As Time Goes By Read Free Page B

were raised from time to time, but not in anger. In her nightgown she padded across the bed chamber and tried the door, but it was locked. Victor had locked it from the outside. For her safety? Or for his?
    She bent down to the keyhole. The room beyond was still plunged in the darkness of the coming winter solstice. Listening intently, she could just make out some of the words. To judge from the differing voices, there were two other men in the front room with her hus band.
    ".. . changes everything . ..," Victor was saying.
    "... British Intelligence ...," said someone else.
    ".. . danger ... no chance . . . alive . ..," said the second stranger.       
    "...der Henker..."           
    "...Prague..."      
    "As soon as possible!" Victor said, putting an end to the discussion.
    She heard the front door shut softly. She jumped back into bed when she heard the turn of the key in the bedroom door.        
    "Is that you, Victor?" She feigned sleepiness.
    "Yes, my dear," he said.
    She wiped some imaginary sand out of her eyes. "Are you up so soon?"
    "I went for an early morning stroll," said Laszlo. "You can't believe how good it feels to breathe free air once more. After Mauthausen, I never thought I'd have the chance again."
    Ilsa propped herself up slowly, yawned, and stretched. "I can only imagine how it must feel," she said.
    "Of course you can." He stroked her hair lightly, absentmindedly. "There has been some extraordinary news, my dear. The Japanese have attacked the Ameri cans at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii."
    Ilsa sat bolt upright; no need to feign sleepiness now. "What?" she exclaimed.
    "It happened yesterday, a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu. Most of the ships were destroyed in the harbor, and many men were killed. President Roosevelt has asked Congress for a declaration of war on Japan." Victor seemed almost joyful. "Now the Americans will have to join in our struggle."
    He got up and walked around the room excitedly. "Don't you see-, Ilsa? This is what we have hoped for. This is what I hoped for during all those long months in the camps, when it seemed that no one would come to our aid. The English look beaten. The Russians are reeling on three fronts. But this changes everything! Everything!"
    Impulsively he swept his wife up in his arms.
    "With the Americans on our side, we cannot lose! Oh, we won't be victorious right away; it will take years to roll back the Germans, destroy their armies, and free Europe once more. But the die is cast now, and there is no turning back. There are no Rick Blaines in America anymore, men who hide behind their cow ardice and call it neutrality. It will take time, but from this moment on, Germany is finished."
    As abruptly as he had embraced her, he released her. "We must make haste—more haste than ever. Quickly!" He found her suitcase and threw it on the bed. "The taxi is downstairs, and the plane leaves in less than an hour."
    Ilsa rose quickly and began to pack. "I have always wanted to see New York," she said. "Now that the Americans are on our side—"
    "There is no longer any point in going to America," Victor said. His bags were already packed, and he stood in the doorway impatiently. He was barely able to contain his excitement. "The time for speech mak ing and fund-raising is over, thank God. Now the time for action is at hand!"
    "Then where are we going?" asked Ilsa.
    "To the headquarters of the Czech government-in-exile since the fall of France," he said as he closed the door behind them. "To London."
    "London!" exclaimed Ilsa. That was where King Haakon lived now, along with the Norwegian government-in-exile, ever since Vidkun Quisling and his Nas-jonal Samling, aided by some traitorous army officers, helped the Germans to occupy their homeland.
    That was where her mother was.
    Her thoughts raced back to Rick as Victor settled their account. She had asked him to follow, and now she must tell him where. Impulsively she