The Forest of Vanishing Stars(69)

Yona bowed her head. “By blood only.”

Again there was silence between them. Behind her, Yona could hear the low, angry murmurs of Jüttner and the other Nazi officer.

“You should have told me,” Sister Maria Andrzeja said at last, and Yona looked up, relieved to find that some of the nun’s anger and suspicion had faded, though the confusion remained. “Why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t know it myself.”

The bafflement in the nun’s expression deepened. “What do you mean?”

“I was stolen from my parents when I was just a baby.”

After a few seconds, she nodded, accepting this. “But then why are you here now? In this church?”

“I needed to know that all of you were safe. I needed to know what happened. I—I want to help you.”

The other nuns were watching her, some with suspicion, some with pity and sadness. Sister Maria Andrzeja didn’t say anything.

“Is it true?” Yona asked after a moment. “The German officer said on the steps that you offered your lives in exchange for the hundred townspeople they planned to execute.”

Sister Maria Andrzeja didn’t say anything for a long time. When she finally looked back up at Yona, her eyes were so full of despair that Yona felt the air knocked out of her own lungs. “We’ve been praying about this, all eight of us, for a long while now,” the nun said softly. “Praying for the safety of the town. Praying that the Germans would let us live in peace. First, they came for the Jews, and we did little to stop them. And then, last year, they executed sixty townspeople for no reason at all, among them the two pastors of the church on the other side of town, which is now closed. Since then, the town has been holding its breath, waiting. But in the silence, God spoke to us.”

“But to sacrifice yourselves…”

“This is the only answer. We will save innocent lives. And the Germans will feel that they’ve gotten a prize, because surely it will frighten the town to see eight nuns in their habits murdered right in front of them.” When the nun looked up and met Yona’s gaze, her eyes were gleaming with purpose. She lowered her voice to a fierce whisper. “But we also believe this might light a fire of resistance. The Germans don’t believe that Poles and Belorussians have it within them to fight back. But we do, you see. All of us do. Perhaps our deaths will inspire a change, will force people to ask God themselves what their role is.”

“But then won’t more people die?”

The nun’s eyes filled with tears. “People will die either way. I am hopeful, though, that fewer of those deaths will be in vain.”

Yona touched Sister Maria Andrzeja’s arm. “There must be another way.”

“There is not. We came here to help the people in this town, to help save as many as we could, to remind them that God always loves them. God has finally given us an answer about the role we are meant to play in all of this. The Nazis need someone to make an example of. Who better than us, if our eight lives can spare a hundred? It is the path God has given us.”

“But…”

“Remember, Yona? Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.”

Yona sat back on her heels and stared, first at Sister Maria Andrzeja, then at the others. She could see the determination in their eyes, but there was fear there, too. “I won’t let it happen,” Yona said. “What if God sent me here to save you?”

Sister Maria Andrzeja waited until Yona looked back and met her gaze. “Or perhaps we are meant to save you by reminding you of your goodness, of your responsibility to your fellow man.”

“But—”

“We accept our fate. All of us. You must do the same.” A single tear rolled down the nun’s cheek, disappearing into the wound that stretched from her nose to her ear. “Never forget, Yona, God is your father, and he is always with you.”

Yona’s own eyes filled, too. She didn’t say anything. Jerusza had always taught her that the forest was her parent, both mother and father, and what was the forest but God’s creation, anyhow? Perhaps even when Yona had felt most alone, she’d always been surrounded by a father who loved her just as she was.

“And the little girl?” Sister Maria Andrzeja asked after a moment, lowering her voice to a whisper. “She is safe?”

“She is.”

Sister Maria Andrzeja closed her eyes briefly. “Praise God.” She turned her gaze back to Yona. “Thank you, Yona. You have been brave and kind, but it’s time now for you to go. Leave us to our fate. We all accept it.”

Yona glanced at the other nuns. Some were watching her, some had their eyes closed and appeared to be praying. “But you mustn’t give up. I will do all I can to help. I will talk to Jüttner. My… my father.”

The nun’s smile was sad, and she didn’t meet Yona’s gaze. “False hope is dangerous, Yona. They cannot release us now. Remember, a trade was made. Our lives for a hundred. If the Germans allow us to live, someone will have to pay.”

“There must be a—”

“Inge!” Jüttner’s impatient voice boomed from behind her, and she turned to find Jüttner watching her. The other officer had stepped away and was halfway down the aisle, his stiff back turned to them, his hands balled into fists.