In "The Secret Miracle," an excerpt from the Koran sets the stage, suggesting a theme of timelessness and divine intervention. It speaks of a person made to sleep for a hundred years, experiencing it merely as "a day, or part of a day." This notion of suspended time becomes central to the unfolding story.

The Night of Arrest

On March 14, 1939, in Prague, the narrative introduces us to Jaromir Hladik, a writer residing in his modest apartment. Hladik's significant works include an unfinished play and two scholarly books: Vindication of Eternity and a study on the Jewish influences on the 17th-century Christian mystic, Jakob Boehme. That night, Hladik finds himself lost in an enigmatic dream.

The Dream of an Endless Game

Hladik dreams of an interminable chess match between two influential families, playing for a mysterious prize of limitless worth. The game takes place on a hidden board within a secretive tower. In this dream, Hladik is the eldest son among the families, rushing to make his move, only to find the rules elude him. His dream abruptly ends, interrupted by the harsh sound of Nazi boots marching through Prague's streets.

Captured by Fate

Five days following his dream, the Nazis arrest Hladik for his Jewish ancestry and his explorations into Jewish texts. Julius Rothe, the Nazi official responsible for determining Hladik's destiny, is misled by a scholarly catalogue that exaggerates Hladik's importance. This catalogue was prepared by the publisher of his translation of the Sepher Yezirah, a mystical Jewish text. Lacking understanding of the academic sphere and oblivious to these embellishments, Rothe decrees Hladik's execution.

Contemplating the End

While imprisoned, Hladik's mind is consumed by the myriad details of his impending execution. The night before facing the firing squad, his thoughts drift toward his unfinished play, The Enemies. Desperate to redeem his literary career, he prays for a divine reprieve—one year to complete his magnum opus.

A Dream of Divine Promise

As dawn approaches, Hladik dreams of seeking refuge in a vast library. When the librarian asks what he pursues, Hladik replies, "God." The librarian cryptically answers that God hides within one of the four hundred thousand volumes, a quest that has rendered him blind. A returned atlas, deemed unhelpful by the librarian, is handed to Hladik. Randomly opening it, he touches a letter and hears a voice declaring that a year has been granted. Awakening to his cell, he is led to the execution site by two early-arriving soldiers.

Time Stands Still

Although the firing squad must wait until exactly nine, the sergeant's command freezes the universe. In this suspended reality, Hladik, though immobilized, realizes his miracle: a year in his mind between the order to fire and his death. He falls asleep, and upon waking, the world remains unchanged.

The Miracle of Creation

Hladik comprehends that his wish has been fulfilled—within his consciousness, he has been granted the time to complete his play. Dedicatedly, he crafts the final elements of The Enemies in his mind's theater. Upon completing the last detail, the sound of gunfire signals his end. Jaromir Hladik meets his fate at 9:02 AM, having achieved his secret miracle.