The Fragile Hour Read online

  As people were dispersed and parents reclaimed their children, he returned to salute his superior officers and take his seat in the car again. He was uncomfortably aware that those stubborn Norwegians had been mocking him in their silence that the Third Reich should be brought down to crushing the play of children. Damn them and their paperclips and scarlet caps! And their thousand ways from small irritations to devastating sabotage that showed, even after four punishing years of occupation, they still refused to accept that their nation was conquered!

  Anna took her time strolling back to the hotel. It helped to ebb the tension that had been high in her until she had seen Nils take Magnus into his charge as if he were the boy’s father and lead him off down the street. It had been a splendid way to transfer Magnus out of the hotel and all under the noses of the Germans. Yet it was no time for being satisfied. There would be far more dangerous moments ahead.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Anna applied for a travel pass at the local German department. Her leaving Alesund was above board as far as they were concerned, several officers at the hotel believing that grief over Klaus Schultz had accelerated her move.

  She was putting the pass into her handbag as she came away from the building when Alf caught her up and fell into step at her side.

  “Great news!” he said, keeping his voice low. “We’ve just had a special communiqué. Allied forces made a landing on the beaches of Normandy early this morning! And Free Royal Norwegian fighter squadrons are taking part!”

  “It’s come at last!” Her face was radiant.

  He parted from her and she hurried back to the hotel to pass on the news to Greta and Margot.

  That evening it was easy to see that there was plenty of discussion going on between the officers, but their attitude was confident, showing that they believed the attack would be driven back into the sea.

  While they were talking the next stage of the escape plan for Magnus took place. Greta’s doctor, a pleasant, grey-haired man, came into the hotel, carrying his medical bag, and spoke to Anna at the reception desk.

  “Hello, Anna,” he said in his deep, booming voice, which could be overheard by everyone. He had known her from the day she had helped him when one of the part-time cleaners had been taken ill on the premises.

  “Good evening, Doctor Svensen,” she replied, sounding surprised for the benefit of those able to overhear everything. “Is Fru Sande expecting you?”

  “No, it’s you I’ve come to see. Don’t ask me to sit down anywhere, because I’m on my way to a house call and, although it isn’t a life or death matter, I don’t want to delay too long. I’ve heard that you’re leaving soon for Oslo.”

  “That’s right. At the end of the week.”

  “I’ve a great favour to ask.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve a young patient whom I’m concerned about. He’s only ten and physically fit, but he lost his parents in tragic circumstances. His reaction in shock was to stop talking. Nobody can get a word out of him, and yet in every other respect he’s a perfectly normal child.”

  “Isn’t that very unusual?” Anna asked, playing along with the doctor’s imaginative tale in which some truth had been woven.

  “It is in an over-prolonged silence. I’ve done what I could and now I want to send him to a specialist at Oslo Hospital. I can’t take him myself, or spare my nurse, and the child has no relatives. Could I prevail on you to do this for me? I know it’s a great deal to ask, but I’d be most grateful.”

  “I’ll be glad to help out.”

  “That’s most kind of you. I have all the necessary papers and he can leave whenever it suits you. When could you come along to meet him? He’s been staying at my house, because I’d hoped family life might have some effect, and my wife is good with children, but it’s been to no avail.”

  “I’m free for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Splendid. I’ll be at my surgery, but my wife will be at home, and you can make the boy’s acquaintance.”

  As the doctor moved away from the desk, an officer, who had been waiting, moved into the vacated place and regarded her with smiling sympathy. “I couldn’t help overhearing. You’ve landed yourself with quite a task. It’s a long journey to Oslo and you could have trouble all the way.”

  “I hope not, Major,” she replied cheerfully, taking a message from one of the pigeon-holes and handing it to him. “But I’ll be prepared for any emergency, you can be sure of that.”

  She was certain that her greatest difficulty would be keeping Magnus silent. A seemingly sudden return to speech on the way could undermine the whole escape plan.

