Page 174 of Valor

“You mean the Jew?”

“Dr. Weiss.”

“The Jew.”

“They asked me for help.”

“Mother!” Father hollered for his wife.

She scurried into the kitchen, still in her nightgown.

“Did you know that our imbecile son dragged a plague into our home?”

Mother stared at both of them. “What, by all that is holy, are you talking about?” She looked at Fred, then silently closed her eyes.

“This idiot son of yours brought Jews into the barn.” Father looked around the room as if making sure no one else was present.

Mother covered her mouth with both hands.

“You hid the priest here two months ago,” Fred was grasping.

Father stared at him.

“Gestapo is after the Weiss family.”

Silence.

“Mother?” Fred desperately searched for an ally.

Her eyes filled with tears. She gasped for a breath.

“That is no business of ours,” Father said resolutely.

“They can pay,” Fred said under his breath.

Father released one of his fists. “Pay? With what?”

“Dr. Weiss said he would.”

“And what good will that do if we all end up in front of a firing squad?” Mother sobbed.

“We won’t,” Fred said quietly. “They don’t want to stay. They plan to get out of here and find a place that would be safe for them.”

“And where would that be? You are such a dimwit.” Father’s words dripped with sarcasm. “The Germans have a place for them. The trains will take them East.”

“You know that is not true,” Fred hissed.

“I said that is none of our business.”

Mother stepped closer to Fred and touched his sleeve.

“They need to go. Right! Now!” Father continued to holler.

“Mrs. Weiss has two little sons, Mother. And Hedvika is here too.”

“God have mercy,” she whispered and gripped his arm, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Do you know how much it is costing me to keep you here?” Father spat, yelling. “It’s only because I’m a friend with the Oberfuhrer that you are not at the front right now.”

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