The Far End of the World

By Jeffery Martin Botzenhart

We will only be safe when at the far end of the world.

In a desperate act of escape and with passage aboard an ocean freighter leaving Germany only a few days after Kristallnacht or “Night of Broken Glass”, Anna and her father pose as imposters on a scientific expedition bound for Antarctica. As they are Jews, both hold fears of this being discovered by the captain, crew, and the other scientists traveling with them.

Hiding from crew members after an attempt to return a book to her father, Anna finds Emil, a young man she knew from living in Hamburg, having also stowed away on the freighter. His story of escape is similar to hers. And soon she finds herself falling in love with Emil despite her father’s mistrust of him.

As the voyage continues, Anna, her father, and Emil are faced with greater dangers as a hidden conspiracy is revealed on a perilous journey leading to the far end of the world.

PUBLISHER NOTE: Historical Romance. Inspirational Romance. 21,200 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Mar 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215751190

Jeffery Martin Botzenhart

I was born on November 9, 1967 in Warren, Ohio and grew up in a country trailer park in Southington Ohio with my two brothers and parents.I currently live in Girard, Ohio with my wife and sons. After graduating from Chalker High School in 1986, I went on to attend Kent State University.Originally, I sought to pursue a degree in education, but changed degrees after a few years in school. After working my way through college for eight years, I graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations.Aside from writing, I also draw and paint. My other passion is soccer. I have proudly been a coach of a soccer team for autistic and special needs players.

Book preview

THE FAR END OF THE WORLD

Hearts of War – Book Three

JEFFERY MARTIN BOTZENHART

We will only be safe when at the far end of the world.

In a desperate act of escape and with passage aboard an ocean freighter leaving Germany only a few days after Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass, Anna and her father pose as imposters on a scientific expedition bound for Antarctica. As they are Jews, both hold fears of this being discovered by the captain, crew, and the other scientists traveling with them.

Hiding from crew members after an attempt to return a book to her father, Anna finds Emil, a young man she knew from living in Hamburg, having also stowed away on the freighter. His story of escape is similar to hers. And soon she finds herself falling in love with Emil despite her father’s mistrust of him.

As the voyage continues, Anna, her father, and Emil are faced with greater dangers as a hidden conspiracy is revealed on a perilous journey leading to the far end of the world.

PUBLISHER NOTE: Historical Romance. Inspirational Romance. 21,200 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

THE FAR END OF THE WORLD

Hearts of War – Book Three

JEFFERY MARTIN BOTZENHART

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LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

THE FAR END OF THE WORLD

Hearts of War – Book Three

Copyright © MARCH 2024 JEFFERY MARTIN BOTZENHART

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To all who have suffered persecution and found the will to resist.

CHAPTER ONE

November 11, 1938

Your hands are trembling, her father whispered. Are you cold?

No, just frightened, Anna answered. And cold, she admitted.

As am I, her father agreed. Though only in his mid-forties, the gray of his beard she once thought made him appear distinguished, now caused him to look old to her. Yet possibly it was fear corrupting how she saw him, his own and hers as well.

Is his fear only about our escape and all that happened over the last few days? she wondered. Possibly it is his anxiety of being on a ship, also. I asked once before why he was afraid of ships and the ocean. Like so many other things, though, he keeps secrets. I wish I understood why.

Anna could not help but notice a locked book he held in his hand. He kept the key on a chain which hung around his neck. The leather covering held no title or markings on it. She once asked what was written inside. His only response was, Important things. He refused all further questions over this.

Frigid northern winds carrying a light snow flurry chilled them both, the vapor of their warm exhales clouding their sight. Standing on the deck of the German registered cargo vessel, Leipzig, the port of Kiel grew smaller in the distance as the ship left the harbor. Anna stared down at the ship’s wake instead of the city, refusing for the moment to acknowledge Germany’s existence. The events of the previous two nights, known as Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass, had forever spoiled all memories of the only home she had known.

The first night, she and her father hid with others under a bridge leading out of Hamburg, while rioters and Nazi paramilitary forces shattered the windows of Jewish-owned homes, businesses, and synagogues. There were so many fires, she wondered if the city would burn to the ground. Jews, many of them friends, were dragged into the streets and beaten. Men, both young and old were arrested. All the more disturbing to her, was witnessing once kind neighbors joining in with the violence. Friends turned to enemies as the hours grew late.

The next morning, she and her father emerged from hiding to a smoldering world. Clouds of ash corrupted the air. No step could be taken without hearing glass crystals under foot. When searching for friends, most were missing. Arriving at the house they once called home, the burned-out windows and roof revealed nothing left to salvage.

The following night they hid in a storage closet at the university where her father had previously taught chemistry until forced to resign from his position. From dusk until dawn, they spoke not one word to each other, fearful of being discovered. She held his hand every minute, hoping to ease his stress from being claustrophobic. By morning, her father had devised a plan to escape the country. He left her there while seeking out a former colleague. Upon his return, they left for the train station where he purchased tickets to Kiel.

She expected them to be arrested as they had shed all required markings for being Jews. Her father insisted they remain exposed within crowds, believing the Nazis would be more drawn to those staying separate. True to his theory, not once were they stopped and questioned, offering both a glimmer of hope their plan would find success.

Standing on the stern, now allowing herself to watch Germany disappear slowly, Anna breathed somewhat easier. Yet she was weary of unseen perils she suspected could arise. The captain and crew of the Leipzig were German. How many Nazi sympathizers were among them? Her father warned her not to speak to anyone while aboard the ship. His suspicions must have mirrored hers.

I feel as if I am being watched, she mumbled.

We are being watched, he confirmed, his bearded smile almost putting her at ease.

How do you find the courage to express happiness?

I am hoping to lure any and all suspicions away from us. Should we appear guilty, that is how we will be seen by others. By acting at ease, we will incur less attention. Smile, my dear.

After what happened the last two nights, I may never smile again.

You will someday, he assured her, when we reach the far end of the world.

I hope you are right.

I am seldom wrong, he boasted, grinning. She could not help but