Chapter fifteen

The two crossed the creek on one of the wooden bridges scattered along its length. They advanced quickly as they walked paths created by wild boars amidst the lush vegetation along the river banks.

After a few hour's walk, they decided to rest but looked for a place where they could eat and even warm up a bit. The first village that came their way was a large village with a main street and a few side streets. In the center is the 'Rinek' - the market square, and next to it a small church. There were several shops around the square. It was easy for Jaroslaw to read several signs written in Yiddish: "Shulman shoes repairing" and "Yankel Certified fashion tailor," another sign that said "Haircuts for men and women" and in small letters below it said: "Wigs are sold here." It was clear that the village once had a mixed population and perhaps even a Jewish majority. They decided to enter a tavern, but only after visiting the church. And so, in broad daylight, they both entered the church. They crossed themselves and knelt with their faces turned to the crucified Jesus statue on a low pillar with lit candles around it. Violette took a candle from a nearby counter and lit it as she put a coin in the charity fund.

The villagers who were in the church looked at them with open curiosity and suspicion. Then, when they had finished praying and walked towards the exit, they came across one of the devotees, "Chwala Boga, where are you people from?" She asked.

"We are from Maluszyn, near Wloszczowa," Violette replied. The woman shrugged; she had never heard of this or that place. "And what are people doing in our village?" She asked in a peasant's manner.

"We are on our way to Lublin to visit our very sick relative, and we hope to say goodbye to him before he goes to our Father Jesus. Maybe you know someone who can take us? We'll pay well."

The woman looked at them in utter disbelief, "You can't know in those times how people can behave badly" This was her way of explaining that she did not trust them.

Violette looked into her eyes, "Jesus our Father our King said we all have to look out for one another, and all his believers are brothers."

'Yes, of course, I'll talk to my husband; maybe he will agree to take you. So come with me," she said.

They followed in her footsteps as the watchful eyes of the peasants in the market accompanied them. When they arrived at the woman's house, she ordered them to wait by the stable. "I'll call my husband, but first say what are you willing to pay?"

"Ten zlotys will satisfy you?" Violette asked.

"Twenty," the woman said.

"Then fifteen and not another word," Violette replied.

The villager approached her and held out her hand. "Give me the money now."

Violette took some bills out of her coat pocket and handed them to her. "When we are leaving?" She asked.

"First, come in and eat 'Swinsky Ozor' pork tongue, which I made this morning, just do not forget to take off your shoes at the entrance," she said.

Jaroslaw looked at Violette's face, who looked pleased with the invitation. "Are we going in?" He asked.

The woman seated them at a heavy wooden table. "Jacek!" She suddenly screamed, "Come eat" she looked at them, "my husband is a little deaf, I have to shout," she apologized.

Her husband appeared from the bedroom, "Who are they?" He asked with a suspicious look on his face.

"I met them at the church, devoted Poles; after dinner, you will drive them to Lublin," his wife shouted at him.

When she poured them the thick soup with the pig's tongue in the center of the plate, they both looked at the plate helpless; they were not accustomed at home to foods of this kind.

Violette was the first to react, "What a good smell, we will pray for a moment to our Creator who sent you to us."

Violette mumbled a few words, crossed herself, and said "amen," and everyone answered "amen" after her.

They both ate the hot soup with pork tongue without hesitation; they were so hungry they did not care what they ate.

Jacek turned out to be a kind and humorous man. During the ride, he had a vivid dialogue with his horse for the pleasure of Violette sitting next to him and Jaroslaw, lying in the back on some hay.

"I saw that Jews were living in your village," Violette turned to him.

"Yes, there were more than half the population. One midnight, several trucks with SS men showed up and loaded them all, can you understand? Get people out of their warm beds in the middle of the night and drag them out to trucks. Take babies out of cradles, infant ones. I myself saw a scene of a baby being thrown out of a window because he screamed for fear of being separated from his mother. It hurts; they were good neighbors; they have always lived in our village. My grandfather always said that with the Jews, you would always get fed because they have food that is cooking day and night. "

"Where were they taken?" She asked though she knew the answer.

"They say in the village that they will not return; there are those who say that their souls will come back and take revenge on those who robbed their shops and houses. We did not touch anything that belonged to them, Niech Pan Bog broni, may God save us."

"How far are we from Lublin?" She asked.

"About fifty kilometers, we'll be there in about two hours," he said.

"Do you have children?"

