I'm afraid that I am not very good with chapters so this might seem long winded at times.
Brigitta
We are in Switzerland now. I am glad, Father says we haven't much farther to go but I think he is just saying that. I don't even think he knows where we are going. I wouldn't mind getting lost up in these mountains being up here makes me feel like Heidi. I wish I had the book here, to be honest I'd like to have any book.
We were staying in an old, abandoned barn. It wasn't the best but it was dry. Mother says we should be thankful. The barn in big and there is lots of hay sitting in stacks around the walls. There is a loft where Father, Mother, Marta and Gretl are sleeping. I'm on the ground with Louisa and Liesl and the boys. It's not pleasant. I can deal with Louisa talking in her sleep but both the boys are snoring their heads off and Liesl, well.. I think she's crying. I sat up and by the light of a small fire I could make out the shapes of my brothers and sisters and the crying was definitely coming from where Liesl was lying. I knew what she was crying about, it was the same thing she told me about every night a telegram arrived. I slowly stood and walked over to her. I lay down beside her and placed her arms around me, like I did when I was little and had a nightmare.
" Did I wake you," Liesl asked.
" No, I find it hard to sleep on a dirt floor with no pillow and I can't sleep without reading," I said. Liesl laughed a little. " You shouldn't cry Liesl."
" It's hard not to, Brigitta. He could have killed us all," she said.
" It could have been anyone Liesl," I said.
" I never realised. All those Nazi things going on in Austria though they weren't that important or noticed. He always knew when German leaders were coming here. I should have known," she said.
" He is just a turncoat. Like," I tried to find a character out of a book.
" Never mind Brigitta. I'm being silly. Now why don't you try to sleep," Liesl said. I nodded and curled into her and closed my eyes.
Liesl
I smiled at Brigitta. I don't think I'm supposed to have a favourite because I'm the oldest but I think Brigitta would be my favourite my sister. Father says we are both like mother, our birth mother of course.
But she was right there was no point in thinking about Rolfe. It was just a silly teenage love. Nothing real about it. I'll wait a few years.
I moved slightly and began to think of what life will be like now. Father says we are going to visit grandmother in England. I presume we will stay there for a while until Father can contact uncle Max for money. I think I'm looking forward to our new life but I miss Austria, all my friends. All my things left in the villa, when I get back, if I go back they'll be dusty.
" We'll go back when things are back to normal," I whispered. I closed my eyes and soon Mother was waking me up.
" Children. We are going to go down the mountains today. I wired money to a Swiss bank, we will get it then get a train to the north of France then get a boat to England then we will stay with your grandmother for a few days," Father said.
" What are we doing then father," Louisa asked.
" We will figure out when we get there," Father said, smiling slightly.
Brigitta
Three hours later we were standing in a train station. After having food and a drink we were ready for the next part of our journey. I looked around. Gretl and Marta were playing with a new doll Father got them. Louisa and the boys were racing up and down the platform and Brigitta was reading a newspaper. Mother and Father were whispering to each other. I walked over to Brigitta, she was reading about the current films that were playing.
" Is there anything important in there," I asked.
" If you mean a notice wanting us then no. The barriers are all gone between Austria and Germany. A lot about what the Nazis are doing to Jewish people and there's reports of Austrians who have disappeared because they have changed their mind about Hitler's ideas. I've read some of his book Liesl, his ideas are inhumane," my sister said, looking up at me. She seemed scared.
" Don't worry. Nothing will happen to us," I said.
Liesl.
I sat by the window on the train, Marta sitting on my lap and Gretl beside me. I was telling them about Hansel and Gretl. I just hope we get off soon, I'm running out of fairy tales. The train chugged to a stop and the lights flickered.
" What's happening father," Kurt asked.
" I'm scared," Marta whispered.
" Is it them father," Friedrich asked.
" I don't know. Pull the shutters. We will be fine," Father said. Brigitta and Louisa pulled the shutters down and I closed the one for the window.
" Now stay quiet," Mother said. There was noise outside. It must be them. I put my head on top of Marta's and closed my eyes. Why us. It's not fair.
I heard the door open and a gasp from my sisters. I looked up and bit my lip. Not again. He wouldn't let us get away again.
" Please, don't say anything. Please," I said.
" Don't bother Liesl," Louisa whispered. I shook my head and moved Marta before standing up and walking towards the door. I wasn't sure what to do or say. He could have killed Father but on the other hand before Father said he would never be a Nazi.
" Rolfe please. Don't give us away. You can still come with us. You can't possibly be happy with what you are doing. You probably regret giving us up," I said, now I was standing right in front of him. His hand was by his gun.