The Start of an Adventure
The first bells of the day woke Georg and Maria. Neither had moved while they slept. Maria's hand still rested on the back of Georg's; she now folded her fingers around it and gently gave it a squeeze.
He turned and drew her face close for a kiss.
"Good morning, my love. We should get up. Why don't you use the bathroom then I will shave and get dressed."
Maria took his suggestion. When she opened the bag the seminary students had packed and saw her Laendler dress, she recalled their dance. It was a pleasant memory. Her heart still sped up; but it didn't bother her at all.
She still had a dreamy smile as she placed her nightgown into the bag and closed it. Her postulant dress, apron and head covering would be left there.
Georg hadn't taken long; he had been forced to learn how to shave quickly after many years in the navy. He put on the clean shirt he found in his bag along with an everyday suit. Likewise, his tuxedo and dirty shirt were left in the room as well.
His bag was repacked and sat beside Maria's; they left the room hand in hand. The children had been awakened by Liesl and Isabel. They ran to her saying, Mother.
"That sounds so nice. Let me give each of you a hug."
Even the boys weren't shy about receiving a hug from her. Brigitta was last. And she asked the question which all the older children were about to ask.
"Father, why are we up so early?"
Georg knew he had to tell them the truth. "Children, we're going to a train station to board a train to Italy."
And before Brigitta or another child had a chance to question him he announced.
"Let's go to the dining room. I'm sure Katia has helped the Sisters prepare a simple breakfast meal for us."
Georg was correct. Katia and Isabel had been busy in the kitchen since before the early bells rang. Katia saw the children enter the dining room. She knew not to say anything to worry them. Katia also knew they needed to eat quickly.
"Children, find a place to sit. Uncle Max is going to help Franz serve. They will bring you a plate with a ham biscuit. And Stefan and Phillip will bring each of you a glass of milk."
And Georg and Maria both took a deep breath; they expected one of the children to ask a question. They were able to exhale when the children started to eat. They smiled at Stefan as he handed them a plate with a biscuit.
They sat and Phillip brought each a cup of coffee. Everyone ate in silence. And while they were eating, the Bishop and the Mother Abbess arrived. And Maria saw that most of the children had finished their biscuit; Gretl and Marta were the exception.
"Girls, your biscuits were quite large. If you're full you don't need to eat anymore. The Bishop has arrived."
"Good morning everyone, I hope you are rested. Please walk with me to the chapel."
Everyone followed him. The Sisters had told Katia they would clear the table and wash their dishes.
As soon as everyone sat, the Bishop began to say the Morning Prayers. He again began with the Sign of the Cross. Then in prayer he gave thanks for the beginning of a new day. And a second prayer asked that God be with them as they traveled. Then he led them in the prayer Jesus had taught his disciples, the Our Father.
The Bishop concluded the service with a benediction.
"Lord, give to our hearts the light of faith and the fire of love, that we may worship in spirit and in truth our God and Lord who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen."
And those gathered said, "Amen," and in silence everyone left the chapel. Outside the Bishop spoke again.
"You have an adventure ahead of you. The cars to take you to your starting point are waiting in front of the gate. As soon as you are ready we can go there."
Everyone hurried back to the guest house to use the bathroom. And everyone brought their bag and placed it near the gate. The men took all of them, including Maria's guitar, to the waiting cars. Everything fit into the three cars' trunks.
Both the Bishop and the Mother Abbess gave them a final blessing. From the Mother Abbess they heard.
"May you have a good journey. And may God's Angels guard and keep you. And keep you safe."
The Bishop followed with his prayer.
"God bless your day
And keep you safe from harm.
I also ask God to be close to you and
To shower you with his love and grace.
"All this I pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."
That phase was spoken as he made the Sign of the Cross with his hand; the group had done the same.
Now the Bishop and the Mother Abbess saw jovial and unconcerned children get into one of the cars. As soon as the adults were seated, the cars drove away.
The Bishop and the Reverend Mother watched them go down the hill just as the sun was rising.
"Mother Catherine, I'm glad they're leaving now. News has it that man, Herr Zeller, has plans to try again to capture the captain. The train will have them in Italy in less than hour. Once they are there, Zeller can't follow them. The Italians won't let him."
