The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Six

Freddie was so worried about Anna. When she told him what happened to Maria, she was beside herself. He didn't know how to help her. He could see that she was already trapped. She'd given Ernst far too much. He hoped he could at least cheer her up. He'd spent the last few days trying to find an excuse to visit Elli's camp, and he'd finally found a reason. The other camps were becoming more interested in child labour, so he could go under that guise to inspect them again. He pulled up the car and climbed out, immediately met by another officer who had a scarf covering his mouth.

"Good morning, Rottenführer," he said, his voice muffled.

"A little warm for that, isn't it?" he said, gesturing to the scarf.

"It's for the women. The sickness has reached our camp. I've lost six to it already. You'll want to do the same." Freddie's heart plummeted.

"Any of those children?" he asked.

"No," he replied, Freddie breathing a sigh of relief. "But one of them is heading that way though, early stages." He tried so hard not to grimace. Not Elli. Please not Elli.

"Show me," he ordered, covering his mouth with his glove from his pocket. "I'm here to inspect them anyway."

The man nodded and led him through, barking at the women to get to their feet. They all lined up, then the children were called forward. There was one straggler. Elli. She looked ghastly. She was pale, and gaunt. She had lost so much weight in the few weeks since he had last spoken to her. His fist clenched as he stood before them again.

"Hello again children," he said, all of them greeting him quietly. His gaze rested on Elli. "Elli Cohen, is that right?"

"Yes, Rottenführer," she croaked.

"You were going to show me more of your shoes, were you not?" he said. Elli nodded, running off to get a pair. She desperately tried to supress a cough as she came back over, placing the shoes a little way in front of him but not his hand.

"You were to pass them to the Rottenführer!" barked the other guard, going to strike her but Freddie stopped him.

"That's quite enough, Oberschütze," he said quickly. "I'm sure Elli Cohen has a good reason?" Elli looked up at him, her big brown eyes locked on his.

"My father always said, when you are sick, you should not get close to healthy people, or they will get it too."

"Wise words," managed Freddie, who was screaming internally. He went forward and picked up the shoes, now scanning the women. "Where is your work partner?" he asked.

"Dead, Rottenführer," Elli replied quietly. Freddie was breathing deeply. She looked distraught. He inspected her shoes. The quality was dire. She wasn't going to last much longer if she couldn't keep up the pace. He had to move her.

"Excellent, once again," he said, placing them back down on the ground, then turned to the guards. "I might have a new posting for that one. She is clearly a diligent worker. I could use her."

"I wouldn't bother, Rottenführer," commented the guard. "She's going the way of the others." Freddie glanced back at Elli. She had heard what they had said. She was looking up at him pleadingly. He turned back to the Oberschütze.

"Are you questioning my judgement?" he said, trying to have the same edge to his voice that his Sturmbannführer had always had.

"Of course not!"

"Well then, I would keep your opinions to yourself," retorted Freddie. He sighed heavily. "I may well be back soon," he said. "Make sure to keep her alive for me." The guard nodded, Freddie taking one last look at Elli before he fled to the car. He had to tell Anna.