7/31/2019 A Bullet for a Heart

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 ABulletforaHeart

Thesunnyweather,thecloudlesssky,andthecheerful

atmospherewerepleasantchangesfromthepastmonthofgloom,

thunderclouds,andrain.Thesunreflectedtheshimmeryblond

naturalhighlightsinthegirlsstrawberryblondemassofgirlsupon

whichhishandrested,aresultoftheirembracewhichlastedafew

momentslonger.Hesighed.Herheadrestedonhischest,herarms

werewrappedaroundhiswaist;theassuranceofherundyinglove

forhimwasallshecouldgivehiminthestolenminutesoutinthe

fieldawayfromthecampwhereshethoughtshewassafe,the

campwhereheknewshewasnot.Hesighedagain,thistime

interruptingthesilenceandstillnessofthemomentbypullingaway

andsaying,

“Anna,shouldn’tyoubegettingbacktocamp?Yourfree

timeisovernow.”

“Isuppose…”shereplied,“But,Karl,don’tyouthinkI

shouldoptforbasketweaving,insteadofsewing?It’ssomuch

easier…”

Itwasgettingharderandharderforhimtokeepthesecret

andnottellherthatthecampshewasinwasn’tasaferallying

pointforJews,thatitwasaslaughterhouseforthem.Andhe,lover

ofaJew,workedfortheverycamphislovewasdestinedtodiein.

Littledidsheknowthatshewouldbegassedunknowinglywhileshe

workedifshewentforthebasketweavingactivity,whereasthe

peoplewhowentforthesewinghadalittlemoretime.

“Anna,trustme.Ifyouoptforsewing,thenIcanstealsome

timewithyouoccasionally.Basketweavingisverytime

consuming.” NotwantingtoruinthemomentorundermineKarl’s

 judgment,AnnaallowedKarltostartleadingherbacktoher

quarters,giveheragoodnightkiss,andmakeitbackjustintime

forhiseveningshift.Hehadbeenorderedtohelpgetridofallthe

7/31/2019 A Bullet for a Heart

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bodiesofJewswhohadjustbeenmurdered,Jewswhompeople

likeAnnathoughthadgoneona‘naturewalk’.

SeeingthebodiesofslaughteredJewseverydayhad

evokedastrongurgeinKarl.Hewantedtojoinforceswiththe

AlliesandhelpcrushHitlerandtheNazis.First,though,heknewhe

musthelpAnnaescape.Thisthoughtwasdweltuponeverytimehe

shoveledyetanotherbodyintotheincineratingpit.Thatthought

alonekepthimfromthrowingupallofthemeaslymealhehadhad

forlunch,hisrevulsionwassogreat.

OnhiswaybacktotheroomshesharedwithotherNazi

volunteers,acrashandaloudcracklingsoundcaughthisattention.

Runningovertothesoundtoseewhatwasgoingon,itseemedto

himasiftimehadsloweddown.AllKarlcouldthinkofwasthatthe

soundcamefromtheareawereAnnabeddeddownforthenight.

Heturnedacorner,shockmakinghiskneeslockinfear.Anna

sharedacabinwithafewothers,andfirehadthatcabinlocked

tightinitsjaws,alreadyhavingdownedathirdofit.Hideous

laughtercamefromNazissurroundingitandshootingwhoeverranout.

Notcaringthathewouldbeseen,heard,orrecognized,a

strangledsoundescapedhislipsasherantowardstheblazing

cabin.Infrontofhim,hesawAnnarunoutofthecabinscreaming.

BANG!Shefelltotheground,bloodseepingoutofachestwould.

Hecouldn’tbreatheashefelltothegroundbesideher,takingher

inhisarmsandholdingherclose.

“Hey!Whatthehelldoyouthinkyou’redoing?!”Karl’s

headturnedinthedirectiontheshouthadcomefrom…

BANG!Andallwassilent.