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through now and then, looking for Jews.”
    A roundup! Fear gripped Edith’s throat. “My papa was taken in a round up,” she croaked.
    “That’s why we’re prepared,” replied Eric. “Look around you — we’ve got tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, pots, pans, rope, knives, compasses, gaiters, backpacks, maps, and food, all ready to go.” Eric rattled off the camping gear, checking the equipment against a mental list. “Before a raid comes, we’re out of here.”
    “But how do you know when there’ll be a raid?” Edith was beginning to panic. “And where does everyone go?”
    “We’re warned if the Nazis are coming,” said Sarah calmly. “The mayor of Moissac gets word to Shatta, and all of us leave for a few days to go camping in the hills. When it’s safe, we come back.”
    What was it that Shatta had said, Edith struggled to recall. Shatta had talked about the mayor of Moissac when Edith first arrived at the house. She said that the mayor was a friend and would help protect the Jewish children. Is this what Shatta had meant?

    “Don’t worry. It will all make sense,” said Eric easily, before moving off to help some of the other children. “You’ll see soon enough.”
    Sarah gently steered Edith from the dining room. Edith felt numb. How could she not worry? She didn’t want to have to find out what happened in a raid. She didn’t want to have to run again. Suddenly she didn’t want to be here at all.

    The choir in Moissac – Henri Milstein, the choir director, is in the middle. Edith is in the second row from the bottom, just to the right of Henri’s arm.

    When Sarah finally introduced Edith to Henri, the choir director, Edith stood mutely and hung her head. Sarah whispered something to Henri, who nodded. “Why don’t you just sit and listen to us today, Edith. You’ll join in the next time.”
    Edith slumped onto a chair. Henri took his place in front of the girls and boys and raised a small baton. The sound of blended voices filled the room. Edith wanted to listen, to lose herself in the simple beauty of the harmony; but she was too agitated. Just this morning, she had woken up feeling safe. The cook had made her feel loved and secure. Now she felt as if she had been dropped out a window and was about to hit the ground.
    There were more than one hundred children in the house in Moissac. How would everyone get out in time? When the Nazis came for Papa in the middle of the night, there was no time to escape. No one knew the raid was coming. Even if the mayor warned them here in Moissac, would they be trapped with no time to run?
    There was no such thing in the world as a safe place, only places to avoid danger a little while longer. Moissac was a trick. Mutti had been wrong to bring her here. Edith closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She already felt trapped. And there was nowhere for her to go. She could only wait and see what would happen.

CHAPTER 9
Gaston
    It was several days before Edith was finally able to visit Gaston in the smaller house next door. She had wanted to visit sooner; but her days were too busy and there was no spare time. Perhaps Shatta had orchestrated it that way, wanting the children in each room to bond with one another.
    Edith opened the heavy wooden door of the house and climbed the stairs to Gaston’s room on the second floor. She walked in quietly, to find her little brother lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
    “Gaston,” Edith whispered.
    He turned his head slightly, then leapt up and wrapped his arms around her.
    “Edith!” he cried, clinging with all his might, almost afraid that if he let go, she would disappear. “Where have you been?”
    Edith hugged Gaston back tightly. She promised herself that from now on, she would make sure to visit him more often.
    “I’m here now, Gaston. Come, tell me how you are.” She gently pulled his arms away from her neck and steered him back ontohis bed. She jumped up next to him and stared into his