She’d hadn’t been waiting there no more than ten minutes when she spotted the gentleman from the previous night, scaling the side of the fence in deep conversation with some women, reading off a clip board. Rose peeked around the curly haired stranger, planted cross armed in front of her. Her teeth chattered.
As he slowly began to disappear further south of the gate, Rose hugged herself. In that moment, there was an internal debate about leaving the line. She understood that she could easily get back in although, with the hopes of waiting longer for food.
He had authority. She could tell just by the way he walked down to the next row. And if there was anything her father had taught her, was to seek it out, and grow close to it. Even as much as she hated it, the Greene household was about survival. She then examined his uniform. Not that she knew the colors of rank in Russia, but she was sure he oversaw something significant.
“Quit it,” a girl cried over her thoughts, only a few yards away. Her gloved hands covering a steaming cup of stew, with chunks of beef swirling at the top.
Rose’s stomach growled at the sight.
“Stop it,”
Everyone looked, then looked away as an older man, around sixty or so, reached out again attempting to prey it from the small child’s hands in the wide open. One would think there would be protest among the debacle, but no. Just eyes and sighs.
Rose held her breath as even a guard, leaning near the gate exit, glanced away seemingly annoyed. Now, pulling herself away from the desire to speak with Chadwick, her legs began to lead her elsewhere, with boots crunching aggressively towards the commotion.
The man laughed, wiping morning crust from his eyes. “That little she-devil.”
“What are you doing?” her voice broke, physically blocking the view of the wide-eyed kid. Panting for breath, she glared at him. It only took a few seconds for Rose to grab everyone’s attention within earshot.
A skinny red head, and some bum going at it? Interesting enough.
“This has nothing to do with you.” His thick Russian accent pronounced more seriously “So, stay out of it, сука,”
A piercing rattle debuted near the east exit. The fences shook. “Are you causing trouble in my yard?” Chadwick asked, with a baton at hand.
Rose glanced down at the shaken girl.
“командир,” Commander. She whispered.
“Trouble only comes when people,” his chubby fingers pointed to Rose, “Like her, make it seem so.”
Chadwick slid the weapon somewhere invisible between his dark boots, and attire. ‘Do you comprehend the logic of that thinking?” the women who’d been reading off the clip board looked down to cover a short laugh.
“I want you out.” Chadwick continued, “Do you understand me? I want you to get your belongings. We’re transferring you to...” His hands quickly brushed over the papers in her hold. “Tver.”
“You can’t do that,”
Chadwick signaled for some of the guards inside to proceed with the sudden arrangement.
Just when he began to turn away, Rose felt a light snow began to fall. Taking him by surprise as well, Chadwick lifted his attention to the sky, then back down at the person who stood out like splatted blood on a white sheet.
“Thank you,” the young child bowed her head, before disappearing in in the crowd. Rose smiled softly at the sudden distraction. Again, her eyes raced to find his own still focusing on her. Perhaps trying to place her.
“Sir?” Chadwick pulled himself away. “Shall we continue?”
Rose took a single step in his direction. “Yes. After you.” He carried on.