Where The Dove Flies Chapter Two

Maria awoke with a startle. Andras was laying in her arms, crying. It was time for Maria to feed him. She pulled a bottle out of her bag and put it in the baby's mouth. He took it and stopped fussing. She set him down on the seat beside her and pulled out a photo of her family before the start of the war. Once again, the memories came flooding back to her. She held the picture up in front of her brother.1

"Look Andras," Maria said fighting back tears. "It's mommy and daddy. You'll get to see them really soon, I promise!" Andras just looked up at her and smiled. He's so lucky to not know what's going. Maria thought to herself. Oh what I would give to be a baby again.  Maria put the picture back into her bag and cradled Andras in her arms again. He was done his bottle and nestled back to sleep. 2

Outside, the sky was blackening into night and there was nothing but fields to be seen for miles. Maria gazed out the window, lost in her thoughts about how many other people on this train were fleeing. Were there any other people her age? Where were they from? Where were they going?  She was suddenly surprised to see a young girl standing over her. 3

"Hi! Is this seat taken?" the young girl asked. 4

"No," Maria answered and motioned for her to take the seat. The girl sat down.5

"My name's Katherine. I'm from Bialowieza. My mom and dad are sending me away to Denmark where I'll be safe. My older brother left a few weeks ago and he's meeting me there."6

"Wow....I'm going to Denmark too. I'm Maria and my dad was arrested by two officers and my mom sent us away. This is my brother Andras, he's only six months old." Maria responded. "Where in Denmark are you going?"7

"Odense," Katherine answered.8

"Me too. I guess we could be friends while we're there," Maria said excitedly.9

"Yeah that would be great! Oh no....here comes more officers." Katherine commented with a hint of fear in her voice. While they were talking, the train had stopped and about ten Nazi officers had boarded. Maria began to fumble through her bag for the papers they would be looking for. They got closer and closer and her heart was beating faster with each step they took. 10

"Miss your papers?" the officer asked when he got to her. She handed him both hers and Andras'. They were scanned over and handed back to her. "And yours?" he nodded to Katherine. She handed them to him.11

"It says your going to visit your brother, it that correct?" he asked.12

"Yes, sir. He's working in Denmark and I'm going to visit him for a while." That answer seemed to be good enough. The officer handed them back and left. Both girls breathed a sigh of relief. Maria looked down to see her baby brother had slept through the entire thing. Thank God. She thought. It was getting late and Maria noticed that Katherine was sleeping. She herself could not sleep and got up with Andras to go wander the train. 13