Page 30 of Library of Forbidden Books

“Klaus is acting weird. I think he’s going to join the Party but doesn’t know how to tell us.”

“Really? I don’t think he’s capable of actually doing it,” Helene said, glad to see Lena heating water in the kettle.

“I know, but I don’t think we can hold out much longer. By spring I’m afraid we’ll all be kicked to the curb.” She took out a teapot and dropped in the tea.

“Let’s talk about something happier. How are wedding plans coming along?”

“They’re going well. I can’t believe it’s just three months away!” Lena was spending a chunk of time each day going over plans and had already chosen her dress.

“Wow, time really is flying,” Helene said, pouring the tea while Lena set out some pastries.

“And you didn’t lift a finger to organize your own wedding!” Lena chided.

They both laughed.

Helene’s nose was back to its normal color. After the tea and a bit of work, she no longer felt nauseous. Eventually she looked up and asked, “Where’s Klaus?”

“No clue. He hasn’t been in this morning.”

A few hours later, the door opened. Looking up, Helene expected to see Klaus. But it was four men, and they were walking straight toward them. Helene and Lena stood and braced themselves against the wall behind them. A fifth man, wearing an SS officer’s uniform, entered. Helene gasped at the transformation when she finally recognized who it was.

The dry, rasping voice of Rudolf Kummer reached her before his body did. “Helene Nathan, Helene Weber, Helene von Sholtz: You are under arrest for high treason against the Reich.”

“But . . .”

“Seize her!”

The command was delivered somewhere between rage and delight. Kummer had waited too long to capture this prized prey, and he did not want to lose another second.

Lena stepped forward and demanded in a shaky voice, “What is she accused of?”

“Spying, concealing banned books, working in an official organization despite being a Jew . . . the list is long.”

Helene gave Lena a terrified look as two of the men grabbed her by the arms. She did not even have the chance to put on her coat.

“Call Derek!” she hollered to Lena as they dragged her away.

Lena watched helplessly. When the doors shut, she doubled over in pain and started gagging with tears.

Five minutes later, Klaus walked in and found Lena still in that position. He was terrified to ask but ventured with, “What . . . ?”

“They took her. Rudolf Kummer came with the Gestapo, and they took Helene.”

Lena crumpled again, and Klaus helped her to a chair. Then he called Derek and together they told him what had happened to his wife.

Klaus could say nothing more. He could not tell Lena he had just joined the Party.

He was now one of them.

Chapter 18

The Gestapo

Berlin

January 10, 1935

Helene wasn’t sure if it was a typical interrogation technique, but that afternoon the SS officers left her alone in an empty office and did not bother her. It was cold, she had no coat, she was very hungry, and she had to go to the bathroom badly. But she was more or less okay. At least she no longer felt sick to her stomach and was strangely calm.