Читать книгу The Crooked Olive Branch - Frederick Munn - Страница 24

Chapter 16

The following day Peter and Hal met up with the others on the station as arranged.

Miriam immediately tried to run to Hal screaming and fighting her carer when she tried to prevent her from leaving.

Hal made to go to her. Peter put a restraining hand on his arm.

Peggy Firth flicked her cigarette on to the floor, went to the carer, collected Miriam and took her over to Hal. Miriam burying her face in his chest.

“I understand you are holding Mim’s travel tickets?”

It was Peter who answered. “Yes, I suppose Gerda thought it wise because they were unsure if all would get through.”

“That’s saves us a fare.” said Peg looking at the distressed tiny girl.

“And by the look of things you’d best keep Mim until we get to Paris.”

“Keep Mim.” The little girl sobbed burying her head back into Hal’s chest.

“This is like a small private lounge,” said Peter, surprised. The tickets were for a first-class couchette open for any journey. They only noticed this morning at the station, not having looked at them properly before.

“Sure is. How come? It must have cost some.”

Peter looked around “I don’t know about you Hal, but I’m embarrassed. What say we offer this to the ladies?”

“Already did, Pete, I knew you would feel the same.”

“And?” Peter prompted.

“They refused. Won’t leave the kids I guess.”

Peter nodded. “I saw you talking to Peg. What was that about?”

“The couchette and Helga.”

“Helga? What about her?” Peter asked. “Where is she?”

“She has other arrangements. She is staying in Zurich.”

Peter was shocked. “Strange she didn’t say anything to me.”

“She left early before breakfast on some errand or other, left a message that she would be in touch.”

“That’s all?”

Hal shrugged “I guess.”

Miriam meanwhile had climbed from Hal’s lap on to the seat was looking through the carriage window. Turning she took Hal’s face in her tiny hands and pulled it towards her and away from Peter and their conversation. “Papa Yo, Wo ist unser zuhause?”

Hal turned to Peter who sighed and translated.

“She is asking where’s your home?”

“God, Pete, what can I say?”

Peter shrugged but didn’t answer. Hal just clasped the little girl in his arms.

“I don’t know sweetie but be sure I will find somewhere for us, be sure of that.”

Then looking at his friend. “I’m not giving her over Pete no matter what.”

Peg, outside the compartment was about to knock on the door. Seeing the drama unfolding inside she stopped to witness this through the glass. She tapped firmly on the glass and slid the door open. “Can I come in?”

Immediately Mim hid behind Hal’s back who looked for all the world as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Peter, realising they had been overheard, started to explain.

Peg stopped him with a smile.

“It’s O.K. chaps,” peeking at Mim behind Hal’s back.

“It’s all right, my sweet, Tussy has not come for you.”

“You heard our conversation?” Peter asked. This was a question not an accusation.

“I wasn’t prying mon enfants. I was coming to ask a favour and couldn’t help overhearing.”

“I was hollering a bit. Please sit down and ask away for your favour.”

Peg sat down. Mim came out from behind Hal and sat on his lap still clinging on to him.

Peg took a deep breath. “About this little girl.” She paused. “Look Hal we can see where you are coming from, but you are going to have to face it, it probably is not going to happen.”

“Why not?”

Peg smiled sadly. “You are not married, are you?”

“How can you know that?”

“Peter said so last night. He also pointed out that you are not Jewish. To which, I might add, that Mim is travelling on false papers. Any claims you have will be waived away by Immigration.

She will be passed on to the appropriate agencies, probably the Jewish Council. It will be then out of your and our hands.” She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. “Sorry.”

After a short pause, she filled the stunned silence. “I apologise for eavesdropping, but you do tend to speak out. It was not intentional I assure you.”

There followed another silence. This was broken by Mim. She stood up on Hal’s lap put her arms around his neck and kissed him then taking his face once more between her tiny hands asking.

“Wie lange zu uns nach hause Papa?”

Peg sat stock still for a moment, shocked, then fumbled in her bag for her cigarettes.

Peter didn’t speak or translate for Hal as usual, it being clear that he understood.

Peg was the next to speak. “Mind if I smoke?”

“Please go ahead and can I suggest that you take a big draw on that cigarette before replying to Mim’s question because I’m fresh out of answers.”

“I am not the architect of this situation Hal. I am just pointing out the truths.”

Peg stood up and defended her position.

“Perhaps you should consider telling the truth to Mim before you continue this hopeless dream.”

Peter was compelled to protest. “To a three-year-old?”

“Children are remarkably adaptable, gentlemen. You would be surprised.”

This reply was not as convincing as Peg hoped but she had little else to offer.

Hal could have replied ‘how do you expect me to adapt’ but he remained silent.

Peg made as if to go.

“If I’d have known how this would play out, I wouldn’t have gotten into this. I can’t let Mim down. I can’t just let her go.” Hal’s protest stopped Peg in her tracks.

“Now you know how we girls feel, once committed you can’t turn the clock back no matter how much you wish you hadn’t gone along. We live with the consequences. I guess you will too.”