  This was confirmed by the doctor’s wife when Anna arrived at the house as arranged. “Our teenage daughters have been playing games with him in which he must not answer any questions, but whether that will help, or not, I don’t know. He was subdued when he came to us, being nervous with strangers, so although that soon wore off here it might keep him quiet on the journey.”

  Magnus was glad to see her and she gave him a hug. He had lots to tell her and was excited at the prospect of going on a fjord steamer and a train.

  On the morning of Anna’s departure, Edith and all the staff wished her well. Earlier, quite a few of the officers had done the same before they left for morning duties. Lastly, both Greta and Margot embraced her in turn.

  “Don’t forget what I said about your coming back here when we’re liberated again,” Greta urged.

  Margot interrupted teasingly. “Don’t expect that, Mother. Anna will probably end up reigning over the Grand Hotel in Oslo.”

  Anna laughed, thankful for a little humour to ease these final moments. “Whatever happens, Margot, I’ll be back on your wedding day when Johan comes home again!”

  On a deliberately light-hearted promise to be a bridesmaid, Anna left the hotel. Emil carried her suitcase to the harbour where she took it from him.

  “Thanks for all you’ve done, Emil,” she said as they shook hands.

  “I’m saying the same to you, fröken.” He gave her a wave as he left.

  It was a small steamer tied up at the quayside. Anna waited, her suitcase on the ground beside her, and watched anxiously for Magnus to appear with Doctor Svensen. A lot of soldiers in full kit were filing up the gangway. As it was a mild sunny day, many of them took up places at the ship’s rails, relaxed and watching the shipping and the coming and going on the quayside, while others settled themselves on the deck.

  As Anna scanned the scene herself, she saw Nils come out of the harbour-master’s office and stand studying a paper in his hand. He would know she was there, but he was keeping far enough away to keep an eye on everything and make sure there was no hitch to her departure with the boy.

  There was Magnus! He was trotting along at the doctor’s side, looking down, with a book under his arm and wearing a blue ski-cap, its peak pulled low over his eyes. They had come safely through the check-point, but he looked cowed, keeping very close to the doctor’s side and clutching his hand. Anna could tell that the sight of so many German uniforms everywhere had reduced him once more to his terror.

  Doctor Svensen looked relieved to see Anna waiting. “Here’s your young charge,” he said with a smile. “He’s been looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Magnus had already transferred his hold to Anna’s hand, but still did not look up.

  “He’ll be fine,” she said. “Thank you, doctor.”

  He stayed to watch her go on board, not permitted by a guard to help with her suitcase and a little one his wife had found for Magnus’s few clothes. From another part of the quayside, Nils was also watching and saw her give the doctor a final little wave before taking the boy down below where they would be less conspicuous.

  The saloon was a bleak place in which to sit with dark leather-upholstered bench seats fitted against the walls, port-holes letting in circles of sunshine. Two soldiers, their kit on the floor beside them, were already stretched out
to sleep for most of the voyage, a third writing a letter. The only civilians there were two farmers, both in best suits, who looked as if they might be travelling to a funeral, their talk of crops and sheep.

  Magnus sat in a corner seat, Anna between him and the other passengers in the saloon. Although he clutched his book, he did not open it, and the trembling of his whole body passed through their linked hands. Anna guessed that under the peak of his cap he was watching the Germans with his eyes full of fear. She talked quietly to him, but he scarcely seemed to hear. Soon the throbbing engine took on new life and the steamer moved away from the quayside.

  Taking the book from Magnus, Anna read to him in a quiet voice and after a while he began to pay attention. The steamer did not stop anywhere along the great fjord, which was why it had been chosen. Yet when it drew near Molde Anna was unable to resist kneeling up on the seat to look out of a porthole. Magnus scrambled up to look out with her, their heads together.

