Vienna, January 1st 1944 The scene before him was enough to bring a lump to the throat of even the most highly experienced Medical Officer and Oberstarzt Ritter was not ashamed to let Nurse Winter see the tear fall from his cheek. He quickly wiped it aw...
Vienna, December 24th 1943 The Flight to Vienna was uneventful. Despite being wrapped tightly in blankets, the young woman was cold. Not freezing but, nevertheless, far from warm. It wasn't a long flight, little more than two hours but it seemed much lo...
Innsbruck, December 21st 1943 The hours passed by so slowly as the young woman struggled to get her memory to return. Nurse Kissling had been called to an emergency before she had a chance to tell her anything about her 'companion' as she had referred t...
Innsbruck, December 19th 1943 Apart from the thin shaft of light, Maria lay in almost complete darkness. Suddenly she began to feel afraid. Alone and afraid. What if no-one found her? Once more she tried to pull herself free from the heaviness which hel...
Innsbruck, December 19th 1943 Katarina and Maria sat silently facing the warm, crackling fire which was burning brightly in the fireplace of the guardroom. For a while, at least, they were warm but very weary. On the wall above the fireplace was a large...
It is surprising how much changes in a lifetime. Cars, airplanes, refrigerators, telephones, electric stoves, big highways all over the country. All sorts.And people. Gosh, what changes. For instance, there was a little baby girl born in Tennessee and nam...
Innsbruck, December 17th 1943 Both Maria and Katarina were glad that the policeman hadn't argued. They had spent some ninety minutes on the back of this filthy, freezing lorry as it picked its way carefully along the rubble-strewn streets, almost but no...
Innsbruck, December 15th 1943 The night wore on. Huddled together for warmth in the now freezing carriage, Katarina and Maria dozed fitfully. The hours seemed to pass by so slowly but, eventually, the cold, grey dawn began to push away the darkness. As...
Brenner. December 15th 1943 For the first time in many months, Katarina and Maria found that they had a little time to relax. The Army began to dismantle the compound, beginning with the damaged huts at the far end. The first two huts remained in use. O...
Rome. November 28th 1943 As the sun began to set, Katarina and Maria continued with the task of ensuring that the patients were ready for the big move the following day. According to their orders, ambulances would be provided at first light ready to beg...
Rome. November 21st, 1943 “Maria, I'm troubled.” The two sisters were sitting by the window in their room, watching the rivulets of rainwater cascading down the other side of the glass. Every now and then, a gust of wind would divert the flow, creating...
Henry Walker Wainscot stood leaning against the stone wall in the foyer of his new dorm while waiting for his mom. They were going to have lunch in the cafeteria, then explore the city. Henry had never really been to Boston, having grown up in Western Mas...
Rome. September 4th 1943 Maria stared in horror at the scene of devastation ahead but wasted no time in getting the ambulance to a safe place. Quickly, she jumped from the cab and ran around to the rear to check on her charges. To her distress, Annelies...
Rome. July 19th 1943 The visit to the Vatican seemed to have a profound effect on Hanna. As soon as she passed through the great doors and entered the Basilica, she became calm and appeared to be at peace. Maria took the lead, Katarina not having been i...
“You’re planning on doing WHAT?” Isabella exclaimed, her voice emerging higher and louder than she expected, but her startled outburst had little or no effect on her group of friends. The men of the party, Luke and Marius, who were normally so protective...