Visions of the Land Across the Water
obelisk 2023
Visions of the Land Across the Water
Short Story Inspired by Lois Lowry ’ s Number the Stars
A tired Ellen begrudgingly watches her mother about to go into the hull of the Ingeborg . Mama goes under , first of the group , and gasps .
“ Oh my , there is mold ,” she whispers . Ellen goes next and sees that Mama is right , and there is mold all on the sides of the boat and a little on the top . There is no light , so when she goes under , she hits her head .
After the whole group goes under , it becomes extremely cramped , and an annoyed Ellen is wedged in between her mother and father .
About an hour later , she hears pattering footsteps and a familiar voice and realizes it is her best friend , Annemarie Johansen . She can hear her speaking to her Uncle Henrik , the captain of the Ingeborg .
She hears her saying , “ I brought your lunch ,” with her voice quivering while she says it .
About thirty minutes later , she hears the gruff voice of a German officer talking in horrible Danish . “ You got dead fish on my boots , you scoundrel !” he yells in a gruff voice . A little while later , Mama tells Ellen that they will be hiding at a safehouse until somebody in the Resistance tells them it is safe .
Two hours later , Ellen feels a slight rock back like on a rocking chair and realizes the boat is leaving . Out of the blue , she starts thinking that the Nazis could potentially occupy Sweden . One part of her mind says , “ No , the Germans will never occupy Sweden ! We are free from the Nazi Rule !”
The other part of her mind is saying , “ The Nazis will come to occupy Sweden !”
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