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Minki knelt at his side. ‘Hello there, MrHoffman. It’s Minki – do you remember me?’ He looked intently into her eyes, but shook his head.
‘Never mind,’ said Minki kindly. ‘It’s been a long time, and so much has happened. But I’m really pleased to see you.’ She leaned over and kissed his cheek, and, as she stood up, he ran his fingers over the place where her lips had grazed, and smiled.
Turning to Emilia, Minki’s tone was calm and workmanlike. ‘You’ve been very kind to the Hoffmans, but their presence in your apartment is putting you all in danger. I’ve heard what happens to good people like you who shelter Jews. I’m going to try and make arrangements to get them out of Germany through a contact in Berlin.’
‘Berlin!’ gasped Hannah. ‘But how could we travel to Berlin? As soon as we got on the train, we’d be arrested.’
‘You’re right, the train would be impossible – there are too many police checking papers everywhere,’ replied Minki. ‘But I’m in touch with a resistance group which may be able to help. Please try not to worry. I’ll be back with more news as soon as I can, but in the meantime stay hidden here.’
‘Oh, don’t worry, we never go out,’ said Hannah firmly. ‘But dear Emilia has to share her rations with us. You see, we can’t use our own ration books, as it would give us away.’
‘I do see, yes. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about the ration books at this stage. But hopefully you won’t need them much longer. I wonder… could you let me have your existing identity papers – we’ll need the photographs in order to create new ones.’
‘Yes of course,’ said Hannah. ‘I’ll go and get them now.’
She returned with their identity booklets and handed them to Minki.
‘Thank you. Well…if there’s nothing else, I’d better go.’
‘I’ve not even asked how you are, dear?’ said Hannah kindly. ‘Your children – are they well?’
Minki’s firm resolve to stay calm and professional weakened. ‘The boys are well – yes. But my daughter…’ She began to sob.
‘Oh my dear…what has happened?’
‘She was taken from me, and now she’s dead.’
‘Oh, Minki, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the pain you must be in. It makes what you’re doing for us even more remarkable. Thank you for sparing the time to come to see us. I fear I have misjudged you in the past. Forgive me.’
‘There’s nothing to forgive, Frau Hoffman. Leila is like a sister to me. I want to help…’ She kissed Hannah’s cheek. ‘Losing my daughter has been the worst thing imaginable. At first, I feared I would die myself, but now I’m just determined to do what I can to help others. I’ll try to come back soon. I’m not sure when. But please have a bag packed and ready – only essentials, you understand. We may need to act quickly when the time comes.’
Hannah nodded. ‘We’ll be ready.’
The following day Minki took the train to Berlin. As soon as she arrived, she hurried to a phone box and flicked through the fat Berlin telephone directory. To her relief Ruth Andreas-Friedrich was listed. She dialled the number.
A woman answered: ‘Hello.’
‘Hello – I’m a friend of Uncle Emil. I understand he’s not been well…’
‘That’s kind…he’s on the mend, but is too frail to get to the phone. Can I ask who’s calling?’
‘My name is Minki Sommer. Perhaps I could speak to Ruth?’
‘Ruth speaking.’
‘Ah, good. Ruth – I believe we may have met a few years ago, when I was working as a journalist, editing the women’s pages of theDeutsche Allemagne Zeitung. I wondered if we could meet.’
‘Oh, yes, I think I remember you…You’re a tall blonde, yes?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Where are you?’
‘At the railway station – Ostbahnhof.’
‘Meet me at Café Berlin in half an hour – it’s just outside the station.’
The line went dead.
