Train to Freedom
The train pulled into the station and slowly came to a stop at a platform full of people. Maria blinked several times before she exclaimed.
"Georg, my friends waited for me."
"You get off first. I'm sure they've been very worried about you."
"Okay, but I want you to meet them."
The conductor helped Maria off; all ten of her friends came running. "What happened?" Maria heard from several.
"I was detained by a German who was looking for a Jewish woman. Let me introduce you to the man who helped me."
Georg and the children had stepped back from the crowd. Liesl was telling her Papa. "Maria's lucky to have friends who waited for her."
"Yes, good friends do that. She's walking this way."
"Everyone, this man who is traveling with his seven children befriended me at the train station in Vienna. He asked the conductor if my ticket was valid for this train; which it was. Please say hello to Georg, a navy captain from the Great War."
"Thank you sir, for helping Maria find her way here. I speak for all of us; we are grateful. Where are you and your children going?"
"The same place you are. I'm grateful we arrived here in Switzerland without any problem. I will be happiest when my feet are on American soil."
"We feel that way too. Do your children need any help carrying their bag?"
"That's kind of you to ask. I think they can manage. Do you know the platform for the train to Paris?"
"Yes, number eight. It's supposed to be on-time."
"Then we should hurry into the station, I sure my children need to use the bathroom. Maria was a big help using the one on the train."
The young man led them into the station. Everyone took their turn in the bathroom and soon they were lined up on platform eight. All of them were pleased they could be together in the same train car. They filled most of the seats. No one else entered the train car.
At first the car was very quiet. All of them were realizing they really were safe. Finally, Georg being the oldest broke the ice.
He stood so all could see and hear him. "We have a long ride ahead of us. We should get to know one another. Maria has already introduced me. My two youngest daughters are Marta and Gretl.
"Girls, can you stand up and say hello?"
"Yes, Papa. Hello everyone, I'm Marta. My sister is too shy to speak; Gretl says hello too."
And in turn each of Georg's children stood and announced their name and the Jewish young people did the same.
There was a young man named Abraham, another was Samuel. Three girls were next, Sarah, Naomi and Elizabeth. The last five were two more boys and three girls. They were David, Peter, Martha, Mary and Ruth.
Georg concluded. "It will take all of us awhile to remember everyone's name. May I suggest we mingle? I discovered my boatswain's whistle in my pocket. After you are all sitting next to one of my children, I will sound it to announce it's time to change places. You should move clockwise."
"Georg, this is a great idea."
"Maria, I used something similar with my crew. Since the Empire was diverse so was my crew. At one time I had men who spoke four different languages."
This group of ten Jewish young people, Georg's seven children plus himself and Maria mingled for the beginning of their trip. They talked and laughed as they conversed.
Friedrich soon asked. "Papa, will the train always travel this fast?"
"It will. When it slows it's because it is entering a city to travel to a train station. I'm not sure how many stops it will make before it gets to Paris where we will change trains to head north. Sit back and relax we're on our way to freedom."
The speed of the train made the landscape blurry; it also made everyone sleepy. Maria offered to sit with Gretl so she could rest her head on her lap and sleep. And Martha did the same for Marta. Everyone else, except Georg, leaned against the back of the seat and fell asleep in a sitting position. Georg assumed the role of a sentinel on watch.
In a few hours, bathroom needs woke them. And then their hunger kept them from going back to sleep. Luckily a porter entered their car and announced.
"We've been traveling for almost five hours, I'm sure you are hungry. My staff will be bringing you food baskets containing pastries, ham biscuits, cheese and grapes along with a beverage in bottles."
He heard thank yous from the group. And with many helping Georg, the food baskets were passed around. There was more than enough for everyone. Now they stayed awake. Georg was sure they were about two hours from Paris.
In about an hour and a half the train began to slow and the announcement was made. Approaching Paris Begin to gather your belongings.
Again Georg took charge. "We will have forty-five minutes before we board our train to Amsterdam. That's a good amount of time to walk around before we will sit for another four hours."
"And according to our itinerary our ship will be ready to board soon after we arrive."
"Samuel's right. We will soon leave Europe for the country known for freedom and liberty."
The train had stopped. And the announcement heard was; Train to Amsterdam will leave from platform six.
This group left the train and headed for the station. It was a station like none of them had seen before. First they noticed the extremely high vaulted ceiling and the walls which were slightly curved. White beveled tile covered them; and blue and white earthenware tiles were used as signage.
Their heads spun around taking it all in. Even Marta, who was holding Maria's hand, commented.
"This place is beautiful."
"Yes it is sweetie." Her papa responded.
The group had time to walk the entire length. Another announcement was made. Train for Amsterdam arriving at platform six.
"That's us." Georg added.
They arrived as the last passengers were getting off; ten minutes later it was ready for them to board. And then in less than another ten minutes, they were all comfortably seated for the last leg of their journey to Amsterdam.
No one slept, not even Georg's young daughters. Everyone was much too excited. And they were talking to the persons nearest them. Most were asking the same question.
Does anyone know anything about a passenger ship?
Georg had never been on one but he knew about them. He knew passenger ships or cruise ships came in all sizes. Still he had no idea of the size of the one which would carry them to America. He anticipated seeing their vessel like all the others were.
About halfway into their trip everyone had to use the bathroom. As before Maria helped Georg's youngest daughters. And those who were sitting on the left hand side of the train could now see water.
Peter asked a question. "Georg, do you know the name of this body of water?"
"I do. It's the North Sea. Our ship will travel in it. Its name will change to the English Channel as it flows past England to the Atlantic Ocean. That's how our ship will travel."
"Now you have us all excited; still it's sad we had to leave Austria."
"Yes, that's true. But America will give us opportunities none of us can imagine."
With that happy thought everyone was eagerly anticipating arriving in Amsterdam.