Saban Alternate Ending

Saban broke the silence in the auto as Marcel tried to evade being followed, “What about the escape line?” “It is not an option just yet,” Marcel said as he alternated watching the road and the rearview mirror. Saban took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, closed his eyes, and shook his head. “Shit!” “What is wrong?” asked Saban. “I believe we are being followed.” “What are you going to do?” “Be quiet and let me think.” No one spoke until the auto parked in front of Gestapo Headquarters on Avenue Louise. The two German soldiers guarding the front door readied their machine guns. Marcel turned to Saban and Elisaveta, “Good, the handcuffs are on. You are going in with me. Now act sleepy as if drugged. Keep your eyes lowered and do not
His light blond hair was cut close around the ears yet longer on top and combed neatly back. With eyebrows that matched his hair and light blue eyes, he could not have looked more Aryan. He wore a dark suit and tie with a white shirt. The soldier told Marcel to wait, he approached the young man and they spoke in a whisper. After a short conversation, they walked over to Marcel, Saban, and Elisaveta. The soldier stood a few paces back with a clear view and his machine gun ready as the young man spoke.
“The commandant is not here. I am Karl the Gestapo agent in charge. What is it you require?”
“Sir, may I have an authorization to return these two to the Mechelen Transit Camp,” Marcel said.
“What do you mean, return?”
“They escaped from a prison train.”
Loud cracking sounds from the basement and a man screaming startled them. Saban stiffened, gritted his teeth and squeezed Elisaveta’s hand. The screaming did not affect the two men as they continued talking.
“Where was this train going?” Karl asked. “Most of the prison trains leaving Mechelen go to Auschwitz.”
“Because of their trades, they were being sent to Germany.”
Karl approached Elisaveta and gently raised her chin with his index finger. She kept her eyes lowered. “What might their trades be?”
“She is an expert
Marcel picked a cigarette from a pack and offered Karl one. Karl grabbed the whole pack, put a cigarette in his mouth and wanted a light. He stared at Marcel as he lit the cigarette. Karl strolled to the office, puffing on the cigarette. A short while later he strolled back and said, “Here is your authorization.” Then he took Saban’s hand and crushed the cigarette out in his callused palm. Saban smelled the burning flesh, but the heat was bearable. He showed no facial expression or body movement – no reaction at all. Karl closed Saban’s fingers around the cigarette butt, moved close to Saban’s face, smiled, and said, “You make a handy