A Chance Encounter

A Chance Encounter

Suzanne Marsh

Madeline Prendergas, walked quickly down the bombed-out street in Amsterdam, Holland. She prayed the Gestapo would not catch her as she walked quickly toward the safe house, headquarters for the resistance in Amsterdam. She continuously watched her every step, she had to explain the plan as it had been explained to her. The plan to blow up the train tracks leading into Amsterdam, somehow, they had to stop the Nazi’s and their plans to eliminate the Jewish from Europe. It was just a small thing the resistance group was doing; every little blow helped. Madeline, prayed silently for her friends, knowing some would not return. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up, she could feel someone watching her every move. What if it were the Gestapo, she knew there was a real possibility of torture and death but still she had a job to do.

Madeline kept watch out of the corner of her eye, she turned casually, then turned again. There was no one there, she was being silly. She turned onto the street where the safe house was located. Still she had that feeling of being watched. There was something almost familiar about the shadow she noted. She quickly turned into an alley, waiting, watching to see if the shadow would follow her. She decided to turn down another alley, running to the safe house. Once Madeline arrived at the safe house, she saw a man standing in the middle of the room, speaking with her contact:

“Madeline, come in. Have you got the plans for the railroad tracks that are to be blown up?”

“Yes, I have them memorized. Michael, you and Hans will set the timers for the dynamite,

it must go off at exactly 12:15 in the morning on January 10.. Guns and ammunition are hidden in

in the northern sector of Amsterdam.”

“Ja, we will be ready, this must work, if not there will be many dead, including us.

“I, know, I will be there also. They killed my friend Anna, for being Jewish. I want

revenge.”

“Madeline, you must be more cautious. If you were to be captured and tortured, you could

expose all of us. “

Madeline grumbled but knew she had to be more cautious. She quickly left walking quickly down the alley. She turned to see the stranger she had seen not far behind her. She turned to see if this was the other agent. It was, so she continued on her way.

Not far from her apartment, once again the hair at the nape of her neck stood up. She turned to see the back of a stranger in a trench coat and gray felt hat. The stranger turned to face her. This was the man who had followed her. His face was hidden by the hat, he had huge blue eyes and a kind smile:

“Madeline, come with me. The Gestapo are at your apartment, they have definitely been

watching you for some time. I will take you to a safe house, from there I return to England.”

Madeline wondered who he was or why he thought it necessary to warn her about the Gestapo. Time was not on their side, as they strode quickly into the darkened street. Madeline had no idea who this man was but somehow, she felt safe. The carefully avoided obstacles in the bombed-out street. They approached a bombed-out cellar, they descended down the stairs. Behind a door a small room was located. This is the only safe place the Gestapo have not checked, don’t answer the door unless you hear three knocks, then two, followed quickly by a quick knock. Madeline looked into those blue eyes:

“I don’t even know your name. How can I properly thank you?”

“My thanks is keeping you alive. I am Captain Martin Kenny of his Majesty’s Cold Stream

Guards. I am here on a volunteer basis. I must go now but I will return later today, with

food and other items you may require until we can safely move you once again.”

Madeline, knew she was safe for the moment, why would anyone look in a bombed-out cellar? It made sense to her.

The following morning Madeline found herself sitting on the old iron cot wondering how long she would have to hid before they moved her once again. The thought of disguising herself crossed her mind more than once. She was going to avenge Anna, no matter what the cost. She remembered Anna, her dark eyes dancing with merriment as she taught Madeline the hora. It seemed as if it were a lifetime ago now. She also remembered the day Anna was arrested by the Gestapo, she had been sent to Buchenwald, where she died in the gas chamber upon her arrival. Anna, had been a sickly child, not worth saving according the Nazi thinking.

She jumped as she heard three knocks, then two, finally a quick one. She opened the door to find Captain Kenny and Raymond standing there. They entered quickly, as Kenny spoke:

“Madeline, we have a safe house for you. I brought you a few things to disguise you since you

and I are going to be leaving together. I have a dark brown wig, this dress, shoes, socks. We

must hurry. The Gestapo is not far behind.”

Madeline, quickly changed, when she came not even her own mother would have recognized her. Kenny had changed, his hair that been blond was now almost black, with a mustachio. Madeline giggled as she took in his appearance. Kenny began to inform her of the rest of the plan:

“You and I are newlyweds on our way to a honeymoon. We have passports and all the

other documents we will need. There is a deserted airfield where one of our chaps will

pick us up. You, my dear are going to London, to aid in the recruitment of other women

for the resistance.”

Madeline had no idea what to say:

“I am honored but I can’t fight in London, I want to avenge the death of my friend Anna.”

“My dear, you will do much more than revenge the death of your friend. You are a

heroine and will be acknowledged as such.”

They could hear the sirens blaring, the Gestapo would arrive momentarily. The three quickly fled the area. Later that night Kenny and Madeline left by plane. Their chance encounter became a true story of love.