Himmler's Librarian (excerpt)

This is an excerpt from my forthcoming novel for young adults

Chapter 1: Unexpected Encounter

Berlin

September 1944

Magda sat alone at her desk in the library, the soft afternoon light filtering through the tall, arched windows behind her. The rays cast long shadows across the room, stretching toward the rows of bookshelves that lined the grand hall. Dust motes floated lazily in the beams of light, creating a sense of stillness in the quiet, almost reverent space. The air smelled faintly of old paper, leather bindings, and wood polish, a familiar and comforting scent that wrapped around her like a soft blanket.

She was meant to be cataloguing new books, but instead, she had allowed herself a brief distraction. A small deck of playing cards lay scattered in front of her on the heavy wooden desk, their edges worn and yellowed from years of use. Magda's nimble fingers flipped a card over, revealing a seven of hearts. She frowned slightly and moved it to the side, then glanced at the small pile of cards she had already arranged. Solitaire was her game of choice, a habit she had developed in the quiet hours of the library when the stillness pressed too heavily on her mind. She told herself it was a way to sharpen her focus, to clear her head between tasks. The steady rhythm of turning over the cards, one by one, provided her with a sense of control in a world that felt increasingly chaotic.

Magda was sixteen, with soft chocolate hair that she kept tucked behind her ears and a serious expression that rarely left her face. Her pale skin stood out against the dark green uniform of her job, a simple librarian's dress with brass buttons that she wore with precision. Behind her round glasses, her sharp grey eyes, though tired, flickered with intelligence, always quick to observe and assess her surroundings. Magda had grown up surrounded by books. Her father had been Head Librarian here, until he had left with her brother to fight in the East, and she had inherited his passion for reading and knowledge. There was a quiet determination about her, even when she indulged in moments like this, where she allowed herself a brief escape from the weight of her responsibilities.

The library itself was an impressive, almost imposing building. Constructed of dark stone with towering columns and a vaulted ceiling, it had the air of a grand cathedral once dedicated to knowledge, although now it was mostly abandoned, save for a few dedicated patrons. Its vastness often made Magda feel small, but she had grown to love its quiet corners and hidden alcoves, where she could disappear for hours, lost in books. The heavy oak shelves were packed tightly with rows of books, their spines marked with fading gold lettering. Many of the volumes hadn't been touched in years, their secrets forgotten amid the fevered political climate of Berlin. The Allied invasion of Normandy had been defeated, and now Nazi Germany stood more emboldened than ever, but here, in the quiet sanctum of the library, Magda found solace.

Magda glanced out of the tall windows; the afternoon sun had given way to rain which better suited her mood. She spent a few moments watching the raindrops trickle down the glass and then returned her attention to her game. As she placed another card down, Magda let out a soft sigh. The game wasn't going well. She had already backed herself into a corner, her cards trapped in an unsolvable sequence. But that was the thing about solitaire, you couldn't always win. Sometimes, no matter how carefully you played, the deck would betray you, leaving you with no path forward. The tranquillity was abruptly interrupted by the soft creak of the main door. Magda looked up, curious to see who had entered. A tall man stepped inside, his dark coat glistening with rain. He carried himself with an air of authority, and his piercing gaze swept the room before settling on her. Magda quickly gathered her cards, placing them in a neat stack, and stood up to greet the visitor.

"Good afternoon," she said politely. "How can I help you?"

The man approached her desk, his boots barely making a sound on the wooden floor. He had a stern, almost forbidding presence, and Magda couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease. His uniform, with its insignia and precise tailoring, marked him as someone of importance, though she did not recognize him.

"I am looking for some specific historical texts," he said, his voice low and commanding. "Documents related to the occult and ancient rituals."

Magda's curiosity was piqued. The library had a vast collection, including many rare and obscure volumes that often drew scholars and eccentrics alike.

"Of course," she replied, her tone professional. "We have a section dedicated to such materials. If you would follow me?"

The man nodded, and Magda led him through the labyrinthine aisles of the library. They walked in silence, the soft glow of the lamps casting long shadows on the shelves. Magda could feel his gaze on her, a sensation that was both unsettling and strangely familiar.

They arrived at a secluded corner of the library, where the shelves were lined with dusty tomes and leather-bound volumes. Magda gestured to the collection. "Here you will find what you are looking for," she said. "If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask."

The man nodded again; his attention already focused on the books before him. Magda watched him for a moment longer, a sense of unease creeping over her. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite place.

Shaking off the feeling, she returned to her desk and resumed her game of patience. But her thoughts kept drifting back to the stranger in the library, and she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Almost an hour passed before the man reappeared, a thick volume in his hands. He approached her desk, setting the book down with a decisive thud.

"Do you have any other recommendations?" he asked, his tone suggesting that he was not one to take no for an answer.

Magda glanced at the book's title, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. 'Das Buch der Schatten'- The Book of Shadows' - it was an old book of Magic, a rare manuscript; one she had not seen before. She met his gaze, her curiosity growing.

"There are a few more texts that might interest you," she said. "However, they are kept in the restricted section. I would need to see some identification before I can grant you access."

The man reached into his coat and produced a leather wallet. He opened it to reveal an official-looking document, which he handed to her. Magda studied it carefully, noting the name and rank. She handed the document back, her demeanour unchanged despite the shock that jolted through her.

"Very well, Herr Himmler. If you would follow me again?"

As they walked deeper into the library, Magda's mind raced. She had heard of Heinrich Himmler, of course. As Reichsführer-SS his name was synonymous with power and fear, a man who wielded his influence with ruthless efficiency. Yet, here he was, in her library, seeking knowledge on ancient rituals. They reached a heavy oak door, which Magda unlocked with a key from her pocket. She pushed it open, revealing a smaller room filled with even rarer and more esoteric volumes.

