The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter One

The sky was dotted with clouds, none truly darkenough to bring the promise of rain. At least they shielded the camp from the piercing sun. Margot had managed to slump herself against the outside of her hut. It was the first day it had cooled enough to really do so. She tried desperately to ignore the persistent hum of the flies that circled the living and dead alike. She wasn't even entirely sure what time of day it was; the hours all rolled into one now. From the placement of the hiding sun, she'd guess it must be late morning. Anna hadn't poked her head out so far, but that was not unusual.

Anna only allowed Elli out as the air grew cooler and the sun wouldn't beat down on her as hard. She hoped she would soon, though. Each day, Margot worried more and more that Elli wouldn't wake up again. The little girl's face was one of the only bright things in this dingy hell. Margot looked around at the other huts. Nobody else was really outside, just one or two stragglers like herself.

Margot swore she could hear something very strange. It sounded like shouting; very distant, male voices. She looked up in their direction. Was she hallucinating? She looked at the other women sat outside. No, they had definitely heard it too. She struggled to her feet and listened further. The voices grew closer. She stumbled over to the gate, clinging to it to hold herself up. She peered both ways down the track. In the distance, small figures ran at great pace towards them. Her heart hammered in her chest as she stepped back.

"P-people!" she stammered, her voice aching in her throat.

"What?" asked one of the other women, as more began to venture out from the huts.

"Men!" said Margot. "Coming this way!"

"Germans?"

"I don't know," managed Margot.

She had to get Anna.

Hurriedly, she ran to Anna's hut, crying out her name as she did.

"Anna!" she called again as she reached the doorway. Anna was curled around Elli, her back to Margot. "Anna!" she shouted, "wake up!"

Anna groaned and sat up groggily. She squinted at her, unsure of what was happening. "Margot? What's going on?"

"Men!" said Margot.

Anna's eyes widened. "Guards?"

"I don't know, but they're getting closer!"

Anna swung out of the bunk, turning to Elli who was still fast asleep. She stroked her hair briefly. "I'll be back in a moment, Elli," she said quickly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she wavered to her feet.

Following Margot out, they ran as fast as they could to the gate. Her head was foggy, her eyes squinting through the daylight. She pressed herself up against the cold metal fence, and watched with the other women, as several men came into view. She didn't know them at all. They ran up to stand in front of the gate, all trying to catch their breath. Anna didn't recognise the uniforms.

"Who are you?" she called.

The biggest of them slapped another on the back to push him forward.

"Americans," the elected leader called back. He pulled off his helmet, revealing dark hair that matched his perfectly trimmed moustache. He came over to the gate, Anna's heart drumming in her chest, a smile spreading over her face. "We're here to get you out," he continued in perfect German.

"You mean it?!" she said, all of the women clambering to get closer to him.

He nodded. "We're waiting for someone to come with food and water for you all," he explained. "They're at the men's camp down the road. They'll follow soon enough."