Obelisk 2023 | Page 33

the journal of literature and the arts at saint david ’ s school
Ellen decides to close her eyes for a few minutes and just rest . She pictures her mama being captured by Nazis . Mama is yelling , “ Run , Ellen ! Run and find the Johansens !” She is running as quick as a cheetah through the fields to Henrik ’ s house .
“ Annemarie ! Annemarie !” she yells . She looks back behind her and sees a tall sweaty Nazi officer with a long neck . Ellen looks back one more time and realizes that the Nazi officer coming after her is the Giraffe , the Nazi officer who confronted her and Annemarie on the street corner . Ellen continues running with the Giraffe behind her , but she immediately stops , like her muscles have become ice . Then everything goes to black .
Ellen pictures the hull of the moldy Ingeborg . She hears Nazi officers talking to Henrik , and then she hears something hard hit the deck like a cannonball . Henrik yells out a cry like an injured wolf . The Nazis officer thunders , “ Where are the Jews ?” In a pained voice , Henrik says , “ Under the boat .’’ All the Jews freeze , but then the baby Rachel starts crying .
Ellen hears a Nazi officer open up the hull and yell in triumph , “ I have found them !” The officer has a withered face like a ghost , but when he comes into the hull , everything goes black again .
A sweating Ellen wakes up two hours later to realize that nothing ever happened , and she had just dreamed it . She asks Papa , “ Was I asleep ?”
A jealous Papa answers , “ Yes , Ellen , while l have been watching the mold grow .” An inquisitive Ellen then asks , “ Are we close to Sweden , Peter ?” “ Yes ,” a joyful Peter whispers back . Then Peter says , “ In a few short moments , Ellen , you will be a free girl .”
~ Hank M .
23