Authors: Gilbert Morris
“You’re right about that,” Karel agreed. “If Gretchen’s information is correct, they plan to pick them up this weekend.”
Gretchen sniffed. “It’s correct. They think they’re the only ones who speak German. Stupid pigs!”
“Exactly what did they say, Gretchen?” Dekker put his hamlike hands together and looked capable of ramming his head through a brick wall.
“The one called Mueller, he said it’s time to pick up the family. He said this weekend would be the best time.”
“We’ll have to get them out before then,” Vogel said. In his dignified manner, he smoothed back his iron gray hair. He was a clever and fearless man who had come up with several good schemes for sneaking Jews out of Amsterdam.
“I’ve been talking to Dr. Winslow,” Betje said. “She has a plan. She’s working on the details, and she’s going to get back to me as soon as she’s got everything worked out.”
“I don’t trust her,” Gretchen said. “She’s good friends with the commandant.”
“No she’s not!” Betje snapped.
“She is too,” Gretchen said. “I have a friend who saw them eating together at La Belle époque.”
Betje defended her friend quickly. “He came in and sat down with her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Besides, that may be a good thing.”
“How can it be a good thing to be a friend of a German?” Groot Dekker demanded.
“It wouldn’t be except for someone like Gabrielle Winslow. She could do the same thing you’re doing, Gretchen—pick up information from Raeder.”
“They knew each other in Germany, didn’t they?” Karel asked. “Do you know anything about that?”
“I’ve always thought they were in love, but I’m not sure,” Betje said. She understood that Karel’s concern was personal. “She doesn’t care for him now, though, Pastor.”
Citroen looked down at his hands for a moment and then addressed the group. “We’d better be quick. We’ve got to get those people out before it’s too late.”
“I’ll talk to Gabby tonight, and then I’ll be in touch.”
The meeting was over, and one by one, at intervals of several minutes, the members left the room, each one using a different hospital exit so they wouldn’t raise suspicion.
****
“We’ve got nine Jews who have to get out of Amsterdam right away,” Betje said as soon as they were alone in Gabby’s office at the hospital. Betje was wearing a pale green dress and looked pretty, Gabby thought. “There’s the Nimitz family, and then there are five others. We can’t put this off any longer. We’ve got to do this quickly.”
“All right. I’ve been thinking about a way to do it, and here’s what I’ve come up with,” Gabby said. “I’ll get permission from the Germans to take a group of children from the orphanage out to the fields over past the big dike for a picnic. There are lots of trees there—a forest really. We’ll mix the Jewish children in with the children from the orphanage, and the parents can play the part of staff members, and we’ll stay until late—almost dark. Then you and Karel or whoever else you want to join us can slip away with the Jews and take them to a fishing boat. Did you get a boat lined up?”
“Yes. I made contact with a fisherman who’s sympathetic to the Jews. He’s agreed to be available whenever we need him. He’s just waiting for final details.”
“And you’re positive he’s truly sympathetic?” Gabby asked. “There’s no chance he could turn on us?”
“Absolutely. I’m certain.”
“Okay, then. I think we’ve got a plan that will work.”
Betje nodded. “It should work. It’s better than any plan the rest of us came up with. Will you go along on the picnic?”
“Oh yes, I will.”
“It’s pretty dangerous smuggling that many people at one time,” Betje suggested.
“God will be with us.”
Betje stared at her friend. “You really believe that, don’t you, Gabby?”
“I know it’s true. You’ll find out one day that God is faithful.”
Betje hesitated and seemed on the verge of saying something, but then she closed her lips and said, “All right. You set it up. I’ll have the boat ready on Thursday. Will that be all right?”
“I think so. Get it all ready. It’ll have to go like clockwork.”
****
Gabby looked up from her desk as Hilda led a tramp into her office. His clothes were worn, and he nervously twisted a soft cap in his hands. He had not shaven recently, and even from where she sat, Gabby could smell his rank body odor. “Who is this?” she demanded skeptically.
“The director said we could hire someone to do some of the rough work,” Hilda told her. “This fellow came along asking for work, and Dr. Carstens hired him and gave him a room in the basement.”
