Three Sisters (The Tattooist of Auschwitz #3)(83)

That first night, they fall asleep filled with a sense of purpose, of hope that they will acquire the tools to carve out a future for themselves, and eventually for Cibi, Mischka and baby Karol. They triumphed when the world was against them, and have come so far. Magda is determined that the hope which kept them alive in the camps will drive their ambition to finally determine their own fate.

They train in the Moravian forests and what many lack in fitness, they make up for with enthusiasm. Magda and Livi find themselves in caves and canyons, in dense woodland and deep snow, challenging the elements as they are tasked with surviving the night in the wild, with few provisions.

The girls’ stamina grows and they discover their appetite for the challenge is huge, and soon they are sailing through their exercises.

‘We faced much worse at Auschwitz,’ is Livi’s cheerful and constant refrain.

It is when the sisters are handed revolvers that they face their first real hurdle. Neither want any part in learning how to fire a gun. And they are not alone.

‘The Communists will not let us leave Europe,’ their instructor tells them. ‘And the British do not want us to travel to Israel. We are still being rounded up, whether on land or at sea. Who here wants to be sent to a detention camp, have their freedom ripped away? Haven’t we suffered enough?’

His message is clear: to move to the next level of training, they will have to learn how to use a weapon.

At the shooting range the next morning, the sisters accept the guns offered to them and Livi proves to be a skilled marksmen, to Magda’s astonishment.

‘How?’ asks Magda, staring at the scattered tin cans on the ground.

‘If you imagine they’re Nazis,’ says Livi, cheerfully, ‘it’s really very easy.’ For Livi, each tin can is the face of Isaac, with his greasy black hair and yellow teeth. Every time she hits her target.

Magda raises the weapon to the cans lined up on a tree stump in the distance, and while her aim is not as accurate as Livi’s, she hits more cans than she misses.

‘You’re right.’ Magda turns to her sister, grinning. ‘They’re all dead!’

Livi’s restlessness eases as the days became weeks, and she blossoms in the company of the other men and women in the camp. There are dances, indoor sports, games and meal times. For the first time in her life Livi feels truly independent, amongst these friends who all share the same goal.

She is surprised to learn that some of the group are Christians, joining the Hachshara to show solidarity and support for the Jewish dream of establishing a home in the promised land.

Romance also blossoms in the woods, and Livi is flattered when Zdenko begins to ask her for every dance.

*

The date of their departure draws ever closer. Soon they will begin their trek into Romania, and from there to the port of Constanta. Part of their journey will involve travelling through Ukraine or Hungary, both of which have closed and heavily patrolled borders.

Magda and Livi listen intently as the dangers of such an expedition are explained to them. Livi wonders if everyone feels the same as her, that this part of the journey is almost an extension of their captivity, and simultaneously the last hurdle in their bid for freedom. They walked away from the death march, didn’t they, and that took so much more courage; Livi feels ready to walk away again, but she can’t pretend she isn’t scared.

Travelling in small groups will provide some protection, but they will have to be very careful. If they make it to the port of Constanta in Romania, they will find a ship waiting to take them to Haifa. It will be leaving with or without them.

On the day of departure, Magda and Livi’s group of around one hundred trainees travel by truck back to Bratislava. With money in their pockets, they will take trains where they can, otherwise hitch rides or walk. Each of them has a gun and a supply of bullets. Livi and Magda put the bullets in their bags; the guns they shove deep into their coat pockets.

‘Are you upset that Zdenko isn’t in our group?’ Magda asks.

‘A bit, but not really.’

‘Do you like him, Livi?’

‘Of course I like him.’

‘No romantic feelings?’

‘No. He’s a friend, that’s all.’

‘Friendship is a good basis for something else,’ Magda teases.

‘Well, Magda, when you have found the one, you can tell me what it feels like, then I will know what to look for. Until then, sister, mind your own business.’

‘Are you scared, Livi?’ asks Magda, suddenly solemn.

Livi looks at her big sister and sees her own fear reflected in Magda’s eyes. ‘It can’t be worse than a death march, can it? Or a selection?’ she replies.

‘I guess that’s one way of looking at it,’ Magda says.

‘It’s the only way.’

*

The trainees take trains to a range of different towns, from where they will position themselves to cross into Romania. Vranov was one of the options, which Magda and Livi rejected; they choose instead to travel to Ko?ice, and make their way through Hungary. From there, they hope the locals will direct them to Constanta.

They have been given maps and a guide: Vlad. With three other boys, the sisters listen while Vlad tells them they will have to cover another 500 kilometres once they are in Romania.

‘Do you think we will have time to visit Father’s grave in Ko?ice?’ Livi whispers.