Before she had even put the tray down, the senator stood up, bowed from the waist, and told Karola his wife sent her love. He shook hands with Domokos and said good night to both of them. Without another word, he left the house.
Karola knelt at her husband's chair and put her head on his lap. Domokos took his wife's hand, kissed it, and helped her up. Then he led her out of the parlour and out onto the back terrace where they both sat down on a bench. He closed his eyes, enjoying the cool, autumn air of home. There is just enough of a breeze, Domokos thought, so that we can talk freely. He put his lips into her hair and whispered to her. "Our friend fears for my safety. He thinks the Czechs will probably re-arrest me in a few days. I must go away tomorrow." Even with just the soft glow of moonlight casting light on her face, Domokos could see the look of utter desolation on his wife's face. "We will be together soon, my darling. I promise you that." Karola took a breath, ready with the next question. "It's best you don't know where I am going," Domokos continued, cutting her off. "I will send for you and the children as soon as I am safe. Should anyone ask you, I've gone to Prague to appeal my sentence."
The next day he was gone and Karola Aykler was again left alone to manage the vineyards and raise her children.
chapter 6 | early march 1939
T HE FIRST GREYS OF dawn spread slowly into the hills and valleys of the region, followed by streaks of magenta as the first rays of the sun pushed their way into the sky from the east. Officially on a covert military operation, the soldiers were in civilian clothing. They had been out all night surreptitiously criss-crossing the border region with Czechoslovakia. Scouts moved unnoticed on bicycles and mopeds, traversing with ease between villages and towns, in many locations, aided by the local population. Their mission was to destabilize the border region, but the border was porous by then. Part of the region had already been re-annexed to Hungary as part of the First Vienna Accords.
The men were exhausted but elated. They could hardly wait to report to their commanding officer. "The border guards are gone, sir," one of the five announced, saluting, barely able to contain his excitement. "The Czechs have withdrawn from the region."
Domokos Aykler, the commander of this small detachment, saluted back and smiled. He had been notified some days earlier by top-secret military messenger that March 15, 1939 would be the fateful day when the rest of Karpatalja, including Nagyszollos, would be reoccupied by the Hungarian military. He was very well aware that on the same day less than one hundred years ago, in 1848, the Hungarians, led by Lajos Kossuth, declared their independence from the Hapsburgs. The day had enormous historical significance for Hungarians. It was an amazing coincidence that the liberation of their hometown and district was to take place on the same day!
One week before this military action, his men had reported little resistance in the district and Domokos calculated that there was minimal risk of danger to his family. He sent for his wife and son, Bela (the other children were away at school). Domokos wanted his loved ones by his side as the Hungarians reoccupied the region.
On March 15, 1939, the German army occupied Bohemia and Moravia, the two western provinces of Czechoslovakia. As soon as they did, Slovakia ceded from Czechoslovakia and created its own independent, fascist state under the protection of the Third Reich. That same day, the Hungarian army reoccupied Nagyszollos and, within three days, it took all of Karpatalja without much resistance.
Following behind the tanks and lines of infantrymen that rolled into Nagyszollos, Domokos sat in front of a black Tatra sedan with his wife and son in the back seat. The main street, Verboczy ut, was lined on both sides with ecstatic, cheering crowds. Women were dashing in among the troops, thrusting red and white
Karola knelt at her husband's chair and put her head on his lap. Domokos took his wife's hand, kissed it, and helped her up. Then he led her out of the parlour and out onto the back terrace where they both sat down on a bench. He closed his eyes, enjoying the cool, autumn air of home. There is just enough of a breeze, Domokos thought, so that we can talk freely. He put his lips into her hair and whispered to her. "Our friend fears for my safety. He thinks the Czechs will probably re-arrest me in a few days. I must go away tomorrow." Even with just the soft glow of moonlight casting light on her face, Domokos could see the look of utter desolation on his wife's face. "We will be together soon, my darling. I promise you that." Karola took a breath, ready with the next question. "It's best you don't know where I am going," Domokos continued, cutting her off. "I will send for you and the children as soon as I am safe. Should anyone ask you, I've gone to Prague to appeal my sentence."
The next day he was gone and Karola Aykler was again left alone to manage the vineyards and raise her children.
chapter 6 | early march 1939
T HE FIRST GREYS OF dawn spread slowly into the hills and valleys of the region, followed by streaks of magenta as the first rays of the sun pushed their way into the sky from the east. Officially on a covert military operation, the soldiers were in civilian clothing. They had been out all night surreptitiously criss-crossing the border region with Czechoslovakia. Scouts moved unnoticed on bicycles and mopeds, traversing with ease between villages and towns, in many locations, aided by the local population. Their mission was to destabilize the border region, but the border was porous by then. Part of the region had already been re-annexed to Hungary as part of the First Vienna Accords.
The men were exhausted but elated. They could hardly wait to report to their commanding officer. "The border guards are gone, sir," one of the five announced, saluting, barely able to contain his excitement. "The Czechs have withdrawn from the region."
Domokos Aykler, the commander of this small detachment, saluted back and smiled. He had been notified some days earlier by top-secret military messenger that March 15, 1939 would be the fateful day when the rest of Karpatalja, including Nagyszollos, would be reoccupied by the Hungarian military. He was very well aware that on the same day less than one hundred years ago, in 1848, the Hungarians, led by Lajos Kossuth, declared their independence from the Hapsburgs. The day had enormous historical significance for Hungarians. It was an amazing coincidence that the liberation of their hometown and district was to take place on the same day!
One week before this military action, his men had reported little resistance in the district and Domokos calculated that there was minimal risk of danger to his family. He sent for his wife and son, Bela (the other children were away at school). Domokos wanted his loved ones by his side as the Hungarians reoccupied the region.
On March 15, 1939, the German army occupied Bohemia and Moravia, the two western provinces of Czechoslovakia. As soon as they did, Slovakia ceded from Czechoslovakia and created its own independent, fascist state under the protection of the Third Reich. That same day, the Hungarian army reoccupied Nagyszollos and, within three days, it took all of Karpatalja without much resistance.
Following behind the tanks and lines of infantrymen that rolled into Nagyszollos, Domokos sat in front of a black Tatra sedan with his wife and son in the back seat. The main street, Verboczy ut, was lined on both sides with ecstatic, cheering crowds. Women were dashing in among the troops, thrusting red and white
Similar Books
