Recap: The girls run away from the farm, and they meet two children running away from the Inquisition. They tell the children they will take them with them to see the Rav. Along the way, they stop in the home of Mrs. Hanan, who supposedly wanted to help Jewish children, but once inside, Miri notices a cross on the mantel.
What if Mrs. Hanan was really a collaborator and she would turn us in to the Inquisition? I felt dizzy staring at that cross. Mrs. Hanan followed my gaze. She whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, meidele. That’s for the officers when they come. I have a hidden room downstairs. Come, children, you must be famished.”
I felt I could breathe again. She slid a panel open in the living room and led us down a winding staircase. There was a musty smell. The walls were stone. In the hidden room, there was a small fireplace and a table with six wooden chairs. I glanced around the room. There were four portraits on the wall, each one of a child. I wondered if those were the woman’s children and why their portraits were kept down here. Laid out on the table was a feast of cornbread and hot soup. We sat down and said our brachos with real kavanah.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hanan,” I said. “This is so kind of you, but we don’t want to put you in danger.”
“This is why I’m here, to help my fellow Jew, especially after what happened...” Her voice trailed off. “It is my mission to save as many Jewish children as I can, with Hashem’s help. You’ll rest here tonight before you continue your journey.”
I felt a chill when she said, “especially after what happened.” I wondered if it was connected to the portraits on the wall.
“It’s hashgachah you came now. Hashem is so kind. I have special matzot made for Rav Sarna. I wasn’t able to send them with my usual contact. He’s ill, and I was praying for a way to get them to the Rav. Now, Hashem sent you to be the messengers.”
She handed Sabrina a box tied with string. Then she covered it with a blanket. “Be very careful they don’t break. The Rav will be so happy to receive these. Pesach is just two weeks away, and I was so worried he wouldn’t get them. Now, you children rest, and then you can start out tomorrow.”
Suddenly, we heard the whinny of a horse and the crunch of carriage wheels. “Halt!”
It was the harsh voice of one of the Inquisition officers. My heart pounded.
Mrs. Hanan whispered urgently, “Children, there’s a secret exit over there behind the fireplace. You must leave that way. Take the basket with the matzot.” She grabbed some fruit, bread, and cheese and threw it into a sack. “Take the jug of water over there. Go, go quickly. Hashem be with you.” Mrs. Hanan quickly kissed the top of each of our heads and shooed us toward the secret door.
We heard the stomping of boots as we quietly slipped out the secret exit. Liselle Rosa carried her little brother and whispered in his ear, “David, you must be quiet.”
Sabrina, Katie, and I followed.
We heard the booming voice of the officer. “We’re looking for Marranos, Jewish pigs. Did any come here for shelter during the storm?”
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of 11 popular Jewish books, including her newly released historical fiction novel The Blizzard (Menucha 2026) and recently published novel Captured (Menucha 2025). She is also the current news editor of Binyan Magazine.
