The Baby Experiment by Anne Dublin Page B

PREMISES.
    MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL.
    â€” TOWN COUNCIL OF ALTONA
    Cecile gasped and went rigid, as if turned to stone. Then she began to sob, her body shaking uncontrollably. “This must be why … I haven’t heard from them … all this time.”
    Johanna held Cecile for a long time, until at last her sobbing lessened.
    â€œCecile, we must go.” Cecile shuddered. “There is nothing we can do here. And if we stay, we might catch the plague.”
    â€œWait! Antoine and I used to have a hiding place!” Cecile broke away from Johanna and stumbled forward. She lifted an odd-shaped rock near the entrance to the house and picked up a piece of folded paper. With shaking fingers, she handed the paper to Johanna. “Read this,” she ordered.
    Johanna took the paper from Cecile and read aloud, “ Dearest Cecile, I am well. I escaped the plague. I’ve written you several letters, but they were all returned unopened .…”
    â€œFrau Taubman!” Cecile cried. “She probably heard about the plague here and knew I’d leave right away if I found out.”
    â€œProbably. Here, let me finish.” Johanna turned back to the letter. “ I am going to Bremen to stay with friends at Kolpingstrasse, Number 17. Send word when you can. God keep you safe. In haste, your loving brother, Antoine. P.S. Please thank whoever reads you this letter from the bottom of my heart. ”
    Johanna handed the paper back to Cecile, who clutched it to her chest. “I must go there,” she gasped. “To Bremen. To Antoine.”
    Johanna’s heart sank. But when she looked at her grief-stricken friend, she knew what she must do. “We will go there together,” Johanna said.
    â€œYou’ll go with me?”
    Johanna nodded. “Of course I will.” They hurried back to where they had left Daniel and the sleeping baby.
    â€œIt’s about time you got back,” Daniel said. “I’m not cut out to be a nursemaid.”
    Johanna looked at the unkempt driver and smiled for the first time that day. “No indeed,” she said. “You are not.” She took Rebecca from Daniel and kissed her gently on the head. Then she climbed into the wagon.
    Daniel snapped the reins before they had scarcely sat down.
    â€œWhat now?” he asked, as he forced the horse into a quick trot.
    â€œWe need to go to Bremen,” Johanna said. “Will you take us?”
    â€œBremen? That’s another day’s journey,” said Daniel. “Forget it!”
    â€œBut we have no other way,” said Johanna.
    â€œI must go there. To my brother.”
    Daniel shook his head. “You paid me to take you to Altona. That’s all.”
    Johanna swallowed hard. “We’ll pay you extra to take us. Won’t we, Cecile?”
    Cecile looked sullen, but then nodded.
    Daniel stared at the two young women, and then at the sleeping baby in Johanna’s arms. “That’s a dangerous road, full of robbers and low-lifes.” He scratched his head and wiped his nose on his dirty sleeve. Then he sighed. “I guess I can take you there.”
    Johanna was so relieved she could barely speak. “Thank you, Daniel. I don’t know what to say.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to say,” Daniel replied. “Now let’s get out of this cursed town!”

— Chapter Eight —
    A Chance Meeting
    Whether it was due to the dryness of his throat or the dusty road or the monotony of the voyage, Daniel soon revealed just how insatiable his thirst for beer was. Every hour or so, he stopped the wagon and went into an alehouse. Each time he returned, his step was more unsteady, his breath stronger, his nose redder.
    Cecile was consumed by grief, and said not a word. Rebecca woke up cranky, whining and squirming about. Johanna tried to comfort her, but wondered if Rebecca sensed her own nervousness.
    Johanna was tormented by worry