“No. I don’t think it’s fair to tell them that Nico will come back. Not when we know so little. But we can tell them that Zwerger hasn’t broken us. We can tell them that we still have hope.”

And in the absence of hope? What then?

“You should come downstairs and eat something,” Rosa now suggested.

“I’m not hungry.”

“The baby is, though. Come.”

Rosa was right; it would do the baby no good if Nina starved herself. “Can you help me on the stairs? I don’t want to fall.”

“Of course.”

Rosa leaned forward, setting down the lamp she carried on the stool by the bed, and the light fell upon her face for the first time. Her right cheekbone was badly bruised, and above it her eye was blackened and swollen almost shut. There were bruises on her arms, too, where Zwerger had kicked her.

“Your poor eye,” Nina whispered, her heart seized anew by horror.

“It will heal. But that swine Zwerger will never forget the moment I spat in his face. That alone was worth every bruise.”

Nina’s limbs had stiffened, but with Rosa’s support she made it along the hall and down the first flight of steps. She had to stop and catch her breath when they reached the landing, but the second flight was easier, and soon they were in the kitchen.

Nothing about it had changed since breakfast that morning. The room was warm and familiar and comforting, filled with good smells and happy memories. It was still her favorite room at home.

Rosa set down a bowl of soup, and Nina started to eat, though her hand was shaking so much it was difficult to wield the spoon without making a mess.

“It’s shock,” Rosa said, noticing. “Take your time. It will get easier.”

It did, and before long the bowl was empty, and Nina began to feel a little stronger. In a few minutes she would ask to go back to bed, and then she would press her face into the pillow and cry. Once she was alone in her and Nico’s room, she wouldn’t have to pretend to be strong.

Aldo came into the kitchen, followed by a second man. Father Bernardi. For the first time ever, in all the years she had known him, he didn’t offer her a smile along with his greeting.

“Nina, my dear. How are you?”

“A little better.”

“Do you have news?” asked Rosa.

“I do. They’ve taken him to Verona. To the headquarters of their secret police. The SD.”

“That’s it?” Aldo asked. “That’s all you were able to find out?”