I placed a hand over hers to prevent her move, and she drew back with sudden haste. She stared at me, as if unsure what to make of the gesture. Something wavered, something that seemed to pierce her wall and expose her to the fullness of realities that were too difficult to face, before she blinked and retreated behind her refuge. She laughed, though it sounded a bit forced.

“Don’t tell me you’re worried about me.”

“All I have to do is play a game,” I murmured.

“One that your life depends on, if I understood you correctly. In my case, Protz is an arrogant schmuck, but harmless as long as I keep him happy. Fritzsch, on the other hand . . .” She let her voice die and lifted a questioning eyebrow while she moved her knight.

I doubted that Protz was as harmless as Hania would have liked me to believe, but I held my tongue in that regard. Instead I leaned closer to her. “I can trust you, can’t I?”

“That depends. Would you trust someone who saved your life?”

“You also took me to Janina, and sometimes I think I’d prefer another flogging to her treatments.” I grinned while she smirked, then I lowered my voice. “Do you want to help me get Fritzsch transferred?”

She waited, as if expecting me to take back the words. When I didn’t, her eyes grew wide. “Oy gevalt, Maria, did Fritzsch flog your back or your head?”

“I’m serious. My life depends on chess, like you said, but if I can get rid of him first, I might have a chance of surviving. Besides, I’m not the only prisoner who wants to see him gone.”

“Of course everyone wants to see him gone, but unless Kommandant Höss decides—” Hania paused while her mouth dropped open. “Don’t tell me you goaded him into that flogging just to get the kommandant’s attention.”

“Not exactly,” I replied as I examined the board before selecting my queen. “That was luck.”

“You and I have very different definitions of that word.” She fell silent long enough to move a rook, which I captured. “What if Fritzsch figures out what you’re trying to do?”

“He wants to kill me either way, so at least I’ll have done everything I could. Please, Hania.” I grabbed her hand again, and she didn’t pull away this time. “You have access to the administrative offices, so all I need you to do is let me know if you hear Kommandant Höss will be in the main camp. Nothing to jeopardize yourself. Will you think about it?”

Hania played one more move and stayed quiet while I played my checkmate, but she looked pensive. “You’re certain Fritzsch plans to kill you when chess no longer holds his interest?” she asked, and when I nodded she got up. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”