happened to us? We see what’s going on next door and we not only turn our heads, but we make pious pronouncements about our self-interest and the need to maintain balance with our relations. We know we have an entire religious group being persecuted in Germany. These people are suffering. We can’t become officious when they start arriving as refugees. We should assist those who’ve shown up on our doorstep in need of help. You believe in that kind of charity don’t you, Professor Snijders?” Annika’s argument about charity was spoken in a much more conciliatory tone. “Please, please.”
Snijders continued to pretend he was busy with his papers. He looked up momentarily and then lowered his eyes, holding up his right hand in a defensive gesture. “Let’s not be personal about this, Annika. I have every sympathy for your friends from Germany. We can agree to help them, but we can’t go breaking our own rules and putting their interests above the legitimate interests of Dutch citizens. Helping these people doesn’t mean we give them preferential treatment. Besides, the government has set up a camp for such people at Westerbork. That’s where such people should be held. There’s an established procedure in place. The regulations were put in place to keep out communists and dangerous agitators; and I certainly don’t disagree with that. Why are you trying to go around the regulations? That kind of attitude’s not going to help your career here at the university.” Professor Snijders threw the papers he had been shuffling down onto his desk and snatched his reading glasses from his face. “I have a lot to do this morning, so if there is anything else that you want to discuss, do so now.”
Annika lowered her voice. “Where else do you suppose we could find some kind of suitable employment for Pauli?”
“I don’t know. And your friend won’t be the only one. If you make room for him today, there will be twenty more clamouring at us tomorrow. We don’t want German refugees in the Netherlands. We can’t accommodate them, and to attempt to do so will ruin trade relations with our largest partner as well as strain diplomatic relations between our two countries. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not a good idea to antagonize Mr. Hitler. I’m sorry, Annika, but that’s how it is.”
Outside, in front of the conservatory building, Annika felt stunned. Her cheeks burned as she unlocked her bicycle from the crowded rack. It was as if she had somehow humiliated herself. Now she felt awkward and unsure. This morning when she came here, she thought she would be able to accomplish something positive, that she would make a difference. She didn’t expect to be rebuffed here at the university.
Thinking about it, Annika realized how important her life at the university was to her, especially now that things were so different at home. Saul wasn’t the same. After the party he had been strangely quiet; and whenever they discussed the Herschels’ situation he merely nodded in agreement. She knew him well enough to know that he wasn’t being defeatist, but was deep in thought. It still irritated her when Saul went into one of his uncommunicative moods. There had been far too many of those lately.
For a full minute Annika stood in front of the university buildings holding her bicycle, staring expressionlessly at the cobblestones beyond her front tire. Slowly she began to push the bicycle. Her movements were tentative, almost as if she was reluctant to go somewhere. After walking fifty metres, she swung onto the bike and began pedalling steadily.
For twenty minutes she cycled across Amsterdam, through streets lined with trees, arriving finally in front of a large building surrounded by a high brick wall with a crowded bed of red tulips at its base. At the gate, Annika did her best to sound authoritative when she addressed the young, freckled, blond man of about seventeen who manned the entrance. “I’ve come to see Mr. Van Zuiden. I’m his nephew’s wife.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No. It’s very important. I must see Mr. Van Zuiden now.”
It was only then that Annika noticed the small brass nameplate discreetly nailed beside the control booth’s door: Samuël Van Zuiden, Diamond Merchant. Appraisals, Cutting and Sales. The building, with its manicured grounds, was immaculate; there was nothing industrial about it. It could have been a private school or an embassy. The young man looked at Annika suspiciously and indicated that she wait outside on a bench by the wall beneath a large chestnut tree. He picked up the telephone, spoke briefly, then hung up.
“He’ll see you now,” he told Annika. “He’s very busy this morning.”
Annika merely nodded her head in a chilly display of thanks and was led inside to a small, tastefully appointed office with a large desk and two leather armchairs. The pale green walls were lined with framed antique technical charts showing various cuts of diamonds. Samuël Van Zuiden came in a few seconds later. He was in his early sixties, with a grey Van Dyke beard, and dressed in a smartly cut dark suit.
“What can I do for you, Annika? We don’t see you or Saul very often. Is something the matter?”
“No, Uncle Samuël. I know the family should get together more often. You’re busy so I’ll get to the point. Nothing is the matter with Saul or me, and thank you for asking. We have refugees from Germany staying with us, Jewish refugees. They arrived two days ago with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to find them work, something to help get them on their feet. Mr. Herschel is a lawyer. I’ve tried at the university, but everywhere I go, I don’t seem to have any luck. I’m beginning to think nobody cares. They’re absolutely destitute and they can stay with us as long as they wish to, but I know they want to be self-supporting. They’re proud people, Uncle Samuël.”
“And so when you have run out of places to go, you come to me. Does Saul know you are here?”
“No.”
“I see.” Samuël rubbed his jaw and said apologetically, “Please sit, Annika. You know what I’m thinking?” The two of them sat beside one another in the leather armchairs.
Annika nodded. “I know, we haven’t seen much of the family since we got married – ”
Samuël interrupted. “It’s good of you to show such concern for these people, Annika. I assume you want me to help you in this search of yours?”
Annika said nothing.
“I can tell you that there isn’t much that I can do for them here in my business. I have no openings, but I know some others who might be able to employ them temporarily.”
“Thank you, Uncle Samuël, this is such a relief.”
“Don’t thank me.” He patted her hand. “These are bad times; we have to do what we can. I wish there were more like you. These people, do they have children?”
“Three – two girls and a boy. All under the age of ten.”
“Well, they’re all better off here than back in Germany. God knows where that will end. I really do have another appointment to go to just now, but Annika, can I call you in a day or two? I’ll find something. It probably won’t be much and nothing like a lawyer’s job, but leave it with me.”
Samuël stood up. As he was showing Annika the door, he turned and touched her elbow. “You know, Annika, we really would like to see you and Saul some time. Families shouldn’t feud like this. Can you speak to him about it?”
“That would be nice,” she said with a smile. “Why don’t you come over some time; in fact, why don’t I call you next week and we can arrange for you to meet the Herschels? You know, for the first time in ages I think that things are going to work out.”
* * *
Northampton, 9 April 1940
COLONEL GEOFFREY HARRIS was in a three-piece suit and wore the striped tie of the Staffordshire Regiment. He chewed his lower lip as he walked across an enormous oriental carpet in the portrait-lined drawing room of Ramsford House in Northampton. He thrust his hand forward in greeting. “Rory, I’m awfully glad you could make it tonight; things are heating up faster than we predicted.” He was breathless. “I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but the Germans have just attacked Norway