Behind the Bedroom Wall. Laura E. Williams

gently.

      A pale face, creased with lines of worry and fatigue, inched into the candlelight. Sophie’s thin neck ended in a drab green coat collar, which added a green pallor to her skin. Her dark and suspicious eyes stared up at them. “She’s the Nazi?” Her voice came out rough and crumbly, as if she didn’t use it much.

      Ignoring the question, Frau Rehme said to Korinna, “This is Sophie Krugmann, and this is her daughter Rachel, who’s five.”

      Rachel had a mass of curly hair that tumbled to her shoulders. Her wide eyes roamed the room and finally fell on Korinna. She smiled. Korinna glared at her until the little girl pulled back into the shadows, her smile gone, lips trembling.

      Sophie hugged her daughter close and kissed the top of her head. When she looked up again, her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Are we safe with her knowing we’re here?”

      Herr Rehme said, “It’s too dangerous to move you right now. Maybe in a week or two, but right now ...” His voice trailed off as he placed a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Right now we have no choice.”

      Sophie turned to her young daughter and said, “I told you to wait until later.” Then she looked at Korinna’s mother. “I told Rachel to wait, but she gets so restless with nothing to do and no one to play with. She likes to walk back and forth, back and forth.”

      So that’s what she had heard, Korinna thought, staring into the shadows. It had sounded like a trapped animal.

      Frau Rehme smiled with understanding. “It’s all right, Sophie.”