In his letter of April 15, Gebele wondered with mounting disquiet why “meine liebe Sabine Sonnenschein” had not written to him. He was very upset and reminded her he had already written her two letters and had not received any in return. Why not? Was she angry with him? If so, why? Was something the matter? Was she sick? He was worried about her, but even more so for himself. His fear of losing her was immense and made him feel very insecure. But if she was just stalling him, he would take revenge the same way. She could count on that.
Had she actually received his letters, one from him and one from Dr. Steijns? And did she receive the items he had sent her, such as semolina, margarine, peas, bacon, bread, and something to file her nails, etc.? “I am especially curious if you have received two boxes and the sailing trousers.”
For his own peace of mind, he accepted that her health had deteriorated and she had therefore not been able to make contact with him, neither by letter nor in person. He would investigate in the morning and leave his judgment until then.
It seemed Sabine’s health had actually improved a little. Enough for her to leave her barrack and join workers in the field just outside the camp. Gebele had spotted her there working with the others.
The professor had told him the plaster cast would be removed the following day, and she must start practicing to walk. If all went well, she could join Gebele in his office at the end of the week, although he added, with what seemed like a little threat: “Of course I don’t know if you want to work and cook with me, or if I may look after you in the future as I have done until now. I will have to wait for your reply and draw my conclusions accordingly.”
The senior officers in the camp were by now making their escape plans in case the war suddenly ended, and Gebele had spent the last two days in the parking lot, testing all their cars for roadworthiness. Gebele too had put together an escape plan for Sabine and him. He wanted to see her to discuss it with her.
“Are you by chance able to drive? Or do you want to learn? I can lend you some books. You have time at the moment to study, just as I from my side and as per your wish, could refresh my French.” He also reminded her that he was really keen to learn to sail, “when we get home.”
He would have liked to take her on a tour of the world and travel for months, even on a honeymoon. As soon as he thought of marriage, he felt very happy and started fantasizing. It was these fantasies that had kept him going these last few weeks. “You know how stressed and worried I am, so bad I am hardly able to write to you.”
Sabine at this stage was still in the Wiener Graben, where there was a plague of nits and lice. But Gebele assured her there was good news, although whether it was, was debatable.
The women who were able to work outside would be moved back into the camp itself and would be put in Barrack 19, situated at the edge of the main camp, the so-called slum. Surrounded on three sides by a high wall and fenced off with barbed wire from the rest of the camp, it was, according to Gebele, for a long time the scene of terrible suffering. People went there to be murdered or were left to die.
“But,” he wrote, “it will be better for you here as the sanitation and hygiene are better than in the quarry.” It was also quieter, and if there were any fights among the prisoners, then the camp guards were close by to restore order, unlike down below, where the prostitutes and Roma women were in charge and did as they liked with great cruelty.
But above all, she should stay optimistic and keep practicing using her ankle. If she could walk, she could come and work for him.
And now, to finish. I admit that I can no longer type, I am too dead tired to write anything else and I don’t want to bother you with other things... In the hope that mein kleiner Sonnenschein will muster some sympathy for the emotional state of her sweet big boy and that at least some loving words from you will reach him (I so long for them).
I send you a thousand passionate kisses from the bottom of my heart.
Your dear big boy, Franz
te to me. I am now writing to you.Franz