He stares at me and I wonder if I’ve said the wrong thing. Have I been too forward, or would it be too risky? He’s quiet for a few moments.

‘You know, Hetty, you’re right. Walking in the countryside with you is lovely, but it would be nice to do something more. I’m fed up with hiding in the shadows. Why don’t we go into the city?’

‘That would be too dangerous, Walter,’ I sigh. ‘We might be seen.’

‘It’s not likely, though, is it? Especially at the moment. The Leipzig Fair is on. There are about two hundred thousand strangers in town. Everyone I know is busy working.’

‘Everyone I know avoids the crowded city centre at this time…’

‘Exactly!’

‘But – but why would we risk being seen, even if it’s only a small risk?’

I look into his pleading eyes. Such a trip seems foolhardy.

‘There’s something I want to give you,’ he says carefully. ‘We’d hide in plain sight. Nobody would suspect a Jew to parade so openly with a German in public. We’ll be completely ignored.’

I shake my head. ‘We can’t.’

‘Look, we won’t go to any of the places anyone you know ever goes. I promise. It’ll make a lovely change to these fields.’ He grins at me. ‘I wouldn’t risk this if I thought there was any chance we’d be seen,’ he encourages. ‘I should be able to take my girl out for a day of fun, if I choose.’

My girl.

‘We could go next Saturday,’ I find myself saying.

‘Don’t you have school?’

‘I rarely go to school on Saturdays anymore. They prefer us to be with the BDM. I should be going on a hike, but there are six hundred girls going on this one and I’m not a leader so they won’t miss me. I’ll get Erna to tell them I’ve hurt my foot.’

‘That’s it. We can do this.’ He nods. ‘I’m fighting back in a small way. But it feels good. It feels so good. Hey,’ he nudges me, ‘how about a joke?’

‘Okay,’ I sigh.

‘This one’s a bit naughty, so no telling your father, right?’

‘Of course not!’

‘So, two men meet. “Nice to see you’re free again,” says one to the other. “How was the concentration camp?” “Great,” replies the first. “Breakfast in bed, choice of coffee or chocolate, and for lunch, soup, meat and dessert. We played games in the afternoon before coffee and cakes. Then a little snooze and a film after dinner.” The second man was astonished. “That’s great! Funny, though, I recently spoke to Meyer, who was also locked up there. He told a different story.” The first man nods gravely. “Ah yes,” he says, “that’s why he’s back in there again!”’ Walter looks at me and smiles.

‘You seriously think that’s funny?’ I stare at him in amazement.

‘Ah well,’ he says, shrugging, ‘maybe the dark Jewish humour takes a bit of getting used to.’

He hugs me tight, tickling my ribs, and now we’re both laughing. Kuschi catches the light mood and becomes playful, yapping and pawing, hopeful we’ll be on the move once more.