  With a sharp intake of breath, she saw Aunt Rosa’s country house come into view, large and white and mellowed by time, its windows open to the sun as they had been in the past. She felt that if she could step ashore and run to it, her aunt would be there to welcome her. It was only a momentary illusion, instantly dispelled when a military car drew up and an officer got out and disappeared indoors.

  She caught a glimpse of Molde, but Karl had warned her that the bombing had changed it greatly and she was prepared. After that neither she nor Magnus looked out again and it seemed a long time before the steamer arrived at its destination of Andalsnes.

  It was exactly as she remembered it, the little town dominated by the high mountains. There would be a wait for the night train, but Rolf had given her the address of a safe house. When they reached it, the door opened before she had time to knock. It was Karl who swept her indoors and jubilantly swung her around in the spacious hall, his mouth on hers in a long and loving kiss.

  “I thought we weren’t meeting until Oslo,” she gasped happily as he set her on her feet again.

  “That was the original arrangement,” he said, reaching out through the door to bring in the luggage and close it again, “but I decided to come here and travel back with you on the train.” Setting his hands on his hips, his elbows jutting, he looked down at Magnus. “So you’re going to be my travelling companion when we go into Sweden. You’ll like it there. The shops have candy to sell and in the winter there’s no black-out and the lights are on all the time. I’m Karl.”

  Under the peak of his cap Magnus saw that Karl had stooped to hold out a hand to shake his. Cautiously he looked up into a friendly, handsome face with twinkling grey eyes and a wide smile that encouraged confidence. Slowly he put out his own hand.

  “I’m Magnus Jacobsen,” he said. “Why isn’t there a black-out in Sweden? And isn’t there rationing?”

  “Sweden is neutral. That means not being at war with anyone. Yes, there is rationing, but nothing like it is here. Everybody has enough to eat. You’ll be able to go to school again and play football and ski and have friends, just as you used to here.”

  “Aren’t there any Nazis in Sweden?”

  “None to harm you. Mostly they’re diplomats at the German Consulate. They have to behave themselves or else the Swedes would kick them out, just as we’re going to do in Norway one day.”

  Unexpectedly Magnus laughed. He had not imagined that anyone could do that to Nazis. “Shall I be able to come home then?”

  “Yes, nobody will ever deny you that right again.”

  It was a reassuring promise. Magnus took off his cap and went with his new friend and Anna to meet the two elderly sisters who lived in the house.

  Shortly before it was time to go to the railway station Anna had a few minutes alone with Karl. “Are you able to tell me your route into Sweden?” she asked.

  “No, but I promise you I’ll get Magnus to safety.”

  “I know you will! Can you make sure he gets a good foster home with a Jewish family where he’ll receive kindness and affection? I think it’s the only way he’s going to grow out of his present terrors.”

  “I’ll explain his circumstances. The Swedish Red Cross will take care of him at first, and you can be sure that he’ll be treated with compassion and understanding. They’ll want Magnus to have the right home as much as you, Anna.”

  She nodded, satisfied. “It’s a relief to know that. Are you flying to London afterwards? Was that why you were going to Sweden in the first place?”

  “I am, but what made you guess that?”

  “I might not have thought about it, if Nils hadn’t mentioned that he would be going there soon and thought you never missed the chance to fly an aircraft yourself.”

  “I admit that’s true.” His arms enfolded her closely. “One day when the war is over and liberation comes, there’ll be no more partings like this one. We’ll have the rest of our lives together.” He kissed her, gently at first, savouring the sweetness of her mouth, and then with increasing passion. She pressed her hands against the back of his head, not wanting their kiss to end or to let him go without fulfilling the yearning for each other that burned in them.

  He continued to hold her close for as long as time allowed after their kiss was over, his cheek resting against hers. He had loved deeply once before and that had given him memories he would never forget. But he had fallen in love with this woman in the midst of war, which heightened every emotion, and no moment together was ever taken for granted. It would be the same in the future if they both survived, for it would be impossible for either of them ever to forget that once partings might have meant never seeing each other again. It was why Anna did not ask him how and where they would meet next. It was a matter of always hoping.