"We had ten, in one winter five died, contracted lung disease until they spat blood and died. Two girls are in the convent learning to be nurses, another son, the youngest, drowned in the river many years ago, and the other two have joined the Armia Krajowa and are in the woods, or with the Russians. We have not had any contact with them for over two years. "

"I hope the war ends soon and we can each return home, and your children will return safe and sound."

"Niech Pan Bog da, with God's help," he replied.

They went a long way without talking to each other until the first houses of the suburbs of Lublin could be seen on the horizon.

Military vehicles passed them. On the way out of the city there was a lot of movement of soldiers, and it was evident that there was tension in the air.

"Here, I let you out. I go back; I do not want to run into these whores; they will still confiscate my mare" He stopped the cart and waited for them to get off.

"Maybe a little more, closer to the center?" Violette pleaded.

"I'm sorry, I have to leave you here," he said firmly.

They both got off the cart and said goodbye to him with a wave of their hands. "Chawla Boga, I hope you will reach your destination safely," the farmer called out to them.

Now they decided to move separately, Violette would go first, and Jaroslaw would walk and look out for her some hundred meters behind her. Then, if one of them were stopped, at least the other would be saved.

Violette tried to blend in among the people. From time to time, she would stop and ask one of the passers-by the direction to the Roman Church, though she knew the way. Two Gestapo men stood in the doorway of Saski Garden, and she passed them without looking at them. Jaroslaw came close to them and hesitated to pass, he turned back, and Violette, seeing the scene, continued on her way and walked towards Juziek's house. She knew Jaroslaw had the address, and he would look for alternative ways to get there without being checked.

When she went up the stairs of the house she suddenly heard someone enter the building, she waited a long minute and listened to the steps ascending to the top floor. She leaned against the railing and peered down, then recognized Jaroslaw.

"Where have you been?" She whispered to him.

"I had to walk away, and then I saw that the two had stopped someone for a check, so I passed without being noticed," he replied.

They went to the door of Juziek's apartment and knocked lightly.

"Who's there?" sound a voice beyond the door.

"It's me, Bozena," she replied.

The door opened, and they fell into each other's arms.

"Where's Sara?" Violette exclaimed when she realized that Juziek was alone in his apartment.

"Do not panic, Bozenka; I handed her over to a nun hiding her in a convent. I was afraid to endanger her in my house because the neighbors asked too many questions."

"You did well. Can I see her?" She asked spontaneously.

"Better not, the nun knows Sara is an orphan, but not that she's Jewish."

"I can at least get the address where it is, just in case, and we are all flesh and blood, the war will end, and I will have to get her out of there and make sure she gets to safety."

"Yes, sure, I'll give it to you before you leave," he murmured, and Violette was not convinced he wanted to.

"You must sleep in one room; I have no more rooms," he said.

Violette smiled at him, "It's okay, we're a couple," she replied to Jaroslaw's satisfaction. "Where's your Danish dog?" She suddenly remembered how in the morning he would wake her up by licking her face.

"He's sick, lying in my room. He ate something poisoned on the street and vomited all day."

"Poor dog. Do you know Shamay Grayer?" She asked suddenly in a sharp passage.

Juziek looked at her astonished, "What about this gangster?"

"Then you know him," she interrupted him.

"The Armia Krajowa has handed down a death sentence on him; they will probably do it soon," he said.

"What's the reason?"

"He is collaborating with the Gestapo against the Polish people.

"And what about Poles who collaborate with the Gestapo hunting Jews? Are they not entitled to die?"

"Anyone who cooperates with the Gestapo must be held accountable for his actions," he replied.

"Then, after the war ends, we will have to do justice with half the Polish people," she replied.

"You have already punished us, the communism you Jews support will take over Poland after the war, the Poles will be liberated from the Germans but not from the Russians, instead of Hitler there will be Stalin, it will not change much."

"Do not exaggerate; communism is not like Nazism," Jaroslaw suddenly intervened.

"My young friend, Stalin is a cruel killer who is waging his war with the help of the Russian intelligence service the NKVD. Every day he takes the lives of all his opponents as well as those who are not. He murders his people and others. In the forest of Katyn, he murdered several thousand Polish officers. "

"These are uncomfortable conversations; we're all freedom fighters, we're all in the same boat. How about something to eat and a glass of vodka?"

Juziek hurriedly took out a bottle of vodka and glasses; he cut cubes of Kielbasa sausage and slices some pieces of country bread. "Eat, friends" he raised a glass and clinked it with theirs.

