The Voyage by Roberta Kagan Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.
    “I am not, and this is my ship. As long as I am alive, I am in command here. If you cannot follow my rules, I suggest you leave the ship before we sail. Any defiance of my wishes will be considered mutiny.”

Chapter 11
     
    “It might do you good to watch a film. Take your mind off things for a few hours. So Alex, what do you think?” Manny asked him.
    “Yes, perhaps you’re right. It has been a very long time since I did something so frivolous.”
    “Well, it might be good for you.”
    Manny loaned Alex another pair of black pants and a white cotton shirt. Next to the shirt, he placed a thin gray-and-black tie.
    After taking a long, hot bath, Alex dressed for dinner. When he had finished, Manny marveled once again at his roommate ’ s good looks. Then, shaking his head and smiling, Manny watched Alex scrutinize the necktie. After rejecting it, Alex popped open the top button of his shirt, choosing comfort over formality with little consideration of his appearance.
    “You are a handsome devil,” Manny said.
    Alex smiled and shook his head.
    Elke joined the three after dinner, and they proceeded to the auditorium. Viktor was already there, waiting. He’d saved seats for all three of them. When Elke saw him smiling, she could not help but return his smile.
    “I didn’t see you in the dining room.”
    “You were looking for me?” Viktor asked.
    “I was, I must admit.”
    “That makes me so happy.” Viktor smiled. “I was upstairs arranging some things in the engine room and I couldn’t get away. You have my true apologies.”
    Alex looked through the corner of his eye at Viktor. What was a Nazi officer doing with his friends? This was dangerous. He wished he’d stayed in his room, but to leave now would only draw attention to him.
    The soft hum of conversation petered out as the lights dimmed and the curtains opened. An instrumental of a German love song played, filling the theater with lovely sound. The movie was to be a lighthearted romantic comedy. But before the feature film, a short came blaring onto the screen. There right in front of them all, larger than life, was the face of Adolph Hitler ranting about his hatred of Jews. Red faced, with hands flaying about in anger, he raved. As the movie clip continued, one by one the audience left the theater in horror.
    Viktor stood up his voice rose “What the hell is going on here? Who is responsible for this outrage?”
    No one answered. The film continued.
    Manny turned to look at Alex who sat glued to the screen. Anna watched Alex as well. His face contorted with fury. With a firm grip on Alex’s upper arm, Manny tried to break the spell.
    “Come let’s go from here. We’ll go up on the deck and get some air.”
    Viktor turned to the others. “I am terribly sorry about this. I am going to the projection area to find out who is behind all of it.” Viktor left.
    The girls stood ready to leave. The lights in the theater had been turned on and someone had silenced the film but had not turned it off. Hitler’s face remained frozen on the screen as Alex remained frozen in his chair.
    “Alex.” Manny shook his arm “Alex... Alex...”
    Alex shook Manny’s hand off him. Tears began to slide down Alex’s face. Then Anna walked over to the chair on the other side of Alex and sat down. She gently placed her hand upon his. For several moments she did not speak. But once he noticed her presence by the heat of her palm in his, he looked at her face.
    “Alex, it’s all right.” With her other hand, Anna wiped the tears from his cheek. “We should leave here. Please...come with us.” She smoothed the skin under his eye with her thumb. “Let’s go up on deck? Yes? Come please?” she urged as she squeezed his hand.
    From the distance, they could hear Viktor shouting in German and the voice of another man apologizing as the screen went white.
    Alex nodded. He rose and the group left the auditorium.
    That night, although he did not speak much,