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might be cooler there.”
    Suddenly she felt she wanted to be away from this room crowded with strangers. As she walked through the corridors, her footsteps had a lonely sound. The far reaches of the gardens had taken on a shadowy look as she reached the terrace. She lifted her eyes toward the mountains and her breathing quickened involuntarily. The blueness of those distant slopes had deepened to indigo, and the sky had taken on a washed-out paleness that reminded her of the delicacy of an Oriental painting. A band of sunlight lay across the peaks like warm gold; the pines huddled dark and forlorn in the shadows.
    “You like mountains, eh?”
    Stefan’s voice made her turn sharply. “They are very lovely,” she said slowly. “I don’t think I will ever tire of watching them.”
    “Some day you climb up to the top, perhaps. There is the cable car if you have not the strength. If there is no cloud you see for many miles. If you are not so fortunate with the weather, it is still lovely. You stand there with the wind blowing cold against you and below all is like a lake of clouds. It is like the fairyland you hear about when you are a small child. You like that, eh?”
    This was a Stefan who had left his hatred behind him for the moment, and there was a gentle dreaminess about him that drew her strangely. She felt that he was more of a stranger here in Austria than Michael, although it didn’t make sense. Perhaps Michael was here because he wanted to be while Stefan had no choice. What about herself? After all she hadn’t had to come. It had been a deliberate decision, hadn’t it? Or was she only looking for something she hadn’t found at home.
    “Yes, I would like it very much. There is something so clean and untouched about mountains.” She smiled at Stefan.
    His face lit up. “You find it so, too! They are washed by the rains from the heavens, and the winds sweep away all traces of the men who sweat u p their slopes. It is like being born again. One feels so new, so fresh, and so strong.”
    “So this is where you are, Stefan. I suppose you would like to come with us for coffee.” Greta’s voice sounded harsh.
    Sonia found herself wincing for Stefan’s sake as the light went from his face as swiftly as if someone had touched a switch. Why did Greta do it? Or didn’t she realize that people would mind?
    Stefan shook his head. “I’m on my way to see an accident case. There is not time to stop. I will see you at nine.”
    Greta touched Sonia’s arm. “If you wish coffee you must come quickly. I have not finished the duty yet.”
    The little caf e was almost deserted and it was cool in the dimly - lit room.
    Greta seemed to have decided to be pleasant again as her eyes were friendly. “You’ll like the coffee. They serve it here in tall glasses with a chunk of ice and a spoonful of cream floating on the top. Are you pleased that you have returned to Austria? Do you not feel homesick for your family?”
    Sonia considered the question. “No, I don’t think so. It’s all so strange and exciting here. Besides, I haven’t been with my family except for holidays and occasional weekends. The hospital where I worked didn’t allow us to live out.”
    The waitress put down their glasses and told them the cost. “How much is that, Greta? You must let me pay for this.” Sonia held out a handful of change.
    The girl smiled . “ Bitte. I st 40 Schillings . ”
    Sonia turned over the coins and picked out two 20-Schilling pieces, hesitated and then added five Schillings. “ Bitte. Danke schon.”
    Greta laughed and the girl joined in. “We’ll have you speaking German in no time. How strange it is. You want to learn our language, and we want to learn yours so that we can escape to freedom.”
    Sonia stirred her coffee. “You make it sound as if you were shut behind the Iron Curtain.”
    Greta shivered. “You must not say that word. It sounds like Stefan. Never say it when he is near. ”
    “Can he never