The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Eight

Several days passed, and more and more Anna and Elli felt the camp's presence less and less. Anna was also thrilled, as her period had finally come. It was a quiet relief that she didn't share with anyone. It wasn't for them to know.

Since Hollywood had let his grudge against Anna go, all the men of their unit had been including her as much as they could. Anna still enjoyed her chats with Abe the most though. She noticed that around the men, he said very little, content just to listen to the others. But with her, he chatted nonstop. Anna liked having something slightly separate from the rest of them. Not that she didn't like them, it's just that her talks with Abe helped remove her from her situation.

Anna had been so worried about when they would move on from this town. However, Tread had a tip off from one of the town's folk that some SS men had passed through here a while back, and were planning on making their way to Austria, which is the direction that the Americans were heading. So, Tread decided that Anna was needed to identify them.

Abe couldn't contain how pleased he was that they were coming along. "You can keep me entertained," he insisted jokingly.

The day arrived when they were due to leave, and Anna and Elli took no time at to get their things together; they had nothing. Eve and her mother were incredibly sweet, and gave them some spare clothes, as well as some food for the journey. Eve had even made Anna some marzipan, which touched her heart. The sisters gave them both a big squeeze, thanking them for their kindness, and clambered into the truck with the rest of the boys.

The sisters enjoyed listening to the men joke as the journey drew on. Again, Abe said very little, only interjecting when encouraged. Anna took the time to watch him, curious about the giant of a man. He always seemed peaceful, as if nothing really got to him. But after their conversation at the church, and his reactions at the camp, she knew that couldn't be true. Perhaps he just didn't want anyone to know he was rattled. She understood that feeling all too well.

When a lull in conversation came, Elli turned to Anna. "Can you tell us a story?"

Anna shifted a little uncomfortably. "Not a family story," she whispered.

Elli sighed. "Fine," she huffed. "What about a historical one?"

"Yeah, you promised to tell me about the Egyptians," said Abe, nudging her so that she smiled.

"That one I can do," said Anna.

"Why the Egyptians?" asked Sam.

"Her mother was a Professor of Ancient History," said Abe, Anna smiling that he remembered.

"Y'all say nothing the entire journey," teased Hollywood, "then y'all answer someone else's question?"

"So?" barked Abe.

"Curious is all," laughed Hollywood. "I thought y'all liked your women noisy?" Everyone sniggered as Abe kicked Hollywood.

"Why would you like your women noisy?" asked Elli innocently.

"Talkative," said Anna quickly as she narrowed her eyes at Hollywood in warning. "Matthew meant talkative."

"Yeah, sure," said Hollywood. He leant forward to Elli. "You see Elli, our Abe here was quite the ladies' man back in the day, so he says."

"You had lots of girlfriends?" asked Elli.

Abe looked really uncomfortable and deliberately avoided Anna's curious gaze.

"He sure did," said Hollywood. "Back in his twenties anyway. That's why me and him get on so well. We're both a lover of women." Then looked at Sam. "Why he's friends with you, I'll never know."