Chapter 6 - Footsteps in the Night

Joris goes out at night and is startled by the strange world. He meets Charles at the old mill and they share a meager meal. They hear someone approaching and hide. It turns out to be Dirk Jan, Joris's brother. They introduce Dirk Jan to Charles and tell him about the aviators captured by the Germans. Charles wants to help but Dirk Jan warns him of the danger. Charles asks for old clothes and promises not to go out in his uniform. Dirk Jan agrees to help and they part ways. Joris and Dirk Jan return home unnoticed and go to bed. Charles and the cat sleep peacefully in the press bed. Chapter 6 Which Steps in the Night Joris had so seldom been out at night he hadn't realized what a strange world he was stepping into. The moonlight threw back shadows, dark shadows, and in its pale shimmer even familiar objects looked weird and a little frightening. These sounds seemed magnified. When the bombers stopped coming for a while he heard the croaking of the frogs, the sighing of the wind, through the reeds, and the lazy lapping of water against the banks. Joris could hear himself breathing, he even imagined he could hear his own heartbeat. He tried to walk as quietly as he could, but he could not help the grass squishing under his wooden shoes or an occasional pebble kicking against them. It all seemed so wild in the strange, whispery silver of the night. Perhaps he thought he heard footsteps behind him. He caught his breath and stopped, but he must have imagined that he only heard the wind rustling the leaves of a willow tree and a little bird chirping in its sleep. Joris was very glad when he finally reached the old mill. He felt as if the walk had lasted for hours. After waiting and listening for a moment he gave three short knocks on the door to warn Charles. It's me, Joris, he whispered. Charles had been waiting impatiently, faint with hunger. Joris spread out his repast from the floor in the living room on top of an old towel which he had grabbed from the rack in the kitchen. He felt sorry that he had nothing more appetizing than three cold, bluish potatoes, a rather frayed pancake, three quarters of a slice of bread, and some earth-stained fruit and vegetables. It did not seem a fit feast for a splendid warrior of the sky, but Charles did not complain. He settled down on the floor. Joris watched, amazed at how fast he ate. They were sitting in the pool of moonlight which filters through the small windows. The cat came mewing for her share, and Charles invited one of the stardust with her. He ate all the rest, so the last apple tip, and then gave a satisfied grunt and stretched. Good, he said, which was near enough to the Dutch to be understood by Joris. Joris was just going to pick up the empty basket and leave for home. His eyelids were cricking from lack of sleep when a noise outside stiffened him. It was the sound of wooden shoes clopping over the rickety bridge. Someone is coming, he whispered. Quick, hide! Charles was already looking around wildly. Joris pushed him into the press bed and shut the doors. Taking the clogs in his hands, he tiptoed into the passage and hid behind the staircase. He heard the footsteps going around the mill. Someone was rattling the locked door. Could it be Lindert Schinderhans? Joris felt prickles down his back. Now the unknown person was trying the other door. Joris held a clog ready in his hand. He would defend himself and his aviator if he had to. The door opened slowly and a head appeared. It was too dark to see the face, but Joris lowered his arm. It wasn't Schinderhans. Schinderhans was taller. The figure entered anxiously and inched along the passage. It seemed as scared as Joris was. Suddenly, he gave a sneeze. Achoo! Joris recognized the sound. Dirk Jan? he whispered eagerly. Dirk Jan stopped and let out a sigh, then looked about him. Joris, he whispered back. Joris emerged from under the stairs and Dirk Jan grabbed him roughly by the arm. Joris, he scolded. What on earth are you doing here? I found the bed empty and I was just in time to see you trotting down the dike with a basket. What are you up to and why didn't you tell me about it? He seemed angry and relieved at the same time. I wanted to, stammered Joris through chattering teeth. Now that it was all over, he realized how terrified he had been. I'll show you. Greatly mystified, Dirk Jan followed Joris into the living room. It's all right, Charles, said Joris. It's only Dirk Jan. Charles didn't know who Dirk Jan was, but it sounded reassuring, so he opened the doors of the press bed and poked out his rough, unshaven face on which the moonlight painted weird shadows. He looked so much like a gargoyle that Dirk Jan gave a yelp. Yelp! And jumped backwards. He's only an aviator, said Joris, pulling his brother towards his new friends, who, even in the uncertain light, noticed the resemblance between the two boys and drew the right conclusions. Sliding out of the bed, he gave a nod of welcome. Dirk Jan had learned some English at school, so he was able to hold a somewhat stunted conversation with Charles. The first thing Charles wanted to know was where he was and what had happened to his comrades. He had a map, and Dirk Jan showed him the general area in which they had come down. We're here to the east of Leyden, said Dirk Jan, pointing to the spot. It was harder to tell what had happened to the other aviators, especially as Dirk Jan couldn't remember the English word for captured. He used engaged instead, which led to some confusion and made Charles think for a moment that his friends had gone wildly and hastily courting. However, when it was cleared out that Charles understood that the Germans had taken his friends, as well as some of their hosts, he became very upset. He walked up and down the room in great agitation, so that the cobwebs trembled above him, and the spider hastily let herself down by a thread to investigate the commotion. You wait. I'll get them, he was muttering, clenching his fists. But Dirk Jan implored him not to do anything rash. The Germans are dangerous, he said seriously. They can do terrible things to you and to all of us, because they have all the weapons, and we have nothing. Charles stopped pacing and looked down at Dirk Jan. Yes, you have, he said quietly. You have right on your side. That's the biggest weapon. But it doesn't help much, said Dirk Jan. Not when the German tank's gone. Charles was gazing over the heads and frowning. Please, he begged, can you get me some old clothes? Dirk Jan said he would try, and he would bring more food, too. But then you must promise not to go out in that uniform. Charles understood and nodded. He took off his gold watch and offered it as payment, but Dirk Jan and Joris shook their heads vigorously. You are our friend, Dirk Jan told him. The aviator thanked them both and shook hands solemnly. Then the boys slipped out of the dark mill into the silver boulder land. You should have told me, Dirk Jan whispered as they were walking home. It was much too dangerous for you to handle alone. I didn't want mother and father to know, Joris whispered back, because of Mr. Kuat. Dirk Jan nodded. But you needed me, he added. Joris admitted it. I'm glad you came, he said. I was very scared. Dirk Jan now wanted to know the whole story, and so Joris told him everything, taking care not to raise his voice too much. At home, no one had noticed their absence. They crept quietly into bed and were soon asleep, comforted by each other's presence. While in the old giant, Charles and the cat were snoring peacefully behind the doors of the press bag.