The Diplomat's Wife Quotes
"I do not know how many hours or days I have lain on this cold, hard floor, waiting to die."
"In my mind I see the guard standing above me, an iron bar raised high above his head."
"Emma. I can still see her face as she stood above me on the railway bridge."
"Yet despite everything, I have said nothing. I have done well."
"They ask the same questions over again as they beat me: Who were you working for?"
"I begin to tremble. Each time is worse than the last. I cannot take any more."
"Sometime later, I awaken. The smell of my own waste hangs heavy in the air."
"I swallow, then take a deep breath. 'M-Marta,' I manage to say."
"You are in a camp run by the Allies for displaced persons, just outside Salzburg."
"We should get back by midnight and not a minute longer."
"But I am here, and I cannot escape the sense that some force, something larger than myself, has helped me to survive."
"Do I dare to wish on it as I did when I was little?"
"I didn’t lose everything. We’re here. Alive."
"It’s just that sometimes it seems that I’ve lost everything."
"The tracks are broken ahead and we had no word of it when we were sent this way."
"You’re not the only one with a boat to catch, miss."
"My visa expires tonight. I’ll never make it in time."
"Do I really dare walk into the embassy with a visa that isn’t even really mine?"
"I doubt the money that Dava gave me is enough for a return ticket to Salzburg."
"I am standing at the biggest intersection I have ever seen."
"You can take a train from Paris to Calais tomorrow. There will be other boats."
"I’m afraid there’s really nothing to be done about it."
"I was even more surprised when Jacob told me that we were to meet our contact inside."
"I’m British," he replies, taking a croissant from the plate of pastries that sits between us.
"I’ve been in Europe for several months now for work. I’m a diplomat, you see."
"You should try these, by the way. They’re delicious."
"I’m from Poland," I offer, before taking a bite.
"I’m meeting up with my fiancé and traveling to America to live. He’s a soldier and he’s coming for me as soon as he’s discharged."
"The engagement, that is. We didn’t really have time to formalize things before I left for England."
"It’s too bad. I mean, I could really use your help at the Foreign Office," he adds quickly.
"What do you mean?" I clutch my napkin in my lap.
"The problem is now that the war is over, all indications are that the Soviets won’t keep their word on restoring the sovereign leaders of those countries."
"The battle with the communists is coming, Marta. It will be the next great war, maybe even bigger than the last."
"My pleasure," he replies, standing as I do. "Would you like a ride to London once we arrive? My driver will be waiting for me. It’s really no trouble."
"What is it?" the man snaps. "I just told you…"
"If you could just open the gate…" The man does not respond but shuffles forward down the steps with great effort.
"I—I’m here to see Mrs. LeMay." I raise my hand. "I know it’s late. I should have called first. I’m sorry. But I’ve traveled a great distance and I must speak with her. It’s about her niece, Rose."
"I’m sorry, but I must speak with Mrs. LeMay directly."
"Yes. In the summers when Rose didn’t come here, we would meet at the family villa on the coast near Trieste. We had a local artist paint her portrait when she was nine. It’s always been my favorite."
"She was in a beautiful place, with good care and friends."
"I don’t know," I admit. I still have a little of the money that Dava gave me, but it isn’t enough to keep me for two weeks, even at the worst of boardinghouses.
"She is going to be staying with us for a few weeks. Please show her to the guest room and see that she has everything she needs."
"It has been more than a week since I read the news of the plane crash, saw him staring up at me from the photograph. I do not remember dropping the newspaper or fainting, only waking up some time later in bed, not knowing how I had made it there."
"But I’m very fond of you, Marta, and I think we can have a fine life together."
"We need to get our hands on the cipher," Simon remarks.
"Why do you think you know Marek Andek?" he demands.
"That is something I would like to know myself," a voice from behind Simon says.
"Sir, I apologize again for my assistant’s outburst," Simon begins.
"I think he may be," I swallow, unaccustomed to the question.
"Describe him," the D.M. crosses the room, drawing close to me.
"Because I was a member of the resistance, too."
"The resistance?" Simon repeats slowly, disbelieving.
"I was living in the Kraków ghetto with my mother when I was recruited by the resistance," I begin.
"I worked as a messenger for the resistance, traveling the countryside and gathering information and weapons."
"You’re very brave," the D.M. observes. "You should be honored for what you did."
"I’ll do whatever I can," I hesitate, uncertain how I can be of use.
"I’m deadly serious, Gold. Andek is our only link to Marcelitis, and Marta is the only one who can get to Andek."
"I can’t stand by and do nothing. It’s just a quick trip, a few days at most. I’m sorry," I add.
"I was afraid," I reply truthfully. "I came here on someone else’s visa."
"Rachel is safe." Simon walks toward me, placing his arms on my shoulders.
"Time to go," he repeats. He bends down and kisses me stiffly on the lips. "See you soon. Be careful."
"Welcome to Munich," Nancy says from the front of the cabin.
"It’s just an expression," he replies quickly. A strange expression crosses the D.M.’s face.
"I’m sorry, but I really must go. It was nice to meet you."
"You mean you haven’t heard?" Renata jerks her head to one side. "The communists have seized power."
"You know I could insist that you get on that plane," Renata says.
"I didn’t even have the chance to ask Marek if he had any news about Emma and Jacob, or the others from the resistance."
"I understand," I say at last, reaching out and squeezing Emma’s hand.
"The whole world changed tonight, Marta. Now that the communists have secured power here, people are going to start talking."
"Stop playing games," the man orders sharply. "Just give me the papers."
"Don’t look back, I think as his footsteps grow closer."
"I hear footsteps in the street, growing louder."
"I hold my breath for as long as I can, then, when I can stand it no longer, take a shallow breath."
"I realize that I am not dreaming. I must have passed out…"
"It’s a miracle I’m alive, and I’ve got my work. But happiness? I left that behind on a September morning in Paris about two years ago."
"The attacker could still be here, I realize with alarm."
"I’m sorry. But this is something I have to do."