“Just remember,” Avi murmured, “the Nazis may take everything else away, but they can never destroy our love.”

CHAPTER 24

Eloise found reserves of strength that Ans had never seen as she poured her seemingly boundless energy into her work with the underground newspaper. Ans enjoyed working with her. The only problem was getting Eloise to stop to sleep or eat. “I’m not stopping until we’re free again,” she would say whenever Ans tried to coax her. The higher Eloise flew, the lower Ans feared she eventually might fall. Together, they monitored foreign radio broadcasts in German, English, and French, then reported what they’d heard.

Besides monitoring the news, Ans also delivered copies of the newspaper as soon as they came off the press, riding her bicycle or traveling by train to Amsterdam or Den Haag. She was standing on the platform at the Leiden station with a bundle of newspapers hidden in the lining of her bag, waiting for the train to Den Haag to arrive, when she saw Erik approaching. He wore his police uniform, and he was with two Nazi soldiers. He looked surprised when he saw her, but he continued walking toward her as if not in a hurry and didn’t smile or greet her with a kiss. “What are you doing here, Ans?”

“I’m . . . um . . . running an errand for Eloise. Are you going someplace too?”

“We’re checking ID cards.” He wouldn’t meet her gaze. He seemed embarrassed. The latest Nazi regulation now required everyone over the age of fifteen to carry an identification card at all times.

“Oh. I should let you get on with your job, then. Will I see you this weekend?”

He lowered his voice. “I have to check your ID card, Ans. They’re training us to do it correctly.” Her heart beat faster.

This stranger was the man she had laughed with and kissed last night, the man she’d snuggled beside at the cinema. Before the movie started, a Nazi propaganda film had aired. It had disgusted her. She’d tried to talk about it afterwards, telling Erik how outraged she was, but he’d warned her to be quiet. “There are listening ears everywhere,” he’d whispered. She knew he was right. If they identified her as a Jewish sympathizer, it would endanger her work with the newspaper and put all of their coworkers at risk.

“My ID card is in here somewhere.” She laughed, trying to make light of it as she fumbled through her purse. She was afraid of Erik in his role as a policeman, afraid of the power he wielded for the enemy. By carrying forbidden newspapers, she was breaking the law that he was sworn to uphold. Erik glanced at the two soldiers watching him from a short distance away. He must see that she was nervous. What would he do if he found the newspapers?