She had much to be thankful for —that her bag had been empty of ration books, that she’d been able to flush the map down the toilet, that she’d known details about Java from Erik. Most of all, she was thankful they hadn’t tortured her. But her ordeal wasn’t over. Her false ID would be checked, Woerden’s dairyman questioned. Thankfully, she had warned the Dykstras that if anything happened to her, they were to say she’d been given the day off. She imagined the Gestapo arriving at their farm and prayed with all her heart that the Jewish boys hidden there wouldn’t be discovered.

Ans finally dozed off, still leaning against the cold wall, praying for all the people she loved.

CHAPTER 49

An army truck with a canvas roof pulled up in front of Meijers House. Miriam was shoved into the back of it, clutching her suitcase with her violin inside. After five years of running and hiding, after everything she and Papa and Avi had endured, Miriam’s enemies had captured her at last. It had all been for nothing. Avi had begged her to live, to fight to survive. But she’d reached the end of the road. She would never see him or their daughter again.

As she’d waited for the truck to arrive, Miriam heard the Nazis saying that she and Klara and Tina would be taken to Westerbork, then deported to a slave labor camp. Miss Hannie and Miss Willy were being arrested for hiding Jews. Poor, simple Frits, who had no idea what was happening to him and to the only home he’d ever known, would be imprisoned along with them. One of the soldiers had slapped him across the face when he wouldn’t stop shouting, and he was still crying hours later.

Klara and Tina seemed dazed as they climbed into the back of the truck with Miriam. Miss Hannie and Miss Willy came in after them, needing help to get over the high fender. Miss Hannie tried to comfort Frits as they huddled together on the hard floor. The truck started up and they began the painful, jolting ride toward the unknown. A soldier with a rifle rode with them, presumably to keep them from leaping out. Miriam watched villages and farmland go past through the canvas flap in the back of the truck until the sun finally set and the sky became too dark to see.

The sisters and Frits were ordered out when the truck finally drew to a halt. Miriam, Klara, and Tina were told to remain inside. Miriam reached for Miss Hannie’s hand. “Thank you for helping me. I’m so sorry you’re paying such a high price for your kindness.”

Miss Hannie squeezed her hand in return. “This isn’t your fault, Christina. Lord knows, you’re the innocent ones.”