Ch. 6: The Underground Railroad
The days went by and Maria remained in the cold stone cell. She had no idea where she was or what was going to happen to her. The only time that she saw anything to do with the outside world was when her small portion of food arrived. It was always very small and was most of the time some stale bread and some water. Maria knew this was not enough nutrients and knew she needed to get out of there somehow. She was not concerned for herself as she was for the baby.
Every passing day she would sit and pray to God to help her overcome this prison and for her baby to live. She prayed that an idea on how to get out would present itself. Maria soon became very weak. As the food was being passed around one day she fell to the ground and drifted off into a dead sleep. Thinking Maria had dropped dead the food server ran for help. They were always happy when someone died because there was more room in the cells. Maria's body was laid in a ditch with other dead decaying bodies.
"There look, that girl is not dead!" Whispered a woman to a man. "She is breathing. Her cheeks look rosy. Lets take her away." The man nodded and slowly picked Maria up and put her in the back of his car.
Maria awoke smelling of rotting flesh. Soon she realized she was the one that smelled like that. She found herself in a nice warm bed with covers all over her. She had no idea what had happened. In fact she remembered nothing from the last twenty-four hours.
"Oh you are finally awake my child!" The lady told her turning around in her chair. "We have been hoping you would wake up!"
"Who are you?" Asked Maria whipping the sleep from her eyes.
"My name is Martina. My husband and I help the Jews and anyone that is not in the Nazis favor get away from them. We found you in a pile of dead bodies ready to be buried. That would be why you smell. Now my dear I would love to wash you up, you are much to weak to do it yourself… may I ask your name?" She asked smiling at Maria.
"My name is Maria. Maria von Trapp." Maria said weakly. She had not spoken in a while and her voice was raspy. Martina looked at her in surprise.
"A von Trapp, hmm? Are you related in anyway to the very famous Captain von Trapp?" She asked.
"Well yes I am his wife." Maria stated. Martina smiled impressed.
"Well I am very happy I can help you baroness…"
"Oh, no please call me Maria." Maria told her.
"I am very pleased to help you Maria." Martina finished grinning. "Now you should eat and then we can get you cleaned up." Maria smiled and nodded at her.
"May I ask where we are right now?" Maria asked.
"Why certainly. You are in Berlin Germany right now." Maria gasped. Almost reading her mind Martina continued. "You were about to be taken to a Death Camp. You fooled everyone and they threw you into the dead pile before you got on the train." She told Maria laughing. "This is one of the most dangerous places to be hiding people, but my husband and I want to help in anyway we can."
"Thank you very much for saving my life Martina." Maria told her.
"It was an honor Maria, to save the life of the wife of Captain von Trapp. I have no doubt that you are as wonderful and as kind as him." Maria smiled up at the woman who saved her life. She was entirely grateful to her.
"Did you know him?" Asked Maria interested.
"I met him a few times at some parties in Vienna." Martina told her. "He seemed very nice, but very sad. It is to bad actually…"
"Oh he is not that way anymore." Maria told her cutting her off. "He is much happier now. He was depressed for a long time after the death of his first wife." Martina smiled.
"I see Maria. So you were the one that made him happy, hmm?" She asked. Maria blushed.
"Well yes I suppose so. I think he always could have been happy. I guess I just showed him how to look at things differently." Maria told her.
Months went by and Martina helped Maria nurse her way back to health. Soon Maria was almost back to full health. Maria was happy to be safe in hiding from the Nazis, but she missed the children and Georg a lot. Especially Georg. She really wanted to leave and go home. Maria sat by the window watching a Mother bird feed her young babies. It made her smile to see that the outside world was still beautiful. She longed to be back outside in the mountains. Maria had not been outdoors since the night in the Abbey graveyard really. She felt like a caged animal. As much as she appreciated Martina's help, she longed to leave.
"Is something wrong Maria?" Martina asked carrying some tea to Maria.
"Oh well nothing really is…" Maria started.
"Do you miss him?" Martina asked.
"Georg?" Maria said looking up at Martina. Martina nodded again and Maria sighed. "Well to tell you the truth yes I do. I miss my whole family. I want to go home. Its not that I don't appreciate the…"
"Oh Maria, I know. Who wouldn't want to go home? That's why I have secretly arranged for you to be on a train to Switzerland next week." Martina told her. "I also sent for a priest since I am sure you have missed church." Maria's face brightened.
"Really oh thank you Martina. How am I ever going to repay you?" Maria asked.
"Oh you already have Maria. It has brought me so much joy just to see you well." Martina told her.
A week later Maria bid goodbye to Martina and her husband and jumped on a train to Switzerland where she would be home at last. Maria laughed because even though she had lied about the Underground Railroad, she found that the people who had helped her escape had indeed been similar to the people that must have helped in the Underground Railroad in America. Maria was on her way to freedom in a way, because of the Underground Railroad.