Chapter 6

Meantime, I had problems of my own. The morning after our return and Mother's departure to her apartment, Grandpa informed me the ammunition which my husband had in the villa was not disposed of or turned in to the authorities, only the guns [which he had dropped in the well.] I decided to do something. Where, oh, where was it? Then I remembered. Before our flight on that frightening Sunday afternoon, I had hurriedly hidden the ammo and shells under the linens in the large green trunk.

The trunk was in the glassed-in veranda. I opened the chest and everything was still there, untouched. Quickly I placed all the ammo and shells in a big hemp bag, dragged it down the back stairs of the veranda, across the backyard and pushed it over into the deep septic well nearby. Who knows? The gunpowder may still be there, like the guns, resting peacefully submerged in the well.

Immediately upon finishing this task, a thought flashed through my mind. What happened to Edmund's long, dashing dress sword with the gold-plated hilt and the silver-corded tassel? I'd better find out before the Germans take us all to prison for concealing weapons.

I first approached Grandpa. He probably would know what happened.

"Yes, I know what happened to it." His tone was boastful. "I hid it."

"But where, Grandpa?"

"Well somewhere in the dining room. Neither the Germans nor you will ever find it." He looked cunningly from under his heavy eyebrows.

I proceeded to search the premises, missing nothing. The low cupboard, over the cupboard, behind it, the grandfather clock, the couch, behind the tall, tiled Nuremberg stove. Nowhere. But I didn't give up.

Unconsciously I looked in the direction of the high and wide radiator by the far wall. There it was. Lying diagonally across the width of the silver-painted radiator was a shiny metal streak. Eureka! I found it. After spotting it, it looked like an easy target for the Germans' searching eyes.

I called Maria. "Maria, you and I are going for a walk in the evening before curfew."

As soon as the Germans entered Poland, curfew was established for 9:00 p.m. This rule was to force all persons into their homes. This way, the occupants were readily available for the round-ups which took place at night. Never a night passed but someone was taken away.

Maria was suspicious of something unusual. "What for, Ma'am?"

"We have an important job to do and it must be done tonight."

"Yes, Ma'am. We'll go."

It was a ten-minute walk to the place I mentally selected. We wore coats. It was dark. Maria, being the taller one, carried the sword inside her garment. She held it so the sword would not slip out of its sheath.

I walked beside her. "Maria, please hold the thing so that you do not drop it. We are going to the big pond by the cemetery."

"Ma'am, what do you intend to do?"

"You'll see." We continued in silence, my heart pounding.

Soon we arrived at the pond. The moon was now shining on the sparkling water. At that moment I recalled the story of King Arthur, his knights and the sword, Excalibur.

In winter this pond froze over. Tonight the water glistened in the radiant moonlight.

I took the sword from Maria. I was determined to be wholly responsible for the disposal of my husband's treasured saber.

When Maria saw my intention, she exclaimed, "Ma'am, what a pity to throw that beautiful sword away. I could have hid it in my father's barn in the village."

"No, my dear. This is best. No one will any problem with it anymore."

Then I raised it as high as I could and with all my might I hurled it into the water. It made a big splash, because it was heavy. It disappeared forever. No chance of its reappearance; nor was there an arm to catch it, as in the story of King Arthur. Maybe some day it will show up in a cake of ice.

"Now that's over. Let's go back and forget about it."

We did not have to wait long for another shock.