It irritated Gabby that Berg Carstens had hired such a man. They certainly needed extra help for some of the dirty work in the hospital as well as some outside work, but surely there must be someone better than this.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
The man seemed not to hear her. He was looking around with a blank stare. His lank dark hair obviously hadn’t been washed in months, and his beard looked like brittle wire. “What’s the matter?” Gabby said more sharply. “Can’t you talk?”
“Uh . . . ja . . . talk.”
Gabby exchanged a sharp glance with Hilda. “Do you have a name?” she demanded.
“They call me Petric.”
“Petric what?”
“Just Petric. That’s all.”
“Wait outside,” Gabby directed.
“I work here?”
“Go outside.”
As soon as the man left, Hilda said, “I know. He’s a bum, and I think he’s slow mentally, but Dr. Carstens said he’s cheap.”
“I don’t like it, Hilda.”
“Neither do I, but he looks strong enough. If he could do some of the heavier lifting and empty bedpans, we could use his help.”
Gabby shook her head. “All right. I guess I don’t have a choice if Dr. Carstens already hired him. See if you can get him to wash himself, and keep a close eye on him for the next few days.”
****
For the next two days, the man called Petric seemed to appear every time Gabby turned around. He had cleaned himself up somewhat, although he always wore the same tattered clothes. Hilda told her that she had insisted he wash them and found out that he only had the ones he wore. “I gave him some of my brother’s old clothes, but he won’t shave.”
“Does he do a good job here?”
“Oh yes. He’s very strong. You just put him to a task, and he goes right at it.”
“He’s either slow of wit or suffering from a mental illness. I don’t know which,” Gabby said. “We’ll have to watch him all the time.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him, and I’ll warn the others to do the same. But I’ll say this: he’s not afraid of work.”
****
Gabby talked to the director of the orphanage and asked for permission to take the children on a picnic near the dike. She explained that some friends of hers were going to accompany them, so they wouldn’t need any staff members to go with them. She also told him she wanted to keep the children out past their usual bedtime so they could enjoy the beautiful
sunset. Once she got the director’s approval, she sent a message to Erik asking for permission to take the children past the perimeter that the Germans had set up around the city. Erik at once sent back passes for all parties involved, along with a note asking her to meet him for dinner. She responded that she would love to do so sometime in the future.
Having the pass made the first part of the plan simple, but the scheme required considerable arrangement so the timing of the whole plan would work without a hitch. She made contact with Betje and gave her all the details of the plan. Betje would arrange for some of the members of the cell to accompany them and help with the escape.
Gabby arranged to get two flat-bottomed trucks to transport the children, but she was relying on Betje to firm up her plans with the fisherman.
On Thursday, Gabby was tense and had difficulty concentrating on her patients. Once, early in the afternoon, she almost ran into Petric, who was mopping the floor. He looked up at her with blank eyes but said nothing.
“Watch what you’re doing, Petric.”
“Ja, I watch.” He seemed to have only a rudimentary understanding of the language, and she reminded herself again to keep an eye on him. Something about him gave her concern, but her thoughts were on the plans to save the Nimitz family from the Nazis.
Late that afternoon when she got home, Gabby opened her drawer and took out the pistol that had belonged to her father and carefully loaded it. Troubled that she would have to take such a precaution, she wondered if she would really have the courage to shoot a man if necessary.
She stopped for a quick visit with her great-aunt but said nothing about the plan that was soon to be set in motion. Gabby did not want to burden her with more problems. It was best for Dorcas’s protection that she know nothing of what Gabby was about to do. The old woman seemed to be growing weaker and didn’t even get out of bed for the visit.
“Is something wrong, Gabby?” Dorcas asked her.
The old woman’s got sharp eyes!
“No, of course not. I’m just tired.”
“Come here. I want to pray for you.”
Gabby went over and knelt by the bedside. She felt the warmth of the old woman’s hand on her head. Dorcas prayed quietly, and then when she was done, she said, “Go with God, my darling.”
“Of course, Grandmother.”
