Andrea Nádasdy Nikolits

We reached a deep ploughed land where walking was very difficult. Every step we took was felt like beeing crushed by the weight of the clog we had been dragging. I suspected it was no one’s land - the frontier line. Though it was dawning we couldn’t distinguish one colour from another. We were inclined to think that we saw a flag about 50 metres away on the other side of the line, but first of all we had to cross this rough sea of mud where we could still be seen. Heaven forbid them to use searchlights - not now because that would be the end. Poor Julia could hardly walk. Her stamina left her. She wanted to sit down more and more. „I don’t even care if I die here”- She groaned. The men certainly did their best to proceed on their way, so I had to drag Julia single handed. Every breath was painful, we were both wheezing. „We mustn’t stop now-we are almost there” – I comforted her still dragging.

So I set off towards the house. I knocked. – Guten Morgen – I stammered when the door was opened. – Jó reggelt! The man’s face broke into a wide smile. Despair and exhaustion must have been written all over my face, because he quickly changed the language. I beg your pardon-he apologized in German. – I was only joking. This is the right place. You are in Austria. You know everybody speaks Hungarian as well -here by the frontier region. I almost fell on his neck. Then the others also took the risk to come closer. The household was very kind. We could wash our hands and faces and they gave us new bread spread with butter and coffee with milk. I haven’t eaten such delicious food of that sort ever since. At last we were able to warm up.”We are free!” We shouted with joy.