some private vision about Herr and Frau Zimmer. "So. Now let's get back to business." The two conspirators talked on in low, even tones for a short time, then the Manager escorted the other to a side door and came back up to inquire of the guard who had taken Gloria to the Girls' Section. “Did she take her tablets?”
The guard nodded. “I stand and watch-the whole time.” “Good!” He dismissed the guard who went back to a chair opposite the door.
Gloria had slipped the tablets under her tongue and once the door was closed had, slipped them out and lay in the darkness, alert to every sound. At length, the pale rays of the sun began to lighten the room and Gloria let herself slip into a light slumber.
When she awoke, it was past mid-morning-the normal time of arising for these girls. In the early morning chatter as the others got dressed and showered, Gloria motioned to Sheila as she walked by. "Sit down."
"Whatever's the matter, old girl. You look as if you've been through the mill. Twice. What a nasty bruise," she exclaimed as she caught sight of the handprint on Gloria's smooth white shoulder.
Gloria nodded miserably. "I-I went out in the hall last night, I couldn't sleep, you know, I was thinking about how I could get to Berlin and I got so excited and worried that I couldn't sleep and this man grabbed me -and he tore my clothes-and then these other men came and-" her voice sank to a whisper "-I think they killed him. And there was this Italian fellow, and I don't know. Now they'll be so mad at me that I'll never get to do what I want." And with this, Gloria rolled back over and buried her face in the pillow.
"That's all right, honey," said Sheila. "It really is that big with you, huh?" The back of the head that showed nodded vigorously. “Well, don't worry. Everything will be all right," said Sheila, adding to her- self. You poor blind kid! That's the last place you'd want to go—if you knew. If you only knew! and she shook her head while she mas- saged the back of the mournful girl.
Somewhat later in the morning, Sheila repeated what she had heard from Gloria to the manager. "So. Well, then, she goes to Berlin. You heard what happened?" Sheila nodded. "Send her to see me."
73