****
Everything was going according to schedule. The children were being loaded into the trucks in front of the orphanage. The Jews were dressed in clothing similar to what the staff at the orphanage wore. There were four adults, including Saul and Irma Nimitz, and five children, who fit in easily with the orphans. The orphans had been strictly warned to say nothing to anyone about the strangers.
Gabby’s senses stood on alert when she looked up to see a military staff car pulling up in front. Her heart sank when she realized Erik was sitting beside the driver. She quickly instructed everybody to act naturally. “Don’t be frightened,” she said. “Just chitchat and laugh as if it were a picnic, which it is.”
Erik got out of the car and nodded his head to Gabby. “I thought I might join your picnic,” he said, smiling. “I haven’t been on a picnic in a long time.”
Her heart seemed to freeze, but her training in dramatics stood her in good stead. She smiled brilliantly and said, “What a good idea! I’m so glad you came, Erik. It’s a good thing we have plenty of food. I remember how much you always ate.”
He laughed. “It’ll be good to get away from my job for a short spell.”
“Will you come in your staff car?”
“Oh yes. They insist on having guards with me after that fool shot me.”
“Very well. I think we’re about ready to go.”
“Fine. I’ll follow the trucks, and when we get to the perimeter, just show the guards the pass that I sent.”
“Okay.”
“If the guards give you any trouble, I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you, Erik.”
They had no trouble at all passing through the lines. The guard’s eyes widened at the sight of Commandant Erik Raeder, and he snapped to attention and said, “Heil Hitler!” giving the traditional salute. Erik returned it, and the small caravan passed on through.
As soon as they arrived at their destination, Gabby organized the children and got them started on a game, with the Nimitzes and the two other adults acting as supervisors. Betje and Pastor Citroen soon arrived in a separate vehicle. Gabby introduced Erik to Pastor Citroen.
“It’s good to meet you, Pastor,” the commandant said. “Gabby has told me about the good work you’re doing with these orphans.”
“Thank you, Herr Commandant.”
Betje said nothing at all but immediately went to join in the games, for which Gabby was thankful. She knew the rage that seethed in her friend and wished she were not there. However, Betje was needed to help get the group to safety.
Erik was delighted when Gabby enlisted his help in setting up the food tables. The two guards kept well back, but their eyes were cautious as they watched the goings-on.
Gabby called to the children when it was time to eat, and they quickly came running from all directions. After supper, the adults gathered the children around for a quieter game, and then they moved to an area where there were no trees so they could watch the sunset.
Betje pulled Gabby aside and said, “We’ve got to get our
group away. Can’t you do something with that German and his guards?”
“I’ll take Erik down to the canal.”
“Good. If you can keep their attention away from this area, Karel can get the Jews on their way. Keep Erik occupied until I let you know we’re ready to go. We’ll get everybody loaded into the trucks while you’re at the canal, and hopefully Erik won’t notice that some of the adults are gone. Can you do that?”
“I’ll try.”
Getting Erik to go to the canal was not difficult. “There’s a very pleasant spot down by the water,” she told him. “Would you like to watch the sunset with me?”
“Excellent!” The two walked down to the canal, closely followed by the two guards.
“I’d like to get rid of them,” Erik whispered as they walked.
But Gabby was glad they were accompanying them. It would make it impossible for Erik to try to hold her hand or kiss her, but it would give Karel the necessary time to get the Jews to their meeting point with the other members of the cell, who were hiding in the woods waiting for them.
The canal was not large, no more than thirty meters across, but it made a pleasant sound as the water gurgled past. The guards stayed far back and began smoking, and Gabby could hear them shooting the breeze. She looked up at Erik and said, “This is nice.”
“It is. It’s very peaceful here.”
“How are your parents?”
“Very well.”
Gabby was grateful to him for not sharing any details of their lives with her. No doubt they were happy that she and Erik had broken up. They were quiet as they watched the sunset and listened to the faraway sounds of the children laughing.
“That’s a nice sound,” Erik said quietly. “You love children, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“Not everyone does.”
Somehow the subject turned to poetry, and Gabby shared snippets of some of her favorite poems with him. As she quoted “I Held a Jewel” by Emily Dickinson, he reached over and took her hands.