Isolde wiped down the examining table one last time and put her blood stained apron in the bin. She was too exhausted to grimace at the snow that pelted the windows. Buttoning her great wool coat, she pushed the door open to step onto the street. Bitter wind howled around corners and the pedestrians that braved the elements trudged along, heads down with hands jammed into pockets. Isolde assumed that same position and hurried toward home.<br/><br/>As she turned the corner, she felt a tug on her sleeve. She turned but saw nothing with her peripheral vision. Glancing down, she saw a child running pell mell through the street, disappearing behind some trash bins.<br/><br/>“Come back here,” Isolde called, sure she had been pickpocketed. The child was gone.<br/><br/>Shaking her head, she climbed the stairs to her flat and pulled off her leather, fur lined gloves. A small piece of paper twirled to the floor. Frowning, Isolde stooped to pick it up while unbuttoning her coat.  The light was too low to read it and she needed something hot to drink first. After a day like  today, and half the night too, she was in need of sustenance.<br/><br/>In the kitchen, she put the kettle on and readied a cup for tea. The still folded paper lay neatly by the saucer while she cut some brown bread for toasting. Her hands were shaking while she finished preparing the simple fare and she realized she was hoping it was word from Erlind. She missed him, she thought, and after he was so intent on taking her soul, she felt off kilter that he would not come around to claim his due. Something was wrong, she felt it, knew it.<br/><br/>Finally, tea was ready and she sank into the hard ladder back chair. Opening the note she read.<br/>MEET ME AT THE KAFFEE HAUS.TONIGHT. MIDNIGHT. BURN THIS<br/><br/>No name, no references, and instructions to destroy the note. Isolde rose and took the scrap of paper to the stove where the blue flame licked the yellowed note until it was curling ash.<br/><br/>Isolde bit her lip. She was tired and the weather was a bitch. Glancing at the clock, she saw she had two hours so she sank back down in the chair and closed her eyes.<br/><br/>She jerked awake after nearly falling from the chair and looked at the clock. 11:30. She leaped to her feet, frantically looking around, grabbing her coat and gloves, blinking her eyes. A jellied toast morsel was clinging to her arm. Finally, she was sorted enough and hurried through the now empty streets.<br/><br/>Empty of all but the Nazi patrols who policed the streets in the name of law and order but who were really looking for any who might fall victim to their machinations. Isolde shrunk back into the shadows and muttered a cloaking spell over herself. She would be invisible to all except those she chose to reveal herself too. The only exception would be her white lighter. She wondered if he was still around. Hurrying on, she arrived at the Kaffee Haus with seconds to spare. The lights were out and the owners were respecting the curfew. Walking by the door, she whispered,<br/><br/>“Erlind? I’m here.”<br/><br/>A hand shot out of the shadows and pulled her into the establishment. Isolde gasped when she realized she was in the presence of a woman who wore a black veil tied around her boater style hat.<br/><br/>“Who are you?” Isolde asked, weariness and disappointment making her voice harsher than normal. “What do you want? It is too late to play games.”<br/><br/>“You have been chosen to hide the children of God.” The woman said simply. Her voice was husky with no trace of accent. “ We will prepare a room in your flat. Tomorrow, builders will come while you are working. We will come and go and you will never see us. We will bring guests to you whom you will never see. You will provide the food and medical supplies as necessary. Use your power to hide the excess you bring.”<br/><br/>Isolde frowned,<br/>“I am a friend to Jews and I am working to end the madness but I will not risk a concentration camp for hiding Jews.”<br/><br/>The woman rose,<br/>“You have no say in the matter. It is done. We will begin when you leave for the clinic in the morning. You may go.”<br/><br/>“Wait” Isolde called, catching at the woman’s sleeve. “Is there any word from Erlind?”<br/><br/>The woman answered,<br/>“I have no idea what or who you are talking about. Tomorrow. Go home!”<br/><br/>Isolde did