Switzerland, spring 1944. Seventeen year old Flora lingered a while, sitting on a bench, eyes closed, smiling, taking in the sweet, sharp late morning air. She had just said goodbye to the nice American lady who regularly visited the school that Flora attended. The train had left the station on its way to Zurich, the white puffs of smoke becoming smaller and smaller. Another train was approaching, travelling very slowly. It was a cattle train, long lines of slatted trucks. Flora didn’t take any notice of it until she heard sounds coming from behind the slats, but they weren’t cattle sounds, they were human voices. Agitated and frightened Flora walked alongside, waving her arms hoping to get someone's attention to stop the train. Suddenly hands appeared, tearing away the wooden slats, a woman shouted and a baby was thrust through the space. ‘Take him, his name is Simon’. A shocked Flora sat back on the bench with the baby in her arms, and watched the train disappear into the distance.
This will make you laugh and cry. It’s beautifully written with wonderful characters that I connected with from the start. Thoroughly recommend it.
∼ Happy Reading∼
Polly x
It sounds fascinating and heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteIt is Janice, and heartwarming.
DeleteA chilling start to the story.
ReplyDeleteI know, from calm and serene to fear of the unknown.
DeleteWow -- that's a powerful paragraph. Makes me want to read the book, too.
ReplyDeleteI think you would enjoy it Jeanie.
DeleteWow. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
You're welcome
DeleteIt sounds so good Polly!
ReplyDeleteIt is Monique :-)
DeleteSounds like a moving story, thanks for sharing, Polly !
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week,
Sylvia
Thank you Sylvia.
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