To Flee The Storm

By James Walter

Miracles and mystical happenings abound in this inspirational Catholic novel set in Tyrolean Alps of Austria in the spring of 1938. Three children on vacation to their grandparent's farm must desperately flee capture and arrest by the Nazis to reach their parents and safety in Switzerland.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Walter
• Release date: Nov 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005970574

Book preview

TO FLEE

THE

STORM

By

Deacon James V. Walter

A Novel

Copyright © 2019 James V. Walter

All rights reserved.

To the Immaculate Heart of Mary

and her triumph to come.

A special ‘Thank you’ to my wife Susie,

Editor-In-Chief, and daughters Shannon and Leslie.

Contents

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

DAY FIVE

DAY SIX

DAY SEVEN

DAY EIGHT

DAY NINE

DAY TEN

DAY ELEVEN – EPILOGUE

DAY ONE

--------------------

Monday

May 16, 1938

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

(Luke 1:78-79)

Alpine Morning

An early morning mist hung low over the Alpine valley covering forests and fields in a blanket of cloudy gray. Hans stood in the doorway of his grandfather's farmhouse and gazed up through the haze to the top of the mountain to the west. The morning sun was just starting to throw its light on the rocky peaks above and soon the eastern sunlight would begin racing down the mountainside to chase away the mist.

He walked to the end of his grandparent’s farmhouse where a flock of fifteen sheep were penned behind an old wooden fence. He counted the sheep carefully and then turned back toward the house calling out, Come on girls! It’s time to go!

From an open window on the second floor appeared the smiling face of his sister, Christina, a young girl of eleven with shiny gold hair and sparkling blue eyes.

We're coming Hans, she answered back. We'll be there in just a minute. Grandmother is packing our lunch and Ann Marie and I have just finished straightening up our bedroom.

Suddenly, another head appeared in the window, bobbing up and down. It was Ann Marie, his youngest sister, excitedly bouncing on the bed as she waved to Hans in the yard below. At only six years old, Ann Marie was still too short to see over the window flower box.

Don't leave yet Hans, she cried. We're coming! We're coming!

The day was going to be sunny, and the girls had begged to go with their older brother to herd grandfather's sheep up the nearby western mountainside to graze. It had rained the last two days and after trying to keep two young girls occupied indoors, Grandfather and Grandmother were happy to let them go.

The children had arrived by train with their parents from their home in Frankfurt, Germany, almost a week ago. Their father worked for a large construction firm and when he was asked to go to Switzerland for a couple of weeks to help on a new project, it seemed like a perfect chance to have the children visit their grandparents in his boyhood home of Obersfeld, Austria. It also gave Mother a chance to get away alone with Father for the first time in years.

Frankfurt was very different from Obersfeld. It was large and busy and filled with the hustle and bustle of an important European city. Although Hans was almost fourteen, he had noticed changes in the world around him. Frankfurt had seemed to take on a much different mood the last few years. Life at home seemed normal enough, but there was something different. Something had changed. There were marches in the streets, men in uniform, and a restlessness that he could not describe. He had often heard his parents talking late at night in the kitchen. He did not understand politics and they would not discuss it with him, but he could sense their uneasiness with what was happening in the streets. And then, there was that one night.

Lying in bed, he had heard glass breaking, men yelling, and police sirens. But, he was not allowed to go to the window and look. So Father's summons to Switzerland was a wonderful excuse for the family to escape the pressures of the city and spend some time with their grandparents in the Austrian mountains.

Grandmother and Grandfather lived in a large rustic farmhouse with attached barn just a kilometer up the valley from the small town of Obersfeld. The town itself was nestled at the northern end of a wide green plain between tall mountain peaks. It was surrounded by a city wall with three gates that had fallen into ruin long ago. At the center of the town was a large cobblestone square with the beautiful St. Michael the Archangel Church on the south side and a large medieval city hall on the north. Just outside of town on the edge of the valley forest stood a small train station and a single rail line. From the station, the train tracks ran south and down through the broad valley toward the Italian border and parallel to the main road. In the other direction, the tracks went north, first following the main road as they both began to climb higher into the mountains. But then they separated, each to find its own way over the Alps. The road followed a shorter, yet steeper winding route over the pass. The rail line took a longer, gradual climb, crisscrossing mountain streams as it went.

The first two days of their visit had gone quickly. Mother and Father visited old friends for a couple of days and then were off to Switzerland. They had not had a vacation by themselves in a long time and Mother even bought two new dresses for the trip. The children enjoyed seeing their Grandmother and Grandfather again, but life was slower here and Hans was quickly becoming bored. He was glad enough to help Grandfather take the sheep to pasture each day, but the newness and excitement of the adventure were beginning to wear off. So Hans was happy that Grandfather felt he was old enough to take the sheep up on the mountain to graze by himself and he jumped at the opportunity when asked.

