A Walk of Faith

The stillness of the night was suddenly broken when a contingent of German soldiers marched in close formation over the bridge. The sound of their boots hitting the boards of the bridge deck, reverberated throughout the small town. Such massive action could only mean one thing: that a raid was imminent. Men and boys of a certain age were the usual target. No time was wasted to find a hiding place. These raids created fear in the hearts of not only men but also the women when soldiers walked into each house demanding to know where the menfolk were. Conversations became guarded until you knew whom you could trust, since some collaborators did not hesitate to betray their own. Lives were at stake, as the German occupation was slowly but surely drawing a closer net around the population. Hunger was a daily companion as food became scarce. Yet in spite of the Germans' superiority the underground thrived. It brought the best out in some individuals, willing to give their very life for others.