Free The Heart Of A Gypsy by Roberta Kagan Page A

escape Poland. Most have been in hiding and know that there is a good chance they will be discovered and taken to a camp, or murdered. They pay us what they can, and we use that money to bribe whoever we might need to along the way, and then what ever is left over we use to buy guns and ammunition. That’s how we keep going.”
    “And when someone cannot pay?” Christian asked.
    “We help if we can. It is not always our decision.  Many of the safe houses require payment, and if so, we must oblige.”
    After they’d finished eating, Nadya collected the plates and brought them to the river with the rest of the women to wash them. Hanzi followed her, with Lil at his heels.
    “Ion, is Nadya promised to anyone?” Christian asked.
    “Nadya? No, she is well over fifteen, which to us is marriageable age, but she is not promised. But remember what I told you. She must marry a man of the Roma . That is how it must be.”
    “And the child? Hanzi? The man she marries will take him also?”
    “I cannot guarantee that. Most men would not want a child who is not their own. That little boy wandered into our camp one day. She loves him, but that will not matter. The husband will chose to accept him or not, and if not, then the child must find another suitable home.  I am sure my sister will fight this,” he chuckled, “and in the end she will probably get her way.  Just by the way that she cares for the child, I know she would make a good mother. I wish things were different. I wish my sister could marry and have children knowing they would grow up safely in our traditional way of life.”
    “Why, Ion? Why must she marry Rom ?” Christian asked.
    “Because it is our way.”
    “Yes, but what if a man is so like a Rom that he is almost of your blood?”
    “You mean a man like you?”
    Christian hung his head. He knew Ion liked him, but he was not sure if Ion would ever like him enough to give him his sister’s hand. “Yes, a man like me.”
    “You are brave,” Ion shook his head, “very brave. And as much as I am trying to fight it, I like you. I think you might make a good husband for Nadya. This is not usual, but I won’t say no. Instead I will consider your proposal, even though I have said that I would not. Times are so confusing, and they are changing so rapidly, that I am not sure what is best. I know that I warned you to leave Nadya alone, but even as I said the words, I knew it was too late. I can see the way that you look at each other. After all I am not blind,” Ion said, and he rubbed his chin. “I don’t know. I am not sure what to do. If my father were here, this would be his decision, but now the burden of Nadya’s future happiness falls upon me.  I must go to the Shera Rom and ask his opinion. It is there that I will find an answer. However, Christian, you must promise me that if the Shera Rom tells me that he does not approve the marriage, you will stop your pursuit of my sister. If you will agree to this, I will consider your offer,” Ion said.
    It was more than Christian could have hoped for. Before he asked, he was sure that Ion would reject the idea without any thought.  Christian knew he must accept the offer, and he must accept it graciously. “I thank you. And I will do whatever the Shera Rom decides.”
    “Very well, but in the end the Shera Rom can only give me advice. It will ultimately be my choice. If all goes as planned, the refuges will be here tomorrow night. Once you have completed the mission, I will go to him and ask for his opinion. If you are successful in this assignment, it may make him see you as one of us. And if the Shera Rom should decree you are like a Rom , then all the others will follow.  I don’t know, Christian; I am so confused. I like you, but I am not sure that I am acting in my sister’s best interest by even entertaining the idea of a gage as a potential husband for her. So, I am going to talk to the Shera Rom , and hopefully gain some