Chapter 31

31

The tram was packed that hot Saturday morning. Jana stood, gripping the bar as she was jostled by other people boarding from the market with their sad baskets of provisions. She herself had only managed to buy three small potatoes, some carrots and an onion. It seemed people went to market more to see friends and acquaintances than to actually shop; the market stalls had few wares and people had little money to spend. The doors swished closed and as the tram lurched forward, those standing swayed in one motion before steadying themselves again.

The young, flush-cheeked woman standing beside her giggled at something her boyfriend said and he curled an arm around her waist. With a contented smile, she leaned her head on his shoulder. The sight brought Jana a pang of misery; it was six weeks and two days since she and Andrej had made love on the old steamboat. The exquisite memory of his hands on her skin fought with the memory of the pain on his face when she'd told him it was over. And she had meant it too. Still, a small part of her was disappointed he hadn't contacted her since then and tried to persuade her to change her mind. Perhaps he hadn't loved her after all or perhaps he felt as guilty as her about the terrible events.

The tram screeched to a stop and Jana peered out the window to see where they were. Near the police station. It wasn't her stop, but in a rush of emotion, she pushed her way to the doors and jumped out.

This wasn't the first time she'd hung around the police station, gazing in shop windows or standing at a nearby bus stop, hoping for a glimpse of him. She'd never seen him here though and always went home disappointed. It was stupid of her, she knew, but she couldn't help herself. Although she remained determined their love affair was over, she needed to know that he was still there; a brief glimpse of him would be comfort enough.

Today, she dawdled in front of the ironmongers where, with her back to the police station, she watched the entrance in the reflection of the window.

She squinted at the black car parked out front, where a driver sat waiting. Her eyes moved to a woman hauling a screaming child up the steps. An old man in a shabby coat limped out the entrance. She pretended to study the tools displayed in the window, her eyes flitting up every few moments to the reflection of the police station.

After a while, she became aware that the shop owner was eyeing her from the other side of the glass, a puzzled expression on his face. She gave a weak smile and sighed; she'd have to move on.

At that moment, she started. In the reflection, she saw two men in the familiar long, leather coats and black hats descend the steps, and tucked firmly between them was Andrej in his police uniform. Startled, she spun round. Andrej had his head lowered, the men either side of him pressed close, their expressions unreadable. All three of them climbed into the back of the car which sped away from the kerb.

Jana's knees went weak and she placed a hand on the shop window for support. The shop owner's face appeared close up, frowning at her. She moved away and stumbled back to the tram stop in a daze. What had she just witnessed? An arrest? She'd seen no handcuffs but the way the men in black had been escorting him had looked threatening. She tried to reason that this was nothing sinister but any way she looked at it, one thing was for sure.

The Gestapo had Andrej.