Sharing the News
Franz had left Georg's study for the attic by the time Liesl and Friedrich arrived there.
Liesl held a thought while she and Friedrich were walking down the stairs. Father's going to tell us something very important.
And Friedrich asked. "Liesl, why do we need to stay busy?"
"Father will tell us."
Georg had stepped out of his study and heard Liesl's answer. It helped him begin to tell them about leaving Austria.
"Did you both finish painting your clay creations?"
"Yes Father; and our Fräulein sent us to see you." Friedrich answered.
Good, she read my mind.
"Maria sent you to see me because I have things to tell you. That new leader of Germany, Adolph Hitler, has plans to make Austria part of Germany again. It would mean I'd be required to serve in his navy. We're not going to be here when that happens."
"Where will we go?"
"What country have you been studying?"
"America, Father! Are we going there?"
"Yes, we are, Friedrich."
"Are you going to marry the Baroness before we leave?"
"No, the Baroness isn't here. She left while we were out on the lake. Friedrich, early this morning Liesl overheard the Baroness on my telephone. She was talking to Herr Zeller. She's helping the Germans find a way to force me to join the German navy. She of course didn't know Liesl heard her.
"Liesl spoke with Maria. And she and I talked. All of us, including Maria, will leave Austria very soon. Please don't say anything to your brother or sisters."
"We won't father." Friedrich answered.
"Now I'm sure Maria has things for you to do to keep you from worrying. Why don't you go find her while I speak to the other adults."
The two of them were stunned but composed as they left their father. And Georg went to the kitchen. Isabel was there; both she and Katia were enjoying a cup of tea.
"Ladies, I'm sure this thought has crossed your minds."
"That we need to leave Austria."
"Correct, the Baroness is already gone; she left while we were out on the lake."
"Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Yes, Isabel, she's one of Hitler's followers. There's a plan to capture me. We need to leave here very soon. Liesl and Friedrich already know as does Maria. Franz is finding travel bags for all of us. Maria wants to speak with the Reverend Mother before we leave here. I'll help her do that shortly."
"Should we prepare a basket of food to take with us?"
"Yes Katia, I'm sure Kurt would be most grateful."
Georg said this knowing it would make both ladies smile; which it did. They were adults; they would have little difficulty being pleasant around the children.
And Georg went upstairs to see Maria and his children. He heard them as soon as he was at the top of the stairs; they were playing games in the old nursery. After he came closer he was seen by Kurt.
"Hi Father, do you have something else planned for today?"
"I do. But I need to borrow Maria for a few minutes."
Maria stood. "You can play Duck, Duck, Goose, while I'm gone."
Maria followed Georg down the stairs to his study. He spoke immediately. "Maria, the Baroness is gone. There's enough time for you to talk the Reverend Mother on the telephone. Then we need to leave here as soon as everyone packs a bag."
"Will you place the call? I've never used a telephone."
"Of course I will."
Maria listened as Georg spoke into the telephone handle. "Operator, please connect me with the Mother Abbess at Nonnberg Abbey."
He listened for a couple of seconds and then handed the phone to Maria. She heard. Good day and blessings, this is the Mother Abbess.
Maria responded quickly. And she spoke very fast.
"Mother, it's me, Maria. I have the most wonderful news. I know what my destiny is; it's to help the captain, his children and the others who live at the villa to leave Austria so they can find their destiny."
Maria heard. You learned well my daughter. All of us at the Abbey will keep all of you in our prayers.
And Maria responded in calm soft voice. "Thank you, Mother. I'll never forget you and all the sisters. I will pray you will be safe as well."
And I will bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
"Thank you, Mother, goodbye." And Maria handed the telephone back to Georg to place it on its cradle and spoke at the same time.
"I'll go help the children pack their clothes."
"Please do, Maria. I want to leave here as soon as possible." Georg had an idea that Elsa's leaving was the trigger to put the plan to capture him in motion.
Georg's words triggered Maria's sixth sense. She hurried from his study and took some of the stairs two at a time to get up quicker.
Franz was up there too. "Maria, I'll help the boys pack."
"Thank you, and I'll help Marta and Gretl after I tell everyone."
He heard her tell them. "Your father is taking all of us on a train ride. You need to pack a bag with clothes for several days. He wants to leave here very soon. Franz will make sure you boys pack all the necessities. I'll help Marta and Gretl and meet everyone at the foot of the stairs."
