And You Will Find Love

Stephen was beginning to doubt the compass he held out to show them the way to Stropkov. Before long, a road sign they approached confirmed they were walking in the right direction. From there they kept in the woods while following a mountain path that led to Stropkov.

After another hour, they came to a shrine where someone had thoughtfully left a jug of fresh water and a small sack with some bread and cheese.

"They knew we would come here," Stephen said as he and Barbara ate and drank.

"But who is 'they'?"

Barbara's question was soon answered. A young woman in peasant's dress and a shawl over her head approached. On closer look, they saw she was only a girl in her teens. She seemed to recognize them as Americans or British.

The girl touched her fingers to her lips, to tell them she did not speak English, then motioned for them to follow her. After walking farther up the mountain path, they began to descend into a small valley. The girl pointed to a farm below, then ran off into the woods, as if afraid she had already gotten her life in danger.

A pair of German Focke-Wulf 190 fighter planes screamed overhead. Barbara and Stephen ran for cover deeper into the woods.

When the planes passed, Barbara and Stephen followed the path down the mountainside. After another hour, they saw a farm that looked deserted.

They were about to leave the cover of the woods when they heard the rumble of vehicles coming up the road. From where they hid, they saw an armored reconnaissance truck with the red Soviet hammer and sickle emblem on it. Behind it was a high truck covered with tarpaulin that either contained troops or something for hauling.

After the trucks passed, Barbara and Stephen remained hidden another five minutes. When they were sure no more Soviets or other Nazis were about, they resumed walking down to the farm.

"Our plane and parachutes must have attracted both the Jerries and Ruskies to the farm," Stephen said. "But it looks like they're satisfied we aren't there."

"But is the Lipizzaner foal?" Barbara wondered.

"We'll soon see, if you're game."

"You don't think I'd give up now, do you?"

"We're relatively safe in the woods. Once we step onto that farm, we could be sitting ducks. It might be a trap. Maybe some Jerries or Ruskies stayed behind, to spring it on us."

"I've been in bad situations before." Barbara felt safe in this one, with Stephen.