Violette took a packet of bills out of her pocket and handed him, "It's for you," she said. Juziek hurried and put it in his trouser pocket. "Don't think for a second that I do what I do for money. I am a Polish patriot seeking justice. I have a lot of expenses, and I'm not rich."

Violette approached him and hugged him, "You are risking your life for us, and we will not forget that even after the war."

As Violette and Jaroslav lay in bed next to each other, holding hands, she said to him, "Close your eyes and dream about both of us, lying in our bed in our own house in America, the children sleeping in the other room, our red car parked in the garage and next to the lit fireplace in the living room lies our kinky dog."

Jaroslaw clung to her and kissed her closed eyes, then her neck and mouth. "I love you so much," he whispered into her ear.

He inserted his hands under the tank top she was wearing, felt her erected breasts, and squeezed her hardened nipples. Violette moaned with pleasure, and her hips began to move restlessly; he slid his hand to her panties and felt her wet pussy, his fingers slid in, and a heavy sigh broke out of her mouth; his hand moved along the groove again and again, "get inside me, get him inside" she whispered in heavy voice and gripped his hard penis tightly. She quickly removed her panties, and Jaroslaw climbed on top and penetrated her as his mouth searched her mouth with great passion. Suddenly he pulled himself out, and its flow splashed everywhere and wet the sheets. Violette leaned over him and licked the rest of his flow from his penis, which remained stiff. "Sorry, my love, I could not hold out anymore," he apologized to her.

The morning before they left Juziek's house, they got a contact address and password from him. He advised them to go to a meeting with his contact man before deciding on a plan of action.

When they took to the street, there was a storm of rain and wind and only a few passers-by. As they advanced toward the center, the rain increased, and people sought refuge in stairwells. Jaroslaw took advantage of the stormy weather to move more freely since German vehicles were also not seen on the streets. Juziek told them that news had begun to arrive from the front that the Russians had begun to defeat the Germans, many of whom had frozen to death on the battlefields and retreated to Polish territory.

When they reached Lubertowska Street near the Jewish cemetery, they began looking for the address that Violette had marked on her palm. Unfortunately, they did not see the street name signs, and it was difficult for them to find the address. Finally, they entered the yard of a large apartment building and knocked on one of the doors. An older man opened for them. "What do you want?" He asked suspiciously.

"We're looking for Unicka Street," Violette said.

"It's on the edge of the ghetto," he replied.

"And how do we get there?"

"Continue in Lubertowska to the corner and turn right; you will see that it crosses the street."

"Thank you, sir; I wish everyone were like you," Jaroslaw said.

The man went in and slammed the door in their faces.

They were already totally wet when Violette was able to find the house number they were looking for on Unicka Street.

Violette knocked on the door three times and heard, "Who's there?"

"Barefoot shoemaker," she told him the password she had received.

The door opened, and in front of them stood a man in his forties, short and stocky. He could be seen hiding a gun behind his back. "Come after me," he said. He led them down a long corridor to a back room, picked up the carpet, there was a wooden door that opened upwards, they went down the ladder into a dark basement, and he closed the wooden door behind him and locked it from the inside. Then, after lighting a flashlight, he led them through the dark basement a long way till they came to another cellar. He knocked on the door three times, and the door opened. A few people were sitting around a table; a board was hanging on the wall and chalk marked with different targets. The man turned to them. "Let's meet 'Zigan' it's his nickname in the underground; he's the commander here, and you can talk to him, then I'll take you back.

They both sat down at the table, with Zigan sitting in front of them.

"I don t care who sent you here and who you represent; I heard about your interest in Shamay Grayer, well, our organization takes care of him, and you'll have nothing to do with it," he said.

"Mr. Zigan," said Jaroslaw, "we have been instructed by our commander to convince him to work for us, he will do anything for money, and he has good relations with the Germans. This is a golden opportunity to get information. If you eliminate him because he collaborates with the Nazis, we will lose a critical source of information. Our commander asks that you don't carry out your operation but wait a few months with it. If he does not appear to be cooperating, we will kill him. "

Zigan grimaced as Jaroslaw spoke, "What is your name, redhead?"

"You guessed my name; it is Ginger."

"Tell your commander that we agree to wait until the end of March.

When he had finished speaking, he got up from his chair and hinted that the meeting was over. Once they were back on the street, Violette burst into laughter. "Ginger?"