“Let’s hope that it won’t come to that.” Saul clung stubbornly to the belief that if we just stayed where we were, everything would be fine. But I had seen it too many times, the war taking all of the things we knew, destroying the ground under our feet until it was no longer there.

Saul helped me down from the ledge and we stood in the basin too close for a second, his hands lingering around my waist. Then he pulled away abruptly. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Touching like this...”

“It isn’t allowed. I understand.”

“It isn’t just that. You see, Shifra...”

“Of course.” I pushed away my hurt. His heart was still with his fiancée, gone just over a month. I had no right to mind that. “It’s too soon.”

“No, you must understand. Shifra and I were betrothed by our parents, that is, arranged to be married from a very young age.”

“Oh.” I had heard of such traditions, but I had not realized they actually still existed.

“So we didn’t really know each other well at all. She was a lovely person and I assumed that we would get to know each other, to feel affection grow over the years. When I left, we were still largely strangers. And now, to be here with you... I like you, Sadie, and I shouldn’t. The way that I feel about you, how close we have become, it just isn’t permitted, even here.” He faltered. “Shifra was my fiancée, and she suffered and died. I should have stayed above ground to protect her instead of hiding like a coward.”

“No, you left your village to protect your father. You thought Shifra was safe. No one could have imagined such things would happen to the women and children.”

“Does it matter?” He shook his head stubbornly. “No, in the end, she is dead, and I am here with you. But I don’t deserve happiness, not after all that has happened. So you understand why we can’t be together.”

I nodded, overwhelmed by two feelings at the same time, the joy of knowing Saul felt the same way that I did and sadness that it could go no further. “I understand,” I said finally. We started walking once more.

We reached the entrance to the chamber. “At least we know now a place we can go if we have to,” I offered.

“Hopefully it won’t come to that. Promise me, Sadie, that you won’t try to get out.” His voice was heavy with concern. “We are safe here together.” To him, the sewer was our only hope.

“For now,” I replied. In my heart, I knew that the sewer would not protect us forever.

“Then for now, let that be enough.” In spite of what he had said earlier, he took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. We walked silently back into the chamber that was both our prison and our salvation once more.

11

Ella

One Sunday morning in late June I awoke early, eager to go see Sadie and make sure she was all right. Ana Lucia was not at home, I gathered from the stillness of the second floor as I made my way downstairs after washing and dressing. She had been out at a cocktail party the previous night with Colonel Maust and I assumed she had stayed at his apartment, but did not know for sure.