Page 55 of Villa of Secrets

‘Why aren’t you on the ship with the rest?’

‘I escaped,’ I said simply, lifting my injured arm. ‘Broke my wrist in the process. Can you save my family? Are they really going to some awful prison camp?’ I chewed my lip, wondering if I should ask a question to which I did not want to hear the answer. I took a breath and lowered my voice. ‘Is it true they’ll be killed by the Nazis?’

He shrugged. ‘Possibly. How can we know?’ I saw the regret on his face. ‘We only hear rumours.’

‘Can’t you help them escape?’ I asked quietly. ‘Please. They’re my parents, my grandmother and grandpa, and my brothers and just everyone. Even my school friends were taken. I’m desperate.’ My insides were shaking again. ‘Why is this happening? What reason could they have for taking my family away? We never hurt anybody. I have to bring them home.’

He shook his head. ‘Sorry for your loss, but the situation’s impossible. Look at us. We are a few men with a few guns. There’s little we can do.’ He frowned. ‘Consider this. Let’s say the enemy are a big ship that we don’t want in port. We’re not strong enough to push the vessel away. Nevertheless, we sneak along the quayside like mice in the night and gnaw at the ropes. And that’s what we do. We find their weak point, and we destroy as much as we can.’

‘Can’t you get more men? There must be a hundred Rhodians for every German.’

‘Ha! You think they’re going to fight the Germans to save the Jews of Rhodes? The Rhodians are not warriors like the Cretans. Right at this moment, the locals are pillaging your people’s houses, smashing the floors and ripping out cupboards, greedily searching for the mythical cache of Jewish wealth.’

‘What wealth? We struggled, like everyone else.’

‘Try telling that to the locals. Some had their belongings packed in anticipation of the Jewish procession to L’Aeronautica. They moved into the Jewish houses even before the ships had left the island. You’ll find few Rhodians among the partisans here. Most of the Andartes, including myself, their capitano, are remnants of the Italian army who escaped the Nazi bullet. We’re alone in our fight against the Axis.’

Drenched in an awful feeling of despair, I stared at Nathanial.

‘Little one, I’m especially interested in anything you heard from the Nazis.’ He stared at me, his eyes cold and hard again.

I told him about the Turkish Consulate-General, what I’d observed.

‘A brave man,’ Nathanial said. ‘He risked his life to save those forty-something souls.’

‘The worst thing was when they took the old ones into another room and pulled their gold teeth out. When the grandmothers and grandfathers rejoined us, their mouths swollen and bleeding, people changed. Adults started crying. Everyone acted strangely, hugging each other.’

I stopped to recall my family, grouped together, pale-faced and silent. ‘I didn’t realise at the time, but I think the adults knew at that point what was going to happen.’

‘Go on,’ he said.

‘At first, most believed we were being sent to work on another island, a better place. The Nazis had shown the elders a movie about the work camps. In the film, there were nice houses, happy people, and lots of food on the table. Some of our neighbours were excited at the prospect of moving, but not my mother. She was one of the few who didn’t believe what they saw on the big screen. She guessed it was a trick, but nobody would listen, not even my father.

‘When we got to L’Aeronautica, they took our possessions: money, jewellery, everything. The adults started whispering to each other. Some put their sovereigns and jewellery down the toilet, rather than let the SS have them, but then the toilets blocked, making our situation even worse because the water was turned off. But taking the old people’s gold teeth, that changed everything. My father will be proud that I escaped. He didn’t want me to get on the ship. When he caused a distraction, I ducked under a truck and hid behind the wheels.’

‘You were brave, and quick-thinking.’

I shook my head. ‘What’s brave about running away?’

‘Sometimes it’s the bravest thing you can do. Your father gave an order and, even though you didn’t understand why and didn’t want to execute that order, you did it without question. I wish I had more men with that attitude. Where are your sister and friend now?’

I stood tall. ‘I’m not saying. They’re my responsibility. I must think about their safety. I’m all they have to protect them now.’

‘We’ll protect them; you have my word.’ I felt him scrutinising me. ‘Are you really sixteen?’

‘Yes, why?’

‘You look younger. You could be useful. If you give us your help, we’ll give you our protection. What do you think?’

I considered his words. ‘Depends what you want.’

He smiled. ‘You’re not afraid of us?’

‘Should I be? We’re on the same side, aren’t we? They call you a rebel, but I’ve also heard you’re a respected leader.’

‘My God, you’re a cocky little madam.’ He laughed uproariously, and his men, who stood a respectful distance away, joined in. ‘I can’t stop the ships, but I believe they’re in Kos now and I’ll let you know what I hear. Don’t lose hope.’ He pointed a finger at me. ‘With an early end to the conflict, your family may never reach camp. We’re doing all we can to crush the Nazis on Rhodes, and you can help us.’

My world collapsed. An ache that started in my heart seemed to spread through my body and I struggled not to cry in front of the Andartes leader.