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

“It was my father who made the decision to keep me at home,” Elwira said, “‘Best to keep you away from prying eyes,’ he’d said. Father must have thought he was doing it out of love but now…I don’t know.” She gave a small laugh, more of a chuckle. “Tell me something more about Aleksander. He seems to have upset you.”


“I took him to a café, and we both ordered black tea, hot and strong. That’s when he asked if I always took such good care of people, and I…now, don’t be angry with me, Wira.”


“I won’t,” Elwira said. “Promise.”


“I told him it was my job, taking care of someone. Taking care of you.”


“You mentioned my name to a stranger?”


“No, just that I worked for someone I loved.”


“And who loved you back,” Elwira said. 


For a while they sat there in the dark, listening to the music and the night sounds of the house.


“My parents had an arranged marriage,” Elwira said. “Did you know that?”


Chapter 8