Maybe Christina and Ann Marie were getting bored too because they had pleaded to go with him today. He did not really like the idea of having to watch out for them, but maybe time would pass more quickly with Ann Marie's antics to keep him occupied.

She was a mischievous six-year-old, inquisitive, and full of energy, but quick to show a stubborn streak if she did not get her way. As the baby of the family, she could easily twist her father’s heart around her little finger, although Hans was not so easily taken in. Christina, on the other hand, was the perfect likeness of her mother. She was always smiling, caring and helpful, but watchful and stern if she ever caught Hans or Ann Marie doing something that Mother would not approve.

In Grandfather’s flock there was one old ram by the name of Jacob, eight ewes, and six lambs. Hans had just opened the gate and started to move them along the path leading up the mountainside when the girls came running out of the house.

Wait for us, called Christina, holding up a straw basket covered with a red and white checked cloth. You wouldn't want to forget your lunch.

They were barely out the gate when Ann Marie stopped suddenly, turned on her heels, and ran back towards the house.

Don’t leave yet, she yelled back. I forgot Abigail.

In a flash, she ran into the house and then a moment later dashed back out again with a little rag doll clutched tightly under her arm. The girls quickly caught up with Hans and the flock. They passed through the fenced lane that divided the north and south pastures and then across a wooden bridge spanning the swiftly running alpine stream that formed the west boundary of their grandparents’ farm. On the other side of the bridge, the path narrowed to only a meter wide as it began a steady climb into the forest and up the mountain to higher pastures.

Christina, you go up to the front, Hans said. I'll stay in the rear to keep them moving.

He took the basket and Christina moved ahead. Just then he felt a tugging at his shirtsleeve.

I want to help too, Hans, pleaded Ann Marie. I know I can help.

All right, you can watch one of the small ones. And putting down the basket, he snatched up a nearby lamb. Here, take the purple ribbon from your hair and tie it around this lamb’s neck. That way you will know which one is yours.

Ann Marie did as she was told and then Hans let the lamb down to race ahead to find its mother.

The group continued to climb steadily following the path. Twenty minutes later, when they were about halfway up, Hans heard a sound in the distance behind him that caught his attention. He stopped and looked back down the wooded valley toward the farmhouse below. Then he heard it again, a low rumbling sound like thunder approaching. He glanced to the east expecting to see dark storm clouds approaching, but he only saw blue sky and a few harmless white clouds.

Then, he heard the rumble a third time and a flash of red in the valley below caught his eye. At first he could not see anything, but then he saw it through the trees. It was a flag. A red flag with a Nazi swastika in the center, flying from the hood of a black staff car as it made its way down the winding road into town. Hans felt an uneasiness in the pit of his stomach as the car drove out of sight. It was an uneasiness he had not felt since Frankfurt.

The Meadow

After another thirty minutes of climbing, the children and their little white woolly flock reached the higher pasture. It was a small patch of green hillside that was almost completely encircled by forest.

The sheep will have the grass clipped short within a couple of days, thought Hans. And then they would have to move to a different meadow. But for today, here is where they would stay.

After a little while, the sheep were all grazing quietly, and the three children plopped down under the shade of a large oak tree to rest a bit after their hike up the mountainside.

Hans was just getting comfortable when Christina said, Is everyone ready to say the Rosary?

Hans rolled his eyes and quickly tried to think of some way to get out of saying it.

Sorry, he said. I forgot to bring my Rosary with me. And, it doesn’t count if you are not holding the beads.

Christina gave him a stern look, the same kind that Mother would give him when he misbehaved.

First of all, it isn’t true that you have to have a Rosary in your hand in order to pray it. And second, Her face changing from a grimace to a wide grin as she held out a wooden Rosary to him. I have yours right here. Grandmother gave it to me as we were going out the door. She didn’t want you to leave without the protection of Our Lady.

Alright, said Hans grudgingly, taking the beads from her. But since Ann Marie is with us, we have to pray it the short way. Besides, I need to get back to the sheep and I don’t have time to say a whole Rosary.

The ‘short way’ was how Mother taught the children to pray the Rosary when they were very young. Instead of saying the whole Hail Mary prayer on each bead, they would just say the words, Hail Mary, Holy Mary. Where they were supposed to say the Our Father prayer, they would just say the words Our Father and then go to the next bead.

I don’t like the short way, replied Christina. We are old enough to say the whole Rosary properly.

But, Ann Marie isn’t, countered Hans with a sly smile.

