Chapter 5
"The children won't be able to climb that," mother stood beside father, squinting up at a steep, sudden rise on the rocky terrain.
"What are you talking about, we'll be able to climb it," Friedrich boasted.
"I know you will, dear. But think of Brigitta, Marta and Gretl. They're only young," mother turned to face him.
"I suppose. Well, is there any way around it?" Liesl asked, walking around the side and peering over the edge.
It would be fatal if anyone fell from that height. So, no way we're getting around there. I tucked the edelweiss back inside my pocket, watching as everyone began trying to find ways around the obstacle in our path.
"Where's your book?" I heard someone ask, and I turned around.
"I usually see you reading it at times like this," Louisa stood beside me.
"I don't feel like reading it right now," I lied, not wanting to tell her I lost it. She'd probably laugh at me.
"What's it about?" she asked, completely ignoring my other answer.
"Two families, the Walkers and the Blacketts, go to an island in the middle of a big lake," I said simply, sitting down on a rock.
"There has to be more to it than that?" Louisa pestered me.
"You have never shown any interest in my books before, why are you doing so now?" I asked, turning around to face her.
"I don't know. Mother said that we should all try and get closer over the next few days," she shrugged a little, playing with a lock of her golden hair.
"Well, you don't need to like the same things as me. I like being different, and so should you. Mother meant that we should all spend as much time as possible with each other whilst we still can I suppose," I suggested.
"Oh, I didn't really look at it like that. I guess mother was right about you seeing and hearing everything," she smiled, leaving my side and going to help the others.
I gave a small sigh, and as I was looking back over my shoulder at the miles and miles of uneven terrain we had only just recently crossed, a different path lit up in my eyes. It was much further down the mountain side, where trees were beginning to grow. I'm only ten, but I do believe that this might be the only way around.
"Father!" I called, looking over my shoulder as he and Liesl came over, brushing the dust off their clothes.
I pointed to the slope, father patted my shoulder, a small laugh coming from his chest, and began climbing down. Liesl stayed up with me, watching him go down with a little bit of worry in her eyes. Mother and the others came over, stumbling over each other's feet, father waved at us all to come down.
"Come on Gretl, I've got you," Friedrich picked up our younger sister, steadying himself as he carefully climbed down the slippery hill.
"Hurry children," mother ushered us forward, looking up at the sky.
Father had noticed it too, as he began to back away towards a sheltered part of the slope. Friedrich and Liesl took immediate charge, pushing the rest of us over to him. The sound of engines came to my ears, and I, too, looked up at the sky. More planes. Flying dangerously lower than the others however, which seemed to make mother and father panic even more. Marta began to cry, snuggling deeper into father's coat as we watched the planes circle the area.
"Father, how did they find us?" I heard Liesl ask.
"They haven't, they're only searching for us. If we stay here for now, they'll probably go away," he whispered in reply, although there was doubt in his voice.
I noticed, though it dark, that his figure had gone from brave to cowardly, his shoulders once again hunched and his eyes glinting with fear. Not fear for himself, fear for his family. One thing I noticed about my father ever since he has changed, if that he no intention of putting himself before his family. It fact, it was the same with everyone, even the little ones. Mother had seriously fixed this family, and I'm surprised I've only just noticed this tiny little fact about us at this very moment…