Page 40 of Library of Forbidden Books

Derek continued in his work for the war ministry. General von Blomberg seemed more and more distant, as if acknowledging that the only way to survive in the Nazi regime was to look the other way and get by day to day. As Hitler grew more secure, he also grew colder and more authoritarian. Derek had seen the Führer a few times in recent weeks and had been tempted to intercede for Helene, but his nerves always failed when the time came.

The afternoon sun promised that summer warmth would soon be arriving. Berlin was at its best: people sitting on their balconies or ambling along the wide streets. City life had picked back up, and Germany seemed to have recovered its energy. Excepting the bearded citizens with long ringlets who walked quickly down the street trying to go unnoticed, everyone seemed happy.

Derek often wondered if it were all a masquerade. The Nazis had murdered countless dissidents and political enemies. Thousands were locked up in jails and concentrations camps—yet no one in Berlin seemed perturbed.

A call came through to Derek’s office.

“Lieutenant Derek von Sholtz?”

“Speaking,” he answered formally, wondering who it was. He never received private calls at the office.

“This is the personal assistant of Reinhard Heydrich.”

Derek’s throat momentarily closed, and he sat bolt upright.

He willed his voice to be steady. “How may I help you?”

“The Gestapo chief can meet with you next week, on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. Would you be so kind as to come to his office?”

“Yes, of c-course,” Derek stammered, then hung up when the assistant ended the call. He looked at the phone in disbelief then back at the hand that had just held it. He started sweating and got up and paced around his office.

That appointment could only mean one thing: Rommel’s mediation had worked.

The happiest day in Lena’s life was also one of the hardest. She had married the man she adored, yet her best friend was missing.

Derek had told Lena that Helene was alive and expecting a child. Every day she walked into the library, Lena thought of her friend. Though she was now the director, she never sat at Helene’s desk. Lena could not forgive herself for having joined the Party, but it was the price she had to pay in order to have any chance at keeping the books safe. Betraying her principles was a worthwhile sacrifice, for their sake.

Klaus was also quite low, though he tried not to show it. He fully carried the load of the library’s community programs, even though most of the children and adolescents had been swallowed up by the Hitler Youth.

“Any news of Helene?”

That was Klaus’s daily question. And as she did every day, Lena shook her head in response, trying not to give into the despair she felt.

That morning the mailman placed a pile of official letters on Lena’s desk and waved a friendly goodbye.

Lena eyed them with boredom until the handwriting on one envelope caught her attention. Her heart jumped: It was Helene’s.

“Klaus!” she called, a ball of excited nerves. She grabbed a paper knife and carefully slit it open.

Klaus came running. “What is it?”

Lena unfolded the pages and began to read aloud.

Dear friend of my heart,

At long last, the lonely librarian writes you. I’m so sorry I could not attend your wedding, but I was with you in spirit. There’s no greater love than giving your life for your friends, as Jesus said. It makes me very happy to know that you’re forever united with Gabor, the most wonderful man on earth—after my Derek, of course.

You’ve probably heard that I’m expecting. I’m doing all right, and having a baby is the sweetest gift God could give me. I’m here loving words as much as ever; you know how the world only makes sense for me between the covers of a good book.

I love you so much and hope to see you soon.

Your friend and soul sister,

Helene

Klaus and Lena were silent for a moment and then looked up at one another. Klaus leaned down from his lumbering height to hug Lena, and they both began to cry tears of relief and sadness. The three of them had been together for years: from studying at college, to working at the Neukölln library, to creating the Secret Library of Berlin.

“Did you hear what she was saying? Did you get it?” Lena asked, still crying.