Alright, just this once, said Christina in her most exasperated tone of voice. But I’ll bet that our guardian angels don’t like the idea.

Hans said nothing and so Christina began leading them in prayer, finishing the shortened Rosary in well under ten minutes.

The rest of the morning passed quickly. The girls spent most of their time chasing butterflies, picking flowers, or just lying on the hillside looking up at the clouds and watching their shapes change. Christina braided a garland of wildflowers for Ann Marie and then started to do the same for herself. By the time she had finished, it was midday, so she spread out their meal on the red apron under the shady tree. In the basket were cheese, fresh bread, green apples, and milk in a small metal bucket that they had tried to keep cool in the shade.

The sheep were grazing contentedly, so Hans came over and sat down on the edge of the apron. He just started to reach for a slice of cheese when Christina quickly slapped his hand.

Oh, no you don't. We don't start until everyone is here, and then we all say our thanksgiving prayer. Then she called to Ann Marie, Come on, let’s eat. I have a hungry wolf here and he can't wait any longer!

Ann Marie was sitting in the middle of a bunch of yellow, blue, and pink wildflowers on the other side of the meadow.

I’ll be right there, she yelled back. I just have to put the garland I made on my lamb.

In a flash, she jumped up and began a mad dash toward the flock with the garland in one hand and Abigail in the other.

When Hans and Christina realized what she was doing, they looked at one another and then, as if reading each other's mind, together yelled, No! Stop!

But before they could scramble to their feet, it was too late, the fates were in motion, and everything started happening fast.

Jacob’s Horns

The sheep scattered before Ann Marie as she ran to catch the lamb with the purple ribbon. But it was much too quick, and every time she lunged to grab it, she missed. And, every time she missed, she squealed with delight and ran faster than before. In the excitement of the chase, she completely forgot herself. She dove for the lamb again and missed, but this time she lost her balance went flying headlong into the side of Jacob the ram.

Old Jacob was caught completely by surprise and reacted by sprinting away a few meters before turning around to look at his attacker. And when he did, he saw Ann Marie rolling in the grass, laughing at him uncontrollably. But then her mood suddenly changed when she saw Jacob’s startled wide-eyes quickly turn to narrow slits of anger. And, she knew she was in trouble.

By now Hans and Christina were running as fast as they could from the far side of the meadow. Hans was out pacing his sister and extended his lead with each stride, but he knew he could never reach Ann Marie in time. It was clear that there was no time for her to get up and flee, so she put her hands over her head, squeezed her eyes shut tight and curled up in a ball.

Jacob pawed the earth once with his right hoof and once with his left. Then, he lowered his head to the ground and began a headlong rush toward the little girl.

Faster and faster he came, horns down, charging to the attack. Ann Marie could hear the pounding of Jacob’s hooves getting louder and louder. But suddenly, when he was almost upon her, out of nowhere came Hans, throwing himself in front of the ram, grabbing his horns and taking the full force of the charge. They both flew past Ann Marie in a blur. Locked in mortal combat, they went rolling and thrashing to the ground. Hans had the wind knocked out of him by the impact of the blow, but held onto Jacob’s horns with all his strength. He was gasping for breath, but he knew that he had to somehow hold the old ram down until Ann Marie could get up and run for the safety of the trees.

Christina arrived on the scene moments later. Jacob and Hans were wresting on the ground while the rest of the sheep ran in every direction. So, she instinctively began to run in a wide circle around the flock with her arms out trying to herd them back together again. But the harder she tried, the more they seemed to scatter, and there was Ann Marie curled up like a ball in the center of the storm with eyes shut tight clutching Abigail and an occasional sheep jumping right over her.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Christina saw a dark shadow suddenly dart out of the surrounding trees and race swiftly around the edge of the flock.

Wolf! Wolf! cried Christina. Hans! A wolf!

Somehow, through the noise of the battle, he heard her call and releasing his grip on Jacob's horns, leapt to his feet. His heart was pounding wildly, but now more out of fear for the flock than exhaustion. Christina tried to point out the intruder as it ran, but it vanished back into the forest just as quickly as it had appeared.

Christina and Hans both stood like statues, almost in shock, transfixed by what had happened, and half waiting for a new attack from the shadows. But after a couple of minutes of holding their breath, nothing happened. Jacob wandered away and began to graze quietly, all of his anger and strength spent. And with him quiet, the whole flock also seemed to calm down and started to graze contentedly.

Ann Marie opened her eyes timidly. Can me and Abigail get up now?

Yes, it’s all right, said Hans in as calm a voice as he could muster. I think it's safe now.

Ann Marie walked over to them still holding the tattered garland, and like the sheep, seemed to have quickly forgotten what had just happened.

Where is my lamb? she asked.

