He made a small sign of the cross over my wounds. When he was finished, I closed my fingers around his wrist, rotated his hand upward, and placed an item in his open palm. A pebble I’d picked up from the roll-call square, just like the ones he’d given me for a chess set.

Chapter 14

Auschwitz, 6 August 1941

HANIA, WON’T YOU get in trouble for this?”

Because Hania and Janina insisted that I stay in the hospital to recover from my flogging and I was adamant about visiting Father Kolbe, we’d struck an agreement: I’d visit the hospital to rest and let Janina examine me, but I’d work in Block 11 enough to steal time with Father Kolbe. Hania dragged me back to Block 19 each day—she didn’t trust me to uphold my end of the bargain—and as long as I kept returning, Janina was satisfied.

Janina had bathed my wounds in antiseptic—a process almost as painful as the injuries themselves—and bound them with fresh, clean bandages, and I voiced my question as Hania passed me my uniform. In response, she stole a glance around the room before dropping her voice.

“I had to translate some reports from this block anyway. I’ll be fine, but if not, I’ll take care of it.”

The implications behind her words were clear. Fluency in five languages gave her an excellent advantage. She’d explained that she made deals with prisoners and guards alike, translating for them and receiving benefits in return, then kept the goods or used them for trade. Still, at the thought of bartering with our captors, I wrinkled my nose.

“My connections are the reason you’re getting special treatment,” Hania said, raising an eyebrow at me. “All the pain medicine you’ve received from Janina, for instance. Most prisoners are lucky to get half a pill. Thanks to my connections, Janina is alive, working here, acting as my hospital contact, and accessing additional resources through suppliers I’ve established inside and outside the camp, meaning she gives you proper dosages.”

“Right, I’m sorry. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done,” I replied with a sheepish smile while I put my uniform back on over my new bandages. “But you’re Jewish. You should hate the Nazis even more than I do.”

“If anyone hears you talking like that, all the hard work I’ve put into your recovery will be for nothing.” She cast another wary glance around. “You can disagree all you want, Maria, but establishing connections with prisoners and guards alike has its perks. How do you think I got my own life spared? I have my younger brother to look after, too, so I’ll welcome help in any form.”

“Your brother is here?”