“She wants to kill me,” Lotte shrieked.
“Stop screaming,” Aliza hollered.
Leonie took a step closer to Lotte. “She is not a witch, really. She wants only for you to bathe, and I think that is a good idea. You will feel so much better when you are nice and clean. And to be honest, fräulein, you have no choice in this. You must do as we say, or they will take you to the hospital.”
“No hospital.”
“That’s it. I’m going to send a couple of the guards to get her,” Aliza said.
“It won’t be necessary,” Leonie said. “I think she is afraid of your uniform. Perhaps it would be better if you let me take her to Delousing.”
“I’m not sure you can manage this.”
“You can see that she listens to me,” said Leonie.
“I will send someone to help you.”
“No need,” Leonie said.
“Oh, yes, there is. Nurses in the mental wards are always getting bitten and punched. Bring her to the infirmary as soon as you’re done.”
After Aliza left, Leonie said, “You see? I sent the nurse away. But if you don’t do as I say, she will return with soldiers, and the doctor.”
“No doctors.”
“So you will come with me?”
“We are going to Hollywood, Claudette Colbert?” Lotte asked, with a knowing wink that sent a shiver up Leonie’s back.
“We are going to get you clean. You’ll have a shower, fresh clothes, and you’ll feel like a new woman.” Leonie held out her hand, walking backward, as Lotte climbed off the bed with the blanket wrapped around her.
Outside, Tedi was waiting with a towel and a change of clothes. “The nurse sent me,” she said, and turned her head away from Lotte’s smell. “Ugh. Let’s get this over with.”
Lotte followed them, dragging the blanket in the dust. When they reached the back door of Delousing, Leonie told Tedi, “Wait for us here.”
“The nurse said I should stay with you.”
“Just stand by the door. I’ll call if I need anything.”
Tedi needed no further convincing.
Lotte seemed to relax a little as they entered the dim, cavernous room, but the sight of the showers made her sprint toward the door. Tedi caught her and dragged her all the way into the stall, where she crouched on the floor with her hands on top of her head.
“If you do not wash right now,” said Leonie, “I will get the doctor.”
“No doctors,” Lotte hissed. She hurried to her feet and pushed her chest out defiantly, as though she were facing a firing squad. “I am ready.”
Tedi turned the faucet full on, and although the water was cold, Lotte did not flinch.
“Very good,” said Leonie gently. “You see the soap over there? Start with your hair and your face.”
“Get her out of here,” said Lotte, pointing at Tedi, who was glad to retreat to her post near the door.
Leonie watched as the water transformed Lotte from a troll into a normal-looking woman. She was a little older than the rest of them—twenty-eight or even thirty. Her hair was light brown and fine. Someone had hacked it off at odd angles, Leonie thought; probably used a knife.
Lotte’s eyes were also brown, but with a yellow cast that made her look less like a mouse than a fox.
“Now,” said Leonie, “take off your clothes.”