Joana returned, smiling. Had she left to see the knight? When birds pair, their plumage becomes more vibrant. I noticed that with the knight and Joana. Their feathers had changed since we arrived in the port. Something was happening between them.
The deep swaying of the ship increased. “The weather must be getting worse out there,” Joana commented, looking toward the ceiling. “We’re lucky to be inside.”
Cheerful melodies piped through the ship’s speakers. The music was suddenly interrupted by an anniversary radio broadcast from Adolf Hitler. Exactly twelve years ago to this day, January 30, he was appointed chancellor of Germany. It was hard for me to understand Hitler’s German as he yelled through the speakers. I caught one sentence and it gave me shivers.
“When was the helpless goose ever not eaten by the fox?”
alfred
I collapsed among the refugees on the floor of the music room. My throat burned from the nonstop retching of phantoms in my stomach.
A little girl played with a floppy stuffed bear near my feet. She stopped and stared at me for a long while.
“Stupid girl, it isn’t polite to stare. Especially at someone in my condition,” I informed her.
She giggled, bent her bear over at the waist, and pretended it was vomiting.
“Oh, isn’t that funny?” I reached out and clawed a button eye from the bear’s face.
florian
I made my way down to A deck to check on the wandering boy. He slept, his head in the shoe poet’s lap.
“You’ve cut your hair. You look almost respectable.” The old man laughed. “Sit a while. Rest. The ship is doing the traveling for us.”
“Yes, at least we don’t have to walk,” I said.
“Ah, but remember, the poet Emerson said that when we have worn out our shoes, the strength of the journey has passed into our body.” He nodded and winked. “Wisdom pays the largest debt to his shoemaker.”
We sat in silence. I admired this kind man. Why couldn’t I have apprenticed with someone like him, instead of Dr. Lange? If I had listened to my father, how different would things be? I gestured to the boy. “He’s lucky to have you.”
“No, I am the lucky one,” said the shoe poet. “The boy keeps me kicking.” He looked at me and his face softened. He extended his hand. “I’m Heinz,” he said.
I shook his hand. “Florian.”
He held my hand for an extra beat, staring at me. “The children and young people, you are the unlucky ones. This war has murdered many futures. Are your parents still alive?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Ah, I thought so,” he said, patting my knee. “You are a wandering boy too.”
“Will you give the little one to the Red Cross in Kiel?” I asked.
“I don’t think I could bear it,” said the shoemaker. “I quite like being Opi. I’ve got the address in Berlin that was pinned to his coat. I’ll take him there myself and see what comes of it.” He sighed. “But who knows how long Berlin will hold. Do you have other family?” he asked.
“A sister, Anni. I haven’t seen her in three years. I don’t know if I’d recognize her.”
“You’ll recognize her. Your feet will steer you in her direction.” The old man leaned back and hummed the melody of “Lili Marleen.” It made me think of Joana.
“Are you married, Heinz?” I asked.
“I spent fifty-five years with the love of my life. I lost her last July.” He gestured to the boy. “Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.”
“I know what you mean,” I said, looking at my watch.
“I know you do.” He smiled. “And she’s worth it too.”
joana
9:15 p.m.
Fifteen minutes. Then I would see Florian. I smiled, remembering Eva’s comment that he wasn’t too young for me. I hoped Eva was comfortable on the Hansa.
BANG!
A massive jolt. My head hit the wall. Lights flickered.
Emilia was on the floor.
What was happening?
BANG!
Total blackness. Women screamed.
BANG!
Alarm bells shrilled. The entire maternity ward suddenly tilted toward the front of the ship. Dim emergency lights began to glow.
emilia
BANG!
My body was thrown from the cot.
I hit the floor.
BANG!
Pitch-black. I crawled. I couldn’t see the baby.
I yelled for Joana.
BANG!
Screaming.
Glass breaking.
Alarms ringing.
alfred
We were twenty-five nautical miles offshore.
BANG!
Something slammed into the port side of the ship.
What was that?
BANG!
Another explosion. Darkness. I could not breathe.
BANG!
Panicked screams filled my head. My body shifted.
The ship was listing.
The nose was going under.
florian
BANG!
Our bodies slammed into each other.
The old man grabbed my arm. “Did we hit a mine?” he whispered.
BANG!