The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Six

Hollywood was waiting by the car for them when they finally ventured back. He didn't ask where they had been. He could tell Anna had been crying, and for the first time ever, seemed content to let her be. They pressed on toward the main camp.

Anna tried her best to psyche herself up for what she was about to see, but luckily for her, they arrived at an open space just passed it. It made sense that they would stay relatively close to it so they could use its resources. It was hard to be in close proximity to it though; she was glad of Elli's absence in that moment. As they arrived at the space, the nurses seemed to have set up a small administration block in a building on the outskirts of the enclosure. Passed that were tens upon tens of huge white tents.

"What's your friend's name, again?" asked Abe.

"Miriam Boehler," confirmed Anna. "She is thirty-three, has dark hair and dark eyes. We were detained in the sorting area together."

Abe smiled and left.

Anna kept her head down, trying to hide how nervous she was as Abe and Hollywood went to talk to the nurse on duty. She glanced around at the hive of activity. Every nurse was working overtime, trying desperately to get to everyone that needed them. There were a few doctors here and there, all just as busy.

Abe came back over to her, her heart pounding in her chest. She was so scared he would tell her that Miriam hadn't made it. "She's alive and well."

Anna let out a long sigh of relief. "May I see her?" asked Anna eagerly.

Abe nodded and placed his hand on her back to guide her forwards.

They followed a nurse who took them passed several huge tents and finally stopped at one. "She's in there," said the nurse, nodding, and leaving them to it.

Anna dashed in excitedly, Abe and Hollywood following her. Her eyes darted round. This seemed to be for more healthy patients, everyone congregated in the middle so they could chat, basic collapsible beds lining either side.

"Anna?" called that wonderfully familiar voice. Miriam was running over to her, Anna doing the same. They embraced each other tightly, Miriam crying as she held her. "I thought you were dead!" she sobbed. "You didn't come back! I was so worried! Where's Elli? Oh no, Anna, is she..."

"Calm," hushed Anna as she wiped Miriam's tears. "Elli is fine. She's back in the town."

"The town? Did you escape?"

"No." Anna's gaze drifted back to her two escorts.

Abe smiled at them both whilst Hollywood clearly translated the gist of what the women were saying. He gave a small wave, and Anna returned it.

"Let's sit down, then we can talk," Anna said gently. Miriam guided Anna to her bed. They sat down and Abe and Hollywood stayed just out of earshot. Abe was clearly trying to ensure their privacy.

"Anna, the Americans," said Miriam, her voice hushed, "they shot all the remaining SS on sight. I've been trying to find out if any made it out, but I'm worried about Freddie."

Anna's eyes grew sad. "Freddie was already gone before they got here," she said, her voice thick.

Miriam gasped. "What?"

"Keller took me and Elli to the death pits. He made it so that we found Freddie's body. He'd shot him." Anna's voice was despondent when she said it. It was almost easier to pretend it had happened to someone else; just a story that needed to be told.

"Oh, Anna," said Miriam softly, their heads resting against one another's. "I'm so sorry. He was a sweet man..."

"Yes he was," whispered Anna, no longer wanting to dwell on it. "Then Keller took us to a satellite camp to rot. We were there for a few days when the guards upped and left. And then the Americans liberated us a few days ago. I think ours and the men's camp just down from ours was the first they had found."