And Maria exchanged glances with Liesl; who spoke. "I'll be sure my sisters bring everything they need."
Everything was happening so fast that even Brigitta didn't question Maria or her sister. And it was in a matter of a few minutes when everyone was waiting at the foot of the stairs.
Georg spoke confidently and without hesitation. "The front door is locked; we'll leave using the kitchen door. Stefan and Phillip, you need to be last."
And Phillip locked that door. He thought. I don't want it to be easy for Herr Zeller to confiscate our villa.
His thought was necessary. They had no sooner walked out of sight of the villa when Herr Zeller, Rolf and other Nazi sympathizers were in a car on the lane to the villa. Zeller attempted to open the front door.
"It's locked Rolf; let's try the back door."
Herr Zeller pounded on the door when he discovered it too was locked; in disgust Herr Zeller spoke.
"Baroness Schraeder must have been seen leaving; Heinrich Himmler is not going to be pleased. Let's go back to headquarters and report all this."
Zeller's car was seen traveling rather fast by the priest of the local church as it passed going towards the city. He spoke to his custodian who was standing with him.
"Andrew, will you go and check on the captain's villa. I want to be sure he is gone."
"I'll ride my bicycle there."
"I'll wait right here for your return."
Andrew did as Herr Zeller had done; he checked both doors and found them locked. He also checked the barn and the hen house. The door of each was wide open. And Andrew thought.
Stefan did this in hopes they would wander and be seen by the neighbors.
He closed them and quickly rode back to the church. "Father, the villa's doors are locked. I peered in the window; all the lights were out. The doors on the barn and the hen house were open; I closed them until we can decide what to do with the animals."
"Good, the captain got out in time. Please take care of the animals until we can find someone to care for them. I need to call the Bishop."
In his conversation with the Bishop, the priest heard. Yes, I know. The Mother Abbess told me she talked to Maria. Remember, God has the captain and all the others in the palm of his hand. All of them will find their destiny after they are safe from Hitler.
The Lord, our God, will give us strength to continue to live as He has directed. This we must believe and remain steadfast as we endure what is to come.
The priest absorbed the Bishop's words as he began to think about his homily for after the Anschluss occurred.
Meanwhile, everyone sensed Georg's urgency; they hurried down the path to the train station.
Georg had checked the train schedule as part of his plans for leaving Austria. Many trains came through this station to travel on to Italy. Georg's knowledge served him well. A train was waiting on the tracks.
Everyone heard. "Train to Italy's port is ready for boarding. Please take your seats quickly this train needs to stay on time."
The stationmaster noticed the last person was on board; he signaled to the driver. Now the train slowly pulled out of the station. And Georg was pleased they had the train car all to themselves.
The train car held not a whisper. It was almost like everyone was holding their breath. Georg knew that wasn't good. It could allow for unpleasant thoughts. So he spoke.
"Maria, do you know a song we could sing?"
"I most certainly do! Children, lets sing the thunderstorm song. I'll start us."
Maria began the song. Raindrops on roses… And the children immediately chimed in with whiskers on kittens. They continued to sing about all kinds of favorite things. Even the adults added things not in the original song.
And now Georg had a suggestion for another song. "Maria, have them sing The Hills are Alive song."
"Of course, Georg. But you need to sing with them."
"I will." It pleased Georg that Maria had used his given name with ease.
Again Maria began the song. The Hills are alive. And the others including Georg began to sing. With the sound of music. And all the way to the end. I'll sing once more.
As they sang the train's driver had kept a constant speed; almost an hour had passed. Georg knew they were getting closer to the Italian border. His fear was that border guards might stop the train at the last station in Austria.
He shouldn't have been worried; this early morning train slowed as it passed the last station in Austria. The conductor saw no one waiting there and continued past it headed for the town of Tarvisio Italy.
And a few kilometers later the train had entered Italy; and two kilometers further Georg saw the sign, Welcome to Tarvisio. He breathed a sigh of relief.
He stood and announced. "We just entered Italy; you still have a long train before we arrive in Rome."
"Did you say Rome, Father?"
"I did Friedrich."
"Why are we going there?"
"Let me ask you a question. Where are we headed?"
"To America." Liesl answered.
"And what's between Rome Italy and America?"
"I know Father."
"Tell me Kurt."
"Water."
The wise child was thinking. "Father, are we getting on a ship?"
"Yes Brigitta, we are, a big fancy ship with the name New Amsterdam, the ship of peace. It's new and fast. You are going to have lots fun."