Silent Battlefields
"Experience reading two pages from Silent Battlefields: A novel
by Hugh Rosen.
By the time Thomas parked in front of the home of the
Eisenstadts, he felt ready to face the enemy like a trained
warrior. Yet he was a peaceful warrior and hoped that he could
evade combat. If he had to, though, he would defend himself
against assault and rescue his captured comrade, as well.
Mathew, standing between Thomas and his parents, made the
perfunctory introductions. The four of them then adjourned to
the living room to chat before dinner. Eva was the first to
speak once they were seated. "Thomas, we'd like you to know how
very thankful we are for your helping Mathew when he was in such
a tight spot that night a few months ago." "Yes, from what
Mathew tells us things could have gotten a lot worse if it
hadn't been for you," Nathan said. "What you did was actually
rather heroic. You could have just looked the other way and not
gotten involved." "I guess it was a lucky thing that I was
nearby. Anyway, I was glad to help out. I'm sure Mathew would
have done the same for me." "No doubt about it," Mathew said,
"but I hope I never have to. Besides, I'm not sure I would have
been quite as successful at it as you were." He sealed the end
of his statement with an impish smile. "How about if we not talk
about it anymore?" Thomas said, feeling somewhat awkward over
the unexpected attention and praise. He punctuated his plea by
raising his index finger to his pursed lips--a gesture he had
picked up from his father. Suddenly, Eva was startled by an
illumination. It was as if the young German soldier who had
spared her life almost three decades ago during the war were
sitting before her. "Eva, are you all right? You look so pale
and frightened suddenly." "Mom, what's wrong?" Mathew echoed.
Thomas sat uncomfortably, baffled as he watched Eva. She was
staring at him, yet it felt more as if she were staring right
through him into another time, another world. "Yes, yes, I'm all
right," She hastily assured them as their voices pulled her back
to them. "My mind had just begun to wander. I'm sorry," she
said, directing this last comment to Thomas. She hadn't planned
on serving dinner this early, but the need to be alone was
overwhelming. Eva excused herself and went to the kitchen for
final preparations of the meal. Memories of that fatal day long
ago marched through Eva's mind as she went about the task of
putting the finishing touches on the dinner. When she
looked up, she saw Nathan coming into the kitchen. He took her
in his arms and gently drew her close to him. "Nathan," she
whispered in his ear, "Thomas looks so much like the young
German boy who was in the attic with us the day my parents died.
It's uncanny." "He obviously resembles him in some way, and that
startled you." "The moment he first entered I thought he looked
vaguely familiar. But it wasn't until he put his finger to his
lips--it was like seeing a phantom." "And that's all it was--an
illusion." Eva kissed Nathan on the cheek with gratitude for his
tenderness toward her. Their love for one another had been calm
and steady over the years, if never one distinguished for its
passion. Thomas and Mathew remained silent in the living room.
The situation had left them both feeling a bit awkward. Thomas
was the first to speak. 'I don't understand, Matt." "I can't say
I know, either. Remember, both my parents have been through a
lot during the old days, and sometimes it seems that even the
slightest thing can trigger off a reaction. I'm sure this had
nothing to do with you at all." Mathew was not above telling a
little white lie if he thought it would put his friend at ease.
"She sure seemed upset about something. Do you think I ought to
leave?" "Are you kidding? Then she'd really be upset." "I can't
help thinking that it has something to do with, you know, my
being German." "Nah, my mom doesn't hold all Germans responsible
for what happened to her during the war; especially people who
weren't even alive at the time." "A lot of people do, you know."
"Probably not as many as you think." "I'd like to believe you're
right." "Heck, it would be like those Christians who say all
Jews are guilty of Christ's death." "Yeah, but you're talking
about making sense, Matt. What makes you think people are so
rational all the time?" It did not escape Mathew's notice that
this was the first time Thomas had ever addressed him by an
informal version of his name. He didn't want to read too much
into it, but he hoped that perhaps this signified the emergence
of a new stage in their developing friendship. "You've got a
good point there." "I guess I'm just antsy today, meeting your
parents for the first time and all."
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Email the author : seanplato@aol.com