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paused. “Will you help me?”
    â€œCan’t. Won’t. I’d get in trouble for sure. They’d lock me up for aiding and abetting a kidnapper!” Daniel blew his nose onto the ground and wiped the snot with his sleeve.
    Johanna handed Daniel her handkerchief. He took it as if he didn’t know what to do with it. He crumpled it up and shoved it into his pocket.
    â€œPlease, Daniel.”
    Daniel shook his head. “I won’t do it. I feel sorry for the babies, but I ain’t gonna take that kind of risk.” He grasped the reins and began to move away.
    â€œWait!” Johanna cried. “I’ll pay you!”
    Daniel stopped and stared at Johanna.
    â€œI’ll pay you for taking us — me and the baby.”
    Daniel scratched his head. “Well, if you’re talking business, that’s something else. How much?”
    â€œTwelve schillings?”
    â€œTwenty-four.”
    Johanna swallowed hard. “Eighteen. That’s my final offer.”
    â€œWell, I guess that’d be enough.”
    â€œYou’ll take us, then?”
    Daniel nodded. “Only as far as Altona. My horse is old and I got my regular customers.”
    Johanna let out her breath. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding it. “Thank you.”
    Daniel stretched out a dirty hand towards Johanna. “Let’s see your money.”
    Johanna shook her head. “I’ll pay you nine schillings when you pick me up and nine when we reach Altona. Agreed?”
    Daniel scratched his armpit. “You drive a hard bargain. All right then.” He shook his head and murmured, “I must be as crazy as she is.”
    â€œWhen will you be back here again?” Johanna said.
    â€œLet’s see.” Daniel counted on his fingers. “Today’s Thursday. It’ll be Monday next.”
    â€œJohanna! Where are you?” Cecile called from the doorway.
    Johanna waved at her friend. “Coming!” She turned back to Daniel. “When you finish your deliveries on Monday, wait for me outside the gate behind the high hedge. I’ll meet you after breakfast.”
    â€œWhat if someone asks what I’m doing there?”
    â€œJohanna!” Cecile was walking towards them. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
    Johanna moved closer to Daniel. She could smell his sour, unwashed body and the dirty wool of his clothing. “Say you were taking a nap, or reading a book, or feeding your horse. Whatever you want.”
    â€œRight. But if you ain’t here by seven o’clock, I’ll be gone.”
    â€œI’ll be here.”
    Daniel nodded, took up the reins, and guided the wagon down the gravel driveway. Johanna watched him leave and wished she were already on the way.
    She hurried to join Cecile. She could feel her heart beating against her chest. What am I doing? I’ll get caught . I’ll be convicted of kidnapping. Locked up in jail or thrown out of Hamburg. No help for Rebecca. No help for Mama.
    â€œWhy were you talking to the driver?” asked Cecile.
    â€œI needed to ask him something.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œAbout … about Altona.”
    â€œAltona? You could ask me about Altona!”
    â€œAll right,” said Johanna. “What’s it like?”
    â€œIt’s a small town,” Cecile said. “You can almost spit from Hamburg to Altona. After all, they’re only about two and a half miles apart.”
    â€œI know that. But what is Altona like ?”
    Cecile linked her arm into Johanna’s. The two made their way to the kitchen for breakfast. “It’s a lot like Hamburg. On the main street, there are shops and houses and people coming and going. There’s ice in the winter and mud the rest of the time and stink all the time.”
    While they were eating, Johanna tried to find out more about Altona. “If a person were in Altona,” Johanna asked, “how