Part 34 (1/2)
”They clubbed Yitzhak until he was unconscious and then . . . they . . .” Hiltmann swallowed. ”They threw him on the fire.”
Franz thought again of his little brother, Karl, lynched by storm troopers that same night. ”I remember Vienna, the morning after. Seeing our family's synagogue-where my parents and my brother were married-reduced to a pile of rubble.”
The rabbi nodded to himself. ”So now they want to repeat their marvellous feat here in Shanghai. To destroy our only place of wors.h.i.+p. To kill as many of us as possible.”
”We can rebuild the synagogue,” Franz said. ”But what can you do if the roof collapses on the congregation?”
Hiltmann was quiet again. ”You do understand the significance of Hanukkah, do you not, Herr Doktor?”
”The oil that burned for eight days when it was only supposed to last one?” Franz said, vague on the other details. If Hannah were here, she could have filled in the gaps.
”Ah, that is the miracle we remember, but it's not the essence of Hanukkah.” The rabbi's expression hardened. ”Hanukkah commemorates a great moment of Jewish defiance. The time when the brave Maccabees, outnumbered though they were, drove the a.s.syrian oppressors out of Jerusalem.” He held up both hands. ”And why did they fight? To reclaim the Holy Temple in the name of G.o.d.”
”Yes, but were the a.s.syrians armed with explosives, Rabbi?”
”How can we abandon our synagogue on this day of all days?”
”What about Pikuakh nefesh?”
The rabbi shook his hands in front of him. ”Where is your proof that the n.a.z.is will attack tomorrow?”
”Proof?” Franz groaned. ”I am not privy to the specifics. We were fortunate that my friend caught wind of this at all.”
Hiltmann eyed him defiantly. ”Without proof, I will not cancel the service.”
Franz brought his hands to his chest in appeal. ”Rabbi, you would risk so many lives?”
”We can post young men outside to watch for signs of trouble. They will warn us.”
”And if the warning comes too late?”
”This is a house of G.o.d, Dr. Adler.” The rabbi's voice trembled. ”How can we allow the n.a.z.is to chase the faithful from it, just because of innuendo and rumour? Where will it end?”
Outside, the snow was thickening on the ground. Franz half walked and half skated on the slick sidewalks as he hurried from the synagogue to the hospital.
He found Sunny there and led her into the staff room, then filled her in on his conversation with the rabbi. ”I did not expect the man to be so obstinate,” Franz sighed.
Sunny kissed Franz on the cheek and then offered him a small smile. ”Stubbornness?” she said in mock surprise. ”From a Jew?”
Franz laughed in spite of himself. ”I don't know how you put up with us.”
”I love you,” she said. ”Besides, I consider myself very fortunate to be part of your wonderful community, bewildering though it sometimes is.”
”I love you, too.” He kissed her on the lips. ”Despite your peculiar view on what const.i.tutes good fortune.”
The smile slid from her lips. ”So it is up to us to ensure the safety of the synagogue.”
”With Charlie's help?” he asked.
Sunny nodded.
Franz exhaled heavily. ”Charlie will be taking a huge risk even showing his face in the ghetto, with all those soldiers about.”
”He is determined to help us. To repay our kindness, as he puts it. Besides, who else knows anything about explosives?”
”What if Charlie doesn't find the bombs?”
”If they are there, he will find them.”
”Can you be so sure? Would you risk the lives of Hannah, Esther and the baby on it?”
Sunny's eyes widened. ”They are not planning to attend the service? Surely not.”
”They want to.”
Sunny reached out and cupped his face. ”You cannot let them, Franz. They must stay home. Promise me.”
Before Franz could answer, the door to the staff room burst open and Ernst rushed in, his coat dusted with snow. ”There you are, thank Christ!”
”What is it, Ernst?” Franz demanded.
Ernst brushed snowflakes from his coat and head, even out of his beard. ”This evening,” he said. ”Von Puttkamer and his men are coming tonight.”
”To the ghetto?”
”Yes. To see Ghoya.”
Franz grimaced. ”He is asking Ghoya for permission to attack us?”
Ernst waved off the idea. ”No. He is coming with food and presents. To show Ghoya and the others a traditional German Christmas.”
”It must be a ruse.”
”Of course it is.” Ernst patted his pocket in search of cigarettes but came up empty. ”But one that will get them inside the ghetto after dark.”
”After curfew,” Sunny murmured.
Ernst nodded. ”Precisely.”
Franz interlaced his fingers and squeezed them until they hurt. ”So his men will have free rein to plant their bombs, at the synagogue and wherever else they want to, without us being able to watch.”
”That is the general idea, no doubt.”
Franz once again pictured the walls of the synagogue buckling. ”As soon as the curfew is lifted in the morning, we will have to scour every inch of the synagogue's grounds.”
Sunny turned to Franz, her eyes frantic with worry. ”What if we're wrong, Franz?” she murmured. ”What if the synagogue is not their target? Perhaps they plan to explode bombs tonight. In the heime or the other buildings where the refugees live.”