Hammelburg, Johann Mueller's Shoe Shop
October 29, 1943, 1730 hours

Ilse Wagner was sweeping the day's accumulation of dirt from the floor of the shoe shop. As Johann Mueller watched his employee work, he was troubled. Ilse had not been herself for the past week. When she was in the shop, she hardly spoke, unless it was necessary when dealing with the customers. That was unusual in itself, but the more troubling thing he noticed was the look of fear that appeared on her face at the end of the day as Johann closed up the shop.

As Ilse finished her sweeping task, she noticed Johann staring at her. "Is there something else, Herr Mueller?" she asked.

Johann started to shake his head, but stopped. "Ja," he said. "Please, come over here and sit. I'd like to talk to you." Johann noticed that for a fleeting instant, a strange look passed over her face. She looked as if she would suddenly run from the shop.

After a moment, Ilse leaned the broom against the wall and said, "Jawohl, Herr Mueller." She began to walk over to where Johann was standing.

"Ilse, it's always been Johann," he said. "You know that."

"I'm sorry Johann," she replied as she sat in a nearby chair. She stared at the floor silently.

"Ilse, what is wrong?" he asked.

Ilse looked up suddenly, as if she had been startled awake. "Nothing," she said quickly. "What makes you think there is something wrong?"

Johann sighed. "Ilse dear, I have known you since the day you were born," he said slowly. "You have worked here for the past year and would stop by the shop even before that. You were always smiling and laughing and we would always have pleasant conversations."

He paused, looking at her. She averted her gaze and resumed staring at the floor.

"This past week, you have never smiled and hardly said a word," Johann said. "Is there something wrong at home? Is your father ill?"

She shook her head, still looking at the floor.

"Ilse, is it this place?" he asked. "Do you not want to work with me any more?"

She looked up, he eyes moist. "Nein, it is not you," she said. "Everything is fine. Please do not trouble yourself. I am sorry if my mood has been so gloomy this past week. I will be more cheerful tomorrow."

"Ilse, what is it?" he asked softly. "Please, tell me. Maybe I can help you."

Ilse resumed staring at the floor and shook her head slightly. Johann saw her shoulders shaking slightly and he knew that she had started crying.

Johann knelt down on the floor beside her and put his arm on her shoulders. He felt her pull away at the touch. "Ilse, please tell me what is wrong," he said.

Ilse cried silently for a moment. Then suddenly she threw her arms around Johann and sobbed loudly. Johann patted her and let her release the pent up emotion.

"It was ... horrible," she sobbed. "I ... feel ... so ashamed."

Johann continued to hold the young woman as she cried. "What happened?" he asked softly. Whatever it was, Johann knew that it must be terrible.

Ilse continued to cry, but the sobs were waning. "These two Gestapo men ..." she began, but couldn't finish.

Johann's blood ran cold. He now had an idea what might have happened. "What did they do to you?" he asked hoarsely. "Did they ..."

Ilse began sobbing again. "Yes! They did," she yelled, and began sobbing loudly again. "Father ... went to ... Gestapo ... Head ... quarters ... and they ... just ... laughed ... at him ... and called ... me names."

Johann held her tightly, her head buried in his shirt. Those damn BASTARDS! How could they do that to this child? How cruel do you have to be to do that to such a sweet innocent child? What is this country coming to when this kind of thing can go unpunished?

"Please," Ilse said between her sobs. "Don't tell anybody. I'm so ashamed of myself."

"Now dear," Johann said soothingly. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. It is those bastards that should be ashamed."

Ilse pulled away and looked at Johann. "Please don't tell anyone," she begged.

Johann smoothed her hair. "I won't, Ilse. I won't," he said.

Just then they heard a knock at the door. "Oh, that will be Hans," Ilse said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Johann got up and opened the locked door for Hans Wagner. The moment Hans entered and saw that Ilse had been crying, he knew that something had happened.

"What's wrong?" he asked quickly, looking at Ilse. He gave a fierce look at Johann.

"Nothing, Hans," Ilse said. "I ... I told Johann what happened," she added softly.

"They will pay for what they did," Hans growled, looking at Johann.

"Hans, please don't do anything stupid," Johann said.

"Herr Mueller, this is none of your affair," Hans said viciously. "Please stay out of it!"

"Hans, I have been your father's friend since before you were born," Johann replied. "You are right, it is none of my affair, but I am concerned. Your sister needs your support in this."

"My sister needs my protection," Hans shouted back.

"But you can't do that if you get yourself killed," Johann responded.

"I don't plan to get myself killed," Hans retorted. "I plan to kill the men to attacked my sister."

Johann shook his head in disappointment. "Hans, please be careful," he said.

A menacing smile spread across Hans' face. "Oh, I plan to do it carefully," he growled. "I plan to do it very carefully."

Johann shook his head again, disappointed in the ferociousness of the man he had watched grow up. He turned to Ilse and asked, "Ilse, are you all right?"

Ilse smiled at him for the first time in over a week. "I will be Johann," she said. "Soon I will be all right again." Then she walked out of the shop, following her brother.

Johann watched them leave. Dear God, don't let them do anything stupid, he thought.