Three Sisters (The Tattooist of Auschwitz #3)(28)

*

Mrs Trac has been looking out for Magda. She knows the Hlinka Guard will soon come looking for any remaining Jewish girls and boys. They come on Shabbat, when they know all the Jewish families will be at home. Her own children, now adults and living in Bratislava, are protected by their Roman Catholic faith. How they chastised their mother when they heard she had been hiding Magda in the house; her faith will not protect her if she is caught hiding a Jew.

‘Hurry, my dear, they could knock on my door at any moment. I have put a little bread and cheese up there for you.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Trac, you didn’t have to do that, but thank you. I don’t know how we can ever repay you for taking such risks for my family.’

‘You can repay me by staying alive and punishing those who would hunt you down. Now, it’s time to hide.’

Pausing just long enough to give her neighbour a warm hug, Magda hurries to the chair in the narrow hallway, above which is a small trapdoor. She pulls it open and climbs into the small space beyond. After that, she pulls herself up into the ceiling cavity.

The light from the hallway illuminates a plate of bread and cheese. Magda knows from experience that as soon as the trapdoor is back in place, she will be in pitch-black darkness. She quickly notes the blankets and pillow nearby, where she will lie in wait until she hears the familiar tap from below to tell her to come down, the next morning. She hears the sound of the chair scraping along the wooden floor as Mrs Trac drags it back to the kitchen. She hopes it hasn’t left any telltale marks leading straight to her hiding place.

A short while later, Magda hears a loud banging at the front door and a voice telling Mrs Trac to ‘open up’.

The squeaking of the front door tells Magda that Mrs Trac is now face to face with some Hlinka guard.

‘Is there anyone else in the house with you, Mrs Trac?’ a guard asks.

‘Laszlo, you know my son and daughter now live in Bratislava with their families. Why would they be here?’

‘We have to ask, you know that. Do you mind if we come in and have a look around?’

‘And if I did mind, would that stop you?’ a defiant Mrs Trac fires back.

‘Step aside so we can come in,’ another guard demands, clearly impatient with the back and forth.

‘Shut the door behind you. You’re letting in the cold,’ says Mrs Trac.

Magda listens as footsteps move away from the front door and head towards the kitchen. She holds her breath as she now hears pacing directly beneath the ceiling space in which she is hiding. Might they spot any skid marks from the chair?

‘I hope you don’t expect me to make you tea,’ says Mrs Trac.

‘We’re fine, we don’t need anything,’ Laszlo replies.

‘Have you seen anything of the Meller girl from across the road?’ the other guard asks.

‘I have children of my own to worry about, never mind anyone else’s,’ Mrs Trac replies sharply.

‘We are just asking if you have seen her recently. She has been spotted in town from time to time, but she’s never at home when we call round. What can you tell us about her?’

‘Well, she is a very beautiful girl. Are you interested in asking her to go out with you?’

‘Please, Mrs Trac.’ Laszlo’s voice again. ‘Do not impede our investigation. You must let us know if you see her. We have urgent questions for her.’

‘Why? What can that girl possibly know that you don’t?’

‘Come to us if you see her. That’s all we’re asking.’

‘I’m looking around right now, and I don’t see her. Do you?’

‘Thank you for your time. We will see ourselves out.’

Magda hears the footsteps head away, and then the front door click shut. She picks up the bread and lies down on one blanket, covering herself with the other. She is glad Mrs Trac can still afford fuel for her wood burner – she feels the warmth of it through the ceiling. The smell of woodsmoke is comforting too.

*

The scraping of the chair along the wooden floorboards below wakes Magda the next morning. She hears the tap, tap, tap of the broom handle on the trapdoor.

Magda is stiff from her night in the confined space, and she descends slowly. Pulling shut the trap she heads for the bathroom, and then joins Mrs Trac in the kitchen, who is drinking a cup of tea.

‘Thank you for the bread and cheese. I ate the bread, but do you mind if I take the cheese home for Grandfather? He misses it.’

‘You must. I can give you some more if you would like?’

‘No, no! This is more than enough’. Magda nods at the cup Mrs Trac is raising to her lips. ‘Linden tree tea?’

‘Would you like a cup, my dear? I have plenty, thanks to your mother.’

‘No, thank you. We still have some and I had better head home. Mumma and Grandfather will be worrying.’ Magda touches the woman’s shoulder. ‘Thank you, Mrs Trac. I don’t know how .?.?.’ Her words catch in her throat.

‘Don’t thank me, girl. Just give my love to your mother and grandfather and I will see you next Friday. All right?’

‘I will. But let’s see how the weather holds up. I might be able to go into the forest now that it’s getting warmer.’ Magda leans over and kisses Mrs Trac on the cheek.

‘Any news of your sisters?’