فصل 95

joana

The sailors had him on a raft.

“Florian!” I screamed. I tried to climb over the side.

“Stay where you are,” insisted the sailor. “They’ve got him.”

Florian looked up. He motioned for me to remain on deck. The two brave sailors who had jumped into the water after him were boosting him up the net. They pushed him over the side and he collapsed in a heap.

The wandering boy threw himself onto Florian, sobbing and crying.

“I’m okay, Klaus. Just a little cold and wet.”

“We have to get him warm immediately,” I said.

We followed the sailors as they moved him belowdecks. I quickly stripped off his icy clothes and wrapped him in a big blanket.

“Not exactly how I envisioned that part,” he said quietly, with a grin.

“Hush.” I pulled the blanket tight and kissed him. The sailors gave him some dry clothes.

People ran in front of us, shrieking and crying for those they had lost. One man went mad, tearing at his hair, talking nonstop of chickens and the chicken car.

A sailor walked among the passengers.

“What vessel is this?” Florian asked him.

“You’ve been picked up by T-36, a German torpedo boat.”

An explosion detonated beneath the boat. People screamed.

“Stay calm,” said the sailor. “We’re releasing depth charges. There are still Russian subs prowling the area.”

Submarines. We were still in danger.

They gave us hot drinks and soup. The warmth brought tingling and pain. The wandering boy cried of aches in his legs and feet. And he cried for Opi. The baby whimpered for Emilia. We settled onto the floor with piles of blankets, huddling together for warmth.

Florian reached down and took my hand. “I heard you,” he whispered.

“What?”

“When I was underwater. I heard you telling me to kick my feet. Thank you.”

I looked up at him.

What was he talking about?