Peggy, edgy, was clearly disturbed by this exchange.

Hal, not wishing to be talked out of his argument, countered.

“Yes, but you can keep or choose whether or not to abort. Mim is being torn out of my life as if she doesn’t matter.”

Peter, anxiously listening, flushed bright red but was at a loss as to how to stop his friend from making any further comment.

“Not legally and never without scars, just as you Hal are going to be scarred,” was Peggy’s acrid reply.

Peter guessing something of the history knew that Hal had touched a nerve. This was not helping. Miriam sensed they were talking about her and picked up the atmosphere. She buried her face in Hal’s chest. The clickety-clack of the wheels over the rails added to the drama.

All embarrassed. Wishing they were somewhere else.

Eventually Peter, more out of desperation to break the tension, said. “You came for a favour?”

“Yes.” Peg, relieved, replied. “It seems almost trivial now, yet it is not.”

Silent for a short while she took courage and another deep breath to regain control of her emotions she asked, “Have you any money we could borrow. Any spare cash?”

“I think so,” Peter replied looking at Hal. “We agreed with Dorothy last night to pool resources.”

Hal said nothing, not being in any shape to respond.

Peg also looked to him. She realised he was not going to answer. She remembered the details of her mission and began to explain, “I know you offered to help but the situation is worse than we thought. Helga has contacts in Zurich. She left before breakfast to raise some cash. We hoped she would be able to fund us before we left. Didn’t happen, solicitors and bankers even if they rose before nine, they would take a week to say no.”

‘Helga didn’t make it, so that’s why she didn’t say farewell.’ Peter thought. Pleased to learn why Helga left without a word.

“She is staying in Zurich anyway and didn’t get chance to speak with you before she left.”

Peg continued as if reading Peter’s mind. “We work on a shoestring. The delay has thrown our calculations out. Now we need to stay another night in Paris. I know of a hostel, but we are still a long way short to cover accommodation and food.”

“So, Helga was never coming to England?” Peter questioned, not answering Peg’s request for cash until he had Hal’s agreement.

“She left this note for you.” Peg handed over an envelope. “It could explain everything.”

Peter took the envelope. “Thank you.” He opened it and took out a single page note asking at the same time. “How short are you, of money I mean?”

“Some way it depends what the hostel will accept?”

“Leave that with us and we will see how much we can raise.”

Peter looked to Hal for confirmation.

“Sure, whatever.” was the disinterested reply. Hal had more to concern him than a request for money.

With a final look at Hal and Mim, Peg decided there was little else to say. In any case, she felt she had said too much, so she shrugged and left.

“That wasn’t the happiest of encounters,” Peter muttered as he read Helga’s note.

Peter, dearest Peter,

Sorry not to have spoken but I think you will now know why. I am sure that you will accept the responsibilities I ask you now to take. Dr and Frau Kessler in duress named me and Dieter as guardians and executors of the Kessler estate which now will no doubt pass to Miriam.

The detail of this is held by a firm of Zurich lawyers in conjunction with a partnership of solicitors, Joubert and Joubert of London.

Dieter’s arrest allows me to name a replacement.

I know of no one better than you and I ask you to take this on.

You will be in England with Miriam. I believe Dr and Frau Kessler would approve were it possible to contact them.

The power of attorney lies in Zurich. In case of need, you will be able to contact them or me through these London solicitors. Copies of all necessary documents are in Miriam’s attaché case (The one given to you by Gerda.) I will be in touch. Please do not try to contact me directly, only through the London solicitors. Your contacts, if you agree to my proposal, are Daniel Joubert, senior or junior (uncle and nephew).

I hope to see you and Miriam before too long but there is much now for me to do.

I need to sort out my own affairs in addition to those of the Kesslers. In any event who knows what the future holds.

Sincere and affectionate regards.

Helga

Peter folded the letter, pleased that Hal did not seem interested in its content. The implications of it could be disruptive. He needed time to think about his answer first. This he did, using the silence from Hal. A silence which had been triggered by the recent exchanges.

His first thought took him to Helga’s phrase ‘Guardians and Executors of the Kessler estate’.

This could only mean Miriam now. This in turn forced him to look beyond his resentment and previous logical assessment. Slowly, Peter jolted out of his previous mindset, now focused on parallels between himself and the little girl. Memories of a lost and lonely six-year-old flooded into these thoughts.

Hal sat staring out of the window, his mind changing. He was confused as the scenery flashed by as the train crossed into France. Mim, picking up on his mood, sat on his lap sucking her thumb her head lolling against Hal’s chest as sleep overtook her. Hal laid the tiny girl down on the couch using his jacket as a pillow. He spent the next minutes just looking at her.

Peter could not help but feel distraught. He was sad about the inevitable consequences.

“Are you all right Hal?” he asked thinking to himself at the same time … ‘What a stupid question!’

“I’m sorry Pete about my mood but I can’t think what to do. You and Peggy Firth are right I know. It’s just that I can’t accept it.” Hal knew that that which he wished for was impossible.

It was then Peter handed Helga’s letter to his friend.