Christina. Come, let's quickly count the sheep, said Hans, suddenly feeling very nervous.

They counted once, looked at each other without saying a word, and then counted again.

Christina was the first to speak. We’re one short. I only count fourteen. They slowly counted them a third time.

The children scanned the meadow, but the lamb with the purple ribbon around its neck was nowhere to be seen.

Then, Ann Marie shouted and pointed behind them, Look! Look there! There's my lamb!

When Christina and Hans turned around, they froze at the sight. Before them, standing at the edge of the woods was a tall man dressed in worn green hunting clothes, a large black dog at his side, and in his arms a lamb with a purple ribbon around its neck.

The Tall Stranger

Hello! the man called in a deep yet friendly voice. You seem to have lost a little member of your group.

The tall stranger wore long pants, with suspenders, a faded red checkered shirt, and a wide brimmed hat. He had a short dark brown beard that made him look middle-aged, but Hans thought he was probably younger.

Somewhat still in shock but gathering his courage, Hans stepped forward. Thank you for finding her, Sir. She must have run off in all the excitement.

A broad smile began to spread across the man's face. First, he started to chuckle, and then he almost roared with laughter.

Excitement! Excitement you say?! Here I am taking a pleasant stroll in the forest, when suddenly there is this ruckus the likes of which I've never heard before. Well, I run toward the sound fully expecting to see a wagon full of Gypsies rolling down the mountainside. But what do I see? I see a young lad and an old ram rolling on the ground locked in combat like two stags, a young lady and flock of sheep running in circles like they had hornets’ nests tied to their tails, and a little girl curled up like a hedgehog caught in the middle of a great battle.

Well, he continued, When Bruno saw the fun; he just couldn't resist joining in. Although, I am sure you thought him a hungry wolf rather than a black sheep dog. All in all, it was the funniest thing I've seen in a very, very long time.

He laughed again with an infectious laugh, which first got the children giggling, and then laughing along with him as they realized that it must have been a funny sight indeed.

But this little one here, he continued, didn't like the excitement one bit and came running down the path literally into my arms. I think it’s time for her to rejoin her family.

He carefully put the lamb down and it ran quickly toward the flock in search of its mother.

Can we pet your dog? asked Ann Marie timidly.

Please do. He loves attention. And then turning to his furry companion, Go ahead, Bruno. Meet the girls.

And with that the dog romped over to Christina and Ann Marie and was quickly covered in pats and hugs.

Then, the tall stranger sat down in the shade of a nearby pine tree and pulled a pipe and tobacco pouch out of his pocket. He began packing the pipe carefully with tobacco and said, And who are you, may I ask?

My name is Hans, Sir, and these are my sisters, Christina and Ann Marie. We are visiting our grandparents for a couple of weeks. They live in the farm below.

And this is Abigail, interrupted Ann Marie, waving her doll in the air.

The man lit the pipe and taking a quick puff, continued. Oh? And where are you from, may I ask? From your accent, it certainly isn’t from around here.

Frankfurt, Sir. Our father is in Switzerland on business and our mother is with him.

Frankfurt, you say. A very beautiful city, but it pales in comparison to the loveliness of you two ladies. At which, both of the girls giggled and blushed.

Have you been to Frankfurt? Hans inquired.

Yes. My travels have taken me many places. From cities to forests, mountains to valleys. He then paused for a second, took a long puff on his pipe, and was seemingly lost in thought. But this mountain and these woods are very special to me.

The man took another long puff. The smoke swirled above his head like a distant memory, and then just as quickly, it vanished.

Then, as if snapping out of a dream, he said. Well, everything seems to be back in order, and I really should be going now.

But, Sir, said Christina, knowing that they had nothing to fear. Please stay and have some lunch with us. We have plenty of food and besides, we would like to repay you for catching our lamb.

Yes, added Hans quickly. We owe you a debt of gratitude. We might have lost her if you had not been here.

The man thought for a second, smiled and said. Well, thank you, I think I will. After all, Bruno seems to have taken up his station and is watching the sheep just like in his younger days.

The black dog knew his job well. Most of the time he would just lay in the grass, head up, always watching. Sometimes when he saw one of the sheep stray a little far from rest of the flock, he would slowly rise on all fours and stare at the offender. Most of the time it would scamper right back to the rest. But once or twice he would have to take a step or two towards the sheep to get it to obey. And he did all this while being patted, stroked, and pulled on by Ann Marie.

The New Order

Captain Karl Reichert stepped lively from the rear seat of the large open staff car as it rolled to a stop in front of the City Hall. He was a tall handsome man dressed in the neat grey uniform of a provisional German army officer with high black riding boots. At less than thirty years of age, he had advanced