Chapter 22

Chapter 22

T

he Island of Rügen loomed on the horizon, and it wasn’t more than a hundred yards before the bridge ended, and they would step onto the island. But the trek slowed down. SS and border police demanded to see papers again.

“Papers, please,” an SS officer said.

Ursula handed over her and Tom’s papers, while Tom stared at the ground, his mouth half open while incessantly nodding his head.

“These papers are not valid.”

Ursula almost toppled over at the impact of his words. If it weren’t for Tom’s unforgiving grip on her hand, she would have dumped everything and started to run – like the fake nurse at the train station. And she’d probably end up the same way…

“Why, sir? Our papers…” Ursula’s breath came in ragged spurts.

The SS officer turned to Tom, completely ignoring Ursula. “You and your wife are currently registered in Berlin. The buildings at Prora are specifically designated for evacuees from Hamburg. Didn’t you know this?”

Tom raised his head when the officer took a step closer, and kept nodding with something similar to a smile.

“Officer, my husband can’t hear you,” Ursula addressed the police officer. “He came home from the front mute and deaf. Shell-shocked, the doctor said.”

The SS officer looked uncertain. Tom edged closer to her as if he were afraid, drool dripping from his lower lip.

“I thought we would be better off out here because the constant air raids in Berlin make him worse. The doctor said my Andreas might regain some of his senses if I can take him far away from the impacts of war.” Ursula was proud of herself. Apparently, Anna wasn’t the only one with acting abilities in the family.

“I honor the sacrifice your husband made for our country, Frau…” he checked the papers that he was still holding in his hand, “…Hermann. But orders are orders. I can’t permit you to enter Rügen. You must return to the mainland.” He handed the papers back to her.

Ursula wanted to jump with joy because he hadn’t arrested them, but instead, she said with a solemn face, “Thank you, Officer.” A huge sigh escaped her lungs as she turned to her

husband

and tugged his arm to make him aware they had to turn around.

“

Gnädige Frau

,” the SS officer called after her when she’d gone less than three steps. The blood froze in her veins, but she turned around.

“Yes, Officer?”

“In Stralsund, take a bus to a village called Jakobsdorf. If you are willing to work hard, tell the mayor you came recommended by

SS-Sturmmann

Kunze.”

A smile crossed her face. “Thank you for your kindness, Officer Kunze.”

The trek back across the bridge was even more depressing. Now they faced the tired, despairing, and pained faces of the evacuees and had to push against the stream of people. Instead of looking onto the green island of Rügen lying like a jewel in the Baltic Sea, they now faced the ancient Hanseatic City of Stralsund with its signature red-brick buildings.

Under normal circumstances, Ursula would have appreciated the beauty of this city, but now it only reminded her of their failure – again. Tom was returning to the German mainland, every step taking him further away from freedom.

Once they had reached their starting point again, they wandered away from the crowd until they found a secluded place on the beach, where they fell into the sand, leaning against each other.

“Oh God, Tom. What are we going to do?” Ursula asked with desperation.

“Don’t worry. We’re still alive. We’ll find another way to get on the island.” He wrapped his arms around her, spreading comfort. “You should return before it gets too late.”

Ursula leaned her head against his shoulder. “No. Without me, it will be even harder for you to find your way to the Swedish ship. Who knows how many more checkpoints are on Rügen.”

“Ursula…”

She pushed against his chest and glared at him, “I haven’t come so far to leave you here to your fate. I will stay with you until I’ve handed you over. And I won’t discuss this any further, understood?”

“Your glare is deadlier than a stab with a bayonet, Frau Hermann,” he chuckled.

“Ugghh…you…you…” She couldn’t think of an appropriate word to use, and the puppy look in his eyes didn’t help to keep her focus on being angry with him. “The ship sails tomorrow in the afternoon, but we need to be in Sassnitz in the morning to meet the contact person with your new papers. You’ll be a Swedish merchant in the ore business.”

“That’s quite a step up from being deaf and dumb.” He grinned. “Although I was beginning to enjoy having you at my beck and call.”

Ursula swatted his arm. “This is not the time for jokes, Flying Officer Westlake.”

“Oh? Then when’s the time for jokes? When I’m buried six feet deep?”

A shiver racked her body. Danger followed them with each step they took, and the possibility of dying before he reached the safe ship wasn’t very far away.

“You worry too much, my dear.” Tom wrapped his arms around Ursula, pulling her close into his chest. He rested his head on hers, the blonde waves soft against his face. “There will be another way, I promise.”