April 1939. Warsaw, Poland. To the casual observer, the houses on Podwale Street look very much alike. Yet at 16 Podwale, nothing is as it seems. Within, the walls hold many secrets that could destroy the lives of its inhabitants as they witness the city’s ever-mounting tide of Nazism. Wealthy recluse Elwira Malinowska is more an observer than participant in life. In her seclusion at 16 Podwale, she watches the world pass her by. Then Raz Zielinsky comes to work as a housemaid for her father, and Elwira’s life is suddenly divisible by two -- the time before Raz and the time after. Years pass, and the women become lovers. They depend on each other. Elwira is Raz’s protector, and Raz is Elwira’s conduit to the outside world, where people speak of nothing but the continual threat of war with Germany. Elwira, a steadfast Catholic, believes Pope Pius XII will intervene to save Poland from the rumblings of a maniac and an imminent invasion. But when the Pope fails to mediate peace and the political situation worsens, Elwira and Raz plan their escape to freedom.

The View from 16 Podwale Street

“Just a minute, Wira,” Raz yelled back. 


Elwira forced a smile at Father Zajac, a young priest from St. John’s. They were just about to have tea. She went to the door and left it ajar. “Come in when you’re ready,” and then she heard the sounds of a broom and dustpan scraping tile.


A few minutes later, Raz sailed into the room, oblivious to the priest. “I had to slip behind the counter again for a bit of a squeeze from that ugly baker. Christ, it does make a difference in the cost of a loaf, but is it worth it?” Then she saw him sitting across from Elwira. “Oh, Father, sorry. I didn’t see you.”


“I tried to tell you, Raz,” Elwira said. “Father brought Communion this morning from St. John’s. Wasn’t that lovely of him?”


“Yes, lovely,” Raz said. Her cheeks turned a bright crimson, and she quickly curtsied before running off to the kitchen.


“Father,” Elwira said, in a louder voice than usual, “maybe while you’re here, you should listen to herconfession.” 


Chapter 3