The Woman with the Blue Star, Pam Jenoff [highly recommended books txt] 📗

a tunnel leading upward. At the end of it I could make out daylight. I could not make out any buildings or people here, just open sky and a bit of the castle looming over the river. “There’s another path outside,” I said breathlessly. “It’s a steep climb, but perhaps we could make it if we had to.” Though still dangerously visible, the opening here would not be as crowded with people as the one by the market where I met Ella.

“Let’s hope that it won’t come to that.” Saul clung stubbornly to the belief that if we just stayed where we were, everything would be fine. But I had seen it too many times, the war taking all of the things we knew, destroying the ground under our feet until it was no longer there.

Saul helped me down from the ledge and we stood in the basin too close for a second, his hands lingering around my waist. Then he pulled away abruptly. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Touching like this...”

“It isn’t allowed. I understand.”

“It isn’t just that. You see, Shifra...”

“Of course.” I pushed away my hurt. His heart was still with his fiancée, gone just over a month. I had no right to mind that. “It’s too soon.”

“No, you must understand. Shifra and I were betrothed by our parents, that is, arranged to be married from a very young age.”

“Oh.” I had heard of such traditions, but I had not realized they actually still existed.

“So we didn’t really know each other well at all. She was a lovely person and I assumed that we would get to know each other, to feel affection grow over the years. When I left, we were still largely strangers. And now, to be here with you... I like you, Sadie, and I shouldn’t. The way that I feel about you, how close we have become, it just isn’t permitted, even here.” He faltered. “Shifra was my fiancée, and she suffered and died. I should have stayed above ground to protect her instead of hiding like a coward.”

“No, you left your village to protect your father. You thought Shifra was safe. No one could have imagined such things would happen to the women and children.”

“Does it matter?” He shook his head stubbornly. “No, in the end, she is dead, and I am here with you. But I don’t deserve happiness, not after all that has happened. So you understand why we can’t be together.”

I nodded, overwhelmed by two feelings at the same time, the joy of knowing Saul felt the same way that I did and sadness that it could go no further. “I understand,” I said finally. We started walking once more.

We reached the entrance to the chamber. “At least we know now a place we can go if we have to,” I offered.

“Hopefully it won’t come to that. Promise me, Sadie, that you won’t try to get out.” His voice was heavy with concern. “We are safe here together.” To him, the sewer was our only hope.

“For now,” I replied. In my heart, I knew that the sewer would not protect us forever.

“Then for now, let that be enough.” In spite of what he had said earlier, he took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. We walked silently back into the chamber that was both our prison and our salvation once more.

11

Ella

One Sunday morning in late June I awoke early, eager to go see Sadie and make sure she was all right. Ana Lucia was not at home, I gathered from the stillness of the second floor as I made my way downstairs after washing and dressing. She had been out at a cocktail party the previous night with Colonel Maust and I assumed she had stayed at his apartment, but did not know for sure.

I ate quickly, then picked up my basket and walked into the kitchen, looking for something I could bring Sadie. Taking her bits of food each week seemed like a meager gesture; I felt as if I should be doing more. But she needed food and seemed glad to have it. And it was really all I could do.

I peered into the icebox. There was a plate of freshly cut salami and cheese, neatly arranged. There was no way to take any of that without it being noticeable, though. On the shelf below was the remainder of a quiche from Ana Lucia’s lunch party the previous day, typical of the pretentious French cuisine she loved to serve. I pictured Sadie’s delight in having some of the special treat. Just a bit off the edge, I decided. I reached in and pulled up the wrapping, which crinkled loudly. I cut off a piece of quiche and wrapped it in wax paper, then put it in my basket. As I replaced the dish, I heard footsteps behind me. I shut the icebox and turned. Standing there was Hanna.

“Hanna, I didn’t hear you. I was just...” My voice trailed off as I searched for an explanation, but found none. “I was still hungry,” I finished lamely. Hanna’s eyes traveled to the basket where I had placed the food. My heart pounded. Hanna worked for Ana Lucia, and despite my stepmother’s awfulness, she was still the one who paid the girl. Surely Hanna would tell.

But Hanna stepped around me wordlessly and reached into the icebox. She pulled out the cheese tray, took several pieces off and wrapped them in wax paper. She rearranged the cheeses on the tray so it was not as obvious that some of the pieces were missing and put it back in the icebox. Then she handed the wrapped package to me.

I hesitated before taking it. “Hanna, no.” I wasn’t sure if she knew what I was doing and wanted to help or simply thought I wanted food. If Ana Lucia found out, she would fire Hanna and put her out into the streets.

Then, thinking of Sadie, I relented. “Thank you. I will take this