Page 17 of Winter's End
“Behagen, there is nothing more to be said,” Mila shrugged. “These days, we must share what we can.”
“Ah,dank u, Mila, thank you.” Lotte gestured to a chair. “Sit, won’t you? Will you have some tea? I found fresh peppermint tea leaves at a market stall in Middleburg.”
“Wonderful, thank you!” Mila sat and removed her gloves. “It is cold, and not yet December.”
“We have battery power on the barge, and kerosene – but we are careful to ration their use,” Evi told her, pulling her chair next to Mila’s. “We are already collecting as many candles as we can find.”
Mila nodded. Power, or the rationing of it, was one of the topics she broached now and then to her father’s Nazi dinner guests. To date, she had elicited no useful information. But she guessed the power they did have would be cut off even further when – if – the Allies neared and the Reich looked to tighten its control.
Evi pushed aside her books as Lotte set a tea tray on the table, and there was sudden quiet after a murmured round of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and, “ah, the tea is so fragrant!”
It was Lotte who broke the silence. “Mila, we are pleased you have come – and thankful for your generosity. “But I am guessing you have not come all this way for a social visit. Perhaps you have some news to share?”
Mila hesitated, took a sip of tea, and steeled herself. “Not news, exactly, but I have put together a plan with the Resistance Council to eliminate a few of the Reich’s despicable officers – and at the same time, help us to acquire a few Nazi uniforms and credentials that can be used as cover for our policemarecheusseesand volunteers.”
She measured the look that passed between mother and daughter.
“I realize, Evi, you are not yet seventeen. But you are a pretty girl, and I think that with some make-up and suitable clothing, you could pass for older,ja?”
Lotte’s eyes narrowed. Evi sat straighter in her chair.
Mila took a breath. “There are German officers here in Haarlem who are attracted to our beautiful young Dutch women – the younger the better, in many cases. They regularly patronize a few of our taverns – mostly taverns in quiet areas, far from thestadsplein,away from prying eyes.”
She leaned in. “These Nazi pigs are looking to – shall we say, to connect with the young Dutch beauties they find in these taverns, some of whom are happy to comply.”
Both pairs of eyes stared straight at her. “Collaborators,” Evi whispered.
“Ja, sometimes, in return for German favors. But the operation I propose – which has the full support of our Resistance leaders – has a very different purpose.”
She leaned in closer.
“The plan calls for one or two of our pretty young women to patronize these taverns and deliberately catch the attention of German officers.”
Two mouths dropped open. Mila expected as much. She laid out the rest of the plan, the protections that would be put in place.
There was total silence when she finished.
Evi was the first to recover. “Are you asking me to be one of these young women?”
“I would do it myself,” Mila said. “But I have already met with too many of these Nazi officers. I am afraid my face might be too easily recognized.”
“So, you are asking me to…?”
“Ja, Evi, if you are willing to be trained, and if your mam will allow it.”
Evi clasped her mother’s hands. “Mam, you must say yes. You must! I can do this. I know I can!”
Lotte’s gaze went from Evi to Mila. “You cannot be serious, Mila. This could be far too dangerous -”
Mila sighed. “We all take risks every day, Lotte – hiding refugees on your barge,ja? Transporting them down river in broad daylight right under the nose of the Germans.”
Mila lowered her voice. “There is danger in so many of the things we do – but in this instance, a pair of Resistance volunteers will be in place…bodyguards, ready to defend Evi if she needs it, and put these Nazi officers in the ground.”
Lotte paused. “What happens when these officers are discovered missing?”
Mila shook her head. “They will not be missed. The war has stretched on far too long. German soldiers desert the Reich Army every day.”
Lotte looked at her daughter. “But the violence –”
