kableEnglishhelpedmewiththehistoricalatlasandtheseeminglythousandsofalterationsandbordergesbroughtaboutbyhundredsofyearsofeace,fromthefinaldaysoftheHolyRomanEmpirethroughtheHessianprincipalities’Reichstagtothedivisionsattheendofbothworldwars.ShedidnotknowEger,couldnotImilanyoneinReferehadheardofthetown.

    "Doyouknow,"shefinallyasked,"ifitisEastGermany?"

    Ilookedatmywatddiscovereditwas4:35iernoon.Thelibraryclosedat5:00P.M.,andafuriousneouldbewaitingforme.

    Shescouredthemap."AowIsee.Itsariver,notatowheborder."ShepoioadotthatreadCheb(Eger)."ThetownyouarelookingforisntcalledEgernow,anditisntinGermany.ItsinCzechoslovakia."Shelickedherfingerandpagedbackthroughtheatlastofindanothermap."Bohemia.Lookhere,in1859thiswasallBohemia,fromheretohere.AndEger,rightthere.IhavetosayImuchprefertheoldname."Smiling,sherestedherhandonmyshoulder."Butwehavefoundit.Oneplacewithtwonames.EgerisCheb."

    "So,howdoIgettoCzechoslovakia?"

    "Unlessyouhavetherightpapers,youdont."Shecouldreadmydisappoi."So,tellme,whatissoimportantaboutCheb?"

    "Imlookingformyfather,"Isaid."GustavUngerland."Theradiaedfromherface.Shelookedatthefloorbetweenherfeet."Ungerland.Washekilledinthewar?Senttothecamps?"

    "No,no.WereCatholics.HesfromEger;Imean,Cheb.Hisfamily,thatis.TheyemigratedtoAmerithelasttury."

    "YoumighttrythechurchrecordsinCheb,ifyoucouldgeti