The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Two

The sisters sat and watched as the men sprang into action. A truck soon arrived and brought more men, food and water with it. The Americans did their best to hand it out to the desperate women who all fought to get some as quickly as they could. Anna could see the moustached one giving orders; he was clearly in charge. He conferred mostly with Abraham, who then relayed everything to the other men.

As a Jeep pulled up with more important officers, Abraham grabbed some bread and made his way over to Anna and Elli. Anna watched him as he strode over, her expression warm and inviting as he stepped close to them.

"How are y'all doing?" he asked, his accent so thick that Anna had to listen very carefully to understand his words.

"Much better," she replied with a small smile.

"Your English is very good," he said as he sat down beside them.

"Thank you," she said. He handed her the bread, Anna taking it gratefully.

"Doc says the little'n can have small bites," he explained, Anna craning to listen to him. "He don't wanna overwhelm her." He cocked his head a little as her brow furrowed, then smirked. "Sorry, is it my accent?"

"Yes," admitted Anna. "Sorry."

"I'm from Missouri," he said, as if that would fully explain it. There was a small pause. "You think mine's bad, you should hear the LT's." Abraham gestured to the moustached soldier talking to the two higher ups. "He's from Mississippi, and most people can't understand a dang word he says."

Anna liked his way of speaking. His voice was deep and pleasant to the ear. Abraham smiled at her again, his muddy eyes creasing at the corners. He still had an almost boyish look about him, despite being huge and well into his thirties. Without his helmet on, she could now see that he had thick, sandy blonde hair.

Anna grinned again, the expression feeling strange. Had it really been so long since she last smiled? "Thank you for the bread." She tore off a small chunk and handed it to Elli.

"I'm surprised you didn't go up and get any," he admitted.

Anna helped Elli take a sip of water. "They have had no food for longer than the two of us," Anna explained, now taking one for herself. "They deserve it more."

"But you're stuck here together?" he said, confused.

"We came from another part of the camp just over a week ago," said Anna.

His faced drained. "T-there's more of these things?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

Anna nodded glumly. "I do not know exactly how many, but the main camp is much further in," she continued. "That is where we came from."

"Fuck me," he cursed under his breath. Then he looked at Elli who watched him curiously. "Are there more children there?"

"A few, I would imagine," said Anna. "Anyone that is kept here has to work, so they are often not very old or very young."

He shifted closer. "How on earth did y'all end up here?" he asked. "What d'ya do?"

Anna's mouth pressed into a firm line. "Depends person to person," she said. "Most of them are here because they are Jews."

"I don't understand?"

"They wanted us dead," piped Elli.

His expression fell. "For being Jewish?" he asked. Elli nodded. "But not all of you?"

"Anyone seen as a traitor ends up here, or somewhere else like it."

Abraham read her sullen expression. "Like you?"