Free Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner Page A

mistaken. He asks your patience while he examines the few documents the dead woman brought on board with her. With luck, we will be able to settle the child’s fate soon enough and take her off your hands.”
    Raisa gave Zusa a hard stare. In the softest of whispers she demanded, “Is that what you just told him? That we’re not Jews?”
    â€œYou see how he is,” Zusa whispered back. “He’ll be nicer to Brina if he thinks she’s not Jewish, either.”
    â€œUnless there’s something in her mother’s belongings to tell him otherwise.”
    â€œDon’t worry about that, Raisa. I’ve been standing here longer than you. That poor woman had nothing but some clothing and a few household goods. Her only papers came from the steamship company, and from what I’ve overheard, they’ve got more holes than a beggar’s coat. Her name isn’t going to give her away, either. We’re lucky that our official friend has cheese for brains. As far as he’s concerned, good Polish Christian peasants are all naming their daughters Brina, Raisa, and Zusa.”
    â€œSo you lied for Brina’s sake?” Raisa said. Zusa nodded. “Good. Then you’re used to it.” Raising her voice, she called out to the young crewman, “Sir, please tell the good officer that we’re sorry to have put him to such trouble. All we want to do is care for our little cousin, and make sure there will be no problems when we’re the ones to take her off the boat instead of her mother.”
    The sailor gawked at her. “Your . . . cousin?” Raisa nodded briskly. She didn’t dare look at Zusa. If there was the smallest sign of misgiving in her friend’s expression, she was afraid she would lose control of her own face and betray her daring lie.
    There was more quick conferral between the translator and the officer, followed by the inevitable question: “Why did neither of you say anything about this earlier?”
    Zusa leaped at the question, babbling in German. When she was done, the ship’s officer stood up, gave her the scant handful of documents, and flung a last burst of harsh words in her face before marching out of the room. The next instant, the young crewman who had fetched Raisa and Brina was shepherding all three girls back down to steerage.
    â€œMay all be well with you,” he said kindly before leaving them.
    Holding Brina tight, Raisa sat down carefully on the edge of Zusa’s bunk and let out a loud “Whew!”
    â€œThe next time you decide to pull something like that, give me some warning,” Zusa said, leaning against the wall. “I had to think too fast there.”
    â€œI knew you could do it,” Raisa told her. “So, how did you explain it?”
    â€œI said that I was too scared to mention it because I thought he was the ship’s captain and I would never dare speak up to such an exalted person.” Zusa lifted her chin high and pushed up the tip of her nose with one finger. “He yelled at me for wasting his time.” She glanced at the papers. “So we’ve got a cousin. What do we do with her now? More important, what will we do after we land?”
    â€œWhat do you think we do? We keep her safe.” Raisa stroked Brina’s back. The child had fallen asleep in her arms despite all the commotion of the meeting with the ship’s officer. “We’ll have plenty of help once we reach New York City.”
    â€œI hope so.” Zusa didn’t sound convinced. “Mama and cousin Selig wrote that we haven’t got a lot of room.”
    â€œShe’s going to stay with Henda and me,” Raisa maintained. “All that you and your family will need to do is help me find her address. I have it written down, but I won’t know my way around the city.”
    â€œYou’re sure your sister won’t mind?”
    Raisa shook her head emphatically.