The nun handed her a small icon of the Virgin. Anna looked at it and smiled gratefully for her kindness, then touched her protruding stomach. The nun smiled quietly.
Feeling better and calm, Anna returned to her work.
"Miss Anna, Miss Anna, you are wanted in Dr. Tsipras' office," called out a young volunteer.
"Thank you," said Anna and walked hesitantly toward the doctor's office.
"Guten Abend, Fraulein Bouras," an authoritative voice came from behind the doctor's desk. Anna could see the back of a man's head as he looked out of the large window. Anna did not respond. "Wondrous site, the Acropolis, isn't it, Fraulein Bouras?" He took his hat off. "Especially with the German flag flying on top of it!" He turned the chair around to face Anna. "You should be proud to be Greek ... if you are. But you are not, are you, Miss Bouras? Don't deny it. I have a copy of your birth certificate." He stood up. "To do so would be like denying that you are pregnant." He paused. "I did not introduce myself, but I am sure you know who I am."
It was the same German officer she had seen in the car with her mother and Dr. Tsipras at Penelope's house. He took out a small white handkerchief and meticulously polished his Nazi insignia with it. "Having a baby in a dark, unsanitary cell might not be very pleasant, Miss Bouras." He stood up and walked around her, placing his foot on Dr. Tsipras' chair. He carefully examined his knee-high black boots for spots, first one, then the other. "Or perhaps you might end up on a train with the 'others,' sent north to the Thessaloniki detention camp ... or even all the way to Germany."
Anna wanted to run away, but she could not move. The German continued:
"The scientific achievements are tremendous there, using unborn babies and would-be mothers." He came closer and with his nightstick poked her belly. Anna jumped back, terrified. "Let's say, a mother is injected with a virus. How long will it take to transmit it to her unborn fetus?" Anna's stomach churned. "This experiment and many, many more are done by respected doctors and great scientists. Someday the world will recognize it. Besides, you will not be alone in this. Thousands more are already there and you can compare notes with the other women, whose children are already deformed." He laughed out loud.
Anna felt like screaming, but she had lost her voice. She wanted to wash her ears, her whole body; his filthy words felt like human waste thrown at her.
"Of course, all this can change if you wish to cooperate. The fact is that you were born in America. Therefore, your allegiance is to that country. Am I correct so far?" He straightened up. "I have been following your activities through Crete, and I know your capabilities are many." The officer stood close to her side and pulled her hair back with his hand. "So German! So white! Such Aryan beauty!" He then moved behind her. "It would be a shame to see such an elegant neck in the noose."