  It was dark when Anna and Magnus waited for the train with other passengers. Karl was just behind them, but no look or word was exchanged and they appeared not to know each other. As the great locomotive hissed to a standstill, they had to hurry to the only two carriages for civilians at the rear of the train, the rest occupied by troops. As soon as Anna was on board, she saw there were no seats left, people already standing. It was going to be a long and uncomfortable journey of several hours before Oslo was reached.

  She and Magnus sat on her suitcase in the aisle. Karl, who had a rucksack, used it as a back-rest as he sat on the floor beside her. Magnus had withdrawn into deep fear again as soon as he had seen that the platform was full of soldiers, and had clung limpet-like to her hand as their travelling passes were checked. He did not dare look up as the train left the station, although the blinds were down and nobody on the platform could have seen him. Tiny blue lights gave the only illumination.

  Anna found the journey interminable. The train stopped at many stations, mostly for the disembarking of troops and for more to get on. Magnus slept with his head on her lap and she dozed now and again. Karl closed his eyes for a while, but awoke with everyone else as a German voice boomed down the length of the carriage.

  “Inspection of papers! Put those blinds up!”

  People stirred, some yawning, and a baby began crying as the blinds went up in turn, letting the early sunshine in. Two soldiers, one on either side, jostled those in the aisle as they thrust their way along. Karl’s papers were checked and handed back to him.

  Then it was Anna’s turn. Fortunately Magnus was in a deep sleep and she had taken the precaution of drawing him on to her lap with his face resting against her neck. To her increasing concern, the soldier took his time reading every word of her and Magnus’s papers, twice flicking back to the doctor’s certificate. Finally he looked at her with a doubtful frown.

  “It says that this child has to have special treatment in Oslo.”

  “That’s right. As you have read, I volunteered to bring him with me.”

  “Is he dumb or something?”

  “It’s hoped that he will be cured.”

  “Sounds odd to me. Let me have a look at him.” “Please don’t disturb him,” she
appealed. “He’s tired out from the journey.”

  “Do as I say! Stand him on his feet!”

  Anna gave Magnus a little shake to wake him and whispered in his ear. “A soldier just wants to speak to you, but don’t say anything, even if he asks you a question.” She was reiterating the warning that had been instilled in him, but did not know how he would react when sleepy. But there was no need for that warning. The boy’s whole body had stiffened with terror and stopped his voice in his throat.

  She guided him to his feet and he stood with his head bowed, his chin on his chest, staring with horror at the soldier’s jackboots. He winced as his ski-cap was pulled from his head, his silky brown hair flopping forward over his forehead.

  “What’s your name, boy? Answer up, or it’ll be the worse for you! Do you want a beating? Because that’s what you’ll get for defiance!”

  Anna’s fear for Magnus was akin to his own. “He can’t answer you!” she cried out. “The doctor’s certificate told you that!”

  “It didn’t say he was deaf too. Look up at me, boy!”

  One of the men standing in the aisle, almost on top of Anna in the crush, had watched the whole incident sympathetically, as had others within view. “The child is ill. Anyone can see that.”

  Instantly the German swung up his arm and struck the man across the face, cutting his lip and making him reel back. “I want no interference here!”

  At that moment there came a commotion just beyond the injured man and the other passengers pressed close to him.

  “What’s happening?” the German shouted, unable to see what was taking place. People in seats were standing up and there was a lot of talk and activity going on. “Let me through!”

  Impatiently he thrust the papers he had been holding back at Anna, before slinging off his rifle and using the butt of it to make a way for himself. Karl pushed Magnus back into Anna’s arms and she was almost choked by the boy’s arms clasping her tightly round her neck. The other soldier, who had caught up with his comrade in the inspection, followed in his wake as with shouts of pain and indignation people gave way to his rifle butt too.