Chapter 4

4

Seven tiny stools stood in a circle. Jana pulled up a taller one for herself and placed the Czech book of fairy tales on top. She was ready to receive her little guests who came every Saturday morning to listen to her read aloud. The older children escorted their younger siblings, or mothers brought their small children, browsing around the bookshop whilst Jana entertained their children. The women were particularly interested in the second-hand books; they had little money to spare.

Last week, one of the mothers, Karolina, had been turning over an old copy of Pride and Prejudice in her hands.

‘I've read it before,' said the woman in a wistful voice. ‘But that was a long time ago. It would be nice to read it again.' She had placed the book back on the display table.

‘Why don't you take it?' said Jana.

The woman shook her head. ‘I don't have the money for such luxuries.'

Jana picked the book back up and placed it in the woman's thin hand.

‘It doesn't cost anything. '

‘How can you make any money if you give books away?' the woman asked.

‘I take money from the Germans.' Jana smiled.

And it was true Jana, thought now. She was forced by the Nazi regime to stock German authors and German translations of approved books. The only way to pay the rent on the bookshop was to sell to the Wehrmacht and other German officials who'd become her customers. She burned with resentment every time she served them, but she had to be practical. Losing the bookshop her mother had so lovingly built up was not an option. Her hand went to the locket at her neck, a gold book that opened up to reveal a wedding photograph of her parents. It had been an anniversary gift to her mother from her father, and it was the most precious thing she owned.

The door of the shop opened, and a flurry of snowflakes tumbled in with the first of the children. They darted excitedly through the narrow shop to the back, where the room opened out, and sped around the stools playing catch. The noise level raised several decibels. Jana would allow them a few minutes to expend some energy before she called for them to sit down.

The door opened again and Karolina appeared with her three-year-old daughter. She ushered her to join the other children, then turned to Jana and opened her handbag.

She held out the Pride and Prejudice book. ‘I enjoyed this so much, thank you. I'm returning it so someone else can read it.'

The spark of an idea formed in Jana's mind. Why didn't she lend all the mothers her second-hand books and ask them to return them when finished? A book exchange.

She told Karolina about her idea.

‘I think that would be wonderful. Of course there is the library, but it's stacked with German books now they've made German the official language in Prague. And the place is always full of Germans. Anyway, it's cosier here.'

‘I could hold a regular exchange day, just for our little community,' said Jana, enthusiasm swelling. ‘We don't have extra copies of a title to hold a book club, but everyone can give an introduction to the book they've just read before passing it on.'

‘I could spread the word amongst the other mothers,' said Karolina, enthusiastically. ‘I'm sure they'd be interested.'

Jana went to join the children, her mind full of ideas. She would form a club. A book exchange club.

Jana was tidying up after the children had left when she felt a gust of cold wind. She looked towards the door.

She recognised the man. It was the young, clean-shaven police officer who had searched the shop and apartment whilst Michal was hiding behind the curtain in the kitchen. His colleague had called him Captain Kovar.

She bristled, deliberately continuing to shelve the books. She was much calmer than the last time he was here and didn't jump to attention. He greeted her.

In German!

Her head shot up.

‘I believe we are both Czechs, are we not?' she said, pointedly. Her German was good, but she refused to speak it with another Czech, even if he was from the fascist police.

He gave a curt nod. She looked at his face more closely than the last time he was here. He had wide, prominent cheekbones, sharp like the chiselled features of one of her father's marionettes. And that's what he was. A marionette whose strings were pulled by the Nazis, a being as wooden and hard as? —

‘I waited till the children had left. I didn't wish to alarm them,' he said, mimicking that stiff way the Germans spoke. But at least he had continued the conversation in Czech.

‘Most kind of you,' she replied in a clipped voice.

Annoyance flickered across his face.

‘I have come with a warning.'

That got her attention. She squashed the fear that sprung up, angry at herself for becoming afraid so easily. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Did this involve Michal in some way? Or was it something to do with her new job at the castle, which she was starting next month? Or Lenka? Did they suspect her friend in any way? Lenka was extra vulnerable now that a baby was on the way.

‘There will be an updated list of banned books issued tomorrow and I wish to remind you to be extra vigilant when checking your stock.'

What stock? The regulations had already left little behind. She would have laughed out loud if the censorship had not been so terrifying.

‘As you see, Officer, there is not that much stock to check.'

‘Nevertheless. And, of course, your second-hand books too.' He looked across at the pile on the round table. Her new book exchange table. Hopefully she wouldn't have to hand any more of those over to the authorities. ‘You should be aware,' he continued, ‘there will be random checks by the authorities.'

She'd got the message. Why couldn't he just leave? Was he trying to scare her?

‘I have nothing to hide,' she said.

He gave her a strange look, then nodded and turned to leave. As he walked past the shelves of German books at the front of the shop, he paused to study the titles on the spines. Seemingly satisfied, he opened the door and left .

‘Arrogant traitor,' Jana muttered under her breath as she went to the cash register to count the cash. It didn't take her long.

Later that afternoon, Lenka arrived at the bookshop, pale and unsteady on her feet. Jana immediately settled her in the armchair at the back and went to make her a mug of chicory coffee. She wished she could offer her friend a biscuit, but there had been no flour available for baking for months.

As she pressed the warm drink into Lenka's hands, she said, ‘Is everything all right?'

Lenka looked across at the couple of people browsing the books and murmured, ‘Wait a moment.'

Jana understood. The customers were Czech, but still one had to be cautious. Collaborators were everywhere, willing to betray friends as well as strangers for Nazi favours. It was terrible not knowing who you could trust, living under the spectre of treachery. Jana sat on a stool beside Lenka, talking about inconsequential things, till the shop emptied.

‘What's the matter, Lenka? You look strained.'

‘I have to stop work now instead of next month. I was bleeding slightly yesterday?—'

‘Oh, no.' Jana reached out her hand.

‘The baby is fine,' said Lenka. ‘But the doctor said I should rest as much as possible. Can you take over at the castle?'

‘Of course. I can start later this week.'

That would give her time to visit her grandma and see how Michal was getting on.

‘There are things you need to know. How the transfer of information will work.' Lenka's tone was solemn .

Jana sat up straight and held her breath in expectation.

‘There are several of us who work at the castle and collect information for the resistance. I don't know who the others are exactly, but I have my suspicions. Anyway, a contact will approach you soon and advise you which Nazis they want you to keep an eye on. All the SS top brass who run Prague have a desk at the castle.'

‘I'm ready to play my part,' said Jana, her voice earnest, her fingers playing with her gold locket. When Hitler had invaded Prague in March 1939, she'd been outraged, and she and her university friends had been resolute in their opposition to the Nazis, even more so when they closed down Charles University. She and her fellow students had taken to the streets but the Wehrmacht were merciless in their response, forcing the resistance to go underground. Jana and Lenka had joined a group along with Pavel and his friends, but the death of Jana's mother changed everything; after that, there was room for only one thing in her life. Grief. But since Lenka had become pregnant and had persuaded Jana to take over from her, something had shifted; Jana wanted to be active again. And now she was even more resolute since she'd personally witnessed Michal's mother being wrenched from her home.

Now she listened to her friend intently as she spoke about contacts and passwords, eager to step up to the challenge.

Lenka sipped her coffee and, placing a hand on her rounded belly, said, ‘You must be alert at all times, Jana. Don't trust anyone and don't underestimate the enemy. And I don't just mean the Germans. There are plenty of fascist Czechs too.'

‘I know.'

Jana thought of the Czech policeman in her shop that morning, Captain Kovar. She had a feeling he would be back. The skin at the back of her neck prickled.