The agent smiled, then glanced up to see his men returning. They all shook their heads. He nodded toward the outside. They all descended the stairs loudly and went back outside.

“To answer your question, Baron,” said the man in charge, turning with his assistant to return more slowly to the ground floor, “there is no private property. All belongs to the Reich. I suggest you remember it. As to what you heard up there a moment ago—my men sometimes tend to be a little clumsy. Let it just serve to remind you of our visit.”

“I am unlikely to forget it,” replied the baron, thinking to himself how little good using the top floor had done. If he had to make similar use of his house again, his precautions would have to be more thorough than they had been this time.

“Make sure you don’t. And if you hide traitors again, Baron, we will find them. It will be more than the breakage of a few trinkets and lamps then. Believe me, if that happens—it will go the worse for you all. Heil Hitler!”

The man turned on his heels and suddenly was gone.

Two minutes later the cars and motorcycles, containing both Gestapo agents and all eight storm troopers, were roaring down the drive, disappearing through the trees.

36 Exchange of Letters

36

Exchange of Letters

Dear Sabina,

Finally, my cast is off and I feel like a normal person again. My leg feels like new, and perhaps it is as good as it was before, as your father said. However, I don’t believe I will test out his theory, for now anyway, and I think I will stay away from spirited Belgians for the time being!

Your last letter gave me much to think about. I think it indeed was an answer to my question—a good one too—but the kind of answer that keeps getting bigger the more one ponders it. It’s like your beloved Lebenshaus—one would never believe how much is contained in it.

When I think of God allowing us to make choices for ourselves, it makes me feel both important and, to be honest, scared. I feel important that God might think so much of me to allow me to choose what I will be and do. But I also feel a little scared by the thought of it because if God allows me to make my own choices, then it seems to me that’s a great deal of responsibility.

Matthew

Lieber Matthew!

I’m so glad you wrote, and to know that your leg is well and your cast off. It must have been so uncomfortable. What did you do when your leg itched inside it?