David Downing - Stettin Station

He had left the war behind, but those who had helped him, and those whom he loved, were all still trapped in its writhing coils. The British came on New Year's Eve, and Frau Eva Vollmar spent three hours in the shelter with her neighbours. The block warden ticked off her name on his list, but said nothing of his visit to her apartment.

The first morning of 1942 was cold but sunny, and Effi decided she had to get out. The walk to Humboldthain Park took about half an hour, and she sat on a bench watching the birds, wishing she had brought them some breadcrumbs. Another huge flak tower was under construction on the northern edge of the park, the air full of the sounds of hammering, but even that failed to dampen her spirits.

She wasn't sure what had brought on her optimistic mood – perhaps there were only a certain number of days which the heart could spend immured in fear and loss. That and the fact that two other truths had become evident since her trip to the theatrical suppliers. For one thing, she was unlikely to starve in the near future; there were still items of food that one could buy without ration tickets, which she could add to her dwindling supplies. The second realisation – that women over forty were essentially invisible – was depressing in itself, but highly fortuitous in her current circumstances. The chances of anyone recognising her were slim.

Making herself up for years on end was a daunting prospect, but far from impossible. And things were bound to change. Once the hue and cry had died down – perhaps in a couple of months – she would find a way of contacting Zarah, who would gladly hand over every ration ticket in her possession, and help in any other way that was humanly possible. If that seemed too dangerous, she might come up with some variation on Ali Blumenthal's bombed-out office ploy to find herself a new identity, and the ration entitlement that went with it.

Sitting there on the park bench, watching the sun rise into the Berlin sky, she could imagine the producer's introduction to the script. A woman on the run. Alone and frightened and far from home. But determined to see her lover again, and resourceful enough to survive against all the odds.

It was a difficult part to play, and she meant to play it well.