“Well, it’s no secret that the Nazis are seizing Jewish businesses. He told me that the Nazis are paying him to identify which businesses to take, but he promises that he will protect us and our brickyard.”
“He’s full of shit.”
The older man put a gentle hand on Eli’s shoulder. “We are at war, son, and we must keep our heads. We have families to protect. Although we have known Maximilian when he was nothing but a well-dressed street scrounger, he has now cultivated a relationship with the Nazis. Yet he professes to have loyalty to us. When he came by today, he told me that he would protect the brickyard from seizure and safeguard our family.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I believe he will try as long as it suits his ambition and is financially advantageous to him. He makes good money as our sales agent.”
“And you trust him?”
“Of course not, but he sees opportunities to work his rackets and he is privy to information that others are not. Last week, a trainload of Jewish families from Bohemia and Moravia arrived here in Lublin. Maximilian told me that Jews from other provinces are being sent here as well. He has learned that the Nazis intend to build a huge reservation designed to hold five hundred thousand Jews.”
“Five hundred thousand! There are only forty thousand Jews in Lublin. Where is this reservation supposed to be?”
“Nisko.”
Eli’s face turned red. “That’s a swamp, Papa.”
Jakob nodded. “True. Maximilian told me that it is designed to hold only the Jews brought in from other towns, not the Lublin Jews. He thinks the Nazis will register us and leave Lublin families alone to live in the Jewish Quarter.”
“I don’t believe him, Papa. They’re confiscating homes and businesses in our neighborhood. The Bornsteins were given one week to vacate their home. Why would they leave the Rosens alone?”
“Because Maximilian will intercede on our behalf.”
“At what price?”
“On that, we shall see.”
* * *
“The Cohens were forced to give up their house today,” Esther said as she stirred her stew on the stove. Eli could see that Esther’s nerves were on edge. Her movements were tense, her muscles taut.
“Where did they go?” Eli said, snitching a warm piece of challah.
“Leah told me that they rented a small unit in the quarter. Most of the families who have lost their homes are trying to find apartments there. Even storefronts are being rented. It’s becoming a teeming, unhealthy mess. The Nazis gave the Cohens three hours to gather their belongings. Three hours, Eli! Leah called me at the clinic. She was frantic. ‘What can I possibly gather in three hours?’ she cried. I rushed over to help her. That poor girl. She had so many lovely things, but we could only collect essentials—clothing, shoes, bedding, pots and pans, Mikal’s books, a few dishes. We wrapped them in sheets and blankets to wheel them in a cart like a peddler. All of her beautiful things, Eli—you know what a lovely home she made—she had to leave them all behind for some filthy Nazi. She was heartbroken. Why, Eli? Have they no respect for anyone? Would they like someone to do the same thing to their mothers?”
“As my father said, it’s because we are the conquered.”
“Are we next? When will they come in here and give us three hours?” Esther began to weep. “When will they take our home from us? All my precious things, my mother’s things. Everything I’ve put together to make a lovely home for you and Izzie.” She wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve.
“There is no acceptable answer, Essie, but you speak only of possessions. They are things. They are not you, and they are not me, and they are not Izzie. As precious as they are, they are objects. Maximilian says he is protecting us from Nazi seizures. Whether he is or not, what’s important is that we hold on to each other. We’ll always have each other. You, me and Izzie. If we have to move into some little apartment, we’ll move, and we’ll do it together and make the best of it. Sooner or later this storm will pass, and we’ll establish a new normal. The three of us. You have to have faith.”
Esther nodded. She wrapped her arms around Eli and held him tightly. “I’m trying, and I do have faith. I don’t have confidence where Maximilian is concerned, but at least we are still living in our home and you still have your business. And you’re right, this may be temporary. No matter how severe the storm, you will always be my sunny day.”
“That’s my girl. Our love can weather any storm. Never forget it.”
She kissed him and folded into his embrace. “You and I are forever,” she whispered.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LUBLIN, POLAND
OCTOBER 30, 1939
WEEK 6 OF THE NAZI OCCUPATION
Maximilian, sporting a new wool overcoat, homburg hat and polished wing tips, strutted into the brickyard with a uniformed SS officer and three armed SS guards.
“Allow me to introduce SS Brigadeführer Odilo Globočnik,” he said. “Brigadeführer Globočnik has been appointed the governor of the Lublin District.”
An acerbic man with a long oval face and close-cropped hair, Globočnik gave an ever-so-slight nod. He proceeded to stroll around the brickyard with his hands clasped behind his back, mentally inventorying the variety of materials and the manner of operation, after which he and Maximilian returned to the office, where Eli and his father stood waiting.
Maximilian briskly approached with a broad smile. “Eli, Jakob, I bring you good news. Because of…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Globočnik stepped forward, moved Maximilian aside as though he were a waif, and said, “So this is the primary source of Lublin’s construction and building supplies?” He spoke without emotion in an imperious tone.
“Yes, it is, Herr Brigadeführer,” Maximilian said deferentially.
Globočnik looked pleased. “Hmm. I see your point, Maximilian. This business will be useful in several of our projects, and we shall take it immediately. We may begin by transporting construction materials to Lindenstrasse. That will shortly become Lublin’s center for mandatory workshops, and it must be operational as soon as possible.”
“Understood, Brigadeführer, and I am most anxious to help,” Maximilian said with a series of obsequious nods.
“Excellent. We’ll appropriate this business, but how do you propose we manage it? No one on my staff has experience in managing a brickyard and construction company. I suppose I could bring in someone from Berlin, but that would take time.”
“May I humbly offer a suggestion, Brigadeführer? Appoint me as the operator of the brickyard.”
“You, Maximilian? Are you fully confident of your management ability? I will not tolerate a failure.”
“Oh, of course I am, Herr Brigadeführer, or I would not suggest it. I have worked at this business for six years, and I am intimately familiar with its operation. My sales are the highest in the company. No one knows the inside operation of a construction business better than I do. I would be proud to operate this business.” He quickly added, “For the benefit of the Reich, of course.”
With a flick of his hand, Globočnik gestured to Eli and his father. “What about the former owners? Do you have any use for them?”