The Price We Pay

Chapter 5

                I practiced loading and unloading my gun as I waited for Adri and Anna to come out of the bunks. I'd barely slept last night, if at all. On top of that my leg wouldn't stop bouncing, I set my gun down and grabbed my leg forcing it to calm down.

"I've never seen you so anxious." I looked up to see Anna watching me from the dark hallway. Last night, after I talked with Miriam, Anna finished brushing my hair and pulled it into braids.

"You could say that." I stood up, I didn't want to talk about me. "Where's Miriam?"

Anna shrugged, "She came in and asked to talk with Adri early this morning. I haven't seen her since."

"What are you saying about me?" Adri shut the door to our bunks and walked down the hall joining Anna and I. She was carrying a suitcase so thick a watermelon could have fit inside.

I looked from her to the suitcase, I decided not to ask about it. "Where's Miriam?"

"She had to leave, some kind of urgent matter. She gave me the final details of our mission before she left." Adri nodded towards the suitcase. I hesitated, why had Miriam told Adri and not me?

"Did she tell you what the package was?" Despite our meeting last night, Miriam only told us that we needed to meet someone in the ghetto, they would give us the package. She didn't actually say what the package was.

Adri looked down at her suitcase, "Ada, you know the rules. The less you know the better. If one of us were to get caught..." I cut Adri off,

"They would try to get information out of us. I know." I huffed and looked at the suitcase, "So you'll be the only one going in?"

Adri straightened up, "No, we'll all go in. I'll explain on the way."

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Anna stopped walking, "We should split up, we don't want to look suspicious." We'd been walking for about an hour heading south, towards the north end of the Lodz Ghetto.

Adri Shook her head, "Let's not split up until we're closer." She didn't say anything more. "I'm going to get some food, it's going to be a long day. You two wait here, I'll be back." Adri put out her hand for our ration cards. I pulled mine out from my pocket and put it in her hand. Anna didn't move.

"I'm not hungry." She stuffed her hands in her pockets.

I looked at Adri, "That's a lie, you haven't eaten since last night. Plus, you'll get hungry. Give her your card."

Anna snapped, "I said I'm not hungry."

Adri stepped back, Anna never raised her voice at us, "That's okay, don't worry about it. I'll be back." Adri turned around and headed back up the road. Anna turned and sat with her back to me.

I watched her for a minute, why was she acting like this? "Anna, I'm really nervous too, it'll be okay. I know how you feel." I sat down and put an arm on Anna.

"Ada, you don't know how I feel." Her voice sounded tired as she spoke.

I was slightly taken back, I've known Anna for months, she's never talked about her feelings or past life. How was I supposed to understand her when she never talked?

I took a deep breath, I needed to be patient with her. I thought for a second and decided to take a different approach.

"Last night was the first time I talked to anyone about my family since I left the Ghetto." I took a slow breath. "If I survive this war, I might not have any family left to return to.. Last night after talking to you and Adri, I realized, If I survive this war and they don't, then it's my job to keep their memory alive, I need to remember their stories. It's all I have left of them. " I stopped and looked at Anna, " My mother used to sing. She also played the Piano." I laughed. "She tried to teach me, but I couldn't sit still long enough to learn a single note." Anna laughed and I continued, " Even though I never learned, I loved to listen to my Mother play. She was so talented."

I stopped and pictured my Mother. "Anna, will you tell me something about your family?"

Anna thought for a minute, "I have an older brother, he's seventeen." She stopped to think, "When I was little, he used to fold pieces of paper into little animals. He built an entire zoo of paper animals." She smiled, "He used to make little swans for me, I kept them on my nightstand by my bed." She lowered her eyes, "When the war started Pa sent him to fight. I was so angry with him I left and I followed my brother. It was stupid of me. When I found him, I told him not to send me back, that I would help him in any way, I just wanted to be with him. If I knew what I know now, I would've stayed with my parents."

I looked at Anna, "Your brother sounds wonderful. He's fighting for our country. For us. He's doing the right thing." I smiled at her. Anna looked down at her hands.

"Ready?" I turned around to see Adri behind me, she was holding a small bag of flour and four rolls.

I stood up and held out my hand for Anna, she took my hand and I helped her stand up. I turned to Adri and opened my backpack. She dropped the rolls and flour inside.

"You take it. I need space in my bag." She motioned to her suitcase.

I arched an eyebrow. There were several holes drilled on both sides of the suitcase, "There's holes in your bag, Adri."

She looked down and laughed, "Yes, I know."

I shook my head and laughed, "Okay, whatever you say."

I put my arms through the straps of my backpack and started down the road. "We need to hurry. We need as much time as possible before dark."

Anna and Adri both grabbed their things and followed. We walked down the road following its curve for several minutes. I stopped. Straight ahead was the north gate to the camp. Next to the gate was a sign that read, Jude. Below the words was a warning prohibiting Poles and Germans from entering.

I turned to Anna and Adri, I tipped my head in the direction of the gate, "That's Marysin Gate, the north entrance to Lodz Ghetto."