“Yes... That is, no.” I paused, trying to figure out the best way to tell him the secret I’d been keeping. I lowered my voice. “When they cleared the ghetto, some of the Jews managed to escape and go into hiding.”

He nodded. “I’ve heard rumors of such things.”

“A few escaped to the sewer.”

“The sewer? But even if that were possible, where would they go?”

“They didn’t go anywhere. That is, they’re still in the sewer, close to the Dębniki market. I’ve been helping one of them, a girl.”

His eyes widened. “So that’s why I kept seeing you there?”

“Yes. But now their main source of food is gone. I need to help her find some food to take back to the others.”

Remembering how I had refused to help him with his work for the Home Army, I thought he might say no. “How many people are with her?”

“Four I think.” I watched as he processed the information. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” I expected him to be angry with me. He ran his hand along the back of his head, seeming to think.

“When do you need it?”

“Tonight. Can you help?”

“I don’t know. There’s so little food now in the city, Ella.”

I nodded, acknowledging the truth of what he said. The faces of the people at the market seemed more gaunt by the day as they left with their baskets still largely empty. “Surely through your army contacts, you can manage to find something.”

“I’ll try, but it is very difficult. The Home Army is complicated. It’s big and it’s got a lot of people with different aims. There is this one black marketeer, Korsarz, who sometimes helps the Polish Army get what it needs.”

“Korsarz,” I repeated the code name, which in Polish meant pirate. “Do you think he can help?”

Krys shook his head grimly. “I don’t know, but I’d rather not find out. He’s an unscrupulous character and he’ll deal with anyone—including the Germans—for a price.”

“If it’s a question of money...” I began, picturing Ana Lucia’s grand belongings and wondering which I could steal that would be most easily pawned for cash.

“It isn’t that. Korsarz has done some awful things and I won’t deal with him, at least not if I can help it. I’ll try to find another way. I need to reach out to my contacts and find a way to get extra food without attracting attention. It will take a few days, a week at most.”

My shoulders slumped. “We don’t have that kind of time. They need food now and I need to get Sadie back to the sewer.” It was the first time I shared her name and it felt somehow vulnerable.

“She’s out?” I nodded. Alarm crossed his face. “Where is she?”

“I hid her in the alleyway.”

“Do you want me to get her out of Kraków?”

I considered the idea. Sadie was out of the sewer now, and this could be her only chance for freedom. The offer was a big one, I knew. Getting a Jew out of Kraków now would not be easy and I was grateful to Krys for suggesting it. But I knew Sadie would never accept. “I’ll ask her, but I doubt she’ll agree. Her mother is down in the sewer. She has to go back. Either way, she won’t abandon the others to starve. I just need to get her food.”