Johann felt his strength return to him in a heartbeat. It coursed through his veins as a rage unlike any he had felt before, even in battle, raced through him. The man he had called his friend had not only betrayed him, but the family that had welcomed him in with open arms.
‘A short while later,’ Adelina continued, ‘we were sent north to the concentration camp at Flossenbürg, where we were allocated to sub-camps. I never saw Gerhard again after that. I heard that he’d been shot for protesting his innocence, and I almost lost the will to live, but Ava kept me going. She was already pregnant, of course, and when the guards found out they made her sign a form to say that the baby would be taken away from her as soon as it was born. She didn’t want to sign it, but the guards were very persuasive. It was a euthanasia consent form.’ Adelina paused and smiled at the child. ‘As you can see, Johann, your son was not taken away. Ava died during the birth. She was so weak and malnourished, as everyone at the camp was. So it fell to me to look after her baby—my grandson.’
Adelina reached out a frail hand and began to stroke the baby’s forehead. ‘Several women in my hut helped to look after him, and if he had been any trouble, I’m sure he would have been taken away. I don’t think anyone expected him to live long under such conditions, but he’s strong, Johann. He’s a survivor, like his father.’
Johann couldn’t help but blame himself for Ava’s death. Had she not been pregnant, she would likely have survived the ordeal along with her mother. But how could he have known? He looked at the child, and he certainly could not blame him. He reminded himself then that Ava’s death was no fault of anyone’s but the man he had once called his friend.
‘Do you know why Volker had you arrested—why he set you all up with this story about harbouring the Jewish girl?’
Adelina nodded. ‘He came to the camp twice. The first time was just a few weeks after we arrived. He spoke in private to Ava and Ava passed on what he said to me. He told her he loved her, and that he wanted her for himself. He told her she was to leave you, and that while it pained him to punish her as he was, he thought she needed to see just how much power he commanded. He told her he would keep us all at the camp until she changed her mind.’
Johann began to grind his teeth. Now he saw through Volker’s visits to the Bauer house, bearing provisions to help ease the family through the hardships of war. It was all for himself, working his way into their trust, their friendship, with no other goal in mind than to have Ava for himself. ‘And the second time?’
‘On Volker’s second visit he begged Ava to agree to his terms, saying that it tortured him to know she was suffering. But Ava resisted him, even then. She loved you so much, Johann.’
The thought of something so pure between them having been so cruelly destroyed, and by his best friend of all people, forced Johann to bite his lip to hold back his tears.
‘A few months passed,’ Adelina continued. ‘I think Volker must have heard about Ava’s death, and I think perhaps he was responsible for letting me look after her baby. I know he signed my release order. That was just a week ago. The Americans were close to Flossenbürg and we were being prepared to march out of the camp, but they let me go—just like that—with a simple piece of paper.’
Adelina reached a bony hand beneath her blankets, which seemed to take a great effort. Several seconds later, she showed Johann the slip of paper. ‘These are my release papers, in case anyone stopped me.’ She unfolded the document very slowly, as though every movement required all her strength and concentration. And there on the form Johann recognised Volker’s signature.
‘So his guilty conscience finally got the better of him,’ he said. ‘But it won’t save him.’
‘What will you do?’
‘I’ll take care of you and my son, and then we’ll see.’
Johann turned to the man he had confronted when he first came into the room. ‘Who are you?’ he asked. His tone was short.
‘I—I live across the street.’
‘They can’t stay here. It’s cold and they need help. Will you care for them until I return?’
The man shook his head. ‘My wife won’t—’ He paused. ‘Look, we don’t want any trouble.’
Johann sighed. ‘Well, do you have a motorcar?’
‘No, I—.’
‘Can you borrow one?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘I need you to take us to Gilching. Will you do that much?’
The man seemed to think about it. Then he nodded. ‘Yes, all right.’
‘Good. We must go at once.’
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Present day.