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

“During his previous visit, he went on about one of these ugly women he considered beneath him intellectually. I doubt he complained when she was paying his way.”


“You think we will have to pay to keep him quiet?” Raz said. “Why? Who could he tell and why should we care?”


“He can be dangerous,” Elwira said. “I am frightened. Borys is half-German. He speaks the language. He knows about us. He knows of my physical…difference.”


“Uniqueness,” Raz said. “As do many of your friends. He isn’t the only one who knows.”


“During times such as these, I am learning it can be difficult to tell who your friends are. Some people cannot be trusted when their survival is at stake. Borys may be close to people in the government, people who will welcome this change, those who are sympathetic to the Germans, loyal to Hitler.”


Chapter 15