"That's good, Bishop Howard. I like you believe God has something for this family to do in America."
"Yes, and we must continue to pray for the chosen people of God; not all of them will be able to escape Hitler's wrath."
The cars didn't have far to travel. The train was in clear view when they arrived at the abandoned station. And an adult in each car opened the car's door and encouraged the children to get out.
They saw a single train car attached to a modern locomotive. And they could easily see a design painted on the train car. Even the adults who knew this car belonged to the Pope were surprised to see it.
This design was the special crest for this Pope. It intrigued everyone because it was so unique. Once they exited the cars, they stood to admire it.
Everyone saw a unique design which the artist had drawn in the center of what resembled a reddish-brown fancy picture frame. On the very top they saw the drawing of a crown and two old fashioned skeleton keys; one was painted gold, the other was silver.
And in the picture in the center of the oval they saw a dove with a tiny flower stem in its beak. It was perched on the tallest of three columns with rounded tops. Below them was a narrow rectangle painted brown. And below it was an area resembling a bowl with wavy blue lines. Not even the adults understood its symbolism.
It wasn't Brigitta who spoke first; it was Friedrich. "Father, what is that design on the train car?"
Georg knew he had to be truthful. "It's the Pope's Crest."
"Are you telling us this train car belongs to the Pope?"
"Yes and we will be riding in it all the way to Rome."
Together the older children exclaimed. "Rome, Father!"
"Yes children, we're traveling all the way to Rome."
Georg wanted to avoid any questions, he immediately spoke again.
"And I see our companion who will travel with us is standing at the entrance to the train."
Father Wasner took Georg's words as an invitation to greet him. He took the three steps off the train and with his hand extended he greeted Georg.
Their handshake was firm. "It's my privilege to meet the decorated Captain von Trapp."
"Thank you for your greeting. I'm told you need to escape Hitler too."
"You're correct; my writings in the anti-Nazi newspaper have reached him. I heard all about your capture and eventual escape with the help of a young lady who is now your wife. I'm certain I was next on his list."
"And I'm grateful for the Bishop's plan. I'm certain Hitler's surrogate would try again."
Father Wasner nodded his response.
While they were talking, Maria walked to join her husband. And Georg immediately introduced her. There wasn't much time for a conversation. The older children were chattering loudly.
Georg used his finger whistle to quiet them. "Everyone, please meet Father Wasner."
He heard polite hellos from all of them. He returned their greeting. And during this time, attendants helped load all the bags, the trunks the seminary students had packed and Maria's guitar in the back of the train car.
And now Father Wasner gave instructions. "It's time to board the train. Follow me."
Father Wasner stood at the entrance and greeted everyone. Each person, including all the children, told him their name. He heard Maria instruct Marta and Gretl to find Frau Schmidt and to sit with her. And now he went and found a seat.
Georg held Maria's hand as she boarded; he felt it tremble. He whispered.
"Take a deep breath. We're going to be safe."
"My mind knows that but I can't stop from shaking. Maybe after the train begins to travel, I will."
Georg found the bench seat close to the entrance of the train was available for them. He let Maria sit by the window. He went to make sure everyone else had found a seat. Marta and Gretl were sitting quietly with Isabel. The other children were talking among themselves.
Georg reported all this to Maria. It helped to calm her. After sitting next to her, he put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him.
The dawn of a new day both literally and figuratively had begun for them. The train had pulled away from the station and was soon traveling very fast as the Bishop had told them it would.
Georg was hoping none of the children would ask why. None of them did. The speed caused all but the men and Maria to fall asleep.
It was Maria who breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the sign, Welcome to Italy, from the window as the train zoomed past it.
And in a very low whisper Georg heard. "We're in Italy."
"I thought so; I felt the train slow a little. And we will now travel at a slower speed; we're out of danger."
"Praise God! Georg, how far is it to Rome?"
"About four hundred miles, it should take about eight hours. Since we won't need to travel so fast, everyone can enjoy the landscape."
And now the slowing of the train woke everyone.