Touching the Wire by Rebecca Bryn Page B

to harm?’
    Miriam stiffened. ‘Harm? Do
what you want to me. You’ve killed everyone I loved.’
    ‘ Silence! ’
    It was forbidden to speak to
an SS doctor unless spoken to: people had lost their lives for less.
    The doctor’s face resumed
its amused smile. ‘Everyone? I think not.’ He tapped his boot with his cane.
‘You think I’m stupid, doctor? Two Zigeuner were unaccounted for when the camp
was liquidated. Two boys… You were the last person known to be with them. The
guard I spoke to said they were identical twins. I’m going to assume you’re
looking after them for me?’
    ‘You hurt Miriam and I swear
I will kill you.’
    ‘Empty threats, my friend.’
He laughed. ‘One word from me and she’s dead, and this whole block with her.
Wouldn’t you rather I gave word that she and these women are to be protected?
Come now… I know you’ll wish to assist me. And I want those boys.’ 
    He bowed to the inevitable.
‘I need time to instruct my staff, but I assure you, there are no Roma twins. I
confess I saved them from gassing… I knew of your interest in twins. But I’d
grown fond of them.’ He shrugged: a helpless gesture. ‘They were ill with
typhus and died within days. My staff only carried out my instructions, Herr
Doktor. They’re not to blame here. The later records show the children’s
deaths.’
    ‘Ever the professional. Very
well. Five minutes. I’ll wait outside. The stench of these Jewish swine…’
    He waited for the SS doctor
to leave and then nodded toward the hidden book. ‘Write, Miriam… write
everything… I’ll find a way to get messages to you.’ He held her close and his
lips brushed hers. ‘Stay safe… and get Ilse to help you here. Don’t take any
more packages until I find a way for you to get them to me… I love you.’
    The door to the surgery flew
open. ‘And what do you call this?’ The SS doctor held Arturas by the arm. The
boy’s eyes were wide with fear. ‘You think you can trick the Angel of Death,
doctor? Where’s the other one?’
    Miriam pushed forward. ‘Peti
died.’
    ‘As this one is about to.
He’s no use to me, alone.’ The doctor dragged Arturas towards the door. ‘Guard!
Shoot this child.’
    ‘No.’ Miriam stood in front
of the camp physician. ‘No. Please.’
    He pulled her away. ‘Herr
Doktor, the boy, Peti, is inside the infirmary. I’ll fetch him.’
    ‘Chuck… no. For God’s sake,
no.’
    He fetched Peti and stood
him by his brother. ‘Identical twins, and they have heterochromia iridii.’
    ‘Fascinating. Thank you,
doctor. I’ll take them to the zoo.’
    The doctor swept out,
holding a boy in each hand. The zoo: where twins were kept while they waited
for the Wolf of Günsburg to decide their fate.
    ‘Why, Chuck?’ Miriam thumped
his chest with her fists. ‘Why betray Peti?’
    He gripped her wrists. ‘To
save Arturas’s life. As twins they have value. Together they have a small
chance.’ He felt sick, knowing what that value was: what their chances
were.  ‘I’ll try to protect them. I promise. ‘According to Radio
Blyskawica, there’s still heavy fighting in Warsaw. They talk of Home Army
victories. If I can keep them safe long enough for the Soviets to get here…’
    A cold rain that fell in
torrents turned the camp to a sea of mud, and promised a long, hopeless winter.
It was three days before he found a way of passing messages to Miriam. Three
days when he was forced to witness his abhorrent brand of medical
research on gypsies, dwarves... children. This was what would happen to Arturas
and Peti, if he failed to keep them safe. Just the thought made him
retch. 
    It was chance that brought
him a way to contact Miriam. The latrines were empty but for himself and the
bony, grey-bearded man who knelt cleaning. A rabbi, allowed to keep his beard
to show his people how even he could be humiliated with the foulest of tasks.
    He relieved himself at a
latrine. ‘You do a good job, rabbi.’
    The man stood