It took some effort to relax my clenched jaw enough to respond. “That’s not funny.”

“Did he?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie to your elders, young one.”

“Don’t accuse me of lying, old one. Checkmate.” I couldn’t resist a triumphant grin while she chastised me in French. Besides, it wasn’t a lie. Protz’s welcome hadn’t gone as far as she thought.

“Oy vey, you’re insufferable,” Hania said, shaking her head even as she smiled. After a moment, it faded. “You’re not a yenta, are you, Maria?”

“Can I be a yenta if I don’t know what it is?”

She chuckled. “Right, you’re a Gentile, I almost forgot. You’re not a gossip? Because Protz might be able to protect me if we’re discovered, but I’d rather not have to find out.”

“I won’t say anything. But now that I know what yenta means, I’m tempted to be one so I can claim that title.”

“That’s what I get for opening my big mouth.”

Hania accompanied me back to my block. Along the way, a breeze swept over us, carrying the faint, unmistakable scent of jasmine. Although the source must have been near, I failed to locate it. Perhaps it was beyond the barbed-wire fences. The fragrance took me away from the lingering ache of my injuries, but it reignited an ache of another sort, one that tended to flare unexpectedly before I subdued it. It was an ache of longing to be wherever the jasmine was, somewhere outside the gate.

Since we had time before the first gong, I set up a chess game with the twigs and gravel, and we began to play. Hania was no Vera Menchik yet, but she was learning. Even champions were beginners once.

We’d hardly begun when I waved a hand, indicating that she should stop. While I repositioned her pawns, Hania let out a huff.

“I’ve only moved two pieces,” she said.

“Both of which weakened your king, so you’ve made it far too easy for me to win. Keep the king protected.”

“Do you coach Fritzsch like this?” she asked, shaking her head while I made my first play. “How did you become his personal chess grand master?”

I shifted positions, trying not to upset my injuries. “Do you remember when you asked me why I’d been spared? So long as Fritzsch enjoys playing chess against me, he’ll let me stay.”

Hania nodded, then she gave a dry chuckle. “I suppose we were both kept for their pleasure.” When I didn’t respond, she sighed and reached for her knight. “It was a joke—”