"These are some of our most prized possessions," she said, stepping aside to let him enter. "Please be careful with them."

Himmler nodded, his eyes gleaming with interest as he stepped into the room. Magda watched him closely, her own curiosity growing. What could a man like Himmler want with such knowledge? What secrets was he hoping to uncover?

As she stood there, a sudden realization struck her. She had not recognized him when he first entered the library. Despite his imposing presence, he had seemed just another patron in search of information. It was only now, in this moment, that she truly grasped the significance of his visit.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and excitement. She had to tread carefully, she knew. Himmler was not a man to be trifled with, and yet she felt a strange compulsion to learn more about him, to understand what drove him.

After several minutes, Himmler emerged from the room, a satisfied look on his face. He carried another book, this one even older and more worn than the last. Magda couldn't make out the title, but the cover bore what appeared to be a black disc embossed into the fabric.

"Thank you, Fräulein," he said, his tone almost cordial. "You have been most helpful."

"It is my duty," Magda replied, inclining her head. "If there is anything else you need, please let me know."

Himmler nodded, then turned and left the library, his presence lingering in the air long after he had gone. Magda watched him go, her mind awhirl with questions and possibilities.

She returned to her desk; her game of patience forgotten. The encounter had left her unsettled, yet strangely invigorated. There was a mystery here, one that she was determined to unravel.

As she sat there, lost in thought, the rain continued to fall outside, its rhythmic patter a reminder of the world beyond the library walls. A world that seemed, in that moment, both distant and dangerously close. Magda picked up the cards, shuffling them with practiced ease. But her mind was no longer on the game. It was on Heinrich Himmler, and the secrets he sought to uncover. And she knew, deep down, that this was only the beginning of something much larger, something that could change her life forever.

Later, Magda sipped her hot chocolate at her favourite table in a quaint little café on Bahnhofstrasse, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet scent of pastries, creating a comforting atmosphere, a stark contrast to the chilling story she was about to recount. She adjusted her glasses and looked across the table at her best friend, Lotte, who was already halfway through a slice of apple strudel.

"I'm telling you, Lotte, it really happened," Magda insisted, her voice a mix of excitement and frustration.

Lotte raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her piercing blue eyes. "Magda, you know I love you, but you're telling me that Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, walked into our little library and you helped him find a book? It's too far-fetched. Magda, you've got to be joking."

Magda sighed, knowing that convincing her stubborn friend would be no easy feat. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true"

They sat in silence for a minute as Lotte guzzled the remains of her strudel.

"Himmler was surprisingly polite," Magda told Lotte, stirring her chocolate absentmindedly. "He asked specific questions about our collection, and I answered as best as I could."

Lotte leaned back in her chair, her skepticism slightly softened but still present.

"Alright, so you showed Himmler to the occult section. Then what happened?"

Magda took a deep breath, remembering the intensity of those moments. "He spent about an hour in that section, browsing through various books. I tried to go about my work, but I couldn't help but watch him from a distance. He was particularly interested in a book called 'The Book of Shadows'. It's quite rare, a collection of writings on dark rituals and ancient magic."

Lotte's eyes widened, and for the first time, Magda saw a glimmer of belief.

"And you have this book in your library?"

Magda nodded. "It's part of a private collection donated to the library many years ago. Very few people know about it, but Himmler seemed to know exactly what he was looking for."

She paused, taking a sip of her chocolate.

"After he found the book, he came to me and asked if he could look in the restricted section, he seemed to be looking for something else. Another book"

"Did he find it?'

"I don't know, he closed the door. But when he returned, he didn't seem angry, just… thoughtful."

"So, he didn't find the book he wanted?" Lotte asked, her tone now more curious than disbelieving.

"No" Magda replied, "at least I don't think so, he found something, but I got the feeling it wasn't quite what he was looking for. He only spent a few minutes in the restricted sections and then left. But before he did, he thanked me and said that my help had been invaluable."

Lotte shook her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Magda, I have to admit, your story is incredible. But why would Himmler come to our district for a book?"

Magda shrugged. "I've thought about that a lot. Maybe he knew something we don't. Or maybe he was following a lead, something related to his interest in the occult. Whatever the reason, I know what I saw."

Lotte sighed, leaning forward. "Alright, let's say I believe you. What do you think it all means?"

"I'm not sure," Magda said honestly. "But it's left me with a sense of unease. If someone like Himmler is interested in that book, it can't be for anything good."

The café door opened, and a group of soldiers walked in, their boots clattering against the wooden floor. Both girls fell silent, watching as the men ordered their drinks and found a table near the window. They talked excitedly about the recent victory in France and although their tone was upbeat, the presence of the military was a constant reminder of the times they lived in, a time of fear and uncertainty.

After a few moments, Lotte spoke again, her voice low. "Magda, you have to be careful. If Himmler really did visit the library, people might start asking questions. Dangerous questions."

Magda nodded, understanding the gravity of her friend's words. "I know. I've been thinking about that a lot. But what can I do? It's not like I can pretend it didn't happen."

"Just be cautious," Lotte advised. "And maybe don't tell too many people about it."

Magda agreed, realising the wisdom in Lotte's words. Berlin was a dangerous place, and sometimes, knowledge could be more of a burden than a gift.

They hugged briefly, then went their separate ways, each lost in their own thoughts. Magda's mind raced with a thousand possibilities and fears, but she tried to push them aside. She needed to stay calm, to think clearly. For now, she would focus on her usual routine and hope that Himmler's visit was a one-time event.

The next day at the library, everything seemed normal. Herr Bauer the head librarian was his usual stern self, and the patrons came and went as they always did. But Magda couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She kept a close eye on the entrance, half-expecting to see Himmler or his men return.

The week passed without incident.